South Pacific Fishing?????
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Destinations
Forum Name: Rarotonga/Aitutaki
Forum Description: Rarotonga/Aitutaki destination and travel info, advice and trip reports here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66227
Printed Date: 28 Jan 2026 at 7:54am
Topic: South Pacific Fishing?????
Posted By: Skiwi74
Subject: South Pacific Fishing?????
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 5:43pm
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G'day fullas!! Anyone got any info on fishing up in the Islands? Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Raro etc?? Me and the missus are planning to head away for a belated honeymoon, but I'm super keen to sneak in one day of tropical fishing. (got the pass already, ha ha!!) Ideally targetting GT's and/or Mahimahi, but it has to be a "holiday" destination too.......(she wont be too keen with an old fishing shack if you know what I mean.....) The obvious ones are Vanuatu or Fiji, but has anyone got any info on Samoa or even Raro? Or whereabouts in Fiji? Any advice will be gratefully received............ |
Replies:
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 5:56pm
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Reckon you are best to do a site search as are heaps of threads with
the sort of info you are after.
I went out a few weeks ago in Raro & landed a mahimahi .... can send
you info on that if you were thinking of going there.
Probably best to narrow down your choice of desination first by taking all
the factors into consideration as different strokes for different folks & if
you want advice from an old timer that has found out the hard way ..
make sure the little lady is kept content otherwise NO WAY are you going
to be allowed to enjoy your fishing ... even if you landed a world record.
Best of luck .... good place to be regardless this time of year given the
weather we are about to go into. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Seadoc
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 6:28pm
| Aitutaki if you want to spoil the missus and get yourself a GT or mahi-mahi! |
Posted By: Double Shot
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 6:36pm
That's where we plan to be going for our honeymoon, her idea even...  ------------- 70ml of 90deg C water pressurised through 13g of roasted finely ground tamped coffee for 25sec's to make a distinguishing sensory hit called a Double Shot |
Seadoc wrote:Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 7:02pm
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Amen to Aitutaki. The Cooks are a great place, under-promoted and under appreciated. They take NZ$, so you don't have to worry about nasty surprises on the visa card statements, and aitutaki is just a perfect, postcard like place, I think the nicest place I have been in the pacific. Great place to chill out, really nice accoms/eating etc, beaut beaches, good fishing both off shore, on the outer reef and in the lagoon. That would have to be my choice if I had to allow for spouses and a non-fishing specific tropical retreat. |
Posted By: 2cold
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 8:51pm
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Like the other's I can't recommend Aitutaki enough. The place is incredible and the fishing is phenominal. Even just wading around in the lagoon can produce some great surprises, the water's incredibly clear, the snorkeling is spectacular, the locals are some of the friendliest people I've met and the entire place looks like a photoshopped postcard. The accommodation is great there too, some nice restaurants and cheap scooter hire to get around (watch out for the crabs on the road after it rains though  )It's a very special place and you won't be disappointed with the fishing, and taking the missus there would have to earn you some serious brownie points
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Posted By: 2cold
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 9:01pm
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Oops just realised I've pretty much just repeated everything CA just said, it is a truly wonderful place and I can't wait to get back up there. Was last there about 4 years ago and am itching to go back. I'm unbelievably jealous of my old man, he's up there every few months for 'work', all expenses paid, then he comes back with stories and photos of all the fish he's caught while up there  He is very lucky, went with him on a couple of his 'work' trips to help out. Was very surreal standing in knee deep lagoon water working on the outboard of a lagoon cruise boat with one of the most beautiful scenes you could imagine in the background, I felt like I was in a screensaver One thing definitely worth doing up there is the cruise to One Foot Island (it actually looks like a foot), you go out to one of the outer lagoon islands which is stunning to say the least, and you can snorkel out to a passage between two islands which has some incredible fish life, saw stacks of big bluefin trevally, a couple of reasonable sized GTs and even a big bonefish cruising on the sand. Wicked, wicked place
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Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 9:25pm
| Hey cheers everyone, well it sure seems like everyones keen on Aitutaki - have read a but about it ant it did sound pretty nice but wasn't sure what the fishing was like.......but now I've got a better idea...... I reckon it would suit the missus too, nice beaches, good food, good snorkelling.......... do they have GT's there? Reckon I've gotta catch me one of them, it's become a "must do" thing!! But I suppose I'd settle for some Mahimahi or anything big and powerful!! |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 7:54pm
| Awesome info on the Cooks, sounding good. Anyone got any info on Samoa? That would be another possibility.................... |
Posted By: skidder
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 8:59pm
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If your keen on off shore fishing my preference from best to average.
Vavau Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji ------------- Knockers - need I say more..... |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 9:10pm
Hey Skidder, What tips you got for Samoa? It's another option, as is Fiji......... I can probably only get away with one days fishing leaving from not far from wherever we choose to stay. So I guess serious off shore fishing isn't really possible.......... |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 11:00pm
 Yes, they have GTs there....  ...and wahoo....   awesome snorkeling....  and yes, a truly idyllic lagoon.... So, Aitutaki I say! :-) |
Posted By: 2cold
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 11:46pm
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X2, and serious offshore fishing is an option there even on half day trips, it won't take you more than half an hour to get anywhere on the island from anywhere you might be, and that's if you drive really slowly. The 'harbour' is within 5 minutes or so from most of the resorts etc. and we had some great fun inside the lagoon straight out in front of the place we were in with a huge number of species and a few monumental bustoffs (assuming GTs or big bluefin trevs). There was an article in the Fishing News about a year back with a few guys very successfully popping for GTs inside the lagoon literally a minutes walk from where they parked their car. If you do end up there the spot they were at was a few hundred meters from a place called Samadi Bar, which incidentally is about as close to the perfect bar as I can imagine- you can leave your drink on the beach and wander into water like the picture above with allsorts of bright little fish swimming around. To top it off, a short 2 minute boat ride across a small channel from samadi bar takes you to a resort with a great restaurant, once again with an absolutely perfect setting and the Surf n Turf meal I had there is still the best meal I can remember In terms of offshore fishing you have lines out as soon as you leave the harbour as it drops straight off to god knows how deep and we were into our first YFT within 15 mins of getting on the boat. One of their more productive FADs is only about 30 mins if that trolling from the lagoon entrance, and we landed allsorts from rainbow runner (a very cool miniature kingfish like fish) to YFT to Wahoo to Mahis, and there is good GT fishing all around the outside of the lagoon |
Posted By: skidder
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 9:58am
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If you are considering Samoa...stay at Aggie's and book a trip out with local charter operators..recommend the guy running a White Pointer. ------------- Knockers - need I say more..... |
Posted By: C A
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 4:23pm
fua II ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 8:45pm
Nice fish Capt A, cheers for all your advice. Who would you recommend for fishing in Aitutaki? It sure does look nice, should suit the wife too..... |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 8:48pm
Hey 2cold, Are you describing Aitutaki too? |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 8:51pm
Good advice Skidder but I think Aggies is block booked by that bloody Surivivor TV show until September. Now that would be a good gig to work on................... To be honest tho, am leaning more towards the Cooks after what the other guys have been saying. Cheers for the input tho |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 8:53pm
Sorry mate, just read your other posts. Of course you're describing Aitutaki......... You paint a very appealing picture. |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 8:55pm
Hey Predator, Where abouts are ya planning to go? Any ideas for "honeymoon" accomodations? Or charter operators?? Cheers. |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 7:13pm
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Hey fullas, Just a catch up........ Have booked a week in Aitutaki, stayin at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa, looks awesome!!!!!!!!!, www.aitutakilagoonresort.com Planning to do some fishing, prob with Black Pearl Charters, www.blackpearlaitutaki.com Will let y'all know how it all goes......Cheers for all advice given |
Posted By: 2cold
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 9:25pm
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Awesome, can guarantee you'll love it I would definitely recommend doing a lagoon cruise at some stage too- the outer areas and islands are just too stunning not to visit, and the snorkelling in these spots is phenomenal. I'd probably recommend Bishops out of all of the cruise companies there, and in particular their 4 island cruise (under ARE YOU A KEEN SNORKELER??? on the link). They take you on a smaller boat to some awesome snorkelling spots and cover a lot more of the lagoon, and if you get a guy called Captain Awesome, he is absolutely hilarious. The locals up there are great, some of the friendliest, funniest people I've ever met. http://www.bishopscruises.com/cruise.htm - http://www.bishopscruises.com/cruise.htm drew a quick map with a few things too  Most of the resorts hire out kayaks as well, so a sb set is definitely worthwhile, you will catch allsorts. The areas in red are where I'd recommend fishing from the shore if you get a chance, there is a reef you can stand on around the edge of the entire lagoon and cast out into the deep blue. You will need a kayak or small tinnie to get out there but it is definitely worth it (good, tough soled shoes are a must though due to stonefish and urchins )The small red area is that point I mentioned earlier near Samadi bar, and it well worth a few casts- especially early morning and around dusk- as there are often big bluefin trevs and small to medium GTs cruising through there when the current is flowing. the yellow area is a good area for fishing light gear for allsorts of species as it is loaded with bombies which are covered in fish, and is also one of the better spots for snorkelling from the main island. It is also an awesome walk along the beach there, as you can look in and see allsorts swimming around right in close to the beach while you walk. There are also pretty much constant bust ups of baitfish being smashed by allsorts of predators through this area, and small poppers of the beach can be a heap of fun, although it is very hard to pull anything of any size from the terrain through there. I'd also recommend driving around the perimeter of the main island at least once while your there, as the views are incredible. If you do get any heavy rain during the time you're there, go and have a look down the stretch of road I circled in green- the huge crabs that come out of the ground are awesome, and heaps of fun to try and catch. Actually now that I think about it, they are out when it's dry too, just a lot quicker to retreat back into their holes. Jason on black pearl is a reasonable skipper, good for offshore and definitely getting better with jigging and popping, although it may pay to take your own gear if you want to do this style of fishing. Anyways, that's just my 2 cents worth and I hope you find at least a little bit of it useful. I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip, it is a very special place
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Posted By: 2cold
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 9:36pm
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Oh and your resort is on the island between the small red circle and the other red circle on the right, it's the one with an awesome restaurant, if they still do the Surf 'n' Turf meal it is well worth getting
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Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2011 at 6:57pm
Awesome, cheers 2cold Some really good info there, will look into Bishops Cruises, the one we were thinking of with Black Pearl was a full day private charter with basically half fishing and half snorkelling with a BBQ lunch on one of the islands. Have had lots of people mention the fishing within the lagoon, so I reckon I'll be taking a some light gear and maybe some small poppers for the odd chance of a Bluefin or GT from the bombies. Sure sounds like you've spent a fair bit of time over there.................. Have also had a few people mention the restaurant at the place we're staying at, so looking forward to that too....... looking forward to it all really!! |
Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 1:52pm
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Well, well well, What can I say??? Those of you who recommended Aitutaki, were right on the button. Awesome place, unbelievable really. We had some pretty good weather too, if a bit windy for the first few days, but she settled down for the all important fishing charter day.......photos below.    We went out with Black Pearl Fishing Charters, they're a great team - husband and wife. We did a half day fishing and half snorkeling with a BBQ lunch on one of the islands. The whole day was great, they do a really good job. The resort we stayed at, Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa, was awesome too, not cheap but hey it was a honeymoon. Beautiful place right in the lagoon with views out to the outlying islands. Great bar over the water with great cocktails and really good food, again maybe a bit pricey but bloody good. They cooked up our fish for $15 a head - not too shabby really........  As you can see, it suited the wife too, big brownie points there. She loved it.  Altogether an amazing holiday, got to go back though and get the GT!!!!!! Thanks for all the feedback guys, very helpful
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Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 2:18pm
| Great to hear. Aitutaki really is one of those beautifully secret spots.... |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 2:27pm
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Looks bloooody good to me... Any Bonefish up there that you could cast a fly to ?? ------------- http://www.blackbillsportfishing.co.nz/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Skiwi74
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 2:42pm
Yeah man, heaps. Bonefishing is a big thing up there. They're trying to really promote it and make it into more of a tourist attraction. I saw a few people wandering around the sand flats casting flies but didn't see anyone hook up. I had one chasing in a softbait I had cast out above the sand but I ran out of retrieve and it peeled away. Well worth a shot if that's what your into, they're meant to be awesome on the hook up...... |
Posted By: Grunta
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 2:51pm
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Looks like a great trip. Brett from NZ Fishing News is organising a group trip up there in September if anyone's keen. Not sure if all spots are gone but more http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/aitutaki-group-trip-in-september_topic67352.html - here
------------- Online... |
Posted By: bretty
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 10:39pm
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Thanks Grunta
Aitutaki is certainly a very special place. Picture the most perfect tropical lagoon in your mind...and that is what you have there.
Mind blowing scenery, fantastic climate, great fishing, friendly locals, great choice of accommodation and restaurants. Definitely a 'partner freindly' fishing destination. http://www.aitutaki.net - www.aitutaki.net has a lot of tourist info.
There is a wide range of tropical species to be had including GT's, bluefin trevally, Bonefish of course (world class), Queenfish. And that is just inside the lagoon. Outside you have Blue marlin, Mahimahi, YF tuna, Sailfish, Doggies, and lots of noahs.
3 or 4 charter boats are operating. We had a great couple of days with Jason & Don Watt on "Foxy Lady", a 30 + foot alloy flybridge sport fisher with twin OB's
    These pics are from our trip last September.
We are going again this year. Primarily a Bonefishing mission, but opportunities to fish outside the reef and chase GT's both inside and outside the lagoon also. Spaces available if anyone is interested. Check out http://www.bonefishadventures.co.nz - www.bonefishadventures.co.nz for info.
Cheers
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