I was fortunate enough to be invited on a Carpenter testing trip last week to New Caledonia. I joined Konishi San, Kawachi San and Otsuka San on this trip. The charter was arranged by Carpenter Japan and was with an operator I previously knew almost nothing about apart from the fact that he existed. The operator was Powercat Charters, run by Captain Olivier Quach. Olivier runs a big powered catamaran, the Quo Vadis. While normally based in Port Moselle in Noumea, arrangements had been made for us to depart from Koumac in the north.
I'm a bit too tired at the moment to write a comprehensive report so straight to the fishing. We had some excellent fishing even though there was some pretty rough weather at times. There was also one day when the reef sharks went berserk attacking anything hooked within seconds. I don't think I have ever lost so many lures in such a short time! In retail terms, I reckon we must have lost $4-5K worth of Carpenter lures!
Of the fish captured, I will let the photos cover this aspect. I have decided I will no longer be providing any estimates of fish size. This is for a couple of reasons. First, too many people decided it was more important last year to question whether Malcolm's fish weighed five kilograms less than what LPB estimated rather than simply accept it was a marvellous capture under any circumstances and of late, some of the more extravagant claims on the forum of fish size have been driving Luke and I crazy. To both of us, any GT 30kg and upwards is a big fish but there has become almost an unhealthy obsession around a 50kg capture as if it was the benchmark of a great GT angler. All I can say is that some pretty ordinary anglers can claim fish of that size and some pretty damn good anglers can't.
Memorable moments included:
Kawachi San's stickbait being taken by a mammoth GT that engulfed the lure in eeally shallow water (unfortunately, he lost the fish)
Otsuka San's being spooled in one run in about thirty seconds by something ridiculously huge. If it was a GT, I wouldn't let kids in the water!
Konishi San fighting what he thought was a potential world record only to find a foul hooked mid-szed fish after nearly 25 minutes
Stepping onto the back of the Jack Yvan (the LPB vessel was still anchored at Koumac) for what was almost certainly the last time. Wonderful memories there
As I have not cleared what I can or cannot discuss, I won't go into any details on the prototype equipment tested at this stage other than to say that it was a great testing trip and there is some wonderful stuff coming in the future for those who are patient
I have no doubt many of you will be interested in the charter we went on. We found Olivier to be a good captain and a genial host. He works very hard to try to get you onto fish and he kept us well entertained during the charter. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending him.
