Mike Harrington’s mullet was caught on fresh sardine bait meant for a grunter or a salmon. Known as a bull mullet or a flathead mullet, they are very common in Africa and make a great bait for the big time.
Mike and Savannah van Reenen enjoying the moment together…on the Umzimkulu River in Port Shepstone…
Young Callum and family joined us for a day out in the waters behind Tofinho Point, southern Mozambique, a few years back – sometimes known as Whale Shark alley. Soon Callum’s uncle Angus was into a nice fish on dropshot, which turned out to be a trophy queenfish – and got it into the hatch and home for dinner, after a gruelling fight on super light tackle.
Then a sailfish grabbed hold of the Mydo sardine bait(#1 Baitswimmer and skirt) and soon was leaping and tail walking around us. It took about 20 minutes and eventually the fish was alongside and good for a nice healthy, yet slightly protracted release.
Inhambane waters are great for family outings like this one. You just got to organise a big boat!
We have the huge Inhambane Bay that is completely flat on the inside and sprawled with islands, sandbanks, channels and bays.
Then out behind the Barra and Tofo points is the famous crystal clear water known for it’s marine wild life population. Whale sharks and manta rays can be encountered on the inside while you are trolling for live bait and in winter time whales come out of the south looking for safety and calm for their new born calves.
Not to mention the sailfish!
Setting out from Pumula at 4:30am, we made Swaziland in great time. The roads are good and the Sunday traffic was minimal.
Not too many journeys feature Giraffe families along the side of the road…
Passing through Pongola into Swaziland we encountered this adult and a bunch of smaller guys a little further into the bush. Monkeys and bird life kept us entertained driving through this piece of Zululand.
Swaziland featured more cops than wildlife. But again…the traffic was quiet and soon the Goba border post came into view. Mozambique!
The Frenzy checking out the biltong shop in Pongola…
We stopped for a layover at the awesome Casa Lisa, north of Maputo. Great all round experience.
And finally made Tofo. 15 hours of driving over two days, Barry Krause of Fairwinds did a sterling job and only got speed trapped once. 1000 mets fine. Got receipt. Evidence of the recent floodwaters was everywhere especially in the Xai Xai area, but on the whole the affected places have recovered completely and life is back to normal.
Tofo Point in the morning…
March weather is just around the corner but it’s still hot as hell here. This is certainly the quitest time of the year for Mozambique. Everyone just biding time until the next holiday/season.
The fishing is very good though. Loads of couta…a few big ones. The sea alive…all kinds of baitfish in the netter’s catches. The water is 26 to 28 degrees and blue blue blue. We normally have a little sailfish run at this time…let’s see!
(above) Netters rowing past Praia da Congiana this morning…
A nice fish taken by Frenzy pictured here with guest at the Umzimkulu Marina, Jacques. Jacques also caught two Paling (eel) a bit later in the evening… Summer time in the river is characterised by these muddy fish…winter time is when we encounter the kingfish, rock salmon, grunter and even Garrick (leervis). The perch (up to 3 or4 kilos but averaging about 1kg) are year round and don’t mind the brown floody waters of summer.
And then another the next evening…this one took only a few minutes to jump on The Frenzy’s hook…
