A Tribute to HG

Today was a sad day at Matava Resort. One of our longest serving staff members passed away. HG our security dog.

He saw this resort being built and has seen owners, staff and guests come and go. He protected this place with an iron bark that echoed throughout the island.

He never complained and could sit and listen so loyally. He took Pipi and Harley under his wing and taught them their roles as dogs at Matava resort.

The staff really do miss having him around, and we really miss our loyal coconut stealing friend.

The Take Marlin off the Menu campaign

The Take Marlin off the Menu campaign is designed to educate people about what billfish are, their role in the ecosystem and their imperiled state from commercial overfishing. The ultimate goal is, through education and political advocacy, to end the commercial harvest, sale and importation of marlin, sailfish and spearfish in the United States.

After all, if you saw lion or tiger for sale in a restaurant or grocery store would you buy it?

Of course not.

Well, it's time we began thinking of billfish the same way.

Who We Are

Meet the International Game Fish Association,
National Coalition for Marine Conservation, and The Billfish Foundation,
the three U.S.-based groups working together in the campaign.

Background on Billfish

Learn more about marlin, sailfish and spearfish, their role in the ocean and the status of their populations. Be sure to view our species fact sheets.

Why Take Marlin Off the Menu

Marlin and other billfish populations throughout the world are being wiped out by overharvesting. They may also contain harmful levels of mercury.

Our Plan of Action

Learn more about how the campaign plans to achieve the goal
of getting billfish off menus and out of supermarkets.

How You Can Help

Find suggestions for chefs, restaurants owners, food shops, seafood wholesalers, consumers and anglers.

Marlin-Free Businesses

See a list of restaurants and seafood retailers who have taken the pledge and agreed to stop serving billfish.

TakeMarlinOffTheMenu.org

How To Protect Endangered Marlin

Marlin, a fish distinguished by a long bill, brilliant colors and sleek body shapes that allow them to swim at extraordinary speeds are disappearing in staggering numbers. Known for their beauty, they are also fished commercially and can be found on menus worldwide. Unfortunately, continued consumer demand for marlin in U.S. restaurants and at seafood retailers is endangering the future of this majestic fish.

Three major marine conservation groups, the International Game Fish Association, the National Coalition for Marine Conservation and the Billfish Foundation have teamed up to draw awareness to the plight of marlin. "Take Marlin Off the Menu," is a campaign urging consumers to stop eating marlin, and restaurants to take marlin and other billfish such as sailfish and spearfish off their menus.

In addition to being endangered, the three marine conservation groups also want to alert consumers and restaurant chefs about the potential health risks of eating marlin meat, which contains higher than normal levels of mercury.

Read full article here How To Protect Endangered Marlin

The Blue Wild Spearfishing Seminar and Expo

You are cordially invited to...
The Blue Wild
Ocean Adventure Seminar & Expo

"Don't miss this action packed weekend!"

Weekend before Miami Boat Show


IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Museum

Benefit: Net proceeds donated to charity -
Boca Raton Society for the Disabled http://www.twinpalmscenter.com

Place: IGFA - Fishing Hall of Fame Museum,
Dania Beach, at Griffin and I-95 http://www.igfa.org

Date: Friday Feb 6 -- Big Kick-off Party at the IGFA Fountain!!! Free!!! 5:30 to 8:00 pm
Saturday Feb 7 -- All day, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday Feb 8 -- All day, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Entry fee: Flat fee for one or both days, $85 at the door
Kids 12 or younger are free with a parent
Includes Speaker Seminars, Hands-on Workshops, & Vendor Expo
Free Goodie Bag, Free Expo T-shirt, Free Lunch Both Days
(While supplies last)

Hotel: “Courtyard By Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport And Cruise Port.” For information, Click Here
Walking distance to IGFA, only 2 miles from Ft. Lauderdale airport, free shuttle

Contact Info: Call Sheri at 561-715-0247 or e-mail

Spearfishing, fishing, lobstering, sailing, survival at sea, freediving, scuba, wreck exploration, marine artwork, diver safety, cooking fish, cleaning catch, underwater photography, videography, product demos, and more!

The Blue Wild Spearfishing Seminar and Expo

Bite Me, Fiji, Mahimahi fishing Video # 1

Peachy video clip for everyone to see on YouTube!

Taken by Josh Jensen from www.underseaproductions.com aboard (or rather under) Bite Me of Richard landing a mahi mahi.

Very cool clips...

Josh and Liz are a husband-wife photo/video team with a keen interest and years of experience in all aspects of the underwater world. They've been lucky enough to work on some of the world’s best dive boats (including Fiji's own Nai'a) over the past six years and gain plenty of experience filming and photographing people, beautiful scenery, and creatures great and small – from tiny nudibranchs right up to humpback whales.

Over the years they’ve refined their craft and enjoyed shooting in all conditions and in a variety of habitats – from silty night dives under dirty wharfs, to crystal clear open ocean, to screaming currents on some of the most beautiful reefs in the world – and we’ve loved every minute of it!

We were lucky enought o have them out at Matava to do a lot of filming for their DVD "Marine Life of Fiji and Tonga", a video identificaiton guide to 1272 animal and plant species. Two DVDs plus a 14-page reference booklet... learn more and watch a sample chapter.

These days we devote all our time and energy to our underwater work and our business, Undersea Productions.

www.GamefishingFiji.com

Fiji World Record Dogtooth Tuna

Anglers Zoheb Razak and Glenn Boatwright got a Christmas present to remember whilst out fishing aboard the beautiful Suva based Bertram 'Golden Eagle'.

Zoheb with his new M-37 Fiji Record

Zoheb landed a 72.2kg dogtooth on 37kg line after a 30 minute fight earning him the new M-37 Fiji National

Record. Not to be outdone, Glenn fought another huge dogtooth on 15kg line, landing the fish after a one hour fight. Weighing in at 67.5kg it is not only the new M-15 Fiji National Record but a potential IGFA World Record.Glenn with his pending world record

Awsome fish guys !

Its no wonder some jigs around here come up looking like they have been hit by a freight train....

Bite Me open for 2009 Blue Marlin World Cup Bookings

Bite Me is looking to enter the 2009 Blue Marlin World Cup and seeks an angler or team of anglers to compete in this years one day tournament. Vanuatu is believed to be the hot blue marlin destination for South Pacific anglers but what most people don't realise is the excellent blue marlin fishing found in Fiji's waters.
Its time to put Fiji on the blue marlin map and what better way than to take out the Blue Marlin World Cup.

There is no other big game tournament like it in the world. The World Cup Blue Marlin Championship is fished for one day only on July 4th, and for but a single species, blue marlin. Some of the world's finest offshore anglers and crews compete across the world's oceans on that day to see who can catch the single heaviest blue marlin over the 500 pound minimum. On the fourth of July, 2009, the 25th annual running of the event will take place.

Each angling team will fish in their time zone from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. There are no restrictions on where teams can fish. Some of the popular hot spots for large blue marlin include the west coast of Africa, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Azores, Madeira, Ascention Island, Bermuda, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico, the US east and Gulf coasts, Hawaii, Australia and the South Pacific islands.

During the 24th annual World Cup the lead changed hands 3 times from Madeira to Bermuda and finally to Kona, Hawaii where angler Michael Corbino fishing aboard the Ihu Nui with Captain McGrew Rice weighed in a 773 lb blue to win a tournament record of over $450,000.

Registration fee to enter the World Cup is $3000 for the team. The World Cup recognizes only one winner. There is no second place. Any blue marlin under 500 pounds or below the weight that may have been reported by another team is to be released.
If you are intersted in competing aboard Bite Me, drop the skipper a line at adrian@gamefishingfiji.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Want to know more about the world cup ? www.bluemarlinworldcup.com

Bite Me open for 2009 Blue Marlin World Cup Bookings - Bite Me Gamefishing Charters - awesome Sailfish, Marlin and Wahoo Fishing in Kadavu, Fiji

World Cup Blue Marlin Championship -

There is no other big game tournament like it in the world. The World Cup Blue Marlin Championship (World Cup) is fished for one day only on July 4th, and for but a single species, blue marlin. Some of the world's finest offshore anglers and crews compete across the world's oceans on that day to see who can catch the single heaviest blue marlin over the 500 pound minimum. On the fourth of July, 2009, the 25th annual running of the event will take place.

Each angling team will fish in their time zone from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. There are no restrictions on where teams can fish. Some of the popular hot spots for large blue marlin include the west coast of Africa, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Azores, Madeira, Ascention Island, Bermuda, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico, the US east and Gulf coasts, Hawaii, Australia and the South Pacific islands.

During the 24th annual World Cup the lead changed hands 3 times from Madeira to Bermuda and finally to Kona, Hawaii where angler Michael Corbino fishing aboard the Ihu Nui with Captain McGrew Rice weighed in a 773 lb blue to win a tournament record of over $450,000.

Registration fee to enter the World Cup is $3000 for the team. There is an optional $5000 "Big Blue Challenge" available to enter in addition to the basic registration fee each year. The World Cup recognizes only one winner. There is no second place. Any blue marlin under 500 pounds or below the weight that may have been reported by another team is to be released.

Communication is by phone and email to World Cup headquarters in Ft Lauderdale, Florida where several phone lines and computers are centered. Participants and interested friends and press can also follow the real time tournament updates during the day on the World Cup web site, www.bluemarlinworldcup.com.

Registration for the tournament can be done on line with a credit card or by mail with a check. The tournament web site also has a downloadable application form. Wire transfers are also acceptable. The web site also has a complete listing of tournament rules, news updates and shows the details of all past World Cup winners.

For further information visit www.bluemarlinworldcup.com or email Tournament Director, Mike Leech at mike@bluemarlinworldcup.com. Tournament phone is (954) 561-9116. Fax: (954) 566-3059.

World Cup Blue Marlin Championship -