AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE: A story of a fishery, where no fishery has been before – Part 5

WORDS: Dave Charley IMAGES: Author & Supplied

The project was really starting to become a reality. Both dams had been left for a year to enable the aquatic ecosystems to mature before being stocked with fish. August 2022 had seen us stock 71 carp into the beautiful 8.6 acre Carp Corner, taking up residency with the 125 Tigerfish already present.

The larger dam of 12 acres, which we called Tiger Bay, had been successfully stocked with 225 Tigerfish. We also put in an abundance of Tilapia, including some very impressive specimens up to 5kg. The primary objective of these fish was to be a feed source for the Tigers, but we came to realise they are also a very sought after species in this part of the world.

So just when you think the hard work is done, and you can finally relax a little, we got a call from a staff member saying there were some ‘strange’ looking dogs in one of the dams. “Strange looking dogs”?! Upon arrival my heart sank as I watched two otters frolicking away in Carp Corner. Although wonderful creatures, they’re not exactly what you want to see in a newly stocked dam! And neither were the odd crocodiles that had made brief appearances over the past few months.

Piet and I discussed what we needed to do, both knowing it would be a massive undertaking, but one that had to be a priority right now. We chatted to a friend, a former crocodile farmer, who advised us on what barrier would be effective against these semi-aquatic reptiles. Electrical fencing doesn’t shock a croc due to its thick, bony-like skin. And so a plan was hatched, and the design would involve using renewable hardwood spikes, 60cm long, hammered into the ground. These would be set 20cm apart and have three strands of barbed wire running along them, and above that would be standard electrical fencing.

The reality was we had 2.5km of fencing to do, not for the faint hearted!

       Predator proofing the venue was no mean task, especially considering we 2.5km’s to complete

It was during these tiring months of fence installation that we also had the excavator working to dam up the sides of 12 hectares of land that we wanted to leave as a wetland area. We had been marveling at the bird and insect life that now called the dams home, and in fact we had already identified more then 100 bird species, a wonderful addition to the venue, creating a large natural habitat for an abundance of species to thrive in.

            The excavator busy securing the wetland area, as the dams start to mature and flourish

One day while working on the fencing and watching the excavator creating the surrounding wetland, Jack had an inspired idea that we should use this heavy machinery to move earth and build up a couple of areas alongside the dams that could be future cottage sites. Genius idea! We were creating an ‘oasis’, considering the rather barren, abandoned farm lands surrounding us, and now we had a plan that people could come and stay right in the middle of it. It was over a couple of  cool and pleasant gin and tonics that night, that we finally decided upon the venues name: ‘Waterside Retreat’.

It was now mid-May 2023 and D-day had eventually arrived, we were going to trial fish the venue for the very first time! I had a couple of very eager friends coming to join me for a weekend at the dams. It had been more than two and a half years since we decided to start this project, and to finally be able to fish it was so incredibly exciting.

We drove down and arrived Friday afternoon, and spent the remaining daylight hours sorting out tackle, prepping the boat and baiting an area for the carp. We managed to catch a few Tilapia as the sun was setting over the water, and life was rather marvellous I must say, but the real fishing adventures would be starting tomorrow.

We woke up early and headed straight to the dams, and while Scottish Dave decided to cast lures from the bank, Haydn and I took the boat out on its maiden voyage around Tiger Bay. We gently moved around the water, powered by the electric trolling motor, and stopping where we thought would be likely spots. It was such a pleasure to finally be wetting a line into a water that had become such a big part of my life. The months of struggling to successfully transport and stock Tigerfish had been a huge challenge, but one we finally overcame. Now I just needed one of the 225 toothy predators to actually take a fancy to one of our lures!

I was just about to tell Haydn that I thought my lure was too big, knowing that most of the Tigers that were stocked over a year ago were averaging between 100 – 400g. But then: Boom! Something struck my lure with such velocity it took me completely by surprise. The rod doubled over and the braid screamed off the reel. It was suddenly pandemonium on the boat. Then an explosion erupted at the surface as a large fish leapt into the air like a salmon. Fleeting thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to comprehend what was happening. “ It had to be a Tigerfish, as no other species behaves like that, but it can’t be a Tiger as it’s blooming massive!” I was a complete nervous wreck as I held onto the rod, the boat spinning round as the hooked fish powered itself towards some reeds. Again the fish burst through the surface, launching itself right out of the water and shaking it’s head violently. The huge teeth were clear to see, and now there was no doubt what was on the end of the line.

Haydn was almost as emotional as I was, and kept shouting “Hold on my son, hold on!”. Soon the fish began to tire and I was able to take control of the fight and bring it towards the boat. Haydn did a great job and scooped it up first time. We lifted the net into the boat and both stared in disbelief at what lay in front of us. A pristine Tigerfish of around 4kg, its teeth bigger than mine, and my first capture from our venue. I could hardly talk, I was literally in shock. How on earth could it be this big already?!

As you know from my previous articles, although these fish look like serious gangsters, they are very fickle and can’t handle too much stress. Making sure this incredible creature was returned safely into its home was now the priority. We quickly unhooked it and I lifted it up for a couple of pics. I held it in the water next to the boat so it could regain its strength, but it instantly slapped its tail and swam away, back into it’s watery realm!

My mind was well and truly blown away! It was almost lunchtime, so we trolled back to the launching point and returned to terra firma. Piet arrived at the dams with lunch and beers, which was typical of his wonderful hospitality. I was trying to down play what had happened. I calmly told him I’d caught one.

When I showed him the pics on the phone he was flabbergasted and couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and thought we had photo-shopped the images! A morning’s fishing I will never forget!

The first morning out searching for Tigers and this happened, a fish beyond my wildest dreams!

We enjoyed lunch at the water’s edge with a couple of well deserved cold ones. We were stoked as Scottish had also managed to land a decent Tigerfish from Carp Corner. The plan for the afternoon was that Haydn wanted to catch a Tiger on a fly, so he and Scottish would head out in the boat on Tiger Bay. I was keen to see if the carp might be enjoying their first taste of tiger nuts and sweetcorn that I had been throwing into an area close to some lilies.

The lads headed out on the boat and I walked round to my spot at Carp Corner. I decided to fish with just two rods, as the area was small, with a lot of submerged weed surrounding it. The two rigs went out nicely, and there I was, an Englishman carp fishing at my own venue, in Mozambique! To be honest It felt quite surreal, and I was still on another planet after the mornings encounter with the Tiger.

The wind started to pick up a little, and was blowing directly into the corner I was fishing, so the conditions were looking good. I just didn’t know if the carp would start feeding on my free offerings straightaway, as the dam was full of naturals. I’d personally spent hours upon hours collecting various species of snails, shrimps, and mussels, basically carp food, along with native macrophytes and marginal plants. These had all been left in the dam for a year to flourish and populate before any fish were stocked. So for the past nine months that’s what the carp would have principally feeding on, along with other aquatic invertebrates and bloodworm.

Well it took less than two hours before my bite alarm disturbed the peace as my right hand rod was away. I had to give the carp some decent pressure to make sure it didn’t reach the lilies and get snagged. Fortunately it shot out into open water, stripping a good 20m or so of line as it surged for freedom. My heart was racing. Soon I had it close to the bank and I scrambled to get the net. Up to the surface it came, so startling dark in colour. A couple more lunges and it had had enough, and I quickly scooped it into the net.

I couldn’t believe I’d got one! Wow, after all the time and effort that had gone into the project, to be looking down into the net at a beautiful carp was an incredible feeling. The fish was almost jet black, a result of the clear water in the dam, and looked absolutely breathtaking. The guys had heard the commotion, well probably me screaming in delight, and came round to help weigh it and take some pics. I was smiling from ear to ear, what a day!

Once it was safely returned, I scrolled through the pics to see if I could identify which carp it was from the stocking pics nine months ago. I found it, but couldn’t believe it. The carp had weighed 2.3kg (5lb) nine months ago, and was now 6.5kg (14.3lb)! Astonishing, and I was soon wondering how some of the other carp had been getting on in their new home …

               The first carp to be caught from Waterside Retreat, and I was smiling from ear to ear!

Now I wanted the others to try and catch one, and back out went the rods. Haydn and I sat in the grass, laughing and trying to make sense of it all.

Then the same rod burst into life, and madness broke loose again. Haydn grabbed the rod and whatever was on the other end roared off into the open water again. Now Haydn is a keen fly fisherman from South Africa, and for whatever reason they generally have the reel handle on the right hand side, not the left as I had on my rods. He overcame this weird challenge marvellously, but his eyes seemed to be bulging out of his sockets everytime this powerful creature tore line from the reel. This certainly wasn’t a 2lb trout that he is used to fighting!

Again a large jet black carp rolled at the surface, and instantly I recognised it. It was one of the biggest carp to be stocked, and had a very distinctive yellowish mark on its left flank. I’d nick named it ‘Colonel Mustard’ from the board game Cluedo, and now it was giving Haydn a serious fight. It’s huge tail fin slapped the surface as it dived down again, with Haydn holding on for dear life.

Up it came again, but this time it was done and ready to be landed. I lifted the net until the fish was safely nestling in the mesh, and looked at Haydn in amazement. He’s only gone and caught Colonel -blooming- Mustard, and it looked massive. We were all astonished as the scales swung round to 8.2kg (18lb), as all the carp were only just over two and a half years old. And what a spectacular looking fish! I was so chuffed to see a friend come and catch such an impressive fish.

    Colonel Mustard nine months apart, and almost double in weight, as Haydn holds him up for a pic

The next day we had to leave at midday as Haydn needed to be back home later for a meeting, so time was of the essence. The guys headed back out in the boat as Haydn desperately wanted to land a Tiger, while I went back to check my spot we’d caught the carp from. I threw in some bait and went for a walk around the dam, looking for fish and taking a few pics. After a while Piet called me to say he had breakfast ready for us, somethings you can’t refuse! I called the lads to come in and I quickly went back to my spot to see if anything was there. There were tell tale micro bubbles at the surface and the water seemed a little cloudier, clear signs the carp were feeding on the spot.    

Life choices! I couldn’t refuse breakfast, but I knew the carp were eating theirs with gusto! I raced down to the cottage and scoffed down the delicious food as quickly as possible. I apologised for acting like a starved madman, and explained what I’d seen. I just had to get back up there and cast a line! Scottish and Haydn were having lots of fun on the boat, and that’s where they were going to fish from until we left.

                   Lure fishing from the boat was a lot of fun, as Scottish shows off a lovely Tiger

Arriving back at the dam, I decided just to fish with a single rod, straight back onto the spot that had produced both fish. Carefully out went the rig and I was just praying I hadn’t disturbed the carp too much. It wasn’t long before the alarm sounded a couple of beeps, followed swiftly by a one-toner as another carp roared out into the open water.

The power of this carp was impressive and it felt like a good fish from the off. It felt amazing to be connected to another carp and I was desperate not to lose this one as it made some powerful runs towards various patches of lilies. Fortunately everything came good and I was soon readying the net as its big head broke the surface. Get in!

I quickly unhooked it in the net and secured it safely whilst I shouted at the top of my voice for lads to kindly come and help with some pics. I called Piet to say I’d got a good one in the net and that he should come up and have a look. Soon we were all together, staring at the dark shape in the net and wondering about its size. Again I recognised the fish as it had a funny dink in its head above the right gill plate. The guys said it should be named ‘Dinky’, and who am I to disagree.  

Up she went and the scales read 9.6kg (21.1lb), “you little beauty!” It had put on an incredible 5.7kg (12.5lb) in just nine months! What an amazing reward and proof that everything we had done in creating the most optimum environment possible for them to flourish in was certainly paying dividends.

                                              Dinky has certainly been loving life in Carp Corner

                                In fact Dinky has been loving life since arriving 26 months ago!

The weekend had completely surpassed all expectations, and as the dust settled, my mind was filled with wondrous thoughts at what the future could hold at this extraordinary venue when we officially open …

Next Issue: Part 6

*Readers may contact Dave Charley on WhatsApp: +258 845901250.

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