GT's

[Calligeros]

Hey guys,

i have never caught a GT ever before.
I have purchased the gear to catch them, ive gone to areas i thought they were but never caught a GT. I dont even think ive been able to hook one yet, let alone bring one in.

Been to Ponta, Paindane, South Coast, North coast, Mauritius(with my rod), Cape Vidal as well... no GT's
Can someone please assist me? Where, How, and with what? I would really appreciate constructive tips please.

I'm running a new Aerocast 30XH with a sustain 5000FG with 30lb 832 Sufix on. I have plenty bullet spoons, poppers, etc. etc.
Thanks so much!!

[REEFMAN]

Try these articles...

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=2459

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,1007

[Tommo]

Hey Calligeros, the best move on your part would be to plan a trip specifically to catch a GT. It will cost you a bit, but at least you will get onto the scoreboard, after that you will have the confidence and experience to do it again and again on your own.
Ideally You need to go somewhere where there is an experienced guide to help you get that first fish on the line. My recommendation for best value for money and best opportunity to get some GT notches onto your belt is to go to Linene Island Lodge in Mozambique. They have beach fishing with great Potential, as well as estuary fishing with great light tackle GT opportunities and offhsore fishing, with great GT opportunities. They have a resident guide there, Adrian Westraad, who is mad about GT fishing and has been there for a while and knows the area inside out.
 
I would plan a trip for any time during the first six months of the year, particularly around a new moon spring tide, and hope for good weather. Google them for a quote and do it, it will get you going...

[Calligeros]

I have heard alot about linene lodge as well as inhaca. which one would be better?

also I am going to Vidal in December, any GTs there? or good spots perhaps?

[Tommo]

I would say these days that Linene is a better option for a couple of reasons:
 
They have far less fishing pressure than what Inhaca does firstly, so more likely to find your GT at Linene. Secondly the tackle that you have, although very good, is on the light side for a big GT. While you will probably land a very decent GT on it off a sandy point, you will have very little chance in a rocky area, where you have to put the brakes on him hard to stop him cutting you off. At Inhaca some of the best GT fishing is in rocky areas, while at Linene there are no rocks from the beach and you can relax and fight a big GT with medium tackle as you have.
 
Vidal could definitely produce a GT, though you would need to work hard for it. If you spin from south ledges, or from the main ledge at the bay on an incoming tide, particulalry at dawn and dusk, you may be in with a shout. If you don't get a GT there, you may well get some other kingies, such as greenspots, yellowfin and bluefin. Also walking the beach north and casting at any reef or good sand formations could get you something. I would take a selection of chisel poppers, spoons, bucktail jigs and dropshot to work whichever area you go to.

[Rory mundy]

off the beach in st lucia last week 137.3 fork length

[Trevelly]

Sorry to go a bit off the topic Calligeros, but Tommo I see you say his outfit is a bit on the light side for GT's at rockey areas so what outfit more or less would you suggest for GT's say 20kg + from the shore?

[Tommo]

If you are spinning in rocky areas from the shore then I would say braid of at least 80lb, on a reel with a powerful drag, a 10 000 size would be about right along with a rod with plenty of backbone, like the ones we cast poppers from the boats with.

[Calligeros]

@ Rory Mundy, wow thats a awesome GT! Well done! Thats in my dreams at the moment!

@ Tommo, can you be alittle more explicit in the setup of the 80lb you are refering to? The problem is that a Stella is crazy money for guys that fish only 2-3 times a year. I do have a Saragosa 8000 with 30lb High Performance Sufix on that i still need to pair with some rod...

[Tommo]

Hi Calligeros, that is the thing. If you want to target GT's in Rocky terrain, you will not get away with inexpensive tackle. For those who will do one or maybe two trips a year it is extreme to go out and spend R15000.00 on one rod and reel setup... As I pointed out, if you find places to catch them where it is sandy you can get away with much lighter and much cheaper tackle. The problem is that cheaper tackle is never going to put the brakes on a 25kg+ GT that is intent on reaching a patch of reef to cut you off.
 
Fishing off sandy beaches or spits such as Linene, you could land those GTs on the tackle you already have. Doing it in rocky areas, well then I would say you need top quality gear. Reels like a Stella 10 000, or at least a ShimanoTwin Power, or Penn Torque 7. A Saragosa may land you one fish, maybe even two, but its drag will get cooked or something will strip if you fight big fish like that with the drag set on full.
 
The Saragosa will be perfect from a beach or sandy point, where you don't need to set your drag on maximum to stop the fish quickly.
 
 

[Calligeros]

Ok. And what about a multiplier casting reel?
What can you suggest? Torium? Saltist? Saltiga? And Rod?

I'm talking for abit of surf fishing...

[Tommo]

In the old days we used multipliers exclusively to cast poppers from the surf for GT's. Landed some good fish, but lost a lot as well. Generally speaking I would say any quality multiplier with a quick retrieve 6:1 or faster would be fine. It is tricky to cast braid with a multiplier, especially spinning, so probably 35 to 40lb breaking strain, his abrasion nylon, with a long wind on leader, rod length plus two turns on the reel. You don't want to cast plugs with a 14ft surf rod, unless you are super big and super fit. I would say look out for a strong 9 to 10 ft rod for the job.
 
Remember that even the top casting multiplier drags are not as strong as those on the good spinning reels. They hold more line, but are not built to stop a fish quickly, so again amongst rocks you will have to box clever. If you use a 100lb leader, and fish well, you may have a chance.

[Tommo]

Uh Oh, I just read your post again and saw you were asking about surf fishing, I assume you mean bait? Sorry, I automatically thought you were talking about plugging for GT's with a multiplier...
 
I am sure that one of the bait anglers will be able to advise you better on what sort of outfit to get for that job. Sorry about the misunderstanding.

[Calligeros]

Nah, plugging sounds good!!

[REEFMAN]

Calligs... the really big GT's landed from the beach are most often landed with Multiplier big guns tackle... ie: sliding tackle or swimming a livey. Most R/S fishermen don't have the high end spinning gear necessary to box with these brutes, so sliding a live Shad, Wave Garrick or moonie will be your best bet.
Plugging with a Multiplier is a mission - you need to be an old hand at controlling a multiplier cast after cast in fading light... it's generally only the old salts (like Tommo), who can handle this sort of fishing.

[Rory mundy]

@ Rory Mundy, wow thats a awesome GT! Well done! Thats in my dreams at the moment!

Not me sadly a chap that was hiring my cottage in st lucia