Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) > Tackle & Techniques

First GT trip

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Brandon Pope:
Thanks for the information Barry. Fishing without electronics, in less than modern boats and engines will make the experience even better in my opinion. Being an island, the areas available to fishing are limited. Modern equipment, aside from tackle, could exploit a near pristine fishery.
Thanks again for the feedback. I look forward to future posts. I'm up to a baptism by fire. Btw, did you fish from the shore?

Sami Ghandour:
Hi Brandon,

I guess you picked up one of the most difficult terrain for your first GT trip,
you are under-gunned with your outfit and it is going to be difficult to explain to you in words what a 50 kg GT could do to you in that current, you have to experience it yourself to believe it, i wouldn't personally fish Socotra  less then PE10 rod and preferably PE12, you are not only fighting the fish but the current as well, the bigger the lure the better you chance to hook the big one and there is certain time and tide that you can produce those class of fish, it is very sporty to fight those fish on the small canoe :) but i personally love the challenge and every bit of it, my suggestion to you is that you are going to a remote area and if you ran out of tackle you are basically done for the trip, so i suggest you to have at least 1 descent outfit for the task, i will be fishing Socotra in October with my clients.
good luck!

  Tight lines
   Sami

Brandon Pope:
I noticed you guys were returning this fall. The GTs picked me as much as picked them. I would be going to Socotra whether the GTs were there or not. However, I'm thrilled they are adding to the adventure. I'm fishing 4 of the 8 days I'll be there. The other 4 days I'll be trekking the more remote interior and I'll fish every afternoon we camp on the beaches.
I can't imagine words are able to describe how a 50kg GT feels in a huge sweeping current. I'll look into getting a PE10 rated rod for the trip. My PE8 will serve as back up. Do you feel a 10000 Stella will hold enough 100lb jb solid to pull a fish free of the reef? My poppers are rigged with owner ST-76 5X hooks and I'll file off the barbs. I've considered rigging with singles to reduce risk of injury when handling. Suffering a wound in a remote area isn't a nice thought.
I'll going to be traveling light as possible considering the activities I be undertaking due to bringing a bag dedicated to bringing school supplies to the local teachers. I'm a high school biology and environmental science teacher. My students and I are going to raise funds and donate supplies for their Socotri counterparts. I want to bring as little, but as much as I need to accomplish both goals. Two rod tubes is all I'll be able to manage. My reels will be in a carry on!

Sami Ghandour:
Hi Brandon,

The kids will appreciate if you can bring the colorful Crayon, they were running after us asking if we have any.
i will make sure to bring some with me on this coming trip but any small gesture toward the local kids will highly be appreciated from the local guys, you will be fascinated by the island.

Luke Wyrsta:
Brandon,

If you want to make the most out of this opportunity rather than losing a whole heap of $$$ on bad-ass GTs - Sami and Barry have already outlined some requirements, but here it is.

X1 PE10 / 130lb Class Rod - 7ft+
X1 Stella 18000SW (Stella 10000 will not suffice).

The current can rage in this area, which means the fish is going to pull a lot of line in conjunction with guiding the fish across and out of the current, keeping the fish's head is pivotal to not meeting some of the famous rock and reef. There is a great chance, a trophy class GT will spool a Stella 10K (and a Stella 10K I would not use for anything greater than PE6-8, you will not get nearly enough capacity with PE10).

Leaders should be 300lb Bite Class with minimum of 250lb connected to the PE.
Owner/Decoy Split Ring #11
Owner ST76 Treble 4/0 / 5/0 minimum pending lure size.
Decoy Saltwater Treble 8/0 - 10/0 +

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