Tonga fishing trip - photo heavy
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Fishing Reports
Forum Description: Share information about your latest fishing trip
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59679
Printed Date: 06 Jul 2026 at 1:19am
Topic: Tonga fishing trip - photo heavy
Posted By: pieboy98
Subject: Tonga fishing trip - photo heavy
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 7:58pm
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Hi all, After being roped into a fishing trip to make up numbers it finally came around. 4 of us flew up to Nuku'alofa and onto Vava'u  Staying at Hakula Lodge, We got in 2 days days on the charter boat, a days rest drinking too much Mata Maka beer. We had a morning of popper fishing with Kurt of Poppin Tonga before flying back to Akl.  Leaving base  About to get a bit rough, we didnt think this was too bad, but he was thinking it was one of his worst days out this year  1st cab of the rank  Stef's YFT  Stef's 67kg YFT on the hook  1st day's takings  Jigging Bass  Working on a Marlin  Tagged and released marlin  Working on a YFT  Luigi's 71kg YFT  Luigi's YFT on the hook, was hosing down too much for the chalkboard  Mahi mahi 12kg  Luigi's GT est 12kg+  My GT est 20kg+  Stef's GT est 35kg+  This had the Saragosa screaming, the spool was too hot to touch after the first run, It had a 2nd run half way to the boat and it destroyed the popper and bent out all the trebles, Was a truly awesome trip, we struck it lucky and all got into Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, GT's, YFT, and the odd marlin |
Replies:
Posted By: Telecaster
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:05pm
| Cool report, looks like you ticked a lot of boxes for such a short time spent on the water - well done! |
Posted By: Stormbringer
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:05pm
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awsome stuff looks like ya had a ball :)
Great place to fish aye  -------------  |
Posted By: Royze
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:07pm
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Good GT`s there mate, did the same in July, got my 1st GT with Kurt, hope they looked after you alright , Geoff and Janine are awesome hosts aye? what else did you get on the jigs?
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Posted By: viking...
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:08pm
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Awesome bro.... really is nothing like the islands. Great read and some cool pics.... love the hua GT and Yfin!! |
Posted By: pieboy98
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:32pm
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Yeah definitely a short and sweet trip, We stayed at Hakula Lodge, everything was sorted, flights, tranfers, taxis etc, Geoff and Janine are truly great hosts, even taped the league and rugby for us, to give him some stick over the NZ wins, The weather was overcast, squally showers and windy, but suited us as it wasn't too hot, The jigging was off an island down southwest of vava'u, the currents were quite strong and running the wrong way for great jigging. Didnt get any dogtooth tuna, but think we lost gear to one or 2 anyway. The Sunday was a day off so a decent drinking session ensued at the Tongan international Monday saw us out with Kurt popper fishing on the local reefs, We took our own gear but he is looking to gear up so people can just turn up, we had saragosa's w 80lb braid on t curve gt specials and those GT's just peel line like nothing else and make kingies look like sprats, Forearms burning with arm pump and back breaking, but unreal once you get them in the boat! At one point the spool was too hot to touch. You can get pretty tired casting poppers and just when your going to give up that's when you'll hook up. Can definitely recommend Hakula lodge for accom and fishing and kurt for Popper fishing, even just for one day with kurt as your so close to some of the best GT fishing!!!
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Posted By: Double Shot
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:47pm
Damn that's some mighty fine fish, damn to get some of them YFT down this way... ------------- 70ml of 90deg C water pressurised through 13g of roasted finely ground tamped coffee for 25sec's to make a distinguishing sensory hit called a Double Shot |
Posted By: LEVCAT
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:48pm
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mate for only two days fishing that's an excellent effort..... big ups for covering all the bases. |
Posted By: scottej
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 8:54pm
| Thats a sweet trip covered most species, top shelf guys!! |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 9:00pm
nice yft and GT's, wicked trip thanks for sharing
-------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: Snag
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 9:03pm
Wicked report, not to much to say as its all in the pics!
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Posted By: BeachedAsBro
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2010 at 11:11pm
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Awesome bro!! Will be heading up those ways a bit for work next year so will definately have to get into a bit of that action!
------------- Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish caught will we realise we can't eat money. |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 7:55am
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Fantastic trip and awesome pics, some beaut fish there ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: Sharkstail
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 8:45am
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Wicked
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Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 10:02am
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Vava'u and the Ha'apais rule. Looks like you got well looked after.
------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: Cbro
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 1:01pm
| Sweet trip bro, mint fishing. God I cant wait to get over there some time soon, Mrs has family over there been tongan an all. |
Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 1:08pm
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Nice, what would it be like for non fishing partners? Looks all good to me but the Mrs?
Cheers Tonto ------------- slowly going where everyone else has already been |
Posted By: jerry69
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 1:56pm
| nice trip!! got to be stoked with that! may have to venture up there me thinks |
Posted By: YeeHaa
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 2:09pm
A dream trip. awesome photos and great catches ~! 
-------------   WWW.YEEHAA.CO.NZ (09)5705058 30 Jellicoe Road Panmure |
Posted By: kingieslayer
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 3:57pm
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top photos mate well done ------------- woman love me fish fear me! |
Posted By: Damo
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 4:46pm
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Report of the year.
------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">  www.charterconnection.co.nz Facebook: Diversity-Fishing |
Posted By: pieboy98
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 5:03pm
Gday Tonto, you could take your missus out on the boat but not the best if they get sea sick or don't want a bar of fishing?? If you can get some mates together and book out the charter, I'd recommend you stay at the Tongan beach resort and Geoff could pick you up on the way past http://www.thetongan.com/ - http://www.thetongan.com/ Otherwise if it's just the 2 of you, check out kurts place, he has pretty relaxed accom set up and you could go popper fishing for GT's at the drop of a hat, 15-20 mins from his place http://www.talihaubeach.com/GT-Fishing.php - http://www.talihaubeach.com/GT-Fishing.php hope this helps mate
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Tonto2 wrote:Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 5:19pm
What he said...and you may as well call that a Pacific Island Grand Slam;
Marlin, YFT, Mahimahi, GT, Red Bass, Wahoo ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 6:04pm
now thats a top report and great fishing, I would have been gutted to be roped into that trip mate  ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: Butthead
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 7:34pm
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Awesome report pie! Some real crackers!
Just fished Vavau a few weeks back, had a great time, Geoff and the other skippers there are all awesome! They really know their stuff!
We fished the NZFN tournament which is really well run, had a different boat each day for four days, we had a great time although not on the fish like you fellas.
Great stuff!
Choice!
Damo.
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Posted By: brown
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 10:07pm
mean all round mate, wicked. cheers for the recommendations too, i can hear all the trips being planned from where im sitting
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Posted By: Cbro
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2010 at 10:20pm
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That must have been sick hooking into those trevs bro, reel must have been screaming. . This guys under some real hurt on a 20, that 35 must have been insane!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jU6DrgN8Cs&feature=player_embedded#%21 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jU6DrgN8Cs&feature=player_embedded#! Im so there next year, might have to book tomorrow  . |
Posted By: pieboy98
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2010 at 7:36pm
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Here's the big one being landed GT popper fishing in Tonga  GT est 35kg  |
Posted By: Striper
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2010 at 10:50am
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Brutha!! trip of a life time, wicked YFT's & 35kg GT thats awesome!!! 2 thumbs up bro!!! ------------- All fishermen are liars except for you and me, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure about you, hahaha |