Tackle Source

LATEST ADDITIONS - MARCH 2012

2012-03-12T22:02:00.011-07:00

OSP Skating Frog for heavy cover

Heddon Magnum Torpedo - Japan Colours

IMA Bass Caps

Mangrove Studio Volador Natural Sinking Stickbaits

Zipbaits Raphael sinking pencils

DUO Cap

DUO Tetra Works Ebikko

DUO Tetra Works Ikakko

DUO Larus 95/34 offshore casting minnows

IMA Sea Mouse 3.5" soft plastics

IMA Melty Nymph 3.5" soft plastics

IMA Ligid 70 jerkbaits

IMA Salt Skimmer pencils

IMA Skimmer pencils

Bassday Sugaminnow Lipless 50 Light Salt

Bassday Sugaminnow Lipless 50 Kangoku

Megabass X-pod Jr. pencils

Coreman Zettai 30g jigs

OSP Power Dunk Suspend jerkbaits

Golden Mean Metal Split Ring Pliers

Xesta Afterburner 12g jigs

Xesta Afterburner 30g jigs

Jackson Pintail Tune 40g - new colours

Jackson Pintail EZ 28g - new model

Shimano Stella 1000 ZPI finesse tuned

Majorcraft Trapara ultralight spin rods

Majorcraft Volkey Bait Finesse Special rods

Majorcraft Giant Killing Jigging, Light Jigging and Offshore Casting rods

All models available

Majorcraft Crostage Light Jigging Special rod

ZPI Anchorfin EVA Knobs for Shimano/Daiwa

ZPI Bone Knobs for Shimano/Daiwa

Kahara Aluminium Split Ring Pliers - various sizes

Kahara Cross Lock Snaps

Kahara Quick Lock Snaps

Fisherman Crazy Long Jigs 150g, 170g, 220g, 320g

Fisherman Marado Jigs 130g & 185g

Fisherman Light Weight Plastic Knob for Stella SW

Inno Carmate Rod Tubes

SOME OFFSHORE ACTION!

2012-02-29T23:21:00.023-08:00

While we get carried away about chasing giants abroad, sometimes its good to remember what we have at our doorstep. With lighter tackle and delicate presentations, our local offshore scene can provide more than a little serious fun for budding anglers. Easily accessible, relatively cheap, not much in the way of planning, its easy to just get a few buddies and head out for a day or two of relaxing joy on the water. It can be far from relaxing though, when the fish are on the chew!

Optimism is always the key to enjoying the local scene, starting the day with smiles...

Prospecting a shallow spot first with a mini IMA Gunpeki produced this Goatfish...

When jigs weren't hit we tried lures. This Queenie hit a Jackson Pintail...

And brought a mate, which took this Jackson Gallop jig...

That's a nice Queenfish on light jig gear!

One big angry Barracuda! Easily over 20kgs!
Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Ocean Hunter POHS-70
Lure: Jackson Pintail Tune 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-3
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 50lb

Jackson Pintail Tune worked with the Evergreen Poseidon Ocean Hunter - a rod made for this purpose...

Not long before we ran into Queenies again. This fish took the Pintail explosively on the surface...

The surprise of the trip certainly was this over eager Longfin Trevally that took a FCL Labo Squidpen which was meant for much larger fish off the surface...

Another casting rod at work - the Majorcraft Offblow...

And a nice Cobia taken on the Pintail...
Rod: Majorcraft Offblow Casting PE Special
Lure: Jackson Pintail Tune 40g
Line: Tufline XP 30lb
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 50lb

Things heated up on the jigging front when this 5kg Diamond Trevally was hook, albeit in the side which resulted on a tremendous fight on the light Offblow jig rod...

Another Diamond Trev, this one on an IMA Gunpeki jig...

The Gunpeki proving its stellar self again with this magnificent Golden Trevally...
Rod: Majorcraft Offblow Light Jigging
Jig: IMA Gunpeki 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC Fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Jaco Feather Assist

Another Diamond Trev follows, on the IMA Gunpeki again!

And then a Longfin Trevally on the Gunpeki...

A very nice Diamond Trevally taken on the Jackson Gallop...
Rod: Golden Mean Sabel Dance PE-1
Jig: Jackson Gallop 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Light Jigging Hook

Longfin Trevally making their presence felt, IMA Gunpeki strikes again...

A smaller Diamond Trevally...

A very big Longfin Trevally which gave a good account of itself...
Rod: Majorcraft Offblow PE 0.8-2
Jig: IMA Gunpeki 30g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Jaco Assist

A slightly bigger Diamond Trev but they grow much larger around here. IMA Gunpeki continues on its roll...

Yet another on the IMA jig...

Next we hit the motherload, with 5 people hooked up at once, these were the first two landed. IMA Gunpeki of course!

The rest of the party followed. IMA Gunpeki, Evergreen Javelin Jet and Jackson Gallop jigs did the trick!

These were the standard fare from the school we encountered...
Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Spin Jerker Lite PE-2
Jig: IMA Gunpeki 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Jaco Assist Glow

IMA Gunpeki in the gob!

Yet another Diamond pulled from the school. This one took an Anglers Republic Seablade jig...

Next to show up were a school of five cobias, of which we hit 3. IMA Gunpeki and Anres Seablade was the ammo...

Biggest of the trio took an IMA Gun...

There were some Goldies thrown in too!

And some African Pompano or Pennant Fish too! This one got fooled by the ever-productive Evergreen Caprice Kid jig...

This Longfin Trevally displays why it's named so... Gunpeki hits again!

This nice Golden Trev gave a good workout on the light outfit when it took a mini IMA Gunpeki...

Smaller Gunpeki 30g worked on this Pennant Fish...

This one prefered the Jackson Gallop...

While this guy fell for a mini Gunpeki...

The next round of Diamonds rolled in, and of course the ones using the IMA Gunpekis were hit first...

And the Gunpeki kept producing...

A nice fish there on the Seablade...
Rod: Golden Mean Sabel Dance PE-1
Jig: Anglers Republic Seablade 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Light Jigging Hook

This was a better school of fish, and it was tough work...
Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Spin Jerker Lite PE-2
Jig: IMA Gunpeki 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Jaco Assist Glow

Another magnificent specimen of the Longfin Trevally sneaked past the Diamond parade and snatched this IMA Gunpeki...

Yet another Gunpeki victim...

Perfect combo of IMA Gunpeki and Shout! Feather Jaco Assist...

Nicely hooked on the Gunpeki...

Two close cousins in the Trevally family which are often misidentified...

The unique and beautiful steeped forehead of the Diamond Trevally...

The fish seemed to be lining up for the Gunpekis...

That's the Offblow Ultralight Special giving maximum fun!

Two IMA Gunpekis = Two Diamonds...

Sailfish are an often distraction when fishing these inshore waters as well. A well placed Mangrove Studio Volador is rarely ignored!
Rod: Majorcraft Offblow Hiramasa Popping
Lure: Mangrove Studio Volador 130LS
Line: Sunline Casting PE 50lb
Leader: Sunline Power FC 100lb

Voladors get the odd Mackeral as well, when cast for sails...

Typical Spanish Mack on Jackson Pintail...

A nice sized African Pompano...

Taken on the IMA Gunpeki of course...

A surprise catch on the casting outfit, a 16lb Diamond Trevally...
Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Ocean Hunter POHS-70
Lure: Jackson Pintail Tune 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-3
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 50lb

Facial close up. These things can chase down high speed lures!

The typical speedster - the Spanish Mackeral on Pintail...

At this size they make good eating!

A nice Cobia fell for the tiny Evergreen Javelin Jet jig...

Close to 10kgs of hard fighting Cobia...
Rod: Golden Mean Sabel Dance PE-1
Jig: Evergreen Javelin Jet 30g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-2
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb
Hook: Shout! Madai Rear Hook

Pintail picks on someone its own size...

A smaller Mack but good fodder none the less...

After a good fight, we were quite surprised to find an 11kg Queenfish!

Queenie took a liking to the lifelike swimming of the Pintail...
Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Ocean Hunter POHS-70
Lure: Jackson Pintail Tune 40g
Line: Sasame PE Premium PE-3
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 50lb

Another speedster on the Pintail...

The trick is not to get between those teeth!

Another Spanish Mack for the day on the Pintail...

Topwater action was just as explosive with this 15kg or so Black Tip Shark...

It fell for the walking action of the FCL Labo Squidpencil...

Small jigs for small fish. A Snapper on the mini IMA Gun...

Followed by a Greasy Grouper...

There was no shortage of Macks on that day...

Jackson Pintail worked like clockwork...

Even battle scarred ones continued to produce...

A hard-fighting Cobia on the Pintail and casting outfit...

More micro action with a Grunter on the IMA Gunpeki...

Another Diamond Trevally on Gunpeki...

An epic battle on the super light jig outfit. This fight took over half an hour...

A well deserved capture on light jig outfit - a 21kg Cobia...
Rod: Majorcraft Offblow PE 0.8-2
Jig: IMA Gunpeki 30g
Line: Tufline XP 20lb
Leader: Sunline Power FC fluorocarbon 30lb

That's a limited colour IMA Gunpeki well-used!

A smaller Queenie to wrap things up...

LATEST ARRIVALS - FEB 2012

2012-02-23T00:51:00.005-08:00

Megabass x Arbogast Jitterbug Pagani Limited colours

Evergreen True Round 115F shallow runners

IMA Heavy Surfer 90 long cast minnows

Shout! Feather Jaco Assists

Shout! Power Assist jigging assist hooks

Jackson Gallop 40g & 60g jigs

Jackson Pintail 48 new colour

Jackall Bros Laser Jig 20g

Jackall Bros Laser Jig 30g & 40g new colours

Zipbaits ZBL 15 HD-S offshore casting minnows

Bassday Nin Cas 13g & 20g mini madai jigs

Bassday Bungy Metal II 7g & 14g jigs

Daichii Seiko Carabiner Magnet Holder

IMA Gun Peki 20g, 30g, 40g new colours

DUO Realis Pencil

Coming Soon! DUO Bay Ruf series saltwater lures

Xesta Afterburner 40g jigs

DAY ON THE COAST

2012-02-16T19:49:00.000-08:00

Spent a day checking out the local shallows for some cheap thrills with jigs and stuff...

Didn't take too long to hook up on the first drop, it was an unexpectantly tough fight...

A 7kg Golden Snapper, and a great surprise...

Bassday Nin Raba did the trick, was also using a bass rod by Megabass - the Orochi X-4 F6-68, a brute stick...

Another hook up and the Majorcraft Offblow bent double...

Another surprise in the form of an African Pompano, a rare catch!

IMA Ro 60g - great for inshore jigging!

Small Snapper on Shout! Dangan jig...

Small Croaker on ultralight outfit and Maria Little Bit jig...

A different species of Croaker on the same outfit followed shortly...

Another great fight on an Offblow Light Jig Special rod and a nasty Yellowtail Barracuda was landed...

Vistim of the ever-effective Shout! Shab Shab jig...

LATEST ARRIVALS - JAN 2012

2012-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

Evergreen Caprice Kid 50 & 75g - new colour

Evergreen Prop Magic 75 - sinking propbaits

Evergreen Amazon Pencil - peacock bass special

Jackall Bros Chidler crankbaits

Heddon x Megabass Pagani Special Zara Spook - Limited!

Megabass X-Plose Floating - topwater buzz bait

Megabass X-Pod - funky new colours

Imakatsu Diving Riprizer jerkbaits

Maggy Gara Short Popper and Jerking Bait 1 - new colours

Jackson Pintail 50 - saltwater lures

Fisherman Shotgun 170 and 200g jigs

Shout! Lighten 90g jigs

Live Target Koppers weedless frogs

For enquiries please email:

tacklesource@live.com

A 'DUO' SPECIAL

2012-01-12T01:47:00.000-08:00

The latest addition to our stable of brands, DUO has been actively churning out some radical new products that have taken Japan by storm. Anyhow, it was a good enough reason to hit the local lake to put some of these goodies to good use!

Didn't take long to have this Giant Snakehead snaffle a Perakko...

This model represents a whole new genre of lures - sinking propeller stickbaits. These uncanny incarnations were created to be retrieved slow underwater after letting it be sunk to the desired depth. The twin props spin at the slightest motion and help create a subtle twirl-wave that seems to have the usual cautious fish go mad...

Next it fooled a neat Sultan Fish and a pretty decent one too...

The perfect bite size for these largely shy species...

Trusty ol' Majorcraft Troutino was the perfect tool to work these small offerings, not to mentioned great joy against these hard running fish...

Another Giant Snakehead or Toman as called locally, on the Perakko...

After that we tried targetting the other hard fighter in the pond - the Asian Red Tail Catfish. Out came the perfect weapon for these bottom hugging creatures...

The DUO Ikakko - an interesting concept which has already proven itself fabulously in saltwater environs. Now we take it one step further and into the freshwater domain. Made to look like a little squid, it has a flutter fall which proves irresistable to many predators. The squid may obviously be a little out of place in freshwater, but the silhouette it casts underwater is not unlike a fleeing shrimp or baitfish. Coupled with that slinky flutter fall when paused, it is the perfect tool for many situations and species...

Didn't take too long to find another willing customer on the Ikakko...

No question about the hook up, it was perfectly placed...

Now this hook up was a tad more interesting. The single hook on the Perakko had found that sliver of a whisker, no doubt this fish was in hunting mode typical of all catfish - using their long sensitive appendages to find prey in the less than perfect water conditions. Let to sink and worked slow along the bottom, the Perakko showed its versatility in true class...

Out came another DUO lure which captivates with a beautiful flutter fall, the Yurameki is a sinking lipless stickbait no more than 50mm in size. It definitely punches above its weight and before long another Asian Red Tail hit the deck...

On the ultralight gear each fish gave a fight to remember. It was a good session in terms of variety with a few species caught. Having said that, we've only scratched the surface of the potential of these slick new baits. Can't wait to see what else they pull up next!

For enquiries please email

tacklesource@live.com

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH Part 2

2012-01-11T02:14:00.000-08:00

The first four days of our five were proving uncannily tough for all on board. The lack of interest for the myriad of lures we chucked was baffling, it was as if the fish had all vanished! We worked hard none the less and a few fish were landed each day to keep the glimmer of hope alive. Thankfully on the very last day a tiny window opened for a few hours and we were able to experience once again a typical New Caledonian session...

The jigging was producing so we stuck around for a few drifts, with hook ups on every one....

Another big Cod, this one with a Sevenseas Revolver jig in its mouth...

Like the few before it, this guy weighed about 40kgs as well...

Another big strike but this fish found a hole and buried itself in it...

We then tried casting in the lagoon and was rewarded by this Long Nosed Emperor on a large stickbait...

As the day drew to a close, we anchored for the night and whipped out the light outfits. The DUO Ikakko was shining throughout the trip and accounted for this nice Emperor...

Next up was this spectacular Spangled Emperor on the Ikakko, a super hard fighter on any tackle let alone the 4lb outfits we were using...

Another Javelin Fish on Ikakko...

A nice Golden Trevally plucked from passing school...

Ikakko of course...

As night fell another Spangled Emperor was picked up, this one took the Bassday Nin Sui mini madai that had been so effective...

GT love the mini madai as well, one of two taken at dawn...

GT on DUO Ikakko...

This day we tried the inner reef because we had failed miserably on past days on the outer edges. FCL Labo SPP 140 was a treat to use in these shallow waters and that morning we hit the Coral Trout payload, many were lost due to bad hook-ups but we still boated quite a few, like this one...

Coral Trouts love FCL Squidpens and small ones weren't hesitant at all...

This mother made the fat SPP look small...

A personal best Coral Trout that was almost lost when it headed straight for a bommie and had to be skull-dragged out...

Fisherman Delta 5 stickbait and its victim...

Beautiful colours in the morning sunshine...

SPP 140 with yet another Trout, it was eventually lost to a big GT strike which resulted in a busted line...

Squidpen rigged to dive and swim - deadly in the reefs...

We never tired of catching these amazing fish...

Next up we encountered some nice Goldspot Trevs terrorizing the reefs, SPP did the trick!

Nice fish but no match for GT gear...

A second Goldspot before they fled the scene...

A solid Coral Trout on jig with amazing colouration...

Estuary Cod were a welcome sight, check out that bent Shout! Slide Actor jig...

This Bluefin Trevally biting off abit more than he can chew, attacking this massive SPP200!

A small Amberjack on the new Shout! Flash jig...

The new Flash jig produces another...

A baby Estuary Cod compared to previous ones...

Then rain fell and a big one was hooked, it was brutal and no fun at all under the treacherous conditions...

Fisherman Andaman does it again...

Another 40+kg GT on jig, what was going on?

We returned to popping after the downpour and scored this GT on an Ebipop...

And another, they were loving poppers for some reason...

FCL EXT 81 MH loaded up on a gee...

Stickbait scores at last...

End of another day meant light tackle game with the DUO Ikakko again!

Even a Bonefish found us...

Ikakko again!

Casting into the sunset with slightly beefier gear yielded this 4kg+ Mangrove Jack...

Jackall Bros Squad Minnow did the trick...

A nice Bigeye Trevally which gave a good fight...

Ikakko of course...

Up early the next morning and the DUO Ikakko did the trick again...

An 8 pounder Golden Trev, magic on 4lb gear...

A Remora also got fooled...

Along with a Trumpetfish...

And a small Queenie...

Squad Minnow did the trick on this GT from the reef edge...

A tough customer on a bass rod - the Majorcraft Arrival...

A hefty Red Bass from deep on the Shout! Flash jig. It is the only fish on jig for this day...

FCL Ebipop does this GT in. This is the only fish on popper for this day...

After a tough and fruitless day we retired into the shallows and chased small fish. This nice Papuan Trevally nailed an IMA Melty Nymph soft plastic...

Ikakko found another Goldie...

And a nice one at that, especially on the ultralight Evergreen Kaleido stick...

We had arrived at the Northern tip of the mainland and after our last night's rest we were ready to continue trying on the last day...

First few casts of the day was rewarded when this GT hit the Ebipop...

No NC monster but a nice fish nonetheless...

A smaller one followed suit, on the Ebipop as well...

Then this Flowery Cod showed up, a welcome change to the GTs...

This Red Bass took a big Maggy Gara stickbait...

It was a pretty big one and showed some tenacity too...

After a few botched hook-ups we encountered a pack of GTs and we had 3 guys loaded up simultaneously. One small GT was quickly landed and released while the other two took a tad longer...

Bad luck meant one GT broke through the 200lb leader, so it was two FCL 'Red' rods down to one...

The rod took it beautifully in its stride and the fish was landed shortly after a careful fight. The lure that did the damage was our favourite FCL CSP 260, a big lure which is made to look small here in the gob of a nice GT...

At 45kgs or so this fish was our reward for a hard week's fishing, and a taste of what might've been...

The sad ending of a different tale - pig's tail says it all...

Back to casting and it wasn't long before another hook up...

The big Maggy Gara GT stickbait again made to look small on this fish...

Another big Coral Trout - a personal best for a proud angler...

More Coral Trout but this was no monster...

Red Bass on the smaller CSP 200...

Small Trout on huge SPP 200 swimmer...

A rare catch - a small Emperor on a GT sized stickbait...

A Spanish Mackeral taken from really shallow reefs on the SPP 200...

Lunchtime gave us an opportunity to cast lighter lures into the reefs for fish like this smaller Coral Trout which took a liking to the Jackson Muscle Shot sinking stickbait...

This other Trout fell for the Jackall Bros Squad Minnow...

On one of the lasts casts we got another rare Flowery Cod on the CSP 200, a good way to end the trip...

We were sad to know that very shortly after our trip the amazing operation that is Le Poisson Banane would be no more. Brothers David and Rudy would be moving on to newer ventures but what they had delivered over the years would be remembered by many and sorely missed.

Au revoir, Jack Yvan's...

LATEST ARRIVALS FOR THE NEW YEAR!

2012-01-09T22:38:00.000-08:00

Evergreen Javeline Jet 7g ultralight jigs

Evergreen Logo Iron-on Wappen

Evergreen Mini Rod Straps

Evergreen Towel with Carabiner

IMA Sasuke 105 shallow runners

IMA x Kahara Collaboration split ring pliers

IMA Sasuke 120 - seasonal limited colours

Jackall Bros SK Pop poppers

Jackall Bros Pyun Pyun 6.5g vertical jigs

Jackall Bros Bonnie 95 latest colours

Jackall Bros Barrack 1/2oz buzzbaits

Megabass Limited Iron-on Wappens

Megabass FX-9 jerkbaits - Saltwater Edition colours

Megabass Dog-X pencils

Viva Namida-Kun mini crankbaits

FCL Labo SPP Tuna sinking stickbaits

Imakatsu Pirahna vibrations

Zipbaits B-switcher 2.0m crankbaits

DUO Tetra Works Poco Poco mini poppers

DUO Realis Vibration 62

DUO D-Squid 95 Egi lures

LOOK WHAT SANTA BROUGHT IN!

2011-12-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

DUO Cap

DUO Tetra Works Ikakko squid imitations

DUO Tetra Works Bivi vibes

DUO Tetra Works Yurameki sinking pencil

DUO Realis Spin Bait 60 prop-baits

FCL Labo IWP 175 pencils

FCL Labo SPP Slim 140 swimmers

FCL Labo CSP200S sinking stickbait

FCL Labo CSP175 SP & HS sinking stickbaits

OSP Yamato Jr. new arrivals

Evergreen Gold Digger 600 deep divers

Evergreen Modo Tee Shirts

Evergreen 'Soul of big bite' boxes S & L sizes

Evergreen Bakkan water proof bag M size

Evergreen Line Cutter

Evergreen Showerblows Shorty pencils

Evergreen Modo Bubble Tornado Compact Model Buzzbaits

Evergreen Conbat Crank 250 deep divers

Gamakatsu 56 Seabass single hooks

Jackall Bros DD Squirrel 67 jerkbaits

Jackall Bros Colt Minnow 65SP jerkbaits

Jackall Bros Seira Minnow 55 & 68 sinking pencils

Jackall Bros Squirrel 76 jerkbaits

Jackall Bros DD Squirrel 79 jerkbaits

Jackall Bros Aragon SSR wakebaits

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH Part One

2011-12-14T23:24:00.000-08:00

It was inevitable. We had to do it. We had to return.

L'extreme Nord De La Nouvelle Caledonie.

Yes, the extreme North. After our exciting last trip to New Caledonia the build up to this trip was emphatic to say the least. The day couldn't arrive soon enough but soon we were crossing the continent and braving a journey that would see us in Koumac almost 2 days later. It was one strewn with long lay-overs and overland drives.

This time nature had other plans for us, and throughout the 5 days at sea we were thrown every conceivable weather condition with multi-directional winds to top it off. This shut the fish right down and we were faced with some of the toughest fishing in recent memory. We cast and cast for little or no result for hours at times, the Captain was close to pulling his hair out and after a few sessions we sort of resigned to our fate.

Looking back we still got a decent fish in the boat but it will go down as a trip that really tested the anglers. Here's the story in pictures...

Arriving at the Noumea Airport, gladness filled the heart...

But we were not 'there' yet, a long drive still ahead...

Next day we spent a couple of hours casting from shore for fish like this Wolf Herring taken on an IMA Sasuke...

The beautiful Antares silently sitting in the harbour on our morning of departure...

Wasted no time in loading up - gear and passengers alike...

No shortage of the new Custom Red FCL EXT 81 MH on board...

FCL Labo lures rigged for every condition...

Some brand new Fishermans no less...

A pair of prototype FCL CSP with different balancing points to be tested. They turned out to be a little too popular with the razor gang and neither lasted more than 3 casts before being bitten off...

The session started off wet, but the first Red Bass hit the deck shortly after commencing, courtesy of the Squid Pencil...

Another Bass showing its attractive hues...

Then a big Coral Trout took this Bigfoot meant for a GT...

They were certainly making their presence felt, with another nice fish to follow...

Soon a better fish was hooked and displayed the typical brutish fight like only a GT can...

An average GT by New Cal standards, but at least we had one in the boat...

A slightly bigger one but no trophy...

FCL 81 EXT 'M' model in action...

CSP has always been the performer in the stickbait department and on this trip it was no different, this is the smaller 120gm model...

The GTs hitting the deck were frustratingly smaller than the typical NC fish...

Back at work on the FCL 81EXT rod and onto another GT...

Smaller fish yet, again on the CSP lure...

Big chugger but not so big Red Bass...

Mean 'Cudas ruled the reefs while the GTs weren't around...

Another typical sized fish, this one sporting a dark tint showing aggression...

Nice Mackeral on the Fisherman Delta 5...

Angry head of a good sized Coral Trout adorned with the lure it fell for - the FCL Ebipop...

Happy angler with a personal best Coral Trout...

End of another fight with the fish at leader...

Yet another middling sized GT, tough customers though...

The new FCL Labo EXT81MH in custom red paintwork getting a workout...

Delta 5 stickbait doing the damage...

A nice fish for a happy angler...

Ebipop in the mouth of an angry Mack...

Before release...

A fat Red Bass that wasn't shy about hitting a big cupped chugger...

And a typical Coral Trout on another big cup...

Since the popping was slow we turned our attention to jigging and on our first drop the hook up was instantaneous but they weren't creatures from the top of the food chain...

Next drop though, and it all changed. On the light but tough Poseidon High-Pitch Jerker, this fish gave a good account of itself but was eventually subdued. A fantastic Estuary Cod approximately 40kgs in weight, taken on a Shout! jig...

Then it was back to casting to try our luck but all we got was an enthusiastic Red Bass on the CSP pencil...

So it was back to jigging and it paid dividends again with this smaller Estuary Cod...

We then hit what felt like a freight train. Fight was long and hard, and we were calling it out to be anything from a shark to a foul hooked manta...

It was hard work from 120m depth...

Turned out to be a nice GT lurking deep, it took a liking to a Fisherman Andaman jig...

Weighing in the region of 40kgs, we had finally found a big GT but not using the conventional method. That signaled the end of the day's fishing so we anchored for the night and tried going after smaller critters...

Like this Goatfish, on a Bassday Nin Sui mini madai...

And non-stop action from willing Javeline Fish well into the darkness...

Next morning it was back on deck with the GTs...

FCL CSP claims another victim...

Mid to high 20's fish, they run hard and fast in NC...

Next we had a nice Coral Trout take a huge SPP200 lure...

Beautiful colours on this fish...

Smaller Coral Trout on the Maggy Gara GT stickbait...

FCL EXT 80 rod in action...

This would be a long fight, courtesy of a side-hooked fish...

Another high twenties fish, tough tough job trying to lift these fish from the depths side-on...

And just to deal us a cruel blow we get another fish of the same size hooked in the side again...

Maggy Gara GT a pretty easy lure to manipulate, this the result...

A beautiful Long Nose Emperor on an Andaman jig...

Mean Coral Trout taken on a Sevenseas Revolver jig...

Colours faded on a fish from deep...

Andaman then found its way into the gaping mouth of a Grouper...

Another 40kg Estuary Cod to smile about...

And on the very next drift we hit paydirt again with yet another nice Estuary Cod taken on a Fisherman Marado jig...

More to follow in the next installment...

LATEST ADDITIONS - NOV 2011

2011-11-23T00:26:00.000-08:00

Megabass X-80 Beat SW jerkbaits

IMA Bta60SR shallow runners

Evergreen Kaleido Designo ultra light BC rods

Evergreen Poseidon High Pitch Jerker overhead jigging rods

Evergreen Temujin 'The Eraser' spinning rod

Evergreen Water Proof Tackle Bag

Sunline Monster Battle PE casting line

Sunline Cast Away PE casting line

Sunline PE Jigger HG Light Special jigging line

Sunline PE Jigger HG jigging line

Jackall Bros Giron

Jackall Bros Squad Shad 65 jerkbaits

OSP Beat 3/8oz buzzbaits

Shout! Heavy Duty Split Rings

Shout! Sparrow and Dangan - New Colour

Shout! Flash 100g - New Jigs

Shout! Flash 250g - New Jigs

Shout! Strobe 100g, 150g, 180g - New Jigs

Imakatsu Careca sinking propbaits

IMA Bta70 shads - Special Colours

IMA Hound Glide 125F - New Model

Jackson Qu-On Boil Call poppers

Jackson Trout Tune 55 HW jerkbaits

Megabass Phase 3 'G-AX' baitcast rod

Megabass X-Pod Jr. - New Colours

Megabass Pop Max - Mad New Colours

Megabass Dog-X Jr. Coayu - Mad New Colours

Megabass Pop-X - Mad New Colours

Megabass Giant Dog-X - Mad New Colours

Megabass X-Plose - New Colours

Megabass Lates - Sakura Special Edition

Duo Flatside 54SR shallow crankbaits

Imakatsu Crank 400-R crankbaits

AFTERMATH

2011-11-15T22:24:00.000-08:00

Our Bluefin Tuna USA trip was chronicled in the Japanese fishing monthly - Salty! Fishing by Tsurusaki-san in his 'Samurai Tsurusaki' articles in installments that stretched over two months. Nice touch. Here they are for those who can read the language...

For those who are keen on the video, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdzuDuG57Fs&feature=BFa&list=HL1309653376&index=2

WILD STUFF!

2011-11-15T21:36:00.000-08:00

There's always something special about catching sportfish from shore on lures. Maybe its getting your feet wet and having sand in between your toes, or negotiating a slippery algae-infested outcrop that ups the challenge of getting that elusive fish. One lazy evening spent targetting the prized Barramundi turned out to be something of a revelation...

First you have to get through the other inhabitants like this saltwater catfish, and they love lures too! IMA Sasuke 120 is THE go-to lure for this kind of shore adventure, its erratic action shining through even in the darkness of the night...

Next up was a frisky Yellowtail Barracuda on the Sasuke, all menacing!

What we were after, a beautiful specimen of the ubiquitous Barramundi. This one landed after losing a bigger fish that was uncontrollable...

Another perfect lure for these instances - the Jackall Bros Squad Minnow 95...

An even bigger fish, which gave a great account of itself against the Majorcraft Arrival PE Special rod...

It had to be the IMA Sasuke, battle-scarred but still producing like no other. A successful evening when the stars aligned and we got what we were after. Fishing doesn't get any better...

FRESH JIVE!

2011-11-11T00:37:00.000-08:00

Once again we were headed to the friendly local lake, this time I had two friends from abroad who were keen to see what the fuss was all about. While running the esteemed New Caledonian GT charter operation Le Poisson Banane had made brothers David and Rudy seasoned saltwater guys, most of what they encountered here were to be new experiences to bring home. Shortly upon arrival, we were greeted by this rare and endangered (in the wild) Jullien's Golden Carp, one of many species that call this lake home...

Rudy wasted no time getting into the action with this Giant Snakehead, on a Jackall Bros Squirrel lure...

Next was another Giant Snakehead on a Jackall Bros Squad Shad...

Then a fat and hard fighting Sultan Fish on an IMA Moge lure...

Close up of a very effective lure for this lake...

David was playing with his new toy - the very powerful Megabass Destroyer Phase 3 spin rod...

A big Common Snakehead was his reward...

Taken on an IMA Ligid 70 lure...

Rudy had his new rod too - a Jackall Bros Poison Power Finesse Comp...

A new species for Rudy, the Asian Red Tail Catfish...

Redtails got on the chew, this one took an IMA Trip 85...

Big Tilapia hooked in the belly...

A Red Tail for David...

Zipbaits Khamsin, becoming a favourite for this lake...

Yet another Red Tail, he's on a roll...

Khamsin strikes again!

Jackall Bros Cover Craw worked well on this Red Tail...

Fat and strong Red Tail...

Next David pulled something sepcial out of the bag with this magnificent capture, the rare and super elusive Tapah - the Giant Malayan or Hellicopter Catfish...

Zipbaits Khamsin sucked in without hesitation...

It went 19lbs, a great capture and was revived and carefully released...

Rudy ended the day with another nice Common Snakehead on a Khamsin too. The guys were happy to have came and sampled a little of what we had to offer. We will be seeing them soon on their home turf, hopefully with some stunning fishing to go along...

LATEST ARRIVALS - NOVEMBER 2011

2011-11-08T00:41:00.000-08:00

Duo Tetra Works Perakko - sinking propbaits...

Maggy Gara Jerk Bait 1 - floating pencils...

Maggy Gara Short Popper - 130gm...

Evergreen Pop Cap - choice of 3 colours...

Evergreen Caprice 180g jigs - new colours...

OSP Blitz Ex DR - crankbaits...

IMA Camo Cap...

IMA Black Cap...

IMA Beast Hunter Deep Diving Crankbaits...

IMA Silent Salt Skimmer pencils...

Jackall Bros Knuckle 3.5" soft plastics...

Jackall Bros Squad Minnow Heavy Weight 11g jerkbaits...

Jackall Bros Soul Shad 68 suspending shads...

Jackall Bros Mascle Deep 3.8 crankbaits...

OSP Blitz Max DR crankbaits - new stock...

Shout! Sparrow 60g & 80g jigs...

FCL Labo SL 230g jigs...

OSP Power Dunk jerkbaits - new colours...

OSP Asura suspending jerkbaits...

Megabass Vibration X LW - new colours...

Megabass X-Pod Jr...

Megabass X-Plose sinking propbaits...

Megabass Lates rolling baits...

Belmont Split Ring Opener...

OF WHISKERS AND TEETH

2011-11-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

Had a good friend come in for a couple of days to sample the local scene, so headed down to a place the guys and I have been visiting to cure the proverbial itch and to have a bit of fun. This lake is well stocked with various foreign and indigenous species, and apart from the mainly herbivorous ones there are some predators in there that are keen candidates for lure anglers.

Didn't take too long to hook up. Majorcraft Volkey medium action spin rod is the perfect kind of rod for this kind of casting...

Fantastic catch, a rare Sultan Fish to start the day...

It took a well placed Jackall Bros Knuckle grub...

Next we targeted the Asian Red Tail Catfish, great fighters on the light gear. This one took a Knuckle 3.5" soft plastic too...

The Zipbaits Khamsin is a proven killer in this lake and it accounted for another Redtail Cat...

Redtails grow to good sizes and fight hard. On the new Majorcraft KG Lights Aji rod, they went like freight trains...

Zipbaits Khamsin in another colour strikes again...

More Redtails as arms begin to ache...

The popular lure is proving its worth...

This Giant Snakehead or Toman took a Jackall Bros Squad Shad, another popular lure...

Another big Red Tail Cat...

Jackall Bros Squad Shad worked on them too...

Happy angler - not so happy fish...

Squad Shad again...

Hooked up simultaneously, Majorcraft Volkey and its lighter brother, the KG Lights...

One took an IMA Sasuke Shad...

And another, the IMA Trip 85...

The fish were lining up for our lures...

IMA Trip 85 produced another...

And so did the Sasuke Shad 75...

Megabass Griffon 6cc worked too...

Another good fish...

Back to the Squad Shad and it produced on cue...

Fat and healthy fighter...

This Common Snakehead bit off more than it could chew with this Squad Shad...

IMA Bta Moge and a mean face...

A nice Giant Snakehead, great fun on the light 4lb gear...

The day ended with a Common Snakehead on IMA Bta, what a great session!

BANGKOK JAM

2011-10-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

This was to be a relaxing getaway to sunny Thailand, Bangkok in particular, but fishing's never far where ever we go. So we spent 2 days chasing some tails in 2 very different locales. Anglers in the know would be able to tell from the lures above that the first spot we visited was IT Lake Monsters, outside the city limits and a very good way to spend a day. This lake is stocked with exotic Amazonian species to impressive sizes and most are gregarious lure-takers. However, being a catch and release fishery they tend to be rather smart and only the most stringent selection of lures would pay dividends...

Sunrise at the landscaped lake, great to be away from the bustle of Bangkok...

Armed with new rod in hand - a very special rod from Majorcraft, the Arrival PE Special in heavy spinning guise. Deceptive on the spec sheet, this rod turned out to be a real powerhouse...

The most common catch on lure in the lake is the Amazonian Red Tail Catfish, here with a Jackall Bros Doozer in its gob...

An average sized Red Tail Catfish, taken on heavy baitcast gear...

Most fishes here are not shy when it comes to a feed, most lures are inhaled...

The smaller cousin - the Asian Red Tail Catfish, also on a Doozer...

Plenty of hits as the sun paints the place yellow. Red Tail on a Doozer...

A larger Asian Red Tail taken on the infamous Jackall Bros Giron lure...

Evergreen Temujin 'Amazon Ballista' heavy baitcast rod, a joy to toss big swimbaits with...

Majorcraft Offblow in the hands of a lady...

Enjoying every moment of pain...

The fruits...

Giron in the mouth of an Asian Red Tail...

Another big Asian Red Tail subdued...

The 'Arrival' rod doing its job, note the slick PE guides...

Fat Red Tail on a Doozer...

Red Tails were not the hardest fish to catch that day...

Another big one...

More thrills for the girl with the touch...

One more before release...

Asian Red Tail, they gave a good account of themselves even on heavy gear...

That's a better fish!

Giron latched onto another Red Tail...

And later accounted for this Alligator Gar...

A beautiful fish, if not a tad vicious looking...

Even the South American Pacu made an appearance, couldn't say no to a nicely placed Giron...

One fat Amazonian Red Tail...

Doozer in the gob...

More Asian Red Tails...

And this big Amazonian close to 40kgs...

Another Alligator Gar...

A day of Red Tail Cats would end, appropriately, just like it started...

The next day we chose an even easier event - head to the nearest Barramundi pond and throw a couple of lures at hungry fish! Couldn't get much easier. No brainer thrills at its best!

These fish fought hard, and weren't shy in taking lures...

Beautifully conditioned, these fish impressed with their power. More than enough to make a girl happy...

Jackson prototype popper at work...

The Barras lined up to have a bite...

Jackson Vibe worked too...

And so did the IMA Sasuke...

Evergreen Buzzer Beater...

All smiles...

It was a short but fun session, and enough to make your arms hurt...

Megabass Anthrax 100 provided some topwater thrills...

More smiles...

Zipbaits Irony - more topwater action...

Jackson Artoron greedily inhaled...

Imakatsu Devilripper Zinga - large but not ignored...

Megabass X-pod - complete with adjustable lip...

Evergreen Frog Popper in the throat...

Jackall Bros Dagored swimbait...

Zipbaits US Irony...

Sunbaked and happy - that's how the trip will be remembered!

LATEST ADDITIONS - OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

IMA Rundam 80 jerkbaits

Jackson Jaco Vib mini vibes

Jackall Bros SK Pop Salt Version

Jackall Bros Super Eruption Jr. spinnerbaits

Jackall Bros TN-50 Iyoken Sound vibes

Jackall Bros TN-65 new model vibes

Jackall Bros Doozer SR-F vibes

DUO logo cap

Cormoran Accessories Split Ring Tweezer

Sunline SW System Leader 100% Fluorocarbon 100m spools

Sunline Pocket FC Shock Leader 30m spools

IMA Gun Peki 7, 12, 20, 30, 40g new colours

Aqua Wave Kanzashi Worm soft plastics

Shout! Twin Chip 70g & 200g jigs

Fisherman Crystal White 210g & Marado 280g jigs

AS IT POURS

2011-09-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

The weather of late has been horrid to say the least, and its been that way most of the year so far. But that doesn't stop keen fishermen from trying their luck anyways. So a stubborn group braved the monsoonal conditions, launched the boats and headed upriver for a spot of prospecting. As expected, results were far from decent but a day fishing is better than one in the office!

Here a small Giant Snakehead is quickly subdued with the medium actioned Megabass Jota baitcast rod. It took an IMA Ligid 70 lure worked deep, and landing the fish was made easy with the new Golden Mean Capture Net with its tangle-free mesh...

A second Snakehead quickly hits the deck, this one took a spiralling Jackall Bros Deep Roll spinnerbait...

As the rains came, out came the buzzbaits! And another juvenile Snakehead to the tally with the Jackall Bros Cracker Buzz, white being the colour of choice in low light conditions...

In the upper reaches of the river, the Jungle Perch or Sebarau reigns. IMA Ligid 70s worked fast in the main flow of the river were a proven technique which no one argued with...

Though no monsters were encountered, a few specimens above the kilo mark were enough to lift damp spirits...

One such specimen...

As proven, this colour is the prefered choice for river work. Single hooks minimize the chance for open or crushed hooks - these fish have some jaws...

Working the deeper runs with a Zipbaits B-Switcher also helped score this nice Sebarau...

This bigger fish took a fat OSP Blitz crankbait down its throat...

Not the biggest Sebarau, but a great fighter...

A typical sized specimen from the stream.

Ended the day trying out the new Jackall Bros Zeno Buzz soft frog and it accounted for this Snakehead or Haruan...

EASY DOES IT

2011-09-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

After being bitten by the 'madai' bug we spent some time prospecting our local waters in search of some fish to catch and as usual the Bassday Nin Raba jigs didn't disappoint...

The humble Estuary Cod, always there to save the day!

Another prized specie found along our shorelines, the Fingermark Bream or Golden Snapper albeit illustrated here by a juvenile specimen...

Some stout gear is needed to pull bruisers out of their hole, and after getting busted by a very decent fish we made sure the next hook-up paid dividends...

A nice Estuary Cod, taken on a Majorcraft Arrival heavy spin rod...

Bassday Nin Raba, always producing...

A good Fingermark Bream, taken on a bass rod - the Jackall Bros Slayer...

Good one for the table...

And another one to follow...

Nin Raba again...

More Estuary Cod, not big but fun to catch!

A Stripey for variety...

LATEST ARRIVALS - SEPT 2011

2011-09-26T22:47:00.000-07:00

Shout! Mame Jaco Assists for Micro Jigging

Shout! Powerful Spare Hooks for Madai

Shout! Dangan 40g Jigs

Shout! Slide Actor 160g, 200g, 240g Jigs

Evergreen Darter Frog for Snakehead

Evergreen Combat Crank 480 crankbaits

Evergreen Combat Crank 320 crankbaits

Evergreen SR Mini spinnerbaits

FCL Labo CS 45g Jigs

FCL Labo SL 60g Jigs

IMA Heavy Surfer offshore lures

IMA Sukari Deep Jerkbaits

IMA Koume 60 Vibrations

IMA Shaker Crankbaits

IMA Gun Peki 7g & 12g Jigs

Tsunekechi EZ Widw Spoons

Tsunekechi EZ Slim Micro Jigs

FCL Labo 81 EXT Popping Rod - Special Release RED Colour

Jackall Bros Cracker Buzz buzzbaits

Jackson Trout Tune HW jerkbaits

Jackall Bros i-Shad 4.8" soft plastics

Jackall Bros Xeno Buzz soft frogs

Jackall Bros Sun Visor

Jackall Bros Mascle Deep 4m crankbaits

Jackall Bros Barrack buzzbaits

Jackall Bros Bonnie 85 pencils

Jackall Bros Bonnie 95 pencils

Fish Arrow Crown Shad 5.5 soft plastics

LATEST ADDITIONS - AUGUST 2011

2011-08-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

IMA Casting Gloves

IMA Ro 120g jigs

IMA Pugachev's Cobra Pencils

IMA Flit 100 jerkbaits

IMA Sobat 20g Tune jerkbaits

IMA Sukari 50S

IMA Farina 70S jerkbaits

IMA Molmo 80 shallow runners

IMA Big Stik Pencils

IMA Roumba wake baits

IMA Melty Nymph soft plastics

Viva Kanzashi Worm

Zipbaits Tiny Khamsin DR

Zipbaits Khamsin DR

Zipbaits Rigge Flat 50S Heavy

Zipbaits Rigge Hunted 78S Heavy

OSP Yamato topwater plugs

OSP Diving Frog for heavy cover

OSP Skating Frog for heavy cover

OSP Bent Minnow 106 Saltwater

Shout! Lighten Light Jigs

Viva Kozo Spin 12

Megabass Dog-X Quick Walker

Megabass Destroyer P-3 rods

Evergreen Corsair 85 sinking pencils

Jackall Bros. Waver Shrimp 3.5" soft baits

Jackall Bros. Cover Craw 2" soft baits

Jackall Bros. Cover Craw 3" soft baits

Bassday Nin Raba jigs 60 - 140gm

Bassday Death Lock 78S jerkbaits

NEUVELLE CALEDONIE Part Two

2011-08-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Picking up where we left off - hooked up tight...

NC GTs were tough customers, often requiring some patience to get them to the boat...

Nice GT on FCL Squidpencil...

A really healthy looking fish...

The omnipresent Red Bass...

Not as many Bluefin Trevally as we'd expect, but then they only get in the way of good fish...

Small GT by NC standards...

A really greedy Red Bass which took a monster chugger...

A medium GT which took the same chugger, goes to show you never know what will hit the lures you throw out there...

One of many pesky Cudas we had to contend with...

Another decent GT to put a smile on this angler's face...

Sharks making short work of a Barracuda...

There were no escaping the small but aggro Red Bass...

Nice Coral Trout for a change...

Hooked something large, settled into a long fight...

Which turned into an epic battle, with no give on either side...

Culprit was a big Shark hooked on the dorsal fin!

More GT action, and more enjoyable fights...

Decent fish - beautifully proportioned...

Big hit at boatside and long fight ensued...

FCL Labo 80EXT rod doing a great job...

a 40kg GT, fantastic effort...

Trouts aren't shy, this one took a 200g Ebipop by FCL labo...

Best Coral Trout of the trip...

Beautiful Golden Trevally caught at anchor with 40g IMA Gunpeki jig...

A surprise Bonefish on the same jig...

Goldspot Trevally on Pintail 35 cast with Poseidon Ocean Hunter rod...

Coral Cod on the Jackson Pintail...

GT taken on Jackson Tanto pencil at first light in the shallows...

Nice Coral Trout from the deep on jig...

Fat GT on popper...

And another...

We hit some real bruisers on jigs and lost plenty...

Sharks were really abundant in these waters and took jigs and even smaller fish that were attached to jigs...

More nice GT to hit the deck...

Closing stages of a decent fight with the lighter Fisherman Giant stickbait rod...

Hefty fish at the gaff...

FCL Labo CSP260 stickbait made to look minute by this GT...

Another 40kg fish for the record...

More mad Macks on chuggers...

And more GT...

Interesting looking Shark specie on Orion Plug Tropic...

A larger Reef Shark getting stickbait removed from its side...

Hooked onto another decent fish...

FCL EXT rod and CSP stickbait combo doing its job...

Cod from the reefs on IMA Barbarossa stickbait...

Early morning hook up...

You never tire of catching Giant Trevally...

20kg fish were pretty much average for the trip...

This guy had the lure well down its throat...

FCL CSP claims another victim...

Had to brace the shark attacks to get a decent fish on jig...

Heavy jig outfits were mandatory...

FCL SL jig worked on this capture...

Very fat Estuary Cod, over 40kgs at least...

Dogtooth Tuna which got taxed on the way up...

Solitary Amberjack for the trip...

More Red Bass, this on a stickbait...

And more Macks too...

And GTs of course...

Many GTs...

Small Coral Trout from the shallows...

Hooked up to a whopper on jig...

Spool emptying fast...

Sole Yellowfin Tuna of the trip, on Shout! Stay jig...

Tackle always at ready...

El Toro prototype rod did well throughout the trip, handling its fair share of GTs...

Big lure, small fish...

Another reef bandit doing damage on an unlucky lure...

Red Bass unafraid to hit this big chugger...

This small GT was a pale consolation after this large popper was taken by a monster Dogtooth Tuna estimated by skipper David to be well over 60kgs, the largest he's seen take a topwater lure. Unfortunately the hook up only lasted seconds...

Another XXL Estuary Cod on jig, estimated to be about 50kgs...

Fisherman Andaman doing the damage...

Last ditch effort as the weather turned for the worse was rewarded with a nice take followed by a brutal fight...

Not the monster we were hoping for, but a mid thirties GT to wrap things up...

Last hook up of he trip, just to remind us of how good the fishing was the past 4 days...

NEUVELLE CALEDONIE Part One

2011-08-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a trip made some months ago but we've been procrastinating with the huge number photos so they haven't seen the light of day. New Caledonia, part of the French colony but situated in the middle of the Pacific, is a special place for visitors and more so for anglers. Surrounding the vast and largely lowly populated island are waters which see very few people if any at all. And its there we were headed!

After over twenty four hours journey, we were glad to touch down on New Caledonian soil...

On the tarmac with fingers crossed all of the gear would make it through transit...

Still we were a five hour ride away from where we should be, so more traveling to do...

Next morning we were excited to see the beautiful Antares waiting at the harbour...

Jack Yvan's would be our home for the next few days...

We were in the capable hands of experienced operation Le Poisson Banane, with younger brother Rudy sending us off at the docks...

At the helm was David, the older of the two brothers who run this amazing charter. Both were mad keen fishermen who shared the same passion. Leaving Koumac behind, we motored off into the blue...

Catching fish didn't seem a whole lot difficult from the go, cast and you'll get rewarded...

Red Bass seemed pretty prolific...

More red, but no one was complaining...

Spanish Mackerals also made an appearance, and they weren't afraid to nail big offerings meant for big GTs...

First Giant Trevally of the trip, taken on the FCL CSP260 - a lure which would shine throughout the trip...

Red Bass procession didn't seem to lose steam...

And more...

Another decent GT, the average New Caledonian fish is more decent than anywhere most of us have experienced...

There were smaller ones too, but they were an exception rather than the norm...

Stickbaits or chuggers would work just as well on most days...

The omnipresent Red Bass weren't any choosier than GTs...

Fisherman Giant RS - beautiful rod for larger stickbaits...

A good fish hits the deck, FCL CSP phenomenon had just began...

Pesky Macks, if only they were this easy back home...

Coral Trout were a welcome addition to the species list...

Beautiful fish, but all were released for fear of ciguatera intoxication...

Lunch was a brief affair in between casts while we would relax a little more at dinner...

On good days we got GT throughout the day...

Everyone on board had their fair share...

There wasn't a quiet moment...

Had a chance to put a prototype El Toro 180 rod to test...

It has some hauling power, even on better than average fish like this on a huge Fisherman Long Pen...

It was a grueling daily workout...

Small cupped pencil poppers were easier on tired arms and still caught fish...

David made sure we were clean of the reef whenever someone hooked up...

Smaller GT on FCL Squidpencil...

A decent fish on a brute stick was no fun at all...

It was a slug fest with plenty of line lost on high drag...

Back breaking work...

Even getting it to leader was a chore...

Mid forties Trev, it took alot more effort getting it to the boat because it had been side hooked. The fish took a Fisherman Big Mouth 170 chugger...

Jigging produced this Coral Trout on a Sanme jig...

Bending the unbendable rod...

Barrel from the depths...

Fisherman Andaman was this Estuary Cod's downfall...

A decent Mangrove Jack taken on jig...

Pesky Mack on popper...

A good GT for a happy angler...

Hooked to a freight train on jig, Carpenter OH bearing the grunt...

It took some heaving but we got the fish to the boat...

GT on Shout! Shab Shab jig...

Another nice GT...

Beautiful Mangrove Jack...

And another, we had come across a whole congregation...

Obviously some weren't Jacks, check out that bent jig...

Getting busy...

Were they meeting to breed? Never seen so many together before...

Some were pretty hefty...

Some had scars...

Some were just perfectly conditioned. Andamans did most damage but this Crazy Long did well too...

Flowery Cod on an Andaman...

Big Bucket mouth...

Coronation Trout on Andaman as well...

Smaller Estuary Cod...

Small angler versus big fish...

A nice GT!

More Macks to keep us entertained...

Hooked up to a better fish...

CSP260 doing its job...

A good fish of about forty...

Another CSP victim...

Food Chain education...

Macks aplenty...

In all sizes...

Big Coral Trout on big lure - Fisherman Delta 5...

Tough adversaries on light gear but with popping outfits you could skull drag them out from their holes...

LATEST ARRIVALS - JULY 2011

2011-07-26T02:09:00.000-07:00

Jackall Bros. Jaco Knuckle

Majorcraft KG Lights - Ultralight Spinning Rods

Majorcraft Go Emotion - Spinning & Baitcast Rods

Jackall Bros. Clone Fry Soft Plastics

Jackall Bros. Clone Gill Soft Plastics

Maggy Gara Popper & Marlin models

Fisherman Monster CC72GT popping rod

Zipbaits Fakie Dog Pencil

Zipbaits ZBL Popper

Zipbaits Khamsin SR jerkbaits

Jackall Bros. Mudsucker 90 pencil

Keitech Swing Impact 2", 3", 4" soft plastics

Keitech Swing Impact Fat 2.8", 3.8", 4.8" soft plastics

MORE THAN JUST TUNA

2011-07-17T23:26:00.000-07:00

Yes our journey to the United States was to target the mighty Bluefin Tuna, but we wouldn't miss an opportunity to sample a little more of what the North East had to offer in angling terms. Here's a collection of pictures to add...

Traveling in the right frame of mind...

Our gracious host for the trip was the venerable Kil Song, here at the wheel of his truck...

Leaving New York, embarking on a pretty grueling road trip...

Cape Cod here we come!

Tsurusaki whetted our appetite with pictures of a fish caught the week before...

Tackle preparation on the road, serious business by a serious angler...

New FCL Labo prototypes - Yum!

Visiting New England, be sure not to miss out on the fantastic seafood. We had plenty!

Kil showing how its done!

3am the next morning we found ourselves along the Cape Cod canal hoping to catch a Striped Bass from shore...

It involved alot of walking and prospecting. We were hoping to spot working fish, it was supposedly as easy as casting to them. It wasn't to be though. The banks were filled with other fishermen like us and after a missed strike at sunrise on a FCL TCP we were luckless no matter how hard we tried...

Tsuru and his Japanese friend at work. For nought...

We decided, after a sumptuous seafood lunch, to take the easy route and hop on the Rosey S...

Skippered by Les, who knew his stuff when it came to Stripeys...

Poseidon Ocean Hunter offshore lure rod rigged and ready as we left the Hyannis Harbour...

Didn't take too long to score this nice Striped Bass...

FCL Labo SPP did the trick!

Another nice Stripey, on a Jackson Pintail Tune...

More Bass hit the deck, this on the new Jackson Pintail 48...

A beautiful fish which responds to lures with little hesitation, making it a perfect sportfish...

Yet another on the Pintail Tune...

There were many smaller fish to keep us busy too...

On another occasion between the Tuna fishing we hit some deep holes in search of some delicious table fish, like this Atlantic Cod, taken on a big FCL SL jig...

A Pollack and a Cod for the table...

They were not big but the Cod were a new species for us anyhow...

Then we hit the inshore waters with our Keitech soft plastics and caught fish like this Porgy, which resembles the Bream that can be found in Australia or Japan...

The Sea Robin, a freaky looking fish! But likes plastics too!

This is the Black SeaBass, a beautiful fish with electric colouration. They go hard too...

More Porgy on Keitech Swing Impact Fat. The other guys with bait were catching 2 fish a drop, it was easy fishing with bait but a little harder with soft plastics...

Amongst the bottom feeders were some nice Stripers that took the baits willingly...

A rare Flounder taken on soft plastic hopped along the bottom...

The SeaBass were easy to catch on bait as well, very soon we had a whole feed...

A big Striper taken on, of all things, a clam bait!

To celebrate the trip, Captain Jimmy invited us over to his beautiful place to sample a little home cooked New England goodness...

Kuro Maguro Toro and beer in hand, what more could you ask for?

For us first timers - Sea Bass and Striped Bass sashimi. Fantastic!

The Captain is pretty useful in the kitchen as well...

And his lovely wife we have to credit for the best Seafood Chowder EVER!

Not forgetting those lovely Cod fillets dunked in milk, crumbed and baked to perfection! It doesn't get any better!