Fishing Forum

Well, my parents were kind enough to treat the family to about a 9 day trip to the Fiji islands later this summer. I've only ever fished the ocean from the shore in North Carolina and can't wait to get out on a boat in the South Pacific. Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, Barracuda, Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin Fish, they're all out there. Here's the rates:

[size 2]Prices in Fijian Dollars and include 12.5% VAT 3% Fiji Government Hotel Turnover Tax - All Prices may be subject to change at any time.[/size]

[size 2]Sports Fishing - Yavirau
$175.00 pp for 4 hrs Max 4pax - Min 2pax
$320.00 pp for 8 hrs
Departs Sonaisali Marina at 0530hrs and returns at 0930hrs
Daily except Saturday
Includes all fishing gear and lures, a bar is available on board[/size]

[size 2]I looked and 1 US Dollar = about 1.6 Fijian Dollars[/size]

Does anyone else here have any experience using a guide and chartered boat from a resort?

What tips do you have to help make the most of the experience?

What should I watch out for?

Thanks!
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My wife and I took a charter out of the Bahamas a few years ago. She caught the biggest fish, of course, a 7-foot lemon shark. We caught lots of groupers and trigger fish.

As for recommendations, my experience has been that they are pretty adept at putting you onto fish and do everything they can to make the trip enjoyable. So I say sit back, relax, and let the charter service do what they do best. I always pay a little extra tip on top even if it is included in the price. If they don't tell you before hand, it doesn't hurt to ask what they expect from you. Sometimes they won't let you bait or set up your own rigs at all.

Oh, and take lots of pictures. When my wife was fighting the shark, I kept looking for the gaff and completely forgot about the camera. I was hoping to take a picture with her on top of the shark pulling its snout exposing all of its teeth.

When I found the gaff, before I could get it under the shark, the skipper told me that it was against the law to bring lemon sharks onboard and in the excitement of it all, I missed taking some good shots, including one where the shark and my wife's face were no more than 6 inches apart when it tried to jump up and over the side of the boat.

Have fun!
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Thanks for your advice!
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Bula Vinaka... (thats how you say hi or good day)Say that to them locals and you will be pretty cool.. Or you can just say barawa.. it means hotty!!! they will really get a hoot out of ya there. What part of fiji are you going to? How long you going to be there? Send me a pm and Ill be able to help you out a bit I think..
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I spent two years in Fiji, bet ya can't guess why!

I know the place well.

Got the OK from the higher ups to go deep sea fishing, had a ball, yellowfin tuna up to 60 lbs! Amazing! Fished the beaches and piers alot as well.

Drop me a line if you want.

Fiji's population is about 50/50 native fijian to indian, make sure you drop into many of the hole in the wall indian resturants and enjoy the curry!

Wish I was going with you.

Whats the airfare running you?
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The rates are very good after adjusting for currency exchange. A boat in Kona hawaii will be easily twice that, That is similar to Cabo or Mazatalan for a 30 foot class sportsfisher, maybe a little less.

You might do a google search to see what the shore fishing is like or ask some of these guys online that did their missionary work there. It certainly isn't a big deal to take a rod aboard a plane anymore.

Fiji hasn't been hammered like most of the worlds offshore waters that contain billfish and tuna so I'm assuming that the fishing will be extraordinary. Have a good time. I'm very jealous.
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Its at the Sonaisali island. It's privately owned by the resort there. I'll be there at August 8th for 5 days before a short 4 day cruise if I'm not mistaken. I'll also need the Dramamine motion sickness pills i think cause I got a little sick when we did the shark cage thing in Hawaii. Yes, any tips will help me out.

Here's a link to the resort website:
[url "http://www.sonaisali.com/activities/activities_sports_fishing.cfm"]http://www.sonaisali.com/...s_sports_fishing.cfm[/url]

[url "http://www.sonaisali.com/multimedia/gallery_view_preview.cfm?imageId=174&siteId=1"][/url]

Here's a map:
[url "http://www.privateislandsonline.com/sonaisali-island-fiji-map-1.htm"]http://www.privateislandsonline.com/...sland-fiji-map-1.htm[/url]
[url "http://www.privateislandsonline.com/main_maps_html/fiji_rent_map.htm"][/url]

Man I hope I can catch these Fijian fish!:
[url "http://fishingwithchris.com/images/fijiimages/dorado.jpg"][/url]
Dolphinfish

[url "http://fishingwithchris.com/images/fijiimages/marlin.jpg"][/url]
Marlin

[url "http://www.bluewatermag.com.au/images/feature/oct04feature1a.jpg"][/url]
Wahoo
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No tips for Fiji but have a few for the seasickness. I would stay away from the dramamine as that can really make you drowsy. And since you are going to be on the water for four days, taking lots of dramamine will get to you after a while. I would stick to a patch and the one I would recommend is a scopolamine patch 1.5 mg. One of the names you can find this patch under is Transderm Scop and you get it by prescription only. The Transderm Scop patch delivers 1 mg of scopolamine over a three day period, the last I checked. You can switch patches if you are on the water more than three days. Another, more recent option is Scopace. This is the tablet form of scopolamine and allows you to adjust the dose as needed. This is also prescription. Since you are going for such a long time I would probably try out the patch as opposed to the tablet. Unless you are going to be in and out of the water as the patch can come off sometimes.

There are tons of other remedies, both natural and over the counter but the main issue is that they don't usually work as well or make you really drowsy. And if you try it out and it doesn't work, you will have a hard time fighting off the seasickness once it starts.

I get very seasick but haven't had any problems on long range trips of four or five days at sea with the patch. If you were going to try out nonprescription over the counter stuff, I would recommend Bonine, but that also makes you quite drowsy.


It sounds like a fun trip!
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Wow you really know your motionsickness meds. If its prescription then how would I be able to get it? I have to go into the doctor and tell him I get motion sick? I really liked the dramamine though. I used when when I had to take blood pressures and vital signs from a patient while driving (I'm an EMT student). But I did get drowsy.
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newspaper wraped around your stomach,works every time and no pills.been in heavy seas at mazatlan a couple times and never pucked.
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Yes you have to get it through your physician. You might be able to call their office and ask for it over the phone. Say you habve an upcoming trip and need a prescription seasickness patch or drops. Depends on your MD if they will write it for you without seeing you. I do realize the dramamine and other over the counters work, but taking them for four days really may make you want to sleep a lot more than you are willing to do on vacation. And like I said before, there are tons of other NATURAL remedies, but user must beware that they may ruin your trip. Yeah newspaper, good luck with that one.
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