Nineteen boats competed in the 52nd Delamere Trophy tournament at Kilifi last weekend with a total tally of one black, three blue and six striped marlin, while thirty-five sailfish were also caught. Good numbers too of dorado and some wahoo were also caught to make for a very successful competition for all.
Fishing on Little Toot, down from Lamu for this event, were Craig Griffiths, who caught two marlin, Adrian Babault and Max Korschen, who caught his first marlin, and this team ran out as overall winners with a blue and two striped marlin, a sailfish, three dorado and a barracuda! This splendid catch gave them 3892 points, well ahead of second placed boat De Grande Cat, with 2425 pts, fished by Akram and Zira, with a blue marlin and five sailfish.
Third place went to the ladies team on Clueless, Angela Jooste, Karla Bunting and Pam Duff, with a striped marlin and five sail while Albatross, fished by Snoo Colville and Ian Long, came fourth with a striped marlin and four sail. Sponsored by Sean Garstin Motors, the prize-giving was held at the Kilifi Boatyard, followed by a good party for a very popular tournament!
The Rips off Watamu has seen good fishing this week, with marlin and sailfish coming in daily, and most boats out return flying a flag. Tarka had a busy day, with Phil Revett the angler, catching a black marlin and eight sail one day, and the same boat has had marlin on a couple of other days. Unreel also had a striped marlin and four sail while losing a blue marlin after a few jumps and some other sail.
The Kingfisher fleet has been busy, Neptune finding a stripey and two sail, Eclare has also had marlin and Snowgoose has had good days with three or four sailfish.
Tega has made two trips to the North Kenya banks, catching four broadbill on one occasion and five on another, getting strikes from marlin and sail as well, while on a single trip out from Watamu they tagged a black marlin and a big sail.
At Shimoni, fishing has been quieter, with White Otter finding four sail in the eek, and Shuwari at Diani also had a quiet week, but has now moved to Watamu, where she tagged a stripey. Simba, up at Kiwayu, has tagged seven sail on fly tackle – good action everywhere!
