PART 1 OF MANY TO BE POSTED OVER THE COMING DAYS

BluFlu

Sealiner
MC COETZERS FLY TACKLE TIPS


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FLY TACKLE

•10 wt rod & floating line for the Parrots and Triggers on the atoll. Crab patterns in sizes 2 and 1 in tan or cream with a bit of orange worked best. Make sure that you have a range of weights (especially lighter weights) and all flies must have good coral guards on both sides of the hook. Despite a lot of advice that the hooks are going to get chewed to bits by the Parrots, the small Gamakatsu SC12’s stood up extremely well. Forty crabs should be just about enough for five days’ fishing but don’t forget some very light flies for the Triggers at dead low tide when there is hardly any water movement and they are extremely skittish.

•12 wt rod & intermediate line for the Bohars on the atoll, the Black GT’s off the boat and some of the smaller species close to the outer edges of the atoll. On the atoll you’ll do well with a variety of Brush Flies in 6/0 to 8/0 and on the outside you can’t go wrong with some Clousers in 4/0 to 8/0. The Black GT’s are particularly partial to small #2 clear Clousers or similar sprat patterns fished at night at the edges of light around the yacht.

•For more serious offshore work you will need the 14 wt combined with a 700 grain fast sinking line. This is for the Yellowfin and Wahoo which can even be caught while the yacht is on a mooring.

•Good wading boots are a must and knee pads will help a lot when stalking the Parrots.
 

BluFlu

Sealiner
ANDRE VAN WYKS TACKLE TIPS

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RODS AND REELS

•Popping/Casting – I unfortunately arrived at Bassas with the tip guide of my main Stickbait rod (Jigging Master GT Monster 86) broken off, so couldn’t be put to use. Having a slightly longer rod when fishing from a large boat is certainly a blessing as it gives you increased casting distance to reach the reef. Fernando put his JM GT Monster 86 to good use, as did Franz with his 9ft Custom Purglas from Enigma.

•I fished heavy Stickbaits ( 150 and 200 gram )on a Ripplefisher 79H matched to a Stella 18000 with 130lb braid and Wind On leaders. The outfit performed flawlessly… I was loaded for bear… Other than that huge GT that gave me chillies, I didn’t have a single fish pull more than 4 metres of line off me on this set up… I like to bully fish! 

•Smaller Stickbaits and Large plastics I fished a Ocean Revolution Stealth STK76 matched to a Stella 6000FA spooled with PE 5 braid… Flawless set up…

•Parrotfish and Tight spoons/plastics – Berkley Air Extra Heavy, Daiwa Hertate HD 3500 Custom, PE 3. Perfect outfit for this.

•Jigging - We didn’t spend as much time heavy jigging as we thought we would, as we focused more on the topwater bite, and light jigging in the evenings… But I had along:

•Jigging Master 100 matched with a Daiwa Ryoga – Amazing set up for light jigging, with the guts to bully a decent fish when you need it

•JigStar 250 Spin matched to a Stella 8000FA – Taught a few Men in Grey suits a couple lessons on this set up

•Jigging Master 3 Kings Special matched to Alutecnos Gorilla 20 – Potato Bass Slayer… I doubt there is a tougher or stronger jigging set up on the market anywhere… awesome.

LURES

•Topwater it was all about the Stickbaits. DarkStar Ulua’s, Wahoo’s and Bopara’s were the way to go for me… We got so zoned into the Stickbaits we didn’t fish poppers much, but I definitely think they have their time and place at Bassas.

JIGS

•As we mainly fished light jigging, all my success came on SW Labs Leaf Jigs, Squiddie Jigs, and Buck Tail jigs rigged with plastic tails, as well as JigStar Swivel Head jigs, rigged with extra Large Worm Hooks and 7 inch plastics.
 

BluFlu

Sealiner
Contact details

Island Castaways
Craig and Shelley Garret
Cell: 082 602 7020
Email: sgarratt@ridgedale.co.za
Website: www.islandcastaways.net

Federal Air
Website: www.fedair.co.za
 

werries

Senior Member
Absolutely Awesome report you Guys!! Thanks for sharing it with us...

My Bucketlist just got re-arranged !!!
 

BluFlu

Sealiner
Memories, posting the reports and looking at the pictures again has brought back a heap! Can't wait for 2012
 

BluFlu

Sealiner
I will be haunted by PR knots for ever:)

Must one of the highlights was learning the dark arts from Andre and Fernando!
 

Pargo Man

Sealiner
The Trip of a Lifetime, Gentlemen Anglers!! 125% dedication shining through: I have half a hunch what preparation was necessary for that trip. Not a minute or ZAR USD or Kwanza wasted. Intensity level 11 of 10 possibly.

A big congrats to your Master Mariner for bringing you hoodlums there and safely back. An art to keep you artists at bay ;-))

My wildest guess: This report will become the longest thread and most frequented in a long time...
 
G

Guest

Guest
Best report!

You guys made it happen......you deserve all those photos.

Lekkeeerrrrrrr!!!
 

BluFlu

Sealiner
Certainly was epic and I am sure I talk for the whole team when I say it is one of those memories that when time eventually catches up with you will put a smile on your face and justify a life well lived. I can strongly recommend this to anyone. The fishing was great but the true magic is tha absolute desolation, great friends and an opportunity in the odd break in fishing to reflect!

A few more memories ...

I am not 100% sure but I think this is a great advert for JM and Pelagic a new sponsor :)

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A typical evening at the office ...

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Cheers Neptune :)

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Easy does it!

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Marshie

Senior Member
BluFlu wrote:
Certainly was epic and I am sure I talk for the whole team when I say it is one of those memories that when time eventually catches up with you will put a smile on your face and justify a life well lived.

That sums it up and should be the reason why we all fish!  Big ups to you lads for the adventure of a lifetime, the new friendships, the incredible fishing and then the generosity in taking the time to share it will all of us in the way you did!
 

stephena

New member
Franz and the guys you know the only thing about doing such an incredible report like you did here is that we will all expect the same report the next time you go on a fishing adventure. Oh and next time make sure you leave some space in your luggage for me
 
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