A very happy new year to all of you who may be reading this blog from time to time. The kaskazi (northeast) wind was somewhat delayed this season, which very likely has something to do with the El Niño phenomena that is affecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans at the moment. But, since new year the wind has been blowing strongly and there have been quite a few marlin about. The weather has also been rather unsettled with a cyclone in the Mauritius area last week and heavy cloud over East Africa bringing thunder storms and rain to some parts.

I spent Christmas and New Year in Nairobi with Tina, my wife as well as having to undergo emergency laser surgery to repair a torn retina in one eye. I am now back to running Kamara II Thursday 7th having left her in the very capable hands of Hamisi whilst I was away. And I am pleased to report that it has been a successful week for me thus far.

Tue 5th January – only White Otter out and Clueless fished down from Mombasa to Shimoni today. Clueless ran in to a huge pack of striped marlin off Diani Beach and at one point they had 5 marlin on the lines with more in the wake looking for their share. They ended up with 2 stripeys but when you hit those big packs it is true chaos and pandemonium but something you never forget. Otter finished with no flags flying.

Wed 6th January – only White Otter out and no flags and I’m not sure if they saw anything since I was not near the radio.

Thu 7th January – my first day out for a long time with Billy Lynch fly fishing. We rose quite a few sails in the morning on to the teasers off Funzi and I think Billy cast to 4 hooking 3 of them. Two of these were tagged and released and one appeared to be on nicely then just came unhooked. We then headed out looking for a marlin; Billy had caught 5 marlin before including a small blue with only a black still missing. Sure enough we had a small black rise to the furthest out teaser but it would not follow it in to the boat. We then saw a stripey finning but that was not interested and then on the way home another small black marlin crashed one of the teasers then rose to the furthest out one. We managed to tease him right in to the transom, it was really aggressive on the teaser but once the fly was cast he swam fast at the fly, round it back to the transom, then round the fly again and away. It was very exciting to watch though even if it didn’t actually take. Broadbill had a nice black marlin estimated at 300-lb take a small lure on 30-lb line, gave one jump and threw the lure. Clueless was also out on her way back from Tanga, had a stripey up but didn’t manage t0 hook up.

Fri 8th January – 3 boats out – Broadbill, Kamara II amd White Otter plus Clueless was making her way back north to Watamu. There were less sails around off Funzi and Msambweni but we did have a few chances it has to be said. White Otter had a triple strike from striped marlin but unfortunately were not able to hook up with any of them. Broadbill, fished by Mr Alexander Bayanov from St. Petersburg in Russia tagged a striped marlin that they had seen finning and managed to bait on a queenfish on 30. Another Russian, this time from Cheropoverts, Maxim Yuganov caught 2 striped marlin and a sailfish on Kamara II.

Sat 9th January – 4 boats fishing Broadbill, Kamara II, White Otter and Buccaneer a private boat. When we returned from fishing yesterday afternoon there was a heavy bank of cloud in the west and during the night there were thunder storms all round with rain all night. The fishing was poor, it was overcast, drizzly and rough all day. Alexander Bayanov caught the only billfish, a sailfish from Kamara II.

Sun 10th January – Broadbill, Kamara II and White Otter all out but the fishing was even worse today! It was rough, overcast with a blanket of high cloud all day clearing a little in the afternoon. White Otter rose 3 sailfish in the morning but failed to hook any of them and then saw a stripey finning in the afternoon but that would not eat.

Mon 11th January – The same boats out and it was still rather overcast in the morning but cleared later in the morning becoming really nice. We all fished up to Msambweni first thing looking for sails but nobody saw any and the water was rather dirty. Once the conditions cleared and the sun came out things started to happen. Broadbill fished by Peter Kern of Betty’s Camp and some friends had a double strike of striped marlin one of which appeared to be on but both came off. They then hooked up with a black marlin estimated at around 200-lb had it on for quite a while until after it had finished its jumping then it came unhooked. But Peter Kern did manage to catch the next striped marlin and successfully tag and release it estimated at 150-lb. They also had a strike from a sailfish and added a dorado something of a rarity recently. Werner Kreul and his son, Marco from Germany were fishing on Kamara II. Werner tagged a stripey on 30-lb line and Marco caught his first sailfish also tagged. White Otter did not have much luck today not raising any billfish.

In the afternoon the cloud returned and it started to look rather bleak again but looking at the weather forecasts the cyclone has disappeared and the main bulk of the cloud looks to be over the north of Madagascar. The forecast shows steady northeast winds but quite a lot of cloud and even some rain it would seem.

There are obviously quite a few marlin there and as the conditions improve so they come up to play more so let’s hope the next week is good.