Kiwi Dan Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Gday Raiders Came back from my birthday trip to Fiji just over a week ago. Off the bat Fiji is an absolutely AWESOME place. The locals are great, the food is spectacular the swimming, sights and scenery is all unreal but most importantly the fishing is a 10 out of 10. This year for my 30th bday present the surprised me with a 10 night trip to Fiji. She had organized 5 nights on Denarau resort island followed by a 2 night Yasawa Islands cruise with 3 nights back on Denarau to finish it off. While the trip was full of highlights the main highlight for me was catching an 85kg Yellowfin Tuna! The Fijians seem to be spolied for choice over there - GTs, Mahi Mahi, marlin, sails, tuna the list goes on and on. I went on 2 charters while we were there, the 1st charter was rather disappointing. The skipper seemed to be full of talk but didnt really seem to know too much. It was a 4 hour charter and I did manage to land 1 GT to about 6kgs but the way the charter was organized showed this bloke up to be a bit of a cowboy. Luckily for me I was put on to another charter operator thanks to a very friendly cab driver. It was day 8 and was determined to catch a quality fish before leaving Fiji. I met up with John and his son Nick who were taking me out on a 4 hour charter aboard Johns awesome 32ft centre console Lady Lily. As we pulled out of the 4kn zone John ran through the safety drill then said to me - "will drive for about 30 minutes and jump into the 2nd current line and get you into some fish". This was what I wanted to hear. Then he said theres a harness up the front put it on because you'll need it. I thought to myself "this blokes a cocky bugger". As we got closer to our destination Nick started getting the spread ready. There was no shortage of quality game gear aboard. As we rounded one of the islands and started our troll towards Suva there were masses of birds working various patches all over the place. John made our way to the biggest of the lot and straight away put us onto a triple hook up of yellowfin. I began playing the first fin while Nick set the hooks on the other 2. The first fin came in at about 6kgs but unfortunately 1 of the other 2 was rather large and it ran straight across the other lines tangling and cutting the 2 fin free. After re rigging for 20 minutes the 5 lines went back out and away we went for pass number 2 which had us on a double hook up with another fin of around 6-8kgs. This went on for about 2.5 hours with run after run, plenty of solid fish lost and about 7 fin landed in total. The fin went seemed to go a bit quiet and the masses of birds became less and less. All fish landed were between 6-9kgs and I was stoked because we were pulling in constant fish. Then all of a sudden the the rapala on the Penn International goes off on a screaming run. Nick lifts the rod out of the holder and sets the hooks and im in. Immediately I could feel that this fish was a lot bigger than the others. A number of times througout the fight all I could do was stand there and hold on. The battle went on for 32 minutes. I was stoked when I finally had it beat although there were a few close calls with the rails of the boat. When I finally managed to bring it to the surface it was an amazing sight seeing 85kg of yellowfin come up out of the depths like a barrel! Nick was ready with the gaff and managed to get it on the 3rd attempt. John tied the tail and I chucked the 2nd gaff in. When we tried to lift it in I ended up straigtening the gaff. Once we finally got it into the boat I was STUFFED! I had to have a sit down to get my breath back. My left arm was burning, my back hurting but I didnt care because id just pulled this beast in! The fin ended up being a record for Johns boat so needless to say he was very excited as well. On the way back to the wharf John pulled into the beach out side our resort so that my wife could run down and have a look at the fish. She was amazed and couldnt believe the size of it. Once we got back to the wharf people gathered around for pictures etc. I gave 4 of the smaller fin to my cabbie and left the big fin for John, Nick and there family. The trip as a whole was a truly memorable experience and catching this big boy just capped it off. I cant wait to go back to Fiji next year and team up with John and Nick again. Great time, more photos to come later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc560kk Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Gday Raiders Came back from my birthday trip to Fiji just over a week ago. Off the bat Fiji is an absolutely AWESOME place. The locals are great, the food is spectacular the swimming, sights and scenery is all unreal but most importantly the fishing is a 10 out of 10. This year for my 30th bday present the surprised me with a 10 night trip to Fiji. She had organized 5 nights on Denarau resort island followed by a 2 night Yasawa Islands cruise with 3 nights back on Denarau to finish it off. While the trip was full of highlights the main highlight for me was catching an 85kg Yellowfin Tuna! The Fijians seem to be spolied for choice over there - GTs, Mahi Mahi, marlin, sails, tuna the list goes on and on. I went on 2 charters while we were there, the 1st charter was rather disappointing. The skipper seemed to be full of talk but didnt really seem to know too much. It was a 4 hour charter and I did manage to land 1 GT to about 6kgs but the way the charter was organized showed this bloke up to be a bit of a cowboy. Luckily for me I was put on to another charter operator thanks to a very friendly cab driver. It was day 8 and was determined to catch a quality fish before leaving Fiji. I met up with John and his son Nick who were taking me out on a 4 hour charter aboard Johns awesome 32ft centre console Lady Lily. As we pulled out of the 4kn zone John ran through the safety drill then said to me - "will drive for about 30 minutes and jump into the 2nd current line and get you into some fish". This was what I wanted to hear. Then he said theres a harness up the front put it on because you'll need it. I thought to myself "this blokes a cocky bugger". As we got closer to our destination Nick started getting the spread ready. There was no shortage of quality game gear aboard. As we rounded one of the islands and started our troll towards Suva there were masses of birds working various patches all over the place. John made our way to the biggest of the lot and straight away put us onto a triple hook up of yellowfin. I began playing the first fin while Nick set the hooks on the other 2. The first fin came in at about 6kgs but unfortunately 1 of the other 2 was rather large and it ran straight across the other lines tangling and cutting the 2 fin free. After re rigging for 20 minutes the 5 lines went back out and away we went for pass number 2 which had us on a double hook up with another fin of around 6-8kgs. This went on for about 2.5 hours with run after run, plenty of solid fish lost and about 7 fin landed in total. The fin went seemed to go a bit quiet and the masses of birds became less and less. All fish landed were between 6-9kgs and I was stoked because we were pulling in constant fish. Then all of a sudden the the rapala on the Penn International goes off on a screaming run. Nick lifts the rod out of the holder and sets the hooks and im in. Immediately I could feel that this fish was a lot bigger than the others. A number of times througout the fight all I could do was stand there and hold on. The battle went on for 32 minutes. I was stoked when I finally had it beat although there were a few close calls with the rails of the boat. When I finally managed to bring it to the surface it was an amazing sight seeing 85kg of yellowfin come up out of the depths like a barrel! Nick was ready with the gaff and managed to get it on the 3rd attempt. John tied the tail and I chucked the 2nd gaff in. When we tried to lift it in I ended up straigtening the gaff. Once we finally got it into the boat I was STUFFED! I had to have a sit down to get my breath back. My left arm was burning, my back hurting but I didnt care because id just pulled this beast in! The fin ended up being a record for Johns boat so needless to say he was very excited as well. On the way back to the wharf John pulled into the beach out side our resort so that my wife could run down and have a look at the fish. She was amazed and couldnt believe the size of it. Once we got back to the wharf people gathered around for pictures etc. I gave 4 of the smaller fin to my cabbie and left the big fin for John, Nick and there family. The trip as a whole was a truly memorable experience and catching this big boy just capped it off. I cant wait to go back to Fiji next year and team up with John and Nick again. Great time, more photos to come later. Well done Dan awesome fish.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Great fish dan well done!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Fantastic fish, Dan. Great to hear you had such an awesome trip. Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kantong Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 great read and awesome pictures! thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornets Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 You have got to love Fiji . I reckon you got your monies worth there . Where did you head out from & do you mind me asking his charges . Hornets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piss'n'Broke Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Nice work Dan . How are the arms still sore? Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b4nd1t Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 looks awesum mate..u mind me askin what charter this was and what it cost? cos im heading over there at the end of this month n realy wana get out fishing for a day? cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris 55 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 what else can you say but .............. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Dan Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 Gday all, Thanks for the comments. I forgot to mention should anyone want any details for John just shoot me a PM and ill be happy to help you out. D&G - The arms gave up hurting about 3 days later. Maybe all of the drinking i was also doing had something to do with that. You have got to love Fiji . I reckon you got your monies worth there . Where did you head out from & do you mind me asking his charges . Hornets Gday mate, we left from Port Denarau. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen801 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Dan, MAAAATE. WOW Fiji is so good eh, i went last year and going again very soon. Trip to remember for ever. Mate how good a present from your wife. PM sent. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave nagy Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 sounds great im heading to denaru sheriton onthe 9/1/10 where did u charter from and how much was the charter have you got any tips is it worth taking a flick stick for around lagoons/rocks please let me know pm or email ipraust@optusnet.com.au top catch, me wants cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harold Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 now thats a fishing trip! good on you. Were you at all worried about the political mess over there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big-Banana Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Nice fish, big set of sickles too. Did it officially get weighed? Seems very lean for a 85kg fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrnea Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Awesome Fin Dan, congratulations 85 KG makes the trip worth all the effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVZ350 Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 awesome fish mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Dan Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Nice fish, big set of sickles too. Did it officially get weighed? Seems very lean for a 85kg fish. Gday, it was weighed at the Sheraton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roosterman Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 WOW.. .. Dan thats a fish of a lifetime mate.. well done.. . that cabbie sure saved the day eh,cant beat local knowledge and im sure he was rapt in the fish ya gave him.. cheers..steve..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leatherjacket Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Amazing!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtosea Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Love ths sickles......... congrats on the fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southerly Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Well done Dan, amazing sickles on the fin. Harbour kings just wont seem the same anymore. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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