Kingfisher Boats
P.O. Box 29
Malindi
Kenya
Tel: +254-42-20123
Email: kingfisher@swiftmalindi.com
Subject: Fishing report ending 22.02.04
Some odd, unusual weather this week with the ambient temp going up by
about 2 F. Very hot and humid. Rain coulds are about and Malindi had
just a few drops on Thursday, but the Mida Creek area had a really good
shower the same day. Most mornings though have been lovely, and calm,
an off shore breeze and the Easterly wind starting up around midday,
light to moderate most days.
We were all hoping that the run of Black Marlin which I reported last
week would continue into this week. Well it did. On Monday Little Toot
and Alleycat both had a black marlin each. Alleycat also got a Giant
Trevalley which may prove to be an all Africa record on 30 lb line.
Tina fishing on the last day of the German EFSA Tournament had 2 Sailfish
and lost 3, probably due to inexperiance and finger trouble. Snark had
a nice Kingfish of 24 kg. Neptune set out for the NKB on an overnight.
On Tuesday Snark released a tiger shark and Neptune returned from the
NKB with 2 sailfish and 2 broadbill from 6 strikes. Wednesday was the
first day of the Billfish only Morson Cup light line Tournament with
5 entries. No billfish were caught this day day on Tournament boats,
but OlJogi and Alleycat both had a black marlin. Eclare set off for
the NKB on an overnight.
By this time it is fairly clear that most of the sailfish have moved
on from the inshore water around Malindi, leaving just a few to keep
fishermen from falling asleep, offshore there are many more . Marlin
are still about though keeping everyone on their toes.
Thursday was the 2 nd day of the Morson Cup and only 1 billfish caught.
This was on Wave Hopper by Martin Eagar, the only private boat entry.
Eclare returned from NKB with 5 sailfish, 4 broadbill and 1 black marlin
in a successfull overnight trip. On the same night Tarka and White Bear
were out Tarka had 3 nice Broadbill, 1 of 82 kgs which may prove to
be a new all Africa record on 50 lbs tackle. White Bear fought a broadbill
for on hour before loosing it, and then later fought another for 2 and
half hours before this fish also broke loose, but not before it had
bust the fighting chair.
Friday was new Moon and I did not hear of any billfish being caught,
but Tina had a very nice King of 27 kg, the biggest for us this season.
Saturday was the first day of the Billfish Tournament, there were 8
entries, but only 1 sailfsih was caught on Alleycat. I do know that
there were a few missed chances. Snark released a tiger shark and Tina
boated a tiger shark of 281 kgs which had been quite seriously damaged
by a boat propellor about a week or so before. A careless skipper perhaps.
Fishing for Marlin is a different ballgame - as many of you know. Sitting
on a live or dead bait for hours or days waiting for that strike can
be demoralising. As each hour goes by your concentration becomes less
so that when the strike finally comes and it comes quickly you are unprepared
and start doing things which you know to be wrong, but you do it automatically
and instinctivally, and so it was on the 1st and 2 nd day of the tounament.
Chances came and were lost. Eclare lost one on the 1st day and popped
another on the 2 nd day. Tarka popped a good one on the 1st day and
there were others.
So Sunday dawned, the last day of the Billfish Tournament. It did not
seem different to any other day, but it was. There were thirteen hook
ups, 3 were caught 10 were lost and God knows how many more were seen.
Long serving skippers say they have never seen Marlin like this. All
black marlin. Amazing stuff. The 3 marlin caught were on White Bear
478 lbs, Choka Naye 250 - 300 lbs, Neptune taged and released. Surprisingly,
Alleycat who was seeing marlin everyday never saw one on this day. Torunament
results were Neptune first team was Russell Brumby, Thomas Wright and
Angus Paul, just edging Alleycat into second fished by Johnny Andrews
Tom Cunningham and Pete Darnborough, no third place.
I have to run - going to up to Tsavo for a few days. Back next week.
Hope Marlin run continues.
HP
Kingfisher Boats
P.O. Box 29
Malindi
Kenya
Tel: +254-42-20123
Email: kingfisher@swiftmalindi.com
Website: www.kenyasportfishing.net
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