Tackle Source tackles the deep blue once again with the latest trip chasing topwater speedsters in New Caledonia, an island in the South Pacific synonymous with big angry fish. But mother nature had other plans as strong winds, big seas and uncooperative fish made it a tough trip overall. Nevertheless we make the best of it and plug away. Here's the trip in pics...
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| Destination Noumea. A couple of flights to experience some awesome fishing... |
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| The journey was long but all aboard was high in anticipation... |
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| With feet on Noumea soil after the long toil we had arrived... |
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| The strong wind that greeted us did dampen spirits somewhat... |
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| The tubes were secured for a long ride to experience fishing at the northern part of the island... |
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| Four to five hours later we unload and get onboard... |
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| With gear unloaded and prepped we were ready. We were geared with some awesome rods by FCL Labo, including a new Heavy special... |
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| We also had some FEED Lures to put to good use... |
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| The first day was slow but this Yellowfin Tuna fooled by a FEED SLASH stickbait opened our accounts... |
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| It wasn't large but it got the ball rolling and we were glad... |
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| With plenty of casts in we were not seeing any GTs. Instead, a small Coral Trout is landed on the 'Rasta' FEED SLASH... |
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| In the tough conditions where the fish were finicky, it seemed like the SLASH stickbait was the only way to go... |
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| A sizable Coral Trout to make an angler's day... |
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| New Caledonia boasts plenty toothy predators. At the bottom of that list is probably the Yellowtail Barracuda but they are deadly nonetheless and accounted for many lost lures. This unlucky one got pinned by the FEED SLASH... |
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| The big seas made fishing hard work. Here's the new FCL Labo EXT81H loaded up on a big shark that was eventually lost... |
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| The SLASH survives and claims another pesky 'Cuda... |
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| We switch to poppers in an attempt to raise the strike rate and on occasions they work like on this Coral Trout... |
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| Its the FEED PIN popper at work... |
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| As small bust-up and a cast into the melee results in a schoolie Yellowfin... |
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| It took the relatively large FEED PIN popper despite its small size... |
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| Meanwhile the SLASH does its usual stellar job at fooling Coral Trout... |
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| And its a decent one too... |
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| Here's the new release FEED SPEAR topwater pencil with a frisky Barracuda which took it for a fleeing baitfish... |
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| With the GTs a no-show the Coral Trout were the kings of the reef... |
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| Another FEED PIN popper fooled Trout... |
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| The FCL Labo H-special loaded up on another good shark. We hooked plenty but most ended with lost lures and bruised egos.. |
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| The first Red Bass of the trip comes aboard courtesy of the SLASH stickbait... |
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| Even after dark at anchor the fishing was tough. Here's a lonely Emperor from trying. Victim of the Jackall Mametai jig... |
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| The next morning the loud FEED PIN popper draws the attention of a GT. A first of the trip... |
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| It was of a very typical size for these parts, no trouble at all for the stunning Blue FCL Labo H rod... |
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| Sharks were omnipresent and lures were constantly at risk of disappearing, unlike this 'Nemo' PIN popper. But do note the Owner swivel on this lure ripped apart by another fish that was connected to this lure. There were two angry fish hooked up on this lure at the same time... |
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| In between casting we dropped jigs at likely holes and on one such drift this Fisherman Andaman jig was taken by this Cod... |
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| It wasn't the typical big bruiser Cod that we oft encountered on past trips but it did give a shot of confidence after two thus far slow days. Unfortunately the jigging only produced this one fish... |
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| It was then back to flinging FEED SLASHes... |
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| The Red Bass were ready and hungry... |
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| Back breaking work on the strong FCL Labo 81H rod... |
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| Courtesy of a side hooked GT... |
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| A larger than average GT show after a few days of hard work... |
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| In between the hope of scoring trophy fish we had to contend with more pesky Barracudas. The skipping SPEAR pencil was speared by this one... |
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| Smaller fish like this PIN poppered Red Bass would be subject to frenzied Shark attacks... |
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| An all-time favourite popping rod is the Fisherman Monster CC72 GT and its a charm to fight fish with... |
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| Its the skipping FEED SPEAR again with a more unusual catch |
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| Its a Flowery Cod. Not the most common topwater catch... |
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| While the Red Bass would be a rather more common prospect in these parts. It didn't hesitate on the PIN popper... |
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| While some bigger Yellowfin were hooked and lost. This decent twenty kilo model would be the biggest to hit the deck, courtesy of the FEED SLASH... |
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| It took many casts to find a single GT to bite as they were more obliged to finding a mate or breeding. We only found small pockets throughout the trip and results were not encouraging. In a rare moment the Fisherman Monster rod is properly loaded up on a Gee... |
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| Even decent sized GTs are not exempt from hungry sharks as this one copped some damage to its framework. The FEED SLASH lived up to expectations on this trip and has ensured itself a place in any hardcore caster's box... |
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| Between casts another Andaman victim hits the deck in the form of a beaut Coronation Trout... |
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| We'd only seen glimpses of Spanish Mackerals micro-seconds before loosing our lures but this unlucky one felt the hooks... |
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| The original slash tactician gets a taste of the FEED SLASH lure... |
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| It is not uncommon to get two fish one lure in typically fish-rich New Cal... |
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| This was a rather special Grouper & GT combo on the bright FEED PIN popper... |
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| Both fish released after the quick pics... |
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| Shallower reefs meant there had to be at least one Coral Trout at home... |
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| And you'd definitely find them with a FEED SLASH... |
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| Once again the Blue FCL Labo 81H is loaded up on a good fish... |
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| The PIN popper scores a finicky GT... |
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| Closer the New Cal bruisers we were hoping to tangle with... |
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| The reefs were just thick with Coral Trout... |
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| And it was hard to cast a SPEAR and have it ignored... |
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| Leaning into a decent fish with a strong rod is ecstasy defined... |
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| The FCL Labo 81H did the job well and this beaut GT is the result... |
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| The good ol' FEED SLASH claims the kill... |
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| The big girl is released to fight another day. Note the marks of harassment by some small but feisty Sharks... |
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| Pretty much every other fish in the boat was a Coral Trout. This one fell for the new FEED CONE popper... |
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| As did this small Greater Barracuda. The CONE popper is a smaller-cupped offering so is less fatiguing for long days... |
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| Long drawn fights usually mean a hefty Shark on the other end as the GTs were few and far between. Again the Blue FCL Special bears the grunt... |
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| This is a big Whaler which took a liking to the SLASH stickbait... |
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| Easily the smallest GT of the trip on a SLASH stickbait... |
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| Made up for it with a decent Coral Trout some casts later... |
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| The SLASH scores on succession... |
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| Then in a frenzy we had two GTs crash the same SLASH lure at once, tearing out the strong wire in the process and destroying the lure. Both fish were subsequently lost in a twist of irony... |
Watch for Part Two coming up...
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