Trip To Fiji 14-02-08

[Pistol_P]

Just spent a week over in Fiji with the whole family and had a sensational time.
We stayed on 'Malolo' Island which was a fantastic resort and highly recommended as a family spot.

The fishing was a mixture of both good and bad.
On the down side land based fishing wasn't an option as the Fijians said it was 'Taboo' and I would need special permission from the chief in a 'Munnmaffa' meeting...:D :D .This was a tad frustrating as we had been told by the lady we made our reservations with,and by the reception on the island that land based fishing was permitted.
I also came armed with some serious gear to tackle with some BIG GT's but learnt by talking to the islanders that the insane GT fishing I have heard of lay further up in the more Northern Islands.This however wasnt an option as the travel was already was more than enough with our 17 month old daughter.
Gamefishing for Marlin etc was also outrageously expensive,so we gave this the miss too.
We did however have some great popping sessions on the coral reefs that lay a few kilometres offshore.Here we landed HEAPS of Bluefin Trevally,Barracuda,Cod,Trout and I also managed a beautifull Longnose Emperor on a popper.All fish fought very hard over the shallow reefs and the fights were all lock up,knock out style otherwise they would bust you in quick time on the coral.
I stuck with the 30lb braid most of the time but wouldnt have attempted to fish any lighter.
The waters were seriously unbelievable and some of the clearest clean water I have ever seen.The weather was also extremely kind and blew about 5knots at the most for the whole week.
Now back to reality to the constant 20-30 knot winds and the chocolate brown Noosa River....::) :D

Cheers
Pete

[Pistol_P]

Some more....

[jackextracter]

Some very nice pics there mate, awesome stuff by the looks of things them Long Nose Emperor are a great looking fish mate i would be happy with some of those, cheers.

[Freeeedom]

Great stuff Pete - sounds like you had a ball. Some lovely fish there.
Cheers Freeeedom

[Keechie]

hi i stayed at mololo with my mum, dad and sister 2 years ago. there is great snorkelling because the fishing was not allowed i snorkelled most of the time i was suprised that the number of silver trevally schooling around the drop off on the end of the jetty and the 60cm+ GT's that would swim right into the bank. and a massive wrasse about 60cm eating a mussel and the sea snakes under the jetty and by the rocks. and the banana Boat;D . all good memories it was unfortunate about me taking about 3 rods and only allwoed to use them once we went on a charter. all the fishing on that island is overpriced i think. good to hear you had a great time.

regards,
keechie

[BR65]

Good pics Pete, going to be hard going back to fishing the local after a trip like that. Bit disappointing there was no land based off the island Im sure.
Love the long nose on a popper
cheers
brian

[tiges]

That's a bummer about the no landbased deal Pete, you woulda been hating that. Still looks like you had fun on the mixed reefies, how cool is it seeing something charge up out of the depths in crystal clear water and just annihilate your popper. I went to a spot off Kandavu, which is the southernmost of the Fijian islands. I was surfing most of the time, but had a couple of fishing sessions that were mindblowing. The locals are cool as there, you can fish wherever you want, even on a Sunday.

Cheers
Tim

[breamnut]

awsome fish! sounds like you had an awsome time.
p.s wlcome back to the 20kt winds

[ddobson]

Good holiday and good fish in the shallows. If that was day i would love to have seen dusk fish that would come in to feed. Like the others said wellcome back to the calm 20 and up notts.

[Pistol_P]

Thanks fellas.

Tim...One day we went over to a place called 'Magic Island'....Apparently its a very well known surfing spot over the shallow reefes.Some solid swell was rolling through and we would rise and fall with the swells and pop through the back of the swells....Was a pretty exciting way to fish..
You and benny would have loved the surf.

Keechie....Yeah the snorkelling was pretty awesome...We saw heaps of reefies and plenty of thumping parrot cruising around.
I saw small trevally and also spotted a small snub nose dart on the sand.

Cheers
Pete

[Pistol_P]

Heres a nice sunset picture on the island.

Pete

[bdowdy]

hi pete im off to fiji in april and staying at plantation island hope i can fish off the beach there as im keen as after seeing your piccys, any hints or tips would be helpful,,what size rod and reel etc ..etc..cheers bdowdy..brett.. awesome photos

[abbot_86]

No land based fishing?? !!! pete you wouldnt have known what to do with your self ;D .. nice fish

[ffejsmada]

Onya Pete, nice pics mate, those Bluefin Trevs are beautiful fish. I can't wait till June when I'm there.

Talk to you soon, Jeff.

[Pistol_P]

hi pete im off to fiji in april and staying at plantation island hope i can fish off the beach there as im keen as after seeing your piccys, any hints or tips would be helpful,,what size rod and reel etc ..etc..cheers bdowdy..brett.. awesome photos

Hi Brett,
I took a couple of outfits over.
One was a 2piece 8ft Saltiga rod which is a fantastic rod as you get great casting distance when throwing poppers,plastics and slugs.
I also took over a Shimano T-curve 5-10kg 7ft rod which is a two piece.
I am actually going to sell this rod but it was great on the trevally and my wife used it.
I deliberately took 2 piece rods as they are easier to travel with and you can fit them in a short rod tube on the plane.

Pete

[imnotoriginal]

Ahh, look at all those trevs....:'(
Joel

[bdowdy]

thanks pete for the help.cheers bdowdy..brett

[seapup]

Nice work Pete looked like a top trip! Now time to chase some Spaniards when this dirty water clears up!

[nuggstar]

verry nice fish dude. that popper in the barracudas mouth looks like it has been bitten in half

[Pistol_P]

Nice work Pete looked like a top trip! Now time to chase some Spaniards when this dirty water clears up!

Yeah Benny...Keen as to give the spaniards a hammering.
Made up some nice livie rigs tonight.

Pete

[Dorado]

Wow some ripper pics there Pete! Aint the fishing and snokelling there unreal? I stayed at Plantation Island Resort (Malolo Lai Lai Island) back in 1989 for a week and the fishing and snorkelling around the island and neibouring islands then was terrific to say the least! Did the resort staff cook the fish up for ya? The waters are always so beautifully clear and aquamarine!

Cheers, :)

[Pistol_P]

verry nice fish dude. that popper in the barracudas mouth looks like it has been bitten in half

Not a popper nugg....Its a lively lure 'Mack Bait'

Pete

[Dorado]

hey bdowdy check your PM's mate :)

Cheers,
Dorado