June has passed and so far the Southeast has been unusually kind to us. Just sad that so little use was made of that. It is low season here on the tourist side so many skippers take a break or their boats go into maintenance. Thus trips and catches on the charter side were very limited. The boat Faith skippered by Cedrid on those days did two trips to the Drop just during the rough weather around the middle of the month but struggled with a 20kg Yellowfin and an Amberjack of about 15kg topping the rather short list of catches. Better fared Delfino with Jean-Luc on the wheel when they trolled on the plateau and ended up with two Sailfish, five Wahoos, some Dorados and Bonitos. That was early this month when the weather was still really calm. Good enough for a first test trip on my boat after an endless ordeal of engine problems that would fill a book. Just went jigging in the La Digue Channel and was nicely surprised. Next to the usual and expected kitchen fish two decent Bludgers gave me hell on the light setup.

Totally unexpected was also the catch of this Queenfish. Got several on fly over the years but never vertical jigging before. Always lovely when they jump like Salmon.

Also sort of a surprise was not to encounter engine trouble at all despite still some spares missing. So a couple of days later I ventured a bit further, behind the Sister Islands, but no luck: missed a GT on the second cast during an hour trying but nothing more happened. Trolling a lure to and between jigging spots did not produce even just a knock during about three hours alltogether. The jigging was good in the morning with three Trevallies and probably an Emperor Snapper on, but all were taken by the lousy Sharks. By noon the bite died completely and just the small Groupers remained a little active. Then as mentioned the wind came up proper around mid-month and it was just fly fishing here in the protected bay. Twice I had a bunch of Trevallies bolting past me but with a tiny Flexo Crab on the line there was nothing to be done. The Permits seen in the beginning must have moved out and Bonefish were elusive as usual. So catches were limited to countless small Snappers and this little Grouper is the best I have to show from that. Rather pitiful.

Towards the end of this week we were blessed once more by literally a hole in the wind for two days, but again it was hardly used. I had other obligations and I heard of only one charter ending up with a Sailfish as the only fish seen all day. With more tourists expected to flow in along July there should be more fishing again next month. Wind permitting of course.

Usually the first half or at least week of May pleases us with calm weather and  great fishing conditions but it was rather different this time. Early in the month we still saw quite some wind from north which gave Mervin a headache as his guests couldn`t really master that. So the planned fishings were limted, and subsequently to some degree also the catches.

Sandro`s group on Frenzy meanwhile was much more seaworthy and thus the catches substantially more impressive.

Another of those monster Doggies surfaced also. Again a massive fish that deserves to stand alone here.

As if northerly winds at that time of the year were not unusual enough, things got really weird heading into the second week of the month. The below depicted weather pattern should not occur in May and the system was neither fading nor moving for about a week. Subsequently we got very heavy fronts from north moving over several times a day, bringing heavy rains and some of the strongest winds I have experienced here in my now over 14 years. First time pieces of roof flew away which I doubt is just due to the roof having aged as a neigbours house (with a much newer roof) sustained substantial damage. Several times the wind gusted up into the 40 knot range, such was also reported from ships in the area, and senior locals stated never to have experienced such weather in May.

This mess lasted until well after mid-month but luckily the system moved away eventually and in time for regular Jürgen`s arrival. This did not mean exactly calm conditions still, but it was good enough to enjoy a brilliant day of GT popping with Mervin on the 21st with three nice ones caught out of several more raises and attacks.

Within the next two days until his next trip the wind turned south. While not so strong in the 12 knots range this caused an ugly chop with the old northerly swell hitting the new southerly one. Did not help for his trip to the Drop Off on the 23rd. Jigging upon arrival at low tide was terribly slow and if I remember right one Amberjack by crew Geremy was the only catch apart from a Bonito that was welcome for lunch. Poor Jürgen got unwell so Mervin opted for some trolling to stabilize the boat for him and to change area until the turn of the tide. Still after an eventless hour Jürgen said “I surrender, let`s go home” but just that moment a reel screamed and a Black Marlin leaped around. So he pulled himself together to fight and eventually catch this one which was his very first Marlin. Good job both by angler and crew as the fish ran around like mad but after that Jürgen, while very happy, was finished and we indeed returned a couple of hours early. Crazy how a crap fishing day can turn into an unforgettable one within the blink of an eye. These are the moments for which we brave the odds and frustrations ever and ever again.

Jürgen was a bit shaken from the day but still went again in company for German angler Alois and his friend for another day of GT popping on the 25th. Was well worth it once more with two Geets caught from good activity.

Meantime GT scientist Jessica returned to Seychelles after 6 years for presentations and consultations. At noon on the 28th she came over to Praslin with her friend David to straight from the ferry hop on Game Changer for an afternoon of GT popping with Mervin. Was a bit rough in a solid southerly wind but else we had textbook conditions with a slightly dimmed sun and a strongly rising tide towards the evening. So considering the GT´s recent cooperation we all were very optimistic for some good action but were taught otherwise: not a single GT even just seen, a couple of minor attacks from whatever, and only this single small Shark caught. Despite three anglers casting relentlessly all the time which Mervin stretched until nearly dusk. Especially sad for very pleasant David who turned out to live just down the road from my former university in South Florida, and was so eager to catch his very first GT. Definitely a grade A for effort but we got to get in done next time, mate.

Young UK angler Tom was also dreaming of his first GT so yesterday with Mervin we went for it. After 3hrs of casting none even just raised with only two Sharks released, and a short jigging spell in between also lead to plain nothing. Excuses for what seemed to become another bad day already formed in my head but then we got one of those short activity windows with a few misses and a first one caught. 

Relief everywhere of course. A couple of spots along we found another such spell with another catch and some misses. One really spectacular as it was a GT about double the size (by weight of course) that was fully airborne. 

Afternoon was spent jigging which also turned on to top level with I reckon around 50 or so Bludgers, Yellowspotted Trevallies, Bonitos and Jobfish. At first Tom struggled a bit to even get bites while Kedrick and Mervin hauled up fish after fish left and right of him. But then he caught the top jigging fish of the day in the shape of that beautiful Golden Trevally. And like having broken the jinx then also started catching steadily. 

Was really a fun day with that all pleasant young couple. And much deserved for Tom as I have seen few beginners (in this stuff, he is an avid angler at home) fishing so hard and casting so well. Cool on top to straight find a note from him stating that it was truly one of the best days of his life. Thanks buddy, that makes me feel as good as you do now. Small fun sidenote: Mervin jigged for while with the little protective tube over the tip of his jigging hook. But wait before you laugh: he indeed caught a fish like this. That`s Mervin. Doing Mervin things. That no-one else can do. Along the day the wind from south picked up gradually. Was still okay while the proper Southeast must be round the corner now. But maybe we will still get a few more days to fish before it hits. I wouldn`t mind that at all.

For the preceeding reports check the archive.