Do you think it is possible to land a 100 kg + fish from the beach then you should join us and try your luck. The quarry is the Bronze whaler shark which abounds in the Namibian waters. We believe in catch and release and are also involved with the tagging program of the Namibian Ministry of Sea Fisheries. We leave at 09h00 and usually return about 18h00. If there is a run happening of other fish while on your trip we will also target other species. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide with air conditioned vehicle stocked with food, beverages and bait and kitted with fishing tackle. We cater for passengers (minimum 3 persons) and self drive groups (minimum 2 vehicles). We can also arrange ski boat angling trips and extended fishing trips to places like Terrece bay.
25 January 2003 Torsten, Me, Chris and Mike ski boat fishing by Louis Reichert
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A old client of mine Chris Inns and his brother Mike from the UK came to Namibia on a fishing holiday and they went out beach fishing for Bronze Whaler sharks for a few days. They decided to hire a boat for a day and invited me and Torsten along. We met the guys of Avocet at the mole at 0800. They quickly loaded our gear and told us to get on the boat while it was on the trailer no need to get our feet wet. They pushed the boat and trailer into the water with their Landy and then slammed on the brakes and the boat jus slid off the trailer and we where ready to go.
Jacques our skipper said that it might be worth while to have a look in the deeper water for snoek before we come inshore to do some reef fishing for kabeljou. I was very exited about this as I had my saltwater fly rods
with me and I was keen to get a Snoek on the fly. We went out about 18km from Swakop and trawled a bit for the Snoek but no luck. So we went to the reef off mile six to try for a Kob. There was 3 other ski boats in the area and they where catching on and off. The one skipper told Jacques that there was some Leeries (Garrick) around earlier so we decided that we will make a run to mile 14 to see if there are no bigger fish and maybe check for the Leeries on the way. In the area of mile 8 we found the Leeries making swirls in the water so we quickly put out lures to trawl for them. I had one fly rod rigged with a popper also out. Unfortunately I did not have a floating line with me so the popper did
not want to work to well on the sinking line. After circling the area where the leeries where swirling without success we decided to move on to mile 14.
At 14 I was the first to hook up with a small shy shark on a fly rod with bait on the hook in stead of a fly. Then it was Mike's turn to loose his virginity on to a Spotted Gulley Shark. We got a few more catfish and then I got a shark on my baited fly rod. it was just screaming reel and knuckles being knocked as it took of on a run which would never stop. The wire trace I had on was to thin so it got bit off. I went quiet so we went back to mile 6 and then we started getting some small kabeljou Chris was the first one to get lucky with a kabeljou. We managed to
boat 12 before we had to go turn back to Swakop as the wind picked up a bit. It was quite a bumpy ride back but Jacques made it look so easy through the chop.
When we got back to Swakop, Jacques steered the boat masterfully stern first onto the beach so we could get off again without wetting our feet. They off loaded all our gear and then we followed them to the fish and boat cleaning yard where the gillies quickly filleted our fish. There where a few hungry pelicans around that waited for there share of the fish as well. It was the first time I was lucky enough to be on a guided fishing trip with a ski boat and I can recommend Avocet for their professional service.
5 October 2002 Torsten, me and the Bronzies of the "Dromme" by Louis Reichert
Torsten and I went out to see if we could tame a Bronzie (copper shark) or 2. We got delayed by work etc. so we left Walvis only after 12h00 going to mile 8 where we caught a few small Bronzies a few weeks ago. When we got to mile 8 things did not look good the water was quite rough and there was a lot of loose seaweed in the water. I decided that I would make a test throw to see how bad it really was. I started heaving the line a few minutes later and it took about 20 minutes before I had it on the beach so much seaweed had wrapped itself around my line.
So we poured us a nice Brandy and Coke and packed everything back on the bakkie and then headed back to Walvis. On the way back I told Torsten about a place called Dromme close to Walvis where I have already landed quite a few Bronzies. We got to the Dromme about half past two and by about three the lines in the water ready for action. So we settled down with our 2nd "spook & diesel"
We made some chum from sardines, mullet and anchovies to lure the Bronzies to our bait. True to form at almost half past four I had the
first pickup from a Bronzie which I landed about half an hour later with Torsten assisting with a gaff. It was a Bronzie of about 40 kg, we tagged it and returned it after a short photo session. Shortly after that Torsten had a pickup but lost it again almost immediately after the pickup.
We had a few idle minutes before
the reel on my rod started screaming again. I told Torsten to take it as he had not landed the last one. I followed him with the camera to get a few action shots of him fighting the Bronzie. I was about 50 meters away from the the other rod when I saw that the rod that we left there was starting to jump in the holder. I had to run like a sprinter to put the camera in the car and get to the rod before the shark takes
to much line. I then started my fight it was also a Bronzie of about 40 kg and brought it in close to the shore before I broke the line. I could then take the gaff to go and assist Torsten, he was about 300 meters down the beach with his Bronzie.
After landing and tagging it and taking a
few photos Torsten released his +- 50 kg Bronzie to fight another day. We then packed up filled up the mugs again and set of home along the beach feeling very content after this day that started not so good but ended great.
My first Bronzi by Hugh Roe
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My other passion, Fishing by Louis Reichert
Beside 4x4 my other passion in life is
fishing, I am for catch and release and seldom keep everything I catch. I try to make time to do at least one fishing trip per year up the skeleton coast, the other time I fish around the Walvis bay, Swakopmund area. I have to stay in cell phone range for my work. Before Kara was there I went fishing almost every weekend. I prefer shark fishing as the chances you are going to hook up to something big is much greater than any other specie of fish in Namibia. When I fish for edibles I try to use a lighter rod and reel than others, I like a good fight.
I have also had the priviledge to hire a big game boat for a day of offshore game fishing when my wife and I where in Mauritius a few years back. I had a beautiful day and caught 12 Bonito, 2 Dorado and hooked up and lost a +- 300 - 350 pound Black Marlin.
A few years back I got interested in fly fishing especially for saltwater species. I went out bought all the kit for salt and fresh water and fly tying as well but did not have much chance of using it yet. I only had some
luck with some sand sharks and "klip vissies" here. I also tried to catch some Garrick when on holiday in Knysna in October 2000 but I had 4 takes but no hookup. I also had one day of trying the fresh water of the Von Bach close to Windhoek where I had a nice Catfish (barbel) follow my fly but no takes.