A new Great Barracuda Fiji Islands M-06 Line Class National Record has just been set by Zane Southwick who landed an 8.50kg (18.7lbs) fish on 6kg line class.
Zane fighting the fish from the beach 
The GT bite has been a bit quiet this past week. Bill and Marc visiting from Australia had to work hard for their fish. Not quite sure why, perhaps the run up to the full moon yesterday had something to do with it although most people think that's a good time to popper !
The fish were there... they just demanded a bit of extra effort from anglers.
Thanks for the pics guys !
Bill with his new Personal Best GT of around 30kg
Fair few Yellowfin around but mostly schoolies
The ever present Red Bass are always a bit of fun
Marc aboard Tease Me with a respectable GT taken on a Halco Haymaker
Just before I zoomed off to the main island to haul-out and do my Marine Survey I had Brendan and Justin over from Australia for a few days popping and jigging. Both were new to the popping dark arts but they armed themselves with the right gear and put the effort in to get some nice fish.
That's one very Panicked Trout
Justin with a nice GT 
A tastey Mackerel on a silver Cubera 150 
Brendan's best GT around 30kg 
Black trevally on a jig 
A chunky green jobfish for Justin 
Joe had a cast and took this nice fish on a popper Its that time of year again when I spend at least a week in Suva hauled out on the slipway and doing annual maintenance on Bite Me. Also on the list - my Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Authority (FIMSA) Marine Survey...Out of water...and in-water...
Just to give you some idea of what I have to cram into 5 working days...
Drive Bite Me to Suva
Haul-out on a slipway
Bring in FIMSA Marine Inspector and agree a defects list
Remove Stb'd engine turbocharger for service
High pressure hose blast the hull / running gear and sand down the old anti-foul
2 new coats of anti-foul
Inspect and clean all underwater inlets and outlets
Drop Rudders, clean, inspect, grease and re-install
Remove Port prop and have it balanced and re-installed
Buff and polish both props
Clean, inspect and measure both shaft bearings (Clearance report for FIMSA)
Open up Shaft seal housings, clean shafts, install new shaft seals
Repair autopilot rudder indicator connection
Underwater Report for FIMSA
Bring in FIMSA MArine Inspector to sign off on completed Defects List
Un-slip Bite Me and tow round to Suva Yacht Club for further maintenance work and in-water FIMSA Survey (Engineering / Deck Safety / Life Saving Apparatus / Fire Fighting Apparatus)
And that's just the out-of-water bit....
Other fun things for me to cram in after getting back in the water...
Chance engine oil in both engines
Change gearbox oil
Change oil blow-by filters
Change main and pre-fuel filters
Re-install serviced Stbd turbo and sea-trial
Repair Bimini
Get the Liferaft serviced
Re-fuel
Pull and clean raw water intake strainers
FIMSA in-water sea trial and survey
Scrub all the engineers oily fingerprints off everything....
Oh, and get our 2,000lb scales re-certified for another year...and renew my Boatmaster license...and get a haircut........and get home....in time for the next fishing charter...
Don't kid yourself that the life of a gamefishing charterboat skipper is a glamorous one !
A slipway for Bite Me on the left hand side. In the middle a longliner and on the right the world famous Naia liveaboard dive ship.
The work begins...
Bite Me is dwarfed by the hanger usually used for much larger ships
Before...
And after...
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Issue 90 On sale 29th Feb 2012
GAME CHANGER – AFTCO RDT This remarkable product is set to revolutionise gamefishing by providing accurate readings of the drag tension on your line.
FIN-NOR MARQUESA REELS Fin-Nor’s new 2-Speed castable lever drag reels have been designed for performance fishing with even heavy braided lines.
LURE LORE – PART 8: Sneaky leaders for wary tuna. Tuna are smarter than the average gamefish and demand special techniques to ensure success.
Classic Tomes: Tales of Tahitian Waters. Zane Grey’s classic describes his three expeditions to these virginal waters during the 1920s.
CREATURES OF THE DEEP: Phyllosoma larvae. Guess which tasty treat these truly bizarre-looking creatures eventually metamorphose into!
SMOKE AND MIRRORS: Black Bart ‘San Sal Candy’ lure This versatile lure has low water drag for use with light tackle and also handles speeds to over 20kts.
