Good beach fishing hol

**ian combe** · 06-12-2007, 22:27

Greetings all ,
Looking for a take on a blast of a beach fishing holiday.
I am pretty much thinking of going to Weipa in May to try my luck .
Have also thought about Guinea Bissau Bijagos . Will spend most time land based but hope to stretch to a guide on the water a couple of times . Have fished Gambia ( ok with boat but not great ) and learned in Durban S.A. when I stayed there ~ Definately the best place I ever fished to date , but security now an an issue . Enjoy my spoons and flies but don't underestimate the livie or a freelined sardine . For me this is quite a lot of cash to spend and I want to get it right . Would think about other months if I have the seasons wrong . Looking for Queenies / G.T's etc ~ +3 kg's in numbers with a sprinkling of variety .

**PanamaJack** · 14-12-2007, 18:17

Hi Ian
I'd waited to see if anyone had any firsthand information on those venues you were referring to. Weipa does feature in several of the international fly fishing forums, but unfortunately I don't know of anyone whose actually fished there before. There is a fairly comprehensive web site - http://www.flyfishweipa.com/ - that includes month by month catch reports that may be of some use. Or perhaps is it worth posting to one of the forums on an Australian portal site? Somewhere like http://www.fishnet.com.au/.

Also, in terms of other options in Oz, it might be worth viewing some of the posts on our Australian forum regarding shore fishing opportunities on the east coast. If you look individuals like Lucky and Kingfish have quite a lot of experience of that part of the world.

As to Guinea-Bissau the only one I'm aware of who's fished there is Richard Sheard. There's a report of his on this thread - http://www.big-game-board.info/gener...guinea-bissau/. As you mentioned though May may not be the best of months to go there.

As to the rest of the world though .... um. What would you specifically like to target? You've mentioned Queenfish and small GTs, but does that specifically exclude other Jacks?
Dave

**ian combe** · 16-12-2007, 15:38

Hi Dave ,
Thanks for that . I have been busy searching out as much info as I can . Guinea Bissau is pretty full on . Richard maintains it is lure work with 5lb test curve rods for big jacks , cubera , etc ~ not quite what I was after ~ I am more up for 8 to max 15 kg lure outfits for G.T's , Jacks , and other phelagics . Weipa looks amazing and pretty much untouched . The only drawback is logistics . You need a vehicle even to fish the Weipa venues and unless it's 4wd you can't get out of town . The guide fishing looks phenominal ~ seems to be booked well in advance . Maybe there are un crowded spots elsewhere I don't know about . Bazaruto would probably fit the bill and cost quite a bit less . If you can think of other options I would be interested .

Regards Ian

**PanamaJack** · 16-12-2007, 18:13

Ian
Most of my fishing overseas is in boats, so a lot of this is going to be second-hand from other members of our Club. My shore fishing, in the main, has been restricted to Bonefish.

But here goes – and really just illustrative links to try to initially tie down possibly some other options for you.

I guess starting with that west coast of Africa, southern Angola or Gabon might be possibilities - http://www.riolonga.com/fishing.htm and http://www.henry-gilbey.co.uk/essay_gabon.html . They are not necessarily going to be cheap and somewhere perhaps closer to home might be the Cape Verde Islands – Sal. This Italian chap runs shore fishing excursions - http://www.caboverdefishingcenter.co..._center_en.htm. The ‘trevallies’ he’s referring to are Jack Crevalles and Horse Eye Jacks. (But I suspect, to some extent, the quality of the fishing’s going to be nothing like Guinea Bissau or Weipa.)

Then, somewhat further south, you’ve got Ascension Island. There there’re masses, and I mean masses, of Black Jacks, fish up to 30lbs, and Horse Eye Jacks. But also during the summer months you’ll find big Amberjacks and Almaco Jacks chasing ‘google eyes’ (Scad) right up on the beach. Sharks, and even 100lb plus Yellowfin Tuna and loads of other things, can be encountered from the shore. Although it’s expensive to get to, coupled with the shore fishing, locals will take you less than a mile offshore and you can, for a change, catch YFT, Dorado and Wahoo.

As to the other side of ‘the Pond’ um …. the only ‘real’ place I’ve encountered Jacks – Bluefish - from the shore, in numbers, is Montauk on the tip of Long Island during the Autumn run of Bay Anchovy. That, from the shore, tends to be more specialist – hurling out huge plugs on beach casting gear. Sure, there’re lots of other places where you could target Jacks but I suspect consistency may be an issue. And there lots of places you could target others species. Completely off target somewhere like Mosquito Lagoon in Florida, albeit from kayaks and skiffs might appeal - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forum...ad.php?t=74357. And I guess one thing about the ‘States with ease of travel you can fit a range of different venues in. Here’s a trip I took in October 2006 - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forum...ad.php?t=74357.

Switching oceans though there’s somewhere like the Sea of Cortez (Baja, Mexico) that might well fit in with the criteria you set out. Here’s one such article - http://www.big-game-board.info/gener...erfish-on-fly/.

As to the Pacific though it really is a case of you pays your money and takes your choice. You’ll find some interesting threads on the east coast of Australia and Bay of Plenty area in New Zealand on this site’s forums. But then you’ve got places like the Seychelles, Madagascar, Tanzania, the Maldives ….. and on and on. And some of the original French colonies in the South Pacific offer superb opportunities. A site you may wish to look through the Trip Reports – there’re in the English forums – on is http://www.caranx.net.

Now I suspect with all these options all I’ve probably managed to do is confuse further. But, if nothing else, it does illustrate the range of options open to any ‘globe trotter’.
Dave

**ian combe** · 16-12-2007, 19:01

Dave ,
Thank you very much for the info !!! ~ I am in awe of the wealth of knowledge . ~ Certainly have plenty to research and am going to enjoy doing so . Sea of Cortez is a place the Missus would probably wish to visit and would give me points towards another trip .
~ Am off to explore these sites .
Once again , Thanks ,
Ian

**marktheshark** · 16-12-2007, 19:59

Hullo Ian
I've not fished West Africa but I have recently got back from Baja California and I'd recommend it. Best all-round fishing I've experienced anywhere in world, and very nice place to take other halves as there's plenty to do (and buy!). Got back last month, there's a trip report in the C American forum. Best time (esp from shore) is April-Nov.
Only other place I'd put up for pure shore fishing is Cayo Guillermo in Cuba. Lots of shots at truly big fish, lots of DIY chances. It's cheap too, not a lot to do outside the hotel. Dry season is Dec-April but if you go then, you might get wiped out by a cold front. Fishing is better in summer, but beware of hurricanes, esp Aug-Oct.
I've visited both in 2007, will do the same in 2008 hopefully. PM me if you need more on places to go, stay, fish etc
Mark

**ian combe** · 16-12-2007, 20:39

Hi Mark ,
Thanks for the info , looks like I'm spoiled for choice . Have been looking through some of the sites Dave noted . ~ There is a lot more out there than I had realised .

Regards ,

Ian

**onshore1ft** · 17-12-2007, 16:20

Talk to this guy http://www.stripersonline.com/surfta...hlight=rooster

Big Roosters in Mexico

C+R only as they taste like poo but go like rockets

**PanamaJack** · 17-12-2007, 17:05

Apologies Ian, got one of those links wrong. My multi-venue trip to the ‘States in October 2006 was here - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forum...ght=blackbeard. But to stress it’s purely an illustration, there’re so many combinations that you could put together.

Then this was the link to Mark’s Baja report - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forum...ad.php?t=90622.

**Kingfish81** · 19-12-2007, 10:43

I would agree with Mark that the Baja is a great place to go. Lots of fishing opportunities from the shore. Plus boat hire is really cheap. Do you have a real aversion to boat fishing, or is it more that you prefer shore fishing? Only ask because it sounds like you are going to spend a bit of money and getting on a boat would open up a huge amount more in terms of the fishing you could do.

I know you can hire boats (tinnies) in Weipa for self-drive very cheaply. A friend of mine did it and had an absolutely blast. Loads of nice fish on fly from the boat, plus he had a good time fishing the beaches as well.

The other place to have a look at might be Kilwa Lodge in Tanzania (http://www.kilwalodge.co.za/ and http://www.sportfishafrica.co.za/ViewVenue.asp?VI=24). I have read some really interesting reports about the place and by the sound of it you can walk out onto the reef near the hotel at certain tides and chuck lures for bluewater gamefish like tuna and mahi-mahi!! There's even been a couple of sailfish hooked from the land there! Would be a very good spot I think to try floating out a livebait under a balloon or big float... Looks like a good spot to take your better half as well!

Another option might be Christmas Island in the South Pacific. Although thought of as a fly-fishing only venue, guys do fish it with standard gear. Heaps of bonefish, GTs, bluefin trevally etc. Mostly wading fishing, although you can fish from a boat as well (including for some great offshore fishing). I'm going there next July through a mate of mine, Mat McHugh of www.flyodyssey.co.uk. Might be worth dropping him an e-mail?