Mozambican Cronicles - Out in the blue...

  • Its 04:00 am, and the boat makes its way down the ramp for another journey...looking at the sky in the horizon, i can see a faint glimmer comming from behind the water as the sun finds its path to bring us one more day in Africa...


    Once more the sound of the engines starting sets the beggining of one more adventure out in the blue...


    Heading to a spot 43 miles outside Maputo, my eyes wonder's trought all things that can be seen trougthout the way, and i can't stop thinking of how blessed we are to be able to dive in these waters, and to witness visions of dream such as whales breastfeeding, or dolphins jumping and playing like happy children around a Christmas tree...


    The boat stops...its time...everybody's grabbing their gear, like sailors on a battleship, assuming positions, throwing the floats off board as the vessel heads up in the current for the first drift...
    Our skipper stops the engines as we enter the water one by one...first Emiliano, then Vasco and them me...


    Relaxing myself as i unfold the flasher setting it at the correct depth for the first dives, i close my eyes to get them ready for the dark blue, as the water is still somehow murky and the clowds are here to stay...


    One last deep breath and i'm heading down, as i reach 10 meters i stop and let myself glide silently to 15...the bottom rests some 45 meters bellow me and i can see the flasher dancing slowly to the waves movement in the surface, up and down, working its magic like a silent Hamelin flute...all the sudden a small school of sardine flyes bye as if their life depended on it...i turn my head instantly trying to understand the reason of all that commotion and lurking some 10 meters below there's a shinny body with those distinct black fins...the "spaniards" are here!!!


    Spanish Mackerel are not a difficult fish to land, some are harder then others, but unlike most fish, these ones allow you a straight aproach, almost head on...
    I turn its way and engage in the pursuit...he starts to plunge deeper as i struggle to get closer and behind him...it always works...as i reach his rear he loses sight of me turning is all body in an attempt to understand whats happening in his blind spot giving the chance for a perfect mid body shot...as the spear enters the body, the fish explodes making a heavy run, as i start my way up followed by my gun that dwells free next to me...
    At the surface,i reach for the gun and pass the rubbers trought my left arm all the way up to the shoulders i grab the floatline and start retrieving it, meter, by meter, on a gentle manner but always keeping some pressure on the line, too much will tear the flesh, too litke will let the barb close and dislodge the spear...after 15 minutes of pull and run i have the spear in my hands, and the fish takes off again as it feel the shaft pressing against its body making him come alive once more...a few more runs and its mine...





    As i sit on the boat, laying the fish down on the deck i can see Emiliano fighting another one as Vasco heads towards him to help...its always a pleasure to watch dive buddies working together, it makes me remember that besides what a lot of guys say, spearfishing its not a solo sport...one fish two divers..twice the fun...


    As i go down again once more, sinking slowly at the sounds of wales singing, a shadow starts to take shape, revealing a number of long slender bodys, with pointy heads and an unmistakable lower jaw...barracuda...
    I move away from the school wich triggers the curiosity of five of them, now moving away from the school and towards me...i stop and wait, my gun is tucked under me, not to scare the fish...the biggest one gets closer...and closer...and stops...now is the moment, standing 5 meters ahead of me she starts turning as my gun reveals itself...i aim...and the spear hits a litle behind the head...as usual with this fish the first run is quite powerful, but then it stops and sinks...a few meters after and i have the cuda right in front of me...i still remember four years ago, one like that charged over me twice in this exact moment...i slowly grab one end of the spear as my left hand reaches for the other end...shot near the head the cuda trashes but as no chance of bitting me...i give it to Vasco in the boat and he places it inside the fish hatch..its not wise to leave live cuda laying on the deck...




    A few more dives and its time to head back, as the warm African North wind starts to blow...


    Already on the dock there's one smile we all share, witness to a day well spent among friends...not many fish where landed but the soul purpose of being underwater was fulfilled as we dive for one good fish...and not many...for these are the ones that stay printed in your memory, coming alive in your dreams in the nights to come...


    Happy dives to you all...

    "The heart is but the beach beside the sea that is the world..."

  • another great report...like taking me with you.


    thanks for sharing.


    gotta be careful with those cudas. they will fight forever...there is a video of on without any head or guts still trashing when it's spine gets hit....crazy fish

    i like to spear fish

  • Hemingway indeed. Actually cuda do die fast, it would be a PITA if they didn't. Good story Dias. I never thought before about why fish turn and give me a broadside sometimes, makes sense such a simple thing, now I know. Big eye on that cuda.


    That's a king right guys?

  • Yep. that would be a kingfish for us but I have heard people on the other side call them by different names like ''couta'', ''tengirri'', ''tanguigue'' and ''spanish mackerel''.I would like to know if they are the same species or more likely a closer relative? The do grow huge like over 250+ pounds!

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