23 Dec 2010

Recent GT Pics taken aboard Tease Me


Henrik from Germany had a couple of half day popper casting session with Joe aboard Tease Me.

Weather was pretty ordinary but he managed some nice fish on his German made poppers and stickbaits. Made by Thomas Heidhoff and called X-Hoff he had most success with stickbaits in the choppy water.

Henrik's larges fish taken on an XHoff Stickbait



16 Dec 2010

December 2010 Fishing Report GTs !!!

Nick & Craig

Australian anglers Craig & Nick spent their second last day here aboard Bite Me checking out the Ono Drop for yellowfin and popping a few of the patch reefs there. Sadly no yellowfin but a few small GTs on the patch reefs.

The GT Popping & Jigging weaponry

Trolling for yellowfin between popper spots

The weather was 'interesting' to say the least......


Joe takes a dip to warm up !

Their last day however was spent aboard 'Tease Me' to concentrate on the GT Popping. Skippered by Joe, they broke out the heavy tackle and spent the whole day popping the Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef out front of Matava Eco-Adventure Resort.



They had great weather and a hot bite landing 17 GTs. The smallest was around 15kg and the biggest, of which there were several around 40kg. Mixed in with that were Red Bass, Bluefin Trevally and Green Jobfish.


The hot lure on the day was the Hammerhead I Cup in pink/white or orange/white or purple/silver.








A pretty good day's fishing by any standards...

15 Dec 2010

December 2010 Fishing Report Part 2

Anglers Craig and Nick continued their fishing adventures aboard Bite Me starting off day 3 with the medium tackle trolling gear. With a whole variety of species around at the moment we were hedging our bets with marlin lures on 50lb stand-up gear on the riggers and lighter tackle set off the corners trolling Halco Laser Pros for yellowfin and dolphinfish.


First up, a dinner and a nice tastey looking Dolly for Craig


Then the Mold Craft Wide Range on the long rigger got swiped at...and then grabbed, loading up with a mystery fish that didn't jump at first. 30 seconds later we found out what it was when a surprise out of season Pacific Sailfish began leaping about behind the boat.


A little out-classed on 50lb gear Nick soon had the sail boatside for a Tag shot, photos and quick release.



A lovely little Pacific Sailfish around 35kg


A quiet afternoon trolling so we swung into the reef to have a quick popper at the GTs and get limbered up for the next day of full-on GT Popping....

13 Dec 2010

December 2010 Fishing Report


Australian anglers Craig & Nick poped over from Melbourne for a few days gamefishing on Bite Me last week. Looking for some variety with a real mixture of species.
We started off on day 1 with a trip out to the Kadavu seamount with the heavy tackle and jigging gear. Conditions were less than perfect but good enough. Small schoolie yellowfin and skipjack tuna were busting up on the surface so we began our doggie hunt with a 5kg yellowfin livebait on one of the heavy tackle marlin rods.

Joe drops back the circle hook rigged livebait

Unfortunately, within minutes a small hammerhead shark moved in and after a brief tussle, departed with our livebait. Time to switch to jigs...

Nick loads up

A bit of searching with the sounder and we found a deep school of bait. Soon after Nick was hooked up and into a nice doggie....


Then it was Craig's turn to hang on tight

We were all thinking 'doggie' but when we finally got the fish to the boat we were all astonished to see a huge Rosy Jobfish - the biggest I have ever seen !

Craig's monster Rosy Jobfish

Nick went on to land a similar jobfish but then the currents changed, the bait moved off and it was time to head back.

Nick was on a mission to tag his first blue marlin so after day 1 we continued day 2 with the marlin gear, 50lb stand-up off the riggers and 130 chair gear off the corners in case a big summer blue came across our spread.

Nick connected to a blue on stand-up 50lb gear

We worked the North side of the Kadavu Trench and around 3.00pm we finally had a blue crash into the Moldcraft Wide Range on the long rigger. The 90-100kg marlin charged forward at Bite Me but quickly vered off to the left allowing us to gun the throttles and give chase.




About 25 minutes later we had the blue to the boat. In went the tag, a few quick pictures and high fives all round for Nick's first tagged blue marlin.



Any day you tag and release a blue marlin is a good day fishing !

Part 2 of Craig & Nicks visit to follow when we switch to the Popper Casting and target the GTs !

10 Dec 2010

Fiji Summer Yellowfin Run Starts


The first summer run yellowfin tuna are now starting to show. Most school fish around 10-15kg but some bigger fish to 60kg in the mix.
This yellowfin weighed about 50kg, was landed aboard Bite Me on 15kg line class and put up an astonishing fight lasting 2 and a half hours....Caught on a Halco Laser Pro.

3 Dec 2010

Recognition for Matava at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2010 | Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

MEDIA RELEASE: 29th November 2010

Recognition for Matava at the
Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2010

Matava has won in the Best in the Marine Environment category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2010 organised by responsibletravel.com.

The Judges said “Matava is a beacon for responsible tourism and an example to other dive sites. They maintain a strong commitment to both the conservation of the marine environment and the development of the local Fijian community. All staff and dive guides are from local villages, they have signed an agreement with local villages designating 3 established marine reserves as 100% no-take zones, across large geographic areas, and even succeeded in assisted in getting marine conservation on to the Fijian National Curriculum.”

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM), Docklands, London, on Wednesday 10thresponsibletravel.com, organisers and founders of the Awards, and Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards.

November, the Awards were handed out by Justin Francis, managing director of

Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and managing director, responsibletravel.com, organisers of the Awards said:

“This year I have been heartened by the depth of commitment and connection our winners have shown to the local communities in their destinations. Their successes and pioneering spirits are remarkable and the very real and authentic experiences they have created, set responsible tourism apart. They also remind us that holidays can be both luxurious for visitor and enhancing for local people – helping build schools, water pumps, clinics and conserving cultural and natural heritage.”

Lorna Young accepting Matava’s Award at WTM 2010

Richard Akhtar, Director of Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort said:

“At Matava, we are of course both happy and proud to receive this prestigious global award. We find it even more important that the industry, by rewarding similar efforts, choose to take a stand for the environment we depend on. We also see it as an important continuing signal to the community which at the same time can serve to inspire the numerous individuals and companies who have been doing so much, and continue to do even more in the field of environmental enlightenment and conservation. This award has highlighted Fiji’s leading role and efforts in this regard especially.”

Amanda Wills, managing director, Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards said:

“I’m once again humbled by the commitment, drive and ingenuity of today’s winners. They have shown us all what can be achieved by the people and places seeking to benefit from tourism, even when the economic climate continues to challenge us all. Their’s is truly an example for the rest of the industry to follow, and I’m delighted that Virgin Holidays is again able to be a part of this celebration.”

Launched in 2004, the Awards are run in association with partners World Travel Market, Metro Newspaper and Geographical

Over the years the Awards have celebrated the best in responsible tourism, and attracted some of the best celebrity supporters, including Michael Palin and Paul Theroux!

Simon ReeveIn 2010 Simon Reeve, best-selling author, presenter and broadcaster launched the Awards with an exclusive interview in Metro Newspaper:

“The Responsible Tourism Awards focus attention on travel firms that are providing us all with amazing trips that make a difference to a local community while still protecting the environment and our planet. And they remind us that responsible travel is not only better for our world, it’s also more interesting and memorable. Responsible tourism is the future of travel.”

Liz BonninLiz Bonin, Wild Animal biologist, biochemist and presenter of ‘Bang Goes the Theory’ on BBC1 also lent her support to the Awards with an exclusive interview on wildlife and responsible tourism in Metro Newspaper:

“If we make the effort to respect our holiday destinations and contribute responsibly to the local economy by staying in local farms or homestays and exploring the local wildlife through eco-tourism, we benefit by getting a real sense of local culture and discovering hidden treasures we could never get from a faceless resort holiday, all the while knowing that we have our done our bit to keep this planet happy and healthy. The Responsible Tourism Awards are doing a fantastic job at reminding us of our duty to travel in this responsible way.”

For a full list of finalists, see www.responsibletourismawards.com

- Ends -


Notes to editors

About Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands. Matava – Fiji Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort as well as a Project AWARE GoEco Operator. With more than 14 years experience in the Fiji Islands, Matava is recognized as a leading educational dive centre. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian ‘bures’ with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views.

For interviews, images or further information please contact Stuart Gow, Stuart@Matava.com, t: 679-997-5416

About The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards

The Awards are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world and are a collaboration between online travel directory responsibletravel.com; UK media partners Metro Newspaper and Geographical Magazine and World Travel Market who host the ceremony. The central tenet of the Awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.

About responsibletravel.com:

responsibletravel.com is the world’s leading travel agent for responsible holidays. The site offers over 3,500 richer, deeper and more locally distinctive travel experiences that are better for destinations and local communities.

Whether you’re after an action-packed adventure, a relaxing beach escape or a charming countryside getaway closer to home, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets.

Co-founder, Justin Francis had the original idea for the website on his travels through Africa having completed his MSc in Responsible Tourism. He launched the site with backing from Dame Anita Roddick in 2001 and since then has been included in Courvoisier’s The Future 500, Thames and Hudson’s 60 Innovators Shaping Our Creative Future and taken his place on the Advisory Board of The International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University. Based in Brighton, England responsibletravel.com also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.

Contact:

Stuart Gow
Stuart@Matava.com

+679 603 0685

Alex Lyons
press@responsibletravel.com
+44 (0)1273 648 519


Recognition for Matava at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2010 | Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

1 Dec 2010

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17 Nov 2010

Early GT Popping Season Results

Le makes do with just the bare essentials.....

Regular GT Popping angler Le from Australia came out last week with his wife Catherine and baby Tang for a few days of R&R and a very early pre-season look with the poppers on heavy tackle aboard Tease Me.

Not long before Le is into the GTs

Mas hauls in a nice GT for Le

Catherine demonstrates that the whole thing is really quite easy (What's all the fuss about ?)

Pretty good first GT

Le on Bite Me one day hooked into a good fish but unfortunately the hooks pulled out in the deep water. We were mostly trolling that day but Le did land a PB Barracuda on the popper.


On the last day the weather cooperated and Le and Joe headed out on Tease Me to some new virgin reefs. Le named this reef Stella Reef.

Le's new PE12 Ripplefisher loads up on a nice GT

GTs coming thick and fast

Stella Reef produces some great fish


Le's best fish of the day measured 45' Short Length and 36' Girth so estimated to be around 32-34kg. On that last day Le landed 14GTs, a new boat record for a single angler.