Gamefishing Fiji

Cheap Flights - Flight Specials - Air Pacific

2009-06-25T13:12:00.000+12:00

$863 -- Fiji from Los Angeles (Roundtrip), incl. Taxes^*

Fares to Fiji from Los Angeles have been slashed to an amazing price of $863 roundtrip, including taxes. This fare is available for travel June 10 - Dec. 30 on Air Pacific to Nadi on Fiji's the main island of Viti Levu.

This sale ends July 14.

Click here to purchase tickets directly with Air Pacific. Look for the "Get Packing" fare at a base fare of $565. Final price will include approximately $298 in taxes and fees.

Cheap Flights - Flight Specials - Air Pacific

THE INVITATIONAL INTERNATIONAL GAME FISHING TOURNAMENT 2009

2009-06-24T13:17:00.000+12:00

THE INVITATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
GAME FISHING TOURNAMENT
2009

World Record !

2009-06-23T09:55:00.005+12:00

Day two of our ultra-light tackle World Record hunting quest turned into a day to remember when we found the first wahoo pack....
With three rods set and a Boone Sundancer teaser run down the prop wash, carnage ensued when the wahoo pack mass attacked. Three reels instantly lit up and a seriously mauled teaser flashed a mayday as it was repeatedly struck by multiple wahoo. We didn't stand a chance as one after the other, we got bitten off. With such a large pack right under Bite Me and lines cris-crossing the surface waters, anything moving got chomped...including leaders, swivels, plaited doubles...
So, we re-tie doubles, re-set with new leaders and lures and off we go again...
At around 12.00 we run over another wahoo pack and once again everything lights up. This time though its curtains for the teaser as its is again repeatedly struck by one wahoo after another. Deckie Joe hauls it in as fast as he can watching one wahoo after another tear in for a bite. Just as the teaser clears the water the last wahoo screams in and launches at the teaser in mid air. For a second I thought the fish was going to clear the transom and land in the cockpit but it missed the corner by a couple of inches and landed beside the boat, along with the disintegrated remains of half the teaser...
Probably a good job too what with us being connected to three wahoo on 4kg at the time...not exactly what you want flipping and snapping about the cockpit floor !
Now we got lucky...with Tim on a rod, Bill on a rod and Matava Resort Director Richard on a rod and each wahoo steaming off in a different direction, something had to give. Richard's wahoo headed back to the pack and 'chomp' went the pack on Richard's lure, leader, swivel and double.
The other two however headed away from the pack - Now we have a chance !
Tims fish seemed to not be able to make up its mind where it actually wanted to go and we almost got an early shot at the leader but just a few feet shy of Joe's grasp the fish finally came to a decision and headed off left and down deep. Meanwhile Bill's fish stayed shallow but headed right...
Hmmm...Interesting dilema for a skipper... Go backwards hard for a shot at the shallow fish and probably at best lose a lot of line to the deep fish...or stay put and keep that deep fish in range.
We didn't know which was bigger so we sat still. Now it was down to angler skill for a while.
For the first half hour Bill's fish just cruised the surface as Bill fought to turn its head or coax it into a circle towards Bite Me. Tim's fish just crept line off the spool as Tim applied the maximum pressure he dared with a little extra finger pressure on the line. At one point Tim had upwards of 500 yards of line out and Bill a good 400.
The next half hour was pretty much a stalemate with me gently nudging Bite Me backwards whenever I could help the anglers make some line. At about the 50 minute mark Tim's fish finally started to tire and after Tim managed to just get the head angle up a fraction he began to slowly plane the fish upwards in gentle circles.

Here we go, we probably have one shot at this as the wahoo circles in towards Bite Me. Everybody on board is holding their breath as they see the big wahoo dorsal and tail break the surface and circle in towards us. Tim steps back, Joe takes the leader and Richard goes in with the gaff....and nails it perfectly. Textbook !

Cameras flash

When we see the wahoo's head come over the covering board Tim's realises that not only did he just hook, fight and land a good wahoo on 4kg...its a VERY good wahoo...in fact its possibly a World Record wahoo !

A World Record smile !

I have never seen a grin that big before ! Lots of high fives and cameras flashing but hang on - Bill is still hooked up !and his fish is starting to tire...and Bill is now making line back on the reel...He works the fish till Joe calls "Colour !" and BANG ! The little Shimano TLD 5 spool implodes under the extreme line pressure.. $#$$ !! Unfazed, Bill grabs the line off the rod tip and with fingertips keeps the pressure on and the fish is still coming up...a birds nest of line at his feet....a minute later, Joe grabs the leader and Tim goes in with the gaff..Success ! 2 wahoo landed on 4kg line class and some serious bragging rights earned for the resort bar happy hour.

Bills excellent wahoon on 4kg complete with birdsnest line and wrecked spool

Bills fish looked to be over 20kg but Tim's fish was bigger and had us all guessing. With the existing World Record standing for the past 10 years at just over 25kg we knew we might well have done it...but nobody wanted to celebrate yet.
We carefully put the wahoo in a kill bag with the lure and leader and over 50ft of line attached and floored it for Matava Resort, an IGFA Weighstation.

The fish weighed in at 31.60kg and is now a pending new IGFA World Record.

Yeah Baby !

World Record Hunt - Day 1

2009-06-22T11:07:00.006+12:00

Its that time of year again when I take a few days off, join with a couple of friends and have some fun World Record hunting for trophy gamefish on ultra-light tackle. I was once again joined by Tim Simpson, Editor of BlueWater magazine and world renown biologist and photographer Bill Boyce, both of whom are experts in the field of ultra-light gamefishing.
We began the hunt on 4kg (8lb) IGFA Line class tackle trolling small Halco & Bluewater F18 minnows for wahoo and Zacatack skirted lures rigged with Pakula Katana hooks for Pacific sailfish. We also ran coke can & daisy chain teasers for the sails and a big pink Boone teaser down the middle for the wahoo.
It wasn't long before we raised the fist sail. Bill fought this feisty sail for an action packed 15 minutes as we charged around backwards after the leaping billfish. Fortunately for us, the sail stayed on the surface and we were able to pounce on the leader after just 20 minutes.

The Sail comes on board with Bill's 4kg tackle in the foreground

Bill with his new Fiji National Record on 4kg line class

Bill landed the fish using a Shimano TLD5 spooled with Platypus Pre-Test line on a Daiwa Saltiga 24kg jig rod.
The sail earned Bill a new M-04 Fiji National Record weighing in at 31.40 kg.
Not an hour later we raised the next sail. With a record fish already on board this fish was always going to be tagged and released, even if it was bigger (which it was !)
Tim did a superb job as we once again charged Bite Me around backwards at every opportunity to gain back line. When Joe finally took the leader, Bill threw on a mask and some fins, grabbed his camera and was over the side like a shot. We tagged and released the fish as Bills' camera fired of shot after shot. I have had a sneak preview of the photos (they are awsome !) and will post a couple once Bill has sorted through all his pictures from this week. If you can't wait, check out bill's website at www.boyceimage.com
We jumped off yet another sail later in the day but appart from a 70-80lb fish rocketing 20ft into the air right behind the boat, the wahoo were a little shy on day one.
Day 2 however...well, that's a whole different story...

International Game Fish Association :: Wegmans Goes Marlin Free; Endorses Take Marlin Off the Menu C

2009-06-12T07:41:00.000+12:00

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. (www.wegmans.com), based in Rochester, N.Y., reaffirms its commitment to selling sustainable seafood by becoming the first supermarket chain to endorse the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign (www.takemarlinoffthemenu.org) and refusing to sell marlin, sailfish and spearfish at its 72 stores located throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.

In recognition of Wegmans' commitment to not selling marlin, the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign, launched eight months ago by three leading marine conservation non-profits, wants consumers to know they can purchase seafood at their nearest Wegmans supermarket with the full knowledge that Wegmans is officially "Marlin Free." The Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign was launched by the International Game Fish Association (www.igfa.org), the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (www.savethefish.org), and The Billfish Foundation (www.billfish.org).

As a leader in the supermarket industry, Wegmans urges other supermarket chains throughout the United States to follow its lead in not selling marlin, and helping to raise awareness among consumers that marlin populations are in serious danger due to overharvesting by commercial fishing fleets.

Supporting the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign is in keeping with Wegmans' reputation for innovation. Founded in 1916, Wegmans is recognized as a leader throughout its industry, distinguished for its innovative approaches to customer service. In 2008, Wegmans published its Sustainable Seafood Sourcing Philosophy, a policy that has been followed for many years and is promoted at all Wegmans stores, as well as on its website. Wegmans also posts a chart of items sold in its stores that are certified sustainable and those which are not sold due to sustainability concerns.

"As an industry, we have a great deal of influence in what Americans eat," says Carl Salamone, vice president of seafood. "Every day, in supermarkets across the country, consumers ask seafood professionals what's great to eat. That's when we can point consumers to fish and seafood that is flavorful and good for our environment. Because when the marlin are gone, we all lose."

The ultimate goal of the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign is, through education and political advocacy, to end the commercial harvest, sale and importation of marlin, sailfish and spearfish in the United States, according to Jason Schratwieser, conservation director for the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

"This is a huge step for our campaign because Wegmans is respected by consumers for its commitment to customer service," adds Ken Hinman, president of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, located in the Washington D.C. area, "as well as throughout the supermarket industry for its innovation. We applaud Wegmans for stepping forward among its peers in the supermarket industry and coming out on the side of marlin and other billfish."

In addition to Wegmans, a growing number of restaurants support Take Marlin Off the Menu, including Wolfgang Puck Companies, which operate some of the most well known restaurants in the world.

The challenge facing the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign is drawing awareness to the plight of marlin and other billfish, says Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation. Unfortunately, many Americans are not aware that marlin have suffered a dramatic population decline. According to a national Harris Interactive consumer survey of 2,078 consumers conducted on February 25, 2009, and sponsored by the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign, 93 percent of American consumers were unaware that the populations of marlin have declined 80 percent from their peak several decades ago, before the advent of large-scale commercial fishing worldwide.

"However, according to our national consumer survey," Peel added, "when consumers become aware of the plight of billfish such as marlin, 78 percent of American consumers say they won't order or buy marlin. With this insight, we know that our job is to increase awareness of this issue and to persuade restaurants and seafood retailers to embrace our cause."

Marlin, sailfish, and spearfish are collectively called "billfish" because the long extension of their upper jawbone looks like a spear or bill. Marlin, the largest of the billfish species, have powerful muscular bodies, can weigh as much as a ton, and roam throughout the oceans feeding on smaller fish and keeping marine ecosystems in balance. As apex predators in the ocean, they serve the same role as lions, tigers and wolves on land.

About IGFA

The International Game Fish Association (www.igfa.org), based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. Founded in 1939, the IGFA is internationally known for maintaining and publishing world records for saltwater and freshwater catches, and for maintaining the world's most comprehensive fishing hall of fame and museum.

About the National Coalition for Marine Conservation

The National Coalition for Marine Conservation (NCMC), based in Leesburg, Va., was founded in 1973 by conservation-minded anglers and is dedicated exclusively to conserving ocean fish and their environment. NCMC works to prevent overfishing, reduce fish bycatch and protect habitat for a wide variety of ocean fish. The group specializes in identifying problems and finding solutions; educating the public; developing proactive conservation strategies; and networking with like-minded fishing and environmental organizations. For more information about the NCMC, visit www.savethefish.org.

About The Billfish Foundation

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is a science-based, non-profit organization dedicated to conserving and enhancing billfish populations worldwide, working through research, education and advocacy. TBF's comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs, and sportfishing businesses. TBF provides support to regional groups by contributing expertise in science, socio-economics, education and fisheries policy to help find solutions to billfish threats so fishing opportunities will remain available. For more information about TBF, visit www.billfish.org.

Website: http://www.takemarlinoffthemenu.org
Website: http://www.igfa.org
Website: http://www.savethefish.org
Website: http://www.billfish.org

International Game Fish Association :: Wegmans Goes Marlin Free; Endorses Take Marlin Off the Menu C

Traveller Reviews - Peaceful and Relaxing - TripAdvisor

2009-06-08T20:06:00.000+12:00

Matava is a tiny eco resort with room for only about 22 guests.

All guests eat together and we made some great friends this way. The staff are unique and funny. The location is so lovely, by the sea and very remote so it feels like a real adventure to actually be there.

Great snorkling and I wasn`t bored at all just soaking it all up. Fill up on the real fijian experience!

Kadavu Island: Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort - Traveller Reviews - Peaceful and Relaxing - TripAdvisor

Take Marlin off the Menu

2009-05-29T18:15:00.000+12:00

The International Game Fish Association has recently partnered with The Billfish Foundation and the National Coalition for Marine Conservation on a proactive campaign to ban the importation and sale of billfish (marlin, sailfish and spearfish) in the United States.

Titled “Take Marlin off the Menu,” the campaign is educating people about what billfish are, their role in the ecosystem, and their imperiled state from commercial over-fishing.

“Through education and political advocacy our ultimate goal is to end the commercial harvest, sale and importation of marlin, sailfish and spearfish in the United States,” said IGFA Conservation Director Jason Schratwieser.

Why is this a problem?

“Billfish stocks are in poor shape globally. As top predators, these fish are naturally less abundant than the species they prey on, yet commercial over-fishing has caused precipitous declines in their abundance,” reported Schratwieser. “In 2007, the IGFA commissioned a report to find out which countries were harvesting, exporting and importing the most billfish.

“What we found shocked us,” he stated. “The United States has the dubious distinction of being the world’s largest importer of billfish. What’s worse is that this entire industry results in few jobs and little revenue. In fact the total US billfish harvest and trade is only 0.07% of the total income of all commercial fishing in the US.”
Need another reason to stop eating billfish?

“They can contain harmful levels of mercury,” Schratwieser said.

“The United States Environmental Protection Agency health guidelines for fish consumption indicate that any fish with a mercury level greater than 1.5 parts per million (ppm) should not be consumed in any amount. Marlin, especially large specimens, have been found to have mercury levels as high as 15 ppm, and a recent study reported an average mercury level of 4.08 ppm for blue marlin sampled in Australian waters. Some fish are just more prone to accumulating mercury. King mackerel and sharks are also culprits,” added Schratwieser.

“The US billfish trade just doesn’t make sense.”

To join the three organizations in the fight to ban billfish importation and sale, visit the “Take Marlin off the Menu” web site at http://www.takemarlinoffthemenu.org/home to get more information on the campaign and to find out how you can help.

Big Fish!

2009-05-19T17:00:00.001+12:00

The fish weighed in at 90.60 Kg on our Certified Scales (Matava Resort being an IGFA Weighstation) and is a pending new Fiji National All-Tackle Record. www.GamefishingFiji.com

Matava - THE True Eco Resort in Fiji

2009-05-19T16:31:00.001+12:00

Matava - THE True Eco Resort in Fiji. www.Matava.com Matava is the genuine eco-adventure lodge, beautifully set off the beaten track, minutes from the Great Astrolabe Reef on Kadavu Island. Our intimate resort has beautiful, comfortable bures, outstanding cuisine and offers a full range of adventure and cultural activities. Dive or take a course with our PADI dive professionals. Experience fantastic fish, pristine corals, Mantas and sharks. Try big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing, sea kayaking, trekking, and join in authentic cultural and village events! No roads, solar power, low carbon footprint make Matava the ideal and environmentally responsible location to relax and unwind.

Kadavu Island: Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort - Traveller Reviews - A lovely fijian hideaway - TripAdvisor

2009-05-18T20:03:00.000+12:00

I began my stay at Matava only planning to stay a week or so before venturing onward to explore the rest of Fiji. However, in the end I stayed just over 3 weeks and now I wouldn't have planned my holiday any differently. I chose Matava because I wanted to dive the Astrolabe reef, and I was looking for a remote and fairly rustic resort (to weed out the people that expect chocolates on their pillows) with some interesting people to drink some beers and chat with during dinner. Also, as a solo traveler, costs at most resorts were out of my budget, so accommodation was also an issue.

Given that it was the wet season, the diving did not disappoint. Colorful hard corals, some soft corals, nudi branches, and great shark and manta dives. The dive staff are wonderful and do a great job of keeping things organized and efficient while maintaining a fun atmosphere - and catering to the particular needs and desires of the divers that come through and whatever nature had delivered for the day. Due to the sheer size of the reef there is a lot of diversity in the dives that are offered – and the “exploratory” dives were some of my favorites.

I was fairly impressed with the grounds of the resort given the remoteness of the island and the inherent challenges that comes with the humidity. They have just added (sometime in 2008) a lovely main bure with a nice bar and a deck where most meals are eaten. There is no beach actually attached to the resort - so you do have to motivate to paddle to the nearby island (15 minutes or so). Meals are served on a (mostly) fixed schedule - although they will keep your food for you if you for some reason miss it. As a fish-eating vegetarian - they did an excellent job feeding me. Most of the food was handmade and the most memorable dishes featured fresh fruit, produce from the organic garden, and whatever fish was caught that day (bit of luck required here) with some chilies thrown in for good measure. And I discovered that even fresh tuna gets tiring after three weeks! Although the toasted coconut chips served during happy hour never got old.
My stay was really made so enjoyable by the staff. When I came down with a bad cold on my second day (perfect for a diving vacation!) I was immediately force fed fresh pineapple and given a selection of sudafed from their personal stash to ease my suffering. Most of the guests that came through were friendly and fairly adventurous – and made for some enjoyable evenings. Due to the lack of electricity at night (bring a headlamp!), and the long days in the sea and sun, most people went to bed fairly early. The nights were normally hot and humid. There were usually lizards rustling the thatching, mosquitoes lurking around the netting with spiders waiting in anticipation, and occasionally a crab or some other creature would make its way into my bure. But that’s the fun of sleeping in the tropics! Luckily I could also hear the water and there was usually a breeze to help with the heat.

Overall, I had a fantastic stay at Matava. I loved the remoteness, the basic and natural feel of the place, the amazing staff, and the friends I made during my stay. So I recommend it for the adventurous people of the world that want a relaxing holiday with some good diving and fishing without the crowds or the frills and the expectations of fancy resorts.

Kadavu Island: Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort - Traveller Reviews - A lovely fijian hideaway - TripAdvisor

Fiji Islands Saltwater Fishing Report – May 2009

2009-05-15T17:05:00.005+12:00

An nice black marlin tagged & released by angler Brett Perryman
Photo by Renae Perryman

The Fiji Autumn has seen some excellent marlin fishing alongside the last of the summer Yellowfin run.

The average size of the blue marlin was down a little at around 150kg but the occasional larger black added a little extra spice to the heavy tackle fishing. Throw in a few 100lb yellowfin tuna and the odd mahi mahi and you have a recipie for a pretty good days gamefishing.Blue marlin for Graeme Robinson aboard Bite Me

The GT popper casting has been fabulous with frequent GTs to 70lbs and several around the magical 90lb mark. The bite is still good but we expect the weather conditions to turn more breezy as winter moves in and there won't be so many of those glassy calm days in the coming few months.

We have been doing quite a bit of deep water jigging on 50lb and 80lb class tackle and the reef slopes around Kadavu have offered up some spectaculor dogtooth tuna. Average size has been around 75lbs but the trophy fish of the month goes to angler Bill Busch from the USA and his monster 200lb doggie. A new Fiji All-Tackle Record.

Anto from Italy with a nice dogtooth tuna

The water temp is now cooling rapidly and the first winter wahoo and sailfish have already started to arrive. By July, large packs of wahoo should be frequent with many anglers opting to bait and switch packs of sails along the outer reef slopes on lighter line classes.

Expect wahoo to 40kg, sails to 60kg and a winter run of Yellowfin tuna to keep anglers lunging for screaming reels.The first winter wahoo of 32kg for Stacey Lethlean

APS Kadavu, Fiji Trip (Apr/May 2009)

2009-05-13T10:04:00.001+12:00

After our very successful trip recently, we are very confident to organize equally successful trip for our customers. The season is ending shortly and we have 2 sets of date for those who wish to fish Kadavu with us.

5 days fishing with Capt Adrian Watt on the Bite Me, a 31' Sportsfisher on Kandavu Island.

This is a GT popping and Dogtooth Tuna jigging trip, it will be 3 anglers plus myself.

The following itinerary is based on departure from Los Angeles Airport, at present the airfare with Air Pacific is about $830.00 both ways, Los Angeles to Kadavu.

The 2 sets of dates are:

Itinerary No.1:

26 Apr - LAX ETD 2330hr - Nadi ETA 0530hr (+2 days) (Fiji is a day ahead of N.America)
28 Apr - KDV ETA 1325hr, transfer to lodge
29 Apr - Fishing
30 Apr - Fishing
1 May - Fishing
2 May - Fishing
3 May - Fishing
4 May - KDV ETD 1345hr - LAX ETA 1320hr (7.3hr Transit) (Same Day Arrival at LAX)

Itinerary No.2:

9 May - LAX ETD 2330hr - Nadi ETA 0530hr (+2 days) (Fiji is a day ahead of N.America)
11 May - KDV ETA 1325hr, transfer to lodge
12 May - Fishing
13 May - Fishing
14 May - Fishing
15 May - Fishing
16 May - Fishing
17 May - KDV ETD 1345hr - LAX ETA 1320hr (7.3hr Transit) (Same Day Arrival at LAX)

LAX - Los Angeles Int'l Airport
KDV - Kadavu Airport

The cost of this trip is US$1800 per angler. This includes all transfers, accomodation, meals and fees. Flights are not included. Tips - $100 per angler for the crew.

This is a very good opportunity to fish pristine waters, our last trip saw us fishing the eastern reefs and only a fraction of the reef was covered. The north western Great Astralabe Lagoon is still untouch yet!!!!

With low airfares, the trip cost less than $2,700 for 5 days of all inclusive fishing!!!

For first timers who do not have gears for the trip, let us know and we can sort something out.

Interested please email me at randy@anglers-proshop.com NO PMs PLEASE, THANK YOU.

__________________
Randy
Administrator
-------------------------------------------
90% dreams of fishing, 10% fish their dreams

APS Kadavu, Fiji Trip (Apr/May 2009) - Jigging and Popping Forum

Undersea Productions - Stock Footage from Bite Me

2009-05-10T18:22:00.000+12:00

17551

Subject	Fish: Coryphaenidae (Dolphinfish) Coryphaena hippurus (Common dolphinfish, Mahimahi), adult, swimming
Clip Properties	Aspect: 16:9, Format: DVCPRO HD 720 25p, 25/27fps, 88MB, 13 seconds,
Location	Fiji Islands (South Pacific) day bluewater
The Shot	reveal unusual shot
Quality Rating
Comments	fish hooked and fighting, shot reveals fisherman on game fishing boat

Undersea Productions - Stock Footage

Record Dogtooth Tuna

2009-05-05T14:53:00.005+12:00

Now I am back ashore, some more info on the big doggie.
It was caught jigging on a Shimano 325g butterfly jig by angler Bill Busch aboard Bite Me using a Zenaq jig rod and Shimano Trinidad spooled with Power Pro 80lb spectra.
Fight time 45 minutes.
It was actually one of four dogtooth tuna we caught that afternoon, (3 others released) the morning being spent popper casting for GTs (we released 16)
The fish weighed in at 90.60 Kg on our Certified Scales (Matava Resort being an IGFA Weighstation) and is a pending new Fiji National All-Tackle Record.

Well done Bill ! Our biggest doggie so far. Just 9.9Kg off the M-36 IGFA World Record and 15kg off the IGFA All-Tackle World Record...

Nearly took the All Tackle Dogtooth Tuna world record today...

2009-05-03T12:06:00.000+12:00

Nearly took the All Tackle Dogtooth Tuna world record today...

This one is a world beater.

I don't want to even think about the Dogtooth Tuna fishermen!

They will go bananas.

AW

Matava Resort in Fiji is a fly-fishing paradise.: Fiji Fly-Fishing | Fly Rod & Reel

2009-04-18T10:00:00.001+12:00

By: Cam Sigler Jr.

International

“Lots of bait on the finder, get ready,” were the words spoken by Captain Adrian just moments before the chaos broke out. Both trolled baits on the left side went down in whitewater explosions and a 60-pound torpedo vaulted into the air completely across the spread to take the long bait on the right side. As the boat went out of gear and everyone scrambled for rods, I cast my fly behind the boat and started stripping only to find that the short right rod was bending double and everyone else occupied.

Putting the fly rod between my knees, I grabbed the bait rod and set the hook hard. That’s when that sinking feeling set in. In my peripheral vision another projectile appeared from the skies and took the fly at the end of its arc and raced for parts unknown. Somehow I managed to grab the fly rod from between my knees before the fly line came tight and I watched as backing disappeared from the reel. As I yelled “I’m bit!,” a strong, calloused ebony hand appeared from behind and relieved me of the bait rod.

Variations on this theme would appear throughout the rest of the day and ones following. The wahoo had packed up on Great Astrolabe Reef.

Friend Bill Boyce, a camera crew and I had somehow been blessed to arrive in this paradise at the right time in early August. The common Fijian word “Vinaka” means thank you. We found our voices easily flowing into this term even with inflection from the minute we arrived in Fiji . I can speak it now and immediately feel the warmth generate through me.

There are those places that you do not often find and that will stick with you forever, and we had found one. Those special places are due in small part by the fishing , the scenery and accommodations . But what truly makes these places special are the people. Matava resort on the island of Kadavu Fiji is one of them.

Capt. Adrian Watt a displaced Englishman and co-owner of Matava resort is passionate about his fishing and his Deep V 31 Bite Me. He and his mate Joe Tuku do not miss a trick and know the waters of the Astralabe Reef like the backyard that it is to them.

Adrian could tell us just about when we would get bit and Joe was always their ever helpful with quick hands and quick wit. You do not often find a captain, mate and anglers that instantly fish well together, but we all found it was like fishing with old friends .

We had luckily hit when the wahoo first packed up on the reef for the year. Trolling the reefs edge a mile or so from land where depths drop to a mind numbing 4,000 feet in places was awesome. When a bait went down we were not sure what might be hitting it. We had rods go down with sails on the left and wahoo on the right .

We were interrupted by 40-pound mackerel and 60-pound barracuda. Casting a popper to the reefs edge could put you into a battle with a GT that you could seat 3 people on? Trolling east between Kandavu and Oni Island put us on schools of yellowfin and though we did not see any marlin of which all 3 species can be found .,they are their and typically bigger than you want on a fly unless you have stock in a fly line company.

Fishing is year round here depending on species you are pursuing. It also a place you can pursue many of these on fly and it wont hurt you to invite a friend who is a conventional fisherman to hook and hold some of these critters and keep his buddies near the boat .

You will need fly rods from 10 weight on up to whatever you can throw. I would suggest 12 and 14 weights. You will need floating lines and some heavy quick sinking ones. Large and small poppers . Big subsurface flies suck as Flashy Profiles and Capt Hook flies, big Deceivers ect.; and lots of them. You will need wire!

Whether it be single strand or multiple bring lots. With all of the wahoo, mackerel and cudas its a must even when targeting other species. Extra fly lines and backing. You will also most likely be the only boat on the reef fishing.

Accommodations are rustic and comfortable with breathtaking views. Food is great with often your catch of the day on the menu. Matava is an eco-friendly resort using lantern light after dark. It does have phone and Internet capability if you really need to contact the outside world.

The local flora and fauna is amazing. Their are numerous species that are found only in Fiji and some only on Kadavu . The Fijian people are always smiling and carefree. (I think they know something we don’t in this modern world.) And they still live in small villages in a tribal governed system. If you want to fish inside the reef you will probably have to meet the chief who’s village governs that bay and pay a small fee for the privilege.

If you or your spouse and kids snorkel and or fish you will keep busy daily. This is also a world class diving destination and Matava is set up with all the equipment and staff needed. Where else can fish or snorkel all day and then sit back with a cold one and watch the fruit bats head back to roost over a vast expanse of reef. You might even get an offer from a grin bearing Fijian to head over to his village for a little Kava drinking and dinner. Just ask whats on the menu first!

If you wan to go contact the resort at info@matava.com. You might even see a crazy american their with a long wand. Most likely it will be me as I will be back.

Cammy Sigler lives on an island outside of Seattle.

F iji Fly-Fishing | Fly Rod & Reel

Marlin World Online Video Magazine

2009-04-06T15:50:00.000+12:00

The latest issue of Marlin World online video magazine is out today and has 50 pages of information including:

• Advice on buying a boat
• Fishing off Coiba Island, Panama.
• Winter in Paradise, Isla Mujeres.
• Bad Company team and the Humpback Whale they collided with.
• World launch of new attraction device using nature's lights.• Report on Loreto, Mexico.
• The Billfish Foundation 'Tag & Release' awards.

... and much more news, tournament results, articles and product reviews!

CLICK HERE to see your copy ONLINE

Thanks for opening this newsletter!

Paul Watson
Editor, MARLIN WORLD
www.marlinworld.tv

Marlin World Online Video Magazine

GT Popping Forum - Kadavu Fiji http://www.gtpopping.com

2009-04-06T15:21:00.000+12:00

Just came back from Kadavu, fishing on the the Great Astrolobe Reef. A beautiful place with some gts on popper and a few fish on jigs.

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Doggie was probably between 35 to 40kgs. Biggest gt was around 35kg. We were fishing in pretty slack currents, so not ideal for gts. Jigging at the seamount was pretty good. I had my doggie take my hooker jig pretty high up. Was actually reeling up my line when it took.

My wife Jac had a big fish take when she was dropping her 400g nagamasa. She couldnt close the bail arm and we tried all we could to close it but when we did, the line busted off. The fish was just taking alot of line and we couldnt slow it down. Not sure what we could have done to get her started on the fight.

MarkR had a huge bust off on a big gt. The line was unfortunately loosely spooled in by the shop and it dug in and busted off.He lost his lucky craftbait.

We were fishing with Adrian on his boat Bite Me. Great skipper and boat. Matava resort was really nice too - nice food and good bunch of guys, but you might want to bring a portable fan and your insect repellant.

Only the big mouth poppers worked - craftbait, hammerheads, big jim. Surprisingly, big foots and other stickbaits didnt work. They liked red, green or pink poppers.

Jigs were around 300 to 400g in the deeper spots (150m). You could get away with 200 or 250g jigs in the shallower areas. Sevenseas hookers and nagamasas worked for me.

Kadavu Fiji

Fiji Islands Saltwater Fishing Report – April 2009

2009-04-05T17:51:00.004+12:00

We have enjoyed an excellent summer season of mostly glassy seas and good offshore gamefishing.
The big blue marlin were thinner on the ground than usual but the smaller blues made up for it in big numbers.

Yellowfin have been plentiful with lots of fish up over the 100lb mark and some good mahi mahi mixed in for extra action whilst out marlin fishing.

GT popper casting has been fast and furious around the bigger tides with many fish to 70lbs and this year's record calculated by formula at a whopping 44kg (97lbs). The Kadavu seamount has fished well with plenty of blues, wahoo, yellowfin and mahi mahi to keep anglers busy. We have even dropped jiggs taking a number of dogtooth tuna to 100lbs.

The first signs of winter are starting to show with a few breezy days here and there but the upside is the water is now cooling and soon the wahoo and Pacific sailfish packs will start to form up along the Great Astrolabe barrier reef. We will soon be dusting off the light tackle gear and getting ready for some wahoo pack mass attacks and bait & switch fun on the sailfish.
Can't wait !

Storm Chasing in Fiji

2009-03-29T14:51:00.006+12:00

The weather in Fiji is generally pretty nice all round but what with me being a Storm Chaser at heart, I am always on the look-out for interesting weather. Being out in a gamefishing boat way out at sea I get to see some pretty spectaculour sights.Warning signs - Inflow and rotation

The South Pacific Convergance Zone (SPCZ) sometimes sinks down over Fiji in the summer months (Jan - Apr) leading to hot, humid unstable air and sometimes superb thunderstorms. When the wind blows from the North and this unstable air hits the Kadavu Island peaks, the lee side of the island is the place to be to see wall coulds, scud clouds and sometimes the occasional water spout.

A funnel cloud forms

Close up with adjusted contrast to see the funnel

Time to bug out...

Coconut Crusted Wahoo

2009-03-23T20:50:00.000+12:00

A great recipe used at Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort:

Coconut Crusted Wahoo
(Serves 4)
8 pieces of 3-oz. slices of wahoo
2 limes
8 oz. coconut flakes
4 oz. flour
3 eggs
2 oz. chopped basil
2 tsp. chopped garlic
15 fluid oz. coconut milk
Salt and pepper (fresh ground)

Marinate wahoo in coconut milk and lime juice for 4 hours.

Mix coconut flakes with basil and garlic.

Bread the marinated fish first with flour, then eggs, then coconut flake mix.

Pan-fry in medium-high heat or until golden and crispy.

Best Fish Recipes - Best Seafood Recipes - Tuna, Dorado, Mahi, Wahoo, Swordfish, Snapper, Squid, Calamari

Monster 44kg GT!

2009-03-13T18:37:00.001+12:00

Monster 44kg 2
Originally uploaded by Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort.

Superb blue water game fishing for wahoo sailfish and marlin with Bite Me Fishing Charters awaits you at Matava in Kadavu Fiji Islands.

Captain Adrian Watt – Matava Resort Gamefishing
www.GameFishingFiji.com
www.GameFishingFiji.blogspot.com

Monster 44kg 3

2009-03-13T18:36:00.001+12:00

Monster 44kg 3
Originally uploaded by Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort.

Angler's Pro Shop GT Expedition to Fiji Feb 2009

2009-03-08T15:01:00.001+12:00

Some great photos!

APS Kadavu, Fiji Trip (Apr/May 2009)

2009-03-08T10:14:00.000+12:00

6 days fishing with Capt Adrian Watt on the Bite Me, a 31' Sportsfisher on Kandavu Island.

As usual, it will be a GT popping and Dogtooth Tuna jigging trip, it will be 3 anglers including myself.

Itinerary:

17 Feb - Arrive Nadi, transfer domestic flight to Kandavu Island
18-22 Feb - 5 days Fishing
23 Feb - Depart Kandavu Island for Nadi, Depart Nadi

The cost of this trip is US$2500. This includes all transfers, accomodation, meals and fees. Domestic flight from Nadi to Kandavu is not included, one way cost between $62 to $140.

Interested please email me at randy@anglers-proshop.com NO PMs PLEASE, THANK YOU.

Attached Images

	fiji Map.jpg (45.4 KB, 25 views)
	Great Astrolabe Reef.pdf (46.7 KB, 25 views)
	Fiji Kandavu Full Map.pdf (62.4 KB, 15 views)
	Fiji South Kandavu.pdf (82.0 KB, 9 views)

__________________
Randy
-------------------------------------------
90% dreams of fishing, 10% fish their dreams

Gamefishing Fiji

Cheap Flights - Flight Specials - Air Pacific

$863 -- Fiji from Los Angeles (Roundtrip), incl. Taxes*

THE INVITATIONAL INTERNATIONAL GAME FISHING TOURNAMENT 2009

World Record !

World Record Hunt - Day 1

International Game Fish Association :: Wegmans Goes Marlin Free; Endorses Take Marlin Off the Menu C

Traveller Reviews - Peaceful and Relaxing - TripAdvisor

Take Marlin off the Menu

Big Fish!

Matava - THE True Eco Resort in Fiji

Kadavu Island: Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort - Traveller Reviews - A lovely fijian hideaway - TripAdvisor

Fiji Islands Saltwater Fishing Report – May 2009

APS Kadavu, Fiji Trip (Apr/May 2009)

Undersea Productions - Stock Footage from Bite Me

Record Dogtooth Tuna

Nearly took the All Tackle Dogtooth Tuna world record today...

Matava Resort in Fiji is a fly-fishing paradise.: Fiji Fly-Fishing | Fly Rod & Reel

Marlin World Online Video Magazine

... and much more news, tournament results, articles and product reviews!

CLICK HERE to see your copy ONLINE

Thanks for opening this newsletter!

GT Popping Forum - Kadavu Fiji http://www.gtpopping.com

Fiji Islands Saltwater Fishing Report – April 2009

Storm Chasing in Fiji

Coconut Crusted Wahoo

Monster 44kg GT!

Monster 44kg 3

Angler's Pro Shop GT Expedition to Fiji Feb 2009

APS Kadavu, Fiji Trip (Apr/May 2009)

$863 -- Fiji from Los Angeles (Roundtrip), incl. Taxes^*