Charter Operator – Matava Resort Gamefishing
Boat Names – Bite Me (Offshore) and Offensive Tackle (Inshore)
Average Water Temp – 28.5
Average Sea State – Calm / mild chop
Average Winds – 5-10kts
Water Clarity – Excellent
Offshore
We have had a hot bite from the blue marlin over Feb / March with most of the fish following the schools of skipjack tuna around the Kadavu seamount and up the Kadavu trench. The largest blue caught (was sadly gut hooked by a circle hook) weighed in at a respectable 420lbs with a couple of much bigger fish lost on lures. The average size as been about 200lbs.
Normally the water temp goes up to 29/30 by Jan / Feb and this kills a lot of the action but this year it rose to 28.5 and there it has stubbornly stayed which I think is why the blues are still here in numbers.
This lower than average water temp happed last year as well and it lead to a spectacular sailfish season from May – September. We found packs of sails on every attempt.
The Yellowfin are around with lots of fish in the 20 – 40lb range close in to the barrier reef and some nice cow Yellowfin around 100lbs farther out on the trench.
Mahi mahi are a bit thin on the South side of the island but round the North side there are quite a few juveniles chasing the flying fish a couple of miles offshore.
Inshore
The Narrow Barred (Spanish) Mackerel are tending to be a bit on the small side at the moment with the average fish being around 15lbs. These are mostly schooling juveniles found inside the Great Astrolabe barrier reef. The big guys are not really biting and staying deep away from the warm surface water. We know they are there as the divers see them often but always deep. We have picked up the occasional one when deepwater jigging. When the water temp starts to cool a little in May/June the mackerel action should pick up.
On the deepwater jigging and bait fishing side, lots of action there. We are bringing up some very nice deepwater snapper (Opakapaka), emperors to 20lbs and some nice amberjack.
The popper casting for Trevally has been reasonably good but most fish caught have been bigeye Trevally or Bluefin Trevally. One Bluefin Trevally caught recently would have smashed the All-Tackle world record but it was caught on a heavy 80lb class outfit whilst looking for the big GTs. (IGFA Records only go to 15kg for bluefin Trevally)
Summary:
Water - Didn't get too hot over Dec / Jan/Feb, good oceanic current and excellent clear water.
Blues - Plenty, best method at the moment - find a skipjack shoal and run a couple as skip baits.
Sailfish – Not here yet but the baitfish they follow starting to show on the sounders.
Wahoo - First few showing, looking good for the winter season starting in May.
Yellowfin - Here now in big numbers but patchy from one week to the next.
Mackerel – Plenty of small ones inshore
Mahi Mahi – Yes, lots to 20lbs
Cpt Adrian Watt
Director, Matava Resort Gamefishing,
Tel: + (679) 3337 222 or 3336 098
www.gamefishingfiji.blogspot.com
www.matava.com
