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Bella Jankowitz´s biggest ever fish!!!

Bella Jankowitz´s biggest ever fish!!! by Captain Duarte Rato on Bazaruto Island

Bella's huge yellowfin tuna!
Bella’s huge yellowfin tuna, caught while fishing with Captain Duarte Rato on Bazaruto in Mozambique!

Despite the rough weather Bella, Carl jankowitz oldest daughter joined on a fishing day and after missing a few game fish finally come solid on a big tuna on one of the 30 pound bait sticks. Tuna are know to be deep tough fighting fish and this one certainly put Bella through a big marathon, but in the end and after a tussle lasting for almost 40 minutes she brought the fish within gaffing range and boated her biggest ever fish….by far!!! A beautiful 26 kg Yellowfin tuna that provided finger licking good sashimi for everyone…

Wahoo in the hood...
Wahoo in the hood…

Early summer as already brought in some really good game fishing with reports of big and lots of tuna, but as it normally does one of our favourite species as also arrived in good numbers and the wahoo fishing should really get on fire as we move into late September when fish exceeding 30 kilos are not uncommon. Here´s Alex, showing off with a nice fish caught this week!!!

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Dive Report: Protea Banks, Shelley Beach

Aqua Planet have been operating out of Shelley Beach and diving the Protea Banks for many years…

Oceanic Blacktip Shark
Oceanic Blacktip Shark

DIVE REPORT FOR PROTEA BANKS, SHELLY BEACH:

So with the turn of season into Spring, we had the start of the Hammerhead shark season. Shoaling Hammerhead sharks, up to more than a 100 were seen on dives last week, which started off the Hammerhead shark season with a bang. If this was not enough, other sharks encountered during the dives last week were Ragged-tooth sharks and with Oceanic Blacktip sharks popping in and out, divers were always entertained. A Dusky shark was also encountered on one of the dives. The odd friendly Potato Bass also popped in to say hi. With lots of reef fish around and even some Nudibranchs, the reef was worth looking at.

Humpback Whales have been seen while driving to and from the dive site daily. A stunning encounter of 2 Humpback Whales at 30m on the Southern Pinnacles, was seen just over a week ago. A MIND BLOWING DIVE!!!

The viz has been averaging about 15m, but there has been a lot of plankton in the water which made it look a bit milky.

The water temperature had been around 21 degrees Celsius with barely a current.

With conditions looking great for the weekend ahead, it is time to dust off that scuba gear and get back in the water.

Aqua Planet Dive Centre and Charter dives Protea Banks daily, weather permitting.

Bookings: 082 877 3966

Report courtesy of southcoaststyle.co.za

 

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Dive Report: Tofo, Inhambane

In from Jamie Edwards in Tofo…

“During the course of the day we visited Galleria twice and both of them were amazing! Starting off with the first one this morning. At the moment there is not to much current but just enough to give you that perfect drift dive as well as a slight temperature increase which always helps. We encountered a fairly large potato grouper on the drop point who was extremely curious and actually followed us for about 10mins! A few of the divers got a closer inspection from the potato grouper, coming right up close and seemed to be peering into you eyes, amazing! Then a short visit from a Spotted Eagle Ray as well as a Giant Manta who cruised slowly pasted us! Along the bottom of the reef we managed to find one of the Sea Moths which is always a special find. Now for the second dive. Just off the back wall of the drop we found a resting Loggerhead Turtle who seemed very relaxed to have us there. We also then found the same Sea Moth and just before we arrived at the cave found another Loggerhead Turtle swimming slowly out into the deep, always a beautiful sight. Just before we started to leave the reef we stumbled across a huge Bowmouth Guitar Shark! Unfortunately he didnt seem in the mood to hang around however still awesome to see! :)”

Special thanks to Jamie Edwards of Diversity Scuba

And a fresh report from today…

“Humpback Whales on Scuba this morning! Off we went to Salon this morning and what a dive that was! Started the dive off with a couple of the smaller creatures, 2 Cleaner Pipefish and 2 Samoan Pipefish when all of a sudden 2 Humpback Whales pulled in to say hello. They seemed very relaxed and we got to swim along side them for quite some time as they were just playing around. At least three times one of them went into the “sailing” position which was absolutely mind blowing to watch! After witnessing that awesome encounter we carried on to have a great dive none the less. Kuhl Stingrays were scattered all over the reef, found a Spotted Guitar Shark, one Crocodile Fish, big variety of Nudibranch’s and a school of Giant Reef Squid at the end. Also after the Humpback encounter we had a little Remora following one of the divers for the rest of the dive up until we reached the surface. What a fantastic morning! :)”

Keep it coming Jamie!

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EPIC start to the Bazaruto Marlin Season by Duarte Rato

Duarte Rato Bazaruto

EPIC start to the Bazaruto Marlin Season by Duarte Rato

Vamizi by Duarte RatoMarlin by Duarte Rato BazarutoDuarte Rato BazMarlin release Duarte Rato

Even though we only really starting the Marlin Season of the Bazaruto archipelago on the third week of September, we had our good friend and loyal client Carl Jankowitz come up with his family during the last week of August to have an early go. August is a windy month and this year was no exception and we only fished 2 days over the course of the week, but they were EPIC to say the least, especially this early. On the first day and after catching some game fish on light tackle we hooked a Marlin about 250 lbs on a #30 pound stick and a TLD 25. Unfortunately it broke off 55 minutes later. We set the konas on the heavy gear and got some yellowfin tuna and just before lines in had a crash strike on the short corner lure followed by a sizzling run. Carl got in the chair and brought in a frisky 250 lbs Black Marlin for a release. The next we caught some serious size wahoo, yellowfin and then missed a Marlin mid morning. We persisted and just before noon we hooked a 300 + pounder that gave us some awesome jumps and a really hard time. It took us just under an hour to get it alongside the boat for a release. 2 Marlin out of 4 for Carl Jankowitz in two days this early in the season is really encouraging and we cannot wait to get out there come late September!!!

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Vincent Cook in Nigeria

Vincent Cook sent us in these pics of fish they catch in Nigeria.

“That Kingie was around 10/11kg caught jigging with a cuda spoon off the sbm in nigeria with 200kg hand line haha. Took about 30secs and had it on the sbm. Gave it no mercy other wise It would have rapped me around the sbm Anchor chains

The red Snapper was around 8kg and caught on rapala with 45kg braid and coffie grinder at the same sbm but off the work boat took about 2 min to land.
All caught in between work hrs Last month .”
Crevalle Jack (Caranx Hippos) by Vincent Cook in Nigeria
Crevalle Jack (Caranx Hippos) by Vinnie Cook in Nigeria

Photo-0065_resized

And a few Rock Salmon looking Snapper…wonder if it’s the same species we get?

 

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