PNG Black Bass

[jack-n-barra]

Giday I was wondering if anyone had been lucky enough to go and fish for Papuan Black Bass? A mate and I are in the early stages of planing a trip to PNG and alooking for afew pointers, where, How, What gear to use. Is our impoundment barra gear going to handle these fish?

Cheers J&B :)

[3rd degree]

Saw a flick on it once with Warren Steptoe.

The black bass can grow to be a massive and powerful fish.

From what I recall the old impoundmant barra gear would not be up to the task.

I know Wilson have an overhead Live Fibre rod known as the PNG Black Bass, this is purpose built for extracting these monsters from the snaggy rivers and creeks in PNG.

Cheers

Jim

[_Dan_]

The video i saw on them the guy was using 60lb braid and regularly getting busted off, he was tightning his drag using pliers also.

[ffejsmada]

J&B, there's a couple of members on Ausfish that used to live in PNG. They've posted quite a few photos and threads on Black Bass, PNG etc. Do a search and I'm sure you'll find their names, you can then PM then for all the info you need if they're obliging.

Cheers Jeff.;)

[Sandman]

J&b ,
New Britian better known for its Diving and the Volcano's you may have seen in 1994 ( I was there) Black Bass and spot tails are in most rivers in New Britian and larger Islands in the Archepeligo's.
There are many tour opperators sprouting up , there is a good one on the western side (so i am advised) Kimbe is your port of call , If you want to get hold of some Airfares etc let me know....
Mick

[Tropicaltrout]

I envey you would love to do a trip to PNG maby it will happen one day please when you get back let us know round about cost and how you went?

Cheers TT

[Sean]

i wouldn't go if i were you.

[Sean]

mainly because it would make me jealous

[Sean]

i saw et catching them on poppers once, thats what i would be doing

[bushbeachboy]

Go over to www.polyboatowners.com (http://www.polyboatowners.com) and have a talk with 'Squizzy Taylor'. He used to live up there and is a friendly and helpful bloke.
Cheers
Craig aka BBB

[jack-n-barra]

Thanks for the help guys will try the poly boat owners for Squizzy.

Cheers

J&B

[roz]

Would give anything to have a chance to fish for a black bass, they are at the top of the list of fish I have yet to catch.

A couple of things I've been warned about... Make sure you are on a guided tour, not wise to try and find your own way around.

Secondly, would go with the best gear you can. IMO you might do better than live fibre & no el cheapo lures & hooks.

Black Bass have been rated as one of the top fighting fish on the planet.

good luck

r.

[squizzytaylor]

Hello there, did I hear someone say Black Bass?? Awesome fish along with the spot-tails. We used to primarily troll the rivers and creeks in West New Brittain with vipers/jindiviks and rapalas being the gun lures. Many people do flick lures for them but their sheer power makes trolling a good option. We used to fish Abu7000's 50lb Dacron and ugly sticks and believe me thats still giving them too much of a chance to get away, having said that Id love to get up there now with a new school spin reel and see what damage could be done.
I used to work for a guy Called Rickard Reimann who has since opened Baia Sportsfishing Lodge (as seen on ET twice now) and while expensive-ish Rickard is hands down the best fisho I have ever known and knows every Cay, beach, bommie and reef anywhere near there. Alternatively I do know a guy based in Kimbe who might be interested in doing a day trip or two. Also dont forget the saltwater sportfishing is brilliant up there too with up to 10 species regularly caught in a day. Its a shame there arent more guided operations however check with PNG tourism as there may be one or two newer ones that have sprung up. When I was there it was regular fishos like myself that ended up taking tourists out as there was no-one operating with the usual deal being the guest supplies lunch, drinks and fuel. The San-Remo club in Kimbe is the local watering hole and could also be a spot to find a ride. Hope this is of some help.

Geoff Taylor

[Sandman]

Good advice Geoff we may be talking about the same lodge in WNB , were you in Rabaul at any stage ?

Roz, The locals have a big say in you fishing alone there of course is the safety aspect of it however the Locals own the fish so i am told. There are smaller groups popping up running guides that dont cost an arm and leg, most of these are known to local in the area and not yet advertised as such. Air New Guinea Fly direct from Cairns to Rabaul and are looking at putting in an International Terminal soon which will be great. And as Geof mentioned the fishing in the Salt is great, avoid October as the Bianing winds Pick up.
Mick

[squizzytaylor]

I did a couple of brief stints in Rabaul (2 weeks) as a releiving manager at PNG Motors Sandman but thats all. Most of my time I was based in Lae with the exception opf the 18months in Kimbe. There is also Bendoroda lodge which is on the South Coast of West new brittain but I have never been there to see or fish it.
I would not go-it alone if I were you as the locals can be funny on whom owns what and it can change from day to day (really!). A 2kg fish can end up costing you $100 if there is a smart a$$ around, the guides know the villagers and whom really owns what. Its also worth emailing the hotels/resorts and asking about guide services. Try Walindi Resort which is actually a dive resort and there is a new motel in town which is also owned by the Reimann family, there are references to it on the Baia website.
Back to the Bass though, Imaging trying to stop a very pi$$ed off 50lb Mangrove Jack on steroids!! combine that with the fact that they dont attack like most predators, when they see a lure etc they actually come around from behind and nail the lure on thier way back to cover giving to poor bugger with the rod about 1 second to strike and turn em around or say goodbye to your lure and terminal tackle. The back is aching just thinking about it!!

GT

[squizzytaylor]

http://www.baiasportfishing.com/

cheers
GT

[jackextracter]

There one of the best fish out there i reckon, to me there like an over grown jack only 10 times more meaner, if i was you i would spend the money and go buy a daiwa black sheep baitcaster reel with a nice thick strong rod and hang on.

[Dan5]

A couple of guy's i know did a trip there about 4-5 year's ago they went to bendaroda lodge with AJ through hotspot.Both of the guy's know how to fish and have fished and lived in the Territory for many year's they both said that they had caught nothing comparable in Australia.They explained it to me like this"get a 24kg rod with 50lb line stand on the roof of your house tie a concrete block to it and throw it off the roof and try stopping it before it hit's the ground"Apparently that's how hard they hit a lure!!!! Now that sound's like fun.Dan........

[ANGLERnotDANGLER]

i have a dvd called local knowledge and there is a segment on it about png black bass. definitely something on the to do list

[jack-n-barra]

Thanks for all the tips and advice fellas. Thanks for the e-mail squizzy. Thhis is only the early stages of planing will definatly not go up there with out the right information and the right gear.

thanks for the posts keep them coming
Cheers J&B

[AustAngler]

I lived in PNG for 7 years.
Exceptional fishing.
Riccard's lodge at Baia would be your best bet his website is attached.
Fished the area he operates in many times and it offers Black & Spot tail as well as great blue water.

http://www.baiafishingpng.com/index.html

[richieboy]

Hey fellas. I'm from PNG and was raised there before moving here for schooling. I grew up in the East New Britain area, Rabaul etc. The old man ran Rangarerae plantation and also helped out with our cousins who still operate cleanwater.
The only advice I will give to people are stick with the guides. The locals are very particular about who they let fish there rivers/land. It's not unheard of to disappear over there and those of you who have lived there will know exactly what I mean.
Apart from that the Binings are teeming with fish and very dturdy equipment is used.
I will be planning a trip back myself to fish my families land next year. It's been a while since I've been back but from what I've heard nothing has changed. Great fishing up there. A great fishing experience fellas. Good luck.

Rich

[squizzytaylor]

I lived in PNG for 7 years.
Exceptional fishing.
Riccard's lodge at Baia would be your best bet his website is attached.
Fished the area he operates in many times and it offers Black & Spot tail as well as great blue water.

http://www.baiafishingpng.com/index.html

Id love to hear from you guys that have also spent time up in PNG, where were you and what you were doing, my wife is from Wagawaga in Milne Bay and we plan on heading back in the next couple of years to catch up with her family as well as have a fish and a few SP's. Drop me a PM or email >>>>>> squizzytaylor@optusnet.com.au as Id love to hear your story.:D

GT