June has passed and so far the Southeast has been unusually kind to us. Just sad that so little use was made of that. It is low season here on the tourist side so many skippers take a break or their boats go into maintenance. Thus trips and catches on the charter side were very limited. The boat Faith skippered by Cedrid on those days did two trips to the Drop just during the rough weather around the middle of the month but struggled with a 20kg Yellowfin and an Amberjack of about 15kg topping the rather short list of catches. Better fared Delfino with Jean-Luc on the wheel when they trolled on the plateau and ended up with two Sailfish, five Wahoos, some Dorados and Bonitos. That was early this month when the weather was still really calm. Good enough for a first test trip on my boat after an endless ordeal of engine problems that would fill a book. Just went jigging in the La Digue Channel and was nicely surprised. Next to the usual and expected kitchen fish two decent Bludgers gave me hell on the light setup.

Totally unexpected was also the catch of this Queenfish. Got several on fly over the years but never vertical jigging before. Always lovely when they jump like Salmon.

Also sort of a surprise was not to encounter engine trouble at all despite still some spares missing. So a couple of days later I ventured a bit further, behind the Sister Islands, but no luck: missed a GT on the second cast during an hour trying but nothing more happened. Trolling a lure to and between jigging spots did not produce even just a knock during about three hours alltogether. The jigging was good in the morning with three Trevallies and probably an Emperor Snapper on, but all were taken by the lousy Sharks. By noon the bite died completely and just the small Groupers remained a little active. Then as mentioned the wind came up proper around mid-month and it was just fly fishing here in the protected bay. Twice I had a bunch of Trevallies bolting past me but with a tiny Flexo Crab on the line there was nothing to be done. The Permits seen in the beginning must have moved out and Bonefish were elusive as usual. So catches were limited to countless small Snappers and this little Grouper is the best I have to show from that. Rather pitiful.

Towards the end of this week we were blessed once more by literally a hole in the wind for two days, but again it was hardly used. I had other obligations and I heard of only one charter ending up with a Sailfish as the only fish seen all day. With more tourists expected to flow in along July there should be more fishing again next month. Wind permitting of course.

For the preceeding reports check the archive.