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.
Videos and full stories to follow…
Sunrise overlooking the Bazaruto Archipelego
With about an hour ride at near full speed getting you to the fishing grounds, gas is major. Plus we were filtering it all in honour of the twin Merc 150s pushing us through anything.
And another one over the front.
Vilanculo in the morning. We stayed at Archipelego Resort just south of Vilanculo. It was great.
The sun rising over Bazaruto Island
Soooo much fun! In the channel just north off Margaruque and the Snoek are wild. We caught so many we had to just stop!
Big Bazaruto Island Couta by Wade Kendall
Captain Gallop and the Wahoo
Catch n Cook!
Callum Saayman and his umpteenth Natal Snoek
2017: Vilanculo Gamefishing with Kyle Saayman and a bunch of Queen Mackerel
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.
Vilankulos Sailie performs for the camera
Margaruque Sailfish by Captain Duarte Rato
San Sebastian is a sailfish hot spot
Bazaruto Sailfish by Captain Duarte Rato
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.
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!
So get in touch with Morgan, details:
morgan@bigbluevilankulo.com
or +258 84 566 5006
Chad Leavitt’s first sailfish comes to the boat, off Morrungulo (c) BoaGente
Healthy sailfish about to swim free at Vilankulos
Almost time for the Vilankulos Sailfish Competition
Sailfish season starting in southern Mozambique waters now! (c) Rato
Another MYDO caught sailfish on boar Mafuta l-r: Gerhard Gouws, Riaan Kruger.
Blue Marlin Bazaruto action has been on the rise year after year…according to Captain Duarte Rato. And Duarte is being supported by many other regular marlin chasers up and down the East Coast of Africa. And even down into the Cape.
Duarte fishes out of Vilankulos and Bazaruto each season – and has noted a rise in both the size and frequency of the blue marlin being encountered, especially this time of the year. It’s weird how each billfish species seems to have their own month or so, with which to frequent a given area.
It’s the Striped Marlin who next move in shallow to terrorise shoals of unsuspecting baitfish congregations on our East Coast of Africa. Who invites them and how you get on the invite list is still a mystery!
Check out the full story on http://fishbazaruto.com. Click on Captain’s Log and read the latest stories Duarte has posted (he documents each and every trip he takes), right back to 2010!
Cheers Duarte, for getting that really compilation of pics and facts together.
