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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Reports & Expeditions => Topic started by: John Campbell on July 12, 2010, 06:23:39 PM

Title: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: John Campbell on July 12, 2010, 06:23:39 PM

Like Peter said with week one Brandon is pretty busy at the moment so i thought i would put up a report for the second week

The second week of the Trip organised by Brandon consisted of Brandon ( second week) Luke Peters, Rob Ciotucha,
Chris Young (of Full Scale Lures fame), Martin Excel, Ken Best, David Huang, Sunny Fan, Cai Caiyang, Kasey Leong, Dominique
Draux and myself


Well the week started off with a bang as we all enjoyed meeting each other with most of us for the first time, and knocking back a few beverages at the Tavern on Hamilton Island, then later a few more back at the motel until the early hours of the morning  :)  early flights the next morning meant that there were a few sore heads as the first group boarded the sea plane for our trip to the reef at about 6:30 am with the impending forecast of 30kt winds and rain !!   the first flight went off without a hitch, the second flight was a completely different story with at least one of the guys having a word to the big guy in the sky and later finding out the pilot did also  :o

Once the fishing started all was forgotten as everyone got down to casting poppers and stickbaits at everything that moved in the ocean, the fishing was quite spectacular at times and other times fairly slow but overall i think everyday someone saw a fish of at least 40kg either swipe or eat a lure, the highlight of my trip (fishing wise anyways) was a day that Cai, Rob and myself were fishing with Damon and we snuck into this Blue hole that looked pretty good only to see and hookup to some massive fish without landing any we saw maybe 5 fish between 40 an 50kg and seeing one that was definately bigger again
it was amazing !!!  there was a huge variety of lures that caught fish with one day most of the bites coming from stickbaits and then the next they would mostly eat poppers ( thats fishing  hey  :) !!)

The variety of species caught was pretty awesome  with various mackeral species, reef fish from the mothership, bludgers, and tunas underneath the birds to some different catches like Mahi Mahi  and a Yellowfin Tuna of about 15kg caught on a Fusilier school on the shallow edge of a reef  and the everpresent Red bass which when they were found were thick and on the last day a school of Dogtooth Tuna showed up sitting underneath us as we cast for GT but were not really in a feeding mode the biggest one we saw was around the 20 to 25kg mark which after some convincing Glanville decided to drop a fly down  for a brief hookup

The group that was on board was amazing we all got on so well with the sledging coming thick and fast each day and even more so on the mothership at night, there were some new awards given out that differed from the first week that came about from some of the incidents that happened each day on the boats  ;)   Cai won the "L" shaped award ( which i am sure you will get the idea of when some of the pictures are posted )  and i won the MC award ( unable to elaborate on a public forum)

The main awards are as follows  Biggest GT Ken Best @ 45kg (super effort) , best angler (voted by the guides) Martin Excel, best other capture Rob Ciotucha 30kg Spanish Mackeral,  Smallest GT Cai Caiyung 49.5cm fork length ( cant believe one was caught smaller than mine  ;D) Best capture on mothership Kasey Leong  was 7 to 8ft shark most improved during the week
Luke Peters.  another capture worth mentioning was Brandons 25kg  GT on 30lb braid   and same day catching the 15kg Yellowfin

I could go on for days about some of the great times that we spent on the boat, and some of the stories (some were even true  :D) that were told over a beer at night but i will leave it to the guys to add there favorite moments from the trip as they see fit

On behalf of the guys on week 2 i would like to congratulate Brandon for organising such a great weeks fishing and also to the Nomad crew for making the week so enjoyable and easy

unfortunately my computer will take about 24 hours to download all the pictures so i will leave it to the other guys on the trip to start adding pictures when they get a chance and i will add some once they are all downloaded

Guys feel free to add anything that i have missed

Cheers
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Rob Ciotucha on July 12, 2010, 06:45:44 PM
Awesome John Thanks for posting a report, saves me typing it all out.

I shall get some photos posted.

Cheers
Rob
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Rob Ciotucha on July 12, 2010, 06:50:50 PM
Kasey Bending
(http://s2.postimage.org/HQtsS.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsHQtsS)
Rob Spanish Mackeral
(http://s1.postimage.org/1JHKr.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1JHKr)
Tripple Hookup
(http://s1.postimage.org/1JKeA.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1JKeA)
Martin GT
(http://s1.postimage.org/1JPdS.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1JPdS)
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Sam Conacher on July 12, 2010, 06:54:56 PM
simply and truly awesome.


can i ask you John or Rob or anyone that knows as this is coming from someone who has got no idea - John in a part of the report you mention Blue Hole,  what is a Blue Hole?
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Rob Ciotucha on July 12, 2010, 06:55:49 PM
Ken GT
(http://s3.postimage.org/m7hjr.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqm7hjr)
Martin Mahi Mahi
(http://s3.postimage.org/m7jOA.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqm7jOA)
Kasey GT
(http://s4.postimage.org/57ql9.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV57ql9)
David GT
(http://s2.postimage.org/HQNq0.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsHQNq0)
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Sam Conacher on July 12, 2010, 07:00:48 PM
Rob,


your spanish is a beast and i like all the photos,  i am guessing that it was caught on GT Gear - did it give you a run for your money at that size or not really?
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chuen Fan on July 12, 2010, 07:29:51 PM
Cai "L" Bending to the MAX

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/P7080347.jpg)

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/P7080351.jpg)

Luke absolutely exhausted after a long, long fight!

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/IMG_5204.jpg)

Seafrog does the trick

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/GT4271.jpg)

Beautiful surrounds

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/P7060298.jpg)

Brandon's Yellowfin on GT Gamma

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/GT070332.jpg)

Martin's wonder lure!

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/IMG_4330.jpg)

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/GT080338.jpg)

Mack Tuna

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/P7060304.jpg)

Brandon oon 30lb gear! It went 25kg

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/IMG_4326.jpg)

David's Diamond Trev

(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/sunnyfan/Elusive%20Reef/IMG_5195.jpg)





Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: John Campbell on July 12, 2010, 07:32:51 PM
Hey Sam

Blue holes are probably best described as little pools inside the hard reef sometimes they will have no way in or out at low tide
and boats cant get in or out either (ask Ken and Marty  ;D)  the ones we fished in usually only had between 3 an 10m of water so need to have everything go right to catch a big fish in them

if anyone has a better description please elaborate for me

cheers
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Rob Ciotucha on July 12, 2010, 07:54:38 PM
Rob,


your spanish is a beast and i like all the photos,  i am guessing that it was caught on GT Gear - did it give you a run for your money at that size or not really?

Sam yes it was caught on GT gear, The initial run was very very fast, The fight was good but nothing compared to a GT of similar size.

The take was amazing the mack just about jumped into the boat.

Rob
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chuen Fan on July 12, 2010, 08:09:15 PM
Thanks for getting the ball rolling Mr MC ;D ;D ;D

Firstly, I'd like to say a big Thank You! to Brandon, and next a big thank you to all the guys that made this trip as amazing and laughter filled as it was.

Week 2 started off for us guys on the second floatplane with 30knts plus of wind, a few.. make that many Hail Mary's for the safe touch down of the plane in choppy sea conditions. I don't think anyones luggage managed to stay dry after an extremely quick change over with the second group of guys leaving the Odyssey.

I cannot say more on how well the NOMAD crew were during the stay onboard! Meals were great, beer was cold and free flowing... Heck, we even had a father and son reunion! ;) ;D Crusty finally found his long lost son aptly nicknamed Crusty Junior for the rest of the trip!

I can honestly say that the company was what made the trip it was, thank you to High 4, Marty, Crusty and Cai for the non stop crap talking that had all of us in tears from laughing at some stage.

We came, we saw, we conquered!
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Sam Conacher on July 12, 2010, 08:26:41 PM
ah ok i understand,  thanks John and Rob.
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: John Campbell on July 12, 2010, 08:41:05 PM
Hey guys 

Thanks for adding the pictures 

Ah crusty jnr i forgot about that one  ;D  so many laughs

my ribs are still sore from laughing so hard,  or maybe thats my liver !! ;)


Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chuen Fan on July 12, 2010, 10:12:20 PM
If any of the week 2 boys found they packed a (M) sized blue Nomad t-shirt, a couple of E Cup's, a Craftbait GT2 or a pair of Oakley sunglasses, could they please get in touch with me. A couple of us may have misplaced some luggage :o :o Thanks guys
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Peter Morris on July 12, 2010, 10:17:36 PM
Great stuff guys..!! 8) 8)

Nice to meet some you also.

I remeber meeting Rob,Crusty,John......and Sunny and Ken very briefly on that hectic flight changeover :o ;D

Pete
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: John Campbell on July 12, 2010, 10:45:03 PM
Hey Peter

thats right we had i quick chat about the light tackle fishing on the top deck briefly

its always good to meet others from the forum  :)


 Sunny  size (M) hey that counts me out  :D

i will be seeing the guys when they get back into port next week so i will check that there wasnt anything left behind

cheers
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Robert Palcak on July 13, 2010, 07:08:08 AM
Fantastic stuff guys... would have been so much fun to have been there... so jealous  ;D
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chris Young on July 13, 2010, 09:07:33 AM
It's hard to pick out the highlights of this trip, the fact that such a motley crew gelled so well on the first night at Hammo was just the beginning. This carried on to Odyssey, and I was a bit shocked when Deb told me we had gone through the first keg in just 2 nights.

I think one of THE highlights for me was when Ken got his rod back, now we could sledge him with no mercy, and sledge we did  :o ??? The other was of course catching up with my long lost son

Was great to meet all you guys, the laughter was non stop, It even carried on at the airport on the way home where I slammed Kai on one of the lounges after he was being his normal cheeky self

Cheers to my chigger's and wigger's on week two    ;) 8)
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Kasey Leong on July 13, 2010, 11:53:34 AM
Hi Pops,

You have a bit of an advantage over Kai - he tried to do jump me while I was napping in that lounge and pretty much bounced straight off onto the floor. We all know who you should really try and wrestle. That would be Monster-Class!

The GT2 that's missing was a Skipjack colour, and the two E-cups were Purple and Black (No. 22 and No. 23). If someone finds them I would be really appreciative! I think the E-cups might be on Red Dragon.

P.S. If we went through that much beer, imagine how much lemonade was used up!
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Ken Best on July 13, 2010, 12:27:16 PM
Yep, I dropped a rod into the water :'( and copped some, rightly so!! 
David dropped his Stella and camera in the water and Martin fell into the water twice...... ;D
What a great week. You guys were sensational. I can't work out if I am still sore from the fishing or laughing??

Thanks to Brandon and MCA for their organizing skill, and to Nomad for such a great week.
I'll be back!!



Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Geoff Volter on July 13, 2010, 05:02:15 PM
Does the MC award signify anything? and dont tell me its monster class.
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chuen Fan on July 13, 2010, 05:43:42 PM
It's a monster class of sorts..! Unfortunately not for a public forum! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: John Campbell on July 13, 2010, 10:18:04 PM
I think we will call it Mini Class  as i prob caught the most fish under 20kg  ;) :D


Cai getting "L" shaped....... AGAIN !! ;D
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu204/jcfish_bucket/P1010046.jpg)

Neptune rising with Kens rod, reel and popper !!
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu204/jcfish_bucket/P1010042.jpg)

Ken later that day
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu204/jcfish_bucket/P1010045.jpg)


Another funny moment was watching the yellowfin go nuts and bashing Brandon  then watching it
spraypaint the boat with blood after it got its second wind !!!!
it was one unhappy tuna but boy did it taste good the next night
 (http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu204/jcfish_bucket/P7070336.jpg)
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Scott Maybury on July 14, 2010, 10:25:24 AM
Haha some great bending boys....
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Kai Caiyang on July 14, 2010, 11:39:25 AM
It's hard to pick out the highlights of this trip, the fact that such a motley crew gelled so well on the first night at Hammo was just the beginning. This carried on to Odyssey, and I was a bit shocked when Deb told me we had gone through the first keg in just 2 nights.

I think one of THE highlights for me was when Ken got his rod back, now we could sledge him with no mercy, and sledge we did  :o ??? The other was of course catching up with my long lost son

Was great to meet all you guys, the laughter was non stop, It even carried on at the airport on the way home where I slammed Cai on one of the lounges after he was being his normal cheeky self

Cheers to my chigger's and wigger's on week two    ;) 8)

Hey Crusty,
my normal self is "serious" and "hardworking" ok? especially in my office attire. hahaha.

Looks like i'm having an identity crisis or am i an undercover?? coz i have like a few different variations of my name in the posts and my profile name in the forum is wrong too :(  omg.....

Cheers,
Kai

Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chris Young on July 14, 2010, 12:25:59 PM

Hey Crusty,
my normal self is "serious" and "hardworking" ok?


Hahahahahahahahaha......"serious" and "hardworking"?????  hahahaha

I just laughed so hard a bit of wee came out  :o :-[
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Ricky Lim on July 14, 2010, 01:10:15 PM
Hahahahahahahahaha......"serious" and "hardworking"??  hahahaha

I just laughed so hard a bit of wee came out   

fished with kai in New Cal twice, got to say he's good value. Chris look like you got more than what you bargain from miyagi himself. Ha Ha Love It.
Sound like a good trip. " One keg in two nights" Man i wish i was there!!!!!
Chris Bought afew poppers from you awhile back, love it and  you have anymore new creations?
And Kai! are we going to do it again at New Cal? What happens on the trip Stays on the trip ;D
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chris Young on July 14, 2010, 01:30:34 PM
Ricky, you would not know Kai now mate, he is a fishing machine, we had him casting ALL day, we couldn't stop him at times :o

The keg was surprising as we were just socializing not really boozin up, however I think Kai went through a lot of lemonade with his "mandies" :-*

I will be adding some pencil poppers to the range very soon (as soon as I can get them on this damn puter thingy :-[)

Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chris Young on July 15, 2010, 08:04:32 AM
Some more pics
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Kasey Leong on July 15, 2010, 11:53:46 AM
It's hard to pick out the highlights of this trip, the fact that such a motley crew gelled so well on the first night at Hammo was just the beginning. This carried on to Odyssey, and I was a bit shocked when Deb told me we had gone through the first keg in just 2 nights.

I think one of THE highlights for me was when Ken got his rod back, now we could sledge him with no mercy, and sledge we did  :o ??? The other was of course catching up with my long lost son

Was great to meet all you guys, the laughter was non stop, It even carried on at the airport on the way home where I slammed Cai on one of the lounges after he was being his normal cheeky self

Cheers to my chigger's and wigger's on week two    ;) 8)

Hey Crusty,
my normal self is "serious" and "hardworking" ok? especially in my office attire. hahaha.

Looks like i'm having an identity crisis or am i an undercover?? coz i have like a few different variations of my name in the posts and my profile name in the forum is wrong too :(  omg.....

Cheers,
Kai

You're right! It's missing the tagline 'L-Bending King'....
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chuen Fan on July 15, 2010, 12:26:35 PM
It's hard to pick out the highlights of this trip, the fact that such a motley crew gelled so well on the first night at Hammo was just the beginning. This carried on to Odyssey, and I was a bit shocked when Deb told me we had gone through the first keg in just 2 nights.

I think one of THE highlights for me was when Ken got his rod back, now we could sledge him with no mercy, and sledge we did  :o ??? The other was of course catching up with my long lost son

Was great to meet all you guys, the laughter was non stop, It even carried on at the airport on the way home where I slammed Kai on one of the lounges after he was being his normal cheeky self

Cheers to my chigger's and wigger's on week two    ;) 8)

Not to mention the figger's!!  ::) ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Kai Caiyang on July 15, 2010, 12:53:09 PM

Hey Crusty,
my normal self is "serious" and "hardworking" ok?


Hahahahahahahahaha......"serious" and "hardworking"?????  hahahaha

I just laughed so hard a bit of wee came out  :o :-[

I better stop making u laugh else u gonna wet your pants soon. I'll buy adult diapers for you next time :) we go popping.

 
Title: Re: Elusive Reef with Nomad Sportfishing week 2
Post by: Chuen Fan on July 15, 2010, 02:34:18 PM
Can someone pease Kai a monster class AVALANCHE???