Gamefishing Fiji

Good News for Fiji Bound Australian Anglers

2012-01-08T14:47:00.004+13:00

Air Pacific has anounced that from January 15th it will almost double its weekly flights into Sydney by flying 13 times per week with both morning and afternoon departures to Nadi every day except Monday.

From Tuesday to Sunday, there will be a 6:30am Sydney - Nadi service, arriving in Nadi at 12:25pm, and there will also be a daily 12:55pm Sydney – Nadi service, with the flight getting into Nadi at 6.45pm. From Nadi, there will be a daily 9am service to Sydney, with the flight arriving at 11:25am. In addition, there will be evening flights every day except Sunday, departing Nadi at 6.30pm and arriving in Sydney at 9.05pm.
With these flexible departure and arrival times, many passengers now will be able to enjoy same day connections from Nadi International Airport to Fiji’s outer islands and resorts.

Connecting with that Pacific Sun Island-Hopper puddle jumper just got easier

BlueWater Magazine on Sale Today, 6th Jan 2012

2012-01-06T13:49:00.000+13:00

A BlueWater world scoop!

This issue is a dedicated GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA Special. See mind-blowing action with tuna to way over 1000-pounds. They are more than 10 feet long! It’s the hottest gamefishing news on the planet – and this issue has it all. Discover the history, join the new action, and learn from the scientists.

Do not miss this one!

Content included in issue 89 of BlueWater magazine

FISHING FEATURES

Techniques for multiple marlin
Why hook just one marlin when you could hook several at the same time? Once you’ve located the bait school there’s a good chance that there will be more than one marlin stalking them. With a little planning and the right strategy, you can capitalise on being in the right spot before they disappear.

what you need to know about polarised eyewear
Investment advice for that most essential of gamefishing equipment – your eyes.

Understanding south pacific cyclones

Knowing how cyclones form, and how they track across the ocean will help you to stay out of danger.

big fish –small boats
Sounders and sounder set-up
This guide will help you set up your sounder and transducer to see better images on screen.

make your own wind-on leaders
They are a fundamental piece of tackle and with this step-by-step guide you can be skilled at making your own reliable wind-on leaders.

creatures of the deep
Ray’s Bream
They are plentiful, they’re great to eat, and they are out there!
Dr Julian Pepperell explains all.

prey species – squid story
What has three hearts and blueish blood? Dr Pepperell reveals the alien-like biology and fascinating life story of these vital prey species.

small boat crew tactics
Your chances for success are greatly magnified when the team works together as a coordinated unit. Here’s how to make it happen.

lure lore – part 7
The 10 best lures for big blue marlin
Who better to judge the 10 best lures than a panel of 900lb-plus blue marlin off Kona, Hawaii?

smoke and mirrors
JB Lures ‘Chook’
Something specifically crafted to be snapped up by big marlin could hardly be called ‘chicken’.

BOAT FEATURES

PEDIGREE CAT
Noosa Cat 3000 Sportsman
Built on a proud history of quality offshore cats designed to break through treacherous river bars, Noosa Cat’s latest offering delivers refined design that will surprise with its rough-riding abilities, economy, and comforts.

TOP SHELF
Sailfish Shelf Runner
With expertise in tough, marine rescue cats, Sailfish have now refocused for the offshore angler.

AUSSIE MADE TO RIVAL THE WORLD
Cruise Craft Outsider 595
Patriotic Aussies will be more than proud after reading Warren Steptoe’s glowing review of this local hero.

BlueWater Magazine

Old School Gamefishing

2011-12-11T14:24:00.006+13:00

Before.....

(Those were the days !)

After.....

Damn I forgot my bow tie....

Fame Anybody ?

2011-12-05T15:00:00.003+13:00

We are arranging an opportunity for World renown photographer Jon Schwartz to visit us and photograph GT Poping aboard Tease Me this summer. We need a couple of GT anglers willing to model !
You have probably seen many of Jon's photos gracing the covers of publications such as Marlin Magazine and BlueWater Magazine. You can see some of his work here www.bluewaterjon.com
Jon will be taking action stills of anglers fighting GTs, posing with their catch and releasing, some of which will be filmed from underwater......

We need to fit this in between the 18th and 25th February. Matava Eco-Adventure Resort currently has a 'Special' on for February but it does not include Fishing Packages.
As this would not be a 'normal' fishing trip we are offering to extend this Special Second Person Half Price deal for anbody who wants to GT Pop on Tease Me and be photographed all day long !
Our primary target will be GTs, the bigger the better but if we see an opportunity to pop for yellowfin, wahoo or jig for dogtooth tuna and film that as well, excllent !

This is a great opportunity to get a ridiculously cheap GT Popping trip for two on the Great Astroabe Barrier Reef, Kadavu and be presented with your own professional photos of the trip. Oh, and you might get famous as well.
Drop us an email if you are interested.....

Take a Friend to Fiji for 50% off Matava package: 2nd Person Half Price on Land and Air! | Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

2011-12-01T09:29:00.000+13:00

Matava Summer Special

2nd Person 50% off

Escape to Fiji to Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort and the ***Second Person* stays *Half Price*** !

Valid for travel between 1st December 2011 – 29th February 2012

Details:

valid for double / twin share
ANY Matava Dive, Romance or Adventure Package
5 nights stay or longer
All meals and airport transfers included
Complimentary Snorkelling on Critter Junction
Waterfall hike and village afternoon
Lovo feast and kava ceremony

Additions:

Extra night – 2nd person half price (based on double occupancy)
Extra days diving – 2nd person half price
Single Supplement – Waived
Based on published package and add on rates
Excludes gamefishing and kayaking packages
Travel through 29th February 2011 subject to availability
Blackout period: travel Between 23rd December 2011 and 29th December 2011 excluded

Air Pacific Special

Take a Friend to Fiji for Half Price Air special.

Discover the wonders of Matava in Fiji and save money on the second person.

For a limited time, 2nd passenger gets 50 % off airfare from Los Angeles on Air Pacific.

From now until March 31, 2012 travel to fabulous Fiji and the second passenger travels for 50% off airfare!

TRAVEL DATES: valid 1 Oct 2011 through 31 March 2012
Sale ends Dec. 31

(No travel on the special airfare permitted during the blackout of 15-Dec-11 to 15-Jan-12)

—

Book your Escape to Fiji to Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort and the Second Person stays Half Price !

Click here to book your private haven in a Honeymoon Bure today and see the panoramas and vista for yourself from your own private deck in Kadavu, Fiji!!

Book Now by Contacting Us!

Take a Friend to Fiji for 50% off Matava package: 2nd Person Half Price on Land and Air!

Sea Save Foundation - Auction Home Page - BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction

2011-11-24T12:58:00.000+13:00

The Sea Save Foundation Holiday Auction is now open!

The proceeds will go to Sea Save Foundation in order to support ocean conservation.

Auction items range from exotic diving vacation getaways, diving equipment and gear, underwater photography courses by noted oceanographers, and incredible hand crafted works of art guaranteed to delight and surprise.

So, tell your friends, family, and community. Let the bidding begin!

Sea Save Foundation - Auction Home Page - BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction

Prime Slot opens up for Anglers

2011-11-11T12:30:00.006+13:00

Summer Dolphinfish are numerous

Matava Eco-Adventure Resort was totally fully booked with divers for early January however it has just had a cancellation from the 1st to the 10th January 2012 opening up some accommodation space.
This means that Bite Me Gamefishing Charters now has a slot available for any anglers who might wish to charter Bite Me or Tease Me between the 1-10th January 2012

During our summer season we usually concentrate on offshore heavy tackle gamefishing for blue marlin and yellowfin tuna or we focus on heavy tackle popping for GTs and deepwater jigging for Dogtooth Tuna.

Summer time is usually when we see the larger blue marlin

The summer Yellowfin Tuna run is when we get the big cow yellowfin

Yellowfin boiling on glassy seas....a typical summer sight

Weather conditions are usually hot, humid and calm, ideal for offshore gamefishing, working outer barrier reef slopes with poppers for huge GTs and deepwater jigging.

If anybody is interested, please drop me a line any time at adrian@GameFishingFiji.com

October 2011 GT Popping

2011-11-10T13:26:00.002+13:00

Its still early days yet with the summer Popping and Jigging season starting in December but a couple of anglers from Australia caught a break with the Spring weather and got some great GT Popping in.

Justin's pretty pleased with this 45 inch short length GT

Red Bass

Double Hook-upfor Brendan & Justin

Another nice GT pushing 40kg for Justin

Last season the Pacific Ocean experienced a strong La Nina event. This meant that higher than normal sea surface temperatures were experienced in the West Pacific, particularily the Coral Sea. Tropical cyclones derive their energy from the warm oceans so most cyclones developed to the West of Fiji and tracked away from us. For us this meant good weather but frequent large ground swells from the South West as cyclones track south to the West of Fiji. The weather patterns stalled the normal oceanic currents that sweep along the Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef and the water clarity was poor compared to a normal season. We countered this by switching primarily from poppers to stickbaits as the GTs tended to sit out in deeper waters rather than their usual whitewater breakers zone.
The NOAA weather gurus are forecasting another La Nina event this year but it is expected to be much weaker than last year and shorter lived.

The above chart from NOAA shows current sea surface temperature anomolies. You can see the La Nina effects with a big slug of warmer than normal water in the SW Pacific and cooler than normal sea surface temperatures off the Americas.
So, all in all, we are expecting fewer than average cyclones for Fiji this summer and a better GT Popping season than last year.
Not such good news for Queenslanders....Expect above average numbers of cyclones this summer....

Pilot Whales Check Out Bite Me

2011-10-26T14:17:00.000+13:00

Ultra Light IGFA Wahoo World Record Hunting

2011-10-24T08:59:00.005+13:00

Graeme and Owen fron South Australia spent a week with us at Matava Lodge with the intention of going after the M-03 Wahoo IGFA World Record. Owen makes a range of ultra-light custom rods and this was a great opportunity to put them through their paces on some relatively big fish.

We started off with a bit of a warm-up on some small yellowfin. Despit their small size, on 3kg line these yellowfin put up quite a fight.....Fortunately the guys had been practising on the Southern Bluefin Tuna at home so we were asured of some sashimi for dinner !

A couple of Rainbow Runners later just for a bit of variety...

and we were ready for the serious stuff....Trying to beat the current M-03 IGFA Wahoo World Record of 23.13kg caught in 1978 off Puerto Rico.

Graeme was up first using an Avet SX (Florida Cam) spooled with Platypus Pre-Test on an Eyre Toxic Wahoosta. We were using the best wahoo lure money can buy...The Halco Laser Pro.
After a fight of just over an hour, Graeme had his first prize....

A little shy of the World Record but what a great catch on 3kg !

Owen then had his chance using an Eyre Pirate These rods were hand made specifically for Bite Me and the finishing is beautiful. What's more they proved to be perfect for the job in the hands of an experienced angler.

A beautiful wahoo and quite a challenge on 3kg line

Graeme then hooked up and fought a feisty Mahi Mahi that would have smashed the Fiji National Record but just as Joe went in with the gaff the fish leapt out of the water (as they so often do !) and threw the hooks boatside.

Unfortunately the weather turned on us for a few days so we had to switch tactics. One of the advantages of the Pirate is its working range up to 8kg so we re-spooled with 6kg and headed back out. Owen got this nice Mahi Mahi, again using an Avet SX on a Pirate.

By the way, if any angler catches an IGFA World Record using one of our Eyre Custom rods they get to keep the rod....Or Owen will make them a brand new one for free ! Check out his website for details.

You have to experience the fun of fighting a fish like this on ultra-light tackle. Its a lot of fun for the skipper too !

The weather got worse so we spent the last two days fishing the calmer lee side of the island with the 3kg gear, in particular, the Ono Drop-off. After having a beautiful little sailfish jump and throw the hooks on us (bugger) we found some decent sized yellowfin. A bit too decent ! We fought two yellowfin for well over an hour and a half each only to have the line break just as we were getting close..... I have hours of GoPro video footage but I won't subject readers to blubbing anglers ! These yellowfin would have smashed the Fiji Record and possibly given the IGFA World Record a scare but it was not to be.
Anyway, we just missed out on the Wahoo World Record but had a lot of fun chasing it. The Eyre rods performed beautifully and now have a proven track record. I can't wait to have another go....In the mean time I might just mount them on the wall...They are that pretty !

World Record Hunting on Bite Me

2011-10-24T08:24:00.003+13:00

Owen from Eyre Custom Rods Australia landed this 40lb Wahoo on 3kg line class using an Avet SX on an Eyre Pirate custom rod aboard Bite Me. Fight time about one hour and a very nice fish on 3kg line class !

Fiji Winter Season Saltwater Fishing Summary

2011-10-12T05:20:00.006+12:00

From the beginning of 2011, the South Pacific experienced strong La Nina weather patterns. Warmer than normal water gathered towards the Western side of the Pacific leading to unusual weather conditions. Normal tropical depression and Cyclone paths shifted West and Australia's long running drought was broken. For the Fiji Islands this meant fine weather but frequent large ground swells from the South West. Normal oceanic currents along Kadavu Island's Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef stalled and the GT Popping season was significantly affected with coloured water outside the barrier reef and GTs moving from regular haunts.

The summer yellowfin tuna run started late but by the end of March, Bite Me was landing excellent yellowfin around 130lb with our best fish weighing in at 165lbs.

Our normal winter Wahoo season begins with the first wahoo packs arriving in May and by June the outer reef slopes are crowded with hundreds of wahoo packing up on reef points and current lines. Not this year. Water temps stayed stubbournly higher than normal. Our June water temp was the highest recorded for that month in 15 years....

Nevertheless we did get a wahoo run, just not as crazy as normal years. Packs averaged 10-15 fish rather than 20-30 and the average size was down from 60lbs to around 40lbs. The Kadavu Seamount proved very patchy wahoo fishing. Some days it was loaded, some days quiet. Very unusual indeed.

The Pacific Sailfish didn't disappoint but with unusual current directions along the reef and a scarcity in normal winter bait, they moved around a lot making my job a little harder than normal. Still, we did manage to take the M-06 (12lb) Fiji National Record with a sail of just over 75lbs.

The new M-06 Pacific Sailfish Fiji Record taken aboard Bite Me

The La Nina weather patterns usually only last 9-12 months so by December, the start of the next summer Popping & Jigging season, we should be back to normal. Looking forward to it.

Yellowfin Sashimi for Hong Kong

2011-10-08T05:18:00.006+12:00

With the new direct flights between Hong Kong and Fiji operated by Air Pacific, we have been delighted to welcome more and more guests from that part of the world.
Manny and Cherry stayed at Matava Eco-Adventure Lodge for some diving, snorkeling, adventure and of course...fresh sashimi !

Even small Yellwfin put a fight on light tackle

Cherry hangs on...

Mann looks forward to his sashimi

August Wahoo

2011-10-08T04:09:00.003+12:00

Brett with a nice Kadavu winter wahoo

August is our peak season for Wahoo but this year with rare La Nina weather conditions keeping the water temperatures unusually high, the wahoo run was a bit patchy. Bite Me still found plenty of wahoo but not so many monsters this season. Most fish averaged around 40lbs compared to a normal average of 60lbs.

Barry with a respectable Hoo

Brett tags his first Sailfish

The sails showed in reasonably good numbers but with unusual weather and wind directions they did tend to move around a lot so no specific area consistantly produced.

Darren knocked off his first Wahoo

Brett somehow managed to land all the biggest fish that week....

A school wahoo typical of this season

Matava Current Fishing Records

2011-10-01T11:37:00.000+12:00

TOTAL Records held as at 1st October 2011
Fifty One (51)

For a great photo spread of the Fiji National Fishing Records caught on Bite Me see here the Records Photo Gallery.

Species Class Record Angler

Pacific Sailfish M-10 60.30 kg Remco Hanibal

Pacific Sailfish M-08 46.60 kg Shane Cole

Pacific Sailfish M-06 34.20 kg Paul

Pacific Sailfish M-04 31.40 kg Bill Boyce

Pacific Sailfish W-10 47.80 kg Lyn Salvidge

Wahoo M-15 44.00 kg Edmund Sturdy

Wahoo M-06 26.00 kg Adrian Watt

Wahoo M-04 31.60 kg Tim Simpson (World Record)

Wahoo M-03 19.40 kg Tim Simpson

Wahoo W-03 21.00 kg Fiona Stallard (World Record)

Wahoo W-04 4.80 kg Diane Woods

Dolphinfish M-04 7.20 kg Tim Simpson

Dolphinfish W-08 7.00 kg Renae Perryman

Dolphinfish W-06 7.80 kg Toni Carlsson

Giant Trevally M-04 10.20kg Adrian Watt

Giant Trevally W-04 7.00 kg Diane Woods

Giant Trevally W-08 9.40kg Magdeline Ko

Bluefin Trevally M-15 5.80 kg Richard Akhtar

Bluefin Trevally M-06 7.20 kg Glen Gardener (All Tackle)

Bluefin Trevally W-15 4.80 kg Jamie Martin

Bluefin Trevally W-10 3.00 kg Teresa Clemmer

Yellowfin Tuna M-04 14.60kg Tim Simpson

Yellowfin Tuna M-03 6.40 kg Paul

Yellowfin Tuna W-15 25.50 kg Anne Oberg

Yellowfin Tuna W-10 20.50 kg Teresa Clemmer

Yellowfin Tuna W-08 6.20 kg Cherie Gardener

Yellowfin Tuna W-06 5.80 kg Cherie Gardener

Yellowfin Tuna W-04 9.40 kg Diane Woods

Mackerel M-04 5.00 kg Shane Warmington

Mackerel W-06 3.20 kg Susan Raebitt

Marlin, Black M-60 103.40 kg Peter Mumford

Great Barracuda M-10 19.20 kg Owen Spalding

Great Barracuda M-04 6.20 kg Tim Simpson

Great Barracuda M-03 9.20 kg Tim Simpson

Rainbow Runner M-15 9.00 kg Michael LeHanie (All Tackle)

Rainbow Runner M-04 3.00 kg Tim Simpson

Kawakawa M-08 4.50 kg Remco Hanibal

Kawakawa M-06 2.80 kg Peter

Kawakawa M-04 3.40 kg Adrian Watt

Kawakawa W-04 4.60 kg Diane Woods

Skipjack Tuna M-04 4.00 kg Tim Simpson

Skipjack Tuna M-03 8.60 kg Glen Gardener

Skipjack Tuna W-06 7.60 kg Toni Carlsson

Dogtooth Tuna M-36 90.60 kg Bill Busch (All Tackle)

Dogtooth Tuna M-06 1.8kg Shane Warmington

Dogtooth Tuna W-15 5.60 kg Mary Alice Migge

TOTAL Fiji National Line Class Records held – Fortysix (46)

TOTAL All-Tackle Fiji National Records Held – Three (3)

TOTAL IGFA World Records held – Two (2)

Matava Records - Bite Me Gamefishing Charters

Bluewater Magazine, Issue 87 now available

2011-09-07T11:51:00.001+12:00

FEATURES

Clarion island – where the wild things roam
Capt Josh Temple takes us aboard an 80-foot custom gameboat for an adventurous journey to the realm of the biggest yellowfin tuna on the planet. Fishing stand-up tackle for tuna to well over 300lb, they soon find themselves immersed in a fish frenzy with tuna, wahoo, billfish and more stretching the anglers until they cry for mercy. On the morning of their final day, two anglers had still to catch a yellowfin of more than 300lb. With just hours to go, will they find the fish of their dreams? Will they crumble under the pressure of a battle to the death? The answers are as exciting as these amazing tuna!

Southern playground
South Australia abounds with yellowtail kingfish and samson fish in backbreaking sizes, plus bluefin tuna and enormous white sharks.

they call the shots: Capt Bonze Fleet
This talented New Zealand skipper has quite a reputation as a marlin captain and also as a lure maker.

cairns’ giant blacks: Cairns has evolved over the past 40 years, but one thing remains the same: it is still the best place in the world to catch 1000lb marlin!

creatures of the deep: Pilotfish
These fascinating members of the trevally family seem to have an unusual arrangement with sharks.

Rainbow runner and bluefin trevally
Dr Julian Pepperell reveals the interesting life story of these beautifully coloured gamefish.

lure lore
Part 5 – Trolling patterns
Planning your lure spread delivers more consistent results. Jim Rizzuto outlines the techniques of the pros.

smoke and mirrors
Bonze Lures – Angel
This quality, versatile, tube-style lure creates an enormous rooster tail that is sure to attract attention.

classic tomes
The mystery of Swordfish Reef
A 1930s murder mystery set amid the real characters of the world-class Bermagui gamefishing fleet.

BOATS AND MORE
Ocean Conquest
Boston Whaler 345 Conquest
This fast and agile 34-footer is surprisingly economical while being squirted along by three big Mercury Verado outboards. Considering the built-in safety of these ‘unsinkable’ boats, they’re a great choice for offshore gamefishing.

One Man’s Boat
James McGinty’s Alcatraz
Using a Haines Hunter Formula 233 as a base, this angler transforms an
old boat into a gamefishing weapon.

The Way Of The Future?
Beluga propulsion and steering
David Pleysier’s radical new system promises greatly reduced costs while maintaining manoeuvrability.

The Wahoo Show for South Australian Angler Magazine

2011-08-30T12:43:00.005+12:00

Shane Mensforth, journalist, photographer and Editor of South Australian Angler with mates Kosta, Eric and Jack turned our La Nina affected winter season around and got stuck into some good wahoo fishing. The first few days we struggled with some ordinary weather and quiet offshore fishing but still managed a couple of nice mahi mahi and a few missed wahoo crash tackles.

Eric & Jack with a nice double on Mahi mahi

The weather finally allowed us to one of my favourite wahoo pack spots and sure enough we were soon into some frantic action aboard Bite Me.

A quadruple hook-up, typical of a wahoo pack mass attack

Not monsters but plenty of fun on light tackle

Kosta with a nice Wahoo

Shane meets Wahoo... meets Shark !

Shane would have landed the largest wahoo of the trip if it wasn't for the attention of a couple of as yet unidentified sharks. This head and shoulders alone weighed in at 14kg. We got quite a bit of underwater footage (including those pesky sharks) which the experts are examining. Our new GoPro cameras are getting us some amazing footage..... I will be posting soon....

Not ideal popping weather and the GTs didn't bite but a few judicious casts landed a nice Coral Trout for the dinner table....and Matava Lodge Chef Kuki's special tomato & chilli sauce...

Bite Me Takes Fiji Sailfish Record

2011-08-29T08:32:00.004+12:00

The Eyre rods and Avet SXs - Our ultra-light tackle Record hunting gear

Australian anglers Steve, Peter and Paul came to Matava Eco-Adventure Resort recently to fish light and ultra-light tackle on the winter wahoo and sailfish. We fished 3kg line class for wahoo and tunas and targeted Pacific Sailfish on 6kg line class.
Steve brought with him a new Cam now available from Avet. Called the South Florida Cam it modifies the Avet SX drag curve to perfectly suit our ultra light tackle record hunting.
The wahoo fishing was slow thanks to La Nina weather patterns but the guys did pick up some National Records including the M-03 Kawakawa and Yellowfin tuna. Deckie Glen was clearing rods after a multiple yellowfin hook-up when a chuky skipjack tuna jumped on. Turned out his skippie smashed the current M-03 Fiji National Record when it weighed in at 8.6kg

Deckie Glen chuffed with his M-03 Skipjack Record of 8.6kg

The boys hooked and fought several sails on 6kg but the sails continued to elude us with spectaculor leaps and jumps across the ocean (We have some great video to post when I get to a faster connection !)
On the last day we went all out for the M-06 Sailfish Record. Fishing Soso bay Paul hooked up a nice sail and we went into action....Winning back the belly of line, charging backwards after the hard fighting fish. With both Joe and Glen aboard to handle the leader and gaffs we finally had the sail aboard after about a 45 minute fight.

What a cracking Sail for Paul on 6kg line class

The sail weighed in at 34.20kg and subject to FIGFA approval and line testing is the new M-06 Fiji National Record

The new M-06 Fiji National Record

Sails Move In

2011-08-25T11:11:00.003+12:00

Rob grabs a quick photo of his Pacific Sailfish

Continuing La Nina weather patterns have lead to the warmest winter water temperatures recorded in the past 15 years. The wahoo started moving in late May but the cooler currents failed and the wahoo fishing has been very quiet by our normal crazy winter standards. The winter run of yellowfin tuna is also pretty mediocre. The sails though are providing some fun on lighter tackle.

Deckie Glen releases and the tagged sail swims away

BlueWater Magazine issue 86 now on sale

2011-07-27T15:36:00.002+12:00

FISHING FEATURES

winning strategies for blue granders
Part 2 – The first 5 minutes
In the second instalment of this series, Capt Peter Bristow guides you through the crucial first five minutes of your battle with a 1000lb blue marlin. He explains what should happen, and what could happen to the unwary.

The dangerous side of our sport
An article not for the faint-hearted! Greg Finney graphically describes a truly gruesome mishap that occurred while landing a large mako shark. Greg outlines the dangers of tackling big, powerful fish that are often armed with teeth or spears. It’s a good wake-up call to prevent potential mishaps.

creatures of the deep
Pelagic stingray
Seemingly out of place near the surface of the open ocean, this ray has adapted to survive and thrive.

they call the shots
Capt Ron Hamlin
This truly legendary captain has had an extraordinary career, while experiencing life’s highs and lows.

technically speaking
How to rig garfish with circle hooks
Renowned captain Ron Hamlin offers tips for success and a step-by-step guide to rigging garfish.

broome’s trailboat billfish
Western Australia’s popular tourist area offers a spectacular winter run of sailfish and baby marlin – accessible even in a tinnie.

a day to remember
Taking the plunge
Dive into a remarkable encounter between a marlin, a mako and a rather thoughtful Al McGlashan.

lure lore
Part 4 – The culinary detective
Jim Rizzuto invites you to consider six clues to determine how to select the most successful lure.

smoke and mirrors
Frozen Tree Co – the ‘Scout’
This well-crafted and successful lure has been designed specifically to run in the ‘shotgun’ position.

BOATS AND MORE
BORN TO BATTLE
Peter Teakle’s Riviera 70 Enclosed Flybridge
Clever design and a healthy budget have created a luxury cruiser bursting with fishing practicality. The owner lives and conducts business aboard for months at a time, including an annual pilgrimage up to Lizard Island.

jindra’s energy conversion
Gameboat designer David Pleysier profiles a revolutionary system to power air-conditioning, refrigeration, pumps and more.

a new icon
Formula Icon 54 – updated
This New Zealand-built vessel has been revamped for comfortable cruising on the open ocean.

an.

The Billfish Foundation Australia Experience

2011-06-27T18:48:00.003+12:00

The Billfish Foundation adds Australia sportfishing trip to The TBF Experience

25^th Anniversary membership drive adding regional billfish adventures worldwide

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – The magic of fishing Australia’s Sunshine Coast in Cairns has been added as the newest prize trip in celebrating The Billfish Foundation’s 25th anniversary.

The program is aptly named The TBF Experience in the spirit of highlighting TBF’s focus on conservation through sportfishing. The science-based foundation is giving away fishing trips to some of the best fishing destinations in the world; an event that’s more than a membership drive, it’s a celebration of the sportfishing lifestyle. The drive runs into the fall of 2011.

“Besides our three previously announced trips in Guatemala, Panama and the U.S. which can be won by TBF members across the globe we’re adding more exciting sportfishing trips off continents around the world like Australia,” said TBF Science and Policy Specialist Elliott Stark who is coordinating the Silver Anniversary trips.

The TBF Experience at Cairns is a special trip available to South Pacific residents who join or renew their TBF membership (starting at $40) by October 1. TBF will draw one winner who, along with a guest, will join a TBF executive and Capt. Tim Richardson for two days (Nov. 21-22) of giant black marlin fishing on the Tradition out of Cairns, Australia. For more on the TBF Experience Australia, visit here .

“We’re reaching out to thank our membership base worldwide,” said Stark, ” there has never been a better time for those in Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and throughout the South Pacific region to join TBF or to experience billfishing at its best.”

“More details of these exciting trip giveaways and membership premium program is on the TBF website here ,” said Stark.

Win Trips in U.S., Guatemala and Panama

“TBF is uniting the world through sportfishing. In addition to the Cairns trip open only to those in the South Pacific, we have three prize trips open to TBF members from around the world who join at certain levels. These trips, all with expert captains, are in three of the world’s greatest billfishing destinations.”

“At the $75 membership level there’s a one day Atlantic Sailfish trip with Capt. Bouncer Smith in Miami, Fla. USA. Those joining at the $250 level will be entered to win a two day, three night fishing package for Pacific Sailfish and blue marlin with Capt. Brad Philipps in Guatemala.

“And the winner of the $500 or higher member level (one chance per $500, two chances for $1,000, etc.) can be joined by three guests for a three day sportfishing trip off Panama’s Pearl Islands for black and blue marlin, Pacific sails, big dorado and yellowfin. That trip includes four nights and three days accommodations at the beautiful Hacienda del Mar on San Jose Island.”

“We’re pretty excited how this drive is turning out,” said Stark. “Simply joining or renewing your TBF membership between now and Oct. 26, at the levels listed, gets you in the running.”

Winners of the global trips will be drawn in October at TBF’s 25th Anniversary Dinner during the Fort Lauderdale Intl. Boat Show and trips will be scheduled for 2012. For more details on the trips, visit the TBF website at billfish.org or contact Elliott Stark at 954-938-0150 ext. 101.

Spinner Dolphin Pod

2011-06-26T18:44:00.002+12:00

A wonderful pod of spinner dolphin seen from the bridge of Bite Me

Good News for Costa Rica Billfish

2011-06-25T09:28:00.009+12:00

First hotels and restaurants in Costa Rica sign

agreement to support billfish conservation

Initial group of Central American hotels, resorts and restaurants set example for others in promoting sportfishing ecotourism by taking sailfish and marlin off their menus

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – The Billfish Foundation (TBF) entered into an agreement with its conservation partner, the Costa Rica Sport Fishing Federation (FECOPT) and four participating Hilton Worldwide hotels in Costa Rica, pledging to stop serving all sailfish and marlin.

Based on a socio-economic study released last year by TBF showing the huge economic value of sportfishing tourism to Costa Rica, the participating hotels adopted the ban on billfish from their restaurants in part to promote responsible and sustainable tourism in the nation.

The four properties include the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Costa Rica in Puntarenas, the DoubleTree Cariari by Hilton San Jose, the Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort and Spa, and the Hilton Garden Inn Liberia Airport. The bold conservation move with the hotels and resorts came after two months of discussions with FECOPT Executive Director Enrique Ramirez.

“TBF is proud of the efforts by Enrique Ramirez who secured the participation of the four participating Hilton Worldwide properties in Costa Rica and explained the conservation and business benefits of the world’s sportfishing tourists, reaffirming Costa Rica’s stature as one of the world’s premier fishing destinations,” noted TBF Chief Scientist Dr. Russell Nelson. “We specially appreciate the foresight of the general managers at the participating Hilton Worldwide hotels in Costa Rica - Ricardo Rodriguez Gil, Laura Castagnini and Rui Dominguez - that supporting sportfishing conservation efforts are good for the oceans and good for business as well.”

“The participating Hilton Worldwide hotels in Costa Rica are leading the way for Costa Rica’s tourism industry to move toward new levels of support for sportfishing conservation practices,” said FECOPT’s Ramirez. “Using the impetus of our agreement with the participating properties we look forward to partnering with sustainable tourism tour leader Horizontes to let this precedent spread across the nation’s tourism industry.

TBF President Ellen Peel applauded the agreement as a new standard for voluntary conservation action in the private sector adding, “we’re very pleased to see tourism businesses and government tourism officials responding so positively to the facts and information presented by our socio-economic research conducted with the University of Costa Rica that clearly supports TBF’s message that good conservation can be good economics.”

TBF has been working with governments such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Panama to protect billfish, mainly from overfishing coastal fisheries by commercial interests, while implementing tag and release programs for sportsmen. Herbert Nanne of San Jose serves as TBF’s Central American Conservation Director.

Established 25 years ago, The Billfish Foundation is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world. TBF's comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs and sportfishing businesses. By coordinating efforts and speaking with one voice, TBF is able to work for solutions that are good for billfish and not punitive to recreational anglers. To reach Dr. Nelson call 561-449-9637 or visit www.billfish.org

The Billfish Foundation is out there right now trying to preserve our billfish for future generations. Consider becoming a valued member Its all you need do to help.

Want your own Custom Rod ?

2011-06-19T17:32:00.004+12:00

Graeme landing a Southern Bluefin Tuna last week on 3kg line
using an Eyre Game On 3-4kg rod

Eyre Rods based in South Australia hand build custom light and ultra-light tackle gamefishing rods for the discerning record hunter....Want one of your own ?
Its easy ! Just land an IGFA certified World Record aboard Bite Me and you can keep the rod....or they will make you a brand new one !
Bite Me now carries a range of these beautiful custom rods for any angler wishing to make an attempt.
You can see details here.
If you think catching a World Record is next to impossible, we have already taken the Wahoo M-04 and W-03 World Records Your name could be on the next one we knock off, oh and on your brand new hand made custom rod as well !

Good luck to all anglers booked in for this winter wahoo season !

Kadavu GT Popping Update

2011-06-13T11:44:00.001+12:00

We had an unusual summer of popper casting for GTs with the La Nina weather paterns making for unfavourable conditions and sometimes a very poor bite by our standards.
On a normal summer season day with a couple of anglers popping we expect around a 10 GT average and 15-20 on a hot bite day. This season we averaged about 5....

One after another, summer tropical depressions came by to the West of the Fiji Islands on their way South. Normally they sink by us to the East. These tropical lows sent some sizable South Westerly swells that churned up the inner lagoon water...which emptied out of the passageways. They also stalled the current that normally sweeps along the outer barrier reef bring clear oceanic waters. So coloured water emptied out of the lagoons...and just stayed there with little or no current to clear it away.
The solution aboard Bite Me - Stickbaits !
In a normal year we generally catch 75% of our GTs on poppers...This year we landed at least half the GTs on stickbaits.

The Nomad Wahho & Dogtooth stickbaits were very effective

Also the Orion Bigfoot in Fusilear colour

The best poppers this season were still the Cuberas, Craftbaits, Buffalo , Orions and of course if you have the cash..FCL and Hammerheads...

Cubera / El Toro still produced

Even so, some late summer season anglers did get some reasonably good GT fishing with most fish averaging 15-20kg and a few bigger ones around the 25-30kg.

Now that's a seriously long pencil for a Bluefin Trevally !

Gamefishing Fiji

Good News for Fiji Bound Australian Anglers

BlueWater Magazine on Sale Today, 6th Jan 2012

Old School Gamefishing

Fame Anybody ?

Take a Friend to Fiji for 50% off Matava package: 2nd Person Half Price on Land and Air! | Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Matava Summer Special

2nd Person 50% off

Escape to Fiji to Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort and the Second Person stays Half Price !

Valid for travel between 1st December 2011 – 29th February 2012

Additions:

Air Pacific Special

Take a Friend to Fiji for Half Price Air special.

TRAVEL DATES: valid 1 Oct 2011 through 31 March 2012Sale ends Dec. 31

Book Now by Contacting Us!

Sea Save Foundation - Auction Home Page - BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction

Prime Slot opens up for Anglers

October 2011 GT Popping

Pilot Whales Check Out Bite Me

Ultra Light IGFA Wahoo World Record Hunting

World Record Hunting on Bite Me

Fiji Winter Season Saltwater Fishing Summary

Yellowfin Sashimi for Hong Kong

August Wahoo

Matava Current Fishing Records

TOTAL Records held as at 1st October 2011Fifty One (51)

Bluewater Magazine, Issue 87 now available

The Wahoo Show for South Australian Angler Magazine

Bite Me Takes Fiji Sailfish Record

Sails Move In

BlueWater Magazine issue 86 now on sale

The Billfish Foundation Australia Experience

Spinner Dolphin Pod

Good News for Costa Rica Billfish

Want your own Custom Rod ?

Kadavu GT Popping Update

Escape to Fiji to Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort and the ***Second Person* stays *Half Price*** !

TRAVEL DATES: valid 1 Oct 2011 through 31 March 2012
Sale ends Dec. 31

TOTAL Records held as at 1st October 2011
Fifty One (51)