Extreme Fishing Africa: Close encounters

I started fishing on a jetski three years ago. Back then it seemed to me that tuna was the most abundant fish in Mozambique. Not to mention the fact that that the ocean had two years of recovery during the plandemic, well so we thought. Since being allowed back on the water they have been extremely scares when before with the right colour lure they were almost a guarantee. For months we had to forego the thought of some fresh sashimi for dinner.

Last week the ocean had a stunning surprise for us. Mark and I were having a good morning fishing and having landed a few decent size Couta. One of which almost made off with our gaf lodged in its tail. We managed to land both fish and gaf safely after a few tries past the ski.

We were drifting down Malongane reef when all of a sudden mayhem broke out just to left of the jetski. A massive school of tuna erupted from the water.

I grabbed the nearest rod with a little pink Onda on it and casted it into the chaos. My lure barely hit the surface when my line went tight and the fight was on. This would be my first tuna on such lite tackle. My heart was pounding while Mark was shouting in my ear that there was a massive shark near the ski. I did not want to be taxed. The first shark of many!
Before we knew it the school was busting all around us. There was a roar of a million splashes and the whipping tails of gynormous sharks feeding a few meters away from us.

Bait fish was trying to swim into our footwells of the ski to get away from the Tuna's that were gulping mouthfuls of them at a time. Fish fever had struck and by then the reels were screaming and the line smoking. I had managed to land my tuna in that chaos. Mark landed the only two Bonnie's accompanying the tuna that day.

I went on another two times but the fish were too powerful for my tiny trebles and opened all three hooks!
I tried to change up before the rush was over but just as fast as they arrived they had disappeared!

Silence and calm fell over the ocean again leaving us in absolute awe of what had just happened and the closeness of it all on a jetski with just the tubbies between you and the action.

We were fortunate that they came up around us on a drift and that there was no motor noise to spook them away from giving us a experience we will never forget.

I think this is what extreme Fishing is all about. Being one with nature and the ocean and getting wet of course...

Written by Neo Saraiva
Photo credit Mark Reeves and Neo Saraiva