December 2012: Quanza river Angola
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| Quanza river, Angola |
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As usual we traveled to Angola during the December holidays. A trek of more than 2000 km to our destination this time, the Quanza river. The whole trip is a logistical nightmare as the roads in southern Angola is still a huge challenge, especially if you are pulling your boat with a vehicle packed to the rafters.
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| Roads in southern Angola |
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| Road-side repairs to the boat's trailer in Lubango, southern Angola |
Once you reach Cahama in southern Angola it is smooth riding all the way to Luanda on very good to fair tar roads.
The inshore fishing at the Quanza river was very good considering water temperatures that varied from 26 to 29.8 degrees Celsius. I could only see one tarpon jumping, but there were many Jack Crevalle, Barracuda and West African Spanish Mackerel. Dawid also managed to catch a small "Geelbek" cob.
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| Dawid Burger with a Quanza "Geelbek" Cob |
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| Dawid with his first of 9 Jack Crevalle |
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| Dawid with a big Garfish |
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| One of the smaller Jack Crevalle |
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| Dawid with another Jack Crevalle |
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| Dawid with a West African Spanish Mackerel |
The off-shore fishing was a bit quiet. We spend a lot of time trying to get a Sailfish. Unfortunately only managed to hook 2, but lost both. There were however plenty of Blue Runner and Dorado to keep us busy.
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| Dawid with a Blue Runner |
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| Dorado for the "braai" |
The highlight of the trip was to meet up with long time friend Fernando Duarte and his fishing mates, Tavira Lopes (Trex) and Marco Couta. These guys are the best sport fishermen in Angola, which became very apparent when they joined up with us and we went fishing with them on Fernando's 35 ft, 900 hp sport fisher. The sea conditions and the location was not ideal, but Fernando managed to put us on some nice Amberjack, Dorado and Blue Runne action. Their skills on the boat was amazing and I could see why they are so highly rated in Angola.
The beach braai's and fisherman talk late into the night will stay with me for a long time. Marco Couta demonstrated his skills as a master fish cook with the most delightful Dorado and Baracuda braai.
Thank you guys...!!!
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| Boats on anchor. My small 15ft boat and Fernando's 35ft sport fisher |
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| Fernando steaming to the fishing grounds |
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| Dawid with his first Amberjack on Fernando's boat |
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| Dorado braai on the beach with friends Fernando and Marco |
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| Beach breakfast with friends Tavira, Fernando and Marco |
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