Exploring PNG for Black Bass

[Barramundi Boy]

Gday Folks...I've just returned from PNG (Baia Sportsfishing Lodge in West New Britain) and a week in the jungle chasing Black and Spot Tail Bass. I've discovered a rule with Bass, that is, you lose more than you land!



These fish are incredible, and that's coming from a Barramundi lover.

For information on fishing charters including Baia Sportsfishing Lodge, visit http://www.fishingcharterbase.com/The-Blog/baia.html

Barramundi Boy


Tight lines!

[Pete62]

Umm, mate not sure I know the what to say, just read your full report from the link, u my friend are a very lucky chap. That is a trip to die for and it seems it is part of your job.

Just a beautiful part of the world.

Pete.

[Barramundi Boy]

Cheers mate - appreciate the feedback. I'm overseas with work at the moment, but still work a day job and spend it all on fishing! They are a great fighting fish.

[Pete62]

I think the first article I ever read was from Harro on the mighty BB.

My wife spent a lot of her childhood in PNG, her dad was a Minister, and I am waiting for her to say "Gee it would be nice to go back up there for a look around"

Pete.

[sleepygreg]

I have just spent the last hour reading the reports on your site. All i can say is 'fukn awesome'. I thought the adventures i had as a youngster fishing the wild streams of the Snowys, the back creeks of the major river systems in NSW, and the shelf off southern NSw were great.......Phooey....your takes the cake. If only I was 20 again.....that is what i would be doing...heading for the corners of the earth chasing wild fish and experiencing the local culture.

Thanks for the opportunity to share your experiences.

Greg

[aussiebasser]

Great report BB.

Baia is a special place, and Shannon probably has the best job in the world. Pam and I visited in August last year and had 8 days at Baia that we'll never forget. We've just finalised the bookings for a two week trip in July, to coincide with the full moon. The people of Baia, the views and the atmosphere make the trip worthwhile, the fish are just an added bonus. Did that big Bass dropped come from the snag at the mouth of the Sai? There's a tree in the water that had something huge living in it when we were there. I had numerous hits, and we tried to visit it every day. The palms along the edges of the Lunga Lunga are pretty amazing. 8 weeks 'til we fly out, gotta buy some more Serunas, Doozers and Skitter Pops!!

[Barramundi Boy]

Hope you enjoy your return trip, I miss it already!!! The big one was dropped at the mouth of Langa Langa on the right hand side. Thats also the place I jagged the biggest Mangrove Jack ive ever seen, was a monster. I agree, the people of Baia present a role model village for PNG. Keen to hear how you go.
Cheers
BB

[bronsonwinston]

I was at Baia a few years ago for aweek, it a place to remember and my 30lb spot tail on a skitter pop i won't forget. The only thing i found disturbing was when on the last morning the fish were congregating in spots around the mouths gorging on white bait, no matter what you threw at them they would hit, watching masses of bass up to 40lb swimming around the boat was awsome. On the way in our guide went in close to a dug out canoe on the bank where he yelled a few things to the guys in it. On the way out he yelled and pointed up the creek where we had just seen the bass. Reluctently the guide stopped for one last session after we pested him at the mouth, when we had stopped the dug out paddled up stream to where the guide had pointed and strung the net around the school of big bass. The guide knew he had been busted and insited we had to go. Not real smart when thats the only thing bringings in the money. When the bass are gone so will be the fishermen. Reading the report sounds like that guide still there.

[aussiebasser]

That happens there Bronson. The fish belong to the villagers. Riccard pays them to allow people like us to go there, but they have to make a living in other ways. The full moon white bait massacre is well known around Baia, that's why we picked the this time in July. I very much doubt that villagers using traditional methods will wipe out the Bass. They've been doing it for hundreds of years, and will continue to do it. I think the land locked creeks BB talks about are the ones we fished from the canoe. I got a 13lber in the clearest one.

[bronsonwinston]

Pretty clever villagers if they had nylon nets there a few hundred years ago! Sure its there fish and they can do what they want just hope they manage it correctly and don't over fish it.

[Barramundi Boy]

Yep, I agree with all. My opinion - the villagers know they are on a good thing, Riccard and his business do a lot for the local community (eg. they rebuilt the church recently). Its about that balance I mentioned in the story. Unfortunately, that balance is pretty rare theses days, so the challenge for both side is to maintain it. Apparently he's ordering a couple of small tinny's so those land locked creeks will be accessible up stream.
BB

[PNG1M]

Thanks for the insights Barra Boy...

I've never fished that location as most of my barra n black bass were in the Fly River - SUKI area. One day I wouldn't mind going to Baia, as a few blokes I know have been there in the past.

The black bass in my avatar is mid 90cms in length. Didn't have a tape measure OR weighing scales in the boat at the time so couldn't get its exact length.

I measured a conservative estimate later of where its nose came up to on my shirt while its tail was touching the floor of the boat.

Good size fish none-the-less and there's plenty others where that one came from. I've hooked similar size and larger before but didn't land them. I have the spots registered in the mental GPS for 'ron.

You really know you've got a fish on when you're hooked up to an 85cm+ black bass, especially in a narrow snag ridden creek & close to the shore.

Can't wait to get back up to PNG one day in the future for some more of that kind of fishing.

I've seen 90cm+ black bass (on sale per kg) in deep freezers in some png locations, having been caught in nets. Apparently some of these commercial netting operations have caught wind of the more remote fisheries such as Suki and have sent crews further afield on overnight trips to do netting - eg from Obo.

Some of the Suki locals have been understandably concerned about this exploitation, as are members of the Star Mountains Fishing Club based in Tabubil who promote responsible fishing & sustainability of stocks in areas like Suki.

Anyway barra boy, thanks again for the squizz at your home page & the link.

[jackextracter]

awesome mate they are the hardest pulling fish around, and i have seen some of the biggest jacks come from those waters it would be unreal, def on my to do list.