Finally Some Good News from Mozambique
Finally Some Good News from Mozambique: a wide and varied Sardine News Report today, December 13, 2024. It is 4 a.m. as I write this, and it is raining beautifully. It is just a gentle soaking rain that is filling all the gaps in the garden, just the way we like the wet season to unfold here in KZN. Unlike previous years, where we experienced deluge after deluge, this is manageable and, quite simply, enjoyable!
Let’s just shoot up to Mozambique and take stock of the situation as it today…
Finally Some Good News from Mozambique
Where DriveMoz and their Zello Channel are working wonders again. They operate in real time so everyone knows where everyone is. There are convoys to join. And this lekker letter from Abrie at Coco Adventure Village, in Barra, Inhambane…came from there this morning too…
“Traffic is flowing nicely through all border posts and especially through Lebombo. Obstructions in the roads around Lebombo, the Ring road, Bobole , Chidenguelle, Macia , Cumbana and others have been cleared up. Tourists have made used of the Giriyindo border post for numerous days now , without any problems.
The Moamba gravel road also became a good option again for travellers over the past week and without any incidents. Drivemoz, and especially their Zello channel, helped numerous travelers into and out of Mozambique safely.
Driving in convoys also became a new norm and assistance from the normal Mozambican citizens have been found to be exceptional – it was reported on numerous occasions that these people are absolutely fantastic.
Unfortunately the criminal elements are still very active on all roads ( nothing to do with the politics) – which means that they have always been there and only use this opportunity to make it easier to surface.
If you need to travel, it is still recommended to organise and plan better- to drive in convoys where possible – and definitely to make sure that Drivemoz and Zello know that you are on the road and to stay in touch throughout your journey. You also need to keep your fuel tanks filled up all the time and provide for extra food and water in your vehicle.
It is also absolutely necessary, like always, to devote some time in prayer while you travel and before and after your journey.
Have a safe time.”
Abrie
Coco adventure village
Barra
Inhambane
So there you have it, some good news out of Mozambique, finally.
Quick look at Umhlanga
Lifeguards training in the lekker conditions at Umklanga this morning.
Spotted Grunter Spotted
Unbelievably, the warm 25 degree ocean water came charging in through the Umzimkulu Estuary mouth in Port Shepstone yesterday. Giving us our first chance in ages to deploy cameras and see exactly what is going on down there.
The rains have been gentle and soaking this year so far- just the way we like it – the rivers are flowing consistently, and yet the tide pulse is able to fight its way up the river each high tide . Yesterday, the tide was just making a comeback off neaps, and the water came rushing in.
Blue!
The purpose of our new drone camera boat, is not to wage war. But rather to surprise and identify fish that we just can’t see from the boat or beach. On a myriad of occasions, we have had huge fish just wallowing or hunting visible just below the surface but we just don’t know what they are. Suspects include big kob, big springer and the like.
But, practice makes perfect…so I enlisted the services of klein Kaptein Cassie, down on fishing holiday with his family. Grandad and Dad stayed at the boat whilst Cassie and I headed up towards the mouth. It was wild with waves peeling down the sandbank on the inside of the bridge. Tiny waves. But huge for the drone camera boat. We launched into a mean shorebreak and Cassie took the wheel.
He is as enthusiastic as any young captain could be. Pulling donuts and handbrake turns flat out. Eventually I got a turn and tried keeping steady in the rough conditions. Which actually worked. I could easily drift this little craft with the current into a feeding shoal of gamefish. The light and the angle of the dangle (camera) was pretty much perfect and I think the second sea trials of the camera-equipped RC boat can be logged as a serious success.
Cassie took the wheel again and captured a radical sharks eye view of his Dad fishing. But the I had to static camera the deep hole where the boat was moored. So I changed cameras and lobbed a baited rig out. It landed perfectly and the scene unfolded in magnificent clear blue.
It was slow at first and I nearly jumped out of my skin as a pair of those slimy kingfish looking things came chargubg in eventually. I would’ve been stoked just with that but a few minutes later the spotted grunter arrived. Eager to sample the fresh sardine on my tiny hook.
I hooked up! For a second or so it was on! None of this was apparent from the top. Never even saw the bite. It is proven by the deployment of these cameras that as anglers, we are operating with about 1% of situation awareness!
“Enjoy the picture show boys…” – Guard, Oh Brother Where Art Though
MSC Musica is Back in Durban
More news from Mozambique…the MSC Musica is back.
Not sure how long she will be hanging around this time. But she is back from her recent round trip to Pomene up in Mozambique. This is a very safe and sound way to travel up north to experience the wonders of tropical paradise Mozambique. Not one roadblock along the way!
Viz Report From Out Deep by The Bear and Adam Kamdar
The Agulhas Current, often called the Mozambique Current, is flying right now. And at these speeds, it pushes right up against the eastern seaboard of South East Africa.
Bringing with it liquorice all sorts starting with the jube-jubes. And ending in the billfish. And all in between. Wahoo, couta, dorado…it’s all happening along the edge of the Agulhas Current and the African East coast.
This water is ink purple and HOT! Like 26 degrees and more in some patches.
Adam Kamdar was out there early making the most of the idyllic fishing conditions…
Deep Sea Fishing News
Adam Kamdar caught the ship MSC Musica on camera as she paraded past the Golden Mile this morning early – while recording a fishing and viz report for The Sardine News.
It wasn’t long after this that Adam and crew hooked a sailfish big enough to straighten the hook! A forced release – my best kind of release – don’t even have to touch the fish!
Luckily the fish were wild and after a huge morning full of fishing action out on the water, the rain sent them home smiling again.
Sardines and Sighting Maps
These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.
2024 Sardine Map
2023 Sardine Map
2021 Sardine Map
Channels
Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining surf reporting
Master Watermen – news from way down deep
The Sardine News – neva miss a single sardine
FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus
MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical sport fishing
Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely
Water Woes – complain about your municipality here
Websites
umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za – will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
