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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Reports & Expeditions => Topic started by: Chris Tan on December 02, 2010, 05:57:01 PM

Title: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 02, 2010, 05:57:01 PM
Just got back last night and here's 2 photos to start.

Will add more with a detailed report soon.
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Sam Cheadle on December 02, 2010, 06:29:38 PM
Nice pics to start Chris - looking forward to the rest. Looks like the bottom picture fish had some trauma to the head?
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Mark Harris on December 02, 2010, 06:39:30 PM
Tantalising Chris, tantalising :)
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Maverick K. on December 02, 2010, 06:52:51 PM
You are such a tease kakaka  :P hurry up la bro!!  ;D
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Nathan Cefai on December 02, 2010, 08:31:32 PM
Nice fish mate,looking forward to full report..
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Sam Conacher on December 02, 2010, 08:44:34 PM
i agree with everyone,  looking forward to the report,  arn't we all.
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 02, 2010, 10:18:47 PM
We had 5 days of fishing the north of NC with LPB - around the same areas Brandon fished a few weeks back. Rudy told us the areas Konishi landed the monster fish but unfortunately the conditions weren't the same.

We had very strong winds and rough conditions for the first 3 days - making fishing tough. We fished the deeper outer barrier reefs in the morning and had to fish the lagoon in the afternoon.

On the 4th day we had glassy calm seas with no wind and no fish.

On the last day we fished an area Rudy called the "mythical place" where the big ones lurked. Despite having wrong wind directions, we had a great last day with some good size gts showing up.

All in all, we had a great time despite some trying conditions and kudos to Rudy and Sebestien for their hard work.


Best fish was Kerwin's 45kg GT on the last cast. We had a couple close to 40 and a few over 30. Plenty of smaller gts, reefies and crazy airbrone macks to keep everyone entertained. These macks love the Orion plug tropic! My wife Jac and I had big macks on the end of our lines but one bite off and another got sharked.

Sharks were a huge problem for our trip. They took everything, from poppers to jigs to madai! Night fishing was pretty fun with madai and rubbers landing some nice groupers and coral trouts. Light jigs and lures resulted in a couple of barracudas and macks.

We had a huge GT hit Yow's gt bull with no paint on. It came charging some 2m from the back of the boat with a few smaller ones in tow. It engulfed the gt bull and sawm off into deep waters. We knew Yow had a great chance of landing this fish but after 10 minutes into the fight the fish floated and we soon realised all Yow had left was a huge GT head. Rudy estimated it to be around 55kgs!


Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Mark Harris on December 02, 2010, 10:21:21 PM
Some exciting stuff there Chris and sounds like a decent trip despite the unfavourable conditions.
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 02, 2010, 11:23:42 PM
Rudy mentioned it was pretty rare for large gts to get sharked so it was very unfortunate.

One of the ground staff at the airport in NC did say he's been jigging in the north and had seen 6 great white sharks recently.

Anyway here are the photos
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 02, 2010, 11:27:43 PM
A few more
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 02, 2010, 11:29:45 PM
The last few
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Mark Harris on December 02, 2010, 11:37:25 PM
Whoa! That GT head!  Great Whites indeed. 

Some great photos, thanks a lot for sharing.

What's the stickbait where the wiring failed Chris?
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Andre van Wyk on December 02, 2010, 11:53:48 PM
Awesome report and some fantastic fish Chris, congrats and many thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Vincenzo Caccico on December 02, 2010, 11:57:45 PM
the wether conditions, tell me my friend one time in Oman, are unfortunatly in our hands, but if you are a good fisherman you can save the trip.

Vincenzo
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Andre van Wyk on December 02, 2010, 11:59:36 PM
On another note... Anyone know where a tackle tart like me can get one of those Fisherman Jackets Rudy is wearing in the first pic???  8) :o ;)
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 03, 2010, 12:31:56 AM

That's a gamma 160. After getting a couple of gts, I gave it to Jac to try and she had 2 hits on her first cast and when she brought the lure in, we realised the wiring gave way.

Whoa! That GT head!  Great Whites indeed. 

Some great photos, thanks a lot for sharing.

What's the stickbait where the wiring failed Chris?
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Jay Burgess on December 03, 2010, 12:57:46 AM
Nice work Chris, looks like you guys still managed some good fish in trying conditions. Very nice pics, what camera/lens are you using?
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Mark Harris on December 03, 2010, 02:15:29 AM

That's a gamma 160. After getting a couple of gts, I gave it to Jac to try and she had 2 hits on her first cast and when she brought the lure in, we realised the wiring gave way.

I thought it looked like a Gamma but then though the wiring would not fail on that lure!
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Jon Li on December 03, 2010, 02:30:38 AM

That's a gamma 160. After getting a couple of gts, I gave it to Jac to try and she had 2 hits on her first cast and when she brought the lure in, we realised the wiring gave way.

Whoa! That GT head!  Great Whites indeed. 

Some great photos, thanks a lot for sharing.

What's the stickbait where the wiring failed Chris?

Chris ,

Send it back to Kenji , he will surely replace it with a new one n kept yours for " investigation " .   :-\

Jon .
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Brandon Khoo on December 03, 2010, 06:23:45 AM
Mark, the wiring can fail on any lure notwithstanding Carpenter lures have some of the strongest wiring in the industry. I've previously seen the wire compromised on every major brand of Japanese lure except Carpenter.   :(



That's a gamma 160. After getting a couple of gts, I gave it to Jac to try and she had 2 hits on her first cast and when she brought the lure in, we realised the wiring gave way.

I thought it looked like a Gamma but then though the wiring would not fail on that lure!
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Nathan Cefai on December 03, 2010, 08:49:16 AM
Great Report Chris,thats a great trip,shame about the weather though.... :)
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on December 03, 2010, 10:03:15 AM
Great work Chris.

LPB strikes again....

Love the polrized filter shot of "Kendec" Island ;) I have spent many a camping night on this island  8)
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 03, 2010, 10:03:51 AM
Thanks guys!

Jay, I was using the D90 and the kit lens (18-105) with the polariser filter.
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Kasey Leong on December 03, 2010, 11:33:51 AM
Oh, poor 55kg GT - and a black one too!

What's that under the boat at night Chris?
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Sam Conacher on December 03, 2010, 11:38:16 AM
awesome work Chris.



it's a shame about just the head you got back on that GT,  no doubt about it had you of gotten the whole GT with-out the bloody shark's it would of been one great specimen of a catch i am 100% sure of it and no doubt about it.



in all and complete honesty i am very, very much so itching to get back there to NC to do another trip, unfortunately i am still saving up and the moment i have saved up enough i will be there in a heart beat - i guarantee you on that.



just wondering if it is ok me asking,

you said or mentioned the Surface Bull Popper which that monster went for - which size surface bull popper? , as from what i know there are 2 sizes
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Winston Yow on December 03, 2010, 11:45:36 AM
awesome work Chris.



it's a shame about just the head you got back on that GT,  no doubt about it had you of gotten the whole GT with-out the bloody shark's it would of been one great specimen of a catch i am 100% sure of it and no doubt about it.



in all and complete honesty i am very, very much so itching to get back there to NC to do another trip, unfortunately i am still saving up and the moment i have saved up enough i will be there in a heart beat - i guarantee you on that.



just wondering if it is ok me asking,

you said or mentioned the Surface Bull Popper which that monster went for - which size surface bull popper? , as from what i know there are 2 sizes

Sam,

the 100g one
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 03, 2010, 11:52:35 AM
Sam, Winston Yow would know best as he was the one who hooked up the big gt.

Kasey, that night I was mucking around with a Shimano squid jig and managed to snag an octopus. But when it landed on the deck, it made a swift escape under the boat and stayed there. Rudy and Sebestien tried everything to get the fella out but it wasn't budging. So we had no choice but to bust off. Would have made some nice sashimi and bait!
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Maverick K. on December 03, 2010, 01:23:41 PM
Great catch report bro! Looks like everyone had a great time  ;) hahaha I was wondering the same thing too about tat butt shot with everyone looking under the boat hmmmmmmm  ???
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Henry Sung on December 03, 2010, 02:37:59 PM
Nice report with impressive catches.

Can't imagine if the shark eats the whole black GT in one bite and get caught in the line. I reckon it will be one hell of a fight.

 ;)
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Kasey Leong on December 03, 2010, 03:31:06 PM
Sam, Winston Yow would know best as he was the one who hooked up the big gt.

Kasey, that night I was mucking around with a Shimano squid jig and managed to snag an octopus. But when it landed on the deck, it made a swift escape under the boat and stayed there. Rudy and Sebestien tried everything to get the fella out but it wasn't budging. So we had no choice but to bust off. Would have made some nice sashimi and bait!

 ;D Lazy fellas - should have booted them in with a snorkel to get it!

Speaking of which, maybe this year I just might reconsider going swimming... I don't imagine myself being much bigger than a 55kg GT. Nobody had better snag 230g bigfoots in the reef  :-X
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: David Chan on December 03, 2010, 04:20:10 PM
Nice fish mate,looking forward to full report..

how about your report nath? I'm following this forum for a while and remember you mentioned your trip to NC in October? caught nothing?
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 06, 2010, 03:50:34 PM
Here's a video of the last few GTs

Big GTs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9boSJwAYsk#)
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Peter Morris on December 06, 2010, 07:14:53 PM
Nice Video Chris,

How savage is that last blast of power a GT gives you when they see the boat... ;D

Pete
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Greg Burt on December 07, 2010, 04:01:14 PM
Great vid and good coaching Chris  ;), bad luck on the end result  :(
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Chris Tan on December 07, 2010, 06:19:20 PM
Its an unfortunate end and if we knew it'll be sharked, we would have forced Yow to pump like hell!! :o
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Peter Morris on December 07, 2010, 09:28:50 PM
Nice fish mate,looking forward to full report..

how about your report nath? I'm following this forum for a while and remember you mentioned your trip to NC in October? caught nothing?

Nathan.....something.. ???.....anything.....  :-\
Title: Re: New Caledonia with LPB November 2010
Post by: Sam Conacher on December 07, 2010, 09:53:12 PM
awesome work Chris.



it's a shame about just the head you got back on that GT,  no doubt about it had you of gotten the whole GT with-out the bloody shark's it would of been one great specimen of a catch i am 100% sure of it and no doubt about it.



in all and complete honesty i am very, very much so itching to get back there to NC to do another trip, unfortunately i am still saving up and the moment i have saved up enough i will be there in a heart beat - i guarantee you on that.



just wondering if it is ok me asking,

you said or mentioned the Surface Bull Popper which that monster went for - which size surface bull popper? , as from what i know there are 2 sizes

Sam,

the 100g one






ok thanks.