Sunday, November 1, 2020

Let the summer games begin!!!

On Sunday 1st November 2020, At and I launched “Vamos” off Cape Vidal. There had been a few dorado around, so we were keen to get a few. The SW had been howling the previous day and the surf was really big. It took a while before we found the right gap and could get through safely. There were a few livies around so it didn’t take too long to start fishing.

I was busy letting out the first line when the spool sped up then stopped before I could tighten up. The next bait was just set when the reel smoked off. The fish was on 3kg line so I had to play it gently. Unfortunately, a few minutes in, the hooks pulled. I managed to get another line out and within a few minutes, we were on to a nice dorado. It was good to get a fish in the boat. Things went a bit quiet and we only had our next pull about an hour later. It was on the deep line that I was about to check. It made a short run, then it felt as if the hook pulled. At the same time, the 3kg rod went away so I put the one rod down and grabbed the other and tightened up. There was a commotion on the surface as a shark ate my fish. At started retrieving the other line and felt that there was still a fish on it. It turned out to be a small cuda, a welcome addition to the hatch. In the meantime, I parted off the line on the shark.

With the lined in, we headed back to the point. I was bust letting the bait out when the reel took off in my hands. I tightened up and hooked another shoal cuda. There was not much of a fight even though it was on the light line. There seemed to be a few fish in the area and soon the deep line went away. We assumed it was a cuda but it turned out to be another dorado. It had a follower which grabbed the close surface bait next to the flasher. Unfortunately, it pulled hooks after a short run.


Vamos on the beach at Vidal

At made another turn and soon we had another cuda on the deep line. Things were looking good despite the cold wind and odd rain shower. We had two other pulls, but they turned out to be a small bonito and a big garfish. We were at the point where we were ready to call it a day when another rod went away. Almost immediately there was slack line and a small cuda came flying in between the motors and under the boat, followed by a big zambezi shark. I hit freespool as the cuda tried to get away. It seemed like I had a chance, but then the cuda just stopped on the surface. The shark crashed onto it, white water and blood everywhere. I parted off immediately to save me any pain.

Both of us agreed that it was a sign that we head back to shore. That night we had the best fresh fish for supper.

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