Who's been saltwater fly fishing? The Tropics
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Saltwater Flyflingers
Forum Description: A forum for saltwater fly fishing enthusiasts
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=106427
Printed Date: 17 Apr 2024 at 8:36am
Topic: Who's been saltwater fly fishing? The Tropics
Posted By: WillP
Subject: Who's been saltwater fly fishing? The Tropics
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2015 at 12:44pm
| 52 hours fishing in the last 6 days and 2 bones on the bedpost. Other species aswell but nothing like a sightfished bone smashing the fly. The monsters still allure me. I Will Be back. |
Replies:
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2015 at 10:19pm
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Nice Will, Nice Good effort for a dodgy time of year ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2015 at 5:34pm
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Heres a few vids from the trip Bone 1 https://vimeo.com/115754277?utm_source=email&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complete-finished-20120100&utm_campaign=7701&email_id=Y2xpcF90cmFuc2NvZGVkfDgwMTYxMzU0ZmM5NWQyZWViODQxOTJlMTdmYjM3YzgxODEwfDM0OTEwMzI1fDE0MjAxMzA1NzR8NzcwMQ%3D%3D" rel="nofollow - https://vimeo.com/115754277?utm_source=email&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complete-finished-20120100&utm_campaign=7701&email_id=Y2xpcF90cmFuc2NvZGVkfDgwMTYxMzU0ZmM5NWQyZWViODQxOTJlMTdmYjM3YzgxODEwfDM0OTEwMzI1fDE0MjAxMzA1NzR8NzcwMQ%3D%3D Bone 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoFj9uJ2gbQ&feature=share" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoFj9uJ2gbQ&feature=share Bone 3 http://youtu.be/jV-Q-ixMbPw" rel="nofollow - http://youtu.be/jV-Q-ixMbPw [ Low tide take off https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erJVv9JEI2w&feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erJVv9JEI2w&feature=youtu.be |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2015 at 9:48pm
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Thought I'd use Will's recent stuff from Aitutaki to kick off a Tropical sticky thread. Lots of sticky threads here I know, but it helps to keep the forum tidy  |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2015 at 9:54pm
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2015 at 9:56pm
Stunning windless weather there Will. It looks hot. Those clouds must be what they mean in those Aitutaki weather forecasts when they say "chance of rain" 
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Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2015 at 12:18am
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Thanks Craig actually lots of wind and rain on this trip, but with true dedication and well picked spots by Butch kept us in the game,I was throwing first lines within 30 minutes of arriving on the 8.50am flight .We got out on the boat 5 out of 6 days.The wind switched from south to east to north so always something to fish, but mostly east so lots of nice sheltered motus.. I had 1 day of real rain but still fished in-between samade and inanos on that day chasing I,m sure the same fish for 3 days straight. Each day brought something great, the big bones down at one foot, spotting and throwing at bones on windless evening,s on Samade, down to the last two shots of the trip off mangere with two massive bones which came to sniff the fly but decided to leave me in suspense till next time. Even though visibility wasn't the best with Butchs eagel eye and help we saw lots and lots of bones but I noticed not as many tails as past trips . Was a definite change in mood, maybe was me improving or the fish where hungrier as often came to the fly , watching them finally smash it was well worth the hours put in for the reward, did loose a couple of hook up,s as well so not a bad score. I used the same fly for the whole trip and scored a nice trev as well. I learned a heck of a lot on this trip, mainly stripping techniques and patience which effectively turned the tide on finally getting some results. Travel tips. The hotel in Raro over the road from the airport is now called the Islander Hotel, They have a transit lounge for $45 and you get lounge, showers/toilets, cofefe tea facilities etc is well wroth considering if want to make the best of the air NZ time schedules, this meant I arrived in raro at 1am and was able to get the 8am to Aitutaki and get straight on the water for a full day. In-between I saved on a nights accommodation and was the only one there so was a nice air-conditioned lounge with real comfy couches :), bacon and eggs with frsh coffee at the airport café which seems to be open 24 hours topped the morning off before getting on the 8am flight to Aitutaki If you get the works deluxe you get awesome seats in the plane and get to use the showers and lounge area in NZ and Raro which includes full bar and wine and cheese and ****, this means you can fish till the last minute on the lagoon. I got 11.50 am from Aitutaki and had a nice lunch and shower in the Air NZ lounge at Raro and got on the 2.55 to NZ. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2015 at 6:46am
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Yes, I prefer doing it in a day with the three hour gap between flights, but it can be hard to get that. Once did 7pm from Aitutaki, 2am from Raro, turned back by fog in NZ and back in Raro at 4am, asleep in some Raro resort at 5am, a great breakfast at 10am plus a walk around the beaches and sights of Raro. Back in plane at 3pm. I wasn't complaining Well done on the bones. I'm already having bad dreams about big dagger-like bonefish tails waving at me. |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2015 at 2:33pm
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That's awesome Will, ya must be buzzing, Great to see that smile, them bones sure make an angler work for his hookup, Loving the audio banter   don't what it is about any footage I see of that place, Ya just start grinning. Nevermind the "garden of eden' Im talking the 'Island of eden' ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2015 at 2:45pm
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Great reports! ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier 
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Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2015 at 9:21pm
| Thought i,d add this interesting article http://midcurrent.com/techniques/targeting-giant-bonefish/" rel="nofollow - Giant Bonefish |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2015 at 5:16pm
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Nice article, I like the quote'Let a bonefish be a bonefish' which I can plagarise to my own quote'Let a fish be a fish'  Hows that Fly pattern,! remind ya of something?  ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2015 at 5:19pm
  ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2015 at 5:19pm
| Very good instructions there. I read similar stuff in relation to permit. Keeping the fly on the bottom for bottom feeding fish makes a lot of sense. |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2015 at 8:17pm
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Love that top photo of the massive bone, if divide the fish by 8 hands left(as judged in photo) 72 cms long. It looks like a 5 footer in the photo
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Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2015 at 12:19am
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That Bone is epic! ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2015 at 4:13pm
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Yip, New Caledonian northern remote flats that sucker, when I heard all the storys about the sizes of the bones up there,i was thinking Bull ****. That was till I seen the pics. ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2015 at 5:36pm
I,m not so sure of the size of those xotics up new calendonia way, i have read reports of 7-8 plbs and some over 10? ?, yes big fish in the pic but looks like a very well taken shot  . More facts please, could well be a great destination if the stories are true.
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Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2015 at 9:49pm
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Dream Trip https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=988570981157980&pnref=story" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=988570981157980&pnref=story |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 7:43am
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A massive degree of skill required to get a hook-up there. Not sure I'd wade too deep either!
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Posted By: Fraser Hocks
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 8:29am
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Yea as Craig said would really test your flyfishing skills to get a hookup from that lot.......................NOT!!!! Some seriously big fish in that lot!
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Posted By: Ahab
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 6:32pm
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Nice vid! Does anyone recognise these bruisers? You wouldn't want to get your wadger out for any reason at this spot! |
Posted By: Ahab
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 6:33pm
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GURgv1pplbk" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GURgv1pplbk |
Posted By: Jaapie
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 6:36pm
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Wish they were Tiger sharks! ------------- "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 6:51pm
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Yeah there the pet ones at the south end, They get fed at least three times a day by the tourist boats you wanna see the one me and will saw on a flat Nearby, 200lbeasy! It cameright up to will, must have expected lunch. ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 8:38pm
| Yep if they are 100 plb the one we saw was definetly 200 for sure, amazing what idiot would throw a fly at a 200 plb GT with a nine weight rd, being dreaming about that dinosaur ever since. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2015 at 8:51pm
I'm with you on this one Kev, or maybe those giant testicle crunching Amazon pacu In terms of fishing. I'll be happy with a 20lber on the flats thanks
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Jaapie wrote:Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2015 at 5:38pm
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Same! that's the one thingthat surprised me the most from visits to Aitutaki, How there really hard to target in places were yoyve got any chance of landing, Suppose that's the reason why the berley up method in Xmas island became what it is, the clients expect easy success, Supply and demand. ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2015 at 11:12pm
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Yep, a wild GT cruising the flats is a real challenge. The few I've had the chance to cast to were in the right spot for a cast so quickly that I either muffed the shots or failed to get the fly in front. Bonefish, by contrast, normally give you buckets more time... or don't even move. A cruising GT can be out of reach moments after you've spotted it. That's why they need to feed them until they're tame enough for easy shots at Xmas Island |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2015 at 11:52pm
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Interesting video for those going to the topics, interesting participitation from NZ?. https://vimeo.com/120004542" rel="nofollow - https://vimeo.com/120004542 |
Posted By: DeVille Incarnate
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 8:26am
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Good practices there, thanks for posting Wiil. ------------- Approach with extreme caution - I NEVER look where my back cast is going.... |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 3:38pm
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https://vimeo.com/103243677" rel="nofollow - https://vimeo.com/103243677 Teaser for anyone going to the tropics. I,m off to Aitutaki next friday, weather looks marvelous http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/aitutaki_airport" rel="nofollow - http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/aitutaki_airport
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Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 4:19pm
Will, it IS cyclone season... good onya for being brave 
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Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 4:37pm
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Yeah LOL, they where meant to have 5 cyclones this year but none have come through yet, got to be in it to win it. Not sure if those links work for you but dont for me, when you do links it makes you enter the address twice?. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 7:22pm
| Yeah, I couldn't get the link to work. Just looked at Metvuw ten day forecast for southpacific. |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 8:20pm
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Just fixed the links, enjoy the video if you havent seen it allready. Hopefully i get lucky all those bad weather systems seem to be sliding down before they get to aitutaki, I,ll take the hit here if can avoid it there
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Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2015 at 6:05am
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Ah ha, so you've got GT's on the mind. Try the entrance to the harbour at about 3am! (use wire cable for fly line )
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Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 8:37am
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well then, our CXI planning has led to an absolute 5hit storm of fly tying, so far my mate Coch and I ave tied ~400+ bonefish flies... super special [and probably completely redundant] materials have been sourced from all over the globe... videos watched, forums scoured, medical emergencies reviewed [strep infections and diphtheria anyone?], cyclone Pam damage checked [none at all], gear checked [I'm taking #6, #8, #10, #11, #12 and #14 rigs], leaders built... roll on goddam duck season I need a break from all this fussing!! I expect that other bonefish/GT virgins were exactly the same prior to their trips. ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 8:40am
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400 bonefish flies. You'll probably bring home three hundred and ninety six! Always good to have plenty of variety though The tying frenzy and long awaited build up to any tropical trip is all part of the fun. I'm already getting myself sorted for October!
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Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 8:42am
Have a blast Nick, I look forward to reading of your adventures. ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: bass-ist
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 9:25am
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On my first bonefish trip to Anagada in the late 80's, I tied about 250 or so bonefish flies. Unded up using about a dozen and ahalf or so, if that many and caught heaps. It's awesome Nick! As my late trout genius father in law used to say...."mighty are the preparations". Its half the fun I reckon. Can't wait to hear reports |
Posted By: Fraser Hocks
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 9:56am
Nail head, hit Craig! I reckon i tied around 60-80 flys for my trip to Aitutaki. I think i lost 4 flies and maybe used 10 for the whole trip. I reckon a small selection and a travel tying kit is what im taking next time! Custom make the flys to suit each evening that way!
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Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 11:14am
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400 flies, here's the rationale - 1 fly per fish. So there.
------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 5:53pm
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photos of fly box please, I gotta see this, man you been busy ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: DeVille Incarnate
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2015 at 10:57pm
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Ditto all above and best of luck Nick!! ------------- Approach with extreme caution - I NEVER look where my back cast is going.... |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2015 at 12:14am
See, You're a thinker!!!!! ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2015 at 11:45pm
I could write a book about the last 7 days but this pretty well sums it up.
Butch,s up and coming junior guide Patti leone with a very happy camper
  If this what the cyclone season brought imagine what the windy season will bring, back in August.
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Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 6:40am
| That a great looking chunky bone right there. Sounds like you had a great time. Looks warm! |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 7:32am
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Warm was an understatement, this was one time i really did appreciate the wind :). 29/30 degrees, 7 days of sunny weather some clouds here and there but mostly fine.2 or 3 rain showers over the week. The north north/east wind made it tricky but we always found somehwere to throw a line. Was any where inbetween still to 17 knots. As usual the big ones allude me we saw groups of 4/5 bones on one foot and at least twice as big as the larger one i caught, got 3 in the end and the last two where cool though much smaller but poling down akaiami saw fish actually fighting for the fly. Lots of close calls and lots of follows and even stabs at the fly with 100,s of shots saw an awesome week. Learned a lot this week, casting technique and bonefish ettiquette and fly selection. Cant wait to get back. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 9:25am
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Funny. We found them extremely difficult at Akaiami- visible, but mostly refusing to eat. Actually, the viz was a bit missed up by a surface breeze. I got so frustrated by the refusals from the grey shadows I was casting at that I wished I'd taken a mask and snorkel to make sure they weren't milkfish. I'm pretty sure they weren't - near the bottom and moving like a bone. Fickle bloody things those bones. All part of the reason they get under your skin. Sounds like a great trip.
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Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 9:36am
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We found them diving at yellow clousers, I am learning there are some rules for catching bonefish but they alter depending on what the fish are doing so its like 10 options x 10 options = 100 options. Fish mood x tide x moon x clarity of water x depth of water x angler = 1 million options. The yellow clouser showed the most interest and had them diving at it, and then the rest was up to the angler something I have still to master but threw at enough fish to see they where all wanting it not neccesarily the same. Just like the women i guess. between that and a gotcha I like Butchs theory of keeping it simple as it simply seems to work. The big fish i got was also caught at Akaiami. There where schools of milk fish on the resort flat and yes they are a different kettle of fish all together. Lots of decent size trevally as well. |
Posted By: Fraser Hocks
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 12:29pm
| Nice work Will. You lucky bugger. I reckin that young girl has an amazing career as a guide ahead of her? I look forward to catching up with Butch again some day, and maybe fishing with Patti as well? |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 12:41pm
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"Schools of milkfish on the resort flat" - now that makes me dribble. I could easily waste a week throwing all sorts of wrong things at a school of milkfish like that and not catch anything! Like your options maths... too true |
Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 3:08pm
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Nice work Will!! That's putting me in an absolute lather of bring it bring it bring it... Adam, a while ago you asked for photos of fly box. Here they are. So far.      Still a few gaps, but I think the back of the tying job is broken I have to put a plug in for the Tacky fly boxes, they are excellent. Silicone slots instead of foam, really tough construction and tons of space. I'm taking four of them just for bones/triggers. Finally, a cross between a wabnitz worm and a crazy Charlie... gotta break the monotony of bonefish fly tying by at least playing around...  ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 5:31pm
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what? Is that it? Nice work there, Reckon that ill do ya ! What about ya GT stuff? Poppers? Crease Flys? ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: 8wt
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 10:39pm
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Awesome bunch of bone flies Nick, are you taing any Merkins as well? I just arrived back in NZ and recieved a heap of materials from Saltwaterflies.com so will tie hard over the next few weeks while in Golden bay looking for ray riders/ snaps. I've been studying Dan Brown's bonefish flies book and a few others as well as following what the Aussies on forums have been using so heaps to get on with. I'm also interested in what your going to take for GT's, Duck/ Chook on a hook seems a popular one with aussies and i'll tie up a few Crease flies. What have you got in mind?? Got a bit longer to wait than you, September for me, but man I can't wait to get there.
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Posted By: Dan19585
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2015 at 9:33pm
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400 flies between a couple of blokes is not excessive Nick. I would be taking a tying kit with me as well. Xmas Island is not at all like Aitutaki. You will likely be getting eats from dozens of fish a day, and there is a hundred ways to lose a bonefish, and often the fly as well. Going through a dozen flies a day, through break-offs, broken or straightened hooks, or just flies getting destroyed, would be pretty standard. Hope you have a great trip. The island is a dump, but the fishing is superb. Wish I was going too. Been a lot of years since I was there. Dan |
Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2015 at 8:31am
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Thanks for the feedback Dan, yeah I'll pack a basic tying kit to go with me. ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2015 at 8:32am
Posted GT fly photos earlier in the piece Adam; but have more to do in that space; just needed to clear the bonefish fly workload first because I'm going to run short of time in the near future with game bird season almost on us. ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2015 at 5:48pm
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Jeez, 12 flys lost in a day! Looks like ya gonna have ta ty another 400 ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: Bushkid2
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2015 at 9:24pm
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Going back to the comments about big bones in New Caledonia. They are there, I have caught them up to 7kg, a friend who lives there reckons he has had them over 10kg/ 1 metre.Somewhere on this forum there is even a photo of me and wife with a big one. I will not post it again as the landmarks are a little too distinctive sorry. they are on the main land and the off shore islands, Google Ouvea island and you will wet your pants over potential. The problem with New Cali is access, the local Kanack folk can get real cranky and the local French can be very protective unless you pay guides of which there are few and only in limited places. Stick to Raro.
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Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2015 at 8:05am
Yeah Webby I'll work up crab patterns (which are fiddly and time consuming to put together) and i have a couple of brush fly prototypes coming in for me to copy for GT flies, plus the chook on a hook is a pretty basic tie so will turn mind to them later on. Also working up some NYAP poppers too. July is not that far off.... I'll post up after i return and hopefully can impart some findings that others can use. ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2015 at 8:44am
| Basic sparsely tied clousers with moderately heavy eyes can be very useful too. Especially reef outflows and around the edges of deeper coral bombies. |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2015 at 5:15pm
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Thanks for thinfo on New Cal Bushkid, Ive had my feelers out for there, and the intelligence gathered adds up to verify your findings. Unfortunately very protective. was gonna do it DIY, but didn't like the idea of going somewhere were your not welcome, Been to places like that on working contracts, and ya just ignore that stuff and concentrate on earning, but a bit different if ya going to fish, Pity, the average size of bones there is stuff ya dream off, and the flats, there huge. be nice to go feral there ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2015 at 8:23pm
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10plb doesnt seem that big to me?, the one i caught was estimated 9lbs and there are definetly bigger out there if you can catch them in the cooks. At twice the size of what I have caught and I have seen them you must be up around the 17/18 plb mark. |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2015 at 8:37pm
If you want some contacts send me a PM, Peter Morse has done quite a bit up there and landed some horses and knows some locals who might be able to help you out... or message him direct if you have his contacts!
------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2015 at 5:41pm
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Cheers Clark. Ill keep that in mind, Wont be this year unfortunately, But deffinetly some day, ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2015 at 5:44pm
I remember when I was working in Greenstone Fishing in Taupo a New Cal guy came in and we talked about bonefish. I got his contact details, he said he could hook me up. Later talking to Pete the guys name came up and apparently he is very influential in the fishery up there and quite helpful. I have lost his contacts but Pete will still have them. The photos I have seen of big Bones there have me salivating!!! Apparently wind is a real ***** though. ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: Bushkid2
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2015 at 9:29pm
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Interested to know if the access to the northern flats New Cali is still good, it changes so much hence why guide businesses come and go, the locals get cranky or jealous and tell everyone to shove off. Even with boat access you need to be careful of the locals in places in NC. My wife is from there and even her family are wary of some places. That said there is some mean fishing there. I suspect it is due to westernisation of the nation ie less subsistence fishing occurring compared to many other small island nations. There is also some good GT/ Bluefin trev fishing right in Noumea Town, a good series of marine reserves and some pretty dam good food too. |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2015 at 5:54pm
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What specifically are the problems occurring Bushkid? ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: Bushkid2
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2015 at 11:03am
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FBF, as I understand it, there is basically political instability. NC is French governed but the native folk ( Kanack) have some kind of treaty with the French and there is a series of referendums being held to determine when, not if, the Kanacks will take governance of the country. During the late 80's this came to head with riots and shots fired leading to a bit of " white flight", things have settled down somewhat but there are some Kanacks that want governance now not after much delay caused by the series of ongoing referendums. France also wants to retain NC as a colony as it is extremely rich in Nickel reserves. So anyway there are some Kanacks that do not want to share their resources ( land or sea) with any white people. Little makes the news and certainly not international news but there have been some and seem to be increasing numbers of aggressive incidents with Kanacks insisting on people getting off what they see ( rightly or wrongly) as their land/ beach/ sea. As Clark quoted Peter Morse as saying ( abridged) " find the land owner, ask permission, be polite etc. before entering or going fishing and you should be ok". This certainly works (everywhere around the world) but often you cannot find the lands owner in remote islands/ areas. Also there are often multiple owners, some happy to provide access and others not, troubles occur when you bump into the unhappy one later whilst enjoying your day. Some times you can talk your way out of it, sometimes koha works other times fast feet work. Tourism is a large part of NC's economy so most incidences are keep very quite. This is my take on the situation, others will have different views and I am only passing on what I know from talking with people who have lived there for decades or their whole life. I am constantly trying to scope out potential bonefish spots over there and often being told " no, the Knacks will not allow you there". Parts of the Isle of Pines are examples, parts of Ouvea is another. Really Frustrating.
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Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2015 at 8:36pm
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Bugger, Thanks for that, suppose the good side is by Default the fishery being left untouched, heres hopeing for a day when everythings a bit more less complicated. ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2015 at 4:23pm
Now onto crab patterns for triggers & whatnot. Have found the Turneffe Crab to be a simple/fast/cheapish pattern  Have rattled out a couple dozen in decent time. Made some embellishments - eyes and claws. ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2015 at 8:16pm
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Love it! Looks great
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Posted By: 8wt
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2015 at 6:11am
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They look cool Nick, think I'll tie a few of those as well. Not made many inroads into tying yet for CI, was a bit too social at night in GB. Think we tied a total of 6 or 8 YEM patterns for the kings all up. :) So have bought heaps of gear back to the Philippines to fill in my nights. I'm thinking the blue water stuff will be a good bet too after reading some of these stories http://swoffa.com/swoffa-life/swoffa-life-articles.html 2 weeks may not be enough time Webby |
Posted By: mozz
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2015 at 6:12am
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One of my buddies flew into the Bahamas for 2 days on his way back to the ship so yesterday morning we went to flick a few flies around on one of the local flats that hold big numbers of bones. We pulled the boat up to a beach by the side of the flat to rig up, 2 minutes later there is a big splash and we see about 6 tails sticking straight up only 3m off the stern! Caught 7 in a couple of hours
http://s9.photobucket.com/user/nzwaves/media/FB_IMG_1430001637676_zpsl56rdbi3.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  http://s9.photobucket.com/user/nzwaves/media/FB_IMG_1430001642238_zps7gvryutt.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">   Mrs Mozz with the first of the day.  |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2015 at 6:15am
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Awesome! Seriously good looking water there Mike
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Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2015 at 7:37am
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Nice Wee Bones! awesome terrain ------------- By Fly, Nothing Else,Just Fly |
Posted By: 8wt
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 12:14am
| Gotta love that water, great stuff. |
Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 8:00am
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Saweeeet! ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: Aaron C
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2015 at 1:21pm
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I recently returned from an exploratory trip to Shark Bay in Western
Australia. This is a interesting fishery where there is temperate and
tropical species in equal abundance. For example in 3 casts I landed a
mulloway, snapper and golden trevelly on Craigs interceptor style flies.
I also saw a 10lb bone and 50lb GT landed by some other blokes. I didn't fish the flats for *******, but met some guys up there that have the place wired, they have some ripper locations and Ill have to return to explore that aspect properly. The main aim was to scratch the bluewater itch. The biggest personal highlights were line class spanish mackerel and yellowfin taken out off Cape Inscription.   The main difference between Shark Bay and the Exmouth fisheries is the distances covered. I preferred shark bay for the variety of targets and the chance to mix it up with a wider varirty of fish. |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2015 at 2:06pm
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Aaron, I'm totally green with envy, well done What a great fishery when you can get such a variety of good sized line pullers. Good to see the fishing is in fine shape. I visited Shark Bay many years ago and have always wanted to return. Exmouth is on the 'to do' list. Thanks for posting ps not sure what the auto censor is up to. Looks like it gave you row of x's for bonefish
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Posted By: Jaapie
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2015 at 6:15pm
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Very cool mate - well done. Nice to see some speedsters in the pictures. ------------- "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed |
Posted By: Aaron C
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2015 at 7:12pm
Ba$tard$ (as in blue) is the word that set it off. Over here that is a compliment! |
Posted By: Fraser Hocks
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2015 at 10:50am
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Nice work brother! Thats a hell of a tuna bro. Did it take as long to land as that longtail of mine? How slow can time go, when tuna are busting up all around you, and just outside of casting range hey? |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2015 at 10:25am
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Awesome! ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: Aitutaki Flyfish
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 12:18pm
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For anyone that has or is going to fish the Bahamas you all might find this of interest. http://diybonefishing.com/2015/06/22/proposed-bahamian-fishing-regulations-is-the-sky-falling/" rel="nofollow - http://diybonefishing.com/2015/06/22/proposed-bahamian-fishing-regulations-is-the-sky-falling/ ------------- Butch Leone Owner-Guide Aitutaki Blue Lagoon Flyfish |
Posted By: Jaapie
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 5:20pm
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Yeah - saw that on Blanton's board this morning Butch. Silly way to try and make a quick buck, but unfortunately it's the way a lot of these dinky 3rd world places are heading. Forcing people to use guides and knocking DIY fisho's is silly. People will simply stop going I'd imagine resulting in a lot of mom and pop type operations suffering, not to mention a bigger knock on effect with hire cars and independent accommodation places, restaurants etc. ------------- "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed |
Posted By: Fraser Hocks
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 6:03pm
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That's just mad! Thanks for posting Butch. lets hope sensibility prevails and the draft gets knocked back? My suggestion is it will hurt the local guides as much as everyone else. Very few can afford to pay for a guide for an entire 1 or 2 week holiday, but are more than happy to pay for a couple of days to get there feet, then of and DIY from there on. IF this bill goes through then that will cut out what i imagine is 80% of most clients. The 20% remaining, been the ones that can afford a guide for an entire trip. Mad, just plain mad!
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Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 6:08pm
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At least we still have Aitutaki! ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 8:57am
They want to look at New Zealand and see how important DIY travel is to our economy. Take away the DIY fishing and all the DIY travel and spending goes with it. Bahama politicians are obviously geniuses 
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Posted By: Aitutaki Flyfish
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 9:22am
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I deleted the part of me saying "Talk about shooting yourself in the foot." because I felt that everyone should make up their own minds about this stuff. Aitutaki at one point wanted to put in the "only fish with guides" language but as I explained to them it was an industry killer. Thankfully it is not included in our book of regulations. ------------- Butch Leone Owner-Guide Aitutaki Blue Lagoon Flyfish |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 12:51pm
| Yep, and Aitutaki has that great mix of easy DIY fishing close to accommodation and then that further afield stuff that the guides can take you to. It all works very well. |
Posted By: WillP
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 4:56pm
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57 days
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Posted By: Aitutaki Flyfish
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2015 at 5:53am
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Will you're time is getting close. The Bahamas situation is pretty much heated up on the net and providing some interesting reading. As the Bahamas are pretty much the world's premiere destination for bonefish we can only hope that it doesn't lead to a slippery slope and have other locales trying to phase out DIY or deny permits because of special interests. The Bahamas are not in our sphere of influence but what happens in that little corner of the world could have an impact on all of us flats fishermen in the future. http://bonefishonthebrain.com/10651/" rel="nofollow - http://bonefishonthebrain.com/10651/ http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-business/40-bahamas-business/57134-lodge-owner-rips-proposed-new-bonefishing-regulations" rel="nofollow - http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-business/40-bahamas-business/57134-lodge-owner-rips-proposed-new-bonefishing-regulations ------------- Butch Leone Owner-Guide Aitutaki Blue Lagoon Flyfish |
Posted By: FISHBYFLY
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2015 at 8:58am
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Thanks for posting Butch, Interesting when reading that of those involved in the Area no of any Bahamains that support the proposals. Hard to gauge the reasoning behind it. Are some Guides/ lodges behind it? and some aren't? Who nos. great to see everyone banding together to place submissions against. In an age of Grand self obsession, they're a shining light. Best of luck to all, |
Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2015 at 8:43am
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CXI here we come! Head out tomorrow, looking forward to escaping winter and chasing something a bit different. Will post up a report when we're back. ------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: FishMan
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2015 at 9:17am
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Have a good one Nick!! Hope that unusually late wet season at CXI goes away and you catch a stack of fish. Very lucky to be getting away from this weather. Look forward to hearing a report when you get back.
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Posted By: Snuffit.
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2015 at 10:14am
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Yep its been extraordinarily wet this year. But, we've got the best tides so should have ample opportunities for bones, triggers, blue trevs and I've set aside one full day for bluewater and at least one dedicated solely to pursuing a flats GT [NOT CHUMMED!!!!!!!!]... it may not happen of course but still....
------------- You cant eat my toast fish |
Posted By: Weemandan
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2015 at 10:44am
| Awesome nick!!! Can't wait to hear the reports...... |