http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=481207471821#&commentsReporting on my 2nd visit to Matava a year on from last visit. This time a little different as i took my old man along and wanted him to understand what i have been talking about. I never questioned taking 2 guys in there 60's to a mainly popper casting trip, but the whole trip for me was a learning curve.
My dad did well and managed to catch a GT popper casting and also got one trawling lures.
We had to mix things up a bit, and change the order on the boats some days so everyone would enjoy themselves and the older guys could cope.
I had the worst luck of the trip and felt like the gods were against me. I could do no right! I lost my decent poppers early and the crappy ones were not working. Adrian and Joe gave me some of theirs to use that had been producing results and i managed to loose them also. I lost a couple of really good fish too, one of which i could do nothing about. The other however would have been my best fish by far. I hooked up in white wash and battled to pull the fish clear of the reef. I wish i could relive the moment again because i was so close to being clear, and should of grabbed the spool but didn't and well, you know the rest.
I would change lures and someone would hook up on the one i was using. Then i would move to the back of the boat and someone would hook up on the front. At one point everyone felt sorry for me they positioned the boat so i could get optimum casting towards the reef but the person on the back had only open water to cast into. I remember thinking to myself it would be my luck now if he hooked up, and he did!
To top it off we were playing cards on the last night and we decided to have make a bet. The person who finished last after 5 more games would have to sleep without there mosquito net. I was in top dog position for the next 3 hands and then came went halfway down the order and ended up last. Needless to say, not such a great nights sleep.
Anyway the fishing for everyone else was pretty good. - Brendan had the best of it with many GT's caught during the week. He managed to land 6 in one day, 2 of which were just in the 40's
Weather prevented us from getting to the Sea Mount which was unfortunate, because the guy who finished the week before did get there and was catching Doggies on the first drop.
As i said before we had to mix things up a little given the group, so we did do some trawling and bottom bouncing also. There was some triple hook ups on Yellow Fin which the boy's enjoyed. I did manage a hand full of GT's for my efforts but the 2 bigger fish were in there 20's.
Dave hooked up to a big Groper on a Knife Jig which we could not release unfortunately. This went back to the village and was eaten once cleared of ciguatera.
All in all a great trip had by all. I even kinda enjoyed being so down on my luck in a weird way.
A big thanks to Matava for their service, great food and warm hospitality.
Cheers Sam
