Fishing Vanuatu Onboard Sensational ‘Azzurra’

July 12th, 2011 | By Ocean Blue

‘Azzurra’ simply means ‘blue’ in Italian, but over in Port Vila Vanuatu, it is now recognised as Ocean Blue’s sensational new 32ft EdgeWater centre console, which is putting anglers onto all manner of sport and gamefish. The vessel itself is a real head turner and an absolute pleasure to fish from; it is a fast, dry purpose built fishing vessel ideal for fishing Vanuatu’s waters.

Stepping on board a well equipped boat like this is a confidence inspiring experience alone, I think I counted 19 rod holders onboard, plenty of drink holders, huge storage compartments and bait tanks, massive bow casting platform and space for 5 anglers jigging comfortably down 1 side. Comforts include padded gunwales, toilet, good seating layout, marine stereo while full electronics and twin 250’s get anglers quickly to the best fishing spots with no time wasted.

Skipper Andrea Traverso is all about jigging Vanuatu’s seamounts for dogtooth tuna, chasing pelagics like yellowfin, wahoo on sports gear, trolling for sailfish, blue marlin and popping for GT’s, red bass and emperor.
Add hotel pickup, great hospitality, catering and top quality tackle onboard, it ticks all the boxes for fishing Vanuatu, either out of Port Vila or alongside our mothership on remote island fishing adventures.

For more information on Ocean Blue’s Vanuatu day charters and fishing packages, read more on the following links;

Vanuatu Mothership Sportfishing Adventure

Port Vila Sport & Game Fishing Day Charter

Remote Port Havannah Escapes

Ocean Blue

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

Cabo Captures – Vanuatu Marlin

December 14th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Our 43ft Cabo Sportfisher has well and truly settled into Vanuatu, with a number of marlin released on recent charters Since the two good blues on the maiden trip in August, the boat has raised some nice billfish, including a double hook-up on a blue and a black a week later. The blue was estimated to be close to the 1000lb mark, and was unfortunately lost while the small black was released.

Well-known American game angler Terry Tri fished in early September for a 5 day live on board out of Port Vila, anchoring overnight in Port Havannah and fishing the Marlin Highway and surrounds by day. Terry and friend Ian released 3 blue marlin for 4 hook-ups plus a nice big eye tuna and a few mahi mahi. This was a great effort by Terry who, due to recent health complications, is confined to a wheel chair…well done Terry!

Read Terry’s extensive report including all the photos on his website at http://www.terrytri.com/bgiwter62.html

43ft Cabo Sportfisher Arrives In Vanuatu!

August 28th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Ocean Blue has recently added a new vessel to our fleet in Vanuatu; this stylish 43ft Cabo Sportfisher. The new boat will be operating both day trips and exploratory live on board charters throughout Vanuatu, from Port Vila, Espiritu Santo and the exclusive Ratua Private Island. This is the newest game boat in Vanuatu, and is fully equipped to accommodate anglers chasing any of the myriad of species that inhabit the waters of Vanuatu, from serious game, jigging, popping and fly enthusiasts, to novice anglers looking to catch their first trophy fish.

Magnifi Santo – Modern Fishing, June 2008

June 22nd, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Click the following link to read John Ashley’s article from the June 2008 issue of Modern Fishing, recounting his experience in Espiritu Santo.

Modern Fishing – Espiritu Santo Article by John Ashley

Santo Diary, "Exceptional as Always"

May 28th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Anthony & David,
What can I say, each year I can only thank you again and again. Our latest trip to Vanuatu organised perfectly and lived up to all expectations (again). You guys make sure all we have to do is turn up at the airport on time and from then on everything else is taken care of. The fishing side of things was great, the Moorings Hotel at Port Vila afterwards was sensational to unwind for a few days and of course the people of Vanuatu were as friendly as ever.

Fishing was exceptional, as always… John & Wendy, along with Josepho and Hudson made sure we did not want for anything on the live-aboard charter up at Santo. Each day bought something new and kept the adrenalin pumping for the entire 6 days. Picking the weather early in the week we decided to head out wide the 1st day (and I mean really wide) to a rarely fished seamount some 80 nautical miles from the coast. Rising from 2000 metres to 2 metres this was where we had hoped to get to at least once this trip and ‘wow’ the effort to get there was well worth it. We trolled lures all the way to the seamount arriving around 3.30 in the afternoon and within a couple of minutes a triple hook-up of Yellowfin. With only 2 anglers on board this was a lot of fun, after landing those 3, another double hook-up with some more little yellow terrors. Following the encounter with the school of Yellowfin to about 20kg we then landed some great Dogtooth Tuna to 30kg and some Wahoo to 40kg.

By 5.00pm we had landed 21 fish between the two of us and the decision to travel out so far had become very justified. With then headed back towards shore and anchorage arriving after 1.00am in the morning, a long yet very satisfying day.

With the wind up, day 2 and 3 were spent on some of the closer seamounts with Wahoo, Dogtooth and Mahi Mahi on the agenda and landed very regularly (and not too many small fry either), the quality and size of the fish were excellent all trip!

On the 4th day the good conditions had the skipper, John, itching to get back out wide (a decision that was well received by both of us anglers) so at 3.00am the next morning we were on our way for another shot at the seamount. Filling the day with more Dogtooth 20kg to 35kg, Wahoo to 35kg, Green Jobfish and some of the biggest Barracuda I have ever seen. On the way back into the anchorage the skipper spotted birds working and headed over with the result being a double hook-up on a pair of 40 odd kg Yellowfin. Not a bad way to end the day. Day 5 was back in on some of the closer reefs with more Dogtooth and Wahoo ending up with a 25kg Mahi Mahi and a 25kg Yellowfin on the way back to the overnight anchorage.

The last day on board started a bit rough with a couple of sore heads due to our last night celebration, however the cobwebs got blown out pretty quick with Tony hooking up, catching and releasing a Blue Marlin of around 230-250kg quite early in the morning. With some more Dogtooth and Wahoo to finish off the day, what can I say, what a trip. With a captain and 1st mate in John and Wendy, enjoying fishing as much as we do and great Deckies in Josepho and Hudson (and Robert on the last day), the trip was always going to be a success. I look forward to booking next year’s trip with Ocean Blue, knowing it will be just as good.

Cheers Calvin Rhodes

September 2008 Santo Report

May 28th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Angler Mark Allen wrote – Day 3 Started off well with a big doggie estimated to be in excess of 50kgs lost after a good battle at 5:45 am only to land another of around 30kg 15 minutes later. After a quiet troll up to the Wusi seamounts, we couldn’t see much bait action but we consistently picked up big Dogtooth Tuna, the best going 43kg. It turned out to be day of the doggie with only one other species being a wahoo of around 17kg being landed.

Day 4 We were keen to do some jigging around the Wusi seamount but when we arrived there, there were bait schools bubbling everywhere. We trolled around the seamount and bait schools with not much luck until we changed tactics and dropped live baits on the downrigger. Live baits never stayed it the water more than a couple of minutes for the whole day without being smashed. At one stage a small Marlin whacked a live bait and before he could come back for it, a dog tooth swallowed it. The most frustrating thing of the day was trying to get the live bait, once we had it, it was as good as gone.

Day 5 We had to head back to Luganville but as we were rounding one of the islands again the long rigger got hit. As it was retrieved a beautifully lit up Sailfish picked it up promptly headed off in the opposite direction to us putting on a good aerial display. Twenty five minutes later a magnificent 90kg Sailfish was brought on board for a photo then released. The rest of the day was spent around the FAD with a couple of Mahi Mahi and a small Yellowfin finishing the fishing for the trip. A lovely meal and a few drinks at the Coral Quays topped the trip…

Vanuatu Roundup, September 2007

May 28th, 2009 | By Rowan Stanek

Andrew Papdi was back for another Scheduled Charter to Santo for a 6 day liveaboard, his 9th trip with Ocean Blue. This trip’s hightlights included plenty of wahoo and other pelagic action, including mahi mahi, and good numbers of yellowfin busting the surface. Smaller doggies landed to around 25kg on lures, with unstoppables of approx 60kg hitting lures near the surface and hastily making it back to the deep seamount against the 80lb standup game gear. Largest Yellowfin was a 40kg example, biggest GT went 34kg. 1 hour after a larger blue marlin strike failed to hookup, Kevin Armstrong got himself a 130kg Blue marlin which put on a great aerial display just off the transom. Plenty of sailfish activity also but they proved elusive to hook up. The skipper and his team on the boat put in big days often turning the engines over at sun up, and dropping anchor around sunset.

Meanwhile the south of Vanuatu have not missed out with some quality yellowfin, marlin, wahoo and mahi mahi being taken on recent trips out of Port Vila, giving all onboard plenty to do when the strikes come.

The boys returned from Port Havannah Anglers Retreat this week and they have had a ball. It is a great venue for a weeks remote fishing for a group of anglers. Paul Paramonov’s group caught a good variety including yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo and blue marlin to 90kg.