Inshore Salt Water Fishing

Inshore Salt Water Fishing by Creative Publishing international Facts and information about the history and distribution of over 40 inshore species.

Traveler Reviews - Loved it - we'll be back - TripAdvisor

Kadavu Island: Matava - The Astrolabe Hideaway - Traveler Reviews - Loved it - we'll be back - TripAdvisor

"We spent a week at Matava in November 06 and it was everything we anticipated and more. I'm not a diver but my partner is and he did some brilliant dives, seeing mantas and sharks and a myriad of other wonderful things. The highlight for us was walking to the local village and swimming under the waterfall with the local children. So magical, we did it twice! We also snorkelled, walked to the top of the Island, checked out the beautiful organic gardens and spent a lot of time lying around, relaxing totally. The food & hospitality was great and we loved sharing our meals and experiences with the other guests. This is not the place to go if you want fancy pools and bars, but if you want to get away from the 'regular' resorts and off the beaten track a little, then this is it."

Kadavu Island: Matava - The Astrolabe Hideaway - Traveler Reviews - Loved it - we'll be back - TripAdvisor

California Coastal Commission Requests Denial of Longline Permit

On Friday, August 10 the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to oppose issuance of an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to use longline gear off the U.S. West Coast. The finding that the issuance of such a permit is not consistent with California's Coastal Zone Management Plan places increased pressure on the Washington Headquarters of the National Marine Fisheries Service to deny the permit application, which was approved by the federal Pacific Fishery Management Council earlier this year.

TBF joined a coalition of environmental, sportfishing and small scale commercial fishing organizations to voice opposition to the permit at the Commission's meeting.

TBF has been leading the fight against any development of a longline fishery off the West Coast since 2000.

Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish

The definitive field guide to North American saltwater fish–from the absolute authority on sportfishing.

Before you head out to the open seas, listen up: Your tackle box is not complete without Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish! Written by one of the foremost experts in sportfishing, this colorful reference provides anglers and fish enthusiasts of all levels an easy-to-use, indispensable guide to help you identify and learn about the most common species found off the North American coastlines–from albacore to yellowtail.

Based on the award-winning reference book Ken Schultz’s Fishing Encyclopedia, this handy field guide compresses the essence of its bestselling predecessor into a more manageable, compact size. Arranged alphabetically by species, each entry covers the identification, size/age, distribution, habitat, life history/behavior, and feeding habits of each fish. This fully illustrated, full-color guide makes it easy to identify what’s at the end of your line. You’ll learn how to distinguish an Atlantic mackerel from a Spanish mackerel, for instance; why you might mistake a cobia for a shark or a remora; how the red grouper’s saddle spot will help you tell it apart from a Nassau grouper; and so much more.

Written for the 16 million people who enjoy saltwater fishing, Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish features:

• 227 of the most common saltwater fish
• Large, full-color illustrations to help you identify your catch
• Approachable organization in a compact, take-along size
• A comprehensive glossary that explains the terms used in the species profiles
• Overview and anatomy sections written in layman’s terms

Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish is a must-have for any fan of America’s favorite pastime: fishing!

Matava - Fishing Report – August 2007

For the waters around Kadavu Island- Fiji Islands

Charter Operator – Matava Resort Gamefishing

Boat Names – Bite Me (Offshore) and Offensive Tackle (Inshore)

Average Water Temp – 25.5

Average Sea State – Wind chop to 6ft, Occasional groundswell to 4ft

Average Winds – Breezy to 20kts mostly ESE

Water Clarity – Good inshore, good offshore

We are now well into the winter wahoo and Pacific sailfish run but this year continues to disappoint a little. The large packs of marauding wahoo that congregate along the barrier reef are fewer in number than normal. Though packs are being found in some of the usual places, some sites that normally hold wahoo packs are just not firing up yet. The average wahoo size is also lower than normal at about 20kg rather than 26kg though some big solitary fish have been seen. The sails have also been down in numbers though some very nice fish to 60kgs have been tagged & released. Normally the average sail pack consists of about 5 to 6 fish but this year, so far, sails have been raised as solo fish or in pairs. It may well be that the late fall in water temperature is leading to a late season here and September may be the peak month rather than the usual July / August.

The upside though is the blue marlin fishing. Normally fairly quiet at this time of year, there seems to be significant numbers of blues close in to the reefs ranging in size from 80kgs to 200kgs. During the recent Pacific Harbour Tournament, charter boat ‘Opulence’ hooked up a blue estimated at 600lbs on 15kg line class but the fish was lost. ‘Bite Me’ had a blue of about 150kgs free-jumping behind the spread but couldn’t get a shot. Another competitor on ‘Catalina’ was spooled on 24kg before the deck could be cleared. There are clearly some good sized blues out there in the mix.

The yellowfin are coming through in waves so one week they are everywhere and the next, hard to find anywhere other than the Kadavu seamount. This area always holds tuna.

Quite a few mahi mahi around with the average size around 10kg though some nice fish to 20kg were weighed during the recent tournament.

The GTs are still active in the surf zones with a lot of smaller fish to 15kg giving great sport on 15kg line class.

Summary

Water – Still slightly warmer than normal but continuing to fall slowly.

Weather – The usual winter trade winds often making it choppy

Blue Marlin – More around than usual and some big ones present

Sailfish – Ones and twos in all the usual place

Wahoo – Not a great year so far but still good wahoo fishing by anyone’s standard

Yellowfin - Here in good numbers but can be patchy as schools move throug

Mackerel – Plenty of small ones inshore, the bigger guys now hitting ballyhoo rig

Mahi Mahi – Yes, lots to 20lbs and some bigger fish showin

GTs – Excellent popper casting fishing at the moment but the weather sometimes interferes

Captain Adrian Watt

Director, Matava Resort Gamefishing,

Tel: + (679) 333 6222 or 333 6098

www.GameFishingFiji.blogspot.com

www.Matava.com

IGFA Anglers Digest Film Crew Visit - The Flying Hoo of Kadavu

Every winter, large packs of big marauding wahoo and Pacific sailfish gather along the Great Astrolabe barrier reef and word of this phenomena reached the ears of presenter Bill Boyce and his IGFA Anglers Digest film crew.

Bill is a world renown biologist, underwater photographer and film maker, rod builder, angler of exceptional skill and down right nice guy. We were delighted to have him and his film crew, Richard Chudy and Dee Peralta visit us at Matava Resort and film some gamefishing shows aboard Bite Me in July this year.

We concentrated mainly on the wahoo and sailfish light tackle action with some enjoyable sidetracks such as filming fly fishing for wahoo with Cam Sigler Jr, going after the IGFA World Record wahoo on 4kg line class and even throwing some poppers at the reef for Giant Trevally.
We even found time to test out the new Pakula Wonderlure as well as try out a pet theory of Bills - circle hooks in skirted lures - but more on that later.

The wahoo put on quite a show for the cameras often leaping 20 feet into the air to pounce on the spread of lures.

Needless to say, the fishing was excellent and the producers declared their biggest problem was squeezing all the action into just two shows !

Bill was fortunate enough to take the Fiji National Record wahoo on 4kg line class though he lost a probable world record fish when the hooks pulled on a monster hoo after a 20 minute fight. Even the cameramen were forced into action with so many wahoo pack mass attacks meaning that just clearing a rod was fraught with danger.

Catch all the leaping wahoo action on the Sportsman's Channel in the USA or Wild TV in Canada.

Coming up on both of these stations during the weeks of 27 August and 3 September 2007 (Two part episode)

Alternatively, the shows or action clips can be downloaded from the IGFA Anglers Digest website after the show has aired.

Fiji forums: Window Shopping an Island Resort... - TripAdvisor

Fiji forums: Window Shopping an Island Resort... - TripAdvisor

"If you want the same kind of experience (rugged island, gorgeous scenery) on Kadavu, go to Matava.

It is exceptional. The owners are amazing, the staff is great, it's such a fun place and the food is awesome. It is a great experience and about the same price as Waisalima, but oh, so much better. Write to them at: matava@connect.com.fj and check their website at www.matava.com.

You'll be writing to Jeannie, Richard or Adrian, and tell them that Fiji Suz recommended you.

They'll treat you right!"

Fiji forums: Window Shopping an Island Resort... - TripAdvisor

Some video from Fiji! Gt's galore

Some video from Fiji! Gt's galore

IGFA Anglers Digest Fishing Show, far off the beaten path

IGFA Anglers Digest Fishing Show

"WEEK OF 8/27 AND 9/1 (Two part episode)

We venture far off the beaten path to fish the Great Astrolabe Reef from Matava Resort on Kadavu Island, Fiji.

We set a new Fijian record for Wahoo plus Sailfish, Giant Trevally, and Barred Spanish Mackerel with IGFA Capt. Adrian Watts."

IGFA Anglers Digest Fishing Show

Current Fiji National Records Held at Matava: 20

Men’s

M-04kg Yellowfin Tuna

M-04kg Mahi Mahi (Dolphinfish)

M-04kg Narrowbarred Mackerel

M-04kg Barracuda

M-04kg Rainbow Runner

M-04kg Skipjack Tuna

M-04kg Wahoo

M-04kg Giant Trevally **

M-04kg Kawakawa

M-06kg Kawakawa

M-06kg Wahoo

M-08kg Pacific Sailfish

M-10kg Pacific Sailfish

M-15kg Rainbow Runner

Women’s

W-06kg Yellowfin Tuna

W-06kg Narrow Barred (Spanish) Mackerel

W-08kg Yellowfin Tuna

W-10kg Yellowfin Tuna

W-10kg Bluefin Trevally

W-15kg Yellowfin Tuna

** Latest Record Taken – August 2007