Neptune team romp home at Malindi

Last weekend at Malindi saw the fiftieth anniversary of the oldest tournament on the Kenya coast, now called the Herbie Paul International Festival, and appropriately it was won by the team skippered by Herbie’s son Angus on Neptune, fishing with Richie Moller and Russell Brumby, as experienced a bunch of Malindi anglers as one could find.

Fishing was difficult on the Saturday, with the Neptune team leading with three sail released just ahead of Unreel, whose anglers Dave Williamson and Rob Hellier had two sail. Snark, with D Fisher and J Behr were running third, but only nine sail were caught that day by the fourteen boats, together with a mix of tuna, wahoo and dorado.

On the Sunday the fish were more active, but Neptune romped away from the field with seven more sail to give them a total of ten plus some smaller fish for a massive lead with a total 1632 points. Unreel, with two more sail, just held onto their lead from a fast finishing Kamara II team of Pat and Simon Hemphill and Hamisi, who also had four sail but a few less other fish. A great effort from these Shimoni anglers, far from the Pemba Channel where they are consistent top scorers, but fishing for marlin and for sail are two very different skills!

Fourth place went to Simba, with Mark and George Allen and Mtawali, with three sail, while close behind Tarka also had three sail for Paul Worthington, Phil Revett and skipper Callum Looman. Angus Paul was Top Angler with five sail, with Daryl Gates catching the biggest other fish, a 24.3 kg wahoo, a good fish over fifty pounds and bigger than some of the sailfish – the latter of course are all released.

Thanks are due to Mike Tracy, from UK, a longtime friend and client of Herbie Paul’s, for his very generous sponsorship, and to Winemasters and the Driftwood club for their sponsorship with drinks for all three days.

The light line tournament, the Churchill Trophy, was fished on the Friday with eight teams of enthusiasts taking part. Fishing was slow, with only four sail caught in total, two of these on Tarka with Paul Worthington, Maingi and Callum Looman on the rods, the latter catching his sail on 8kg line plus a yellowfin on 6kg line to win Top Angler. Unreel, with David Bird, Phil Revett and Rob Hellier, decided to buck the conventional wisdom trying for sailfish, and went after the yellowfin at Watamu, despite the tuna being quite a challenge on light line. With thirteen tuna, the biggest weighing 15kgs, and a wahoo they finished just a whisker behind the winners – one more small fish would have put them in front, a brave try! White Dove was third, and Simba fourth, both with a one sail. Thanks to Wells Fargo Couriers for their sponsorship of this event.

From Hemingways at Watamu, boats have been catching tuna, and despite the shortage of sail at Malindi White Bear had a multiple strike in Sail Alley just half an hour off the mooring. Tony Prior was fishing when five sail came up together and all five were leaping on the lines! One came off, one line broke and three were fought to the boat to be tagged and released for an amazing experience. A couple of days before, B’s Nest with Ignatius Okara and Alex caught eight wahoo, while skipper Adam Ogden took the Shelley family, on holiday from North Yorkshire, out in his Black Widow for twelve year old William to catch his first sailfish, and with younger brother Thomas shared tuna and dorado for a memorable day.

Barracuda on light tackle – African style !

“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

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.

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.