Sam's Yellowfin Tuna

Finally we were able to do a charter this morning, had one for yesterday but the winds were still blowing 16-18 knts so the people decided to cancel.

This morning the seas were down & it was a beautiful morning as we left the Copra Shed Marina.

Today we had a lovely young couple from England as our clients, Kelly wasn't too good a sailor so the sea conditions just suited her.

Not having been out for 12 weeks was a worry. we weren't sure where the fish were & if there was fish around, anyway as we got closer to the usual spot we could see birds working. so this was a good sign.

It wasn't long before we had out first yellowfin on board it wasn't big only about 5kg.
We had another couple on board before the line went screaming out this was a little bigger, Sam played for a short  while before it broke the line taking the lure with it.

It turned out to be a really busy & enjoyable day we brought home a 20 & 25kg yellowfin one Mahimahi & 5 small yellowfin plus a head that a shark left behind. Lost 3 bigger fish breaking 25kg line so on the hole a good fishing day out was had by all.

Savusavu

It's been a while since my last blog, the last few months haven't been very good for us.

This year we got a lot of fine days but the winds were too strong for us to take out charters, then 7 weeks ago Terry came down with a bad case of Shingles so to cut a long story short we haven't been out since our last charter to Namena Island on 8th August.

Haven't heard if fish have been caught as we have been house bound.

Hopefully I will have something to report soon!!!

A lovely piece done by our local artist Shane Bower, for sale with other of his works, at the Gallery in the Copra Shed Marina complex. 

 

Weather

This has been the worse year for us weather wise, & fishing hasn't been good at all.

Again the strong Trade winds have set in, we seem to only get a day or at the most 2 days before it is too rough to venture pass the lighthouse.

On a couple of occasions we did go out, the fishing  wasn't at all good, thank goodness we aren't the only ones that are complaining.  A friend also went out on the days we went & caught nothing, the second time they spent all day trolling up the coastline & back & still caught nothing, so decided to snorkel instead.

Local fishermen we spoke to yesterday say there are some Walu in the bay now, so hopefully when the wind dies down a little we will try again.

Have seen the fishing trawlers working up & down the reefs for the last few week so that isn't good for us local boats, as they take everything.

Savusavu has been visited by a few really big Super Yachts this year one of the latest was the Ocean Victory, now that is some boat!  The Marina's are still full with cruising yachts, they make a dash out of Savusavu as soon as the winds ease off a little, having done their clearance & stocked up with fresh supplies.

No latest fish photos so here are ones of sights of Savusavu.

                   Fiji Link about to take off from Savusavu airport for Nadi.

                                       Police Band marching through Savusavu

                                                                  Moon rising

Trade Winds Blowing

Because of the weather conditions, has been at least a couple of weeks since we were last out, the Trade Winds have come in with a bang this year.

Had 3 charters on our books but were unable to do any of them because of the rough seas, thankfully we did get out at the beginning of the month, on a couple of charters.

We had Troy come out with us first, the morning started good it wasn't long after we left the entrance of Savusavu bay that we saw some birds working.

Lines went quickly into the water as we made our way towards the work up, a couple of runs through  them, nothing, then suddenly on of the lines went off.

Troy got into the chair while Terry brought in the gear, the fish had taken out a bit of line so it took a while to bring the fish in.

When it got closer to the boat we could see it was a nice Yellowfin Tuna, with a lot of patience & care we finally got it onto the boat, but by now all the birds & fish had gone.

Nothing else was hooked after that until we were just about home, this time it was a skipjack tune.
This didn't make us happy about taking out another couple the next day, being full moon, always makes catching harder.

The day had a little more chop on the water then the day before so put the lines out early & worked our way to find birds. There wasn't much around today so headed towards the other seamount, thankfully we finally had something on, Brad got into the chair & started to bring it in.

This time it was a nice Mahimahi weighing in just over7kg, he was happy & now it was Rachael's turn!
It was a while until we had another strike, so Rachael got into the chair & started to bring the fish in, this was her first time so it took a bit of coaching till the fish was at the boat, another Mahimahi  It looked bigger then the first one but unfortunately it was skinner than Brad's so was slightly lighter.

Blue Marlin caught in Savusavu

We weren't able to go fishing last week,  as the Trade Winds have set in so it was  pretty rough once pass the lighthouse

Managed to put Searov up on the beach to check stern legs & change the oil in them, so that job is done.

Went out yesterday with a group of men from Australia, on our way a few birds were working but looked like small salasala so didn't waste to much time, a little further on, another bunch of birds, this time we got a small skippy.

Finally on the mount, but nothing was working, also no birds to be seen, so gradually made our way  toward the reef, to see if we could pick up something

This also was a waste of time as nothing was working there also. not even a barracuda!

Slowly worked our way to the sea mount, when all of a sudden we had our first strike, It was a Marlin, the boat suddenly came to life,  rods were brought in as the Marlin started to jump out of the water, peeling off line.

Now the work to bring it in, it had taken a far amount of line so it would take some time to wind it all back in.  After 45 mins the line just went slack, guess it just wasn't hooked!

Everyone now settling back in their seats & Terry starts to put all the lines back in the water, finally all lines are set & everyone relaxing when again the line just starts to peel out & another Marlin starts to jump at the back of the boat & peeling off line.

Richard settles into the game chair & starts to reel in line but the Marlin now just takes off, a scream from Richard, forward fast as I am running out of line!
Again the Marlin is jumping out of the water but screaming ahead reeling off line.
"I am just about out of line says Richard so Terry takes Searov ahead with more speed, finally Richard is able to get line back onto the reel so he won't be spooled.

This goes on for a while & all the anglers are given time in the chair to help bring it in.
Finally after a hour 45mins it was brought close enough to the boat to be able to be gaffed.
The last couple of mins the fish was easy to bring in, so once close to the boat we saw the reason for this.

Sharks had bitten off chunks of the meat close to the tail, & as it was brought in,

the sharks were following it to the boat. At last the Marlin is secured onto the buckboard & we head for home.

Brad With His First Black Marlin

The winds finally started to calm down on Friday so we were able to confirm a Fishing Charter with 2 couple that had been waiting to go out since arriving into Savusavu from Australia on Tuesday.

We had planned to leave the dock before 7am so had the engines warming up since 6.45, finally at 7.05 we switched off.  we guessed the taxi hadn't turned up to pick up the guests? sure enough about 7.10 they arrived & yes the taxi hadn't bothered to turn up, so it wasn't the start we wanted.

There was still a swell out pass the lighthouse so Terry decided to put the gear in the water & make our way slowly to the sea mount.

Saw a few birds working on the way & gave it a try but nothing was really working so kept heading out to the mount.

On arriving at the mount nothing seemed to be working so did the usual path to see if anything was around.  Finally saw birds working in the distance so headed towards them, but as soon as we got there, they all sat down on the water, this kept on for a while, there had to be something there but nothing was coming up.

Finally all of a sudden one of the lines on the outrigger started to peel off, then in the distance we saw a Black Marlin tail walking. now the boat came alive, lines were brought in while Brad got into the game chair.

Brad worked hard to bring in line only to have it taken out so many times we thought it would never come in.  In the end we were amazed it only took him about 50min to bring it in on 24kg line.

Nothing else was caught that day it was just fortunate we were in the right place at the right time.
Sadly the hook was well lodged in it's mouth so couldn't release it as it wouldn't have been able to feed, & eventually would have died.

The fish was estimated to be about 100kg, once photos were taken Terry had the job of cutting it up, this took close to 2hours, some of it was taken to the resort that the clients were staying at & most was given to the locals for them to enjoy for Mothers Day on Sunday.

After a month of not being out. because of weather conditions, we all had a lovely day, especially Brad as this was his first time Game Fishing & his first Marlin.

Congratulations Brad job well done.

Savusavu Weather

It's been a month since my last post, after the Marlin we have only managed to get out twice,  once only to the light houses as the lady was very seasick.

Terry has made a quick trip back to New Zealand for a break. & since he has return we haven't been able to get pass the light house as the seas have been so rough.

Anyway it has given Terry a chance to catch up with boat maintenance & odd jobs that need doing.

                     Fish caught on the last charter in early April.