Tonga Fish Tales Newsletter

[jackdaniels]

Tonga Fish Tales Newsletter
January 2010











Vava’u Sport Fishing Club

Tonga Fish Tales © Copyright


Happy New Year and welcome to the first Newsletter for the 2010 season

January ...... A mixed bag of “on again - off again” fishing with inconsistent weather. Some big yellow fin turned up but certainly not the run we all expected. By the end of the month the water temperature steadily rose and hit 29 degrees which meant the billfish bite was short with action around the tide changes.
A few perfect weather days mid month produced a hot billfish bite of 5-7 bites a day.

Billfish Action ..... The last billfish for 2009 was caught and tagged on Reel Addiction and the first for the new year, on Hakula.
The early part of the month produced a lot of smaller Blues in the 70kg-80kg range with a few fish in the 150kg size. Several Shortbill strikes were reported but no caught fish. Sailfish were a little scarce but those around were a good size in the 45kg – 55kg range. The billfishing improved as the month progressed with some spectacular action down the south bank. Best day reported .... 4 Blues out of 7 bites, one of which, a new 10kg line class record. Huge schools of Kawakawa bait kept the billfish around for a couple of weeks and baiting proved deadly ..... lure fishing proved hard work with a lot of dropped fish.

Yellow Fin ...... The big run never materialised but some very respectable fish were caught including several new line class records. Kiwi Magic had a couple of good days with doubles of Yellow Fin weighing in at between 52kg and 63kg.
The heaviest fish weighed in at 79.5kg caught by Tiffany Bellow on 60kg line, fishing aboard Hakula. An outstanding catch at the best of times, let alone by a Junior female angler. This is the third heaviest Yellow Fin ever weighed in Tonga – a great effort by Tiffany.

Wahoo ..... A little slow but a few good fish caught including a new line class record. The Wahoo grounds around drop offs did not hold the best fishing – they were right amongst the Yellow Fin schools particularly in the Middle Area hunting around the FADs.

Mahimahi..... Hard fishing and very lure shy – strip baiting worked reasonably well but the volume of fish just were not about.

GT Fishing ..... Inconsistent weather and strong winds early in the month made it hard work but as the month progressed getting to the hot spots was easier and the fishing improved dramatically. A few good fish in the 15kg – 20kg range were reported.






New Line Class Records for the month....

Line Class Wgt Species Angler Boat Record Type

4kg 8.3kg Yellow Fin Steve Campbell Reel Addiction TIGFA & Club
8kg 16.4kg Wahoo Steve Campbell Reel Addiction TIGFA & Club
15kg 6.0kg Rainbow Runner Fiona Beck Kiwi Magic TIGFA & Club
15kg 52.0kg Yellow Fin Fiona Beck Kiwi Magic TIGFA & Club
1kg 1.3kg Kawakawa Steve Campbell Reel Addiction TIGFA & Club
10kg 142.90kg Blue Marlin Steve Campbell Reel Addiction TIGFA & Club
1kg 2.6kg Skipjack Steve Campbell Reel Addiction TIGFA & Club
15kg 4.5kg Blue Fin Trev. D. Le Strange - Jnr Kurt Carlson TIGFA & Club
15k g 10.2kg Mahimahi D. Le Strange - Jnr Hakula Club
60kg 79.5kg Yellow Fin Tiffany Bellow - Jnr Hakula TIGFA & Club




Tournament Dates for 2010 – Pencil them In NOW .........

20th Tonga International Billfish Tournament – September 17th – 22nd
New Zealand Fishing News Tournament – October 21st – 28th
Tonga National Tournament – 27th November, 3rd & 4th December




Tonga Fish Tales © Copyright

Steve Campbell
ikalahi@tongafishing.com

[jackdaniels]

Vava’u Sport Fishing Club

Tonga Fish Tales © Copyright


It is that time of year again and one wonders where all the days have gone.
It has been one of the better fishing years with some notable catches and exceptional Tournament fishing.
On behalf of the VSFC & Members all the best for the Festive Season and we hope to see you back in Vava’u in 2010.

December ..... the fishing has been hot with another great month for Billfish, Mahimahi and the occasional big Yellow Fin. The highlight of the month was the Tonga National Tournament, a three day line class event fishing 10kg to 60kg.
A number of anglers were first time game fishing, we had 5 junior anglers and this year we had our first all women team fishing on “Proteus”.
(See attachment for the Tonga National Tournament Results)

Billfish Action ..... Another great month with fish everywhere throughout the fishery.
Most of The Blues were between 80kg and 140kg with a few bigger fish in the 200kg range. 4-6 bites a day was common and a few lucky anglers managed to catch 4 blues in a day. A new 10kg line class record for a blue was caught aboard Hakula.
Lure fishing has been very productive but the smaller fish have been hard to hook. Live baiting with skipjack and small Y/F has been dynamite with the occasional Sail taking a bait. No Sailfish pack attacks reported but quite a few fish caught in the 40kg range. No Black or Striped Marlin reported. Shortbill Spearfish also turn up in the December period but no catch or sightings reported.
Yellow Fin ...... This time of year usually produces some great Y/F in the 70kg plus range but to date the biggest for the month went to Kiwi Magic with a 58kg fish.
A few other reports of 30kg – 40kg fish and all the balance have been smaller school fish up to 10kg. A few Shark problems around the FAD .... those Bronze Whalers love those Yellow Fin.

Wahoo ..... A few reports of pack attacks in deeper water ..... lost or damaged lures
Being the result. Most fish in the 12kg range and the heaviest for the month wascaught by Henk Gros at 18kg.

Mahimahi..... Lots of schools about especially around the FADs with most around the 8kg – 10kg size. Full of Flying Fish and small squid and strip baiting very productive.

New Line Class Records for the month....
The Percy boys were at it again and they both performed well in the National Tournament in achieving the following new records.

Ben Percy (Small Fry Angler) 9.90kg Mahimahi on 15kg
Joshua Percy (Junior Angler) 73.7kg Blue Marlin on 37kg
Steve Bracken 48.5kg Blue Marlin on 10kg

Summary of the Seasons Record Books .....

VSFC Mens Section ... 22 New Club Records
18 to Reel Addiction, 3 Target One & 1 Hakula

VSFC Womens Section.... 14 New Club Records
12 to Reel Addiction & 2 for Kiwi Magic

VSFC Junior Section ...... 10 New Club Records
6 to Hakuna Matata, 3 Reel Addiction & 1 Kiwi Magic (A pending World Record)

TIGFA National Records
Mens Section ..... 8 New National Records
6 to Reel Addiction, 1 Target One & 1 Hakula

Womens Section ..... 5 New National Records
5 to Reel Addiction

Junior Section ...... 4 New National Records
2 to Hakuna Matata, 1 Kiwi Magic & 1 Reel Addiction

2009 Current Records for VSFC & TIGFA

Line Class Records Reel Addiction Kiwi Magic Target One Hakula Dora Malia Hakuna Matata Proteus All Others
VSFC 72 13 17 14 2 9 2 6
TIGFA 38 31 31 22 2 2 2 89

1st 3rd 2nd
Grand Total 110 44 48 36 4 11 4 110


All Tackle Records Reel Addiction Kiwi Magic Target One Hakula Dora Malia Hakuna Matata Proteus All Others
VSFC 23 3 4 7 0 1 2 9
TIGFA 11 7 5 9 0 2 2 32
1st
3rd 2nd
Grand Total 34 10 9 16 0 3 2 42

As at 18/12/2009

Meritorious Catches for the season

Heaviest Marlin for the season
Henk Gross – Target One - Angler Graham Clarke 325kg Blue on 60kg

Heaviest Yellow Fin
Steve Campbell – Reel Addiction - Angler Steve Campbell 94.3 kg on 37kg

Billfish Light Tackle
Jeff Le Strange – Hakula – Angler Steve Bracken 48.5kg Blue on 10kg




Vava’u Sport Fishing Club – 2009 Season Awards
Awards based on: Resident Club Member, IGFA Rules /Catch Sheet & the fish going line weight Tag & Release is a separate award based on the number of Tag & Releases

Highest Scoring Club Angler Steve Campbell

Highest Scoring Tuna Angler Steve Campbell
Highest Scoring Junior Angler Joshua Percy

Highest Scoring Wahoo Angler Henk Gros

Highest Scoring Marlin Angler Sunny Hannif

Highest Scoring T&R Angler Steve Campbell
Special Recognition Awards Baker Harding Watch Dog
Chris Chapkoun Weigh Master
Nora Chapkoun Recorder Scorer

Hard Luck Award Jeff Le Strange 447kg B/Marlin – “But No Record”

Hard Luck Consolation Award Todd & Ki’i Hip Hop ABS

Heinz Memorial Trophy Steve Campbell
Tournament Boat Winners for 2009 Season

Tonga Int. Billfish Tournament
1st Boris Von Engelbretchen – “Lavenuella”
2nd Steve Campbell - “Reel Addiction”
3rd Ross Knutson - “Escapade”

NZ Fishing News Tournament
1st Steve Campbell – “Reel Addiction”
2nd Target One – Henk Gros
3rd Hakuna Matata – Lole Lui

Tonga National Tournament
1st Henk Gross – “Target One”
2nd Steve Campbell – “Reel Addiction”
3rd Sunny Hannif – “C’scape”

Charter Fleet - Billfish Tally for the 2009 Season

“Reel Addiction” for the 9th Consecutive Season caught the most billfish in the
Kingdom of Tonga of which 97% were tagged & released.

Tournament Dates for 2010 – Pencil them In NOW .........

20th Tonga International Billfish Tournament – September 17th – 22nd
New Zealand Fishing News Tournament – October 21st – 28th
Tonga National Tournament – 27th November, 3rd & 4th December

Tonga Fish Tales © Copyright
Steve Campbell
ikalahi@tongafishing.com