A Day at Basunti – Fishing For Sol (Spotted Murrel)

Having noticed over the past few weeks a distinct reduction in the number of Golden Mahseer in this part of the Maharana Pratap waters, we have decided that from now on all Mahseer will be on a strict CPR (Catch, Photograph and Release) basis at Basunti.

This decision made, we decided to spend the rest of the day Sol fishing. Tried our luck at the Canyon of the Half Moon before moving on to Bomb Bay. No luck at either place although they both looked like ideal locations for Sol. After a couple of hours spent thrashing the water, I left to do some gardening and Andy went on to Sandy Point to see if the fish were feeding in the Gulley. Just before lunch Andy returned with a beautiful 2.7 kilogram caught off Sandy Point. He was really elated as this was the biggest Sol he had caught so far.

After lunch and a siesta we took the canoe out and started fishing the gullies towards Lalwana Village on the ridge opposite Basunti. The first hour was completely dead, with no action at all, although this was ideal Sol territory. Casting along a rock wall the rod almost bent double and we realised we had hooked into a real beauty. These fish can really fight, after fifteen minutes of being dragged all over the bay Andy finally managed to bring the fish to the surface. It still took another five minutes before it would let us bring it into the canoe. Andy was beaming, a Sol just under 4.5 kilograms. After taking the photographs we released the fish, which swam away the moment it hit the water.

That evening we dined on Sol fillets, baked in the oven with a little lime juice, salt, pepper and some olive oil,  along with mashed potatoes and pickled Beetroot.

Spotted in the Basunti gardens in the last few weeks: Asian Bird of Paradise, Baya Weaver, Common Hoopoe, Asian Brown Flycatcher and Black Shouldered Kite. In the Basunti area: Yellow Wagtail, Eurasian Thick Knee, Greater Thick Knee, Grey Francolin, Jungle Mynah and White Tailed Eagle.