Wednesday, April 13, 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.
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
Unfortunately it had rained earlier, which made it a bit slippery.
From volivoli trip
The scenery was beautiful.

From volivoli trip
Lots of really lovely villages and scary bridges.
From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip
Boys skipping school
From volivoli trip
The road less traveled.
From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip
Future fisherman
From volivoli trip
Watching the cows eat.
From volivoli trip
Finally the dry side of the island and the sugar cane fields
From volivoli trip
Sugar cane
From volivoli trip
More sugar cane
From volivoli trip
We are getting close now, I see the sign.
From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip
The sea, the sea
From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip

From volivoli trip
We are almost there.
From volivoli trip
Finally VoliVoli
From volivoli trip
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.
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.
From volivoli trip
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.
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.
From volivoli trip
A well deserved beer after the ass whipping we got.
From volivoli trip
A new day and the weather is a bit iffy but spirits are high.
From volivoli trip
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.
From volivoli trip
Rosie again starts the day out with a nice Red Bass.
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
Yours truly waiting for my turn.
From volivoli trip
A scad mackerel. Good for bait.
From volivoli trip
After a grueling five hours of nonstop casting I finally hook up to a GT. Not the biggest but well worth it.
From volivoli trip
Now the bite has turned on and almost every bommie is holding bait and GT's.
Rosie with a nice one.
From volivoli trip
I have upped the ante with this one.
From volivoli trip
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.
From volivoli trip
We wake to a beauty of a day.
From volivoli trip
View from our villa.
From volivoli trip
Surveying the area.
From volivoli trip
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.
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

7 comments:

fijitime said...

Fantastic photos Callan, really motivates me to head up there soon.

Rambling Expat said...

Hi there,

This look like a beautiful place.

Have a good day.

Brian Helms said...

I would absolutely kill to get a GT this size on a fly rod. What a fantastic place. Looks like the fishing pressure is low. Are you site fishing or blind casting

Ricks Reel Adventures said...

I love the pictures! I can't wait to make it back down to Fiji. Thanks for posting!

fishing guides said...

Were are you going next?

Mary said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

AHOY HOY!
Hello again boys! its almost xmas time and i wanted to share with you an early present my wife just gave me. its a Quints shark fishing shirt from the movie jaws and i love it and her!!
heres the link it's on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/QUINTS-SHARK-FISHING-jaws-shark-week-fishing-80s-movie-goonies-TSHIRT-

Happy Holidays everyone!!!