)
from members past and present. Related photos are welcome and all contributions
will be acknowledged.Local Fishing Information
Ed: Thanks to Lester Rohrlach for this major
contribution. This article will always be stamped with Lester's inimical style
however we do also want to keep the information fresh and up-to-date and
therefore welcome contributions (email
)
from members past and present. Related photos are welcome and all contributions
will be acknowledged.
Contributions covering areas further afield such as the Arawe Is., Kandrian, Gasmata, Lindenhafen to the north-east and Mambare, Tufi, Woodlark, Egum Atoll, D'Entrecasteauxs & Louisiades to the South-east are in the pipeline.
Index (click on a item to be take to the entry)
Lester's Tok-Save
This is a brief overview of tested localities and features that can produce game fish with some regularity. Waters readily accessible and commonly fished by medium range boats on day trips out of Lae form a rough geographical triangle (Ed: Chart Ref coming) defined by lines drawn from Lae east to Tami Islands, thence wide via ‘Middle’ to say the Peak, to Lae. These are the waters that are most worked during day-trip competitions such as most monthly Club comps and the PNG National Titles. Determined teams do range wider on occasions.
Every species recorded at our gantry, and a major portion of Club, National and IGFA world records have been lifted from a smaller area than that, much closer to Lae.
However it’s the even more distant locations that beckon long-range trips by intrepid and ambitious fishos looking for those big critters that have never seen an enticing lure, nor thrilled to the intriguing hum along their lateral lines produced by finely tuned motors driving game boat hulls. You know how it is, “the grass always looks greener on the other side of the …….” sorry, "the water is always bluer and the fish always fiercer on the other side of the horizon.”
Every now and again the ‘Columbus Urge’ to explore, to solve enticing myths, and to break truly free of the grip of normalcy exceeds the ability to resist. Ever since our Club was formed skippers have planned and expedited extended trips lasting from a long-weekend to two or three weeks (Christmas holidays often the opportunity) out to the boundaries of our official waters, and sometimes far beyond. Trips to Bougainville, to Rabaul, to Madang, and even to Samarai and beyond in the days before modern NavAids were available are on record. These voyages required fuel caches to be established, boats and motors finely tuned and equipped, tackle heavily stocked and honed, and crews, weather reports, and contingencies catered to.
These long-range trips generally involve 2, 3 or more boats travelling and camping in company. The famous Escaped Bull combo (27ft Hydrofield and Ian or Richard) being an outstanding exception in regard to several extended one-boat trips in earlier years.
This round-up can be no more than a general guide, fish being what they are. Fish will always be fish, here one day, gone the next, then perhaps back for a fortnight, and gone again. Even the sharks have a reputation of going to ground just when you especially need one. We don't see many wahoo weighed in the average year, however they were almost prolific in '94. Why?
First of all, remember that some of our fish are cyclical. Sometimes you take 2 or 3 different sailfish strikes in a small area of water and at other times there is no show. Good yellowfin tuna (Yellows, in our neck of geography) visitations can be sporadic. The Huon Gulf is one of the few recorded spawning pools for yellowfin and skipjack tuna. We often see aggregations of yellows, mack-tuna and skippies the size of sardines attending our FADs, and major elements in debris-laden current lines.
Siassi Islands (Umboi, and it’s various out-liers Malai, Tuam, Aramot, Mandok and others)
You can lose a lot of fishing ordnance around isolated offshore reefs and the deep waters between. The kings of the coral castles and the gaping chasms and passages between them are the great dogtooth tuna that you and I will never land except “In Your Dreams”, and many that we might. There are un-numbered insolent hungry whalers, and all manner of big mackerel, heavy-bodied ‘cuda, GTs, and coral cruisers that have survived life’s tithes of tooth, time, and current. They have grown large enough to reach the apex of the oceanic food pyramid where massive tides pour across jagged reefs and pinnacles and produce acres of white thrashed water out past the lee sides. Here the fish grow big and grand, and men feel as giants too.
Blue is the water and the backs of the fish, crisp white are the fangs and foam,
Green, turquoise and purple the top of the reef, and free are you to roam.
To peer over the plunging brink of a pinnacle, down into brilliantly clear cobalt water and to see the panoply of a score of 40 to 70kg dogtooth drifting back and forth among the silvertip whalers just 60 ft down like so many graceful ballet sardines is to feel your adventurous heart fill your chest. Never did the veils of such serene beauty disguise such raw fighting power!
It’s definitely wire leader and sedatives country. Ultra-Light starts at 24kg and works up. Strikes on pouched rods will drag your knees down to the deck. Plenty of shrapnel in the order of packets of big Sampos, forged 12/0s and heavy wire are essential. You can troll till well after pitch dark and have lures and baits endlessly smashed. It’s a totally different world down there, a hungry one. Nature at her ruthless rawest.
Two major points, the big currents need to be pushing hard before daylight trolling becomes highly productive, and you should have your reef edges well mapped out on GPS & sounder. Audacity with the stock of down-rigger balls definitely counts for harder and faster fishing. And I don’t mean hard and fast on the coral, unless Helmsman’s attention has momentarily lapsed.
Off-shore reefs west of Malai, east of Tuam, and either side of the Nessup Channel is proven Dog Pound country of the highest order, and may even be at the core of the world’s population of dogtooth.
Hordes
of big red bass scoff bait and lures like kids around a cake bar, and grand
billfish cruise out of the Vitiaz and roam the nearby deeps. You can actually
troll marlin lures off both outrigger clips with valid expectation while the
coral cliffs of islands pass directly over your aerials at a few locations.
This small group of three small islands and several small coral up-stands lie some 54 miles to the East of Lae. They appear on the seascape as low limestone massifs set with a necklace of extensive fringing reefs. Their wings enfold an idyllic, well-protected lagoon of blue and turquoise water, sandy shores, floating flowers and welcoming canoes.
They rise from a deep seabed 7 1/2 miles out from the eastern coast of the Huon Peninsular and impose a barrier in the path of strong seasonal currents that exchange between the Solomon and Bismark seas. The reefs and surrounding waters are home to most sedentary fishes and are a port of call for all roaming pelagics. They are inhabited by the people of two villages. Our club enjoys an enduring, reciprocally valued friendship with them.
Mackerel in all sizes from sweet-meats to succulent silver planks, and brilliantly barred wahoo to match will strike from around the deeper reef edges, and along debris laden current lines. The steeper reef drop-offs and the outer lying pinnacles are patrolled by dogtooth and more of the above. Solid dogtooth to 40 & 50kg have been boated, but there are a lot of shredded lines and empty hooks wrapped around the coral down there. Par for dogtooth and XOS GT terrain.
In association with current lines and wherever the birds wheel and plunge, expect all of the common tunas, runner, mahi-mahi, wahoo, sharks and the 3 billfishes blue, black and sail. Broadbill frequent the nearby deeps, as is well documented by “Commercial Long Liners”, though not yet captured by club members.
The reef
shallows will turn up great sport on various trevallys, while ‘cuda and rainbow
runner might soon begin to bore, unless you need more bait. Live-baiting for
doggies, marlin and big mackerel can be very exciting fare, though after hook-up
you always have a high probability that a noah has got your gear between her
cutters and will drive deep and circle, obstinate and stubborn.
This
prominent peak reputedly lost 3/4s of its bulk into the water during legendary
times of the surrounding Bukawa peoples. It stands right at the very edge of a
flat coastal plain, sheer to the water, and screens a large shallow tidal lake
behind. Several nearby offshore reefs produce wahoo, mackerel small and WOW,
‘cuda, trevally, and the odd sailfish and whaler shark. School tunas and scad
(for live bait of course) come in close.
During 2001/02 our Arkona FAD locale, some 8 mile or so SE of the bluff had turned up billfish action during some months like we never would have believed in pre-FAD times. At its’ best, comparable perhaps with some of the world-class spots. The coastal scenery from here is no drawback either. Yellowfin ranging 15 to 30kg commonly savage live-baits, and if you get it right, they’re yours to pull against.
Click here for current FAD Locations
This short length of shoreline confines the edge of a flat coastal plain at the foot of the precipitous Rawlinson Ranges. They back up against the mighty Sarawakets which, linking with the Finisteres, form the backbone of the Huon Peninsular. We recommend that you frame them in your fishy pics anywhere along these coasts. GTs, queenfish, and at times prolific mackerel can turn the discoloured water to foam as bait-fish often frequent the area.
In
close the mackerel can really turn on, as can schooling GTs around 3 to 6 kg in
weight. ‘Cuda like to pair up around river mouths. The odd sail will attend.
School yellowfin up to about 15kg will come into the discoloured water on
occasion, as will skippies and mack-tuna.
Buhem/Buso Wide (4 to 12 mile)
Big yellowfin and billfish provide the serious stuff, particularly when the school tunas are working bait-fish. An old man ‘cuda will occasionally attach to the pack, and sharks can often be relied on to demand dues of the angler.
While working Arkona to Busu you might keep your camera on “quick grab” for a worthy shot. There’s an 18 foot Croc around which shoves fishing canoes around as a temporary profession every now and again. More than one dugout has hit the beach under paddle power faster than you could do with a run up in your powerboat. Well, the paddlers cum runners did. Crocs of regular sizes may also be noted on occasions.
And there’s
an old 20+ft tiger shark patrolling this Eastern coast, one able to lift a 24’
boat up and shove it aside and backwards. She generally sniffles around tuna
packs, so she’s still fast enough to catch them. John Cross can tell you more
about his incident with that Mutha. So can others. Should you be one of the
fortunate people to come in proximity to either of these not-so-gentle giants
just remain calm and sensible, and try for a photo or two. Give them elbow room
if they need it, because everything else does.
In close, we find the usual river mouth marauders, with fickle queenfish schools in addition. Baitfish will often hang in the shallow Bupu Bay formation, and tunas come well in on the chase.
If you tear out of Voco Cove with the bow pointed at the far blue Middle whilst your thoughts are elsewhere you may risk spun props or some hull or leg damage. Watch for logs. And you risk overlooking white pock-marks on the water signifying the re-entry flashes of quite respectable Mackerel in the near distance.
Various bait fishes often congregate South of the river current to past Sugarloaf for a few miles. Prime mackerel water, this, often visited by yellowfin and mack-tuna. The odd wahoo will stopover. You never know what the next fish to run away with your lure is likely to be when they’re all together on bait. But-but (Gts) are common, and there’s often a pod of small bluefin tuna living a few mile off Sugarloaf. They are sometimes catchable. And always the grey boys may turn up, except when you’re actually looking for them.
Although not everyone’s kettle of fish, large numbers of whalers ranging up
towards 170 kg have been pulled from the variable depths of the Markham Rvr
outlet by setting live or dead bait close to the bottom. Although the water
here may not be pretty, the numbers at the gantry scale pointer can be.
The Middle (variously 18 to 50 nautical miles Sou'east of Lae)
Aha! 18 miles out is hardly Middle yet. Keep steaming. Finsch, Salamaua, and the ranges behind Lae are almost hull-down on the water when you're at Middle. Anyhow, out here is good current line territory. With or without one beside you, tow for marlin, sail, and big yellows. Expect the Chaikowski Overture performed by the spectacular aerials of a hooked mahi-mahi.
Sometimes Middle is green, and sometimes it's blue. Richard found my first sail at the edge of the green/blue, and that was 57 miles out and 33 south of Tami, that’s a tad past Middle. The fish are likely to be where the bait is, whether blue or green water.
Anything, including tripletail and many species of juvenile fish species can number up in the better tide lines.
You work the
birds, you work the current lines, you work the sounder for mid-water bait and
bigguns, and you work your hunches.
There is probably no fish we weigh that has not been pulled out of this area. It trends about 5 miles off the coast, an impressive drop-off that seems generally to be the inner limits of the very heaviest yellowfin. A little further West an intermittent row of small peaks and ridging beginning with Bulls Reef and culminating around Halfway Reef can be very productive area at times. All tunas, ‘cuda, mackerel from 5 to 28+ kg, sails and the odd bash by a marlin are on record. Early and later is best.
Benalla Banks/Lettu Point Locale
Ah, old Lady Benalla, she confesses a long retinue of faithful attendees, both piscatorial and lure towers and throwers. A fairly extensive boomerang arrangement of coral just a tad too deep to see from water level, she's good for bottom fishing, therefore good all round in a coy sort of way. Always worth checking. Always heavily checked.
Anywhere within cooee, and particularly in the eastern approaches, one finds billfish and tuna along with runner, and bait fishes. Big yellows too! Mackerel, ‘cuda, occasional wahoo and an infrequent dogtooth of immense power and might can be added once you get over the main structure.
Dropping baits onto her back just on dusk can be a wild way to discover where the fishing term “Absolutely Monstered” may well have originated.
Going
across to Lettu Point, the same, with good odds on sailfish and mackerel and the
odd trevally. Don't be scared off by the whale shark rising on occasion. She
won't bite. If you really want to set a record or two you could consider having
a shot at the 18 ft Tiger around here, or the one around Singaua. I'm told that
a live 40kg whaler at boat side makes good bait. Old Stripes is not likely to
stop eating until everything but blood and bits of liver and fins are left
drifting around you. Remind us to tell you about that one day.
Check your chart for this one. We often think it worth slowing to tow a lure across this reef, but I don't hear too much coming out of there apart from occasional tuna, mackerel and ‘cuda.
In close, mackerel are odds on. (A coral trout for supper too). Out towards a distinctive ridgeline a few miles offshore you can definitely dress for billfish, and expect the odd wahoo or mackerel to ruin a bait or skirt.
Current lines weave intricate patterns with some regularity between 2 and 20
miles out of Lababia Island. There, most things that swim swim, strike and
score points. I heard of a briefly hooked monster marlin that shed water off
his back like a rising sub, and we watched a young broadbill swim into the arc
lights and all but kiss our hull one dark and cosy night while drifting with
cyalume-lit skippys for bigger ones. It was free - swimming of course, more's
the pity. Lababia & Jawani produced most of the marlin caught during the 1995
National titles, and many many since.
Some anglers use this name for the near offshore water which roughly follows the 500-800 metre contour past the afore and below named locales. Marlin of course mean tunas and other tucker things. Sails also hunt here.
Ed: Here Lester comments 'Here you should add a para with basic locale info on "Phil Leahy Country" not to mention John Cross - Contributions invited from both those masters of their fields)
In years long past ‘Billfish Alley’ was the preserve of the Beringa and Capt. Bob Gosbell ………
Around
the islands and near reefs you can expect any of the reefies, and not far out
the library charts are dotted with billfish captures, and many more strikes.
Some very credible wahoo and mackerel have set club records on occasion.
Beautiful water, spectacular scenery, and there are
lots of sheltered anchorages and picnic spots around.
Four mile ENE of Mosquito Is, this small flat-topped pinnacle rising to 100 ft from over 1,000 ft is can be a “Let’s Check” for many skippers in the area. Two boats at once is enough, three’s a crowd unless you’re towing out wide of the edges. An occasional billfish FAD, this one. Whalers too.
There are a number of pins scattered over a few miles of offshore water. 2 1/2 to 3 hours of steaming out and the same back to Lae take a big slice out of the day’s fishing hours. It says a lot for the potential of this water that the single biggest slice of the ‘92 Titles Trophies was won by mackerel pulled off of them.
This offshore reef system lies some 78 miles sou'east of Lae, 20 to 30 minutes of cruising past Morobe, and thus gets to the limits of the intrepid day tripper. It’s quite a long reef which breaks in a medium sea, and hosts most of the fishes we look for. We pulled a 41kg dogtooth off the south end one fine day, though they are generally smaller than that. All dogtooth above 10kg will haemorrhage your ratchet, and the Little-Bit-Biggers will usually sign off with a few coral scratches at the tag end of your wind on.
A word, watch the northern parts on a low tide, it's not as deep as the marine chart says. Don't have a surprise out there.
May
your rollers spin and your rods bent through to the hypolons. And no matter what
the fishing results may be, magic scenery will never ever let you down.