Vanuatu Trip 2008

This is part three of a feature on a recent trip to Santo , Vanuatu by six anglers from Got One Port Stephens.

Day 6

A different attack strategy for today’s fishing.  We headed out a bit earlier at 630.  This meant that Geoff had to get up at about 3am to get the boat ready and pick up decky Michelle from Luganville, but we were hoping it might pay off.  Back out to JT s FAD and we did a couple of runs up and down but although we spotted fish, no one turned a reel.  Typical (it was my first strike and I had been gobbing off that “today is all about Shep” – obviously I had upset the fish Gods.  Only one way to fix that – more beer.

We took a run over to Arake Island even a run over there did not produce a fish.  The sounder was playing up so we pulled in to a quiet little bay off the North side of Arake and Geoff grabbed the mask and snorkel and over the side to investigate.  The transducer had picked up some timber, so after a quick adjustment we were back on our way.

We decided to head over to a new island (that later turned out to be part of the mainland) which had a good looking bombie off to one side.  I snagged a small doggy that got smashed up on the way in.  By the look of it I would say a LARGE Wahoo – it was shredded.  The next big strike pulled the split rings.  I can’t express enough the im port ance of using quality gear when chasing these big fish.  All the lures that we changed over to decoy split rings and Owner hooks performed faultlessly.  Any that we used that did not have the better terminal gear – FAILED.  It is a shame to lose quality fish to inferior gear – especially when you work so hard for them.

We did a run over to the bombie Island with the swimming pool in the middle and the ground on the sounder was very impressive.  From 300 odd metres up to 12 metres and then straight back down again.  The Frenchman hooked a beautiful blue spot trevally.  JT was suffering pretty badly by this stage as he had been on the can all night.  He took an extra dose of HTFU that morning and clamped the cheeks together, and pressed on.  He was suffering pretty bad gut cramps but soldiered on.  We stopped to do some bottom bouncing, baiting and throwing poppers an MM hooked what the decky called as a large Barracuda, but after a good tussle with the Sheros, it bit through the leader.

In the afternoon MM and I went over with Lee for a dive on the SS President Coolidge.  This is the largest intact shipwreck in the world and with visibility of 25m+ it was a fantastic dive.  I thoroughly recommend it if you get over that way.  The ship was an ex passenger liner that was used as a troop carrier in the War and hit a friendly mine and sunk in 20 – 80m of water.  Spectacular dive.

Over to the main Island at night for another crack at a Chinese feed but again we found all the Chinese restaurants were closed.  We ended up at Deco Stop where the food and view were very good and the accommodation was fairly reasonable.  I still think we had the best digs though.

Caught the ferry back to Aore and most of us slinked off to bed.  SW stayed up to make a teaser for the next days fishing.  Another early start was organised.

Day 7

Well, this was our last days fishing for the trip, so we were well and truly fired up and keen to go out with a bang.  We got another early start and steamed off out to the FAD (why change your pattern this late in the trip?).  After a couple of anxious passes JT hooked up on a very nice bull Mahi Mahi.  It was a pretty short fish though with the Tiagra 50W but we had our first fish on ice.  Another few passes and Michael Walsh had bagged himself a nice Wahoo.  Once again caught on the 50Wide with a skirted lure.

No strikes for a while so we tied up to the FAD and cubed.  We had no success even though we could see the fish.  They would take the cubes but not the ones with the hooks, and with the size of them we didn’t want to go too light on the leader.

We steamed over to Arake Island and the first pass did not produce a strike so we trolled over to what was now called “Dogtooth Alley”. Fish were showing on the sounder but no strikes.  Haynesy (or Ainsley as he was being called) hooked up the bottom and once he finished mucking around we did another pass out to Swimming pool Island .  BAM – double hook up.  Haynesy on the Saltiga rod and reel and me with a Crystal blue medium jig stick and the Stella 8000.  A lot of unders and overs, some great long runs where the fish were taking 100m at a time, mine down under the boat but after a great double stand up fight we both landed fish over the 20kg.  Haynesy still claims over 30kg for his fish but his judgement is clearly clouded.  You should see what he was trying to convince JT was 6 inches!!

Next hook up was Steve with a good size Coral trout, but because of the Ciguatera poisoning it had to go back.  Michael M was then on strike and in a very unlucky draw he seemed to be only getting small fish.  His next hook up was a tiny trout.  MM tried to convince us that there was not a fish on the end of the line and that it was still his strike, but when the trout was aquaplaning on the surface he had to face up to the truth. Not happy Jan.  

We had a group meeting and decided to extend the half day trip to a full day – no use going home when the fish are on. JT s second fish for the day was a nice GT which he worked hard with the Spheros 12000FA and 6ft berkley dropshot rod.  The upgraded Dartanium drag worked wonders. Michael Walsh had been waiting patiently and now was his moment.

The Chrystal Blue Medium Jig stick was nearly bent in half and the drag from the Stella 8000 was peeling off. After all the other lines were in the indications were strongly that it was hooked on the bottom, until it took off like a Bondi bus.  Long solid runs and the fish was obviously going to fight this one out deep.  He started in the stand up position but the fish was wearing him out and he ended up in the chair.  The fight lasted for about 45min and MW was considering giving up, but with a heap of encouragement from the team on the boat he persevered and was rewarded with a massive GT.  The fish of the trip.

Wrap up.

All in all it was an excellent trip and all those that attended had a great time.  The eight days was just about perfect and the five days fishing were outstanding.  My advice for anyone intending to go over to Vanuatu is stop procrastinating and get over there.  Santo is a relatively unspoilt paradise and is a great place to unwind.  Take your own gear over with you and update your split rings and trebles.