We tackle the beautiful Maldives for the third time in 2013. This trip would be slightly different as it would be skewed towards more shore-based fishing. Nonetheless, we still managed lots of time aboard the vessel and didn't waste a minute with the popping and jigging gear...
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| Like on all trips we had our faithful FCL Labo, Fisherman and Majorcraft sticks... |
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| The lush and familiar surrounds of the reefs beckon. Casting to these drop-offs is the name of the game... |
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| FCL Labo EXT 81MH loaded up with a Maggy Gara Short Popper... |
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| First blood comes from a pesky little Triggerfish... |
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| Then this hungry Mack Tuna attacks the big FCL Labo SPP Slim lure. Where are the GTs? |
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| Everyone works hard with the popping outfits. But the GTs are nowhere to be seen... |
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| We go jigging instead. Didn't take too long to find this little Grouper on the Shout! Flash jig... |
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| In fact we find a whole pod. These two on the Fisherman Andaman and Shout! Flash respectively... |
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| The rattling Geecrack Long Gun jig finds one too... |
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| As does the Evergreen Caprice jig... |
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| And the brand new Xesta Agraam jig... |
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| We finally hit a decent adversary. And the fight was to be savoured on the light Majorcraft Giant Killing rod! |
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| A nice Amberjack which took a liking to the Shout! Shab Shab jig and pulled hard... |
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| Alas we hit payload on the popping front with this nicely proportioned GT... |
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| The FCL CSP worked on the FCL EXT rod did the trick... |
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| But it was a solo fish and the day drew to a close with none other... |
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| As usual, the nightly affairs involve light jigs like this Jackall Laser Jig... |
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| The scenery in the mornings are spectacular but this one was spoilt by some very heavy clouds... |
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| We hit a drop off and whip out the jigs. This Mack Tuna responded to this Fisherman Andaman but was a no-contest on the strong Evergreen Poseidon rod... |
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| This fish, however, was a more worthy opponent. A fat Rosy Jobfish on the Andaman as well.. |
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| Another greedy Andaman-fooled Mackie... |
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| As witnessed, Fisherman Andamans are a jig of choice. This one got this Grouper on board... |
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| Maldives is known for its abundant Grouper species list and it was no different this trip like this Shout! Shab Shab capture... |
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| Some decent fish like this GT were thrown in the mix. We pose with Shout! Shab Shab jig in jaw while another battle ensues behind... |
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| Its a Black Jack which fell for an Andaman... |
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| Working the Xesta Slow Emotion Flap with the Majorcraft Slow Pitch Giant Killing scored this Cod from deep... |
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| Another specie to add to the tally. A frisky Rainbow Runner which took an FCL Labo SL Jig... |
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| This is a highlight of sorts - a beautiful Clown Triggerfish which fell for a Xesta Flap jig. Amazing colours on this guy! |
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| Another Xesta Flap victim, this time a nice Black Jack... |
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| Followed by a smaller one on the Shout! Shab Shab jig... |
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| Sticking with the Slow Emotion Flap jig pays when this beaut Long Nose Emperor latches on... |
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| This new Xesta jig is really proving its worth... |
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| Double hook up with Majorcraft Giant Killing and Evergreen Poseidon put to work.. |
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| Another Maldivian beauty - a crimson Coronation Trout taken on an Evergreen Javeline Jet jig... |
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| Meanwhile the Majocraft Slow Pitch Giant Killing and Xesta Flap combo continues to impress with another fine Rock Cod... |
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| Black Jacks are a common deep water jig taker and this Shout! Shab Shab scores another... |
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| A smaller Coronation Trout falls for a Geecrack Long Gun jig... |
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| A rare Grouper species marks another milestone for the ultra-efficient Fisherman Andaman jig... |
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| Andaman scores another - this time a Green Jobfish... |
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| A fat Coronation Trout is the next Andaman victim. A magnificent capture... |
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| The Andaman barrage continues with this magical Long Nose Emperor. These fish are one of the highlights and they go hard... |
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| No shortage of demersal dwellers. The Emperor is joined by another Coronation Trout and its close cousin the Coral Trout... |
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| We run into a school of small Trevally. This one takes a Xesta Flap jig... |
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| While the second munches on a Xesta Agraam jig and gets pinned... |
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| The Xesta Flap continues to terrorise the Maldivian Trigger population... |
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| And even scores this big Horse Eye Jack or Big Eye Trevally, a real tough fighter... |
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| Every Maldivian sunset is spectacular. But those big heavy clouds just won't go away... |
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| More mini Trevally action, this one on an IMA Gun Peki jig on the light set up... |
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| A slow jig in shallow waters draws another Coronation Trout out from its hidey hole... |
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| This is a radical new jig design from FCL Labo... |
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| Another day. Another optimistic morning out on deck... |
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| How's that for a good chugger? We test a prototype FEED LURES popper and find it works amazing. But more design tweaking needs to be done to make it even better... |
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| It doesn't take long to score this GT... |
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| This is a Maldivian spec FEED Bell popper envisaged... |
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| We then switch to the production FEED LURES Bell60 popper and it gets nailed by this Sailfish. The following sequence shows the ensuing moments... |
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| It struggles to shake it off... |
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| Then jumps... |
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| It stirs the water to foam... |
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| And as it comes up for another leap the popper comes loose. An exhilarating few moments for all aboard... |
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| Redemption comes a few casts later with this GT... |
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| The FEED Bell60 with a Maldivian Gee to its credit... |
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| We find the reef terrors a little more obliging on this day. This one fell for a sinking El Nadador stickbait... |
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| And was followed up shortly after by another one... |
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| As the bite slowed we find ourselves with jig rod in hand again. This Green Jobfish got things started by taking this Xesta After Burner jig... |
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| Then a Rosy Jobfish decides it wants the Xesta After Burner next... |
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| The Xesta Flap continues to show its great 'ground' work with a Rock Cod... |
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| Not to be outdone is the Evergreen Caprice jig with a Sea Bream... |
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| A nice Nassau Grouper from the deep with the Shout! Flash it fell for... |
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| Black Jacks remind us of their presence daily. This one is a Shab Shab victim... |
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| Another hefty Nassau Grouper comes aboard, courtesy of the Shout! Width jig this time... |
Watch out for the Part Two continuation coming soon.
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hey,mate...
ReplyDeletewhat reel did you paired with Majorcraft Giant Killing?
It should be a TwinPower by Shimano
ReplyDelete