Espiritu Santo Gamefishing

December 14th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

I would like to thank Dave and the rest of the Ocean Blue team for helping to organise what proved to be a trip of a lifetime. From the first call I made to Dave at Ocean Blue enquiring about a game fishing trip to Santo, Vanuatu, I could not of asked for a more helpful and knowledgeable consultant. The whole trip went very smoothly from start to finish. The staff at the amazing Aore resort were some of the friendliest we have ever encounted, and the snorkelling at the doorstep of our picturesque Beachfront Bungalow was simply breathtaking.

Our five full days big tackle game fishing aboard the ‘Southern Destiny’ were fantastic, with the highlight being catching my first ever Marlin!! We hooked another 3 Marlin over the 5 days but unfortunately all managed to throw the hooks while leaping from the water. We caught many Mahi Mahi over the five days, and they not only proved to be spectacular in launching from the water during the fight, but also proved to be magnificent on the dinner table after being prepared by the very talented chef from the Aore resort. We also caught quite a few yellowfin tuna, with the largest being approx 90 pounds in weight, and proving what a great sports fish they are with a 25 minute fight to the boat. Our Skipper Chris, and his two deckhands, Sandy and John were very helpful, professional and friendly, and ensured that our 5 days fishing were really enjoyable and memorable.







After landing my first ever Marlin on our trip to Santo, it would be safe to assume that this was the highlight of our trip. Well, I am pleased to report that although catching and releasing that amazing fish was something that I will never forget, asking my beautiful girlfriend of nearly 7 years to marry me while we stood in the crystal clear waters of Vanuatu as the sun set, and for her to say “Yes” was easily the highlight of our holiday and a very special moment in both our lives. Two catches of a lifetime in the one trip…I still can’t wipe the smile off my face!!

Matt O’Brien

Cabos First Vanuatu Game Fishing Charters

December 14th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Chris and Graham had a great 2 days on marlin and mahi mahi on board the new 43ft Cabo Sportfisher, and really enjoyed the overnight experience in secluded Port Havannah.

Graham was on to his first marlin barely an hour after leaving the harbour and they soon had a nice female blue approx 300lb carrying on at the transom. A clean tag and they set the lures again and headed out towards the FAD’s looking for another fish, for Chris. Just before lunch a bull mahi mahi hit one of the outrigger lures and Chris was onto it, bringing in a good fish all lit up and cart wheeling all over the ocean. Straight after lunch a good blue marlin hammered the short outrigger lure and stripped hundreds of meters of line off in no time at all. Chris was in the chair and he was set up to do battle for the next hour on a solid fish, which went deep and stayed there. Eventually, with some good teamwork and communication from the bridge, Chris managed to raise a tired female 550lb blue marlin, which was tagged and then released. Chris looked a bit worse for wear also but both men had achieved something they had long dreamt about doing.

That night the boat moored in front of The Havannah, a newly built luxury resort in remote Port Havannah, and ventured on shore to relive the day’s events over a few well-earned beers (and bottles of French red) with dinner.





The next day took the guys out wide early on chasing marlin before coming back in to fish around Hat island targetting wahoo and sailfish, finally arriving back in Port Vila at the end of day 2. Captain Chris Donato was stoked with the successful maiden charter, observing that the average marlin in Vanuatu were bigger than the larger models in Samoa!

2 days later on a follow up charter, he experienced his first XOS Vanuatu Blue Marlin as a huge fish appeared behind the boat and attacked the teaser! At the same time, a smaller male Blue took the right short lure and the big beast unfortunately took off. The hooked fish was brought in and released quickly, but everyone was still in awe of the giant Blue they’d just witnessed smashing the teaser only metres behind the boat!

Things are really starting to heat up in Vanuatu, stay tuned for more reports as the season progresses and the fishing gets even better!