Showers of rain continue along the coast and confuse the wind pattern, but on the whole the north-east wind continues to blow, although not as hard as it can do, and some marlin are being found in the Rips where the fishing should continue to improve.

Out from Watamu, Tarka released a small  blue marlin this Tuesday, while the same day Black Widow tagged a striped marlin of 55kgs caught by crewman Fondo, and the next day Alleycat had strikes from both a stripey and a blue marlin, as well as a sail, so the fish are around in the Rips now.

The use of modern technology increases chances of finding and catching fish, and while skippers have been using echo sounders and GPS for many years now, the latest improvements in sonar  used in commercial fishing have been adapted to smaller sportfishing craft and become more affordable.

White Mischief has just had installed a superior sonar transmitting transducer mounted in the hull which will enable detection of bait, often small squid shoals, at depths of between 500 and 600 metres or more. This enables anglers to use the deep drop method of fishing for broadbill swordfish by day to locate those bait areas where the quarry is most likely to be feeding, and on a recent trip they scored with two broadbill, one of 90kgs and another smaller one from four drops on the first trials, an exciting result. With a sailfish released and a blue marlin fought to the boat before falling off the hook as the crew reached for the leader, as well, an amazing day for Andy and Danny Thomas.

The sailfish at Malindi continue, although not easy to catch, but catches of three or four are interspersed with quieter days when a single fish (or less!) has to suffice. Fishing on White Bear, Carlo Kier tagged two sail on fly tackle, while Tega, Castle Lager and Unreel have all scored triple sail days. Simba had a busy day chasing yellowfin tuna, ending with twenty-seven for 222kgs, while Pussycat scored a dozen tuna another day.

At Shimoni Kamara II had a triple header strike from striped marlin, ending up with just a single to the boat , while Broadbill also tagged a stripey and a sail, so the wind change bringing the fish on there.

The Watamu SFC Xmas tourney on 28th, 29th Dec. is a must for anglers – don’t miss it!