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
Showing posts with label volivoli. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volivoli. Show all posts
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Saturday, December 3, 2011
VoliVoli Resort take 2
My how time flies. I have actually not been out on our boat for almost four weeks.
Eventually you come out from the interior of the island and of course you are greeted with the sea.
We arrived at the resort a little late to fish so it was time to relax and enjoy with our friends.
Nick's wife and child were in New Zealand so jugs kept him company.
This image is me giving instructions to some of there resort guests on how to mix the kava.
The next day we had to wait for the boats to return as the resort was full of scuba divers. We had a leisurely morning and snapped a few pictures for you all.
The weather was less than stellar.
When the boats finally returned and we got to go out, the weather had turned for the worst. Never mind, we are going fishing. Our captain was new to GT popping, but he new where to take us and I could direct the rest. We had a hell of a session. We landed six fish and raised another six in 1 1/2 hours.
Rosie, first on the board.
As you can see the weather was not very cooperative.
This video shows how tough the these fish are. I am using 80lb braid with 120lb twisted leaders and 12kg of drag. By the end os this session I had pinched my sciatic nerve in my lower back. Although I fished the second day also I have paid a heavy price, as I am still laid up with a bad back.
By noon Rosie and I decided to head to the bar as the weather was not letting up. Well we all know what happens when you go to the bar at noon, you start drinking. And drink we did until after 3:00 pm, when Nick said, "Look the weather is letting up, let's go fish".
We could not stay out very long as it was just too rough, but we did not get skunked.
We had a nice easy drive back to Pacific Harbour with lots of great scenery.
I can't wait to get up to VoliVoli Resort again. The fishing is great and if I can get there with the weather good I know it will be epic.
Since my last post the weather turned to crap. I don't mean a little rain and wind, I mean blowing 25 knots for weeks on end and raining like the end of the world. Now I am usually the first to say, fish don't care if it rains, but this weather has been really nasty. We even have "very rough seas" warning put out by the weather people. So, needless to say not a lot of fishing has been done. On top of that I hurt my back,(more of that later).
We did get the chance to go away for a few days as it was Rosies birthday. I booked three nights at Volivoli Resort. I thought it might be romantic if we could do a bit of popper fishing with heavy gear. You know just the two of us and a skipper.
We stayed at Volivoli back in April, you can read about it here.
The owners are the Darling family and they are quite wonderful.
The staff are friendly and make you feel like family. Especially, Jenny, Sheba, Wise, Sasha, Pola, Ben, Bola, Amit, Lela, the night watchman, Puncture and all a few I can't remember their names.
We decided to take the back road to get there. We did this the first time also, only this time we had our own truck not a rental car.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
You can see the rod tube sticking out of the back end of the truck. I think we had more fishing gear than anything else.
Only about 15 km is not paved and even that was not bad. The new road is being built full swill and soon it will be a breeze to get to the top end of the island.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
It is a very scenic drive of about 3.5 - 4 hours. You go through some very pretty and clean villages.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
The life style and pace are just a little bit slower.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
In this picture is Rosie and Jenny with a tanoa filled with kava.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
Nick's wife and child were in New Zealand so jugs kept him company.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
This video shows how tough the these fish are. I am using 80lb braid with 120lb twisted leaders and 12kg of drag. By the end os this session I had pinched my sciatic nerve in my lower back. Although I fished the second day also I have paid a heavy price, as I am still laid up with a bad back.
Our second day out fishing proved to be harder than the first. We woke up early on to be greeted by cyclone type conditions.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
So we did. Only this time it was rougher than before. To be honest, it was too rough for fishing in the boat we were in, but we had a few drinks in us and we wanted to fish.
After pounding our way out to the reefs we managed to land a few fish.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
The next morning we were leaving and of course the weather turned beautiful.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
Here is a sugar cane train.
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
 |
| From Volivoli 2 |
That's all until my back gets better. I am still not 100%.
Tight Lines
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
VoliVoli
It has been forever since my last post, my apologies. Unfortunately I get caught up in work and when my one day off comes around I don't want to do anything. Enough whining and feeling sorry for myself.
Unfortunately it had rained earlier, which made it a bit slippery.
The scenery was beautiful.
Lots of really lovely villages and scary bridges.
Boys skipping school
The road less traveled.
Future fisherman
Watching the cows eat.
Finally the dry side of the island and the sugar cane fields
Sugar cane
More sugar cane
My mother came for a visit and we had planned to take a mini vacation with her. We booked a few days at a resort called VoliVoli. It is located on the other side of the island near a town called Rakiraki. It is about a four hour drive from us. One way is a sealed road and the main artery for that side of the island. The other way is the road less traveled and not yet completed. I guess we shall follow the road less traveled.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
We are getting close now, I see the sign.
The sea, the sea
We are almost there.
Finally VoliVoli
We arrive there in the afternoon and are met in the parking lot by Nick, one of the owners of the resort and our fishing guru guide. We unpack and have a look around. The layout is beautiful and our rooms are number one. After a few drink we make our plan to go fishing the next morning.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
Up at the crack of dawn and all ready to go. A bit windy but nothing we cannot handle.
This first day is going to prove to be a learning experience. After a bit of casting the bite finally starts. Rosie lands the first fish of course, but it did not come in easy.
As we would learn, these fishing grounds are littered with hazards. Bommies, small sunken reefs and very smart fish were the recipe for our demise.
We proceeded to hook and lose several fish along with a few lures. Now that may seem ok for many, but for us, well we do not usually lose lures, especially on 50lb braid.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
This day would prove very trying for us. We lost four fish and three lures.
Nick Darling, one of the owners of the resort and our guide for this trip, with a nice GT.
A new day and the weather is a bit iffy but spirits are high.
We have a new game plan. Today it is 80lb all the way with tight drags and heavy tackle. A repeat we will not have.
Rosie again starts the day out with a nice Red Bass.
Yours truly waiting for my turn.
A scad mackerel. Good for bait.
After a grueling five hours of nonstop casting I finally hook up to a GT. Not the biggest but well worth it.
Now the bite has turned on and almost every bommie is holding bait and GT's.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
A well deserved beer after the ass whipping we got.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
Followed by a good GT. Amazing that for the size of the fish they pull really hard and fight really dirty.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
Rosie with a nice one.
I have upped the ante with this one.
A few more were caught and unfortunately the sun was setting and we had a ways to travel back to the resort. We have finally worked out the formula and it is looking good for our third day of fishing.
We wake to a beauty of a day.
View from our villa.
Surveying the area.
Unfortunately our third day fishing would not eventuate. An emergency came up and we had to leave on a moments notice. I would like to thank Nick and his family who own and operate VoliVoli Beach Resort. They have done a wonderful job of creating a unique and friendly place to visit. The food was great and the their company was most enjoyable.
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
 |
| From volivoli trip |
We have to get back there and finish what we started and plans are already underway to do just that.
Tight Lines
VoliVoli Beach Resort
Volivoli Road
P.O. Box 417
Rakiraki
Fiji Islands
Email: info@volivoli.com
Resort: +679 669 4511
Fax: +679 669 4611
US contacts
Andy and Lynn Siebert
Scubaworld Sacramento Inc.
5114 Madison Avenue
Sacramento CA 95841
Email: dive@volivoliresort.com
Phone: 916/955-2038
Skype: lynn.siebert
Fax: 916/338-0277
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
