Playing tour guide and tourist with visiting family

My brother Arick and his wife Stephanie came to visit us here in Fiji. Of course we wanted to get them out on the water for a fish. Unfortunately the weather gods were not very cooperative.

We did manage to get in some quality beach time.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

As well as a river kayaking trip with Rivers Fiji that involved a kava ceremony with a village headman

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

and then a few hours on the river.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

We also managed to do Zip Fiji. A series of cables strung through the jungle that you get to zip around on. Great fun.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

We did get out to do a bit of fishing. I have to say the odds were stacked against us. With four cyclones that developed inside of two weeks within the region, we had massive swell, wind and unpredictable weather. We still managed some fish and of course we all had a great time.

First fish in the boat was a Longtom or the Fijian name is Saku.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

Next up was Arick and here he is showing us how it is done on a Bass, Fijian name, Bati.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

Then Stephanie decides she wants to have a go with the 50lb rod, and of course you know what happened. First cast, first pop, a fish on and landed. A nice Emperor to boot. Fijian name, Dakunivudi.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

Then it is Rosie's turn to show us all how it is done.

From fishing with Arick and Stephanie

We had a very good time with Arick and Stephanie and I think they had a good time with us. We hope they decide to come back again. Hopefully the fishing will be better.

Tight lines

Yuki and friends fishing for GT's

Yuki, from the Japanese Embassy here in Fiji, has been coming into the shop for some time and always wanting to go fishing with me. This last Sunday was his day.

We meet at around 7:30 am for a full day fishing. After a few introductions to his friends Kazu and Jose we are off to fish.

I knew the tide would be right around mid day and the moon was not in the greatest phase so the morning would be spent hunting for GT's and then we would get into them a bit later.

Yuki is a seasoned pro at fishing. His gear was all top of the line and he could handle everything that was thrown at him.

From Yuki and friends

The water was crystal clear and the sea was calm.

From Yuki and friends

The first fish in the boat was a very green and very pissed Barracuda that no one wanted to handle.

From Yuki and friends

Next up was a Bluefin Trevally.

From Yuki and friends

Now it is Jose's turn to catch a fish. He was using his own gear and landed a little Bluefin also.

From Yuki and friends

By now the tide is coming right and we have found a few bommies that looked promising. On one of Yuki's first casts out he is taken for a ride and left holding a stripped lure. It was a massive GT that did not want to be caught.

From Yuki and friends

Yuki then got onto a nice GT who did not give him as much trouble.

From Yuki and friends

Next we had a double hook up with Yuki battling a cracker of a fish and Kazu having his own war.

From Yuki and friends

Kazu's fish was being attacked by a shark and by the time we got it to the boat the damage was done.

From Yuki and friends

After the bite slowed we changed locations. Looking for any stragglers that might be lurking about. Eventually we found another and this one gave Yuki a real hard fight. He prevailed in the end and got his picture taken one more time.

From Yuki and friends

We had a great time with these guys and got onto some nice fish. Yuki is a top notch angler and Jose and Kazu are definitely up and coming.

From Yuki and friends

I have a feeling we shall fish together again. Until then,

Tight lines and screaming drags