Back in da office! 0-1 lost a Blue and 1-1 release on Stripe. Late start after the early blow but snuck out between the two fronts and had some fun. Had to go very deep as water cold and off colour but glad to have connected. Early exit as the next front arrived but job done. Piddling down and blowing again..?   ...

Two blues released off Richards Bay on Saturday with another two dropped. First Blues released at the OET at Sodwana today - the girls have arrived. Leave for R Bay next week....

Been back home a few days and nursing the bruises from the less than successful trip to Moz. While Duarte was catching on a regular basis down south we struggled. Have never fed so many baits to sharks... Was crazy trying to swim live baits off the lighthouse - sailfish bay area even out on the 200m we got taxed almost immediately every time. Local boys must have some special trick because we became master baiters of very big sharks and fed uncountable perfect yellowfin at nauseum. Did have pulls on kona's but none stuck and the one bait that did get hammered was striped and then left. On Thursday we ran 70 km to the canyon where there was action and a grander on the Tuesday. Again we raised...

Had a frantic phone call late last night with guys in R Bay looking for Reel Magic as she had not returned to port. Long story short they had hooked up at 10 am and were so far out after fighting the fish to sunset that they had no coms. Fought the fish for 10 hours on 130lb tackle and had a battle due to the fish being tangled and stuck on the dorsal. Massive fish that was eventually lost in the dark when cut off. Pity its weight couldnt be verified but estimated in the 400kg area. WOW the fat girls have arrived early. Water temp already 24 degrees!!!...

Still some way off but at least we can start thinking about it again. Have had some bookings already and that confirms that I will be back up in the bay in November again. Could well be my last for a while due to a new 64 ft yacht in production now. Plans for a round the world fishing oddesy are in full swing so I may just miss a few seasons after this one. Anyway all good for this season so if you want that special beast, make it this season.......