Popping

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Great trip with Japanese anglers

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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

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3rd Big GT of the season for Japanese angler !!!

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Still late with the fishing report, but here an highlight picture of a big GT caught by one of our regular japanese angler during a 3 days popping and jigging trip, beginning of the month.

Stay tuned full report coming soon !!!

Tight Line

Capt. Nico

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Nice fishing day at sea !!

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End of February, I have a day charter with Gregory and his wife from France. After they have enjoyed travelling in our beautiful island, they wanted to catch some GT's on popper and some others species.

Conditions in term of weather was absolutely stunning, glassy water and damn hot, but that not made the fish so active, but we manage to found some spots where some fish were keen to bite their popper. Gregory missed the first fish of the day, but he managed to set properly the hook on the next 2 bites during the morning. As the weather was very hot we decide to do bit of jigging but fish seems also not so keen to bite, despite some nice mark on the sonar.

Then, I propose them to do a bit of trolling and less than 10 minutes a beautiful wahoo smashed the Rapala, "dinner catch". We continue a bit but without success. I decide to have a try on the popping spots end of the day, but current was slow and sadly it doesn't make the fish active.

All in all was not a so bad day, as Gregory caught his first GT's on popper, what was the target of the day.

It was nice to meeting you and I wish you a nice bluefin tuna season in south of France next summer.

Tight Line

Capt. Nico

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Nasty GT !!!

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Sometimes anglers are not expecting our GT’s to be so nasty. They can pull hard !!!

Very late with the fishing reports, as I am very busy guiding clients these days. Reports will come soon, but in the meantime, here is a short video where a big GT mistreats an angler during the last week fishing trip. Look how the GT pull him. With too much adrenaline and excitement, at the end he sadly lost the fish.

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Great popping trip for young German anglers !!

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Max, Robin and Christoph from Germany had booked 3 days popping with us last week and they had a great fishing trip with some good topwater action.

GT popping Sri Lanka.jpg

Max and Christoph had already experienced GT popping by the past in Andaman Islands and it was a first for Robin which is mainly fishing for carps in Europe. The first day they had a very good day, on the first spot and the first drift Christoph caught the first GT of the trip and on the second drift it's Max who caught a GT. They caught and missed some fish during the day, and it's in the afternoon Robin caught his first ever GT. End of the day, Max caught the biggest fish of the day a GT in the 20-25 kg range.

The second day, they caught some fish in the morning and just before lunch I proposed them to do some trolling to reach the next popping spots for the afternoon. Conditions were just perfect and in less than 30 minutes, a sailfish was jumping in the air and Robin landed his first ever billfish, congratulations !!! We released this sailfish, for him to grow a bit more and give the chance at another sport fisherman to catch it. In the afternoon, we found some good activity and the boys caught some more GT's.

The third day, fish activity was less, but the guys don't give up and keep casting and that pay off, as they caught some Gt's.

All in all, it was a great 3 days fishing trip with good action, no big one this time, but they caught a sailfish ;-)

Thanks guys to came fishing with us and I wish you a great holidays in Sri Lanka !!

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Successful GT popping day charter

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Few days after the trip with the Japanese, I have a popping day charter with Alex from France and Sergii from Ukraine, both of them were traveling in Sri Lanka for holidays and who planned a day fishing to target GT's on popper.

I met the guys at the harbour, Alex had already experienced Gt fishing in Andaman Island some years ago and it was the first time for Sergii. I spent a couple of minute to give good advice to the guys to put them in the best situation to catch a GT. We start the day in some of good spots, but as I don't see any good activity, I decide to try some others spots I don't fish often but I know they can produce good fish. On the first spot Alex have a nice bite, the GT bust his popper 3 times but Alex don't set the hook properly and miss the fish. On the second spot Alex invite me to join them and end of the drift I also missed a GT as I was not focus on my lure (beginner mistake...) On the other spot, I missed another one very close to the boat (not my day...) and Alex caught a decent fish who gave him an epic fight on his light tackle (PE 5).

Sergii was not feeling so well with the sun heat and start to have an headache, certainly due to beginning of a dehydration, I advice him to take a rest and to drink a lot of water and I gave him some rehydration powder to help. Despite his headache, Sergii keep casting and his efforts were rewarded by a big GT who grab his popper. As Sergii told us, he was definitely not ready for that fish as this GT fight so hard, but all in all Sergii found some enough stamina to landed the fish. Congratulations Sergii !!! You deserve that fish.

As Sergii was not feeling better we decide to finish the day with a bit of trolling with the hope to catch a nice king mackerel or a sailfish as the sea conditions were good, but sadly fish were not keen to play with us. Never mind, as the target of the day was to catch some Gt's and mission was accomplished with a big bonus fish for Sergii.

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Hot popping and jigging action for Japanese anglers !!!

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With some delay, here is the full report of a great 3 days popping and jigging trip with Japanese anglers Nakamura san and Hayato san beginning of February.

The first day, we mainly go for popping and despite some slight green water due to some unusual heavy rain days before, the guys have 5 bites and caught 3 GT in the 15 kg range and Nakamura caught a nice 20kg + end of the day.

As we have bites early morning and end of day, the second day we do a mix of popping and jigging. The morning, Hayato san caught 2 small GT and miss a bigger one. Just before lunch, I decide as planned to reach some of our jigging spots. Good move, as the sonar show me some nice marks and the guys were immediately tight with fish. They caught some amberjacks, black tip trevally, Gt's and a nice long nose emperor for Nakamura.

On the way back, I stopped on a couple of popping spots and on the second spot, I spotted a bait school in surface. Nakamura san, cast his Carpenter Gamma and a big GT came and smashed his lure very close to the boat. The GT missed his stickbait and on the second bite it grab it properly. Nakamura strike, but sadly the hook were not set properly and he lost the fish... Tomorrow is another day...

Last day, we discover a very nice water color on the first spot and I told the guy, that will make the fish more active, especially the big ones. And it's what happen, on the second spot Hayato san had a big bite, the fish goes on a powerful rush and straight in direction of the rock. I started the engine, and followed the fish to make sure the line don't touch the rock. After some epic boat maneuver to keep the fish far from the rock, Hayato san can finally fight his fish safely. After, a hard fight, it's a cracking big GT and we landed on the deck. Not the biggest GT of Hayato san as it's a regular GT angler onboard Big Dipper with Fukui san in Japan. But Hayato san told me this GT was the most tough fish he has fight.

On the next spot, it's Nakamura san who had also a big bite and again very close to the boat. This time Nakamura san set properly the hooks and start an epic battle with a healthy GT who gave him a hard time. And it's another nice big GT we landed, that fish was a bit heavier than the one of Hayato san. We try a couple of others spots without success, than we decide to reach the jigging spots. As the previews day, the sonar show us a lot of big mark and we are expecting some good action. But the most frustrating scenario happening, they don't have a single bite !!! We try different jig action, slow, fast, short shape jigs, long shape jigs, colors etc... but nothing decide these fish. We back a bit earlier as the guys have a flight early in the night, I just stopped on the couple of popping spots, but like I was expected we don't have bite as it was a bit too early.

All in all, these 3 days fishing were great and for their first trip in Sri Lanka Nakamura san and Hayato san enjoyed a lot their trip and they have already plan to come back soon. I am waiting to see you again guys !!!

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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2 nice fishing days with french customers from Maï Globe Travel

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Last week, I have guided Franck and Jean Claude from France. These two friends were traveling in Sri Lanka with their wives and as they are good anglers in France for bluefin tuna in Mediterranean sea, they booked 2 sea fishing days to target GT's on popper and have a try on trolling for tuna, wahoo or marlin.

Mai Globe Travel Fishing Sri Lanka.jpg

First day, we have a great weather, but the water color was green on the shore and on our popping spots, which is not so good. Anyway we start the day with some popping, but quickly I discover that will be useless to spend all day to cast the poppers. Then after a couple of hours without any activity and decided to reach the drop off to found better quality of water to do some trolling.

Fishing Sri Lanka trolling Wahoo.jpg

Good move, as when we reach the continental shelf, water color was much better and we saw lot of birds. We put the lures in the water and in less then an hour we had a strike, but sadly the fish came off. I continued to fish the area as many birds are there and we can spot some bonito and skipjack in surface. And it paid off, we have another strike and Franck caught a nice wahoo. Few minutes later we have another wahoo on board caught by Jean Claude.

Wahoo deep sea fishing Sri Lankajpg

As I spotted some nice big marks on the sonar, who look like big tunas, I stay in this area. I change the lure to fish a bit deeper, but sadly we don't have the big bite excepted. Before to back to the harbour we spent an hour to do some jigging, not a crazy activity, but the guys have fun landing some colourful rocky fish. On the way back we stop to take a chance on 2 popping spots, but the Gt's were definitely not keen to bite their popper. Tomorrow is another day

Gt fishing Sri Lanka.jpg

Second day, as I found on my weather forecast a nice north current was coming during the night and I was expecting better condition for popping. And as expected, on the first spot we discover a slight green water and a nice line of current. On the second spot, Jean Claude has the first GT bite of the day and it was a big fish, but sadly he missed the fish as he doesn't set the hook properly. Next spot Franck landed the first GT and a couple of minutes later, it's a nice sailfish who was following his popper till it saw the boat.

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The guys asked me to join them to cast and I caught 2 small GT with my floating stickbait. As the conditions looks good and fish were active I decided to fish some other spots little bit more far. On the first spot, a huge King Mackerel jump with the popper of Franck in his mouth, but as usual the fish doesn't hooked. Next spot, Franck had another bite, the kind of bite you are dreaming when you cast a big popper for Gt's. That Gt was a monster !!! We all saw this beast in surface coming from the side to smashed the Rapala Xplode. The swirl was huge !! Franck set perfectly the hook and the fish goes in a long and powerful rush. It was a long time I haven't heard a Shimano Stella screaming like this. I started the engines and moved the boat to help Franck and mainly make sure his line will stayed far from the rock. Franck handle it perfectly and when the fish and the boat were enough far from the rock, Franck started to fight his GT. This fish was damn heavy as I can see the bent of Franck's rod, the tip was close to touch the surface of the water. Everything was fine, but suddenly the line broke. Not on any rock or reef, the line just broke under the high pressure. This braided line was from a good brand, but Franck confesses to me that he has been fishing with that line for bluefin tuna since 2 seasons... No comment ! Just a quick parentheses for all the anglers who plan to come fishing with us, please come with new line, you never know what will be the size of the GT you will caught

Anyway, after this misadventure, the guys continued to cast their popper but I feel their heart was broken, like the braided line of Franck. And as the activity was slow down, I decided to do a bit of trolling and try to catch a sailfish or a mahi mahi. But the bad luck follow us as we don't have a single strike despite good conditions. On the way back to the harbour I stopped on few popping spots and on the last one Franck caught another recent GT to end the day.

GT popping Sri Lanka.jpg

All in all these two days fishing was great, but the missed and the lost of the beast leaves us a little bitter taste. Franck and Jean Claude were so funny on board, we had great time talking and joking, hope to see you again somedays in Sri Lanka !!!

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Dream fish come true for Michael

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Last week, weather was much better than the last 2 weeks and we were able to go sea fishing again in good condition. After 2 windy weeks, I was a bit concerned regarding sea conditions. Despite a slight green water, condition was good.

Michael and his wife from Danemark, where traveling in Sri Lanka and they have planned to have a sea fishing day. Michael dream was to catch his first GT on popping. On the second spot, a big fish smashed his popper but Michael missed it, as he was talking to us. As I always said : "You must focus on your lure, you never know when the bite will come".

After that Believe me Michael stayed focus on his lure and on the fourth spot a nice GT grab his popper. Michael has perfectly set the hook and the GT gone in an incredible rush. After an epic fight, he landed a nice 20 kg GT, not bad for a first ever GT !!!

We try some others spots, but as the current was slowing down, we try a bit of trolling to target some king mackerel or a sailfish during lunch time, but sadly no so much activity, then we quickly decide to get back on popping spots. Michael was so excited to cast again his popper and ready to strike another fish. An hour later, on a promising spot, a GT literally engulf his Rapala Xplode and it's a decent GT Michael caught.

Another great fishing day for us, with a very happy client who caught his dream fish, what else ?

Tight lines

Capt. Nico

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Fly fishing and GT popping trip for Japanese couple traveling in Sri Lanka

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Hideaki san, his wife and their lovely daughter are a Japanese family living in Russia. They planned to spend 3 weeks holidays in the warm and sunny Sri Lanka for Christmas and New Year. As Hideaki san and his wife love fishing, they booked days fishing with us at Bolgoda Lake for fly fishing and at sea to target GT's on popping.

First day, they fished at Bolgoda and they have great fun with the mangrove jack and caught some nice ones. We tried to catch some featherback, but these elusive fish were not keen to play with them.

Second day, we went on sea and it was mainly Hideaki who was fishing. He had 5 bites and caught 2 Gt's.

I really enjoyed to guide Hideaki san and his wife. I have also done a bit of baby sitting with their daughter when they were fishing, but that was great time as she was so funny.

Thanks to come fishing with us and I hope to see you again somedays.

Nico - Head Fishing Guide

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Last 2 fishing days of Gary & Ollie

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Late report of the last two days fishing of Gary & Ollie from UK, who fished after Christmas.

Day 1 : We focused to target only GT's on popping. Result was 9 bites, for 5 misses, 2 fish lost (one was big) and they caught 2. It was a very nice day at sea with calm weather.

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As the guys were a bit tired to pop all day long, for their last day I plan to do a mix of popping and trolling as some friends caught some mahi mahi and sailfish the day before. We start to pop, but fish were not so active despite lot of baits, then after 2 hours, I decided to go trolling. Sea conditions were perfect, but not so much activity despite birds and a nice line of current with plenty of flying fish. In the afternoon, we came to the popping spots and on the second spots Ollie caught a decent GT and later Gary caught another smaller one.

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I really enjoyed to have Gary & Ollie on board Diviya, congratulation for yours catches, both of you caught yours first ever GT on popping and Gary you still have caught the most unexpected fish on popping this season, a beautiful long tail Tuna. I wish you all the best in UK and I hope to see you again in Lanka or somewhere else.

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

They talk about us in Japan !!!

Here is our first news of the year and it's for our japanese anglers : this is the last cover of the japanese magazine Salt World, where you can read a nice article about fishing with us in Sri Lanka for popping & jigging.

Thanks to the chef editor Moto san for this article with beautiful pictures.

Salt World magazine Sri Lanka.jpg

We were very busy guiding clients all these last days and we are late with our fishing reports, but that will come soon.

Stay tuned

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Nice GT caught on popping day

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Just before Christmas, I have guided Zac from Sweden, Mark & his girlfriend Meagan from US, for a day charter to target GT's on popping. It was their first time popping and they were very excited, Zac is a good pike angler and Mark fished a lot at sea, mainly on big game and flyfishing in Alaska for salmon.

I started the day on the spot where Gary caught is long tail tuna and hoped they were still there. On the first cast of the day, the Cubera 150 of Mark was smashed by big fish and I was thinking about another tuna, but quickly, I recognised the way GT fight and this fish look nice. After an epic fight Mark landed a solid and fat GT. What a fish for a first Gt ever, the day could not started better !!!

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We fished some others popping spots, Zac missed 2 fish. Around noon, activity stopped due to flat tide and I decided to do a bit of trolling to catch some wahoo or a sailfish as friends caught some the last days, but sadly not so much activity, we just have a strike but the fish don't hooked up. In the afternoon we back to the popping spots. On the first spot, Zac have a nice bite, but the fish hooked off. Later Mark wanted Meagan to have a try on popping. As she can't cast enough far with this heavy tackle, I was casting for her and she was retrieving the popper. Next spot, I spotted a school of baits in surface and I told Zac to cast in their direction. I also cast but on the side of the bait school and gave the rod to Meagan. On the second pop, we all saw a big Gt coming and smashed the popper, the fish missed the lure, but came back and grab it. Unfortunately Meagan can't set the hook properly and missed the fish. As the wind started to blow we decided to get back.

All in all was a good day, not a crazy activity, but some big Gt's were there. Congratulation to Zac who don't give up casting his popper all day long, just an unlucky fishing day for him and Mark congratulation for this first GT, that was a solid fish, many GT anglers dreamed to catch a fish like that one. I wish you a Happy New Year and safe flight back at home.

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Great Popping & Jigging fishing day !!!

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Ollie & Gary from UK have decided to spend Christmas in the sunny Sri Lanka and booked some days fishing with us. The 20th December was their first day fishing and they have great day.

First fish of the day was caught by Gary. This fish came on the surface as a bullet, smashed the Cubera 150 and gone in an amazing rush. At the beginning, we though of a big GT but the way the fish fought was definitely not the same as a GT. I was thinking at a very big King Mackerel as we were fishing on a reef of 15 meters depth and only 1 nautical mile from the harbour. But it's finally an absolute unexpected Long Tail Tuna who came a long side the boat. Last April, I have spotted some nice tunas near that reef, but we never have the opportunity to catch one. Congratulations to Gary for this insane catch !!!

We continued to fish some popping spots, Ollie has a bite but missed the GT. On the other spots, despite lot of baits around, the activity was slow and I decided to reach the drop off to do some jigging. Ollie and Gary don't have any bite on the first drift, but on the third drift Ollie had a serious bite. Nothing fast, but an heavy and powerful fish going slowly but surely. He intensively fought this heavy fish for 30 minutes before the line broke.

After this, I decided to troll a bit on the way back to the popping spots and give a bit of rest to Ollie and Gary. Few nautical miles before to reach the popping spots I spotted some birds turning around an area and we have a double strike of wahoo they landed.

These fish woke up the guys and they were ready to pop again. First spots were empty, then we move to the spots we fished the morning where I have spotted baits. After a while Gary took a rest due to some pain in his shoulder and offer me the opportunity to do some cast. On the second cast I missed a nice fish and on the third cast my Hammer Head E-Cup was smashed by a decent fish. After an epic fight as no captain driving the boat I finally managed to landed a big GT.

After that fish Ollie, but especially Gary were motivated to cast. Gary has a bite of king mackerel, but sadly the fish missed the lure. After that, Ollie hooked a GT but the fish came off just before to land it. End of the day Ollie has another GT bite, but missed the fish.

All in all it was a great day fishing with two really nice fish landed and the uk guys are ready for the next round, which is in a couple of days. Stay tuned for the next report.

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Popping day for Gt's

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Few days ago, I have guided Ross from England, who was travelling in Sri Lanka.

Ross is a great fly fisherman for salmon in UK and wanted to have a try on popping for Gt's during his holidays.

He landed his first Gt's and he enjoyed !!!

Another happy angler who fished with us

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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GT fishing with US anglers

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Last week, I guided Jesse and his friend Fred, for a popping day to target GT's.

Despite some windy conditions, the guys don't give up and they have 5 bites and caught 2 Gt's, their first ever GT on popping.

Congratulations guys !!

Nice to meeting you and to have you onboard of Diviya.

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico