GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
General => General Topwater & Jigging Discussion => Topic started by: David Clumpner on March 28, 2008, 03:12:53 PM
-
I've seen the word 'record' alongside a few 60kg+ GT pictures, but here's another on the Hammerhead site:
http://www.hammer-head.jp/
Click on Japanese, then Gallery, then David's report from New Caledonia.
There's some BIG fish there! btw, what IS the GT record, if there is one? I know it must be hard to properly weigh a 60kg+ fish and still get it back into the water alive.
-
Awesome fish isn't it!!!!
As far as I am aware, that fish is the second biggest released, popper caught GT that I am aware of (estimated). The biggest caught and released was taken by Nomad - some 68kg of Silver Brute (weighed, scales).
There have been bigger fish caught, the only one I know for sure on popping tackle was taken while popping land-based in Tokara only last year (72kg) - sadly, it was not released :(
There have been GTs speared and sighted in excess of 90kgs in Hawaii, and we know fish exist that big in places like the Coral Sea/Shoalwater, Australia and New Caledonia.
-
David, are you asking about the biggest GT captured on rod and reel or just the biggest GT seen anywhere?
-
Here's the biggest GT I've seen on the net
-
That is an epic report on Hammer-Head from David.... Unreal fish... and that Doggi taken on a topwater in such shallow water.... I would love to have seen that Stella scream and smoke when that beast took off.... unreal!
I found this image a year or so back.... Taken by the Spearo in picture...I think somewhere in OZ.... Pity it was shot rather than released...
(http://i27.tinypic.com/kedwnd.jpg)
Image is misleading, and I don't recall if a weight was ever given... size fish though... There are a number of Monsters that have been taken by spearos over the years....and from all over the world too... Hawaii, Mozambique, Kenya, OZ and I'm sure from other areas of the Pacific.... I'm sure there are a couple 200lb GT beasts that are swimming around out there, but I think that we don't yet have the tackle to take them on poppers..... unless one is decidedly lucky and hooks one that is swimming between two bommies a mile apart and just sand in between..... ;D
-
David, are you asking about the biggest GT captured on rod and reel or just the biggest GT seen anywhere?
I didn't know what I was asking, but I suppose it was the largest GT taken on popping gear?
Luke, I had no idea Tokara was so good for GTs (and I'm close, just SW in the Keramas). I can't even imagine fighting a 72kg fish from land without losing it.. incredible! Hopefully it wasn't a female.
-
David, are you asking about the biggest GT captured on rod and reel or just the biggest GT seen anywhere?
I didn't know what I was asking, but I suppose it was the largest GT taken on popping gear?
Luke, I had no idea Tokara was so good for GTs (and I'm close, just SW in the Keramas). I can't even imagine fighting a 72kg fish from land without losing it.. incredible! Hopefully it wasn't a female.
Tokara would be an awesome place to start since it is so close to you, anywhere in the Ryukyu islands for that fact where there are GT habitats. I know of countless numbers of GTs over 50kg taken there - it is a true big fish area, however, it seems that the fish are wising up to popper techniques - popper anglers have started to vary popping styles and strategies in order to continue to catch them. If you get a chance, see the Tokara segment on Legends 5 featuring Kozo Okubo.
You'll have to invite me over David when you start nailing some monsters ;) ;) ;) ;D
-
That is an epic report on Hammer-Head from David.... Unreal fish... and that Doggi taken on a topwater in such shallow water.... I would love to have seen that Stella scream and smoke when that beast took off.... unreal!
I found this image a year or so back.... Taken by the Spearo in picture...I think somewhere in OZ.... Pity it was shot rather than released...
(http://i27.tinypic.com/kedwnd.jpg)
Image is misleading, and I don't recall if a weight was ever given... size fish though... There are a number of Monsters that have been taken by spearos over the years....and from all over the world too... Hawaii, Mozambique, Kenya, OZ and I'm sure from other areas of the Pacific.... I'm sure there are a couple 200lb GT beasts that are swimming around out there, but I think that we don't yet have the tackle to take them on poppers..... unless one is decidedly lucky and hooks one that is swimming between two bommies a mile apart and just sand in between..... ;D
Without a doubt there are 200lb+ monsters out there, and in higher numbers than we probably think! How big are the pacific and indian oceans where these blokes hang out!
I still think it can be done with modern popping tackle - I would much rather land one of those bastards than win lotto!
Shame about that GT - bet you it's carcass was dumped. Makes me CRINGE :-[ :-[ :'( :'(
-
I read a report a few years ago where it said a commercial fisherman in Mozi got a GT that weighed in at 101 kg. [/b] The heaviest one I know that has been officially weighed in Fiji was 68 kg. It was sold to a local butcher/fishmonger hence the verification of the weight. Taken on a homemade popper and 200lb handline. Some old school guys have caught tremendous GTs with this method but they are of the commercial persuasion.
-
I heard of a friend in the Seychelles who caught a 69kg beast in the last month...source is good as he is a fishing guide in the seychelles and a friend. I will try to get some photos from him and post them.
-
I agree that the GTs grow well in excess of the resords we have at the moment. I also agree with Luke that they do wise up to fishing pressure. I recall watching a Midway Islands video and with the underwater cam you could see many 20 to 30kg GT in the topwater but the real bruisers hung out in deeper water and were more solitary in nature. This is also borne out by the spearos I speak to in Fiji. They reckon the bigger fish tend to be deeper and come to the top but not as much as the smaller fish. A local GT legend here has caught many 100 pounders says that more ofter than not he caught the bigger fish jigging deep. I guess it depends on the location though.
-
Here is some info on the 72kg GT Luke mentioned earlier
Angler - Keika Hamasaki
Fish weight - 160lb 7oz (72.8kg)
Location - From the surf of Tokara, Kagoshima (Japan)
ROD : ZENAQ JIGGER TRUST FOKEETO FC83-7 Trevally
REEL : DAIWA SALTIGA-Z 6000GT + STUDIO OceanMark
CUSTOM SPOOL ST6500V?
LINE : YGK YOZ-AMI GALIS ULTRAJIGMAN X8 #8 113Lbs
SPACER : SUNLINE DEEP ONE #30 220Lbs
LEADER : Momoi's Hi-Catch NYLON LEADER #94 250Lbs
FIGHTING LEADER : YGK YOZ-AMI SEAHUNTER #80 330Lbs
LURE : TIDEPOOL Agopen 20cm 120g 2HookModel
HOOK : OWNER STINGER-76 TREBLES 5/0 (PROTO)
-
To hook a fish of that size in the surf is really damn lucky - both from the point of view of hooking a fish that big from the shore but also in the sense that it is wide open spaces where it can't cut you off on anything.
Mind you, a fish that size would comfortably spool you if it decided to run straight out and continue in that direction.
-
spacer : SUNline DEEP ONE #30 220Lbs
leader : Momoi's Hi-Catch NYLON leader #94 250Lbs
FIGHTING leader : ygk yoz-ami seahunter #80 330Lbs
Anyone want to explain how this set up works??
I am just used to mainline and leader.
-
it sounds to me like this fish didnt stand a chance...330lbs leader?? I know these guys are tough, but isnt that a little unfair?
-
Yeah, didn't stand a chance against the mighty Zenaq FC83-7 ::) ;) 'you beauty' :D
-
Simon, I wouldn't call 330lb leader unfair. Twisted leaders of 100lb are already 200lb.
Against a 72kg GT, everything is still in the fish's favour.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Willz808/Ulua.jpg)
Here's a pic of a GT that washed up in Hawaii. It had been rotting for a couple days so actual weight couldn't be determine.
-
what a legend - killed the fish for a photo
That is an epic report on Hammer-Head from David.... Unreal fish... and that Doggi taken on a topwater in such shallow water.... I would love to have seen that Stella scream and smoke when that beast took off.... unreal!
I found this image a year or so back.... Taken by the Spearo in picture...I think somewhere in OZ.... Pity it was shot rather than released...
(http://i27.tinypic.com/kedwnd.jpg)
Image is misleading, and I don't recall if a weight was ever given... size fish though... There are a number of Monsters that have been taken by spearos over the years....and from all over the world too... Hawaii, Mozambique, Kenya, OZ and I'm sure from other areas of the Pacific.... I'm sure there are a couple 200lb GT beasts that are swimming around out there, but I think that we don't yet have the tackle to take them on poppers..... unless one is decidedly lucky and hooks one that is swimming between two bommies a mile apart and just sand in between..... ;D
-
I remember this from a little while back. I've been looking for it for a while. Apparently, the carcass weighed 220lb.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Willz808/Ulua.jpg)
Here's a pic of a GT that washed up in Hawaii. It had been rotting for a couple days so actual weight couldn't be determine.
-
I remember this from a little while back. I've been looking for it for a while. Apparently, the carcass weighed 220lb.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Willz808/Ulua.jpg)
Here's a pic of a GT that washed up in Hawaii. It had been rotting for a couple days so actual weight couldn't be determine.
HOLY SMOKES!
-
Seen a couple 'donkeys' out at Cato Island & Wreck Reef.....too wise for the poppers cast at them though :)
Shoalwater, we get 'bit' by 60plus sized fish though the terrain is immensly difficult...ask Brandon!
Also, the only 80kg class one that have seen eat,ate a mates popper at Break Sea Spit & wore through twisted 100lb fluorocarbon after 20 minutes of craaaazy fight time...
So...NO!! 300Lb is not too much leader especially as the 'bite leader'....the big ones can chomp through 300Lb Fluorocarbon when they hit the force of 20kg of drag when struck by the angler...not that the angler gets time to strike on these big mothers!
If we choose to aim for the big fish, rig big, fish hard and frame the photo...not the fish frame...
At least we are not wasting lures and braid in vain and the smaller ones get to be released with a faster turn-around.
Bring on the East Aussie Current....there are 60's off Bribane that have made us look silly!
Aaron.
-
Yep - their sure are, Saturday - bloody Saturday - >:(
Aaron, we are doing 7 days at Fraser around the new year with one target in mind - are their any patents on the name "7 DAYS AT FRASER" we will be taking the old box brownie....so we can put our lil movie together ?
Peter
8)
-
Yep - their sure are, Saturday - bloody Saturday - >:(
Aaron, we are doing 7 days at Fraser around the new year with one target in mind - are their any patents on the name "7 DAYS AT FRASER" we will be taking the old box brownie....so we can put our lil movie together ?
Peter
8)
Sounds like Fraser might be a bit of a carpark in January...might see you out there Pete ;)
-
We will be thier as long as the weather holds out- 7 full on days.... cant wait.