Kingfisher Boats
P.O. Box 29
Malindi
Kenya
Tel: +254-42-20123
Email: kingfisher@swiftmalindi.com
Subject: Fishing Report week ending 14th March 2004
The weather in the first half of the week was dominated by the Cyclone in Madagascar, strong winds a big swell and rough conditions at sea. These conditions became milder during the week, the last few days been good weather with lovely mornings and light winds. Current still running south though and water temperature dropping being 78 deg on Sunday morning winds are changing and I expect the southerly monsoon will start in the next 10 days or so. The current running south has turned the water north of Malindi to a green colour.
Fishing is slowing down a little now, not because of no fish but rather
a lack of fishermen. Surprisingly people do not seem to rate March very
highly, yet it is one of the calmest months of the year and probably
the best marlin month. Some big fish including the biggest blue marlin
ever caught off the Kenya coast were caught in March.
Monday, only 2 boats out . Neptune from Ngomeni had 1 black marlin,
a sailfish and about 15 other fish. Snark out of Malindi got a nice
Kobia of 25 kg 6 Kingfish 6 yellowfin and a few other fish. Ol Jogi
lost a good black in the morning but got one later fishing in the Mambrui
area.
Tuesday only Neptune and Eclare fishing from Ngomeni. Eclare had a Black
and a striped marlin, Neptune 4 sailfish 3 blacktip shark wahoo etc.
and Tarka released a Black marlin fishing in the Mambrui area.
Wednesday saw Eclare set off on an overnight trip in spite of the threat
of high winds and rough seas. Also fishing were Neptune and Snark. Snark
had 2 sailfish and 9 kingfish one of which weighed 23 kgs, a very nice
fish. Neptune had 4 sailfsih and a load of bonito. Eclare boated a black
marlin of 106 kg, the decision being taken on board that the fish stood
no chance if it were released due to a seriously damaged eye. As Eclare
was to stay out all night the fish was transferred to Neptune.
Thursday Tina back very early due to sea sickness only a few tuna. Snark
fared better with a sailfish and about 6 other fish all different species.
Eclare returned from a very rough night at sea. Our fisherman, Ian Fenton,
having prepared a makeshift bed on an engine box was preparing to practice
a little Egyptian PT while waiting for the strikes to happen, when a
big wave came over the side and swamped all the careful preparations.
No PT that night Egyptian or otherwise as no fish were caught. Not a
good night.
Friday only Tina and Neptune out fishing Tina fishing from Malindi had
three sailfsih and some tuna whilst Neptune fishing out of Ngomeni also
had 3 sailfish, wahoo and tuna. They saw marlin but not interested.
The sushi served on board with all the trimmings was much appreciated
by Ian. Tarka had a black marlin in boiling pot area and I hear that
others were seen and caught on the Banks and off malindi.
Saturday all boats fishing from Ngomeni and Malindi had no Billfish
today, only a few kingfish, wahoo and Yellowfin Ol Jogi though fishing
off Mambrui had a black and blue marlin and Tarka a black marlin. Further
south a few boats tangled with marlin but not sure who got what. Certainly
there is a lot more activity on the Rips now.
Sunday a lovely morning again with the wind starting to veer into the
south. Eclare and Tarka spent last night in the lee of Ziwayu island
where apparently they had a real ball! The two boats then fished back
into Malindi today. Tarka ended up with 2 black marlin and 2 sailfish
for the 2 days and Eclare had 4 sailfish and a very big wahoo on the
first day which they released. As Batian said, it was the best fishing
trip this season because they had so much fun. And that is what its
all about, fishing should be fun and never taken too seriously. Closer
to home Neptune fished down to Malindi from Ngomeni and apart from having
a marlin follow them for a while only got some smaller fish. Snark had
a sailfish and some other fish and Tina lost a sailfish when the hook
broke and ended up with kingfish, wahoo and tuna. Further south on the
Rips there was much more activity. White Bear must have had a least
6 Marlin up and got 2 blacks - this boat is hot at the moment - and
Instedda had one black marlin. The little boat Bahari out of Watamu
hooked and lost a really big black after jumping 4 or 5 times and then
threw the bait back at him. All together a really good weeks fishing
again, but will it last!!!! This southerly current is pushing dirty
water south all the time and if the Rips become dirty the fishing will
deteriorate. We all hope for another good week.
On the commercial side the set and drift nets are still getting long
tail tuna, the odd sailfish and this week are starting to get the small
kingfish ( scomberomorus flavobrunneus). Unfortunately this fish is
particularly vulnerable to these nets and as this fish does not appear
in large shoals any more it must be assumed by observation that these
nets will wipe them out completely. In the Sailrock area the Government
licensed a ring net. This net which has a very small mesh size and is
about a half mile long operated by two boats to encircle a whole shoal
of fish with scuba divers driving the fish to enter the net. When all
are in the net is closed. In this way they kill tons of juvenile fish
daily eg mackerel, rainbow runner etc., Difficult to understand how
Government can license such a wicked form of fish harvesting. On the
same note it was reported on the radio that members of the seamens union
together with some fishermen demonstrated outside the Provincial Commissioner's
office in Mombasa against the licensing of foreign fishing vessels fishing
Kenyan waters. The vessels in question are 7 longliners and 52 purse
seiners, yes you read right 52. Disgusting.
At this time our thoughts go out to the people of Spain to those families
who have been blown apart. Such savagery. Perhaps the full might of
all countries against terrorism will come to bare and eliminate this
madness quickly. Thats it for this week.
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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