A week ago we were wondering where the marlin had got to, but in the last week significant numbers of black marlin have been seen and raised on the Banks so boats have been focussing on these more. Although most of them have been small, a marlin is still the angler’s prime target, as it is quite different in it’s fighting capacity to a sailfish, altogether a much more powerful animal.
Unreel tagged a black marlin on Wednesday last week, while Alleycat released a pair of blacks the next day, and a single five days later. Skipper Stuart in Ol Jogi had a very good run starting with a black and eight sailfish tagged last Saturday, an outstanding day for anglers Greg Brackenridge and Fra Labuschagne, as they also caught a 22kg wahoo and an 18kg kingfish, good eating fish which will keep the hotel diners happy! Greg then had another black marlin the next day, while two days later the same boat tagged another black with angler Jordan Twiss, who also caught a sail, for a day he won’t forget.
Nick Michaelides took two keen youngsters out in a dinghy on a calm day, and both he and Sean Darnborough hooked up on a double header of black marlin – and although Sean’s came off
Nick released his successfully – proving you don’t have to have a huge cruiser to catch marlin!
The sailfishing has continued with some good catches, Tarka having nine a week ago and six a few days later, while B’s Nest tagged seven one day and four a few days later, and Ol Jogi has had four twice, so it has been a rare day when boats have not found a sail, while big wahoo over 20 kgs are being caught and a lot of yellowfin tuna.
Malindi boats are also fishing the Banks, as the seas have been moderate although some afternoons get windy, and Eclare found five sail recently, with both Snowgoose and Eclare getting doubles while finding plenty of yellowfin.
Sailfish are also around at Mtwapa, where skipper Howard Lawrence-Brown took his Kipapa out with Dave Williams from UK for a successful trip. After an aborted morning when seas were too rough, the next day dawned fine and calm, and while fishing round a bait school a pack of sailfish attacked every rod out! Several fish were on and jumping, and while in the ensuing chaos of tangled lines most of the fish came off, Dave was successful in catching one.
With baitfish everywhere, a bait on the downrigger was soon taken and a hammerhead shark fought to the boat and released, after which another rod went off with a strong strike, but the Rappala-type lure disintegrated and a bit of the lure came in with no monster attached! These lures are used a lot these days, and are very effective, catching everything from marlin down to small bait fish, but one has to change the hooks for stronger ones for big fish, and not fish them on too heavy tackle. To finish a memorable day, the Williams family all had great views of a pair of humpback whales close up!
A first experience like this, brings clients back again on future trips, and their stories to their pals when they get home encourage others to visit Kenya and sample it’s fantastic fishing, as well as the wildlife safaris, the scenery and the people.
