Just a few pics to show what we were up to.

Nice catch! Care to share some details?

Thanks

After very hard work, and a years waiting time, we at last got the chance to get licensed to operate fishing charters out Tofu, Mozambique.

We had a great time, and our whole team was down there.

The people we hosted got sea sick on the first day so me and Fred had a bit of fun. The weather was not good, and May is not the best time to fish this area. None the less, we did ok.....I got a nice Sailfish, small yellowfin tunnie, and me and Fred had a nice double on the Dorado's. Lots of bottom fish like snapper and rock cod as well.

Sailfish was taken on a Shimano Tld20 with a light Shimano standup rod, 15kg main mono line with a 54lbs Leader. A Williamson Softie with a trailing Ballyhoo baitfish got him on the boat. We raised 5 more, but falied to get them to strike.

Tunnie was taken on a Halco deep diving minnow and the Dorado's on the ever faithful red and white X-rap from Rapala. We "flipped" a carrapou bait rigged for King mackerel to a dorado when Fred got his next to the boat, and we managed to hook and load him.

Mozambique truly is a lost paradise, and we are looking forward to sharing the laid back relaxed paradise with our friends and clients. Frederik took some of the most amazing photo's you can imagine.

We are back now, and will start hunting next week!

Couple weeks of fishing chased by a full hunting season, you guys have a very rough life .

Charl, did the police ever catch the guy that where stealing the razor blades??

Welcome back!

I'd be interested in an after the hunt fishing trip sometime. Sounds interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
Charl, did the police ever catch the guy that where stealing the razor blades??

Welcome back!

lekker one - looks like u had a ball of a time, sorry i couldnt make it!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
Charl, did the police ever catch the guy that where stealing the razor blades??

Welcome back!

There is something about bearded men that get things done quicker in Africa.......

Great Pics man, but catch and release is the way to go with Billfish these days IMHO.

Moz has some amazing fishing available from what I hear so I'm sure you will have a great time with your new venture. I hope it becomes a great success for you.

FB

I'm going to guess what you call Dorado are what I used to catch once in awhile in Djibouti, what the French call a Coryphene and what is sometimes called a Dolphinfish in the Pacific. The head which looks like the movie monster Alien is unmistakeable. Good eating and amazing coloring when right out of the water. Did you notice that the colors on that fish fade out within minutes? And a very nice sailfish.

FB,

True what you say, and when it comes to Marlin 100% agree. Sailfish I agree with as well, and if caught in SA would have been T%R'ed, but if you see how poor, and protein starved the Mozambiquen people are, you will have no problem, when the "ghillie" asks you if they can keep it, to oblige. So I do not have a problem, every now and again, and if the other fish is down a bit, to keep one. And they do make for very good table fare, if you have ever tried it?!

Wink, I think it is also known as Mahi-Mahi....and one of the view international renowned Game Fish that go with so many names!

Charl - Nice catch and looks like a really neat place. What are the best months for billfish, Marlin and of course Sails? I'll be there in Sept. this year so any additional info if you can please. PM me if you like. Thanks

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry,

Of course I can share. The Billfish are more active in the cooler months down that part of the coast, but not in deep winter. September should be ok if the weather holds.

Me and Brad Phillips from Guatemala Billfish Adventures is going to have a chat in June about Billfish in those waters as there are not a lot of guys who have gone after them specifically. Every charter runs for the Gamefish to keep the clients on the boat bussy. But there are a LOT. We saw so many Sailies, and in Shallow water. We drifted over a reef in about 16 meters of water for King Mackarel (couta) when a 30+kg Sailie erupted a bait ball not 40 meters from the boat. He then passed meters from us in that tropical gin clear water. What a SIGHT! I wish I had a fly rod at the time, but did not....

There are charters up and down the coast. Let me know if I can send you some info on what we offer there, and I'll PM you.

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:


Wink, I think it is also known as Mahi-Mahi....and one of the view international renowned Game Fish that go with so many names!

Right you are! People couldn't stand the idea of eating dolphin so they renamed it with the Hawaiian name to make it politically correct.

Charl, congrats to you and Fred on the catches. Fine eating and I know you agree. When are the big Tuna around?
Cheers,
David

I love fishing as much as hunting, that sure looks like a great trip!

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:


Wink, I think it is also known as Mahi-Mahi....and one of the view international renowned Game Fish that go with so many names!

Right you are! People couldn't stand the idea of eating dolphin so they renamed it with the Hawaiian name to make it politically correct.

They still call them Dolphins in the Sea of Cortez. I had no idea they were in Mozambique! Looks like you had a good time!

Thanks guys!

We sure had a ball. Ann, I'm telling you, it's a paradise holiday if ever there was one. WE'll be offering some specials soon enough for AR folks.

The interesting thing is that we do surf launches. I had to undergo a special skippers training course to get licensed to do it. With a Rubber duck no problem, but a 18 foot 700kg fibreglass boat with outboards is interesting. It is nearly just as much fun going in and coming out than the fishing self.

Hey David buddy! Big Tuna stick to the colder deep waters of Cape Point down south. The ones we get are shoal Tuna and the biggest we get in our waters runs in the 20kilo class. But as you well know, those things can PULL! We have a short video clip of me with that small Tunnie on a stardrag centrepin reel....Man it was FUN!

We have some of our English clients that we are taking in November, and I cannot wait to get down there again.

Sitting on the stoep, sipping magjito's or Pina colada's watching that sun set over those blue waters, amazing!

I know about the names for Dorado, and always wondered where the Mahi-Mahi came from. Thought it might be Polynesian (spelling??)

Charl
it is great fishing and dont forget the the R&R's(rum & rasberry) or Tipo Tinto's as they are called there November is the best time for marlin and sailfish

This fishes look delicious!

quote:

I know about the names for Dorado, and always wondered where the Mahi-Mahi came from. Thought it might be Polynesian (spelling??)

Charl,

Mahi Mahi is Hawaiian for "strong strong". Looks like the Polynesians caught their fair share of big ones. The Spanish named them "Dorado" for the "Guilded One". Guess they appreciated the colorful fish for other reasons.

Any way you look at it, they are a fine sport fish, great eating too. If you have a chance, dorado ceviche is the best.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Jack D Bold:

If you have a chance, dorado ceviche is the best.

Cheers

Thanks Jack. Jip they do get the blood running with those jumps.

More info on the recipe please, if possible.

Cheers,

Charl, I have many great fish recipes as you know I'm a saltwater nut..lol. Try this one on Dolphin fish (what we call them).

Fillet your fish, removing lateral and rib bones, but leave the skin on. Wash in cold water to remove any tiny scales, etc. Lay fillets on paper towels to remove the water. Cut into preferred size pieces (I like to cut them into six inch steaks, length). Melt 1/2 cup of butter on LOW heat (high heat separates the butter from water). Brush each fillet with Olive Oil on the skin side only. Brush each fillet with melted butter on the flesh side only. Take a plate and cover it with 1/2-3/4 inches of Brown Sugar. Lay each fillet, SKIN side down into the Brown Sugar. Place each fillet, SKIN side onto a charcoal grill (have your coals hot and grey, no flames). While the fillets are cooking (about 10 mins on average, but you must know your braii/grill), prepare a Lemon Sauce as follows:
1. Squeeze enough lemons to make 1/2 cup of juice (you may make double if your feeding more people). Remove any seeds.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of Lemon Zest (grate the lemon peels with a fine grate. You want tiny shavings. Add to juice.
3. Add 1 tbsp of Soy Sauce.
4. Over a medium burner (stove) bring the lemon sauce to a near boil.
5. Add 1-2 tablespoons of Corn Starch to thicken. Remove from heat.

When fillets are done, remove the skin and dark meat from the lateral line area. It generally pulls right off, and the dark meat will flake off easily with a knife/fork. Place fillet on plate and cover with lemon sauce.
cheers,
David

Charl,

Dorado (what we call them on this coast) Ceviche -

Ingredients-

Fish Fillet 1/2-3/4 kg
4-5 limes
Cilantro, one bunch
White onion -half
Firm tomatoes- 2
Chili sauce - Tapatio brand if you can get it
1 Jalapeno pepper
Salt
Favorite beverage


Thinly slice the fish, the thinner the better. Chop to 2cm length. Squeeze limes over the fish. Allow to sit for 3-4 hours. The lime juice "cooks" the fish.

Chop the rest of the ingredients, mix into the fish. Add sauce to taste. Allow that to sit for another hour, the tastes will "marry". Remove from fridge, pop a beer, serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

David,

Cheers my friend!

I braaied some fillets from the sailfish tonight. Marinated in Lemon and soy with some chillies and olive oil. Braaied over hot coals quickly and basted with butter garlic sauce.....

Served with savory rice and oven roasted veggies and a fresh salad.....man....washed down with a good KWV Chardonnay it was heavenly!

And the Bulls won the Sharks tonight with the Super 14 rugby, so perfect end to a quite Saturday......

Jack, yours is something new to me, and def. worth a try. I love stuff like that.

Cheers for that guys!

Charl- How big are those tides? I am curious from your beached photo and your mention of the beach launch. Are you using a tractor? Looks like great fun!

Crane,

I use my pick up toyota. The trailer is a special breakneck design and I have a winch on the front.

As mentioned, I had to undergo a special surf launch course as a skipper to get licensed.

We off load the boat in the shallow whitewash and the crew get the nose into the surf. I get on and fire motors up. When the time is ready I give the crew the nod and they scramble aboard. We then go through the waves with a special "run and punch" zig zag pattern. Great fun and something that REALY gets the adrenalin pumping! I'll try and post some pictures of the launch process.

The beaching is fun as well, as we "surf the boat at full speed on the back off a wave onto the sand. The motors have special beaching kits that lifts the motors when we hit the sand. the boat the skid onto to the beach out of the white wash!

I believe it is only in South Africa and Australia that we launch this way.

Charl

Did u guys get onto any baracuda's? i was in Morangula a couple of years ago and we really got stuck into them, i got 14 from one morning, they really go down well in a skottle with butter, and bananas ontop.... hmmmm makes me want to go back right now!

.458Aubs, use caution when eating 'Cuda's. Not sure about the Indian Ocean but in the Gulf/Atlantic you can die from eating them. Especially the larger specimen's. They love Puffer Fish (blowfish, Porcupine fish). One of the deadliest poisons known (just ask the Japanese). It doesn't harm the Cuda or large reef species (Grouper/Snappers) but can kill a human that ingests it. It is called something like cigaroara (I'm sure I've misspelled it). Check out the local warnings. I used to eat Cuda and yes, I too find it delicious...until I got the word. Take care, David

Hey david, 458aubs may be talking of king mackeral when he refers to barracuda. In Barra and Pemba, as well as Richard's Bay RSA the captains i've been with referred to kings as barracuda.
If not, as Rosana Rosanadana used to say, "never mind."

BTW, if he does mean cuda as you and i know cuda, then he had better be damn careful!

Hi guys!

Aubrey is talking about King Mackeral. In our waters we refer them as Couta. A lot of the older skippers called them Barracuda and couta comes from that. Rightly pointed out by Nkonka. The guys got Barracuda and King Mackeral mixed up.

We get the Greater Barracuda and the shoal Pike handle Barracuda in our waters. We will keep that warning in mind my friend!

Hey David, I know your tied up with that big Nyala in your mind, but maybe we should put something together for a trip to paradise to go fishing.....

Thanks Dan, I had no clue he was talking about what we just call King's. I've caught my share of those in our Gulf, and to me they are good eating.

Charl, I'm going to try and bring that book on the Boer War by Thomas Pakenham with me and leave it at the Afton for you. I'd love to go fishing with you and Fred. Can we use depth charges and get some of those mega sharks? I think their called Great Whites or something like that...

David, thanks for the reminder about the book. I got it in the meantime from a English hunter.....

We'll speak soon!