It wasn’t Mark Murray that woke me at 4:30 AM it was a major thunderstorm at around 4. Thunder shook our cabin and flashes of lightening were like strobe lights. The rain came with it and let’s just say, they don’t make rain like this in Idaho. It came down like you can only imagine if you’ve been in the rainforest.
When Marks knock came I felt lousy. We didn’t get to bed till 1 AM and I’m still struggling with sleep. I took 1/4th of a sleeping pill in desperation for some sleep at 2 and even that didn’t help much. Mike was on the toilet so Mark popped the door and put on the light. I must have looked haggard because the first thing out of his mouth suggested I take the morning session off. With the rain pouring and pinging on our metal roof – Marks idea was music too my ears.
Mark Murray photo
I can’t ever recall skipping a session of fishing on a trip of this caliber for any reason but looking ahead at extreme fishing hours for another five days, missing a session to get the body right should pay dividends. Plus, I accomplished my goal last night catching my giant African threadfin on fly off the beach. I slept another two hours then relaxed with coffee and worked on the blog.
It turns out fishing on the beach was slow and sketchy with threatening lightening and a hefty Nile crocodile that patrolled the surf. Needless to say they left for fishing the estuary early. The estuary produced some hawg longfin jacks including this dandy that Mike caught. I’m sure to get my jack fill soon.
The rain fell until 3 PM and it put a smile on Marks face. He’s learned over the years that the big flushes of freshwater into the lagoon get the tarpon and the threadfin on the feed. We left for the mouth of the estuary before 5 under fairly nice skies.
When we got there we saw some rolling tarpon but all required underwear ripping casts. No one could reach them. We hoped for some to pass closer but the only fish caught was a longfin jack by Mike. As we fished the skies cleared and as the sun set a bright moon rose. Well into the night we could see without light like I do at home in the full moon over snow.
We all worked hard in hopes of another threadfin but he didn’t come nor did anything else. Despite the heavy rains all day the fish were not there. We packed it up at 11 PM and it was all anyone could do to keep their eyes open on the boat ride home. We put down some dinner and barely a beer each. Morning will come soon.
A special thanks to my friends of Tourette Fishing – Fight it in Africa for inviting me on this unreal trip!
Jeff,
Maybe I read to fast BUT do you have boats to get to the tarpon or is that area all beach fishing for a reason?? Maybe explain the difference or terrain or circumstances…or slap me for reading to fast, LOL