The joys of kids no longer at school…I booked a camp site at Mabibi in the Sodwana -Kosi area from 17th -24th January this year…same trip as the last 2 years. I have been there around 10 times in the last 15 or so years and the area has always been a great fly-fishing destination. This is due to warm water, very little fishing pressure (a few local bait fisherman at best) and the set-up of some of the areas that allow for a little protection from the south west wind, and a bay layout that reduces the waves hitting you allowing you to cast easier and further into areas where bait fish often gather, and where predators come in to search them out.

Last year I went solo but this year Kevin Robertson and Marius Groenewald joined me – so had great company and someone to take photos if one of us got a good fish! It was in the week after the massive floods in the Kruger / Mozambique area, so the roads were challenging (4×4 always a necessity in this area) but as there are no river mouths anywhere close, the sea was crystal clear.

In the week we fished Mabibi, Island Rock, Lala Neck and Rocktail Bay. All of these beaches are fly-fishing paradises but all very different in structure and offer different opportunities. We booked our trip to be there over spring tides which is a must as from low to high tide it is completely different, and fish are moving all the time so usually offers more opportunities.

Whilst we didn’t manage to hook into any massive fish, we probably got around 130 fish between us with about 20 different species including many types of Kingfish, Wrasse, Wave Garrick, Bastard Mullet, Indian Goatfish, Garfish, Wolfherring, Moonies, Flagtail, Russel Snapper and Blacktail.

In terms of equipment – Marius and myself are big Explorer T50 fans, and our 9wt rods with Rio 0utBound Short intermediate lines helped us cast almost full fly lines in most conditions – even with Marius’ injury inspired Raffa Nadal double handed cast (gotta see it to believe it!!)

As far as flies go, we all tied our favorite clousers (often mostly white with a touch of another colour often with silli legs for movement), ship patterns, Charlies (all sorts), Brush flies (black is always my go-to and didn’t disappoint again), and other flies with orange and pink being particularly successful.

Another great trip to the Mabibi area…about to book my trip for next year…