Category: Travel Blog (Page 2 of 11)

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island

April 9, 2021 /

Luxury in Paradise

Every once in a while we do a fishing trip where we stay somewhere so ridiculously luxurious, that I feel guilty walking into my room all salty and sweaty after a day’s fishing. The upside, of course, is that I get a super comfortable night’s rest and wake up refreshed and strong.

One of these destinations is the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island. In keeping with the Four Seasons standards, the hotel is a luxurious five star resort. It is situated on the beautiful Desroches private island, with 14 kilometres of exclusive, white coral sand beaches and surrounded by the stunning blue Indian Ocean.

Transport around the island is on bicycles and golf carts, which one can use to access remote and isolated beaches, the giant tortoise sanctuary and numerous other points of interest. Rooms are privately appointed, and fitted out with king sized beds, huge bathrooms, private balconies and a mini bar.

Exploring the fishing around the island on foot, or by bicycle is a real Robinson Crusoe experience, with walks down stunning white beaches. Fish that can be caught in the shallow, clear water, include a variety of trevally species, bonefish, threadfin and a whole lot of tropical reef associated species.

Offshore fishing on the sport fishing boats is exceptional, as the atoll is surrounded by deep water. Species such as sailfish, yellowfin and dogtooth tuna, wahoo, giant trevally and dorado are common in the waters around the island. Boats are fully equipped with trolling equipment and also have some spinning gear on board.

A day trip to the nearby St Joseph’s atoll is a must for fly fishermen. Walking the flats on St Joe’s is a marine wilderness experience. Between casting the fly at species such as bonefish, triggerfish and permit, one can enjoy sights of turtles, rays and sharks literally swimming around your feet.

Snorkelling and scuba diving on the reefs around Desroches is world class. The only visitor to these reefs are guests of the hotel, so coral is pristine and untouched and the fish are undisturbed. With warm water one can spend hours exploring the reefs and swimming with all manner of beautiful sea creatures.

A climb up the lighthouse for an elevated view of the island and its surrounds is well worth while. In fact I would recommend taking a few beverages up there to enjoy a sunset in breathtaking surroundings.

Meals at the resort are a gastronomic experience unparalleled in my experience. With a huge variety offering anything from cheeseburgers and Pizza, to the most decadent and delicious seafood treats one can imagine or something as exotic as veal and truffles.

A trip to Desroches is definitely one that you would want to do with your significant other. The resort and its facilities are too luxurious and romantic to be wasted on a single fisherman. I know that if I go there again I will definitely be taking my wife with me.

Anantara Bazaruto

April 9, 2021 /

Relaxing – Island Style

Bazaruto Island, off the coast of Vilanculos in Mozambique, is the flagship island of the Bazaruto archipelago. Situated within a national park, the waters around Bazaruto are a protected marine reserve. This area is home to one of our rarest sea mammals, the gentle, seagrass eating dugong.

Anantara Bazaruto resort lies on the western shores of the island, pretty much in the middle of its 35 km length. The resort has 44 luxury chalets, a world class spa and a number of lounges, bars and dining areas.

Access to the island is either by boat from the mainland or by flying in on a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft to the island’s private airstrip.

Arriving at the lodge and being greeted by smiling staff with trays of colourful cocktails gets you into island mode very quickly and you can feel the stresses of daily life leaving your body.

Anantara offers a variety of fishing experiences. Shore fishing at a number of prospective areas can be arranged, these are good for fly fishing, lure fishing and casting natural baits. Species caught from the shore of Bazaruto include King mackerel, springer, sharks and a number of trevally species.

Offshore fishing from one of the lodge’s boats is generally very good. Many anglers visit the lodge purely to fish for billfish in these untamed waters. Sailfish are plentiful in the area and during the summer months black, blue and striped marlin can be caught in the area. Other big game fish species commonly caught off Bazaruto include wahoo, yellowfin tuna and dorado.

Jigging and popping or flyfishing offshore is also very productive. There is a huge variety of species of predators in the protected waters around the island. Some of the resident reef species include jobfish, snappers, groupers and emperors. Queenfish and giant trevally are common in the area and are often caught by anglers using artificial lures and fly. 

Areas such as the gap between Bazaruto and Benguerra islands is well known for its catches of game fish. King mackerel, giant trevally, yellowspot trevally and queenfish can be caught here. Just outside of the gap is two-mile reef. This is an excellent snorkeling area, with plenty of shallow reefs to explore. Close to this is a dropoff where one can target anything from bludger kingfish to tuna.

The north point of Bazaruto is well known as an area which has many large sharks. From massive hammerheads to some enormous bull sharks, this area is rich in these toothy predators. Anybody wanting to do battle with a huge shark would have to look hard to find a more productive area for these powerful fish.

Anantara’s chalets are very comfortable, with many of them having their own private swimming pools. There is room service on offer and staff are attentive and efficient. Meals are either served in one of the dining rooms or out in the open on the deck on still evenings. The lodge’s chef prepares a variety of seafoods and other delicacies, which are all the more delicious when eaten with an amazing view over the peaceful Indian ocean.

Simwenge Lodge

April 9, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The original home of tiger fishing is Zimbabwe. Back in the colonial days of Rhodesia, people would go to the Zambezi river or lake Kariba for their holidays. One of the most popular sections of the Zambezi for fishing was the area around Deka. This is the middle Zambezi, below Victoria falls and the Batoka gorge and above the giant, manmade Kariba dam.

That section of river, where the current is fast, the gradient quite steep and the water highly oxygenated by the many rapids, is home to some of the finest tiger fishing in Africa.

It is in this area that Simwenge Lodge is situated. A small and intimate, family owned lodge, Simwenge reminds one of the fishing camps of old. Accommodation is in tents, which are equipped with air conditioners. The lodge has a spacious, open bar and dining area, situated to catch a bit of breeze on hot days. In front of that is an infinity pool with a view over the river.

Fishing is done from bass tyle fishing boats and the lodge also has a larger pontoon boat for bigger groups or for sundowner cruises on the river. There are plenty of fishing options, with excellent and productive water both upstream and downstream of the lodge.

One of the favoured methods used in the area by regulars is spinning with a large inline spinner. A piece of fish fillet is attached to the hook, and it trails behind the lure offering a natural scent to any following tiger fish. This technioque is very effective in the area and accounts for many trophy fish.

Apart from the tiger fishing, the area also offers species such as bream, chessa and nkupe. Tigerfish though, are the main target of sport fishermen visiting the area and they are challenging to catch. The boat drivers at the lodge are very experienced and have an uncanny ability to find fish in all conditions.

I had the privilege of watching a local guy catch a large tiger on some of the most rudimentary fishing tackle imaginable. He was fishing with a tiny hook and earthworms for chessa. His reel was an old tin can and his rod was made from two broken pieces of rod, spliced together. In the process of catching a chessa, his catch was eaten by a tiger, which tested his skill properly. We loaned him our net to land the fish, and we were very impressed that he managed it.

One evening the chef cooked us the most delicious pizzas imaginable and we ate these, seated around the fire. We were entertained by the lodge staff, wearing frightening-looking masks and traditional African attire, dancing around the fire.

Days were very hot, as only the Zambezi valley can be. The wind invariably picked up during the mid-morning, which gave us some respite from the intense heat.

Simwenge is a destination that gives guests the real experience of old, traditional Zimbabwean tiger fishing. From the accommodation to the fishing techniques, it is all authentic and real.

White Pearl

April 8, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The coastline in Southern Mozambique is quite different to what it looks like further north. Large sweeping bays, edged by massive, forested dunes make up this part of the coast. Where the sea is flat and devoid of swell further north, there are waves in Southern Mozambique, giving the ocean an altogether different appearance.

One of the more spectacular bays in Southern Mozambique is Ponta Mamoli. This picturesque point and bay is also home to the impressive White Pearl Resort. The resort is a five-star establishment, built amongst the dune vegetation and has a magnificent view overlooking the warm Indian Ocean.

I was privileged to visit White Pearl with my wife, Pam, and we got to sample some of the luxury and decadence of the amazing resort. I was there to get some fishing done offshore from the jet ski. That area has some magnificent offshore fishing on offer, with a huge variety of gamefish which frequent the area and some exceptional reef structure to concentrate the fish around.

There is a launch site at the resort, with dive boats operating out of there, and a tractor to push and pull boats as needed. The lodge is connected by hundreds of metres of wooden boardwalks and each chalet is isolated enough from the next one to offer guests total privacy.

Meals are served in one of the dining rooms, or alfresco, depending on conditions. The food was excellent, prepared from the freshest of ingredients and stylishly presented. Staff are very attentive, with each chalet having a dedicated, private butler.

The sea conditions were a little challenging, as there were quite strong winds during our stay, but that didn’t put us off. We headed out every morning at first light on our jet skis, taking on the swell and the spray in search of some trophy gamefish.

I was very excited to land a nice wahoo one morning. One of the fastest fish in the sea, this speedster stripped a lot of line off my reel’s drag before I could get control and bring it in. It was a challenge landing it and getting the hook out, without using a gaff – as I was releasing my fish.

We also managed to catch a variety of trevally species and some yellowfin tuna. The area is definitely a healthy fishery, with plenty of predators to target. There are also quite a lot of sharks around, so fish had to be pulled in fairly quickly in some areas, to avoid losing them to the ever-hungry men in grey suits.

It was a very successful trip, not just from the fishing point of view, but because the wives were very happy to bask in luxury while we were out fishing. They could lie on the beach reading a book and raise a flag with our room number on it, to get the butler to come down with his tray and take drinks orders or bring some snacks. White Pearl guests definitely get a taste of the high life!

Ibo Island

April 8, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Ancient and Beautiful

I was lucky enough to do a trip recently with my wife Pam, to Mozambique’s spectacular Ibo Island. It is in the Quirimba archipelago, just north of Pemba. We stayed at the lovely Ibo Island lodge, a short walk from the island’s small harbour. The lodge, with its thick walls, built from fossilized coral and painted brilliant white, is cool and comfortable. It is decorated with a blend of antique style, slave coast art pieces and artfully placed cushions and throws of sea blue fabrics – giving it the mood of ancient East Africa. 

That evening we relaxed on the rooftop dining area and had sundowners followed by a dinner of fresh seafood, a gigantic platter of crayfish, prawns, crabs, fish all harvested from local waters and beautifully prepared by the lodge kitchen. The moonlit view over the calm sea from up there was beautiful.

The following day we had the opportunity to explore the island and take in some of the rich history and culture of Ibo. In days gone by Ibo was a slave and ivory trading centre, and there are still the remains of three forts on the island, some with old cannons still in place. The island is an absolute paradise for photographers, we spent most of the day exploring and taking pictures. The people were remarkably friendly and welcoming, we found them to be patient in understanding our questions and answering with a smile. We were shown to the home of the oldest man on the island, Joao Baptiste, who gave us tea and entertained us with stories of days gone by.

We were also taken on a Dhow to a nearby sand island, where a Bedouin style tent had been set up, with a lavish picnic and ice-cold drinks. After a superb snorkeling session over shallow coral reefs, we tucked into the prawns, crab cakes and other delicacies.

After another good night’s rest in our spacious room, we packed our bags and fishing gear and boarded the forty-foot Maxim Cat; Never Say Never to begin our journey to St Lazarus banks, an oceanic atoll which comes to within 10m of the surface. The trip was about 50 nautical miles from the island and would take us around eight hours. We were going to stay out there for a few days on the yacht in order to do some fishing.

Conditions were unbelievably calm. The sea, unruffled by any breeze was flat and smooth and the current was moving at a sluggish 2.5 knots. With the gin clear water those conditions would have been exceptional for diving. Unfortunately for fishing it wasn’t ideal. The water temperature was around 30 degrees and the air temperature and humidity had us gasping for breath, with no cool wind for relief.

Despite the conditions we still managed to catch some fish. In fact, we caught most species that one would expect to catch there, just not the numbers that are usually caught at that exceptional spot. We mostly stuck to throwing poppers and stickbaits and vertical jigging, but when the heat got unbearable we also upped lines and did some trolling.

Over the top of the atoll, we caught reef species such as grouper and structure loving game fish such as GT’s and a variety of other trevallies. On the drop offs we caught some dogtooth tuna and wahoo, and in the blue we got stuck in to some decent tuna and dorado.

I always get very amped when I fish an area like that, as I am very aware that almost anything can happen. It is the kind of place where your next cast could hook you a sailfish, a giant dogtooth tuna, a monster GT or just about any other predator of the Indian Ocean. That kept me going through the sweat and the burning muscles.

Pam and I had a great time and caught some decent fish. On our way back we chatted about the trip and how amazing it had been. Sadly we only had one more night on Ibo, before flying out. We both agreed that next time we come we are definitely going to spend more time on the island and also try some of the fishing potential in the waters nearby.

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