Africa Travel Newsletters > Game Fishing at Kenyan Coast

1. Big Game Fishing at Kenyan Coast

The Kenya coastline -on the eastern coast of Africa, abounds in opportunities for big game fishing. Every year, thousands of deep sea sports anglers fly into the region to wrestle with the princes of the ocean. Kenya's big game fishing is concentrated in Malindi, Watamu and Shimoni areas. Game fishing, also referred to as sport or offshore fishing, is a kind of fishing that uses boats to catch big open-water species like sharks, marlin and tuna.

The Kenyan coast whose history dates back to before the 9th Century is a cultural blend of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Around 8th century, a few Arabs arrived in the region to trade and settle. Settlements gradually developed and many traders intermarried with local Africans. The gateway to the region is Mombasa, and to get here you can take a flight to Mombasa into Moi International Airport or take the 520 km road journey from Nairobi; Kenya's capital and the common entry port for most international visitors.

Lined with unspoilt beaches, the 480 km coastline hosts both small fish and giant fish predators such as kingfish, massive tiger sharks and wahoo which are no less fierce than the big cats found in the country's terrestrial wildlife sanctuaries. The region also hosts some of the world's most elusive member of the billfish - the nocturnal broadbill sword fish, and the incredibly beautiful sail fish.

Malindi, the second largest coastal town in Kenya after Mombasa, has over the years received much acclaim amongst game fishing fraternity for being the ‘sail fish capital of the world'. The town is situated 120 km northeast of Mombasa, and there are daily flights from Nairobi. Malindi is especially the perfect spot to look out for sail fish, with catches exceeding 15 fish per boat per day being common in the peak season.

As a respected centre for big game fishing, Malindi annually hosts international fishing contests between October and February.  These contests- which are usually run from the Malindi Sea Fishing Club, attract anglers from all over the world and several world records have been set here. The American writer Ernest Hemingway visited Malindi in the 1930's to perfect his game fishing prowess. Although it is possible to catch an occasional sail fish at any time of the season, the best of the action starts in September, peaking in December, but with good numbers of fish remaining well into January and February. The consensus among anglers is that few fish can rival the joy and excitement brought about by hooking a sail fish.

Watamu, 15 km further south of Malindi, is a small beach development around the beautiful inlets of Turtle Bay and Blue Lagoon. Fishing at Watamu is spectacular, with its large share of marlin, sail fish, broad bill, tuna, wahoo, king fish and many species of shark. Watamu is cast with tidal rips and boasts a diversity of fishing grounds ranging from shallow bands to the deep sea. This diversity presents a variety of catches, providing excellent opportunities for both the first timers and expert fishers. The fishing season here starts in September and runs through to the end of March; hence making Watamu an ideal getaway from the northern winter.

Shimoni, a small fishing village located 100 km southwest of Mombasa, is also a centre for serious deep sea fishing. It is also from here that you can visit the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. Shimoni is not only a good place for those looking to charter yachts, but it is also an excellent base for big game fishing in the waters of the Pemba Channel. Widely travelled anglers have repeatedly noted that one stands a better chance of catching a striped marlin from the Pemba Channel than anywhere else in the world.

The main game fish along Kenya's coastline include marlin, sailfish, king fish, and wahoo -which is reputed to be one of the fastest fish in the sea, among others. The blue, black and stripped marlin fish particularly abound in Kenya's coastal waters. The amazingly powerful black marlin are the most common and they can be caught throughout the year. The fish is noted as a violent feeder at the top of the food chain, and preys on other game fish and small bait fish.

The stripped marlin is the second most frequently encountered marlin species in Kenya's big game fishing. This species is well-known for its swiftness, fighting ability and acrobatic displays. January to March is the best time to encounter a striped marlin. Compared the others marlin species, stripped marlin is considerably more slender and is the most colourful.

The blue marlin is the largest of the marlin family. It has a long slender bill extending up to a virtual point on the top of the head where the dorsal fin slants, facilitating a tremendous take off speed compared to other marlin. The blue marlin is a powerful aggressive fighter, known for its impressive athletic abilities on the surface, clearing the water time and time again. The best season to hunt this species is August to end of October when large blues can be found amongst the tuna.

The main marlin season runs from mid November to end of March. Broadbill, considered by many to be the toughest of all billfish to catch, is also present at the Kenya coastline. This is a deep-water predator that is known to go to depths of up to 550m. It is easily frightened, but rarely strikes blindly. When hooked it takes deep and rapid dives and with the combination of the soft flesh around the mouth and its slashing bill it makes for a real challenge to catch. Broadbill can be caught throughout the year but its best season is in October, November and March when the seas are very calm.

December and January are the best months to go looking for the sailfish, one of the most colourful game fish. Sailfish is a very acrobatic creature and will dive quicker than the marlin because  of its size. It however tires quickly, and is considered a light tackle species.

Numerous species of shark can also be encountered off the Kenyan coast. Tiger and mako sharks have particularly attracted most attention from anglers in recent times. These wonderful apex predators average from 140-400 kg, but many 500 kg plus specimen are caught, tagged and released each season. Giant bull sharks of similar proportions are also occasionally encountered.

August to October provides excellent sport for Yellowfin Tuna when these high-speed vagabonds make transoceanic journeys on a regular basis. Tuna is one of the strongest swimmers among fish, and can put up a challenging fight.

Although game fishing along the Kenya coastline is possible throughout the year, there are two very definite seasons for the sport.  These are the Yellowfin Tuna season which runs from August through the end of October and the marlin season which runs from December to mid March. On the other hand, the billfish arrive in large numbers at the Kenya coastline when the north east monsoon blows. September and October are recognised as months for good catches of tuna and wahoo, while December to March as the best season for sailfish and marlin, although billfish are caught throughout the year.

Although game fishing along the Kenya coastline is possible throughout the year, there are two very definite seasons for the sport.  There is the Yellowfin Tuna Season which runs from August through to the end of October, where September and October are especially recognized as months for good catches of tuna and wahoo. On the other hand, the billfish arrive at the Kenya coastline in large numbers when the north east monsoon blows. This reels in the second season, commonly known as the Marlin Season, which runs from December to mid March. This season is the best time to catch sailfish and marlin, much as billfish can be caught throughout the year.

The tropical climate at the Kenyan coast is conducive for big game fishing. Temperatures year round vary between 22° C and 33° C. July and August are the coolest months. Light clothing is recommended, as even the evenings are usually warm. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trousers for men and short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are sufficient.

The Kenyan coast provides good and varied accommodation to visiting anglers. Mombasa has the highest concentration of resorts, and hotels in the region. Mombasa hotels and lodges range from beach campsites to five star deluxe beach properties. The city, located some 485 km from Nairobi, can be accessed by road, air or train. There are several daily flights from Nairobi to Mombasa and Malindi. When travelling by road, it is advisable to consider taking a rental car either in Nairobi on in Mombasa to help you get around.

Many big-game anglers prefer to use charter services where they hire the use of a boat and equipment, and the fish-finding expertise of a captain, in preference to maintaining their own. Either way, big-game fishing can be an expensive pursuit, and one in which the wealthy tend to feature prominently. The cost of a suitable boat, electronics, tackle and the operating costs (fuels and other consumables, insurance, mooring fees and maintenance) can be very substantial. The rates of an all inclusive sport fishing package ranges from US$ 700-US$ 1,100 -which includes lunch, a safe and insured boat and soft drinks.

A number of techniques are employed in game fishing; the main ones being trolling and chumming. Trolling involves enticing the fish by fishing lures -designed to resemble squid or other bait fish, or baits behind the boat. Whether offshore or inshore, the most critical factors in trolling success are placing the lure where it is most visible to the targeted fish species and producing lure action in a manner that attracts game fish.

Most fish are particular about how and where they feed and will only strike bait that that behaves in a specific way. Therefore, the angler must understand the size, color and style of lure the fish is seeking and present it in a realistic manner through proper depth and movement through the water. Much of this ability comes through experience and experimentation.

Trolling is an effective and widely used tactic for inshore species such as bluefish, barracuda, snook and many others. Inshore trolling occurs in the shallower water of the continental shelf from which land is continually in sight. It is targeted toward smaller, non-pelagic species that are residents of that inshore area or species that migrate to shallow water at various times of year.

In addition to the species being sought, the primary difference between inshore and offshore saltwater trolling is the size of the tackle and boats required, as well as the amount of equipment and accessories. Offshore trolling demands large boats (generally 30 feet and over) and large engines (250 horsepower and over) to reach offshore destinations; heavy tackle to land big fish; and in many cases, expensive sonar, navigation and communication equipment. Inshore trolling requires smaller boats and engines, lighter tackle and less sonar and communication equipment.

Chumming, on the other hand, entails throwing various forms of food and other substances overboard to attract larger game fish to a specific area and keep them there for extended periods. Forage fish are by far the most common form of chum, although many anglers find success with grains and other substances that are not part of the natural food chain.

The practice of chumming is quite an effective strategy because nearly all fish will be attracted to some type of chum. Chumming is most often done from a stationary position, such as an anchored boat, a beach, jetty or pier. To chum successfully, the angler must be keen on the amount of food placed in the water. Using too much chum gives fish so much food that it reduces their willingness to take a hook bait while too little chum won't maintain feeding activity long enough for sustained catch rates. Just the right amount of chum will attract fish to a selected area without providing them with too much free food.

Once a fish is properly hooked on a line, one of the anglers attempts to reel it in. The captain assists by maneuvering the boat so that the fish remains behind, while other members of the crew race to reel in the other lines so as to avoid tangling with the angler reeling in the fish. When hooked, most fish will circulate in different directions, and when they are not pulling away from the boat the fisherman can take the opportunity to reel in some of the line.

Eventually, if the fish tires and has not broken the line, they will be reeled in; however, the challenge does not end there. Hauling a heavy, powerful, and still very much alive fish on board is quite a task, unless the fish is tagged and released. Strategies include: gaffing, pulling it in with ones hands, and if it is a smallish game fish, using a net is necessary.

The fish can be fought with or without a game-chair. With a game chair, the angler sits in a specially-designed chair at the stern of the boat, and places the butt of the rod into a gimbaled mount. Most rods used in this manner are quite long. The older and more classic models had straight rod butts.

More contemporary models have bent rod butts, which give a more convenient angle for fighting the fish when the rod is placed in the mount. With large fish, this can still represent a considerable challenge, but "stand-up" game fishing, without the assistance of a chair and with the seat mount replaced by a harness, requires a good deal of strength and endurance, as well as body mass. Chumming has been used for more than 500 years, and is still in wide use today.

You can go big game fishing, and at the same time see the wildlife and other attractions that Kenya is famed for by taking a safari and beach combo tour of Kenya.

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