Tonga - November 2009

Hot marlin bite

This is the biggest marlin ever landed using a rod and reel in Tonga.

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There was a phenomenally hot bite, especially down the South Bank area, along with good weather. Fish of all sizes, up to 300kg-plus, smashed and crashed anything you threw at them.

September’s highlight was the 18th Tongan International Billfish Tournament. Anglers averaged four bites per day per boat – world-class fishing (see tournament report). Most days it was full on, with marlin biting best over the tide changes. Sizes varied from 60kg right up to around 300kg. Lure fishing was hot – no need to live-bait. Bait concentrations on the surface were not huge, but there were acres of deeper bait, mainly squid.

However, since then a 447kg blue marlin has been taken by Hakula. Although the biggest marlin ever boated using rod and reel in Tonga, its capture didn’t meet IGFA conditions, so unfortunately can’t be ratified as a record. (See the full story elsewhere in this issue.)

A few good mahimahi were reported this month between 15kg and 20kg, but most were in the 10kg range – great for strip-baiting around the FADs on lighter tackle.
Wahoo were a bit slow in the middle ground, but multiple strikes wreaked havoc with lure skirts if you ventured on top of the bank. A few good fish in the 20kg range were reported.

There was a lot of action with smaller yellowfin, as well as reports of 65kg to 70kg fish. GT action has been consistent, with a lot of 20kg-plus fish.

- © Fairfax NZ News