Lombok, Indonesia Oct 27 to 29 2011 - some very good GTs

[Mark Harris]

After so long, it feels very good to posting again at GT popping.  I have missed you guys.

Not wishing to bore you, but my reason for going off the radar is that I was very ill and had to spend several months back in the UK  . Things much better now though, and I am back home in Bali.  Just beginning to make contact with my fishing friends again.......

Until last week, I had not been able to fish since May, so a quick two and half day trip across the Strait to Lombok was eagerly anticipated. Upon arrival, the anticipation levels rose even further as the currents were really swirling and there just had to be fish.

Was soon into a couple of sizeable GTs and also started to get smashed by Spanish Macks. The second day was similar and produced the best GT of the trip - an extraordinarily fat fish that I am still have trouble calling weight-wise. It is the first one pictured below and if any of you have an estimate of weight from the pic, please do post it! This was mighty fine fish with which to Christen my new Carpenter MH80H.

The bite was really on and if I was back in peak physical shape I could certainly have caught more fish.  I was though very pleased with 7 GTs I caught and a similar number of fun Spanish Macks. Lure of the trip was (as usual) Heru Cubera 150 and I also caught fish with a Cubera 125, Shimano Ocean Pencil 110 sinking and Adhek Penipen 140.

Did not do any jigging at all as the top water was just too good. Wanted to try out out my new MC Works 556 but that will just have to wait.
 
Lombok is so underfished for a place that is relatively easy to reach from Bali (90 minute boat crossing). I have booked the boat again for November full moon (11th to 13th) and will be giving it all another go.  All fish successfully released bar 2 Spanish Macks which were kept for eating. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Equipment
Rods: Carpenter Monster Hunter 80H, Carpenter Coral Viper 7940, Ripple Fisher GT82
Reels: Stella 18000, Stella 10000, Twinpower 12000
Successful lures: Heru Cubera 150 and 125, Shimano Ocean Pencil 110 sinking, Adhek Penipen 140

A big, very fat GT:


Nice GT:


And another:


And a smaller one:


By-catch.  Lots of Spanish Macks of that size smashing poppers and stickbaits, and that was the first Goldenspotted Trevally I have ever caught on the top water:

[Ben Furness]

Good to see you are still alive and kicking mate! How are you? Looks like you got a few better fish than we got last time. Well done mate.

You look well and truely spent in that first photo mate, look like he put up a great fight!

[Mark Harris]

Good to see you are still alive and kicking mate! How are you? Looks like you got a few better fish than we got last time. Well done mate.

You look well and truely spent in that first photo mate, look like he put up a great fight!

I will drop you a PM shortly Ben.

Yeah, well and truly knackered in that pic - I am relatively very out of shape at the moment.  You ought to recognise the background in all those pics - exactly the sites we fished together. The fish were a lot bigger this time.

[Jason]

Good to see you mate.. I am wondering where have u been... I had saw Xplore Charters on Facebook posting your big catch.....

[Andre van Wyk]

Welcome back Mark... fantastic to see you back on the mend and fighting fit again!

Great report and some lovely fish, that first pic is a beautiful specimen... no doubt he grew those shoulders living in those hectic currents... slob fish, congrats!

[Travis Heaps]

Good to see you back on board Mark, cracker fish!

[Garry Wong]

good to see you back mate

[Dan Konig]

Good to hear you are feeling better - welcome back and great fish!

[Sacco Gerard]

A fisherman happy with the little smile of a winner  , big GT with Popper (for me the Queen of Fisheries

[Mark Harris]

Jason, thank you my friend.

Andre, thanks again and yep, that's typical of a southern Indonesian GT - they breed them tough over here!

Thanks Travis - huge amounts to catch up on here and I have truly missed you guys.

Garry, likewise and I will drop you a private note shortly.

Dan, thank you very much and I really owe you a private message as well!

Sacco, I am never happier than when casting at GTs . Thank you for the appreciation of the fish.

[Jay Burgess]

Looks like an enjoyable trip, Mark  Congrats.

As for size on the bigger fish, my guess would be around the 30kg mark.

[Mark Harris]

Thanks Jay.

I called that fish at low 30s which is how it felt on the rod.  However, 2 crew members with a lot of experience put it fair bit higher than that due to the girth.

[Aaron Concord]

Mark,

Glad to see you back on the forum.
Better yet, it must be pretty sweet to knock over these fish as part of your recovery!

That first GT is in remarkable shape.  Do you have a head-on shot to see the girth at all??

Congrats on the trip. May there be more to come.

Cheers,

Aaron.

[Mark Harris]

Aaron, thank you very much mate.  I can't tell you how good it feels to be back catching GTs again

Sadly, I don't have a head-on shot of that fish. It was a longer fight than I like (due to my less than perfect condition!), so it was one photo and back into the water as I was a bit worried about the fish. I did think about measuring it and had the tape to hand, but first and foremost was concern for the health of the fish.

[Aaron Concord]

Mark,

Once you have 'borrowed' a GT's angry attitude and fighting prowess, getting the fish back in the drink in good nick is the most important thing.............they are way too cool just to catch once!

I have been benched for a while due to more back trouble, though when I was catching a few, I'd take more photos rather than bugger around with scales and/or tape measures.  A nice image is more important to me.  With an digital SLR, taking rapid photos is a cinch these days!

I DO love to know how much a fish weighs, though not THAT much I'd keep a fish out of water just to satisfy this curiosity.  Also, with a photo you can always reflect on the weight anyway!

Cheers,

Aaron.