What you don't see in the above pic is the boat ramp, choice.
Alan has the very same model of boat in Vanuatu as he has in NZ plus everything else necessary to fish regularly, weather permitting. How could I decline Alan's invitation to fish with him in Vanuatu once the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted from the respective countries? Well I didn't and this post is about my recent fishing experience with him in Vanuatu.
Alan picked me up from the Port Vila airport on 29th September. Of my 30kg baggage limit some 20kg consisted of tackle that I just couldn't leave behind in Oz. Months of planning had gone into this despite Alan's advice that you don't need to bring any tackle as I have all bases covered, and he was correct.
Fishing methods we engaged in included jigging, deep slow jigging, trolling skirts / bibbed lures / strip baits / dead baits and poppers, drifting dead baits as well as numerous methods of catching live-baits to be deployed as livies. In addition we would deep drop in mostly 250 - 400m water depths targeting poulet. Marlin were not on our radar. Without going into daily reports Alan put me onto some great fish and our captures included the following species:
Barracuda
Coral trout
Coronation trout
Dogtooth tuna
Flying fish
Long nose emperor
Mahi mahi
Pygmy red poulet
Queenfish
Randall's snapper
Red bass
Red snapper
Saddle-back snapper
Scad
Sharks - too many but managed a few for the village
Silver jaw red poulet (Pale snapper)
Skipjack tuna
Sottel red poulet (Ruby snapper in WA)
Yellow fin tuna and I'm sure I've missed a few others.
The majority of the boated fish was distributed among the local indigenous population, shark being their favourite. Hard to figure but they seem to prefer shark to mahi mahi or poulet.
Every fishing trip has a hard luck story and mine was to drop a 'fish of a lifetime' wahoo according to Alan at the side of the boat just seconds before it was about to be hit with the gaff. The first run was huge despite 15kg of drag, impressive stuff.
I was fortunate to experience a good stretch of weather and we fished 16 of the 20 fishing days available. Lay-days only on the day after arrival, the day prior to departure and two sightseeing / shopping days.
For me the highlight of the trip would have to be the dogtooth tuna. We had experienced bust offs after being buried in the reef by others before we finally boated a 30kg doggie a few days before my departure. It was a huge buzz with the fish being hooked in 20m of water. 15kgs of drag on the reel again and trying to led it (perhaps bully it would be a better word) into deeper waters before it could bust you off on the reef. Bejesus they go hard. Two happy guys when it hit the deck I can assure you. Job done, tick the box, we eat doggie sashimi tonight, better than YFT.
Alan was a great host and one of the most modest guys I have ever met. His knowledge about how to change tactics and fishing methods to catch fish in a fishery that has been seriously depleted (read fkd) by the Chinese long liners and purse seiners is impressive.
Alan, thank you once again for the invitation and your hospitality. Tusker time; cheese, red onion and tomato on crackers; sashimi, fresh pawpaw / banana and yoghurt breakfasts and especially deep fried fish in the secret batter recipe will all feature in my many memories of my journey to Vanuatu.
A few pics to finish.
Fruit and vege market in Port Vila.
Fish & chips with the secret batter recipe, very yummy.
Trolling at sunrise near Nguna Island.
Poulet and Randall's snapper.
Mahi mahi time.
And another.
Dogtooth tuna.
Skoti wrote: ... I have met Alan before , though he was with a dodgy mate of his ( Bazza ) Nice guy
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