Nomad,New Cal,Fiji or ???

[luke peters]

Hi guys, I'm new to this kind of fishing (Popper and Jigging) and would like to get away to try and learn the art. I just wanted to hear from the guys that have traveled to these locations to see if you could suggest a location that would suit me needs. I will be traveling with my wife,however she wont be fishing our budget is about $7500-$10000 i have managed to pick up some reels i just need to get some rods to put them on.I'm not sure what rods to get but i guess that will depend on were we go but i think i should put that in another post. I have been looking at the nomad trips but I'm not sure how comfortable my partner will be having to stay on the boat while i go fishing. Any advice would be great

Thanks for your help
Luke 

[Alex Jordan]

Exactly the dilemma I have for Dec 09 - Nomad, Fiji or New Cal? ... want to do a variety of fishing - fly, popping, bit of jigging and some big bluewater ... Nomad will be the only "organised trip" and if I went on my own would be my pref.

looked at fiji but not sure the weather will be great in late Nov / Early Dec?

If we do a DIY trip I have some divey's with me - hence fiji would be good ...? 

[Scott Maybury]

I have fished Nomad and New Cal this year...getting poor weather on both (lucky me)

I am also off to Fiji in January, so would have loved to be able to answer this after that!

If taking a partner who isn't fishing, Nomad is not your trip...you will still have to pay a lot for her to be there, and she will have bugger all to do during the day when you are not there, and she will have to listen to fisherman talking about fishing all night

That leaves you with New Cal or Fiji, out of your stated options (which are good ones it seems to me).

New Cal was, in general, a fairly expensive place. You could probably get 2 trips to Fiji for the price of a good trip to New Cal, which is worth bearing in mind.

If you are planning on going to New Cal and fishing with LPB then I can't recommend this highly enough. Those guys are awesome and if the fish are even half inclined to bite they will find you some good uns. They are also very friendly, knowledgable and helpful. You will learn a lot from them, though I did find with the intricacies occasionally fine details were a bit difficult to get hold of, even though Rudy's english is very good (way better than my french).

If you were on a tighter budget I would say Fiji hands down. If you want to try and do 2 trips instead of 1, I would also say the same. But if you want to learn from the best about popper fishing, and catch some big fish, I would say New Cal and LPB mate.

As a tourist destination though I must repeat I found New Cal, personally, to be pretty average and quite expensive, so your wife may not have as great a time as if you were on an idyllic Fijian island....

I took my wife to New Cal and she hung out on the Isle of Pines whilst I fished for 3 days...she said she had a pretty good time, but she isn't keen to go back...

Hard to compromise. Hard to find the perfect destination. Good luck

[luke peters]

Thanks Scott that's exactly the info i was after it's hard to get that kind of feedback. It's looking like Fiji is the place for us.I have just done a little reading on a place called Ono island, There is a company called ocean blue that does package tour to Ono has any one heard of them. Also can anyone help me out with some good operators over there.

Thanks again for your help
Luke

[Chris Tan]

I've been lucky enough to fish with Nomad, New Cal (LPB) and Fiji (Kadavu). If I were going with a partner who doesn't fish, Fiji would probably be it as you can do day trips on a smaller boat for say 5 to 6 hours while she goes snorkeling or diving or exploring the island. The Astrolabe reef is just 10 minutes from the resort - so you don't need travel far to get some GTs.

Chris

[Scott Maybury]

Yeah speak with David Noble at Ocean Blue re Ono Island...he has fished there (see the article by Brett Delaney in the current edition of Modern Fishing re this island) and I have previously found him very helpful in organising a trip for me, it takes a lot of hassle out of dealing with o/s operators

I am probably fishing out of Matava Resort on Kadavu, just across from Ono Island, which is a preference for operator rather than anything else. That is an 'eco resort' though, not the flashest place and if I was taking my wife I would probably opt for Ono too.

[jay currie]

Hi Luke I fished Fiji in Feb this year at the Matava Resort on Kadavu and we had an awesome trip with over 50 Gts hooked in three days (only 25 landed). The people at the resort are very friendly and food and service is great only prop for you is that the main activities are diving or fishing.

It was our first Gt trip and the only advice is take big gear and make sure of your knots and also dont forget to upgrade all your hooks and split rings on your poppers. I went there with a saltiga 6500 and 80lb braid but still had no chance of stoping 35% of the fish I hooked. Our biggest Gt was 24kg but the blokes who were there a week before us caught a few above 30kg and one at 44kg (they new what they were doing)

Adrain posts trip reports from the resort on this web site and you will also find my report from our trip.

[Alex Jordan]

Thanks for the info - also checked out Vanuatu as well - anybody got any info? (apologies Luke for the thread hijack!)

[Dave Foyle]

Hi Alex & all,

First time poster on the forum - some good stuff on here !!

We were out in Fiji in Feb.  I think I bumped into Jay at Kadavu airport (Hi Jay) on the way home.  We had a great time and bagged some decent GT's.  As Jay says you will do best fishing heavy.  We also found a distinct preference for big lures though it was pretty choppy while we were there (unseasonal weather).  The skipper, Adrian is first class and great to fish with.  The Matava resort is very peaceful and very beautiful the food was great and you are made to feel at home.  We were too busy fishing to explore the island but I believe there are some very nice walks into the hills.  If your partner likes peace and quiet the resort will be spot on.  If she likes plenty to do & see and lots of people...maybe not.

I'm sure you will have a great trip no matter which of these great destinations you end up at !!

Cheers   Dave

[Matt Kilpatrick]

[luke peters]

Alex,That's OK mate i know how valuable this info can be. Were lucky if we can do one of these trips a year so it's important to try and get it right.

OK i spoke to Andrea and we were thinking of spending 3 days on the main land so she can do her shopping and what ever else there is to do and then we will spend 7 days on Ono or Kadavu Island. Can anyone recommend any operators other than Ocean Blue just so i can get a feel for what's available.Also is it wise to get a package deal or should I organise my own flights and accom

Thanks again guys

[luke peters]

Hi Dave, Welcome to the site. I'm also new to the site but it has some great info. Do you mind me asking are you from the UK.

[Scott Maybury]

Contact the people at Matava resort direct, I have found them to be very helpful.

Adrian Watts, who runs the fishing charters out of there but can also deal with queries re accom etc, can be contacted at [email protected]

The resort is [email protected]

[David Noble]

Hi Luke,

Speaking from experience, the reason to get a package is because it is easy and works. So you'd be put in the right direction in regard to when, where and how from the word go.  I've fished Matava and Ono and think either would be very good for you.  Matava is more social because it has other groups around, this makes for an interesting trip especially for the non fisho's, wives etc.  Ono is the perfect anglers resort, very well finished and each group has it to themselves.  The boats are different, as is the location.  Both have access to great waters and top fishing.

New Cal generally is more expensive (being Euro influenced) but there are cheap options there also, again experience and research will see you on the right track.

Good luck,

Cheers Dave 

[John Westcott]

David,
is correct with his summation of the two, however having recently been to ONO it is a fishermans paradise, where your only problem will be the sore shoulders from the fishing. It is purely a fishing resort so if that is what you want (like I did) you will not be disappointed as the staff are awesome and the fishing out of control!!!!
But there might not be too much for a wife to do while you are out fishing.