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Archive for January, 2009

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Fishing News Trip a Success.

By on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | No Comments

The Fishing News 30th anniversary reader’s trip to Vanuatu was a great success.
Twelve readers from New Zealand flew into to Vanuatu on Saturday the 6th accompanied by Grant Dixon for what was to be a 5 day fishing trip to Epi Island. Due to high northerly winds and big sea’s it was decided to abandon the Monday morning departure and leave in very favorable conditions on Tuesday. Due to the previous weeks heavy rain there was plenty of logs and debris floating in the water to make the mahi- mahi and wahoo fishing quite good on the trip to Epi. There was several marlin strikes however no hookups. The group was based out of Sunset Paradise Bungalows hosted by Chief Tasso situated in the picturesque Lamen Bay on the north west area of Epi Island. Nevergiveup, V-Factor and Shogun each day took groups of 4 angles jigging the seamounds, casting poppers and trolling some of the most amazing areas Vanuatu has to offer. This was rounded off each day with a beach B.B.Q and a couple of cool drinks and story telling in the evenings. By the time everyone returned to Port Vila’s Moorings Hotel for the Friday night dinner there was some great stories of marlin tagged, marlin lost, people getting smoked on 37kg by dogtooth tuna and many other battle tales. It was a credit to the anglers also on how well the time unfolded as the facilities in Epi are basic and the trip had to be shortened by a day however everyone had a blast and there was plenty of talk about return trips and I’ll get him next time stories.
A special thanks to Air Vanuatu, Brian Death at Mooring’s Hotel, Chief Tasso at Sunset Paradise Bungalows, Leanne Collett from Wild Blue Fishing Charters and especially Fishing News’s own Grant Dixon for pulling all this together.
Good Luck at the Weigh In.
Cpt Peter Phillipps

http://www.fishing.com.vu

144

Rating: 9 out of 10 (from 87 votes)

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A Happy Customer: Marks testimonial

By on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | No Comments

Hi Pete,

I’m writing this brief letter to you because I feel the need to express my thanks and appreciation after my six days fishing with you on your boat Shogun.

It’s been eight months since I first planned and booked this trip and I would like to tell you that you’re the greatest angler/captain I’ve had the pleasure of fishing with.

You’re detailed knowledge of the local area, as well as your all round experience, meant we were able to always find fish and, more importantly catch. On the very first morning, there was only about 20 mins between leaving the dock and catching our first tuna!! In fact, your ability to always find fish was amazing. I’ve fished extensively in the world – and you’re number on without a shadow of a doubt.

Your boat is extremely comfortable and clean. Sitting with you on the bridge was brilliant. Seeing you use all the new technology meant Clare and I were in very capable hands.
I know Clare really appreciated having a perfectly clean, flushing toilet on the boat.
Not only was the fishing great, the boat clean and comfortable, the tackle and bait was absolutely first class but also the food and drink would put many hotels to shame. There’s nothing like fresh fruit and vegetables served with that delicious tuna pasta salad to keep you going through the action packed day. And the cold drinks from your fridge were second to none.

I would also like to say that eating cooked fish for my midday meal that was swimming about in the ocean only 20 mins before was awesome. I will never eat tinned fish again.

Once again, thanks Pete – you can guarantee I will be back, I only want to fish with the best and you are the best.

See you again soon.

112

Rating: 7 out of 10 (from 13 votes)

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Calm Seas and North Westerly’s.

By on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | No Comments

In spite of a long period of overcast weather and north westerly wind from 10 to 15 kts, and about a degree too high water temp for this time of the year the fishing has been still good. It has required some extra effort from skippers to find fish.
We are still seeing marlin, one a day rather than the usual two or three. Yellow fin are still popping up 15 to 60kg and mahi-mahi are around the F.A.D’s.
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club hosted Easter 6kg Tournament form Havana Harbor on Easter Saturday and Sunday. A small field of five boats entered this year with most choosing to fish off Nguna Island. Some of the more outstanding captures were Fred Timminck’s 15kg Doggy on 4kg, Michelle Timminck’s 13 .6 wahoo on 6kh backed up by a 17.4 kg wahoo on 6 the following day.
The top boat went to Reel Capture with Half Cut second and Nevergiveup third.
Six new Vanuatu records were claimed for the 2 days.

Shogun has been out and about on live–away trips with the return of Richard and Bonnie Lorenzin from Sydney on now their 4th fishing trip through the islands. We spent 3 days fishing out of Epi where it was just a little slow however Bonnie managed to claim a Vanuatu tuna record and tag a nice sail fish. By the end of the trip Bonnie starting to put pressure on Richard to do 5 days live aboard next year and a few less in the resort

Kiwi’s Garry Townley and Justin Stokes flew in from Indonesia where they are currently working for another week of fishing action. With trips to Erromango sea mounts and Nguna Island they managed a full array of species. Justin managed a Vanuatu record with a 33kg G.T on 37kg tackle which was one of the high lights of his trip.
Garry has been fishing with me for about 5 years now and still hasn’t been able to land a good dogtooth tuna and this trip was no exception with continually getting broken off on the reefs by unstoppable fish. These boys have booked another couple of trips for the year so I’m sure he will be successful. Garry brought his son’s out for a couple of days fishing and Sean caught more fish than anyone else on the boat and Alex nailed a couple of junior records for mahi – mahi on light and ultra light tackle.

I am just about to start a 6 day trip with a couple that have just flown in from the U.K so until next time, good luck at the weigh in
Regards Capt Pete Phillipps

144

Rating: 9 out of 10 (from 41 votes)

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Puss In Boats and Champagne

By on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | No Comments


February has provided us with some incredibly calm weather and perfect sea conditions. We have been experiencing monsoonal rains for a few hours each day along with unusual northerly winds due to a stationary low hanging off the coast of Australia. This has caused a lot of debris and logs to be floating off the coast providing us with some great drifting fads if you had good fortune to come across them.
The wahoo are back in force with skirt destroying vengeance to the delight of tackle shop owners here in Port Vila.
Yellowfin have been randomly appearing in very good size up to 70kg and mahi-mahi are also on the chew.
The marlin fishing has been very good most days with 1 to 3 being seen or caught on most boats doing a full day charter.
The Port Vila Game Fishing Club held its annual PUSS IN BOATS ladies comp on the 24th. With 27 anglers competing on 7 boats in perfect conditions it shaped up to be a great showdown. The only down side to it all was it turned out to be probably the slowest days fishing for the month with only 4 barracuda and some O.S skip jack tune being caught. The winner was Crissy Nickel fishing on Topless. Robyn Masuino fishing on Shogun and Lara Neil fishing on V-Factor were also in the points at the weigh in where the champagne was flowing.
We are back in full flight on Shogun with all our 3 to 7 day trips now picking up after the Xmas, new-year lull. We just completed a 3 day charter for a couple of Aussie anglers Pete and Colin who headed home with big smiles after getting amongst a heap of wahoo, 30kg yellowfin and 5 blue marlin shots. They were staying in a resort in town and heading out each day and back in for dinner each night. For those of you that have never been here, it is 20min from the dock to the fishing grounds so you can stay in town or stay on and island or a boat. We have it all here.
For those coming up on the Fishing News Readers trip in April there is not too many more sleeps to go and for anyone interested in coming on the Sep / Oct trip please contact Grant Dixon at Fishing News New Zealand. grant.dixon@fishnz.co.nz soon as there is only a couple of spots left.
Until next time, good luck at the weigh in.
Capt Pete Phillipps

http://www.nautilus.com.vu/fishing.htm

160

Rating: 10 out of 10 (from 63 votes)

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In spite of a couple of Cyclones we are Still Catching Fish

By on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | No Comments


Well here we go again. The first month of 2008 has drawn to a close. The fishing in Vanuatu has been overall very good in spite of being on cyclone alert twice in as many weeks. Fortunately they have all gone by Port Vila with no damage, just wind and some scruffy seas. The charter fleet has been on cyclone moorings for quite a few days however in between blows we have been getting out and amongst some pretty good fishing. The F.A.D’s have been a turning up small yellow fin which have been making great live bait with few of us being catch marlin from these offerings. The marlin have been averaging around 100kg with a few exceptions.
The crew on In-Deep turned up a nice blue 6 miles west of Devil’s F.A.D on the 1000m line or the side of the Marlin Hwy. The fish took 3 hours to subdue on 80kg and weighed in at 250.06kg for a very excited angler on his first game fishing trip.
V-Factor and Shogun have already started doing battle for the year with a group from Australia chartering both boats for a live-away fish off. We were based out of a resident’s house on the picturesque Havana Harbor to spend the days fishing up and around Nunga and Mataso Island’s and down the highway to the F.A.D’s. The V-Factor team was the eventual winners with a hot couple of hours at the end of the last day.
We have been going well on Shogun for January with another 4 light tackle records. Three of these were claimed in one day by N.Z angler Sarah Holden on the Erromango sea mounds. Sarah was accompanied by the very experienced Murray Harman and his son Jason. Each angler achieved at least 3 personal bests for the two days of fishing and Murray managed to tag his first blue at est.130kg at the end of day two. Well done guys.
If anyone need any information on fishing in Vanuatu please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Good Luck at the Weigh In’s
Capt Pete Phillipps
www.nautilus.com.vu/fishing

128

Rating: 8 out of 10 (from 51 votes)

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