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

First GT trip

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Brandon Pope:
As far as being fit and able bodied, I am. I'm in exceptional physical condition for 40 years old. I really need recommendations for rigging. If I need a rod with a PE10 rating to stop a fish, let me know. If I can play a fish with a PE8, great. I can fight a fish for 15 minutes while applying 20lbs of drag.
There aren't dedicated GT outfitters in Socotra. Sami and Nick used the same guy I'm using to arrange visas, drivers and guides, guides meaning someone to run the day to day logistics. In short, you fish with locals who use traditional methods to feed their community. What I bring is what I have, no shops or others to beg, borrow or "steal" from.
In my current fishing style of popping for pelagics, I never need a PE10 rating. If I hook a 150lb tuna, I'm in 3,000ft of water. I don't need to stop the fish. I want to know if I'll be casting to rips in 100m of water, directly to reef edges or mixes of both.
Obviously, I have no experience with the animal. Crushing strikes with powerful initial runs is the norm. What is a normal drag setting for the above fishing locations. What hooks should I use on my poppers for the drag settings. The lateral line on GTs in extremely abrasive. What shock leaders should I use?

Trevor Skinner:
Brandon,

It's my understanding that fishing for GTs in Socotra has it's own unique challenges so the best information would come from people who have fished there and there's not many of those. Nick, Sami, Luke Wyrsta, Evan Gluck, Raymond Yong, Barry Kurten plus a handful of others that I know of. The rest of us are just guessing.

Brandon Khoo has got some fantastic general information about the type of tackle as well as leader systems, terminal tackle and lures pinned to this forum. The demands on the tackle as well as the fisherman is, in my limited experience, different between GTs and tuna. The general requirements for having a chance to catch GTs is covered by Brandon, the specific needs of being able to fish for GTs in Socotra can only be sensibly answered by those guys. 

Not much help I know but I think that's where you'll get your answers.

Regards,


Trevor

Brandon Pope:
Thanks Trevor. I'm going to fish for GTs for the very reason you outlined, it's going to be very different. Fly-fishing surf for bones is also different and I'm nearly as excited by this prospect. Really, coral trout and bohrs all equally excite me.
I look forward to hearing from those who've made the jaunt. I also missed Brandon's stickies. I started reading these earlier this morning. I chalked up overlooking this to my excitement. This island has been on my list for 25 years.

Trevor Skinner:
Brandon,

It's a real adventure, maybe one of the few left. Go for it



Trevor

Barry Kurten:
Hi Brandon,

As Trevor mentioned, I have been one of the fortunate few to fish down that side of world and I am busy in the process of arranging another trip for as soon as possible. It truly is a very unique place.

On the fishing side of things, as mentioned above by the guys .. You are going to be a bit very "out gunned" with your current setup. The fish are big and the currents even bigger. The small boats you fish off make it equally challenging because a speedy hook up and get away from the reef is just not possible and that's where you need the "heavy stuff" in terms of thicker braid (min 100lb) and rods with serious back bone to slow the GT's down while the little 40Hp powered boats attempt to tow the fish out of the current and away from the reef into the deeper water.

The fishing area on the east side is small and you basically drift down one long reef. The deep side of the reef is about 20 - 25meters of water .. on top of the reef probably 5meters, if that, for the most part. It does drop off deeper at the end of the reef, but most of the action happens over the shallow area where the current swell is churning up white water on the shallow exposed sections of the reef.

In terms of lures ... The GT's like big stickbaits and poppers. The image of one of the biggest fish I have ever seen inhaling Lukes 220 Orion Nambas stickbait will live with me forever !!! Preferred colours definitely seemed to be the black with silver flash coloured lures .. well at least they did when we were there last October.

In terms of Leader strength, I think Nick and Sami were using 300lb leaders and even they were experiencing what I like to call the "death rattle" (that unmistakable feeling before a GT reefs you) , but I am sure Luke , Nick and Sami will chip in with some very valuable advice when they get onto this thread later.

Jigging is a bit tough down that side because the boats don't have sounders or GPS, but that being said we did get plenty good species on the jigs, which leaves a person wondering what the potential could be in a place like that should one have the right equipment to find the reefs and pinnacles.

I hope I have been able to give you some better insight , please feel free to fire away should you require any further info, I am always more then willing to assist where possible and as mentioned above, I am sure the rest of the guys will climb in with plenty more advice when they next log on

Tight lines
Barry

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