I have guided 4 japanese anglers for a 3 days popping & jigging trip. Two of them are regular clients and experienced in GT fishing. The two others were newbie.
Biggest GT of the trip. Caught on Hammer Head popper.
First day, we started to fish on popping as Gt's were their main targets. Morning action was a bit slow, with few bites, some fish were caught, but also some were missed. Then before lunch, I decided to have a try on jigging, the first spot produced mainly small fish as groupers and long nose emperor. On the second spot, we found a much better activity and the sonar show us some good marks of fish. Quickly, they caught some Diamond Trevally who gave them some good fight. They also sadly missed and loose some good size fish, but that's fishing. On the way back to the harbour we spent a couple of hours on the popping spots and caught some more GT's.
Second day, we mainly focus on popping. Morning session was good with good activity on topwater, but the guys missed the fish, only one decent fish was caught, before lunch I decide to try another area to see if Gt's were also keen to smashed their poppers, they caught few nice fish, but activity was not as good as the morning. A big fish was lost by a poor hook setting and finally they caught a decent fish on the last spot.
Third day, on the way to the first popping spot, I spotted some birds and suddenly some big splash !!! I run the boat full speed telling the guys to be ready to cast. Getting closer to the splashes, I saw some nice tuna jumping, definitely long tail tuna. On his second cast, Yamada's popper get engulfed by a big tuna. The fish goes in a long and powerful rush, but after a while the fish came off... Yamada retrieve his popper with one branch of his strong GT hook open !!! Unlucky... We stayed in the area and I spotted another birds activity, I rushed in their direction. Yamada san cast his big popper right in the middle of the boiling and a big fish grab his lure. After an intense fight, it's a really big GT who met my landing net. As I can't lift the fish in the boat alone, Yamada san gave me a help. What a beautiful fish, massive body and very healthy. We quickly took pictures and release that fish in the best condition. After that catch everybody was excited. As the last days activity drop before lunch, we reach some jigging spots and they caught Gt's and more Diamond Trevally. We stopped on some popping spot on the way back to the harbour but it was a bit early to found activity as we planned to come back earlier because they have their flight in the night.
Another great trip with Japanese anglers, sometimes to found fish activity was a bit challenging for me, but all in in all we always found fish to catch. They caught fish, but they also sadly missed or loose some, but that's fishing.
Tight Line
Capt. Nico