The wind seems to have swung south again at last after veering in different directions for the last ten days, but after all the activity up to ten days ago the fishing scene has gone very quiet with very few boats out. Most of the international anglers who have been with us for the tournaments of February and early March have gone home, but with memories of the grander blue marlin to inspire them we hope to see them all again next season.
I forgot last week to attribute the report on the big grander marlin last week to my source, the website www.gonefishingkenya.com which gives up to date news of the big game fishing scene in Kenya – a must for keen anglers. It was also not made clear that this was the biggest marlin caught anywhere in the world so far this year –quite an achievement for our country.
Last weekend, White Mischief went out to the Rips for a family trip, and soon a double-header strike saw two blue marlin jumping on the end of the lines fished by Andy Thomas and his son Danny. The latter was duly fought to the boat, and tagged and released, but Dad’s fell off – however ten minutes after the lines had been put out again, another blue hit the lure on daughter Jodie’s rod, and was duly tagged after a good fight. With some dorado and yellowfin tuna as well, a great day for the family, as well as fresh fish for supper!
Ol Jogi from Hemingways also had a successful day when Claire Howells, a regular angler from Tanzania, who had been fishing a live bait most of the day was rewarded with a strike from a black marlin just after 4pm, as the lines were about to be brought in to run home. The fish was hooked deep and died on the line, so was weighed in at 95kgs, Claire’s first marlin from which she was happy to have a head mount made as a trophy. White Bear has been out a couple of times, catching wahoo, dorado and yellowfin tuna, but no luck with a marlin.
At Malindi, Tina released a black marlin while from Mombasa skipper Eligio on his boat Inca, who fishes from the Tamarind, had a great day with tourists from Austria, ending up with a sailfish, six wahoo in the 15kg range and some small fish to make for a happy trip.