Feb 26, 2011

Fun Day on Bite Me

Claudia & Ben's first double hook-up

Claudia & Ben and Dang & Mary recently had a fun day of gamefishing aboard Bite Me. We fished the North Astrolabe Barrier Reef with 15kg trolling gear and soon found some nice Yellowfin Tuna.
They were holding deep not feeding on the surface so we couldn't throw poppers at them but the deep diving Halco Laser-Pros proved deadly.


Mary's first Yellowfin

On the way home we stopped off at one of my little GT spots so that Ben & Dang could throw some poppers.....

Ben released this nice GT over 20kg

Dang then landed and released this lovely GT well over 25kg caught on a Buffalo Popper


Everyone caught lots of fish and had a great day out....and to top it off we were all very popular with the other resort guests when we presented fresh yellowfin for dinner that night !

Feb 25, 2011

Matava wins Environment/Local Sustainability Award at AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010

Matava wins AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award 2010

Matava has been awarded the Environment/Local Sustainability Award at the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards

KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS – 26th February 2011 – Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco-Adventure Resort is proud to be announced as the winner of the Environment/Local Sustainability Award at the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010 for its policies on environmental sustainability and the environment.

The annual Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards night sponsored by AON was held at the The Warwick Resort and Spa on the Coral Coast on Friday 26th February 2011, and attended by Matava Director, Stuart Gow. Many local tourism operators and business people attended the evening presentations. This year there were over a thousand nominees in the 12 categories. This glamourous event was Red Sea Rig & Cocktail theme, welcoming guests with a 3 course dinner, an awards ceremony & fantastic live entertainment with a turn out of over 400 guests.

The Environment/Local Sustainability Award recognises efforts to preserve the environment & local communities for the benefits of locals & visitors alike in developing & fostering both environmental & national conservation. It also assesses efforts to support cultural initiatives and promote public awareness and education in support of “Fiji Made” products by reducing their carbon footprint.

Matava was proud to be nominated in 3 categories, and was chosen as a finalist in all nominated categories at this year’s AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards. Bite Me Gamefishing Charters and Mad Fish Dive Centre were recognised as finalist in the Fiji Experience Award, and Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort was a finalist in the Quality Accommodation Award as well as winning the Environment/Local Sustainability Award.

“We are extremely proud to win this award. We have been lucky to win overseas and global awards for our environmental policy in the past year, but it is especially gratifying to be recognised at home by our colleagues in Fiji.” said Mr Stuart Gow, one of Matava’s Directors.

Richard Akhtar, Managing Director of Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort said “At Matava, we are of course both happy and proud to receive this prestigious award. We find it even more important that the industry, by rewarding environmental efforts, choose to take a stand for the environment we depend on. We also see it as an important continuing signal to the community which at the same time can serve to inspire the numerous individuals and companies who have been doing so much, and continue to do even more in the field of environmental enlightenment and conservation. This award has highlighted Fiji’s leading role and efforts in this regard especially.”

About Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort:

Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands. Matava – Fiji Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort as well as a Project AWARE GoEco Operator. With more than 14 years experience in the Fiji Islands, Matava is recognized as a leading educational dive centre. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian ‘bures’ with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views.

About AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards:

The awards which have been in existence for 14 years, honour those who have made a significant input to Fiji’s most important industry. The prestigious awards are given to individuals, groups and companies in a broad range of categories; covering accommodation, restaurant and dining, tours and transportation, environmental and local sustainability. Winners were chosen as part of a nomination process which began late last year and closed in January. Recipients of the various awards have proven dedication, active participation and innovation in their fields of speciality, and have thus merited the esteem of the industry. Over the years, the AON Excellence in Tourism Awards has grown in prestige and now not only bestows recognition but serves as an incentive for individuals and companies to aspire to greatness in the sector.

AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010

www.Matava.com

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Matava wins Environment/Local Sustainability Award at AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010

GT Popping on Tease Me


A few pics taken GT Popping aboard Tease Me sent to my by Jayson. Along for the ride, Steve from Florida.



Jayson's best fish which would have been well over 35kg






Feb 19, 2011

Wild Fishing Anglers: Fiji Kadavu


L'arcipelago delle Fiji nel mezzo dell'oceano pacifico davvero l'altra parte del mondo

Il lungo volo intercontinentale che collega L'Italia alle isole Fiji ci trasporta in una realtà entusiasmante sotto molti aspetti, un oceano pacifico ancora vergine che si infrange sulle enormi barriere coralline delle isole, il colore verde intenso della vegetazione in molti tratti impenetrabile, lagune coralline brulicanti di vita autoctona; non si può fare a meno, a primo sguardo, di notare l'intensità dei colori di una terra così lontana un impatto che difficilmente si dimenticherà.


Il piccolo volo interno che ci proietta in poco più di un'ora di volo nella più meridionale delle isole Fijiane Kadavu

Decidiamo di formare una spedizione di 4 pescatori appassionati di tropico per testare questi mari con le moderne tecniche del vertical jigging, popping tropicale, e spinning blue water, sarà l'isola di Kadavu, la più meridionale dell'arcipelago, a ospitarci per l'intero arco del soggiorno, il nostro punto base il Matava ecoresort, immerso nella fitta vegetazione fijiana che da qualche anno è anche importante charter di riferimento per la pesca tropicale nel Pacifico avendo ottenuto ottimi risultati.


Il nostro Bite me la barca di Adrian che ci accompagnerà per tutto il viaggio

Avendo scelto l'inizio di giugno come periodo di pesca, sapevamo di essere alla fine dell'estate australe e all'inizio della stagione invernale e dei venti che da sudest interessano questa parte di pacifico molto esposta, l'abilità dello skipper ci ha comunque permesso di pescare sempre in grande sicurezza e di provare tutte le tecniche di pesca che ci eravamo prefissati prima di partire.


Andrea Prende una cernia su un fondale di 60 mt vicino al nostro Matava resort

L'immensittà degli spot non ha disatteso le nostre aspettative, forse un po' più di clemenza del tempo ci avrebbe fatto comodo, ma col senno di poi ci ha permesso i vedere l'intera potenzialità del luogo.


Anto fa subito un bel Gt a vertical sull'astroble great reef di Kadavu

Gli spot di pesca:
Il Great Astroble reef, un enorme banco corallino che circonda la metà a sud l'isola di kadavu e di Ono, è dimora dei grandi predatori tropicali come Giant trevally, red snapper, dog tooth tuna, squali di barriera; imponenti sono i suoi drop off che nell'arco di poche decine di metri sprofondano negli abissi del Pacifico, è facile intuire che lungo queste vertiginose cadute si possano trovare pesci di taglia considerevole.


Il big a popper della Vacanza fatto da antonello in alcuni spot del sud.

Caratteristica di questa barriera è il continuo frastuono dell'infrangersi delle lunghe onde oceaniche, anche più di tre metri di altezza, spesso causate dai forti venti che si scatenano nella vicina Nuova Zelanda; proprio in questi frangenti, dove spesso il reef affiora a pelo dell'acqua, sostano i caranx ignobilis per ossigenarsi pronti a tendere agguati ai pesci fucilieri loro preda preferita.


Spesso i predatori diventano prede come questo rusty job fish catturato a Jigging.

Non essendoci fortissime correnti la scelta degli spot di pesca sia per il popping e del jigging, cade molto spesso sulle spalle di reef e sui corner, altrove abbiamo riscontrato attività; molto più importanti invece le fasi di marea specialmente quelle ascendenti che abbiamo quasi sempre dedicato alla pesca in superficie sia con rumorosi boccalarga che con adescanti stick bait che in alcuni casi hanno fatto la differenza, soprattutto in risacca.


Persino i pesci trombetta attaccano i jigs da 200 g

Lo skipper ha, quando si pesca vicino al reef con la tecnica del popping un compito assai difficile, per non finire sulla barriera è costretto a compiere delle serpentine longitudinali sempre scrutando l'orizzonte per la sicurezza, in allerta nella ricerca dell'onda più alta che potrebbe causare il danno, e in caso di avvenuto attacco posizionare l'imbarcazione di poppa al corallo cercando di portare il prima possibile il predatore lontano dalle numerose insidie dell'acqua bassa.
Il pesce verrà salpato quasi sempre in tutta sicurezza in profondità superiori ai 50 mt


Raffaele cattura a jigging la cernia più grande della settimana

Continua.............

Wild Fishing Anglers: Fiji Kadavu

Feb 15, 2011

Gamefishing Fiji: Bluewater Magazine Issue 84 On sale 2nd March 2011

Bluewater 84

Features:

Capt Marlin Marker’s marlin-fighting techniques - It’s one thing to find and then hook a marlin, but once that’s accomplished, then what? How the battle is conducted – from strategic considerations even before the hook-up, to the positioning of the boat – can have a huge bearing on the outcome. Jon Schwartz quizzes one of the masters of the game for the secrets to his success.

Surface blasting for yellowfin: Yellowfin tuna are exciting on any tackle, but catching them by casting poppers will add a whole new level to the thrill of tackling these powerful speedsters.

They call the shots - Capt Ross Newton - The rich waters of Australia’s northwest have inspired a productive career for this adventurous captain.

Lure lore: Part 2 – Meet your match - When selecting your lure colour, should you try to match the prevalent prey, or pick a colour to stand out among them?

Product review - Van Staal spinning reels - These extraordinary reels were created to perform under conditions that destroy lesser casting and jigging reels.

BOATS

  • Riviera 51 Enclosed Flybridge Series II
  • Bar Crusher 670HT
  • Yellowfin 6700 centre console

Gamefishing Fiji: Bluewater Magazine Issue 84 On sale 2nd March 2011

Feb 13, 2011

OTHER FISH, OTHER GAMES : On The Water

As previously mentioned, yellowfin do frequent these waters year round with the majority of their run appearing in April thru August. The average size yellowfin are the schoolie 15 to 30 lb. class fish, but the resort’s “bragging board” had several recent photos of yellowfin over the “Ben Franklin Line”, 100 pounds plus. Another brute scombrid species found in Fiji are the dog tooth tuna. These are insane fighters, and sport a set of chompers that would make a Doberman pincher proud. They come into Kadavu from June thru October, but we caught none. Adrian simply said, “You’ll just have to come back”. They too can reach the BFL.

Large dolphin are also a year round resident, and can reach 60 + pounds in these waters. A fish that can be a pest almost anywhere in the world it is found, but must be respected, is the great barracuda. No un-suspecting lure in the pattern is ever safe from these devious critters, and our trip was no exception. We caught several that went to 50 lbs.

Another fish with a dental enriched mouth is the barred Spanish mackerel. Not any resemblance of a Spanish mackerel we might find in U.S. waters, these “mackies” look more similar to our kingfish, with their steely blue coloration, but these fish have more pronounced vertical banding prevalent along their sides. They can reach upwards of 50 + pounds and their teeth make a wahoo’s look like flat gums..!!! They are a highly prized food fish and few, if any are ever released.

While these pelagics can keep you busy for an entire vacation. Don’t cut yourself short of the inshore experience of surface plugging for bluefin trevally and giant trevally (GTs). We did this for less than an hour one day, and caught two respectable 30 lb.GTs. We had a 70 lb. GT take the plug and follow it to the exhaust ports on the BITE ME..!! In hind site, I am glad we didn’t hook it as it would have no doubt found the coral below and been stuck with a treble hooked hood ornament on it face for awhile. You could however come prepared with tackle to handle this fishery, and spent countless hours pursuing these reef warriors. Adrian informed us that the Oct. thru March time slot is when the weather calms on the front side of the reef, thus allowing the Bite Me to fish in tighter to the reef patrol zone.


Full article here: On The Water - OTHER FISH, OTHER GAMES

Feb 2, 2011

Jan 2011 Popping & Jigging - Latest


Marcio with his first Doggy

Randy Chin from JDM Tackle was here last week with Brazilian angler Marcio and photographer Christian for a bit of GT popping and deepwater jigging.
I tried not to get in the way of all the photography but managed to elbow in a few shots...

Randy quickly knocks off a small one

A morning on the Kadavu Seamount produced a few dogtooth tuna but no monster fish that day.

Marcio poses for the camera...not my camera !

The GT bite was decidedly average, possibly because of a nearby tropical depression (later to become Cat 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi and devestate parts of Queensland).


A nice Grouper for Randy on a Craftbait popper

Marcio's best GT

Grouper on a jig

GT on a Stickbait

Joe drops a jig and gets nailed by this huge Malabar Grouper

As with all Groupers, we do our best to catch & release

Randy with one of those long GTs that confuse weight formulas

If you would like to know more about the new type of stickbait lures used or the new rods tested out this week, drop Randy a line at JDM Tackle

JDM Tackle

JDM Tackle
USAs top GT Popping & Jigging tackle specialists