A gallery of pics by Tracey and Paul Saayman whilst recently in Vilanculo…that depict exactly what Vilanculo Gamefishing is all about.
We were lucky enough to fish 6 days out of 11 – and thank goodness for the breaks in between!
The billfish were being a bit picky with us. We were targeting them between seasons really, but had three come up altogether, with two having a go at the same lure – but both missing! But the bycatch (as Duarte calls it?!), had us working hard with sweat dripping time and time again.
Sailfish ladies eye the trophy at the Vilankulos Sailfish 2017
And it’s all on as the Sailfish ladies eye the trophy at the Big Blue Vilankulos Sailfish 2017. And they are fishing for a good cause…Check this link out and get involved…
The sailfish have pitched up exactly on time off Bazaruto and it looks to be another great contest. The ladies will have to fend off some serious competition from the experienced local and visiting field – in this exclusively release event.
The Vilankulos Sailfish ladies team are amping on the trophy this 2017
The weather looks a bit otherwise at the moment but it should be clear skies and sailfish bites over the fishing window of 22 to 26 May. May is renowned not only for the sailfish – but also the great weather.
The competition will be hosted at Villa Paraiso, a top notch resort that looks straight out over the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Margaruque and Bungue – and the clear blue waters of the magnificent Bazaruto Archipilego. Just outside of these islands, lies the deep water that contours the Mozambique Current right in close. Real close. With ideal sailfish territory built in like huge canyons and drop offs – reef pinnacles everywhere. And bait to beat the band. Don’t forget your Mydo Baitswimmers!
Contact Morgan O’Kennedy at Big Blue in Vilankulos on morgan@bigbluevilankulo.com for more information or to get involved and enter.
More details below:
Vilankulos Sailfish Competition 2017
The Sardine News will be running almost live stream directly from the competition – maybe even direct from the boat, with some luck and signal.
For more information on fishing for sailfish off Vilankulos, click on over to Captain Duarte Rato’s website FishBazaruto.Com…http://fishbazaruto.com.
Captain Duarte Rato in the hot seat with a marlin on the Great Barrier Reef
A great video that really captures the madness as it goes into overdrive action when tackling big angry billfish. Black marlin in this case – who carry the mantel of open ocean speedsters, reportedly hitting 127kmh! These are marlin on the Great Barrier Reef. Being chased down and tagged by the highly regarded bill fishing team aboard charter boat – The Tradition.
Check out more of Duarte’s escapades fishing around the world by clicking here. Cape Verde is his current location, and his company, based in Vilankulos, can arrange your ultimate fishing adventure also to The Ascension Islands, Madeira, the Great Barrier Reef and most importantly – Bazaruto. On the best boats available.
Bazaruto is acclaimed to be the next world record location for either a black or blue. Many have been encountered lately, some have been taken out after being sharked or tail wrapped. The biggest was aiming for about 1450 pounds before two monster tiger sharks took some serious chunks out of her.
Duarte aims to release all of his fish, and enjoys a helluva track record. You can actually delve in and read about Duarte’s many trips on his website. Duarte has diligently kept record of each and every trip he has taken – starting way back in 2011!
With some good weather and great bait action, the late season marlin at Bazaruto put on a great show.
Captain Duarte Rato reports that April is actually a great time to target big blues out the back – especially if the weather holds. This April was decidedly otherwise with it’s weather, but the big boats enabled fishing in the canyons off Maragruque quite comfortable. Bait was plentiful, but the razor gang just kept chopping them to pieces. And so monst of the fish reported were taken on lures.
And so a few blues featured amongst a few blacks, and finally at the end of April, the sailfish pitched up with the cooler water.
Wahoo and tuna also abounded, with the second annual wave of dorado making for some exciting strikes.
Get in touch with Duarte by clicking on over to his fantastic website and Captain’s Blog. Where you can read about all of Duarte’s marlin taming adventures worldwide. And book a trip!
Almost time for the Vilankulos Sailfish Competition
Well it’s almost time for the Vilankulos Sailfish Competition for this year 2017 to take place.
This fun competition is hosted by Villa Paraiso and runs 22 to 26 May.
The sailfish have made their appearance in water that dropped from 29.5 degrees to 27.5 in one day! The conditions totally have changed out off Bazaruto waters and surrounds – and it’s in this water that the sailfish have come to gather.
Bait has been plentiful – pint-sized skipjacks by the thousand – very fussy and only jumping on the smallest spoons. With the odd yellowfin in between the madness. But there is new competition out there right now – huge wahoo have been obliterating live baits meant for bills lately!
