Ika Tavu or Fish cooked on an open fire

,There is a swell in Fiji. And I mean a big swell. Apparently there was a huge storm in New Zealand and it sent a giant swell to us. When I say giant I mean 4+ meters measured on the backside. That makes the face up to 8 meters. That's big. It also means we are not fishing out on the reefs, way too dangerous.

So we head down to a protected river mouth with a truck load of people, gear and the dog, for a Sunday on the beach.

We get to the beach at the bottom of the tide so we can fish the incoming. 15lb gear is on tap for the day and the first to jump on a hook is a Beltfish (Largehead Hairtail).

From Ika tavu

We have never caught one of these, so this creepy looking sea creature got us all excited. Luckily there was a fellow hanging around that new what it was and wanted it for his dinner.

We fished with such intensity that no fish had a chance if it even wanted to swim by.

From Ika tavu

A good friend Erik, showed up on his scooter and decided to stick around. We had an extra pole so he took it and proceeded to catch a nice Trevally.

From Ika tavu

We had plans for any fish we caught for today. Those plans involved a beach fire and a not so happy ending for the fish.

From Ika tavu

Preparing the feast.

From Ika tavu

I can taste it already.

From Ika tavu

Almost done.

From Ika tavu

It is amazing what you find inside the bellies of fish. This one had the stomache of the trevally bloated and misshapen.

From Ika tavu

Ahhhhhh Ika Tavu (fish cooked on the fire) with lemon and chillie.

From Ika tavu

Lou with one of the many catches of the day.

From Ika tavu

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"Blowing dog's off chain's" or "Making the best of a windy situation"

The weather, what can you say? It is what it is and I should be glad I am not cold. That being said, it has been blowing for a week and a half, non stop. My friend Brendan likes to say, "blowing dogs off chains", very appropriate.

We decided to skip work and go for a fish, after all, we own the business and it has been so long since we fished I needed to see if I still knew how.

We headed out at 7:00 on the nose. The water was rather calm and as I throttled up, I was thinking, this is gonna be good.

I wanted to try some new spots and since it was so calm I figured why not.

We headed East, got out side the reef and was met by a ferocious swell and a wind that was picking up. After about 5 minutes of running into this I decided to stop the boat and see just how rough it was. After all popper fishing involves standing while casting and retrieving.

It became very obvious that that was not going to happen out here. The boat was being tossed around like it was in a washing machine.

A quick change of plans and we headed back West to some familiar grounds that are fishable in wind and swell.

We finally arrived to the new spot and wasted no time in wetting our lines. Unfortunately there was no one there to bite.

We fished until the low tide then made the decision to move. Another 20 minute ride and we are at the new location. The tide is moving again and then the bite comes on.

First up is Loren, he catches his first GT on his new rod and reel.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

Rosie moves in to leader and land the fish.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

This is one happy camper.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

Next up, Rosie lands a Red Bass. Too bad they are poisoned.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

By now it is getting really rough outside of the reef so we decide to make a move inside and switch to lighter tackle, 30lb.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

First up is Loren again and he catches a whopper of a fish, a Leather Jacket.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

We manage to catch a few Bluefin Trevally's, the take home and eat size. Then Rosie hooks onto a large Red Bass that tries to pull her rod into the water. After a good fight she is smiling and the Bass is photographed and released.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

This is then followed by Loren getting smoked on some 8lb tackle. But it gave us all a good laugh.

Then in the worst possible location, with wind, tide and current all working in opposite directions, Rosie hooks up to a GT on her 30lb. Normally we would be fishing for GT's with 50-80lb tackle but not this time. A hell of a fight ensues and after nearly 8 minutes the fish is boated and Rosie is smiling again if not a little worse for wear.

From Loren Rosie Callan Sept 15th 2010

Here is a short video of the fight.

That finished us off for the day. Until next time.

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"Who caught who" or "Pay back is hell"

I normally do not forward emails, but this one is a cracker. The names have been deleted to protect the innocent and guilty.

You may be forgiven for thinking that any man would look proud after catching a large barracuda as he poses with the fish and his 14 year-old daughter at the marina afterwards.

From barracuda bite

Then you may wonder why his daughter looks less than thrilled.

From barracuda bite

14 year old was sitting in a boat while her father fished. Suddenly she saw a silver flash in the air. The barracuda had thrown the hook and grabbed her arm.

Father managed to kill the fish with a knife in the head.

But she needed 51 stitches.

And he felt the need to pose for photos before taking her to hospital!

From barracuda bite

From barracuda bite

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Trolling at it's best

After much bad weather and a vacation to Sydney, Australia, I'm back.

The weather has shaped up well for the week and we decided to try to fill the freezer with eating fish. That means trolling, and I really do not like trolling, but it can be the best way to catch wahoo and mahimahi.

So, off we go into the wild blue sea, trolling. I think I will let the video speak for me.

Fiji Fishing Adventures, Fiji's newest gamefishing charter

A good friend of mine, Ben Duea, has just started operating a game fishing charter out of Pacific Harbour, Fiji. His charter business is called Vailima Fishing Adventures and he has just put his website online. He has some great captures already and the photos to prove it. Check it out at http://www.fijifishingadventures.com

If you are looking for a game fishing charter in Fiji then Ben at Vailima Fishing Adventures is the one to call.

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One in a hundred

We went out for a day trip with Renee, Brianna, Mike, Thomas, Kym and Caroline. Swimming, snorkeling, fishing and lunch was on the menu. We lucked out, I think it was the nicest day all year.

We met at the jetty at about 10am and we were greeted by a large water snake named Fred.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

It is winter here in Fiji so Fred was trying to warm up before his days excursions.

We headed out to a clear and calm morning. Our first stop is what used to be a sand bar until the storms last year flattened it. The water around it is crystal clear with a sandy bottom.

We like our swimming holes with sandy bottoms not ourselves.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

The water here is always this color. In the image you can see where the sand bar used to be. This time last year it was over 20ft high and had drift wood on it as well as picnicers from the resorts. Never the less it is still a great swimming hole.

It also made for a good place to work on ones tan.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

Next up was a bit of trolling while we moved to our next destination. The lines were set and the course was laid, now it is time to break up the monotony of trolling with a bit of fun.

First comes out the blue zinc oxide that is used to completely block out the sun and also great fun when goofing around.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

Caroline and Brianna with blue lips.
At first it was just the kids but then it turned into everyone onboard wearing blue lips.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

Thomas and Mike sporting blue lips too.
We trolled for awhile and had a couple of strikes but nothing stayed on.

As time was moving quickly we had to pull in the lines and get to the next spot, as they wanted to try a bit of popping.

We arrived at the popping spot and I set up a drift. Within seconds the first GT was on and Renee was having the fight of her life.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

Notice the lovely blue lips and a nice GT.

Not more that a few minutes and the second GT was hooked up. This time it was Thomas's turn to have the fight of his life.

From Day trip with Renee and friends

A nice dark GT and of course blue lips.

Unfortunately time had run out and we had to make a lunch appointment. So the rods were stowed and off we went.

A bit more swimming and some fish tales later we wrapped up an awesome day.

I like to call this day a one in a hundred. For every hundred days on the water one is this good.

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Fishing with the Powalski's

A little late on this post, but here it is non the less.

It was promising to be a cracker of a day. Hardly any clouds and and no wind.

We got the boat loaded and met up with Loren and Dollye at the jetty. They are good friends of ours and own a real estate company called Harbour Property Services, check them out if you want to stay or buy in Fiji.

I gave the safety talk and off we go.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Both Loren and Dollye have fished quite a lot back in Seattle, but Salmon fishing is not the same as popper fishing for tropical pelagics. Loren has done a bit of fishing here with a few different people, but Dollye has not, enter the learning curve.

Unfortunately the learning curve is steep and long. I can teach you how to cast, I can teach you how to pop, but catching fish is something that takes a long time to work out.

Dollye took to it like a pro, casting and popping right away. Loren did not need any assistance.

After 20 or 30 minutes with no bites Loren wants me to cast a bit and tells me to catch a fish. So not being one to shrug of a challenge I cast out a few times and hook a little Trevally.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Once the fish is in the boat I tell Loren that I am done for awhile as I want him and Dollye to catch fish.

Now it is Loren's turn to catch a fish. After a couple of missed bites he finally hooks one and gets to feel the pull of the Trevally.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Not a big fish but on the light tackle they sure are fun.

Meanwhile Dollye is still casting and popping and starting to work out the formula. She gets a couple of good bites but is not able to set the hooks. Like I said, a long, steep curve.

Back to Loren who is quite fired up at this point and hooks a nice Bluefin Trevally. He has learned to put the hurt on these fish otherwise the fish dictates the fight and you lose.

He has the fish boat side in no time and Rosie leaders it in. Cheers and high fives all around.

From Fishing with the Pawloski's

Unfortunately the wind has whipped up and is now blowing 25knots with a very lumpy sea. This of course makes casting and standing very difficult.

We call it a day and make our way home.

We all had a great time and plan to do it again.

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Updates from the past few weeks

Sorry it has been so long since a post. No real excuse, just lazy and not a lot to report.

The weather has been, well not great to say the least.

Rosie and I took Yuki out for a Sunday fish. With him was Ken and Captain. Captain is an F15 fighter pilot with the Japanese air force.

The weather was atrocious and the fish were in hiding, but we persevered.

A side note, our usual camera is in the shop so we are shooting all the pictures with an Iphone or a GoPro camera. Not the best quality.

Anyways here is a couple of shots of our trip.

Captain making a go of a crappy situation.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Ken showing true form.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Yuki with a small GT.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Not one of our better days but that's fishing, right?

So the next time out it was just Rosie and me. After a short run in some horrid waves and rain squalls with wind gusts up to 30knots, the throttle cable played up and sent us home without a fish.

So this Sunday we decided to try again. The weather was looking lovely and our excitement was high.

Boat loaded, Billy on board with Spam and egg sandwiches, off we go into the wild blue yonder.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Our first stop was a small bay that has produced some nice Coral Trout and Mangrove Jacks. Light tackle was the call for the morning. By that I mean 30lb gear.

The small bay with mangroves and nice little drop offs.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Unfortunately the wind kicked up and it started to white cap, that's 7-10 knots. A little hard to use the light gear.

We moved out of the bay to another area that is known to produce some nice fish. I am still using the 30lb but Rosie has switched to the 50lb. Now you must be wondering what happened to Billy, he has this deal with the fish, He wont eat them and they wont eat him. Therefore he does not fish. Good for me as I can teach him to drive the boat and I get to do a little fishing.

I finally catch a nice Red Bass on the light gear, what fun.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Soon after my bass Rosie hooks up to a nice GT and has it boat side in no time.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

After that it goes quiet and the wind has picked up some more. Time for lunch and a bit of fun.

Billy does one for his wife Katie who is out of the country but loves fishing and knows he doesn't.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

After lunch we decide to go and have a swim at a sand bar. To our surprise the sand bar was gone, flattened out during the hurricanes this last season. Lucky for us the waters around it are still like a swimming pool.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

After our swim we are gonna try a bit of trolling in a proven location. So out go the lures and off we go. Within 20 minutes the ride is too rough and the lures will not stay in the water. We all agree to pull them in and head for home. Easier said then done. It's gotten really rough and the swell has picked up. After almost two hours we finally get back to the dock.

We still had a great day on the water and it sure beats the crap out of being at work.

On a side note I mentioned the GoPro cameras. I have purchased two of them and have started to see what they can do.

From June 6 2010 Rosie, Billy and Callan

Here is a little video and there will be lots more to see.

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