This last weekend saw our final Dhow trip for 2014 we had a bunch of the usual suspects join us as well as a few new faces. On Captain Damons boat we had Steve, Samir, Alan and Joshua and with Captain Brett the Familiar Faces of Trevor, Erick and Paddy as well as myself.
We met up at the Dibba Mina (Marina) where we had a quick Safety briefing and introduction from the friendly Staff of Al Marsa Travel and Tourism before setting sail. The Trip to the top of the Musandam is a sedate affair on the Dhow unlike our usual 30 knot dash on the Ocean Active boats so there was plenty time to finish rigging up tackle and getting to know each other over a few beers and dinner.
Safety briefing in the dhows lounge area
Dinner time carboloading for the day ahead!
The following morning we got an early start to take advantage of the Tides after a quick breakfast and coffees we were on our way it?s a short run and 10 minutes later lures were being cast into the inky darkness of the early morning. It?s a bit of an unreal feeling top water fishing in the dark but once yours eyes have adjusted and the guys had a bit of rhythm in their casting pattern we were aces! The first hits came quickly and Trevor was first on the board with a small GT which he followed up with a second fish as the sun was coming up Eric also got on the board with a GT on Jig not long after.
Trevor on the board in the dark!
GT at Daybreak
Eriks GT on light Jig a shark or some other toothy critter got a hold of him on the way up
With the current dying away we turned our attention to jigging it wasn?t long before we started going tight with solid fish but lady luck wasn?t on our side and we got smashed up every time with the fish eating low on the deck none stayed attached after the first run, with guys getting pinned to the gunnel and holding on for dear life before coming loose. With the morning session winding down we headed back to the mother ship for some R&R, as we approached the islands where the dhow was anchored we were greeted by the sight of hundreds of birds wheeling around the clear skies and resting on the water so the light tackle was broken out and we began blind casting over the shallow reef nearby. The guys were rewarded with some big Orange Dot Trevally and a few other surprises like a tiny Amberjack on Jig. Damons team had caught the biggest fish so far Allan had a beaut 28 kilo GT and Samir a 12 kilo fish for the morning session
Samir with his first ever GT
Joshua with a Bobcat
Allan show all the style of a seasoned pro on his first ever GT
Beaut fish for Allen on the Fisherman Popper
After lunch and a Siesta we headed back to the birds which we had been keeping an eye on from the dhow. Paddy had cast out a small onde onde on his lightest rod and after letting the lure sink for a while began his retrieve and was smashed by something a bit bigger than he was expecting his little 5000 screamed blue murder but he kept his cool and soon had a 15 kilo Spanish Mackerel alongside the boat. Brett sank the gaff and after some photo?s the fish was put on ice in the hatch for lunch the following day.
Nice Spanish makeral on PE2 tackle
Orange Spot trevally a hard dirty fighter just like his cousin the GT
The Sun was getting low on the horizon and we didn?t want to waste the opportunity to chase after a GT before dark so we headed off to the next reef along the way we bumped into two of the teams from the Volvo Ocean Race making their way to Abu Dhabi after leaving Cape Town in South Africa it was a real treat to see these amazing craft underway, The amount of sail they deploy is amazing when you consider how small the hulls are in comparison.
The Current had reversed and was flowing strongly as the sun dipped behind the mountains of the Musandam, glass smooth water flowed over the reef before turning into a raging torrent on the other side. Paddy went tight first on a popper but the fish got away after the leader broke on the next drift Paddy raised a Monster fish on his Pink ASWB Stick bait but failed to connect this caused a quick change to pink stick baits for Eric and Trevor as we reset the drift. Damon was working the same Area and we watched as Allan went tight with another good fish on his Fisherman Jackel popper boating a 29 kilo GT. Things where getting exciting now as we continued to set up drifts over the reef the light was almost gone when Trevor set the hooks on the best GT for the day on our boat.
Allan doing battle and winning his second GT for the trip
Trevor with another great GT
The Next morning saw us getting up early again and heading off into the darkness Trevor kicked off the proceedings again this time on his new 3 piece Fisherman Rod landing a small Dusky shark after a few hijinks removing the lure we set up the drift again, as we rounded the corner of the cliff GT?s started busting baitfish 10 metres from the boat Trevor put in a cast gave the lure a pop and went tight again he locked down on the fish putting his rod to the test and had a 30 kilo GT on the boat in short order for photos and release Paddy also hooked up but unfortunately dropped his fish. The rest of the day was pretty quiet as wind the wind began to blow hard making conditions difficult we sought out the shelter of the fjords for some light tackle fun before heading for the dhow for a lunch of battered Spanish mackerel. The trip had drawn to a close and the boats left for the Marina with the guys that had to get home while some of us elected to take a leisurely cruise back on the Mother ship.
Captain Brett pondering how he was going to get Trevors lure back and keep his fingers
Trevors best fish for the trip a donkey that ate near the boat and was dominated by his old skool fishermen rod!
The team acting serious as usual!
