The trip began early on the 5th of  May as we headed to Bilene Mozambique. We where greeted by murky water and challenging conditions.

The first dive, and we boated three fish, water visibility was around eight meters, unfortunately Morne’s fish was not able to be weighed as it had been taxed while he was fighting it. It’s the first time I have heard of a fish having its head taken and not being taken from behind.

The following days where idyllic conditions of morning offshore winds that died down to no wind and flat calm days. It is one of the very few opportunities that I have had of dropping anchor and having all aboard in the water at one time.

Day two was good but unfortunately we had to return early due to a missing tooth on the youngest of the crew. Four fish [all cuda] where boated.

Day three saw the crew cooking breakfast and having a late start. The 2M’s the night before making the early launch impossible.
The crew as exited about launching as Burn’s toilet is to see him in the morning after a Jonnies Rotti and cane binge

Again we where all able to get into the water and hunt at the same time.  The day began on the pinnacles 5.8km out to sea. And after landing a few bludger and a cuda of over 10kg’s we decided to move to as yet an un-dived spot [thanks to Ryan and Marcus for the spots]

This reef in about 16m of water was alive with fish. All manner of bait was around and the cuda where filling threw. Chris got some epic video of cuda shot and Morne landed the fish of the trip + 20kg cuda.

All of us got more that two fish and eventually where letting the shoal size cuda swim passed [Yes even me]

The next few days where a bit of a hack the wind picked up and the launch threw the river mouth restricted us from getting in on the last two days.

Conditions where not easy and diving was hard. There was little shark activity, maybe due to the lack of vis. I did see a close up of a very friendly Zambo. Chris and Brady got a visit from a tiger, and only the ever present black tip where seen on the pinnacles.

The launch threw the mouth gave us a few hic-ups when it was low tide, as did getting to the mouth. Hidden sand banks giving the crew some hard work, before we had even started diving.

Despite this spumbu out preformed herself and again got fish.  A very big thank you to Steve Ellis who makes and serviced the boat. This is an unbeatable craft for any condition along the Mozam and Kwa-Zulu Natal coast and most importantly these boats deliver even in challenging conditions.

Another thank you to Shane and Bruce from free divers for the rapid delivery of the suit.
I am afraid there may be the need for some alterations after all the 2m’s. Thanks boys.

A big thank you to John and Alice for allowing us the privilege of joining than at this stunning location, I hope you didn’t get too tiered of eating fish!

To the crew, sorry boys I had to show you how it was done. I think the tally was 8 species to me and 1 each for you [just kidding Morne]

Before heading to this location I would check to make sure the mouth is open and the sea is clean. There are a few local spero’s up there who will tell you if the conditions are divable.

A big thank you to Chris and Morne for making the a good and safe trip, and to the gillies for making life after the dive so much easier.

Iain Ewing
Spumbu