23 Sept 2009

Bluewater Magazine 75: Special features include: THE QUEST featuring Matava and Bite Me

Bluewater Magazine Issue 75

Issue 75

On sale 1st Sept 2009

Special features include:

THE QUEST

For several years, BlueWater’s editor has been pursuing the world records for wahoo and Pacific sailfish on 4kg tackle. He recently teamed up with Bill Boyce and headed to Matava Resort in Fiji for the latest attempt. Their adventure illustrates the excitement and strategies that develop in a challenge that puts everything on the line.

Boat reviews
:
Formosa 580 Tomahawk Centre Cab; Boston Whaler 280 Outrage and 285 Conquest

Bite Me Gamefishing Charters - awesome Sailfish, Marlin and Wahoo Fishing in Kadavu, Fiji

13 Sept 2009

Royal Slam Completed aboard Bite Me

According to the 2009 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book, just 71 people in the world have achieved a Royal Slam. Membership of this exclusive club means that you have achieved the capture of every single billfish species recognised by the International Game Fish Association.
( Pacific and Atlantic Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, White Marlin, Striped Marlin, Pacific and Atlantic Sailfish, Spearfish and Broadbill Swordfish)
The list will soon be amended to include John Angus who completed his Royal Slam aboard Bite Me last week with his last remaining species, the Pacific Sailfish.

Deckie Joe takes the leader

The sailfish bite was oddly quiet but through a bit of perseverance, John landed a sail of about 80lbs and the TBF Release card was duly completed and sent. Wahoo and yellowfin by-catch kept us on our toes and Daisy-chain Teasers took a bit of a battering but it was all worth the fun. John then rounded of the trip with a nice Blue Marlin of about 130kg.

A beautiful blue marlin lights up for the cameras

Well done John ! A rare achievement and one any billfish angler would be proud of.
You can read about some of John's gamefishing exploits in his book "Confessions of a Billfisherman" published by the Halcyon Press.

Sons Robbie and James Angus hold or have held multiple IGFA Smallfry and Junior IGFA World Records including the Black and PAcific Blue marlin. In a couple of weeks time Robbie will be making a bid to reclaim his M-Junior Black Marlin World Record from Alex Johnston off Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Alex's record stands at a whopping 496kg...
Good luck Robbie !

The Art of angling runs right through the Angus family. Robbie is also an acomplished artist
painting many of the sights he sees out gamefishing.
He was kind enough to paint a scene experienced aboard Bite Me and the painting will hang in Matava Resort's main bure for all guests to see.

A sail hook-up aboard Bite Me

10 Sept 2009

Its all Work Work Work...

Its a tough life working as a deckie on a gamefishing charterboat in the South Pacific.
The office doesn't have air-con but the views are nice...

You have to be in the office by 6.00am...


The commute is a real pain..


But there are some nice fringe benefits