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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.

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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

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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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Fly fishing day at Bolgoda Lake

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Last Monday, I have guided Hiraki san who was visiting his daughter living in Sri Lanka. Hiraki san is a trout and salmon fly fishing lover, then he booked a fishing day at Bolgoda Lake.

As the barramundis seems to be not very active these last days, we mainly focus to target the featherback and the mangrove jack.

Early morning we reached our good spots for featherback and they were very active, rolling every where. Hiraki san was so excited to see all these fish rolling. After few minutes, he sadly missed his first fish of the day. I gave him some advice regarding the drift and the retrieve of his fly. Another featherback has took his fly, but again Hiraki san missed it. We try some others spots but the featherback were not keen to took again his fly. Then just before lunch time, I decide have a try on our mangrove jacks spots and on the first cast Hiraki san took a nice one. A bit later, he missed a bigger one and then caught a second fish.

After lunch, I decided to took our chance to focus only on Barramundi spots, but the fish don't gave Hiraki san the opportunity to hook one.

All in all was a nice day at Bolgoda, Hiraki san enjoyed a lot the fishing scenery and wildlife of Bolgoda Lake and he had fun catching our feisty mangrove jack. I know I will see you soon for another day fishing at Bolgoda

Head Fishing Guide - 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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Deep dropping for swordfish

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Some reports will come soon with some great fishing. Just want to share our first deep dropping fishing day of the season to target swordfish.

Last Sunday, sea condition was perfect to deep drop a big squid. Since the beginning of my season, I am looking for some spots to target swordfish on day time in deep water (500 m depth).

Swordfishing Sri Lanka Deep Drop .jpg

I have planned this fishing day at the last minute with my friend Shane from US, who is a crazy fisherman for swordfish. On the first spot and the first drop, we had a big bite but after few minutes of intense fight, we sadly lost the fish (hook off).

As you can see on the picture the bent of the 80lb class rod can give you an idea of the kind of fish we are looking for... We will keep you update in our next exploratory deep dropping days in the search of a big swordfish

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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British angler caught a decent barramundi at Bolgoda Lake

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Brian and his wife are from UK and they love coming in Sri Lanka for their holidays. Brian is a fanatic angler and was desparated to not found a serious sportfishing charter, till he discover our website and the catch of our customers. They booked a day fishing at Bolgoda beginning of January.

Despite plenty of baits, fish activity was slow the morning. After a nice lunch at the Villa, we reach one of our good spot and I was expecting some good catch as Brian wanted to catch a barramundi. It's at the end of the day he caught a nice fish who gave him an epic fight.

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Congratulation Brian for this catch and to don't give up to cast, you deserve this barramundi !

I hope to see you next year if you come back again in Sri Lanka. In the meantime I wish you some good fishing in UK.

Nico - Head Fishing Guide

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New Year fishing at Bolgoda Lake for Japanese couple.

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Around New Year time, Kiyoshi san and his wife have the habit to come fishing at Bolgoda Lake for 3 days.

This year as usual our guide Shaktivel welcomed them and put them on good fishing spots. Despite some unusual tough fishing condition, Shakti has managed to found places with activity and they caught fish every day. Biggest fish of the trip was caught by Kiyoshi san, a beautiful Golden Barramundi, his first fish of 2019 !

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Here are some pictures send by Kioshi san.

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Thanks to gave us your confidence to bring you fishing at Bolgoda lake and we are really waiting to see you again in Sri Lanka. Maybe next time for GT's

Nico - Head Fishing Guide

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Nice fishing day at Bolgoda guided by Shakti

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Darren and his family were traveling in Sri Lanka for Christmas holidays. Darren and his son love fishing and had planned a day fishing at Bolgoda with us. As I was guiding clients at sea, they were guided by Shaktivel, who's put them on the good spots and caught fish. Here is the kind word of Darren of his fishing day. We cannot expect better than that.

"Hi Nicolas. Just got back home after the most wonderful family holiday. What a fantastic country Sri Lanka is, and the people who are so lovely.

We had a great day with Shakti on Bolgoda lake. He did a great job and took us to some areas full of fish. Featherbacks mainly topping everywhere but we didn’t feel like they were feeding. My son Daniel hooked a good one but lost it right at the net. I caught a beautiful barramundi which was my main target and also mangrove jacks. We also saw some great wildlife, birds, monkeys and 1000’s of fruit bats! A great day!

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Many thanks for your help in getting us there, sorry we couldn’t manage to sort a day for the GT’s. I hope next time. Some amazing fishing to be had in Sri Lanka. Darren"

Thanks Darren and congratulation for this nice barramundi. I hope to see you again in Sri Lanka and next time I will put you on some nice Gt's

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

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Fly fishing at Bolgoda Lake with Umpqa USA angler

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Every season, I have the pleasure to guide Dave from Umpqa company for a fly fishing day. At the beginning, we have planned to have a go at sea, but sadly this day was too windy to fly fish. Then we decided to have a go at Bolgoda Lake.

Morning was quite slow, Dave caught only an oxeye tarpon.

In the afternoon the fish were more keen to play with Dave. After catching a small mangrove jack, Dave focus of catching a featherback on fly as they were well active in the evening time. After he dropped one on the first jump, he finally caught a nice one.

Dave was so happy, to tick one of the fish he had in his bucket list.

Congratulations Dave !!!

I know I will see you next season for another fly fishing day.

Nico - Head Fishing Guide

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Great popping and jigging trip with Singaporeans anglers

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Beginning of the month, we have received Yunus, Roy and uncle John from Singapore for a 4 days sea fishing trip.

The guys were quite experienced, well equipped and ready to catch the sri lankan fishs. First two days popping was a bit slow, then we focus to fish on jig and they had some great action with sometimes double hook up on Gt's.

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Roy caught a nice dogtooth tuna, Yunus a malabar grouper and uncle John a strong Diamon Trevally, plus plenty of Gt's.

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The last two days, we mainly focus on popping. The third day the guys have 11 bites but sadly caught only 2 Gt's.

Last day, we been to the drop off to jig, Gt's where there and the guys had a good time. Yunus caught an amberjack and uncle John a nice black tip trevally (also named malabar trevally). On the last drift of their jigging session, Roy lost a big fish after a serious rush.

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End of the day and the trip, we spent the last couple of hours on popping and Yunus after he missed some fish, finally caught a decent Gt's with his Hammer Head E cup popper.

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But it's Roy, tired to pop, he was fishing on light jigging on the popping spots and caught the last fish of the trip, an absolute beautiful coral trout.

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I had a great time guiding Yunus, Roy and uncle John, they told me they enjoyed their trip and will come back to fish in Sri Lanka. Waiting for you guys !!!

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico

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Nice half day fishing with my son Paul

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A week ago, I have fished in Bolgoda Lake with my son Paul and one of his classmate for a short afternoon session.

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I have put the boys on some good spots and they have a blast with mangrove jacks. The last 30 minutes of fishing I joined them and I was lucky enough to caught a nice barramundi. Paul was so proud of his dad

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Lure of the day : Rapala Shadow Rap Deep in Fire Tiger Color (now this lure is in Paul's lure box )

Nico - Head Fishing Guide

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Fantastic popping and jigging fishing day

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Next day after fishing with Shane, I have guided Damith, his friends Saliya and Sajan. It was a fantastic day fishing.

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Please read Damith report :

"Once again with our wonderful Capt Nico who put us on the spots and we had an epic day with Sajan and Saliya. It was fun and full of enthusiasm by the "Boy" Sajan whom I have fished with since a kid. He had a wonderful spell with a number of GT's, dogtooth tuna and a sizeable GT to "Cap it off". Saliya my old buddy was content with a pompano and cooling off with beers chilled to the Max!!!!."

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Sajan dreamed to catch a GT on popping and for his first time, he caught 3 Gt's with a decent 30 kg !!

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Congratulations !!!

Tight Lines

Capt. Nico