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Bebiche Team
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FOTO
ingrandita » ( 60 Kbyte )
Per chi l'inglese...
Our internatonal flight from Italy to Sal landed very gently
. Me , my friend Gianni and my wife Sabrina had only to
wait a few hours for the 50 minutes local flight to Sao
Vicente island.
Unusual low winds and low visibility worried us . In fact
the local air company delayed our final flight more and
more due to the desert sand in the air ( this wind coming
from Africa is called Harmattan) very dangerous for the
airplane engines.
We were just thinking about one night at Sal when sky opened
up. Take off finally!
After 55 minutes we landed at Sao Vicente airport. Our Captain,
the german skipper Peter Dobler was waiting for us. Smiles
and bearhugs , we all remembered the fantastic last year
fishing where we caught 15 blues from 28 bites in seven
days. Best week of 2006 season for the captain.
We all knew this season was started as the best ever in
Capoverde. Peter told me he had already caught 92 blues
in seven weeks with a fantastic day with 14 releases in
mid april.
Things were a bit different at the moment though. Fishing
was slow, at least for capeverde standards , with average
of just 4 to 6 strikes per day with very poor strike ratios.
We were not worried. We had 13 days to fish , some slow
days were predictable and acceptable.
After one very relaxing first night in our apartement we
woke up early in the morning and went to the docks.
We found our old fishing boat, the fourtyfive years old
31bertram Bebiche like last year. Perfect new engines but
very very poor fishing equipment. Four broomsticks as rods,
four old shimano tiagra 80 with poor and scratch 130 line
on it.
Reels had low gear speed broken , the clicker working just
sometimes………
Only a bunch of Moldcraft Wide Range as lures with dull
hooks.
We were prepared to this sight but I remember last year
for the first time we were very very worried
Not this year. We all smiled to see this.
We knew Bebiche was a really Marlin Magnet. Nobody knows
why. No other charter boat dare fishing side by side to
Bebiche.
Anyway , As soon as we reached the deck of our boat we opened
our fishing bags and……voila'…..
New bucket harness, new fluo 130 line, jobu hookrigs super
sharpened, leaders, accessories and two dozens of the best
lures on the market. (thanks again Capt Bart Miller)
Our locat mates Zezito and Branco were so excited, they
remembered our last year performance with these lures so
their eyes blinkened.
Almost all the charter fishing boats here are used to troll
just four widerange every day in every sea conditions.without
any idea about the fine art of lure positioning It is normal
that after some time with wild bite the following days marlins
become more suspectous playing lures with their bill instead
opening their mouth, hence the poor strike ratio.
We all decided to spend the first three fishing days exploring
surrounding areas trying to find a good bite somewhere.
We fished the Santo Antao island waters the first day,
then we moved east to San nicolao island where we spent
the night, we tried two spots over there for a few hours
then we decided to move back to west where the charter fleet
had found marlin in a spot called San Pedro Bank.
In those three days we had 6 strikes catching 3 fish (150-250-350)
plus a 40 pound wahoo.
But most important, in those days we learned our spread
on different sea and wind conditions.
We found some hot holes in the spread , we tested almost
all the lures , some of them worked good some not.
We forced the crew to fish closer to the transom, they used
to set their spread too far even in good sea condition .
Sometimes it seemed to troll five stingers .
We found magic short and long corner spot in the spread
and we wanted our lures there.
Mates worked hard pulling in and out lures, longer and shorter
distance from the stern,
Finally we had our loops to attach the tag line clip on
mail line at the right distances. Perfect. We were satisfied
about our hard work, most of the lures worked fine, rpm
setting were ok, new lines on every reel.
We were ready.
On Sunday 13 of may it all started.
We left the Mindelo Harbour at 6.30 in the morning.
After a 40 minute ride we reached the bank and we set the
spread for our start.
Ten minutes later a nice 20 pound dorado caught steel. Dinner
for everybody. Smiles.
One hour later first marlin strike on Roddy Hays Enky but
no hookup, 30 minutes later our first blue, a nice acrobatic
200 pounder on BB Marlin Candy short corner.
From then on , we had marlin strikes every 30 minutes ,
including a double header and a triple header. (we caught
one each)
We ended the day with an impressive 4 from 11 not bad but
we experienced some poor ratio in evening bites on our short
lures that left us a bit wild.
On the way back home we had a nice 40 pound wahoo.
In the same day Capt. Zac on his wonderful 35 Bertram Amelia
had a nice 3 from 9 and Capt Simon on Happy Hooker II did
the best of the day with a fantastic 7 from 11, Berno on
Happy Hooker had bad luck 0 from 7.
It seemed to everybody fishing was going off again in the
next days.
Second day
We started at 7.45 . the winds were stronger and the sea
from moderate to heavy.
We decided to fish the same spot as yesterday and we did
well.
Total of the day 5 from 9 with a double header. Nice fish
in the average weight for capeverde waters, 200-350 pounder.
The others: Simon 4 from 11, Berno nada again , Zac a fantastic
7 from 19 with a potential grander released and a spearfish.
With these numbers who could complain???
We spent the evening dinner together with Zac , mate Marty
Bates and their nice german clients in a lovely local restaurant.
Lots of beer……lots of wine…..even for my
wife Sabrina.
Third day
We had a very windy night, a bit worried about the sea
forecast.
Sabrina decided to stay at home. Good decision.
Boring and slow day at least for us.
We ended with a sad 1 from 7 ( a nice 350 pounder) with
Roddy Hays Andromeda on long corner.
We tried also the drop off on the east side as too many
boats fished just on the bank. We found lots of bird and
tons of baitfish everywhere but no marlin . We kept this
info for us. We wanted to try again next days.
The others Berno finally cought one, local Skipper Calo
2 /3 zac did best again 4/10
Fourth day
We started at 7.30 a bit worried as wind was blowing very
hard.
The lee side of the island saved us and the sea was like
yesterday and settled down during the day.
Our old bebiche did best today with a great 6/9 with a final
quadruple header (caught 2)
Nice fish today: 450, 400, 350. 250,250,200 pounders.
We set a nice spread with Marlin Candy and Andromeda on
shorts and Hawaian Breakfast and Pakula lumo sprocket on
riggers they all did well.
Marlin were very aggressive and crashed on our lure catching
steel of our fantastic stiff Jobu hookrigs.
The others Zac 5/10 Calu 4/9 Simon 2/5
Our Best day until now.
We had dinner again with Zac and Marty, the german clients
had their last days.
Tomorrow we will fish the bank without Zac and his boat.
Their next English gentleman clients Chris Flower (aka UKCHRIS
) and Roger Bradbury (aka RAVELLING TANGLER) will arrive
the next day and we all were waiting for them.
We were going to have a five days friendly challenge between
Italian and England fishing team.
Fifht day
Alone on the bank. No other charter boat had clients. Unbelievable.
We started at 7.00
In the morning we experienced only bites on riggers, late
in the day marlin stroke the shorts as well.
We used the same spread as yesterday but we put a BB Abaco
prowler on long rigger instead of hawaian breakfast.
We had an before only dreamed 8/16. Weight on average 200
to 350 pounds.
We backed to Mindelo one hour before as we had to change
oil. We wanted to be ready for the next day, the very important
first day competition.
Sixth day (comp day number one)
Chris and Roger arrived regularly.
We decided lines in 8.30 and lines out at 4.00 pm
Nobody could know what it was waiting for us that day…………
Only three boats on the bank. Calu ended with a 1/9
For Zac, Marty, Chris and Roger have been the best day in
their fishing life.
They caught 8 from 19.
Who could make better? Bebiche and the Italian team of course
With a fantastic 14/31 we did the best of our life too.
We lost three lures, five hookrigs, two lines broken, We
had a nice 500+ , at the very start of the day we had a
quadruple header and we caught three and broke the fourh….what
a mess.
I have caught my share of marlin in my life but what happened
this day goes beyond my imagination.
I just remember that from the start of the competition till
11.30 we had no time to rest for a second………..
When all was over in the dock nobody could realize what
happened yet.But biiiig smiles from everybody.
Sorry Zac and England team but we lead 1 day to 0.
Seventh day (second day of the comp)
Today we found marlin in great numbers but a lot less aggressive
than the day before.
Shy strikes, we did some mistakes also , maybe due to our
tiredness and our nervosism aboard.
We ended with a decent 3/10
Zac did better then us 6/12. Hat off to them. They deserved
the victory. 1 to 1
We noticed that marlin were becoming less aggressive, and
our stiff hookrigs did not so good, we changed , and we
switch to a swinging back hook trying to wrap it around
the bill.
My capt had an idea. He wanted to leave the bank the next
day.
He said to me that if we stayed there we would have worst
strike ratio day by day.
We had to find new fish more aggressive not already hooked
and released.
I was very worried about this decision, leaving this bank
it was a risky business for me but I trusted my captain
and said Yes.
Eight day (third day of comp)
We tried the bank just few hours in the morning, we had
only fool strikes with no hookups 0/5 the same happened
to Zac.
Then the decision. Zac stayed on the bank and we moved to
the east , out of the bank , trolling on the 200 metres
drop off where we found baitfish but no marlin the days
before.
Finally we found them.
After the initial 0 from five we got a fantastic 4 from
5 with my jobu hookrigs.
Zac ended with a not enough 3 from 14
Still on the lead. 2 days to 1
Highlight of the day a nice 600+
Best lures as usual : Marlin Candy, pakula Sprocket
My friend Gianni Saved our victory catching the fourth fish
with a broken reel . Well done .
Nine day (fourth day of comp)
A very windy day.
Sabrina liked to stay at home.
We all started one hour later to make gasoline.
So today line in 9.30 and lines out 4.00 pm as usual
We moved quickly to the east without a try on the bank.
As usual the first 5 strikes in the morning did not catch
steel. But when we reached the far east things changed.
We had two double header and we caught all . we ended with
a 7/13
My last fish was a 700+ that force me a very dirty down
fight.
After a 50 minute hard fight our first mate Zezito got the
leader. Fish caught. The seventh of the day.
We went home. We did not know anything about Zac. No radio
contact.
When in the harbour we looked at their release flags…one…two..three….that
is all. We won again. 3 days to 1. Only one day left, Impossible
for the England beat us. The comp was over.
Tenth and last day (fifth day of the comp)
We suggested Zac to go east too and leave the bank and
he did. But he did not enough.
We ended with a 5/11 and zac only 2 /4
We destroyed them.
Our trip was over , Chris and Roger had still one day to
fish.
We all were so happy, the winners the losers, all of us.
Great final dinner altogether. See you next year guys. A
special hug to my old captain Peter Dobler that in his last
fishing season did the best of his life. I am so proud to
be his favourite angler.
Next year Bebiche is going to be captained by Ferdinand
Worst. We became friends this year, he was at the helm sometimes
during those days while Peter catnapped.
We ended our 13 days with 60 marlin caught from 132 strikes
The last ten days 57 releases from 126 strikes
I don't know what to do know. Nothing will be the same for
me.
Thanks again to everybody .
A special Thanks again To Capt. Bart Miller.
Thanks to his fine lures all this was possible, without
them no chances.
Just for curious anglers
Top lures of the trip
1- Black Bart Marlin Candy
2- Pakula lumo strocket
3- Black Bart Abaco Prowler
4- Black Bart Hawaian Breakfast
5- Pakula Mouse
6- Roddy Hays Enky
7- Apollo Evil
8- Moldcraft wide range
Colours: Lumo, Black and red, green and red, green
and yellow.
David Viani
26 Maggio 2007
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