Virgin no more

A good friend of ours named Loren, who you met in an earlier post, Great day with a mixed bag, asked if we would like to help him pick his new boat up from Suva. This pick-up would involve some fishing as well as getting the boat back to his dock. Who can pass that up?

We set the plan for an early morning departure. It is a 45 minute drive to the boat so we all pile into a taxi before dawn and head out.

There is a chill in the air but as the sun breaks the horizon our bone warm up.

From ChiChi delivery

By the time we reach the boat it has been prepped and is ready to go. Just a few last minute pointers for Loren from the builders and we are ready to go.

From ChiChi delivery

Loren's boat is a 24ft version of my boat. Very stable and comfortable to ride in if we were to run into any bad weather. That was not to be. It was mill pond flat and a real pleasure to be out on it.

From ChiChi delivery

As we left Suva Harbour there is always a plethora of sights to see everything from sunken ships to mega yachts.

From ChiChi delivery

Not forgetting to mention the Supa Blu.

From ChiChi delivery

If you have ever entered of left a large busy harbour with completely inadequate markings, then you will relate to theis image. Myself and Loren trying to find our way out of the harbour.

From ChiChi delivery

We are almost out and here is a shot of the weapons for the day.

From ChiChi delivery

Here is an awesome sailing vessel we passed on our way out.

From ChiChi delivery

Once clear of the harbour we made a bee line to some reefs that looked really fishy on the charts. I insisted that Loren take a few casts while I get to drive his boat.

With the drift set and the water looking fishy Loren and Rosie proceeded to cast poppers towards the reef. It did not take long before we all saw the strike. Loren's popper was violently taken by a good size fish. After a good fight and a couple of guesses as to what the fish was, we finally see that it is a nice Spanish Mackerel (Walu).

This was not only the first fish on the boat, but it was also Loren's first Spanish Mackerel all on the maiden voyage.

From ChiChi delivery

We fished on for a while but nothing else was biting. The weather started to look a little iffy so we decided to head home. The ride was smooth and comfortable and Loren was happy.

Here's a shot of the boat's new home.

From ChiChi delivery

Tight lines

green friday

With all of this talk about “the bird in the oven”, this writer is grabbing his quill and going into hiding until the leftovers are put in the fridge. Black Friday specials are tempting enough to taunt even the shyest hermit crab into venturing out of his shell to save some cabbage. AF wants to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. May your bellies be full and your shopping excursion rewarded with two days on the water.

The AF Crew visited Dick’s Sporting Goods in Orange Park last weekend for a pilot expo in the parking lot that may change the way the Mogan Tour rolls next year. Hundreds of people came out to watch seminars and visit booths to learn more about products from Wright & McGill, Lazer Sharp, DOA Lures, Humminbird, Minn Kota, FINS Braided Line, Project Snook and Mote Marine, Mirrolure, Coastal Angler Magazine and more. The bass in the “hog trough” were going ape over the DOA shrimp as Capt. Blair tried to demonstrate his techniques. The largemouth liked both the shrimp and his techniques! Stay tuned for news about the 2011 Mogan Tour as AF goes into planning mode for the New Year.

Shoppers on your marks… get set… GO! As traditional Black Friday shoppers hit the stores at crazy hours before the sun comes up, Dick’s Sporting Goods is sleeping in until 5am and their sale runs all weekend. While other shoppers are scrambling and racing, you can mosey on in to your nearest DSG for the best deals on the tackle we love. Lace up your walking shoes and make your angler’s wish come true with a Blair Wiggins Signature Seris “Flats Blue” fishing rod under the tree. DSG will be leaking the sale info and money saving coupons the night before Thanksgiving at dickssportinggoods.com. Happy shopping!

This week’s Mogan of the Week comes to us from Costa Del Mar. Yep, even the sponsors are submitting pictures in hopes of having their story shared via Mogan Mail. Costa employees got together with a local Eagle Scout troop to deploy oyster mats in New Smyrna Beach, FL recently. The oyster mats will serve as the ocean’s natural filtration system to clean pollutants from the water. They may not have caught anything that day but they caught our attention by doing some good for our estuaries. This Mogan of the Week is more like an I.O.U. for the one that will be caught later on behalf of their efforts.

Building a nest egg,
BillBird

flash drive

We aren’t talking about computer storage devices here; it’s a one day mad dash to Orange Park and back. The AF Crew heads out on a road trip that may change the way we view fishing expos in the future. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Addictive Fishing presents “Fish Like The Pros”.

Ten booths will fill the parking lot in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods in Orange Park. Factory reps and pro staff from the top manufacturers will be answering questions and showing off the latest and greatest innovations in fishing products, electronics and accessories. Learn how to tie the best knots, get the most out of your electronics, or just keep up to speed on the newest baits on the market.

Fishing pros, Blair Wiggins and Shaw Grigsby, will be giving seminars and using the traveling bass aquarium to demonstrate presentation and technique. Watch the way they wiggle their worm up close and personal! Afterwards, the pros will be on hand in The Lodge for autographs and questions.

Project Snook and Mote Marine will be there taking donations and sharing the progress of what your $10 donations have accomplished so far. There is still so much research to be done and more snook need to be hatched. After the big chill of 2010, our favorite fighters need all the help we can give them.

Grab the family, tell your fishing buddies and come out to the Fish Like The Pros fishing expo. This mini event has everything you go to the bigger shows for without any of the admission fees. Confirmed exhibitors but not limited to:

Humminbird
Minn Kota
Star brite cleaning products
DOA Lures
FINS braided line
Lazer Sharp Hooks
Wright & McGill
Mirrolure
Project Snook & Mote Marine
Coastal Angler Magazine

The big event is this Sunday in the parking lot of Dick’s Sporting Goods @ 1910 Wells Road, Orange Park, FL, 11am – 4pm.

Calls dibs on the backseat,
BillBird

The Ride Home

This video was shot on the same day as the picture below. It blew all day and then when we decided to go home and it got really nasty.

Enjoy The Ride.

Untouched in the water

Well after much delay and very little fan fare Untouched is finally in the water.

Our test run was a combination break-in and find any problems with navigation/sounder. Also listening for rattle and flaps and squeeks.

Very happy to report everything checked out.

Ok so I did not hide my excitement at being behind the wheel.

She is a real beauty. Handled like a dream and was just sipping fuel at trolling speed.

Very stable and fast.

Not long now and we will be operating our guided sport fishing.

Tight lines

Boat Update

It's almost ready to be launched. I know I have been saying that for a long time but I think it is close now.

On Monday the decals get put on and I think the cushions and top will be ready also.

It is a 28ft center console with an aluminium pod on the stern. The top is designed by me and custom built, as no one in Fiji has ever built one like this. The bow rail is also custom to allow fishing up front in rough seas.

Here are a few things I had done, 300lt fuel tank, 100lt fresh water with pump and hose, salt water wash down, built in ice chests, Garmin 4010 plotter/fish finder, 2kw transducer, there will be a radio box hanging from the t-topwith stereo and VHF. Spot lights around the top and lighting under the gunnel. Padded gunnel around the rear for fighting fish in comfort. Toilet in the console for those that are shy. 8 rod holders on the rocket laungher and another 8 on the gunnels. And much more but that is for another post. Next week pictures of the boat with logo and hopefully in the water. Yahoo!!!!

Tight lines

My New Fishing Boat

Well it's official, with these photos I can announce the building of my new center console fishing boat.

It seems like forever in the research and design. Looking at countless numbers of other boats, new and used. Liking some hating some.

Ultimately not finding what I wanted made me design it my self.

The hull and basic design is by a Fijian company, The Fiberglass Shop. The boat is an Islander 28 Center Console.

Then I started to make changes and add things.

Like: Built in ice boxes, fresh and salt water washes, The seat in front of the console and the one behind the driver, padded coaming around the aft deck, a custom T-top and bow rail, toe slots and rod holders. The list goes on but I will post photos as the build continues.

I am also having a positive floatation alloy pod by Armstrong Nautical products, installed to mount the Suzuki 200 hp motor on.

All said and done I should get it in a few weeks. Fingers are crossed.

These two shot are before the antifouling and the top rub rail.

Antifouling and rub rail being completed.

Diving, Towing and Fishing, all in a days work

I finally got to go out to sea. On Friday one of my in laws, Charlie, asked me if I could help out on his charter boat, the Beqa Princess. He had a group of 11 divers from Russia going out and needed someone to handle tanks and watch the boat while they all were down. Of course I said yes, any chance to be on the sea and I am there. We left Saturday morning at 8am. After much ado of getting all the equipment and people sorted, language barriers exasperated the problems, we make it to the dive site by 9:30am. By 10am all of the divers are down and my cousin Paul and I are left on the boat.
The weather is outstanding, the seas are flat and we decide to have a bit of a fish. Paul lands a small barracuda and a little snapper while I reel in my lure many times over with a whole lotta nothing. That’s all right by me at least I am out on the sea.
Second dive goes smooth and we are back on the jetty by 2:30pm.
Sunday is set to be a repeat of Saturday just a new spot.
By 8am the weather has turned to crap. It is blowing 25knots and threatening to rain. This of course makes our job 10 times harder as the boat is pitching all over the place and some of the divers are getting sea sick.
After we get them all down for the first dive Paul and I decide to fish again. This time it is my turn to catch a few. After a couple of small barracudas I boat a Trumpet fish, a first for me. This is one strange fish. About 3ft long with a long face and a mouth on the end. Not a good eater but not bad for bait. Soon after the divers come up and we are off to the next site. Unfortunately no fishing there. After the second dive it is back to the jetty.

Tuesday morning around 10am I get a call from Charlie again, this time he has to go to an island and tow a sail boat back to the jetty. He says for me to bring my fishing gear and we will troll on the way there. Don’t have to tell me twice.
Before we leave the jetty a guy named Victor and his son Ronny from Australia enquire about a fishing trip before they board their cruise ship at 6pm. Charlie agrees to take them after we tow the sail boat. This being Fiji, they jump on board for the ride.
The trip over is a little choppy but not bad at all. We do not catch anything but once again I am out at sea.
We tow the sail boat to the jetty without much drama and get them secured and squared away. It is time to take Victor out fishing. His son is going to go fishing with Charlie’s son in a small dinghy on the river.
Once we get to the reef where we are going to fish it is down to business. Luckily Victor knows what he is doing and is fishing within minutes of the boat stopping. Time is short for us and Victor lands a nice Job fish followed by a nice jack. Then time runs out and it is a mad dash to get them back to their cruise ship before it leaves. All ends well and we all had a good time. Maybe next time I will get to catch some big fish. Until then tight lines and screaming drags.