Maldives 26 March - 2 April 2011

[Collin Tong]

Hi All,

I'm just sharing my recent 7days trip to Maldives. Not too good with telling stories but I'll let the pics do most of the talking. Trip was decent but catch could have been better if not for the mirror surface water we encountered on the last 4-5 days. Currents were supposed to be strong as it was nearing new moon phase, this puzzled all of us on the boat Popping was tough on mirror flat days but jigging was decent thou nothing big was landed.

Tackle used includes:

Jigging
Tenryu jiz zam PE3-6 + Stella SW20K (blue model)
Smith WGJ PE4-8 + Stella 20K FA
Smith AMJ PE2-4 + Saltiga Blast 4500
JM 400g + Stella SW20K (blue model)
Shimano Bluerose PE6 + Accurate 870N
Majorcraft offblow PE1.5-3 + Certate 3500HD
Goldenmean earthshaker PE3-4 + Certate 3500HD
Seed PE1-3 + Caldia Kix 3000
Golden mean sabeldance PE1 + Branzino 3000
Expert graphite PE1-3 + Shimano Twinpower C3000
JM powerspell 150g + Ryoga Bay Jigging 2020HL

Popping
Carpenter 78EXH + Stella 10K XG
Smith Keyolhu GTK-77BG + Stella 10K
Sevenseas Ultimate-Z 80Ti + Stella SW10K HG (blue model) X 2
Smith 80P/35 + Ryobi Safari 5000 (Japan model)
Zenaq Fooketo Trevally 83-7 + Stella SW10K HG (blue model)
Shimano Kaibutsu Deep Monster + Stella SW10K HG (blue model)
Shimano Kaibutsu Light Pleasure + Shimano twinpower 8000HG

[Collin Tong]

26kg GT on pop




19kg barracuda on pop at daylight


Halco roosta sinks after attack by barra but it was worth it!

[Collin Tong]

24kg of muscles - I mean the fish...






19kg GT hooked beside gills and gave me a hard time

[Collin Tong]

Sorry guys. Going for dinner with family. Will post more pics when I get home tonite! 

[Nathan Cefai]

nice report so far mate,good work looking forward to seeing the rest of the pics..

[Collin Tong]

Guess what took the popper by the side of the reef?  About 100+m was stripped in seconds on 7kg drag (preset with scales every morning)


When the sailfish jumped near his popper, he thought the popper scared the sh*t out of the fish. Only when the line started stripping like nobody's business that he realised that he hooked the bugger! 








Safely released like all the rest

[Ferris Long]

you guys went up north or south?

[Collin Tong]

Mirror flat waters on the last few days


Fishing was not too good so we went island hopping instead




Some shore casting








Our floating hotel for 7days



The crew did up the room nicely, different sea creatures every day


Great sunset every evening

[Collin Tong]

you guys went up north or south?

South, all the way to Meemu atoll

[Bruno Boisset]

Nice pictures Collin

going there also with Noorani last October in this area; made a BBQ at night on the little island in picture; some good memories.

Bruno

[Collin Tong]

Here are the jigging pics








The smallest dogtooth I've ever caught till date!












Lite tackle fun








14kg doggie on jig














21kg GT on jig


Surprise catch on madai jig!


11kg wahoo on jig

[Collin Tong]

Nice pictures Collin

going there also with Noorani last October in this area; made a BBQ at night on the little island in picture; some good memories.

Bruno

Thanks Bruno. Great to know that you are enjoying the pics. I hope to go again soon too 

[Jon Li]

That octopus catch is something I have never seen yet till now , congratz !

Jon .

[Collin Tong]

Nite activities






Something to add to the dinner table 


Porcupine fish caught using a net


Deflated the moment it was out of net.


We did heavy bottom fishing with 1 feet barracuda as bait for a few nites. The 200lb wire leader snapped on the 1st night when no one was guarding the rod. Another nite we fought for 5 secs before the fish threw the hook with the bait coming back headless. We finally got lucky on our 3rd nite.


We initially thought it might be a big grouper, but it turns out to be a ray. Still good fight for 30mins thou. Caught on Shimano jigwrex PE6 + Accurate 665 extra narrow


Ray maxed out our 50kg scale when we tried to lift it for weighing. We estimate it to be 70kg. Unfortunately it looks very small in this pic. We wanted to lift it up for pics as it'll look bigger with us for comparison but all of us just bathed not too long ago so no one wanted the honour 

[Collin Tong]

That octopus catch is something I have never seen yet till now , congratz !

Jon .

Thanks Jon. We suspect the big octo was trying more to mate with the jig than to eat it. Hahaha