Fiji Fishing report for first week of July

My mom and her friend Ankin, who are visiting from the states have been freezing their arse's off. On top of being cold it has been raining like hell. Very unusual for this time of year.

Well after two weeks of really crappy weather we finally had a break. The weather cleared and the temperature climbed to a comfortable level.

Deciding to make the best of it we set out for a day on the water. Some fishing, some sunbathing and some swimming.

Waiting for the strike. Ankin said she would catch the first fish.

The sun, the sun!

Ankin in action. She did hook the first fish but it smoked her.

Nice Barracuda with a smile only a mother could love.

Sea Bass pull like freight trains. If you stop them then this is your reward.

The water never looked so good.

All in all a great day out. Lucky we went when we did as the weather has now turned again and it is blowing and raining. To bad for my visitors but that is how the wind blows.

Tight lines

Fiji Fishing report for second week of June

When we got up this morning it was cloudy and drizzling, but there was no wind. So after much arse dragging we decided to go and have a fish. By now it is after 10:00 AM.

By 11:00 we are on the water cruising to a spot just a few miles away.

Things start out a bit slow. The tide has already turned and we have while until it is low. Still we fish on.

We were fishing inside the reef. Hitting all the little nooks and crannies. When all of a sudden Paul hooks up to a good size Barracuda. With plenty of jumps and a couple good runs it is brought to the boat for it's obligatory photo session.

From XstreemFishingCom

On a strange note, it seems lately that our first fish is always a Barracuda, don't know why but it has happened now about 10-12 times.

That lovely toothy critter was followed up by a Sea Bass

From XstreemFishingCom

Next on the menu is a bluefin.

From XstreemFishingCom

Then we get a triple hook-up of Bass and all three end up in the boat. Not bad if I say so myself.

From XstreemFishingCom

By this time the tide is full out and we spot a couple of schools of bait being busted up right next to the reef. This means all three poppers head in that direction.

Then suddenly a finned torpedo launches out of the water and lands mouth first on my lure. As the line goes tight I figure it to be a Wahoo or Spanish Mackerel. After a respectable fight on 30lb Rosie puts the gaff in a nice Spanish Mack.

From XstreemFishingCom

Not long after that Paul lands a nice Bluefin Trevally.

From XstreemFishingCom

Soon after the bite stops and it is time to head home. Not a bad day for a last minute fishing trip.

Tight lines

Fishing report for first week of June

Our last two trips out have been quite good. We have added a few new species to the capture list and the weather has been holding steady.

From XstreemFishingCom

We did a bit of trolling on the first day. After all it is Wahoo season and they do taste good.

From XstreemFishingCom

Now, with a Wahoo on board it was time to try for something else. Out come the skirts and here comes the Mahimahi.

From XstreemFishingCom

For those of you who have never caught a Mahimahi before let me tell you. They give a good fight, especially on light tackle but the kicker is when you bring them in the boat, they go mad. They are actually very dangerous, especially with hooks in their mouths. The best thing to do is put a wet towel over their eyes and they will calm down enough for you to hog tie them. If you miss with the towel look out, they are going to go ballistic. The upside to all of this is they taste great.

The next trip out saw us poppering the reef with 30lb and 50lb spinning gear. This time my good friend Captain Charles Wakeham took the wheel so I could also fish.

First up is a nice little Queen fish.

From XstreemFishingCom

That is followed closely by a Red Sea Bass. Normally considered a by-catch when fishing for GT's, but they do put up a good fight on lighter gear.

From XstreemFishingCom

As always when fishing around reefs you can expect sharks. Usually Black tip and White tip sharks are the first to turn up. Here is a nice Black tip caught on a popper.

From XstreemFishingCom

Going home without a GT under our belt just wont due. So here is a nice one I caught on 30lb.

From XstreemFishingCom

Here is a video of some of the fight with the GT.

Tight lines and Screaming drags

Fishing Report May 26, 2009

We had a bit of a break in the weather and could not afford to miss the opportunity to fish.

It was a good tide and an early start. We headed out to new grounds to do a bit of exploring. We found some fish and some sand. We had bright sunshine and dark angry sky's. We had calm sea's and a 25 knot Westerly with accompanying swells. Beginners and experienced were all aboard. Best of all we had a great time.

Enough said, here are the pictures, they say plenty.

Amazing color change on these Sea Bass. They start out reddish orange like a Mangrove Jack. Then turn blueish grey, then back to reddish orange.

Vinod with a very nice Bluefin Trevally.

Paul with a respectable Bass.

Until we meet again.

Wish you were here?

Makes you want to swim.

Makes you want to Fish.

LAND!

Picnic spot!

Going to the birds.

Snorkeling anyone?

One more look. Tight lines and good days

Finally got my fishing mojo back

I have been in a fishing slump lately. I have been going out regularly but no really catching anything.

We planned to go to Rukua village on Beqa to do a sevusevu and if we had time then a little fishing after.

The Tui Rukua was a very nice chief and we drank lots of grog and talked plenty. We spent about 3 hours with him and when we left we were thoroughly grog doped. No matter we had time for a fish so off we went to try a few new spots.

The wind was howling at a good 20-25 knts so we had to stay inside the reef.

Almost immediately upon fishing Rosie was on to a massive cod. It gave a good accounting of itself but soon succumbed to the 50lb braid. As she decided to have a break I took up her rod and had a few casts.

After about 15 minutes of drifting along and inshore reef we came upon a nice sunken coral head all by itself. I fired several casts at it when suddenly the water exploded and a giant hole opened up where my lure was. My line went tight instantly and the scream of the drag was unmistakable. I was onto a nice GT, finally. It was a good fight that the GT never gave up even at the end. After a few pictures the GT was in the water never looking back.

This was the first GT in the boat and I am hoping the end of my fishing slump.

Five more fish were landed during the session by others on the boat but I was one happy skipper.

Doing my sevusevu to the chief of Rukua village

Tui Rukua and myself

One big cod

One big mouth

In the heat of battle

Finally a GT Tight lines

Fishing Report May 21,2009

Tried some new spots yesterday. The weather has shaped up for the time being. The boat did well but not I. For some reason I think I lost some of my mojo. Normally I do well fishing. I am not bragging here I just fish a lot and use my head to think like a fish, no matter how strange it gets. I have fished most of my life, so when I go on a streak of no fish it usually means something is wrong.

Now these last few trips I have had Captain Charles Wakeham with me and he does some of the driving and guiding. This could be my problem as I am jinxed when it comes to charters. Lately I have felt like I was on a charter boat with all the fishing I have been doing and Charles at the helm.

Although I did get smoked twice by GT's on 50lb braid. I felt like I brought a knife to a canon fight.

Oh well at least the rest on the boat are catching fish. Here are a few shots for you daily fish fix.

Sea Bass From XstreemFishingCom

Bluefin Trevally From XstreemFishingCom

Sea Bass From XstreemFishingCom

Casting From XstreemFishingCom

Tight lines

Yanuca sevusevu, Fiji

Ok so you are asking what the hell is a Yanuca (ya-new-tha) sevusevu (say-voo say-voo).

Yanuca is one of the islands I fish around and sevusevu is a gift of goodwill.

Here in Fiji all of the inshore reef systems are part of a village qoliqoli (ngoly ngoly). In other words it belongs to them.

So in order for me to fish on these reefs I need to go to each village where I want to fish and ask for permission, or perform a sevusevu.

This entails a bundle of yaqona and the Chief and/or the Turaga ni Koro, (village headman).

I present the yaqona to the Chief/headman and someone asks for permission for me to fish.

Some villages charge money and some do not. It all depends on the Chief.

It is a traditional custom and I have been doing it for over 10 years now.

It shows that you have respect for the Fijian customs.

Snap shot right after the ceremony.

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.