Raja Clavata Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 So, the three of us headed off on the 27th November. Virgin Atlantic from LHR to Nairobi and then a short hop to the coast on a turbo prop jobbie. Martina Navratilova sat in the seat in front of us on the way there and across the aisle from me on the return (until she got upgraded - both times). First time I've ever spent my own hard earned on a seating upgrade (two of us went Premium Economy and "uncle" went Upper Class) - have to say it was worth it. Acclimatised to the heat, sort of, on the first day and then up at 6:30 the next for the first of 5 days fishing on the boat. As it was my first trip the other two were very accomodating and gave me more than my fair share of the action. First fish of the trip below - a bonito (tuna) which was just a bit too big for live-bait but made amazing sushi with the soy sauce we brought along and the wasabi we mixed up on the boat. Duncan with a Wahoo, these things can take fingers and toes off when brought on board - this explained why Duncan and Barry ran forward as Diblo (the crew member) gaffed it and brought it aboard. We took half of this back to the hotel and they cooked it for us - delicious. Me with a Giant Trevally on the second day. I had the squits before getting on the boat and was feeling somewhat less than in fine fettle. Fortunately the imodium put pay to any further epiosodes but it knocked me ziggy for the entire day. We put it down to the fact that I had not drunk enough alcohol the night before but it was probably the anti-malarials (they play havoc with me for some reason). Diblo holding a rainbow runner - just before it got rigged up as live bait. We had a screaming take off of this and all that came back was the head, the rest bitten clean off with a couple of hooks dangling in thin air where the rest of the fish had been - dunno how they do that!? Barry with a Giant Trevally on the third day. These don't taste so good but the locals still eat them. I had my first sail-fish that day but unfortunately the pics (and a lot of others) are on a Sony MS Pro Duo card which has failed. On the same day I caught this Yellow Fin Tuna and I finally found something that fights harder than a cat-fish - what a scrap. We also caught a Dorado which again went into the kitchen at the hotel and was absolutely superb eating (possibly the best fish I have eaten). Duncan caught this sailfish on the fourth day. These jump out of the water several times during the initial fight. All healthy fish caught are tagged and returned alive. We had another sailfish take in the afternoon but it was on a light lure (bait fish jig) so we were always in for a fight. Unfortunately there was a steering malfunction on the boat at exactly the same time and the fish ended up ahead of the boat (very bad thing) and was lost. Early bath due to the steering issue which was fixed that night. That night /early hours of the next day, Duncan and I were escorted to a local night-club. Never seen anything like it, makes the meat markets in the UK look like a afternoon tea party. I have to admit I was pretty uneasy in there and was relieved to get out But this was not before we danced with the Maasai (there were a couple of them on the dance floor and it wasn't to be missed!). In hindsight I suspect that our uneasyness was self induced. On the fifth and final day things were pretty slow, we had two Dorado and a Wahoo. We ate one of the Dorado and gave the other to some of the staff at the hotel. Again the Dorado was superb and the staff were very grateful. We flew out the next morning having had a great time, we laughed more than any of us had done in years, the company was great, the fishing good, the location, hotel and food superb and the people, well, they are truly special The whole experience has left a lasting impression on me, won't go into it here - maybe start a separate thread in the off-topic section sometime. This was my first trip to Africa but it won't be my last. BR Raja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 What a year you have had Raja.Great de stresser after the studies eh? Great pics and write up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 awesome mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 nice write up..cuould you pm details of how much and who you used as looking to do something like that next september for my old mans 60th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Nice write up and nice to see some piccies of bright sunshine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger.22cal Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 some cracking fish there mate... well down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 cracking write up and pics, if you think the fishing is good you need to see some of the shooting out there :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Glad you had some great fishing. Great pics, but no camera seems to be able to catch the lit up colours of wahoo and dorado especially, when they first come on board. Did the chap who caught the sailfish get thrown in the water back at the Marina ? That is the custom in most places and it comes as quite a shock, especially for me, I can't swim. They had to jump in and pull me out, on all future trips I issued the necessary warning not to throw me in. Dorado features on the menu in most places as mahi mahi or dolphin and I agree it has to be the best eating fish in the world. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted December 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Thank-you all. TBH the others said the fishing was slow in comparison to last time (year before last) but I was happy enough :yp: What a year you have had Raja.Great de stresser after the studies eh? Great pics and write up. Yes - thinking up excuses for 2 more visits next year, want to see some more of the country and do a bit of the safari thing. nice write up..cuould you pm details of how much and who you used as looking to do something like that next september for my old mans 60th Will do but it's no good in September (rainy season) Nice write up and nice to see some piccies of bright sunshine Yeah, whatever cracking write up and pics, if you think the fishing is good you need to see some of the shooting out there Please tell me more! One of the guys from the hotel mentioned that he takes guests hunting - got me all excited and then I realised it was at a nightclub B) Glad you had some great fishing. Great pics, but no camera seems to be able to catch the lit up colours of wahoo and dorado especially, when they first come on board. Did the chap who caught the sailfish get thrown in the water back at the Marina ? That is the custom in most places and it comes as quite a shock, especially for me, I can't swim. They had to jump in and pull me out, on all future trips I issued the necessary warning not to throw me in. Dorado features on the menu in most places as mahi mahi or dolphin and I agree it has to be the best eating fish in the world. :( You are so right about the colours! I caught the first sailfish and didn't get wet. The sea temp was 80 to 81F so it would have been like falling into a warm swimming pool. I can imagine that not being able to swim make things a little tricky (funnily enough though falling out of a boat as a kid was the way I learnt to swim). Appreciate the comments. If there are places available on our trip next year I will let folks know. BR Raja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Sweepy Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 For someone who dont fish I have really enjoyed your post. Thank you for sharing a bit of the sunshine. :( xxxxSuzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanibaby Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Wow! Excellent photos! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Great write and pics, looked like a top trip, nice one :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Fantastic pics Mike, im totally envious that i wasnt there with you and the others to enjoy what looks like a cracking trip ATB Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek.snr Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 nice weather /sea conditions when i go its rough as a badgers ar-e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 jealous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 great pics...brings back memories i was fortunate to live in kenya for 22 yrs,we used to go down to the coast and stay at the Malindi Beach Hotel and arrange trips out on the boats...now the kids are older i am thinking of going back for a holiday... mikky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Nice report and pics! I thought Wahoo were protected? I remember being torn off a strip by Jacques Cousteau back in the 80's when it was mentioned that we BBQ them?? Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted January 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Have just "negotiated" a ten day stay this coming November / December - will look into a bit of shooting as well. I thought Wahoo were protected? I remember being torn off a strip by Jacques Cousteau back in the 80's when it was mentioned that we BBQ them?? Nige Nige, Must admit I was expecting more of the fish to go back than did but it is Africa after all and very little goes to waste. People were even asking for the heads off the fish we took back to the hotel. Hemingways have stopped people landing the sailfish there in Watamu but the number of suspicious looking packages that come ashore there suggest that there are still a few passing through. One of ours was injured and the crew took it to Malindi. It's meant to be pretty special smoked. No one made any kind of fuss about the wahoo, or anything else for that matter, that came ashore whilst we were there. I absolutely loved it there and can't wait to get back. ATB Raja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Cracking weather, jealous is not the word :blink: Nice one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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