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Dan Ryan

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Popping in Palau?
May 19, 2010, 07:26:42 PM
Hi All

Anyone had any experience popping out of Koror, Palau? I"m going over to do some diving next month and based on what little info there is on the net will packing some jigging/popping gear for sure! Be most interested to hear about other forum members' experiences there.

Cheers

Dan

Scott Maybury

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Re: Popping in Palau?
May 20, 2010, 08:02:23 AM
I was going to post up a query about this soon myself, it used to be a very difficult spot to get to but I believe you can now get direct flights a few times a week from Brisbane.

Don't know who you are diving with but from the info I have been able to find these guys can arrange charters for you

www.fishnfins.com

They look to be predominantly a diving company (as it appears they pretty much all are over there) but they do offer fishing trips with local guides, and they have their own mothership for diving/fishing tours out to some more remote places.

It looks like a sensationally beautiful place and the few google earth images I have looked at tend to suggest to me that there would have to be some good casting and jigging on offer in addition to the reef fishing and trolling the locals do for sustenance....finding a good boat and skipper with knowledge of those types of fishing might be a bit trickier

Really interested to hear how you go

David Clumpner

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Re: Popping in Palau?
May 22, 2010, 08:09:14 AM
Dan, I lived in Palau for two years and that's where I got started on GT fishing.  There are some sizable GTs, but you're not going to find them around Koror.  You need to get down to Angaur or, even better, up north to Kayangel and the reefs north of that.  But that's a trip you have to plan well ahead of time and usually the people booking that trip (Japanese) are going to Palau solely for fishing.  You could also catch some decent GTs around the channels on the west side of Babeldaob (the island north of Koror).
Look at NECO Marine for diving - they are solid.  Fish and Fins is, too.  Don't recommend Sams - that guy is a jerk and he'll nickel and dime you wherever he can.  The owner of NECO is also a really good fisherman, but I'm unsure what he offers in terms of charters.  I have heard that most all of the GT charters are done through Japanese captains, but I just don't have any contact info for them. 
I was in Palau last summer and heard second-hand that the guy who runs this restaurant (http://www.palauwaterfrontvilla.com/) sets up some of the trips for the big-name Japanese guys who come down.  Maybe send him an email?
Also, there is a member on here who lives in Palau.  I remember seeing his post recently in the "show me your boat" thread.  He'd probably be really helpful.
You'll deal with a lot of sharks in Palau, so take many lures.  The locals mostly (always?) keep GTs for eating, which is why there is nothing of size anywhere that people live.  I was on Angaur for a year and caught maybe a dozen GTs, fishing nearly every day.  My gear wasn't heavy so I lost the only two that were biggish (50lbs.).
But yeah, Palau is really beautiful and you'll like it.

Ben Earl

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Re: Popping in Palau?
May 31, 2010, 05:04:21 PM



Enjoy your trip!
 
Last Edit: October 21, 2010, 10:34:50 PM by Ben Earl