INDIANANGLER

Hi Guys,

I had asked our forum members a couple of months ago for a good destination to fish in the month of May and after many suggestions from you guys finally zeroed in on New Cal .
Got in Touch with David of LPB and he was very truthful and told me that May was like end of season for them, the weather was not too good with lots of rains , some big seas, that the fishing would be in difficult conditions and yes a 5 day live aboard on “Antares” could be done.
But then we decided ( me and son Rahul) to test our fortunes and reached Noumea after travelling 30 hours, flying from Dubai to Seoul Korea to Noumea on the 23rd May evening. Got a day’s rest and were picked up by David on the 25th day break , the sky overcast, the waters choppy and we were yet to recover from the jet lag with a crazy time difference that told our body clock to sleep in the middle of the day, eat at mid night, and crap three times a day!!
We had our fair share of Gts before this trip but nothing prepared us for these super strong cold water GTs who scoffed at our 15 kg drags and treated us with disdain.
The incredible runs were nothing compared to the back breaking work out the fish gave us when near the boat as we puffed and pulled to bring the leader up.
On a rather philosophical note, the trip left us humbled, in awe of nature and all ego destroyed. GT Nirvana!!
Am posting a few pictures out of many (resizing is a pain in the a..se).
We had some good Gts pull ST 76!! Couple of Nomad Uluas swivels straightened out and our fair share of bruises from getting knocked around while arguing with the GTs. Evenings before retiring for the day saw us enjoy some excellent fishing with light tackle from the bommies.
And yes we were introduced to the pet GT.
I do declare that LPB is a professional operation; David and Seb know all you can know about GT and are fantastic human beings.

( IA members this is a post from a Popping Forum )


























































































Jeen

Just tooooo good.. Thanks for shaaring Jeen.... the pics are amazing..

Thats awesome. Thanks for the post

Those are some super GTs Jeen. Congrats...

So who hooked and landed that monster that is sharing Rahul's and your lap? You are the one looking exhausted in that pic.

What is the weight of the heaviest one Jeen?

Amazing pics and good encourage for the fellow anglers.

Please do post the remaining pictures.

Salmonmani

Bobby,

It was more of Rahul's fish.He hooked that fish on a Hammerhead I cup which is a 220 gms almost a foot long popper. The fight was crazy I got involved after we saw colour. You are right That wee bit at the end was enough to wipe me out.Every hook up and fight was a near death experience for us.These Gts from the south pacific fight like nothing we have encountered till now.

Jeen

What the *****!

Is this for real! What the *****! Fantastic! Now can I go out and cry!

Hi Jeen,

Amazing pics as usual. Thnks for sharing.

thats a very big show . Sir.

ultimate fishing wow!

Mahaseerken, Lets book a hotel room and cry together with print outs of Jeen's fish pics in hand.

All are invited.

Hi Jeen,

Just wondering if that GT population is a resident population? I am asking because they seem to be in awesome condition, like pre breeding or something.

Jeen I have sent you PM.

Regards,

Bobby

Fantastic. I was in Seoul at the same time and I could not even hit a tackle shop.

Salmonmoni,

The big Gt was estimated 45 Kg. We had certian hooku ps of fish etimated 50 kg and above one which the captian who sits on the tuna tower who sees ever hit ( for that guy its a ring side view )said was close to 60 kg both fish either pulled the hooks or broke the lures ( thank god for That!!) .
Bobby, The Gts there are always solid, round and strong . . THe built is typical for the south pacific heavy seas .Most Gts I persume are resident every where. a good example is that picture of us feeding a pet Gt that has been friends with our charter operators It weighs more than 35 kg and lives in a reef thats 80 Kms from the main land . On the third evening we parked our boat in a lagoon close to the reef and the boys started stomping their feet on the boat and... viola!! the Gt appeared which was subsequently hand fed with big chunks of cut tuna. And believe it or not that queen fish( 2 Kg) you see in the pictures above was swalloed whole. It has a few friends 3 lemoras that were 2 kg each attending to it like they were its slave boys.
The boys met this fish on the very same lagoon 2 years ago and has made the randevouz without fail every time they visit that particular reef.
Rahul has a underwater video he made of that fish its awsome!. He had to grab the Camera away before the big boy almost swalloed his cam!

Samsondhi, Youll probably find only telescopic rods and toy reels in korea as the fishing there is mostly for bream and small rock cod. New Cal is another 10 hours flight south of seoul.



Jeen

Thats awesome. Thanks for the post

The most gorgeous GTs Ive ever seen!!!!

Simon

Amazing Jeen,

I did not realize that, "that" the picture of the pet GT. Only on looking at it hard now did I notice, I thought that it was a picture of you guys reviving the fish.

I think you are right about GT's being resident. They just tend to switch places as they grow. Over here we have 2-6lb GT's living in Marinas, it is very rare that you get one over 10lb.

There is one place here again a specific marina where the common size is around 16 - 20 lb but no one can fish there.

For larger ones you got to go further offshore to some structure but the costs to charter a boat here are just too much especially if you have to foot the bill all by yourself.

Bobby

Excellent pictures Jeen,

Thanks for sharing! truly an amazing trip!!!

All the best, Scott

Awesome GT's jeen.. Thanks for sharing..
Can someone tell me what is that fish with yellow fins and tail? I have never seen one like that before.

Cheers,
Binu

Amazing and truely envious. Tight lines to you always

Wow. Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

superb.... but these GTs look bit different, bit more musular, why is so?

They workout with Jeen and Co.

great stuff....
nice boat....

Binu,

Thats a black saddled coral trout.


Jeen

Hi Jeen

great as usual, the pic with you in it after the pet monster being fed pic. is the rod you're holding a penn 7' 10-20 lb test travel rod and if so what is your opinion of it?

would love your opinion on the reel and line also.

Regards

David

Hi Pandim,

That rod is the penn alright but the rod is no good since it has a very short handle section and the reel sits too far towards the butt end. Iam still looking for a decent travel rod. We took it with us since we had restictions for the rod case length.
The Reels were certate 3500 hyper custom ( daiwa) - top reel and line used was PE 2 (braid) on it which is near 30lb test.

Jeen

i think they work out to save themselves from jeen and co!!!

thanks jeen

can you let me know the size and weight lures were you using on the penn travel. also apart from the short handle how would you rate the rod in terms of the size of fish it can handle, casting distance achieved etc.

Regards
David

Pandim,

We were usng small stick baits up to 30 gms on it. Size of fish ..... Well its a strong rod and can horse reasonably big fish. We were horsing reefies up to 20lbs on it. My friend landed a 14 kg king fish with it from the boat here in Abu Dhabi. But if its fishing the reefs or say rock fishing on our coast( india), where you cannot allow the fish to run and cut you off on structure then a lot depends on your skill and knowing your tackles limitation.
Casting distance you can get from a 30 gms or 20 gms bait with PE 2 can be up to 60 mtrs with a favourable wind and half that distance if the wind is blowing in your face.


Jeen

Fantastic Game and Superb Photographs, Jeen. Thanks for sharing them.

May I know which is the other Rod and Reel in a picture showing you playing the fish ? In this case, the Reel is not fitted near the Butt of Rod.

Hearty Congratulations!

Regards,

Arun

Arun,

The rod I was using was a Carpenter popping rod paired with a Saltiga Dog Fight ( daiwa) . Rahul was using the same rod with a Stella 10000FA for popping For Jigging we were using Rod - X oga and reel Stella 20000.

Jeen

Phew!!!!!!!
The trio is out again.
Excellent fishing and awesome pics.
Ravi

Jeen,

Thanks very much indeed for your quick response to my request.

That is quite an expensive gear you have Jeen. No doubt you are landing the Monsters!

The other picture showing you holding a Penn 20-30 Travel Trolling Rod is affordable to me. What Reel do you use for this 20-30 Rod?

Warm Regards,


Arun

Fantastic stuff Jeen, truly awesome......like always

I am trying to pretend.. I did not even see this post..




All I can say is.. Jeen, Thanks for sharing, Simply awesome..

Regards,
Madhur.

ditto ditto ditto ***** Jeen I am green with envy man superb report and pics

Arun,

The penn is a 3 peice 10 to 20lb travell spinning rod the reels were certate 3500 hyper custom( Daiwa) loaded with PE 2 braid.



Jeen

Thanks so much Jeen for info. BTW is this Penn 3piece 20-30 travel spinning rod and this Reel would be available in Dubai?

Regards,


Arun

Arun.

the rods came from cabelas and the reels from plat japan both puchased online.


Jeen

Jeen,

Thanks very much for the details.

Regards,

Arun

Hi Jeen,
Excellent job and pictures. Thanks for sharing with you.
Exccellent team work. Congrats and keep it up.

Hi Jeen,
Excellent job and pictures. Thanks for sharing with you (ooops)..US.
Exccellent team work. Congrats and keep it up.

As usual good show Jeen... At this rate you will drive half the mumbai anglers crazy

Great read jeen!! Amazing GT!! I need to get one of those saltigas dogs too!! My opus bull felt underpowered!! (on GT´s half your size hehe) Regards greg

Hi Jeen

Awesome GT's and fantastic photos, well done!

Andy