We’ve been planning to go to Mpame for this long weekend to target Garrick for a couple of months. Well Friday eventually arrived and we set off for Mpamie hoping that we would succeed in capturing this elusive predator.

Saturday we decided to start at Mpame point in the morning and Manzinyama in the afternoon and after catching heaps of shad we started to put a couple out live with no success. Sunday morning we went to Sharplys and for some reason the shad was not around. I then decided to put out a live Blacktail as I read in an article that Blacktail is great bait for the elusive G. The Blacktail went out on a slide trace on my light (3oz) rod and it was about three quarters way to my sinker when the Garrick smashed the Blacktail on top of the water. I immediately put my reel on freespool and let it take line without putting resistance on it. I waited for about 10 seconds tightened the reel and hit it hard. As I struck the fished jumped out the water again and I knew I was on dad. The fish had an amazing initial run although my drag was set quite tight. I then managed to turn it and bring it close to the rocks. It then turned again and had another run of about 20 m after which it gave up and I managed to land it. The fish was bleeding badly from the gills and could not be released.

Later my two mates also got their G’s, and all three of us had what we came for. What a great weekend, a lifetime dream coming true……

FISH: Garick (Leerie)

WEIGHT/LENGTH: 5kg

CAUGHT BY: Chuck Norris

CAUGHT AT: Mpame on 13 June 2009

BAIT/LURE: Live Blacktail