Feb Trip Advice

[jay currie]

I am looking at doing my first serious trip near the end of feb (due to work and new baby on the way) . I was after any advice on locations for this time? I am intrested in anything big and fast mostly tuna and gt's. I was thinking of Fiji but a little concerned about being close to cyclone season.

[Brandon Khoo]

Jay, I understand summer is a good time for Fiji as the seas tend to be flatter. Of course, a cyclone changes the equation! Nomad go to Shoalwater at that time of the year which is primarily a GT location. On you own makes trips pretty expensive unless you can organise a group. Nomad are one of the few operators that will simply put you into a group. OCean Blue do this too for specific trips but I don;'t know if they have anything organised in February

[Peter Morris]

Jay,

My first trip to Fiji was in Febuary.
We had the best weather imaginable.....But it is in cyclone season.

Sometimes you just gotta run the risk...

Pete

[David Noble]

Hi Jay,

I'm a big fan of Fiji and heading over there again.... in february! 
We don't have any scheduled group trips at that time you suggested (as Brandon mentioned) but Fiji could tick all the boxes as far as the fishing and trip goes.

I'll send you a PM with some info to consider.

Cheers David.

[Sachin Chaudhry]

Hi Jay.
Do Fiji but get a long range forecast on the weather.
Mostly dead flat seas and lots of GTs and Yellowin willing to take poppers. 3 or 4 days before the full moon and 2 or 3 days around the new moon seem to be the best times.

[jay currie]

Thanks heaps for your replies I am looking into the fiji trips as sugested. Brandon I would love to go on the Nomad trip but I can only see me having enough time for a 3-4 day trip due to work commitments (I have a 3rd year apprentice and am having time off over xmas, once he is trade i will be doing lots of trips!) Thanks for all the info

[Graham Scott]

Jay,
We run trips from Yeppoon into Shoalwater Bay all year round on 11m powercats. You need about 4 or 5 starters only (max 7). But we are totally weather dependent. If you are in Brisbane or reasonably close we make the go/nogo decision a couple of days out. Just an overnighter is Ok (or even a day trip) as it only takes us a bit over an hour to where you can start chucking poppers. We are not in the same class as Nomad, not even in the same universe, popping has been more a sideline with most guests keener on coral trout, nannygai etc. If you could organise to go with a couple of experienced GT guys that would help. Our weather in Feb is either perfect or crap.
Our recent popping has been motor into the islands, chuck a popper, get smashed, "geez is that all I get for a $35 popper" give up and go back to the reef fish.

Have a look at Keppelbayescapes website if you like.  I would still strongly recommend going with a charter that specialises in this stuff first like Fiji or Nomad,... wish I could go on Nomad.