Pop and Drop

This time we decided to do a bit of popping for GT's and then a bit of jigging after.

Just Rosie, Wayne and myself on the boat today. 

The morning started out a bit gloomy, but the fish don't care, so why should we.

My shoulder has been hurting me so I was sticking with a stick bait instead of a popper. As the photo below says it all, it was working. A nice Grouper.

Wayne gets on the board with the first GT on popper. A nice clean fellow and easy release.

He follows it up with a little one that is feisty as all get out.

Not to be out done, I cast my stick bait to a fishy looking spot and proceed to hook up a nice Spanish Mackerel.

Wayne with a little Barracuda that Rosie has claimed for bait.

Wayne started jigging in 100 meters of water and proceeded to hook up more than 10 Dog Tooth Tuna. Unfortunately the head he is holding represents the only proof of his sweat. The sharks were thick and relentless to the point of us moving on to another spot.

Rosie on the other hand was having a very successful bait fishing trip. She filled the ice box single handedly.

This is a Long Nose Emperor. Caught at over 100 meters and fought all the way to the surface. A very tough customer, but not as tough as Rosie.

We had another great day out, with plenty of fish caught and lost by a variety of methods.
Until next time.
Tight Lines

Happy B'day Johno

Some good friend of ours came to visit on their way to Christmas Island, John and Karen. Now these two are probably more mad about fishing than Rosie and I. And that says alot. 

While they were staying with us it was John's birthday, so we had to go fishing on that day come hell or high water. 

Now being mad fishers, these two don't really need any lessons. Except the proper technique for casting a heavy popping outfit, which took all of about 1 minute.

Now if only the fish would cooperate. 

The weather was strange, no wind and very muggy. 

Hat off to these two, they put in some serious casting time and for John it finally paid off.

Heading out in the morning.

Karen, ready for action.

John showing us how it is done.

Calm and muggy.

Finally a GT, small but feisty.

The release.

Rosie had to get in on the action with a little bluefin trevally.

And the birthday boy lands a second one.

The fishing was less than stellar and a lot of hard work for these two, but we had a good time and with them. Lots of catching up and fish tails.

Until we meet again
Tight Lines

Derek and Carly for a day.

This trip has been a year in the making.

Rosie and I had promised Derek and Carly, John's daughter and son in law, that we would take them out fishing when they came back to Fiji. 

They have returned and as our word is good as gold we took them out.

The weather had been great until they arrived from Indiana. Now it is blowing 15-20 knots and very lumpy to say the least. At least the sky is clear and the sun is out.

We met up first thing in the morning and off we go.

First stop is some casting and popping lessons. Once Derek and Carly get the hang of it then it is time for a try at a GT.

Unfortunately the wind was going to play a major role in where we fished. 

We tried spot after spot and had not a single bite. 

We tried poppers, stick baits, big and small. Rosie even had a few casts and so did I. Nothing, not even a look. 

So we move on to jigging. Speed jigging, slow jigging and soft plastics. Still nothing wants to bite. Now the captain is getting a little peeved. I drop a jig down and after a few attempts, finally hook up and immediately give the rod to Derek. One thing with jigging, you never know what you are going to catch. After a good fight Derek has the mystery fish boat side and it turns out to be a nice Bronze Whaler shark. We had a good look and the it bit the hook off. Thank goodness.

We finally jig up a small fish that is suitable for bait, paternoster rigs for everyone. 

Unfortunately the bite just never did turn on. Although a few small grouper were caught, nothing too big. 

We had a Fun day even though the fish were not cooperating. It happens sometimes. 

I have promised to take them out again when they return, fingers crossed we will have better luck.

Derek, John, and Carly

A quick lesson on twisted leaders and knot tying, even though I'll be doing all the tying.

John looking suave.........or is this dejected? 

Carly showing us how it to cast.

Derek is not to be outdone.

The water was beautiful.

Carly's first catch from the deep.

You go girl.

See Derek, this is how you do it.

Derek fighting the Bronze Whaler.

A deep water dip after the shark fight.

Tight Lines

Tuna and Trevally's

This summer the weather has been amazingly calm. I know for those of you above the equator it is winter, but for those of us below, summer. We have had a lot of rain but also a lot of very calm days. That of course makes for great fishing.

Our good friend and artist extraordinaire, Nick Hannan of Marine Graphics Ink, is visiting from Melbourne Australia. As promised we take him out for a fish along with our friend Bendan Yee.

The weather was perfect and the fish reports were even better.

From Tuna and Trevally's

Overcast skies and calm seas with Mr. SUAVE (Nick) posing on the boat.

It was not long before we found the tuna schools and birds.

From Tuna and Trevally's

We were able to get right on the school without them dropping or spooking. This of course made the fishing all the more fun as all you had to do is flick your lure out and bang, your on.

From Tuna and Trevally's

It did not take long before the tuna were coming onto the boat. First up was a nice double with Brendan and Nick.

From Tuna and Trevally's

That was followed closely by Rosie catching a YFT.

From Tuna and Trevally's

And of course not to be out done, yours truly caught a really nice skippy.

From Tuna and Trevally's

All of this fish kissing has to do with our fishing club monthly competition. This month of course was kiss the fish.

After an hour of this hot and furious action it was time to move on to bigger and better fish. So a short run inside a lagoon and time to catch GT's.

A little background on Brendan first, he has never caught a GT in all the times he has been out with us so this was going to be his day of reckoning.

We motor over to some of our favorite bommies that we know will produce and start casting. I have Rosie take the wheel so I can give Brendan a few pointers and a head start.

Guess what, I catch the first GT of the day.

From Tuna and Trevally's

Not huge but a hell of a fighter. Here is the video.

So after a little bit more instruction from Rosie it is now Brendan's turn to catch his first GT.

From Tuna and Trevally's

A beauty and here is the video.

Next up is Nick, and he catches a cracker also. He is by far the closest thing to being a fishing machine next to Rosie.

From Tuna and Trevally's

Now you know who's turn it is next. She has not boated a GT yet and that just ain't right. So here we go. First up is a little fella.

From Tuna and Trevally's

But you know that is not gonna do. So I move the boat here and there, at here behest of course. Until finally she lands the GT that is deserved of it's picture with Rosie.

From Tuna and Trevally's

The days tally was 4 yellowfin, 5 skipjacks, 6 GT's. Not bad for 5 hours of fishing. Brendan was happy he caught his first GT, Nick was happy he was fishing, Rosie was happy she was fishing and I was happy just to be out there.

Until next time.

Tight lines

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