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...
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...