New Caledonia: what an amazing experience!

Already before landing I was so exited that a could not resist to take couple of shots from the sky. Crystal clear water, white sand and blue sky, what an amazing combination for 5 days fishing! At the airport I met my fishing partners for the week, Peter and Karyn, and Sebastian who drove us up to La Foa, arriving at Quano surf camp. First impression? Truly beautiful… Beautiful bungalow with lagoon view. After we left the luggage in the bungalow we had a briefing with the fishing guide Etienne Picquel. Over a few beers, he outlined the locations and techniques that we would be using for the next 5 days fishing.





DAY 1

We started fishing inside the lagoon, and after many casts I had the first strike on the light outfit. A quick run with the boat out of the shallows and the fish began to fight really really hard, and after 10 minutes we landed him. Yes, my first GT – I was truly excited! Time for a quick photo and the fish was ready to swim away.





Etienne decided to change location, as he reckoned there was not enough wind for the GTs. At the new spot, after 2 casts Karyn had a strike, and Etienne believed it was a big fish…five minutes fighting and it pulled the hook, damn we were all disappointed! After casting for a while without a fish, all of a sudden there was a huge strike – yes me again! We landed the fish, estimated to be 25 kg. Yes, a baby, but it still pulled hard!



After several more casts it’s Peter’s turn to hook up, and after a short fight of 2 minutes or so, the fish busted him off. We changed locations again, and after a few casts I got a massive strike. This time it was even less than 1 minute before the fish buried me in the reef! Etienne and Franc were both really disappointed … it was a massive GT, estimate by Etienne to be around 40 to 45 kg. A quick check of the leader, and we discovered my bimini knot was destroyed from the GTs tail (100 lbs braided line!) We lost a few more fish that day, and I landed a nice bludger trevally.



DAYS 2 and 3

“No wind, no fish” said Etienne.
That might’ve been the case for me, but not for Peter! After several casts, he had a nice strike with a big splash on the surface, again Etienne drove the boat away from the reef and the fight began! After more then ten minutes and few fore arm cramps later, he landed this monster! Wow, we were all excited when we saw the size of this GT, estimated at around 40 to 45 kg.







Yes, that is enough motivation to cast and cast and cast again! Peter got another strike with a big red popper . After a beautiful fight he landed this amazing GT of around 30 kg. After 50 or so casts I missed a big cod and a massive GT when they rejected my popper… Any way, it’s good when you see such a massive fish!

On Day 3 we tried fishing the outer edge of the barrier reef, but fishing was slow. In the early afternoon we went in to the lagoon entrance. After few attacks from coral trout, Karyn got a strike on light tackle, and after a good fight she landed a nice size mac tuna. A few photo and back in the water. Etienne had a few casts towards a coral bommie during the lunch break which resulted in a solid strike, but this time not a GT. It was something more heavy… maybe a snag? No, 15 minutes later and after a really heavy fight we saw a gray shadow . shark! Etienne got him to the side of the boat and cut him off. At the end of the day, Sebastian drove us further north to Bourail where Nekweta Surf Camp is located. This was another truly beautiful surf camp, managed by Manu and his girlfriend Stephanie. What can I say – the welcome was amazing and the bungalow was awesome, all in traditional Kanak style. Dinner was beautiful, Stephanie definitely has a passion for cooking!

DAYS 4 and 5

After spending a relaxed night we were ready to fish this magnificent region! We started in a deep channel that Manu and Etienne believed is a big fish hot spot. First cast and it’s my turn. “Strike! Strike!” Etienne screamed to me. A few seconds later I realised how much power this fish had – my fishing rod was bent right over and under a lot of pressure. After a heavy fight we landed this massive cod of around 35 to 40 kg. Time for a picture and let her go back in to the deep. Several minutes later I was still shaking from the adrenaline and the happiness!



We moved on to another spot, and after 2 or 3 more casts, I was on again, this time it was an angry GT! It went straight to the bottom of the channel at 20m, searching for reef to bury me in. My drag was going crazy and the fishing rod bent until it touched the water! After few runs in the deep we landed not a big but aggressive fish, estimated by Etienne and Manu at around 20 to 25 kg (big enough for me!) We spent a few hours in this big channel with plenty of hook ups on big fish, but most busted us off. We landed a few different species of trevally (big eye, small GT, bludger and few more species) not big in size but a lot of fun. In the early afternoon we moved in to the lagoon where the water is crystal clear and the coral is blue like a sky. Couple of casts and Karyn had a strike with an aggressive GT. After a long fight she had this truly beautiful fish n the boat. She was so excited for her first GT! Time for a picture and see you next time fish!



Etienne decided to move to another spot. A few casts and… we saw the GT come from 20m away like a missile in the direction of Peter’s popper and SLAM, big splash on the surface! The rod was bent over double and 10 minutes later, another nice GT of around 30 kg was in the boat.



After a euphoric moment, it’s time to cast again. One cast and I’m on again but this time it’s a baby, only 10 kg but it’s still a good fight. Time to go back to camp and relax. After a beautiful dinner, good wine and many fishing stories to share, we decided to restore our energy for the following day.

The next day we woke up at 6:15am, had a quick breakfast and jumped on the boat. Etienne decided to fish in another lagoon, but the tide got too low, so we headed outside. Few casts and I got a strike on the red popper. After a short fight we lift in the boat, a nice coral trout. Time to go back inside, the waves started getting bigger and bigger! This time we tried fishing the inside edge of the barrier reef where fish are normally waiting for a easy meal. After few casts, something enormous attacks Peter’s popper. After a long and heavy fight Peter brought a monster Cod in to the boat. I have never seen such a monster! It was a massive effort to lift this monster in to the boat, estimated by Etienne to be around 60 to 65 kg!



If we compare this cod to mine, my cod was just a baby! Quick pictures and he swum away nice and healthy. A few more casts and I missed a spanish mackeral on a popper. High tide came, and it was time to try inside the lagoon . Many cast later Karyn had a strike and landed a beautiful Red Bass . This was last fish of our 5 days fishing in New Caledonia.





I have to say thanks to Etienne for this truly amazing trip in the wild New Caledonia waters. You are a such good fishing guide (he trys so hard and he can find a big fish!) and beautiful person. Thanks a lot to all Etienne friends who helped us (Pierre, Michelle, Franc and Juju). Thanks to Quano Surf Camp and their beautiful hospitality. Thanks to Manu and Stephanie for your fantastic hospitality at Nekweta Surf Camp, and thanks to Sebastian. Lastly, thanks to Ocean Blue for my first New Caledonia GT Popping Adventure – well done!!!

Thanks a lot guys!

Francesco Avezzu