Vanuatu - June 2012

Big mahimahi have made a welcome return to Vanuatu waters.

Relevant offers

Area Reports

West Coast - May 2013 Wairarapa - May 2013 Hawkes Bay - May 2013 West Coast Waikato - May 2013 Manukau - May 2013 Whakatane - May 2013 Far North - May 2013 Cook Islands - May 2013 Canterbury - April 2013 Gisborne - April 2013

Calm conditions have been making for great fishing on most days.

Marlin fishing has been quite consistent, with most operators turning up one most days. We have seen the return of good-sized mahimahi in open water, and they have also been around the FADs in good sizes and numbers. If we haven't been hooking them on lures, we certainly have been able to pick them up on baits. We are also still seeing some yellowfin of 20-35kg around the FADs. There have been lots of small yellowfin jigged up at the FADs - as many as you want - not big fish, but great fun on lighter jigging gear.

Expectation and reality are always a problem when you are a charter-boat operator, as you get anglers that want to share a four-hour charter with a few others to keep the cost down, but all want to catch a marlin or a big yellowfin in that short time - and fit in some reef fishing as well. It's always difficult to keep everyone happy. Ed was here on holidays with his wife and was contemplating doing a four-hour charter on Shogun. He wasn't sure until his wife said to him "You're in Vanuatu - go and have some fun."

Long story short, we raised five, had three on, and caught two blue marlin. Wouldn't it be great to turn that up every day?

With ongoing calm weather and 26-27° sea temperatures, we expect the good fishing to continue.

Vanuatu by Peter Phillipps
Nautilus Watersports

• Ph 678 22 398 Email nautilus@vanuatu.com.vu

- © Fairfax NZ News