If the Southeast just took a break or really faltered early this year remains to be seen but either way this year`s October provided fishable and often enough pleasant conditions nearly throughout. Great for the anglers that took the risk in the hope to meet this ideal situation but one must admit that the fishing in some aspects did not meet the usual quality. Trolling worked nicely though along that first fortnight apart from a short spell of a few days when most boats struggled to get anything that way but a few Bonitos. But all in all it was productive and the Sailfish were plentiful as these ones by Mervin on Gamechanger indicate.

But it wasn`t trolling only. Along those days Greg & guests on Topwater enjoyed all the different kinds of fishing this place has to offer with visible success. 

On the 16th Volker, Olaf and Paule with whom I had been to the Amirantes last year, reinforced by Martin who had to miss  out that time, arrived in the hope to find a much better jigging bite than we did then. A little better it was, which was not difficult because that part had been right dead, but neither what it should have been. Their first tryout at the Drop Off turned out really tricks with a very strong current and despite heavy markings on the sounder everywhere they had to work for some presentable fish. That Amberjack was special though.

The next day saw no improvement but at least they got the first Doggies which were released with the order to send their grandmothers.

Not that they would have done so but still day 3 provided a better bite by the other species.

Really weird along those days was the complete absence of any Yellowfin Tuna which usually provide a great alternation from the jigging and are a feast to cast for at this time of the year. At times they sit and stay deep of course but that they did not even get a single one on jigs must mean they were just not hanging around at the Drop Off. So to get some casting action Mervin took them for GT popping the next day which turned out lively as a couple big ones got away on top of what you see below.

The following day I tagged along with them to another sector of the Drop as Mervin kept searching for the Tuna everywhere. Less jigging fish on the sounder that day up there and the pattern of a shortlived early activity, a dull period until early afternoon and a late pickup in the jigging bite persisted. Especially the last hour on the shallows was really lively.

To break things up and as it had been working decently they went for GTs once more the day after. A good decision obviously.

Along all these days the conditions had been calm and pleasant apart from that persisting pumping current but their final day on the Drop was impacted by that cyclone moving through in the south. Wasn`t too bad and strangely we still got no rain from that weather pattern but in some 15kn of wind into the current and gusts exceeding 25kn jigging was even tougher than before and a slower bite did not help. So no exit on a high for the chaps sadly.

Still despite the subpar Drop Off fishing the group was not unhappy with their week which clearly had it`s highlights on the GT end of things. That these were the target to go for along that second half of October was also proved by Greg and guests who had mutiple lively days popping for those around the islands. Unusually many teenagers as I call those between 10 and 20kg but they provided frequency and are already great for rather unexperienced popping anglers and beginners. Good ones hit every so often in between but some came away as it is custom when dealing with these.

Last weekend then it was all about the La Digue Tournament which saw starting time delayed by nearly 12hrs due to a weather alert. Some Mahe boats opted out already on the way there but when fishing eventually the sea was calm. So calm actually that trolling was a complete headache and jigging also turned out tricky still. Thus a number of species trophies were not awarded as there were just none of the kind caught. A La Digue Tournament without a single Yellowfin caught was probably a first. Eventually Praslin team Albermarlin was level on points with Mahe team Paola but won it as they had a Sailfish. Since then the wind shifted back to Southeast at reasonable 10-15kn but as no more news came through I presume everyone but the happy winners is licking their wounds.

For the preceeding reports check the archive.