Mozambique has an incredibly beautiful coastline that is very conducive to kayak fishing. Not only does Mozambique have fantastic fish populations but many of the reefs are within easy paddling distance of the shore making it a kayak angler’s paradise.
There are a number of kayak fishing hotspots along the Mozambique coast that are well worth taking note of. Way down south between Ponta do Ouro and Santa Maria is always popular as it is very close for SA visitors to go to. The Milibangalala camp in the elephant reserve is a favourite hunting ground especially for Couta and is a great place to hone your kayak fishing skills. Heading up from Maputo there are plenty of suitable destinations with close fish-rich reefs. Places such as Chidenguele are always popular. In the Inhambane province around Guinjata and Paindane you will find a kayak anglers mecca. Deep drop offs and warm clean water offer opportunities to catch some truly incredible fish. Everything from kingfish, Couta, tuna and billfish are a common occurrence along this stretch of coastline. Heading up towards Pomene you tend to find less and less kayak anglers but there are plenty of uncharted waters which are teaming with gamefish. Heading north from there passed the Bazaruto archipelago right through to Pemba you will encounter incredible places offering exceptional fishing. Just be warned that paddling in strong offshore currents alone is a recipe for disaster so make sure that there is someone close at hand to help you in case something goes wrong. Let’s move on to the hardware you’re going to need…
If you’re looking to get a kayak then look no further than Stealth Fishing Kayaks. They have the largest choice of models to suit any kayak anglers needs. From the entry level to the very best Pro Fisha models. The new Pro Fisha 525 is simply the best all-round kayak I have ever used. The mixture of speed and stability is unrivalled and it has all the features you could wish for. However everyone is different and choosing which kayak you want varies from person to person and you need to get something that you are comfortable with.
So let’s say you have bought the ski and you need some tackle. Rods and reels for trolling are fairly simple; if you are on a budget then get two Shimano TLD 20/40 reels with Shimano Talavera 6’6 or 7’0 rods and fill them with 30lb line. You are going to need a spinning outfit which I will talk about later in the jigging section. Trolling lures that you’ll need can vary a lot but make sure you have Rapala XRap SXR10 in Silver and Ghost, Rapala Barra Magnum 11 in Red Head and CG, Rapala XRap 15 Yellowfin Tuna and Halco Laser Pro 120 in R15, Red Head and Sardine.
Part of this article that I wanted to emphasise is Jigging/drop shotting from a kayak. Mozambique offers some of the best artificial lure angling anywhere in the world. And it is just something you really have to try if you decide to fish off a kayak in this beautiful part of Africa.
Much has been said about the topic of vertical jigging over recent years. The incredible effectiveness and high by catch has seen it banned in the Northern KZN Marine Reserves, but it can still be done in Mozambique. Indiscriminate release techniques led to very high mortality rates for most of the bottom fish that are caught and that was the main reason for it being banned. However that cannot eliminate this as a highly effective method of catching fish.
There are a number of reasons why this is such a successful way of catching fish but it’s primarily because those fish had never ever been targeted before so it is like fishing in the Garden of Eden for deep water fish. Another big contributing factor to success is the ability for the angler to work the water column. This allows you to fish for a fish that is right on the bottom, sitting mid water or just below the surface all in the same ‘cast’. Fishing with a good sounder can make all the difference and is a prerequisite for becoming successful in the jigging department.
From a kayak you really will often have one outfit for casting, popping and jigging so it needs to be versatile. Included in jigging is drop shotting as the tackle is the same, a drop shot is really just a different type of jig. The bulk of your fishing will be done in depths from 30m to 50m of water, but if you venture to depths of 70m+ you will need to up your gear because the fish you encounter are bigger and stronger on average and you will need reels with large line capacities of heavy braids as it’s a long way to get your jig down there. I’m going to start with the medium set up (which is normally the only one you need on a kayak) because it’s something that I believe you will use a lot more and it also adds a different dimension to your kayak angling.
Generally this outfit will be around 50lb braid class together with a reel that can hold roughly 300m and a rod that can handle a 200 gram jig. When choosing a line, try and buy one of the multi-colour ones. They have a different colour every 10m so you can see exactly how much line you’ve let out and more importantly where you are getting the bites. The reel needs to be around a Shimano 8000 size. This will take about 300m of 50lb. Models to go for are Stradic, Sustain, Saragosa, Twinpower and Stella. They will range from R1500.00 right up to R9500.00, but a word of advice, don’t take a shortcut in the reel department. One of the advantages of the Shimano reels is its throwing ability. It will generally cast better because of the spool design and line lay and on a craft where you are limited for space, having a reel that is versatile is a major advantage. Shimano have a range of rods called Trevalas. They are exceptional in the performance department and come with a very attractive price tag compared to other jigging rods. The 7’0 Medium Heavy is the one to go for, but they aren’t always easy to find. If you can’t find one then don’t stress because the 6’6 Medium Heavy has long been the standard for kayak fishing anglers and is now available in a two piece version which is great for travel or limited hatch lengths.
Now that you’ve gone and splashed out at your favourite tackle store it’s time to put your new investment to the test. You will probably have some gps co-ordinates for places where guys get kingfish, amberjack and all sorts of other jigging favourites. But knowing what to do with that information isn’t always as simple as it seems. Generally your target fish are found up current from the structure. This means that they actually sit in front of the pinnacles and not behind them. And the stronger the current, the further ahead of it they will be. There are always exceptions but generally that is what happens.
So position your kayak up-current of the mark you want to fish on. I will throw the jig towards the mark and drift on to it so that I retrieve the lure vertically and not a 45 degree angle. You can impart a lot more movement on your lure this way so keep it in mind. Make sure your jig hits the bottom, this is vital! When fishing waters less than 50m work it right from the bottom to the top. In the beginning work the jig slower because you are really targeting things like Kingies and Kakaap. Then as your jig moves higher up, move it faster because your target will change to things like Bonnies, Couta and Tuna which prefer a faster retrieve. People get in to a rhythm when jigging and forget that they are targeting different fish in the same cast. Obviously when you are getting strikes don’t change what is working, but never be afraid to experiment.
The main target when jigging are kingfish. A kingfish showing on your fish finder will show up as a red ball about 5m-15m above the bottom. There are many types of kingfish so don’t give up if you don’t get a bite on your first drop, some require a bit more subtle presentations. Often when they won’t eat a jig they will eat a dropshot. Jigging and Dropshotting work exactly the same and your tackle is the same too. Always carry dropshots with you as they are exceptionally effective when the current is not racing. When selecting your dropshot or jig, try to fish with the lightest weight that will still get to the bottom. The lighter the lure the more action it will have in the water and the more successful it will be. It’s a catch 22 because you have to have something that hits the bottom, but try and fish as light as possible.
When choosing a leader, this is one of the areas where flouro carbon can be a huge advantage. I fish a flouro leader of between 35lb and 60lb depending on what I’m targeting. Lighter leaders often mean more bites, but it can be a problem when trying to stop the fish from making it into the reef. Make your leader about 2m-3m long so if you do get reefed, it will often only cut you off close to the lure so you’ll have enough leader to keep fishing without having to re-tie your braid to leader knot each time.
Hopefully this sheds some light on the wonderful sport of kayak angling. Now get out on the water and screaming reels won’t be far away…
Brad's Angle 