“OFFSHORE FISHING SLAMS”
These relate primarily to billfish hook ups accomplished on one day’s fishing and fished under IGFA (International Game Fish Association, U.S.A.) rules. Our East African fisheries provide a variety of billfish – Blue, Black, Striped Marlin; Sailfish; Broadbill and Shortbilled Spearfish. Several “slams” have been accomplished this past 2008/09 season as the number billfish during this season have surpassed all previous year records.
Grand Slam – Any 3 different species of billfish
Super Slam – Any 4 different species of billfish
Fantasy Slam – Any 5 different species of billfish
Author’s comments – Although traditionally the “slams” are for billfish, but there is no reason why a variety of other species could also apply as a “slam” record such as the tuna family! Watch this space for the next season 2009/10.
FISHING TOURNAMENTS
SEPTEMBER 24-27 2009 LATHAM OPEN TANZANIA
OCTOBER 16 2009 CHURCHILL LIGHT TACKLE MALINDI
OCTOBER 17,18 2009 MALINDI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MALINDI
NOVEMBER 22 2009 EYE-GO FISHING MTWAPA
DECEMBER 5,6 2009 MATTHEWS DE VILLIERS MALINDI
DECEMBER 13 2009 CHRISTMAS HAMPER / OPEN BOAT MTWAPA
DECEMBER 26 2009 KIDS XMAS COMPETITION WATAMU
DECEMBER 27 2009 CHRISTMAS HAMPER KILIFI
DECEMBER 28,29 2009 WATAMU XMAS COMPETITION WATAMU
JANUARY 16,17 2010
MALINDI CASINO TOURNAMENT CASINO MALINDI
JANUARY 17 2010
MTWAPA CUP MTWAPA
JANUARY 30,31 2010 KILIFI DELAMERE KILIFI
FEBRUARY 19 2010 MORSON CUP (LIGHT TACKLE) MALINDI
FEBRUARY 20,21 2010
MALINDI INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT MALINDI
FEBRUARY 27,28 2010 KILIFI CLASSIC KILIFI
MARCH 6,7 2010 WATAMU FESTIVAL WATAMU
MARCH 7 2010
KILULU COMPETITION MTWAPA
MARCH 9,10 2010
HEMINGWAYS FRIENDS OF KENYA WATAMU
MARCH 20 2010 THE MIKE DUNFORD FISHING TOURNAMENT NYALI
APRIL 3 2010 FAMILY EASTER COMPETITION WATAMU
APRIL 4 2010 MNARANI ROLIC (EASTER SUNDAY COMPETITION) KILIFI
A few words on Tag and Release by Captain Howard Lawrence-Brown
“It is interesting to note that more and more of the billfish species together with other threatened species are being tagged and released each year, a move towards protecting our ‘games species’ for the future. Our percentage release exceeds 85% !”.
Game fish tagging
The Game fish Tagging Program is recognized all over the world. The objective of this program is to obtain information on distribution, movement, growth, exploitation of different fish species and to encourage game fish anglers to participate in fisheries management and research. This program is valuable in assisting anglers to share the resource and change the emphasis from exploitation to conservation, providing a link between the Department and the angling public. The game fish tagging program provides the only tag/recapture data on species such as black marlin, sailfish, tuna, giant trevally and sharks.
Tagging a billfish in the right place is all important and most skippers and their crews are well experienced. The tag which should be placed well above the lateral line and as close to the front of the dorsal fin as possible. The tag does not harm the fish and provides vital information as to the mirgratory and localized routes the billfish use. The K.A.S.A.(Kenya Association of Sea Anglers) annual fishing magazine, RAINBOW RUNNER publishes interesting data from the African Billfish Foundation on recovered tagged fish from the 2007/08 fishing season and will continue to publish such information for the coming seasons.
Record tag information
The most important information on a tag is the tag number. This is the key to identifying the fish. It is critical to record the exact tag number. If you plan on releasing the fish, quickly write down the tag number, measure or estimate the fish’s length, then gently release the fish with the tag in place. Multiple recaptures of tagged fish are particularly valuable to the tagging program. If you keep the fish, remove the tag, for reporting purposes.
Record location of capture/ release
Details of the date, location (GPS fix of latitude and longitude) or recognized landmarks that will enable an accurate fix of the capture and release location.
Record fish data
Record the species of the fish. Measure and record both the total length and fork length of the fish, or estimate the length if you do not have a measuring device. Also provide an actual weight (using certified scales) or estimated weight of the fish. Record any information about the fish, which could be useful; for example, any unusual markings or wounds and the condition of the fish.
NB: It is interesting to note the recapture of a Kenya tagged Striped Marlin approximately 600 miles off Perth, Western Australia. The Striped Marlin travelled this distance in under 200 days and confirms that these fish are annual global travellers. A Broadbill also tagged from this coast was recovered off south-west Madagascar
Trolling
Trolling is a method of fishing by which either artificial lures or combinations of lures and baits are trolled behind the boat at speeds varying from dead slow to 8 knots, to attract and tease fish into attacking the lure. We also tow live baits which is one of the primary methods of baiting Billfish and other pelagic predators.
Bottom fishing
This is fishing the bottom of a body of water or in very deep water. A common rig for fishing on the bottom is a weight tied to the end of the line, and a hook or set of hooks tied above the weight – from an inch up line to a couple of feet from it.
Normally very productive on drop offs and sea mounts for all the snapper and grouper species plus of course Sharks, Amberjacks, and other mid water species, of which many are highly migratory and only appear at certain times of the year.
Perking
Similar to bottom fishing except higher speed retrieves are required and fancy colored perking weights are used with a combination of hooks, sometimes sweetened with bait.
Casting
Casting is the act of throwing the lure into the water with specially designed casting rods and reels. The Lure is cast to the target species and retrieved at high speed in order to provoke an attack. it is a technique commonly used when light tackle fishing, or bait and switch for sail fish etc.
Salt Water Fly Fishing
We achieve this by pulling array of hookless teasers behind the boat, in order to tease the fish into range of the angler immediately the fish is in casting range we remove the teasers and present the fly to the fish.
Nine times out of ten the fish will attack the fly, often coming right out of the water to inhale the fly.
Apart from the fact you may or may not get a hook up, this the most visual fishing you will ever get and probably the most demanding of disciplines and proportionally the most exciting and fulfilling.
Night Fishing
In our waters the only way to successfully target Broadbill Sword fish usually at night. We slow troll either plastic lures or dead squid or a combination of both behind a chemical light stick both deep and on the surface from early evening to early morning, strikes may come at any time.
We choose to fish a dark night with no moon or as little moon as possible as this enhances the intensity artificial light stick.
By product at night is often Sharks especially if using dead baits on the drifts.
Broadbill
Common Name: Broadbill Swordfish Scientific Name: Xiphias gladius
It’s get it’s name from its broad bill. The broadbill has serrate edges, saw like. Broadbill swordfish are a truly cosmopolitan species, found in tropical, temperate and sometimes cold waters of all oceans. Like blue and striped marlin, they are restricted to blue, oceanic water. They are rarely, if ever, found in waters less than 200m deep.
Common Name: Striped Marlin, Scientific Name: Tetrapturus audax
The most distinguishing characteristics are their high pointed first dorsal fin which, normally exceeds or equals the greatest body depths.
Common Name: Blue Marlin, Scientific Name: Makaira mazara
Distinguished from all other Marlin as these species have scales.
Sailfish
Common Name: Sailfish (Indo pacific) Scientific Name: Istiophorus platypterus
As can be seen from the over large eye this fish spends alot of its time in deep water, feeding mainly on squid.
Gets its name from its dorminant dorsal fin, which can and is often raised as you see in the picture.
There are no external features to distinguish the sexes and, while it is generally believed that males and females reach equivalent weights, the larger fish are usually female. Sailfish may grow to 100kg with an average size of between 25 and 40kg. Males are not mature until at least 20-25kg, females closer to 30-35kg. Presumed spawning activity is associated with fish generally in excess of 40kg. Little is known of their age and growth except evidence from a tagged and recaptured Atlantic sailfish estimated to be at least 15 years old.
There is a great tendency amongst sailfish to form feeding aggregations. Cooperative feeding activity can be up to 30-40 fish. Their diet appears to be considerably broader than for other billfish, which may reflect their year-round predominance in coastal waters.
Common Name: Black Marlin, Scientific Name: Makaira indica
Distinguished from Blue Marlin at first glance, pectrol fins on blacks are fixed and do not fall back along the body.
We and all our staff at KDSF are passionate about our fishing. Our crew is fluent in English and work hard to ensure your fishing trips are personalized. Kenya holds many All Africa and Kenya fishing records, making our coast one of the finest fishing spots for variety in the Indian Ocean.
Try both day and/or night fishing trips and catch that ever elusive fish such as:
Broadbill Swordfish & Shortbilled Spearfish
Shark – Mako, Black Tip, Hammerhead, etc
Marlin – (Blues, Blacks and Striped)
Sailfish, Wahoo, Kingfish, Barracuda, Giant Trevally and Yellow Fin Tuna
For anglers who enjoy bottom fishing it is possible to hook up big Emerald Snappers; Groupers and a variety of other bottom species in water depths of between 600 to 1000ft!!!
The angler’s skill in keeping the line tight during the battle is more than rewarded by a well released fish, which must be handled only by the bill in the case of billfish and not removed from the water. Tagging is not critical; points are scored for releasing! Only tag when you are sure of a good tag position.
In the interests of our angling future “TAG IT, RELEASE IT, INSIST ON IT”. There are definite fishing seasons by species and weather so please check with us direct or our agents by phone, fax or email booking@kenyadeepseafishing.net for more information and for booking.
‘KIPAPA’ is 42ft fly bridge Sports Fisherman; 15ft beam; New Holland twin diesel in board engines, fly bridge and cabin facilities. “KIPAPA” is equipped with international standard equipment and tackle with a variety of line classes from heavy shark and marlin gear through to stand-up tackle, salt water fly fishing, spinning and casting gear.
We are based on Mtwapa Creek 23 kms north of Mombasa Island and together with our boat and crew we fish along the whole of the Kenya coastline providing clients with a maximum choice of fishing destinations. Fishing safaris and destinations can be tailor made depending on the fishermen’s target fish. Popular fishing “hot spots” are southwards working northwards – Pemba Channel, Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi, Ngomeni, Kiwaiyu and the Lamu Islands.
Flags Flags Flags
