Charters, Money and Fish

So here is the low down on what has happened with my charter business. Here in Fiji it is only proper to go and ask permission to fish in a villages waters. As you saw in earlier posts I did this with a couple of villages already and all was fine. In fact on even asked me if I would help look after their waters, I said yes of course. So after many attempts to meet with the chief of Na Waisomo, Raviravi and Lalati, one person by the title Tui Raviravi, he agrees and gives me about 2 hours to get out to Beqa island where he is. We arrive there and present our Yanqona. We explain our intentions about running a guiding opeation and how it will be catch and release and so forth. Tui Raviravi then sits back and says, lets get right down to business, we want $5,000.00 dollars upfront and for you to write a letter of intent. After I pull my jaw up off the floor I tell him that is a lot of money and I need to think about it. Truth being, there was nothing to think about. No way! $5,000.00 for what? Why? What are you going to do for me? Well the answer to those questions is a resounding, Nothing. So Tui Raviravi and his entourage says they will let me think about it for a week and then call me for another meeting. They never call and I decided I will hold off on the charters for awhile. Too bad, but I will focus on my tackle shop and fish for myself and friends.

Now onto a fishy subject. We got out on the water the other day and it was a beauty of a day. Rosie wanted to go and do some bait fishing with her aunt Adi and sister Lou. So off we go, out to the reefs to drop anchor and bait. Now for those that know me, they know I hate bait fishing, mainly because I suck at it and I seem to catch the fishes house a lot. This day proved to be no different. My first fish was a cracker of a fish.

Luckily the day was awesome and we were having fun.

We caught all sorts of fish. From small to really small.

We had a great time with lots of sun and laughs.

Tight lines

Fishing in Fiji with Josh, Ryan and Jimmy on August 24th

Lucky for us this trip was planned and executed with no surprises. Josh, Ryan, and Jimmy had come into the shop and wanted to go fishing. They said for me to pick the day with the best weather. Which is always iffy at best.

I decided Monday the 24th was the day and spent Sunday getting ready.

We met at the boat at 7:30 am and were on the water in no time. I had a game plan all worked out and was feeling pretty confident. All of that was about to change.

As we headed out to the first spot the weather started to decline rapidly. The sky turned dark and the wind picked up. On top of that not even a bite. By the second spot I was sure it was going to rain and still no bites.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

I worked the grounds hard for these guys but to no avail.

Luckily it never rained on us but the bite was not happening. We decided to try spot number three. We even trolled on our way over to it and didn't get a bite.

Before we got to the third spot the weather cleared and the wind died. It was going to be a nice day after all.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

We arrive to the third location and it looked fishy enough as it always does. By now the guys are using a lot lighter tackle. After what seemed like an eternity, Josh catches a small Coral Trout. He follows that up with a fish I have yet to ID. If you know what it is let me know.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

Then he adds a nice Job fish and a small Trevally.

Things slow down again and it is time to move on to what I am hoping will be a fishy spot at the bottom of the tide.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

About three casts into this spot Josh is on again, only this is a little better fish. It turns out to be a Bluefin Trevally.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

Picture time and then a quick release.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

Now by this time Ryan has not boated a fish.

His determination is only matched by his level of fitness in his ability to cast the whole day.

Jimmy is not on the board either. Although he is nursing a really bad motor cross injury. So casting is only done occasionally.

Josh then catches a nice GT, while Jimmy jumps in for the leader and tail grab.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

Now it is Ryan's turn. He gets into a nice Emperor. This is followed by a Black Trevally that gives a good accounting of it's self. And I might add he deserved it. He never gave up and it paid.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

What started out as a dark and gloomy morning with no fish turned out to be a nice day with a few nice fish and a great bunch of guys.

From JoshRyanJimmyAugust24

Tight Lines