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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Reports & Expeditions => Topic started by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 12:45:08 PM

Title: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 12:45:08 PM: Just got back late last night - fishing with LPB for 5 days.

I'll fill in the report and more phots later after work.
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 04:54:11 PM: Chris - your avatar
What is it? Is it a tiny dogtooth? If it is, it is an absolute beauty!!
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 05:23:05 PM: Yup, its a tiny dogtooth caught in Rodrigues.

Back to NC. Maverick, Kerwin and myself fished the southern lagoon for 5 days.

We managed to get there after cylcone Ului went by. However the winds were still pretty strong and it was raining everyday, which made fishing a little hard.

Rudy did everything he could to get us some nice GTs and an assortment of reefies and sharks (not his intention, ofcourse).

We had a great time fishing the south but it was really hard work and we had very long stretches where we popped and popped and nothing happened.

No biggies this time although an estimated 50kg GT came up to visit a popper but it wasnt interested.

At night, we had a great time catching all kinds of snappers, groupers and I even managed to hook up a nice gt on a pe3 yamaga rod with a stradic. It took me round the boat boat but finally managed to get it in after over 20 minutes.

Maverick and Kerwin managed to get their personal best while I'm still dreamining of my monster class GT.

This was my 2nd visit to NC and like in 2007, I enjoyed myself fishing with LPB . We'll be back soon for the northern expedition.
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 05:30:53 PM: I think that is definitely a record doggie!! ;D

bad luck about the weather but at least you managed to get some fishing in.
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 05:32:02 PM: Here's some additional pictures
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 05:40:42 PM: Chuggers worked best this time round - kongs, hammerheads, craftbait, cono cono. Stickbaits and pencils accounted for a few pieces.
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Jon Li on April 01, 2010, 07:04:27 PM: Hi Chris ,

Nice photos , keep them coming . Saw a glimpse of custom SP78UHL SHP in one of the photos , was it up to the task ?

Jon .
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 07:08:17 PM: Rudy is a master of the inchiku jig!!
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 07:52:22 PM: Jon, the UHL was under utilised unfortunately.

Brandon - Rudy is the master inchiku jigger! We tried to copy his crazy style but failed miserably!
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 07:58:46 PM: His technique with the inchiku is hardly conventional but he catches so many fish with it! David fishes the same way too - they really are very good with this type of lure. Was he using that tiny outfit with the reel that looks only suitable for bream?
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 08:00:37 PM: Yup - very very light tackle.
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Jon Li on April 01, 2010, 08:32:53 PM: If the guy you guys are talking is the one holding a grouper of some sort , his equipments are among the best in bass rods n reels , Megabass Evoluzion SB rod n Conquest 400 , by the look of it .

Jon .
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 09:10:17 PM: no, Rudy is the third photo from the bottom
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Jon Li on April 01, 2010, 09:49:24 PM: Quote from: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 09:10:17 PM
no, Rudy is the third photo from the bottom

Hi Brandon ,

Thanks , now I can put a face into the guy whom I have been communicating thru email .

Jon .
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 01, 2010, 09:57:45 PM: That's right - I forgot they were a customer!
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Jay Burgess on April 01, 2010, 10:26:29 PM: Quote from: Chris Tan on April 01, 2010, 07:52:22 PM
Jon, the UHL was under utilised unfortunately.

What outfits did you utilise the most?

Awesome shirt graphics, who did the design/printing?
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Alex Jordan on April 02, 2010, 12:46:38 AM: Good trip report - weather looks a bit tough but you can't beat a PE2 challenge!
Love the shirts :D
Just a handful of days before team GB get some action!
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Young on April 02, 2010, 08:19:49 AM: Hi Chris, great report mate. I love the shot of Rudy coaching your mate (pic 14?) he looks like he's in a whole lot of pain!!!! ;D
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 02, 2010, 11:29:39 AM: Rods used were a range of Carpenters - UHL, EXH, WV and TBL. There was a Komodo Dragon and a Ripple Fisher PE12 as well.

The t-shirts are designed by Maverick's cousin and printed in Miri, Malaysia. We wanted the design to be bigger but given that we only got it done 2 weeks before the trip, it came out alright.

Chris - Maverick had numerous hits on your lures. He's a fullscale convert!

Here are a few more pictures....
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Greg Burt on April 02, 2010, 12:09:24 PM: Some top looking fish there Chris, but no picks of ' Hookers' :o ;)
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 02, 2010, 12:13:43 PM: Greg, the hookers hit the water but no hits. We tried jigging twice in those 5 days. We caught small stuff - coral trout, several rainbow runners. We did get some sharks I think and lost our assist - phew!
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Jay Burgess on April 02, 2010, 07:09:27 PM: Those pics are awesome Chris, what camera are you using?
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 02, 2010, 07:28:59 PM: Thanks Jay. Was using a Nikon D90. Bought it for this trip. Its big and chunky but it gives me plenty of options to be creative.
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Nathan Cefai on April 05, 2010, 10:59:45 AM: Solid effort boys..

Well done,im off to New Cal in a few weeks..
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Brandon Khoo on April 05, 2010, 11:15:18 AM: Who are you going with, Nate?
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: voodoo on April 06, 2010, 02:48:58 PM: Hi Chris,

Thanks for the report.

Good to hear from you. Hope all is well!

Regards,
Josh Shardlow
Title: Re: Team Salty Dogs in New Caledonia
Post by: Chris Tan on April 06, 2010, 02:55:42 PM: Hey Josh,

Good to hear from you. Been fishing lately?