Cyclonic Fiji 13-20th March

[Pistol_P]

Well.....This year the weather gods were certainly not to kind.

Myself and mate Greg Burt (GPB) headed to Fiji on the 13th March and along came another visitor....that of course being Mr 'Cyclone Thomas'.

We arrrived on the Saturday with a shocking looking forecast with 60-70 knot winds and rain but luckily the cyclone was tracking away from where we were.
Sunday was a non-fishing day regardless but we ended up losing Monday and Tuesday due to the weather.

Fishing began on the Wednesday afternoon and we popped several reefs in close to where we were staying picking up some small GT's around 4kg and late in the afternoon I managed a solid fish on a 'skipjack' around 20kg.
Also missed a shot at a bigger nasty looking black GT.

Thursday we started in close with Greg picking up a very nice Fish close to 30kg which was a top start to the day.
The main plan for Thursday was to travel through the river and emerge on the other side to pop the surrounding islands.The scenery along the way is awesome with the local villagers running along the banks waving,screaming and kids doing somersaults off the banks into the water.They just love seeing you as much as you do them.
The fishing on the Thursday fired.Greg picked up another great fish close to the size of his first and I scored two fish in the low 20kg bracket.
we also got some smaller fish around 6-8kg but the action was pretty consistent.

Friday's plan was going to be the same and fish the same area but the fishing had slowed considerably.
Greg got another fish in the 20kg bracket and I got some smaller ones along with a nice Bluefin Trevally.

We used a wide range of poppers some of which included Craftbaits,Orions,Labo's,Cubera's,Skipjacks,Adheks and Jai's.

All up it was a good trip that turned out to be good considering what 'Could have' been.

Some pics from the trip.

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva17-03-10005.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10001.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10004.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10003.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10007.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10010.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10019.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10021.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10012.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10025.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva18-03-10026.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva19-03-10001.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva19-03-10003.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva19-03-10005.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o326/PeterMorris_Photo/GT%20Popping/Fiji-Suva19-03-10006.jpg

Cheers,
Pete

[Benno1]

Some absolute brutes in that lot Pete!!!...how many lures did you lose???...what pound leader or is that piano wire are you using???
Cheers for the pics and report...top self mate!!!

Mrs Benno1
Sunny

[Angla]

Your arms would have to be a foot longer after pulling those beauties. Top pictures too. Thanks for sharing

Cheers
Chris

[brisbane_boy]

they dont breed em like that at noosa, those things are on steroids and would of given you some severe ball busting, lucky for the gimbal
thanks for the report

[jtpython]

NICE Some thumpers there and your gear is top notch . Top report
JT

[WestOzDesertFisher]

Great pics boys and great report. Love the boatside GT pics!

[Pistol_P]

they dont breed em like that at noosa, those things are on steroids and would of given you some severe ball busting, lucky for the gimbal
thanks for the report

Brissyboy,

That Daiwa belt I had on wasnt doing the job......My left leg has bruises all over it near the crown jewels..(seriously)......Kinda remids me of when I was a young fella at the blue light discos receiving love bites from Shazza who smoked winnie blues.

I had to upgrade to that gimble for extra protection..!!

Pete

[vertico]

tops stuff mate still after my own big GT

[hookinin]

How did the gimble stop shazza from giving you love bites.:P
But some nice fish and glad to see you only lost a couple of days with the cyclone.
Cheers Gaven

[Pistol_P]

tops stuff mate still after my own big GT

Do you ever get done by them when you are chasing the reds & trout at 1770..?

Those reefs would have to have some big buggers on them eh..?

Pete

[vertico]

Pete,

too busy chasing reds to chase GTs really but when i get a chance next time ill have a go
top report

sean

[LostNearBribie]

Another great haul Pete.
Like I said last time, I really don't like you!
Glad you got some fishing in, would have been tragic getting there and losing the whole time to the cyclone.

[Bear001]

Thanks for the report and really top notch photos Pete.
Bet your heart sank at the cyclone heading your way - still managed to make do but...lol

I'm headed to Fiji late August and would be interested to know who you went out with and where you were based?

Thanks
Cindy

[TCSunCoast]

Bloody Fantastic.

Thanks for the report.

[GPB]

'Thomas' put us back a few days, the pics of the Suva Harbour show the Tuesday arvo conditions, 24hrs later we popped it with a couple of GT's caught:) .
The pic with Pete loaded up shows Leleuvia Island in the background, we had planned to stay there in the small resort on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, 'Popping in the back yard', oh well ::)