Here's the sequel to the first part installation of our last Maldives adventure, as can be found in this link:
The weather was far from ideal with the onset of the monsoon. We made the best of the conditions, casting in storms and dropping jigs in mad winds and crazy drift speeds. Here are the catches, from where we left off...
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| Here's a solid capture on the good ol' Sevenseas Hooker jig... |
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| A big Yellowfin Grouper which gave quite a run for the money on the strong Evergreen Poseidon Spin Jerker... |
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| Rosy Jobfish often smash jigs so hard you'd think they were much bigger fish. Landing one is often a disappointment, but here's a nice one on an Andaman jig none the less... |
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| A Shout! Flash jig bounced on the bottom produced one of many Greasy Groupers... |
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| On the popping front the FCL Ebipop was the one to have on... |
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| It proved very effective on the GTs in conditions that were far from calm... |
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| The biggest GT of the trip also didn't think otherwise... |
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| The FCL Ebipop does good. Worked slow with the FCL EXT81 rod, it made for easy work and drew countless strikes including some by fish that we were unable to land... |
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| In the evening it was the usual ultralight tackle suspects like this Cod on the IMA Gun jig... |
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| Paddletail Snappers are hard scrappers and they love IMA Guns too... |
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| Another striped coral Snapper specie on the IMA Gun... |
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| Meanwhile the larger IMA Gun accounts for the bigger predators when at anchor. On the Temujin 'Spider' its ultra fun! |
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| Another beach session to take a break from the heavy stuff. The winds were howling, and conditions made it tough... |
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| We waded some flats in search of Bones but came up short. Here's a welcome by-catch - an Emperor on the Ikakko... |
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| Little Coral Cods are the easiest to find with Ikakkos amongst the corals... |
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| A little Banded Trevally in shallow water on the Ikakko gave some thrills before we cut the session short... |
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| Meanwhile as the rains moved in the FCL Ebipop continued to work with another fine GT... |
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| At a honey hole we picked up this Black Jack which took a liking to the Fisherman Andaman jig... |
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| Followed by this nice Flowery Cod, again on the Andaman. A really nice catch! |
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| Andaman strikes again with this huge Paddletail Snapper... |
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| Shout! Shab Shab gets attacked by a Coral Cod... |
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| The FCL SPP Slim comes into play when the conditions are easier. GT on cue... |
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| There weren't many Red Bass this trip but here's a decent one which took an FCL CSP stickbait... |
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| SPP Slim does more damage, with another GT... |
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| With the trying conditions comes great rewards, like this nice looking Dogtooth Tuna on an Orion stickbait. The second for the trip! |
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| Meanwhile, poppers continue to work on the GTs. The Maggy Gara Short Popper is as good as they come... |
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| All onboard were using FCL Labo popping rods. Light and superb castability make them your best friend on board... |
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| And they make short work of nice fish like this bruiser GT... |
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| The FCL Labo scores again. 'Nuff said... |
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| And another CSP victim in the form of this magnificent Coral Trout. One for the archives indeed... |
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| Another FCL Labo rod bent. As the bite gets red hot the hits were coming fast and furious... |
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| The FCL SPP Tuna is another magical tool for Maldivian GTs. Great casting and a darting swim make them irresistible... |
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| Some fish were of decent size, all were good fun as the topwater strikes kept the adrenaline flowing... |
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| FCL Labo SPP Slim at it again... |
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| Another GT on the CSP 175HS - sinking pencil extraordinaire... |
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| And another good size GT on the SPP Slim... |
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| It was a fight fest on board. Days like this be remembered... |
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| FCL CSP with the goods... |
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| And the SPP Slim scores again... |
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| The procession continues with another FCL CSP capture... |
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| Then we get this real rare encounter with this angry looking Dogtooth Snapper which went for a CSP stickbait in the shallows... |
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| The CSP 175HS, what else will it catch? |
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| Change of lure but no stoppage in the action. FCL Ebipop with another GT... |
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| And so too the Maggy Gara Popper... |
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| Beautifully marked Red Bass on a Maggy Gara too... |
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| FCL Labo 81 EXT rod doing what it does best... |
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| A hefty Red Bass on the big FCL CSP... |
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| More bent FCLs and tired arms... |
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| Pencil poppers like the El Gaviota worked too. The GTs were on the chew... |
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| Maggy Gara poppers worked with short sharp chugs worked like clockwork... |
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| Here's another rare encounter - a Long Nose Emperor on the Maggy Gara Short Popper... |
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| Another look at that unique face and battle-scarred popper... |
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| Maggy Gara Poppers were on the top of the menu for the GTs on this day. And what a day! |
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| Back to the SPP Tuna. Worked with long sweeps, its tight action and flashes did the trick on this GT... |
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| The big CSP 200S usually call out the big ones, on this day the aggressive feeders were out in full force and small fish weren't afraid to belt the big lures thrown at them... |
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| A decent fish on the CSP to make tired arms even worse... |
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| As the day drew to a close, so did the trip. But the fishing didn't let up. Here's a double on the CSP and a Maggy Gara popper... |
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| The last GT of the trip on the Maggy Gara Short Popper. A fitting picture to keep spirits up until the next trip... |
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