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Nick Bowles

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Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 19, 2015, 01:11:15 PM
It is great to have started our season early in Northern. Over the last few months we have been working to move our Musandam operation from Dibba on the East Coast of Musandam to Khasab on the West Coast. Operating from Dibba has become very difficult with the border and plus the long run to the fishing grounds. So the decision was made to move, it was the end of an era and Dibba was where GT fishing in Oman started for us and we have had a lot of happy memories at GT House.

After searching long and hard we eventually found what we were looking for in Khasab a new villa to call GT House 2! Anura and the boyz had finally started moving the villa and this was no easy feat with borders and transportation but finally we moved into our new villa in Khasab. Now that we are in Khasab we are much closer to the fishing grounds (20kms) and it is now possible to fish during summer as we can fish early morning and late afternoon. With this in mind we wanted to start the season early as the locals had been telling us there was fish around.

I had been speaking to Matt Pickering and he was keen to come up with a fishing buddy Ulf Shulz to help get the season started. We got the 32ft boat up to Khasab, did a couple of test runs and we were ready. The guys drove through after work on Thursday evening and arrived at GT House to a few cold ones and a famous Anura Curry! After a good meal, all the tackle was set up and the guys got to sleep.

Early the next morning all the gear was loaded onto the boat and we launched the boat and headed for the fish grounds. On Ulfs first cast he had a fish hit his lure and after setting the hook the fish came off. We had several hits and follows but the fish did not stick. I finally managed to get a small GT on the Ocean Active Popping rod, a few pictures and the fish was released. We did a few more drifts with not to much action. We moved to a new location and I was using the Fisherman PE6 Black Musandam Prototype and hooked into a small GT on popper. Great little fight on the rod and definately this rod is going to be something special, fantastic all round rod. I landed the fish and we released. This was followed by another GT on a stickbait.

The bite slowed down and we tried a few more spots. At the end of one of the drifts we were floating in the back of the current casting in deep water when a shoal of sails showed up and fish fever broke out!! Sails everywhere, sails were hitting the lures, flies and a lot of shouting was going on, I managed to hook up on a stickbait on the Fisherman Black Musandam and the fish gave a great aerial show followed by some spectacular runs. The rod held up very well and when the fish went deep into the 5 knot current the rod and myself got put to the test. After a good fight the first sail of the season was landed. A few pictures and the fish was released.

We fished until mid afternoon and then headed back to Khasab to end a great day out on the water to start our season. Really excited at the prospects for this season being so close to the fishing and been able to fish with way less hassle.

For more information on our trips and reports contact us at www.oceanactive.com

Cheers,
Nick


Brett setting up the gear in the new fishing room at GT House in Khasab.


Al Sayyad 2 our 32ft boat ready for action


Al Sayyad coming to pick us up in the Khasab Port


5 new prototype rods to test in the coming weeks. Hopefully all of the rods will be available on the market towards the end of this year.


Ulf and Matt ready for action


First GT for the season, caught on the PE8/10 heavy stickbait and popping rod. Not much of a fight but a good start.


Bending on the new Fisherman PE6 Black Musandam Prototype rod


Thumbs up for the rod, truly amazing all rounder.


Another GT for the first morning.


Ulf and Matt working one of the big Musandam current lines


Guides and skippers Brett and Damon


Sailfish on!! Hooked up on the Fisherman Black Musandam Rod. Awesome show and action with about 15 sails around the boat!


HAving fun!


Black Musandam rod getting low down and dirty!


Team sailfish picture


Sail release


Remote beach for lunch and a swim


Team pic


Love this beach, always amazing for a swim and relax in the 110 degree heat


Boyz having a well deserved swim


Brett getting the boat ready for the afternoon session!

Nick Bowles

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 19, 2015, 09:52:36 PM
Hi Amr, can't believe we made it so tough for ourselves for so long! Way easier and easy to get to from Dubai! Look forward to catching up!! You coming out to Dbai before your SO trip?

Lucas Nixon

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 21, 2015, 06:17:22 PM
Looks the goods Nick.

Sailfish on the cast inbetween wrestling big G Bangs. I could deal with that.

Mate what are you using to restrain the lures whilst on the move?

I have trialled a few things but am yet to find the perfect fix to avoid treble rash on my gear. Looks like that set up would do the job though.

Cheers mate and hope the new GT house brings you guys just as much success.

Lucas.

Nick Bowles

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 23, 2015, 07:08:47 PM
Hi Amr, look forward to a "Dubai" trip, we got a new boat coming into Dubai for a few early morning queen trips and then head to Musandam for a few GTs, Sails, Kings etc! If you give me 2 days on your next Dubai trip we will Hit it!!

Hi Lucas, Thanks! Hook rash is always a bit of an issue on the boats along with the point of the hook damaging your braid sometimes. We hook the back treble on the bottom guide and then take the leader and put it around either the reel knob or the base of the reel, so the line and lure is secured from the bottom of the rod not the top guide and this is more secure and also keeps the trebles away from the rod and braid. An addition to this is hooking the leader around the front treble so the lure is secure and even further away from the rod. Hope his made sense, if not will take a couple of pictures later and post.

Lucas Nixon

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 24, 2015, 05:32:25 PM
Hey Nick.

Nice trick easy and effective.

I have played with a few things but will give this a try also.

Have seen good fish lost generally on initial strike due to treble wear on braid while moving from point to point. Extra minute or two to ensure all hooks are secure can save some heart ache.

Thanks mate.

Lucas.

Nick Bowles

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 24, 2015, 11:50:08 PM
Hi Lucas, totally agree, a lot of the time when fish are broken off it is blamed on braid, garfish etc, but a good few times it is from hooks messing the braid while traveling and also funny enough putting rods up against walls when you wash them in the evening where the braid rubs against the corner of a wall. This way of securing holds the lure and hooks away from the braid and also a lot more secure so not many swinging lures at 30 knots! Hope it works for you!

Nick Bowles

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Musandam with Trev and Mike
August 24, 2015, 11:50:56 PM
After a great first day start to the season, Trev and Mike came up to join us. After a great meal and a lot of fishing talk the boyz were ready! We headed out early morning and got onto the fishing spots at sunrise and on the first drift Trev and Mike went tight on a double up.
Then a couple of drifts later Mike had a great hit from a bigger fish and we had to pull the fish back over the shallow reef, fish gave a great fight on the Hots 77XH and Mike landed the fish to get a few pictures.
A few more drifts and I was fishing off the bow and put out a long cast with a Fisherman Pencil and was running it along the top of the reef when a geet came up behind and was all over the lure, I slowed down slightly and Bang! Fish on! A good fight on the Fisherman Musandam rod and I had a small GT to the boat.
The wind started to push so we decided to go and explore and look for milkies but unfortunately we could not find them but a great day out on the water!


Mike bending early morning on the Hots 77XH


Double trouble Trev and Mike


Trev testing out the Fisherman Black Musandam Prototype Rod with a popper.


Mike back in the action and putting the pressure in some decent current.


Mike with his second GT of the day


Bending on the Black Musandam


Thumbs up for an awesome rod, this rod is going to be amazing for Oman this coming season. Next week we test it on yellowfin tuna in Muscat.


GT

Ivan Kerley

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 25, 2015, 09:50:54 PM
Keep the reports and pics coming Nick, it's been a long summer and still 10 weeks to go..................

Nick Bowles

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 26, 2015, 12:25:48 PM
Hi Ivan! Hopefully we will have plenty of pictures and reports to post! Look forward to catching up in Dubai in a couple of weeks, still hot as hell here but sure we can sneak out for a fish to get the blood pumping off Dubai!

Nick Bowles

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Re: Musandam Oman with Ocean Active
August 26, 2015, 12:26:15 PM
After a lot of hard work from Anura, Damon and Brett setting up the new villa, moving boats, sorting out furniture etc the guides got a chance on the water and caught some fish.
Anura landed a decent Musandam GT and Damon landing a smaller fish. Good work guys and looking excellent for the season!

Anura bending on his Hots 711MH


Big early season Musandam GT


Damon with his first GT of the season

Nick Bowles

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Musandam with Anton and the SA Boyz
August 29, 2015, 02:32:53 PM
With our oepration coming along nicely in Musandam it was good to have a few of the long time clients and friends up in Musandam to see what we have been up too! Anton, Hannes and Greg came up on Thursday night. We had a fantastic braai and meal followed by a few good stories and tackle set up session!

We were on the fishing grounds at sun up and with little wind it was an awesome morning but very hot! Hannes was into the game quickly with our first king of the season on top water. After a few drifts we moved to a few places and then got out the jigging rods. We had some great fun jigging for GTs on light PE3 gear on the Shimano Ocea conventional and Shout Kaduko rod.

Greg got the fish of the day with a decent 20kg GT on PE3 jigging to catch his first GT and biggest fish ever!! Really enjoyed the day out with the guys!


Khasab Fort, love the Omani old school style.


Dinner at GT House with a few stories!


Heading for the fishing grounds early morning.


Hannes into the first fish of the day!


Hannes with the first king of the season on top water.


Small geet on jig


Decent GT on PE3 jigging


Geet on Jig


Greg in action on PE3 jigging and Shout Kaduko rod


Great first GT for Greg and his biggest fish ever!


Smelly bobcat on surface lure and Fisherman Musandam Rod
Last Edit: August 29, 2015, 02:51:10 PM by Nick Bowles