If you heard the rumour that I caught nothing on our trip you have been miss informed and this photo proves it... I caught a lot of ZZZ,s thanks to Steve, Jerone and Gary... they forced this vile Red Juice down my throat and made me walk home from 360 Restuarant... That's my story and I'm Sticking to it!!!

The real adventure began early on Saturday morning with a group of eager anglers bound for Mozambique... The trip to the border was fairly uneventful with the usual stop for Petrol, Steers and a coffee... we did have a short break earlier for Rowan at a well known to remain anonymous Garage/Restuarant where it was proven that if the hourly toilet check is signed things aren't necessarily clean...or it's been a busy hour in between I suppose.. enough said.

The border post wasn't busy but for some reason the Police were out to inspect every car over 30yrs old and full of rust... new cars were sent through at pace... we didn't understand it either.

A quick team talk and some strategic planning was done in the best way we know how...and a get the sand out of your throat welcome to all old friends and first timers was enjoyed... Jerone who's first trip it was out of SA was give a bit of extra motivation.

A morning of banter and stuffing around with the 2 way radios reveals the entrance to Malongane....as the stories of fish caught become stories of fish we hope to catch you could feel the excitement...

A few bags thrown onto beds and the bait carefully put into the freezer had us all going down to the beach for a look... we knew the wind would be pumping but it was our brave and fearless leader who rallied the troops .... 

So it was that we landed up at Mamoli with the intention of drifting back to malongane with the howling North East.

The thing about going on a trip is that there are guy's and girls of various abilities... we had a few really experienced guys and we had a few with less... there is no pressure put on anyone because at the end of the day it's all about the getting away with other guy's who love to fish and the outdoor life style it offers.

Bogart, Wouter, Rowan, Jacque and Jerone all launched at Mamoli unfortunately Jerone got the worst of the terrible conditions and with his rudder jamming there was no way he could get out... he kept having to jump off his ski to straighten his rudder. It was only Wouter who managed to get out unscathed but his time would come later.

With a 4 hour drift ahead of them the rest of us headed back to the Chalets to unpack and get our tackle ready for the morning....

4hrs later Rowan and Jacque beached in front of the restuarant... Rowan with a 10kg Tunny he got vertical Jigging and a 15kg Couta, not to be out done Jacque opened his hatch to reveal another good size Couta. Fresh fish for dinner...........Not a bad afternoons fishing, especially in such difficult conitions.

Sunday morning had us all up and on the beach as the sun came up... the Northeasterly was still pumping....so it was back in the cars and off to Mamoli for another drift back to malongane. Only Bogart, Wouter and Rowan actually launched... Jacque acting as driver. The rest of us were influenced by Steve, it's always the quiet ones and we landed up at Fernando's....  I certainly heard the drums the next morning by the way...!!

Wouter got his first Sailfish and Bogart was on hand to take some cool photo's... Rowan once again got a Couta as did Bogart.

And so it was an evening of fish eating and story, so I'm told anyway!! 

Monday Morning, was surprise surprise the same... so off to Mamoli again, a unanimous NO vote by all had us back in the cars headed for Malongane, a late call and a few wrong turns had us at Frederico's.... not somewhere I have launched before but a big rip and a wide channel had me, Bogart, Rowan and Jacque ready for action. Any complacency was soon washed away as I felt the wrath of the shore-break. Bogart felt it's wrath 9 times.... shame.. and even Wouter got a 200m swim back to the beach.

Drifting at 4km's an hour with a droge anchor made the 8km paddle flash bye... I hooked 3 Couta and landed none...lets not go there. Rowan got another couta and Wouter lost another Sailfish.

Tuesday morning and no wind, a mad rush had us all on the water at first light and as luck would have it the light South Westerly turned into a buster of note... an hour later and we, all except Bogart, were back on the beach.... no Surprises when Rowan opened his hatch to reveal....a 19kg Couta the biggest of the trip.

 Packing up is never fun but it's part of going away....a good trip had by all, a lot of fun and new friends not a bad way to spend the weekend.

Cheers Anton