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Inshore Fishing Report – Kadavu - Fiji Islands - March 2007

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:58 pm
by BiteMeFiji
For the waters around Kadavu Island- Fiji Islands
Charter Operator – Matava Resort Gamefishing
Boat Names – Offensive Tackle
Average Water Temp – 28.5
Average Sea State – Calm / mild chop
Average Winds – 5-10kts
Water Clarity – Excellent

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). :D

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

Adrian was born on the island of Cyprus and graduated to his first rod & reel at the age of five. Having fished around the world from the Arabian Gulf to the North sea and English Channel, he finally settled for the tropical waters of the South Pacific around the island of Kadavu, Fiji Islands. Director of Matava Resort Gamefishing, he skippers 'Bite Me', the resort's 31ft DeepVee Gamefishing vessel and thoroughly enjoys exploring the light and heavy tackle fishing around the island and Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef. An IGFA Certified Captain, he advocates tag & release and is a keen supporter of the IGFA and the Billfish Foundation.