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Luke Wyrsta

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GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 09:55:37 AM
Report from Jeff Le Strange of Hakula Lodge, Tonga.

Hi all
This week we had one of Japan's top GT anglers Mr Kenzaburo Kita fishing in Vava'u along with Shimano TV film crew

They fished 4 days just throwing Poppers 3 Days from the Shore with Guide Kurt Carlson and 1 Day from Protues with Lole Luie They  landed 5 Nice GT's biggest was 38KG (LAND BASED) don't ask where if we tell you we would have to kill you. We hope this will open up a Fishery that has a world wide appeal.


Ewan Macleod

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 11:41:56 AM
That is an incredible fish to land off the stones! I got done in by a baby 4-5kg GT on light gear recently on the rocks and it would take an incredible amount of play to land almost a 40KG fish ! Nuts. My dad was scuba diving in Tonga a few years ago and he said it was one of the healthiest looking systems he has seen.

Really look forward to the footage. What's Shimano TV Luke?

Peter Morris

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 03:53:08 PM
Amazing fish landbased.

Luke take me there PLEASE... ;D ;D

Pete

Peter Lowe

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 03:58:40 PM
Yep - that's the go.....

My bags are packed, when do we leave ?

40kg RESPECT......


 8) 8)

Warwick Joyce

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 05:39:35 PM
Nice alright! Must take some good maneuvering to land a fish that size onto rocks!
I spend all my time fishing trying to get them away from rocks!! :D

Jon Li

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 05:46:25 PM
Hi Luke ,

Isn't Mr. Kita ( Fukui ) Kenzaburo a Shimano field tester for Gt equipments ?

The man is the holder of 4 IGFA records in GT fishing .  :P

He came n fished in Komodo Island for the final tests of 2002 Stellas prior to being released in Japanese market .

Jon .
It's not what you don't know that gets you into trouble , it's what you know for sure that ain't so . Mark Twain .

Luke Wyrsta

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 05:55:39 PM
Hi Luke ,

Isn't Mr. Kita ( Fukui ) Kenzaburo a Shimano field tester for Gt equipments ?

The man is the holder of 4 IGFA records in GT fishing .  :P

He came n fished in Komodo Island for the final tests of 2002 Stellas prior to being released in Japanese market .

Jon .

Yes that is correct Jon  :)

Scott Maybury

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 05, 2009, 07:38:32 PM
I am looking at doing a trip to Tonga later this year, mainly game fishing and jigging for doggies etc, but with some popping thrown in...good to see there are some nice fish there!

Matt Harvey

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 06, 2009, 12:04:27 AM

Amazing fishing from the rocks.

I think I've sussed out where in Tonga this might be but don't worry I shall keep it to myself  ;)

Ewan Macleod

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 06, 2009, 01:19:13 AM
The whole south eastern side of the island looks pretty juicy for landbased. Kallaul looks like it has cliffs and deep water too.

Kurt Carlson

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Re: GT Popping Tonga with Fukui San (Shimano TV)
February 06, 2009, 06:07:37 AM
Hey All,
What a great site you have here.  I was with "Ken" when he landed these fish.  This guy is an incredible fisherman.  I have never seen anyone put it to a fish like he does.  It was amazing to see him run along the edge of the drop off to keep this big fish from hooking up on the rocks.  To land the fish, he found a crack with a slope to the water.  I leadered the big one and held it on the rocks while a young Tongan helped me lift it up the rocks.  On another fish, when a surge came he would grab the leader, drop his rod and scramble down the rocks and hoist the fish up the side and into a tidepool, so it would stay alive while talking on camera prior to release.  WOW!  What a pleasure it was to watch someone with such skill.  How many fish do you figure he has busted off over the years.  I would be broke from lost lures alone.
Take care all,
Kurt