Cyclone Evan

We dodged a bullet where I live. This one was a Cat 4, but hit the other side of the Island. What you see is what we got for 36 hours. 

All is well now. The sun is out and the sky is blue

Tight Lines

Never mind the sharks

Grouper 1, Spear Fisher 0



Never mind the sharks, beware the mighty Grouper.

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

Half Cast Fishing Comp

On June 2nd and 3rd, there was a GT fishing comp held at VoliVoli Resort on the other side of the island.
Our team was Rosie, Brendan, Wayne, and of course yours truly.
We are to drive our boat all the way around the island, about 120 miles, Friday. Then fish Saturday and Sunday. Then drive back on Monday.
We planned, packed, planned some more, packed some more, planned a bit more, then planned some more until finally the day arrived.
Now what could possibly go wrong with all the planning that was done?
Well, we left the jetty at 6:00 AM sharp, just as planned, but by the time we left the river we were taking waves over the bow of the boat. That was to be the prelude to the first 2+ hours of our journey. To say it was rough would be an understatement. Luckily once we got to Suva Harbour we would go inside the reef and it would be calmer.
As predicted it got much calmer and we made good time to the Rewa River for the next leg of our journey/adventure. The only problem was, it took over 1.5 hours longer than we had anticipated. That put us to far into the falling tide to cross the sand/mud bar in the river mouth. I eventually put the boat
on the muck and there we sat, waiting for the tide. Now for those who spend time in the saltwater, they will know that waiting for the tide is a fact of life. Fish prefer certain tides and wont bite on slack tides. Sometimes there is too much current caused by the tide and sometimes not enough. Not to mention "time and tide waits for no man".
So there we sat, rigging, talking, eating, and dancing. Waiting for the return of the tide. It took 2.5 hours for the boat to float free again. Good thing we are all friends.
The rest of the trip was like clock work. Once we came out of the Rewa River the wind was on our stern and we flew. Although we did not get to fish on our way up we arrived at the resort at 4:00 PM.
At that very moment all of our plans went out the door.
The problem being, we knew almost everyone there. And when 40+ friends get together at a fishing comp, well we all know what happens. Plans go overboard.
We partook in festive activities until all to late hours of the night/morning.
We did manage to get up and be on the water quite early considering the night before. Unfortunately the weather for the first day of the comp proved to rough and tumble and on top of that, we did not find fish. We caught a few, but not what we had hoped for.
The second night proved even deadlier for our team of merry makers. After all we were Team Xstreem. Xstreem grog, Xstreem tequila, Xstreem beer, Xstreem late night.
Yep, Sunday, day 2 of the comp, was a little rough for us as well as the other teams. A late start, rough weather and xstreem hangovers did not fair well for catching fish. Although I must say Rosie did manage to land a nice GT in the morning. That would be our only GT.
We were a sorry lot I must say.
Oh well, "the best laid schemes (plans) of mice and men often go awry".
Boy did they go awry. No time to sulk, there was a party to be had. After all the winning team came from our fishing club, The Twisted Leaders. They were Team Vai Lima, consisting of Russell Baumann, Erik Powell and Ben Duea. They won best Team, Russell won Best male angler and biggest GT. A side note, they did not partake in any of the festivities. They did however fish hard and deserved to win.
I think we won most partying and least sleep.
On Monday, we were to leave the resort early for the trip home. Yeah right, we left late and missed the tide and did everything in reverse going home.
We had a great time. I would do it again in a second. In fact plans are going forward for a first, catch and release only, popping comp. I don't think we will win that one either.

Here is a slide show of the trip with a few high lights.

Tight Lines

In search of Doggies Take 3

Ding! Round three in the search for Dogtooth Tuna.

We have been very lucky with our weather during our weekend hunts. This one was no exception.

The tides were right and the weather was stellar.

Where there's birds there's fish.

From Doggies Take 3

The plan was basically the same. Get to the general area and then use the sounder to find the depth range and hopefully the Dogs.

As with all fishing down deep, you never know what you will come up with. Especially when you are fishing in the 70-100 meter depth range. It looked fishy and Rosie proved it was fishy with this lovely Brown Spotted Grouper.

From Doggies Take 3

Mean while Wayne and I are speed jigging like maniacs and not really catching anything but sore arms.

Soon after this beauty was caught Rosie decided she wanted to live bait with steel wire. Well the outcome of that can only go one way. A leviathan of the deep. A monster that no one wants to touch. A beast of nightmares.

OK enough here is the video. Warning this video does contain some language that might be offensive to some.

Now if you do not want to watch the video I shall paraphrase it for you.

The fight lasted more than an hour and pretty much whipped Rosie. Lucky for here she had new TufLine XP 50 lb indicator braid and a brand new Black Hole, Cape Cod jigging rod. I only got one shot of the shark, but there is underwater video footage in the above video.

From Doggies Take 3

We put this Silvertip shark at about 8ft and a hell of a lot of teeth.

Now that we are done with this shark it is time to get back to jigging for Doggies. Oh and by the way, during the fight Rosie swore off using steel leader and live baiting ever again. Until the next time of course.

Back to the jigging we proceeded to pull all kinds of fish. including the Lyre Tail Grouper.

From Doggies Take 3

A small Blue Trevally that was hooked in the back.

From Doggies Take 3

Now that Rosie was not using steel wire she was catching fish of a much more reasonable size.

From Doggies Take 3

Unfortunately the elusive Dogtooth was just that, elusive. Wayne lost every jig he had including one of mine. Of course we do not know what it was that was taking them, but that did not deter us.

Here is a shot of Wayne waiting for his jig to hit the bottom.

From Doggies Take 3

The day was winding down and Wayne wanted one more drop. I told Rosie to get the video rolling as I had a feeling of the out come. It would be the same as all of the other ones.

After all that excitement it was time to head home. We had a bout a 20 mile run and I hate driving at night.

One exhausted angler.

From Doggies Take 3

And a gorgeous sunset to finish off a good day.

From Doggies Take 3

Tight Lines

Wholesale slaughter of baby swords

I found this video on another blog that I follow called, All Things Fish. You can check it out by clicking here.

Rather disturbing if I say so my self.

My Johnson outboard

I post this for you all to have a good laugh. I might have to change back to Johnson.

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My Sunday church

I have always said the center console of my boat is my pulpit.

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Just In

Great day with a mixed bag

We went fishing with our good friends Loren and Dollye. We had a beauty of a day, just a light breeze and clear sky. We started off the day with a bit of heavy tackle popping. The fish were there but they did not want to bite. It is a strange thing when the fish swim right up to the poppers and seem to play with them without actually biting.

After what seems like forever, Loren finally hooks up to a nice GT. Only problem is he has switched to 30lb gear and now he is in for the fight of his life. This big fish had him all over the place and just when Loren thought he was up on the fish, the fish reminded him who was boss. Loren persevered and eventually boated the GT.

From Jan 3rd 2011

Next up was Rosie. She is using 50lb gear but this brute of a GT is foul hooked and uses not only the current but the depth to try and put the hurt on her. Ahhh, but alas Rosie prevails and soon we have color next to the boat.

From Jan 3rd 2011

After much casting with little more to show Loren, hooks up to a nice Emperor and brings it in for a photo shoot.

From Jan 3rd 2011

Now during all of this Dollye is casting and popping for all she is worth. It is not to be on this particular day. Not for lack of trying or lack of spirit.

Here is a shot of Dollye in action while everyone else is relaxing.

From Jan 3rd 2011

We finished the day with a little bit of jigging. Not a lot happening there either but Rosie did land a nice grouper on a Lucanus style jig.

From Jan 3rd 2011

Here is the video of Loren and Rosie catching their GTs.

Until next time remember,

Fishing is not a sport it is a way of life.

Tight lines

"Blowing dog's off chain's" or "Making the best of a windy situation"

The weather, what can you say? It is what it is and I should be glad I am not cold. That being said, it has been blowing for a week and a half, non stop. My friend Brendan likes to say, "blowing dogs off chains", very appropriate.

We decided to skip work and go for a fish, after all, we own the business and it has been so long since we fished I needed to see if I still knew how.

We headed out at 7:00 on the nose. The water was rather calm and as I throttled up, I was thinking, this is gonna be good.

I wanted to try some new spots and since it was so calm I figured why not.

We headed East, got out side the reef and was met by a ferocious swell and a wind that was picking up. After about 5 minutes of running into this I decided to stop the boat and see just how rough it was. After all popper fishing involves standing while casting and retrieving.

It became very obvious that that was not going to happen out here. The boat was being tossed around like it was in a washing machine.

A quick change of plans and we headed back West to some familiar grounds that are fishable in wind and swell.

We finally arrived to the new spot and wasted no time in wetting our lines. Unfortunately there was no one there to bite.

We fished until the low tide then made the decision to move. Another 20 minute ride and we are at the new location. The tide is moving again and then the bite comes on.

First up is Loren, he catches his first GT on his new rod and reel.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

Rosie moves in to leader and land the fish.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

This is one happy camper.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

Next up, Rosie lands a Red Bass. Too bad they are poisoned.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

By now it is getting really rough outside of the reef so we decide to make a move inside and switch to lighter tackle, 30lb.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

First up is Loren again and he catches a whopper of a fish, a Leather Jacket.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

We manage to catch a few Bluefin Trevally's, the take home and eat size. Then Rosie hooks onto a large Red Bass that tries to pull her rod into the water. After a good fight she is smiling and the Bass is photographed and released.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

This is then followed by Loren getting smoked on some 8lb tackle. But it gave us all a good laugh.

Then in the worst possible location, with wind, tide and current all working in opposite directions, Rosie hooks up to a GT on her 30lb. Normally we would be fishing for GT's with 50-80lb tackle but not this time. A hell of a fight ensues and after nearly 8 minutes the fish is boated and Rosie is smiling again if not a little worse for wear.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

Here is a short video of the fight.

That finished us off for the day. Until next time.

Tight lines

Fishing with the Powalski's

A little late on this post, but here it is non the less.

It was promising to be a cracker of a day. Hardly any clouds and and no wind.

We got the boat loaded and met up with Loren and Dollye at the jetty. They are good friends of ours and own a real estate company called Harbour Property Services, check them out if you want to stay or buy in Fiji.

I gave the safety talk and off we go.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Both Loren and Dollye have fished quite a lot back in Seattle, but Salmon fishing is not the same as popper fishing for tropical pelagics. Loren has done a bit of fishing here with a few different people, but Dollye has not, enter the learning curve.

Unfortunately the learning curve is steep and long. I can teach you how to cast, I can teach you how to pop, but catching fish is something that takes a long time to work out.

Dollye took to it like a pro, casting and popping right away. Loren did not need any assistance.

After 20 or 30 minutes with no bites Loren wants me to cast a bit and tells me to catch a fish. So not being one to shrug of a challenge I cast out a few times and hook a little Trevally.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Once the fish is in the boat I tell Loren that I am done for awhile as I want him and Dollye to catch fish.

Now it is Loren's turn to catch a fish. After a couple of missed bites he finally hooks one and gets to feel the pull of the Trevally.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Not a big fish but on the light tackle they sure are fun.

Meanwhile Dollye is still casting and popping and starting to work out the formula. She gets a couple of good bites but is not able to set the hooks. Like I said, a long, steep curve.

Back to Loren who is quite fired up at this point and hooks a nice Bluefin Trevally. He has learned to put the hurt on these fish otherwise the fish dictates the fight and you lose.

He has the fish boat side in no time and Rosie leaders it in. Cheers and high fives all around.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Unfortunately the wind has whipped up and is now blowing 25knots with a very lumpy sea. This of course makes casting and standing very difficult.

We call it a day and make our way home.

We all had a great time and plan to do it again.

Tight lines

Post tsunami fishing or Cashing in on Karma

Well after much bad weather and tsunami Sunday, that was when the earthquake hit Chile and put us on tsunami watch. Here are a few images of us and the entire community on high ground.

From Brendon, Katie and Billy

Who could resist turning it into a bit of a party?

From Brendon, Katie and Billy

And of course someone had to keep an update on the whole situation Pacific wide, and that someone was me of course. With wireless internet and a laptop it is amazing what you can find out.

From Brendon, Katie and Billy

It was time to get out and do a bit of fishing. I was beginning to feel like I was growing roots.

Plans were laid and then the day came for them to be executed. As Billy said to me, "You must have cashed in a whole lot of Karma cause this is a great day."

From Brendon, Katie and Billy

On board for the days fishing was, Katie Longo, Brendan Yee, Billy Longo (who does not fish, he has some deal with the fish, he wont eat them and they wont eat him...... Scuba divers), Rosie and myself.

The tides were all wrong but the weather was all right so who cares.

Off we go and before long we are fishing.

Nothing much for the first hour or so. We finally get to a spot that the current is ripping through. Then we start to see a bit of action. A few follows and a couple bites but still nothing in the boat. Then Brendan hooks up to a mighty big something. Not sure what it is but he is definitely out gunned. After he is taken into the rock below his double leader is bit right through. This leads me to think shark. Then not two minutes later a white tip reef shark starts to harass our poppers. Time to move.

Our next stop sees us casting to a long reef finger about 3 meters deep and maybe 60-80 meters long.

Suddenly and without warning Katie shouts, no screams, FISH ON!!!!!!!!!! and of course we all get really excited because she is excited and everyone rushes to one side of the boat to see this leviathan of the deep. Because anyone who yells that much has got to have a monster of a fish on and is asking for assistance to put on a fighting belt.

Alas it is but a small Long Tom the is not even hooked with the hooks but instead, it's elongated beak is wrapped up in the leader.

From Brendan, Katie and Billy

Ok, now the first fish is in the boat and everyone can settle down and move away from the side of the boat. We get back to fishing and as we do a bunch of birds have moved over the finger we are fishing on and start diving into the water after bait. This of course means there must be bigger fish below the bait.

Right then we hear the same, shall I call it a hysterical scream, FISH ON!!!!!! You got it Katie strikes again, only this time it is a small Bluefin trevally. She hauls it out of the water by her rod and almost slaps me. Then within minutes, maybe less, Brendan catches one and this is followed by another. All about the same size and all in the ice chest.

The birds are still working and everyone is still fishing when, you guessed it, Katie sings out, FISH ON!!!!!!!!!! This time I can hear her drag screaming as line melts off of her little 30lb outfit. I can tell this is a better fish and something different. With repeated runs and her not gaining much line we get a belt on her and she settles in to the fight. Soon she has the upper hand and before long we have color. To all of our amazement she has hooked and landed a Yellowfin Tuna.

From Brendan, Katie and Billy

To say she was excited is really an understatement. In fact we were all excited and returned to fishing in hopes of another, but alas it was not to be on this occasion.

We move on down the reef and eventually inside of the lagoon in search of some eating fish.

Instead of fish, some on the boat got in a swim.

Brendan out retrieving his non floating lure.

From Brendan, Katie and Billy

Billy's fish eye view of the boat.

From Brendan, Katie and Billy

From Brendan, Katie and Billy

After swimming and mucking around we tried a few bommies inside the lagoon, but the tide was wrong and no one wanted to bite.

We decided to head to a reef that we know can produce some nice fish. So off we go for a 20 minute ride.

We arrive on the reef but the swell is massive which makes standing a chore. We fish on despite any hardships.

Soon Rosie boats a nice Bass and comments on how hard they can pull as it is released because they are poisonous.

All is quiet for awhile and the troops are getting tired from casting all day. Soon it is Brendan at the back and Rosie up front when I see Rosie pause and step down from the bow. I take the opportunity to get in a few casts.

Pop pop SPLASH, fish on. Drag screaming. 50lb braid melting away. Drag screaming. Turn the boat. Drag screaming. Follow, follow. Go go. Drag screaming. Keep going, keep going. I will let the video finish the story.

From Brendan, Katie and Billy

Needless to say we had a great time out. Friends, great weather, fish and lots of laughs.

Until next time

Tight lines

Giant trevally with Russell

I finally got back out on the water. It has been a month since I have been fishing. This of course is due to weather and a short vacation, that did not involve fishing but did involve a lot of eating and drinking. That's another story.

Rosie was under the weather so it was myself, my mom and a good friend Russell for the day.

First up was Russell with a really nice Sea Bass

From fishing with Russell

Next on the menu was a GT for my good friend

From fishing with Russell

Ok, that is enough for him, now it is my turn.

From fishing with Russell

Now that I am happy I turn the show back over to Russell for a final Bass

From fishing with Russell

Here is some video porn for you fishing maniacs.

The weather in general was beautiful, bright sun and warm. Unfortunately it was bowing 20+knots and the water was a bit cloudy.

We had a few drops and a couple other bites but all in all a good day.

Tight line