Inhaca Island Spearfishing Trip

Inhaca Island Ocean Charts

The sea has been amazing at home bar the unfortunate fact that there has been absolutely no vis for over a week! The week before that was monstrous swell, so as luck would have it I have not dived in a couple weeks.

I cant bee too bleak tho ... :-) because tomorrow morning I am off to Santa Maria across the channel from Inhaca Island in Mozambique. I have been spending my dive less hours sorting gear and this morning drooling over the ocean charts wondering what each spot will have for us.

Nhonguane Lodge - Santa Maria looks like we are going to have to slum it.

Best of all is we have moved our accommodation from the island to Santa Maria to Nhonguane Lodge that is right on the waters edge and tucked away in this little bay just around the corner from Hells Gate. We are a little bit further away from Baixo Danae about 25km away, but the main reef at Santa Maria is right there so we will be hoping to spearfish some good Wahoo's ...cant wait.

If I get Internet access I will do an update ..otherwise look out for a post when I am back towards the end of the month.

Coatesman


Book your own Mozambican Spearfishing Adventure go to: Spearfishing Charters Mozambique

Croc Couta Down South

Wayne with 26.5kg Croc Couta caught off the lower South Coast

Its the time of the year when the South Coast starts to come alive. With the prospects of Sardine shoals game fish from up north migrate down to the Transkei to feast, and following not too far behind are the fishermen.
I have a mate who lives down in Port Edward that has been spearfishing and fishing the area over the last few years, and by his own admition its not the easiest place to work out. But for the past few years his and his clients success's have been improving to the point where he is saying ,"I know where the Couta are" with a big cheesy grin.
Anyway this past week saw some good fish come out some were over 30kg. Wayne managed to get his clients a 26 and a 19kg fish, that and some other quality fish that filled the hatch.

At the moment the north coast is quiet and the sea rather unsettled, I am probably going to twist Waynes arm to take me out down south if things dont look up this side soon. Wayne does both fishing and spearfishing charters ..give him a shout on: 084-616–3295

Spearfishing Shark Attack

This past week there were rumors of a shark attack. They ranged from some one hearing of an attack to a 5 meter Great White attacking a spearfisherman to a diver being swallowed by a Great White. I called the local sharks board guy on Thursday morning and at that stage he had not heard anything so I fobbed it off as stories.

That was until I got this email from Fourie Combrinck

Every Spearfishermans worst nightmare

On the 4th of May at about 8am we launched from Glenmore Beach on the lower south coast. It looked like to what was going to turn out to be a perfect day for some diving, flat see and only a light S Westerly blowing. Our late start was due to the problem that we could not get two stroke marine oil at the local garage the reason for this was  the ski boat compos which took place over the long week ends.
After diving on some spots in the Glenmore erea without any success we both decided to head towards one of our favorite spots in the Palm Beach er ea. I noticed a lot of activity in the water which I could make out to be red eyed sardines while turns were bombarding them from the air.
After anchoring and in a flurry to kit up we were soon both in the water because after the long spell of dirty water we where both eager to shoot some fish.The visibility was plus minus 6 to 7 meters and the temperature quite warm for this time of year according to me My dive buddy Trevor Burger beat me to it an soon bagged a nice bronzy. After he landed his second fish and me only seeing a big shoal of pinkys I drifted of to the southern side of the reef, about 20 to 25 meters away. After another fruitless down on which I only came across some black tails and a barbel I surfaced to see Trevor siting on the boat. He shouted to me to get to the boat as there was a shark in the vicinity. This was strange to me as we both have encountered sharks before with out them hassling us.
I was surprised to hear Trevor say that he was bitten by the shark. According to him he shot a banky (finger fin) at about 10 meters and on his way to the surface felt the shark biting on to his lower left leg and shaking him twice before letting go  and swimming away.He only saw the shark after it let go of him from behind and was unable to recognize the species, but we both suspect it to be a dusky as we have encountered them in the erea before. Again I was surprised by the speed of these animals underwater how quickly it attacked and disappeared.
Trevor bandaged his leg while I raced back to Glenmore from where my wife Lindy took him to hospital.
After some serious stitching (58) and crimps four days later Trevor was released from hospital  but like a true spearo cant wait for the wounds to heal so that he can go diving again
To all the people that lend a helping hand on the beach we want to say thank you and to the ouk that saw two spearos being attacked by a 5,5 great white in the same erea...sorry I know nothing of it.

This is not the kind of thing any of us enjoy hearing about, and sends shivers down my spine. Trevor sorry, this is heavy ... I guess on the bright side there is no disabling damage and you have one serious cool conversation starter next time your in the pub trying to chat up a blonde. God speed with your recovery and hope to see you in the water soon.

Coatesman

Sunrise Point Grinds

Dan Redman coming through a sick section.

 This weekend the dive was no good at all, but the surf was ridiculously fun. Sunday even cleaned up and there were some of the thickest flawless barrels grinding across the sand banks off Ballito. Sunrise was starting to do its thing and my lighty and I got some crazy waves all to our selves before the other guys pulled in to surf. Dan and Josh Redman came to get there share of shade underneath the liquid anvils roaring across the bay. I grabbed my cam and got some great shots of the guys. 

There some flawless waves that just went unridden.

As always the rip was super intense and we all battled to stay up the point to get the good waves. This meant that there were many crackers that just went unridden. But that is Sunrise for you!! It a higher grade wave that demands extreme fitness and determination, but the rewards are big! Most guys just give up and sit off the peak and take the scraps .... got to love it!

For more pics go to: Sunrise Point

Cant wait for the next good tide and swell to collide.

Coatesman