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Well just back from a week fishing in Kenya, based at Shanzu Beach.
From the start we were up against it a bit as the fishing which is normally red hot this time of year has been quiet.
But still managed to find some fun.
Inshore (from 1/2 to 3 miles) the school tuna were tearing up the bait, which was about an inch and a half long. So 16" of 25lb fluoro as a leader a Halco Twister 15g was tied on and the fun began. I was using a 6'6" medium spin rod (rated 10-21g) and a Daiwa spin reel with 300 yards of 14lb fireline braid.
After the normally hassle of getting close enough to the tuna to cast before they sound. We hit the tuna
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Several more of these all about the same size followed every time we managed to get close. Lets just say that they fight ALOT harder than bass. Each one was taking about ten minutes, with runs of up 150 yards at times. LOVE catching tuna.
In the afternoons we headed out into true blue water looking for better fish, from the smaller boats all we found were small yellowfin, which strangely won't touch the Twister, but finally I found they would happily smash a Rapala. Although not much bigger than the Skipjacks we were catching inshore, they fight a whole lot hard, especially on light gear.
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Pretty much the same thing each day out with a couple of 'Cuda thrown in. Normally after being bitten off, and breaking out the wire leader. Hate them!!!
We had booked a couple of days out of Watamu fishing aboard AlleyCat with Capt. Peter Darnborough. This guy is simply the best Captain I have ever met, he will go longer harder and burn more fuel than any other skipper I have ever met, to get you fish. One hell of an angler, great sense of humor (don't ask!!), and he has more experience of fishing of Kenya than just about anyone alive. In short if Peter can't get you fish, no one can.
My Father has been trying to catch a Marlin for years, he has seen them, hooked them, but never landed one. So this is his chance, even though the fishing was very quiet, he managed a couple of Sails on the first day.
![]()
But the second day, Capt. Peter said a couple of Striped Marlin had been raised by one the boats the day before, so we would head out and try and find them. I should say there is NOTHING Capt. Peter likes more than catching Marlin-NOTHING !!!!
So the deal was Dad would get anything raised with a bill, and I would take everything else. So while hunting for the marlin the following turned up
A nicer Yellowfin
![]()
A Dorado
![]()
and a Yellowfin Trevally
![]()
But then
This guy turned up, and nailed a lure, after several minutes and jumps. Dad had him near the boat
![]()
and then the decky caught the leader and then the bill
![]()
and finally after more years than I should reveal Dad finally had his first Marlin, A Striped Marlin of about 70kg
![]()
The Marlin was tagged and released, and swam away strongly.
It was the only marlin caught out of Watamu that day, Capt. Peter yet again produces fish when everyone else couldn't even raise a marlin. Seriously if you are ever going to Kenya, Fish on AlleyCat, no one else comes close.
So while the fishing wasn't as good as it has been in other years, catching the small tuna is a blast, and needn't cost much. Dad got to forfil one of his last remaining fishing dreams. And we will be back next year(s).
Oh and anyone thinking the gear we use for seabass is lightweight, if it handles Tuna, it will handle any bass ever spawned.
From the start we were up against it a bit as the fishing which is normally red hot this time of year has been quiet.
But still managed to find some fun.
Inshore (from 1/2 to 3 miles) the school tuna were tearing up the bait, which was about an inch and a half long. So 16" of 25lb fluoro as a leader a Halco Twister 15g was tied on and the fun began. I was using a 6'6" medium spin rod (rated 10-21g) and a Daiwa spin reel with 300 yards of 14lb fireline braid.
After the normally hassle of getting close enough to the tuna to cast before they sound. We hit the tuna
Several more of these all about the same size followed every time we managed to get close. Lets just say that they fight ALOT harder than bass. Each one was taking about ten minutes, with runs of up 150 yards at times. LOVE catching tuna.
In the afternoons we headed out into true blue water looking for better fish, from the smaller boats all we found were small yellowfin, which strangely won't touch the Twister, but finally I found they would happily smash a Rapala. Although not much bigger than the Skipjacks we were catching inshore, they fight a whole lot hard, especially on light gear.
Pretty much the same thing each day out with a couple of 'Cuda thrown in. Normally after being bitten off, and breaking out the wire leader. Hate them!!!
We had booked a couple of days out of Watamu fishing aboard AlleyCat with Capt. Peter Darnborough. This guy is simply the best Captain I have ever met, he will go longer harder and burn more fuel than any other skipper I have ever met, to get you fish. One hell of an angler, great sense of humor (don't ask!!), and he has more experience of fishing of Kenya than just about anyone alive. In short if Peter can't get you fish, no one can.
My Father has been trying to catch a Marlin for years, he has seen them, hooked them, but never landed one. So this is his chance, even though the fishing was very quiet, he managed a couple of Sails on the first day.
But the second day, Capt. Peter said a couple of Striped Marlin had been raised by one the boats the day before, so we would head out and try and find them. I should say there is NOTHING Capt. Peter likes more than catching Marlin-NOTHING !!!!
So the deal was Dad would get anything raised with a bill, and I would take everything else. So while hunting for the marlin the following turned up
A nicer Yellowfin
A Dorado
and a Yellowfin Trevally
But then
This guy turned up, and nailed a lure, after several minutes and jumps. Dad had him near the boat
and then the decky caught the leader and then the bill
and finally after more years than I should reveal Dad finally had his first Marlin, A Striped Marlin of about 70kg
The Marlin was tagged and released, and swam away strongly.
It was the only marlin caught out of Watamu that day, Capt. Peter yet again produces fish when everyone else couldn't even raise a marlin. Seriously if you are ever going to Kenya, Fish on AlleyCat, no one else comes close.
So while the fishing wasn't as good as it has been in other years, catching the small tuna is a blast, and needn't cost much. Dad got to forfil one of his last remaining fishing dreams. And we will be back next year(s).
Oh and anyone thinking the gear we use for seabass is lightweight, if it handles Tuna, it will handle any bass ever spawned.
Can you get to sea most days? 
