| On the 20th of March
2002 four London International Club members met up with two
French Spearfisherman on route to Mozambique, Southern Afica.
The plan was to meet up with charter operators, SpearfishingAfrica,
for 10 days of good spearfishing. |
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After
unwinding on a farm in Johannesburg we flew to our final destination
and were greeted by our hosts for the trip. Gary, Ryan and the
best chef in the whole world, Brigitte. After some fresh fruit
and champagne we headed over the hills to checkout the sea.
Paradise had found us. Flat clean seas! That night we unwrapped
our brand new Rob Allen sponsored guns and went top bed early
eager for the coming day.
The first day we dived the shallow reefs off the points getting
used to everything after 6 months no diving. The inshore was
teeming with shoals of Stumpies, spadefish and big Parrots.
Both the French guys, Bernard and Patrice rode a whaleshark.
The following day we felt stronger and began diving the deep
reefs where George bagged his first ever King Mackerel (Cud).
The viz was 40 - 20m and the water temperature was 24 degrees
C. We returned to a coconut curry.
Most days we were up at crack of dawn inquisitive about the
new reef. One could drift for hours here not covering the
same section of ground. |
Generally we shot Jobfish
(Kakaap), Kingfish, King Mackerel (Cuda),Snapper and Coral
Trout. The reef was teeming every day with big Manta rays
Whale sharks and Devil Rays.
John had his first ever Cuda (big smiles) on the second
day.
One day I drifted with Ryan and a Rob Allen flasher. Ryan
shot a Salad fish of about 2kg's and fixed it to the bottom
of the flasher. Minutes later I dived to the bottom around
50ft and waited. As I kicked off the bottom a Cuda appeared
from nowhere. He hung there broadside. Thank you! Off
he went dragging me behind him. Ryan was shouting to release
the buoy as he had actually seen me fire and was worried
the spear would not hold. |
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I let go and swam hard
after the float. It slowed down and I grabbed it playing
the line till it was almost there. Ryan swam down and
put a second shot. It weight in at 19kg. Very nice.
George and I did a bit of Crayfishing (Bugs) after that.
I caught one of about 3kg after a purple Trigger fish
went sideways into an insignificant crack trying to
hide from me. I went down to tap him on the head and
tell him nothing's safe out here. Lo and behold there
was a Bug there. I wrestled him out and took him to
the surface well pleased. Wayne, surfer with us, had
been Quad Biking that day.
On the 5th day, while diving the inshore Wayne and I
rode a Whale shark. Exhilarating.
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We took two big Parrotfish
for Arthur the local commercial ex-SA fisherman and friend
of two of the London International Club members. Once
I took a turn as boatsman. George and I had a great time
chasing the Chanos Chanos that were feeding on the red
Plankton floating on the surface. At one stage I dropped
George in the thick of them and watched them circle him
but just staying out of range. Funny to watch but I imagine
frustrating under water.
Day 6 was another superb morning and we had a rainbow
on the way out. Once again the sea was heaving with life.
Blue Triggers and Fusilier bait fish were everywhere.
Every dive we expected to see one of the billfish we were
trying and we caught Coral Trout, Peacock Rockcod, Kingies,
big Cristoceps. At one stage Gary was chumming up and
a Wahoo swum up the trail. John took a shot but misjudged
the distance with the clear water. |
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Patrice, John, Wayne and I took the day
off and went flyfishing. We walked 4km along the deserted beach
to a lagoon. John caught a small weaverfish and had another
nibble. We gave up after a few hours and watched the local neters
round up small fish. Funnily enough they caught a lot of flatfish.
Ryan, Gary, Bernard and George came back with tales of another
great day out. Out there the sharks were out and about, as were
the fish. Bernard had a nice 13kg Seapike, Gary had a 13kg Goldspot
Kingie and between them they had nice Cuda, Boha Snapper, Malabar
Rockcod and Coral Trout. George had lost a Cuda as Gary went
to double up on it.
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They had seen Marlin
jumping a number of times. While Gary was bringing up
a Coral Trout he had 2 Malabar chasing it trying to
eat it.
That evening it was Prawns on the Skottel and Crayfish
on the Barbecue. We rounded that off with a few local
Klipdrift Brandies.
On Day 8 John dropped 2 Wahoo (which he paid heavily
in penalties that evening) but landed 2 Cuda. At this
stage Patrice had problems with his ears and became
our permanent boatman struggling with the African sun.
All around Dolphins shoaled never getting too close
and a few times the sharks milling far below chased
our fish. Strangely they never managed to get a bite.
That night we had superb sushied fresh Cuda and barbecued
meat on the fire.
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On Day 9 we did
drifts and took a few Cuda the largest being 22kg. In
the deep aquazur sea Great Barracuda, Mantas and a nice
3m Zambi hang over the big chunks of reef. I managed to
shoot my first Wahoo ever. It ran for far longer and harder
than any Cuda I have ever shot. The secret technique had
worked.
Day 10 was quiet so we did massive drifts covering reef
70 - 120ft. Fortunately there was very little current
so keeping on good spots was easy. I drifted over one
spot in 90ft of water and clouds of fish came up to 30ft
to investigate. |
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Dropping down the shoals
sunk with me. Lurking behind them was decent snapper.
I was happy to be able to take one.
Ryan had a 25kg Ignoblis. I had seen it from the top
earlier on and did not realise the size.
Today we had trouble with the Mantas out there. Once
they dragged our marker buoy out to sea never to be
seen again and once they swam off with George's Flasher.
Luckily he managed to hold onto the Chicken float.
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The holiday was a great experience and our
hosts made every effort to make sure we were safe, content
and most importantly, ontop of the fish.
Paul Maxwell
divelondon@hotmail.com
www.divelondon.com
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