GregL Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) As I sit here to type this out, it has been 4 days since last time I casted a rod. My ring and baby fingers still hurt plus the left side of my neck cracks and creeks every time I stretch it! That’s 3x hour and a half massages later with plenty of lying around pool eating and drinking with nothing much more! What gets the body to such a state when your suppose to be on holidays? Doing this 4-500 times a day with a freaking huge lure on the end! Then you have to blop a Cubera 125 popper. 125gms, 170mm long back to the boat or twitch back a 230mm stick bait as hard as you can! Bugatti Reef is situated around a 45min sea plane ride east of Hamilton Island. The plane ride gives you a good idea on what you’re about to fish over the next week. Mother shipping is the best way to really fish these remote areas. The tenders give you access to shallow sections and blue holes in the reef. Bugatti is known for its GT fishing so casting huge poppers and stick baits was the preferred method. Big tackle was only used just as the same as single hooks with crushed barbs. Stella 1800 reels and Ripple Fisher rods made casting and fighting fish easier. 100lb braid with 100lb twisted leaders were minimum, (2x 100lb in 1) I’d hate to use gear that was anything less in such coral infested water! Fishing was tough going but enough bites to keep you casting all day long. Technique was everything to get bites and keep them on your line. It was hard to not strike and just wind onto the fish before you try to “rip it’s ____ing head off” as the guides would say it! This type of fishing is definitely not for everyone but hell it’s addictive! Nothing compares to a 30kg fish smashing lures off the surface, a reel screaming off with near 10kgs of drag, your body thrown against the side of the boat with you screaming “I think I got one!” Heaven I tells ya! I was very lucky with the group I was with. Guys from many different backgrounds and I only new 3 at the start. By the end of the trip I had made many new friends and contacts. We all swapped around fishing on each of the boats with different guides and fishers. It kept it interesting and learnt many new things every day. The knots and rigging were totally amazing and I have many more hours of practice ahead of me to get close to these guys! Well I think I have found my new addiction and now I’ll never laugh at guys telling me I need to start training 3 months out before the trip..... Tell me whats wrong here? So there you have it, trip of a life time and yep plans are already started to go again! Cheers Greg Edited July 27, 2009 by GregL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcel haber Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Greg once again sensational, Yore passion for fishing is second to none. Twin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinp Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Top effort there Greg, have no idea what your up to standing on the reef, lure retrieval perhaps, check out the rocks to your left, good impersonation of a small reefie, cheers Justin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnno Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 awesome trip Greg another trip of a lifetime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robeebee Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 top read mate man i'm jealous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinger Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 great report nice gt on the top of my list now to catch sound like you know wat u r doing cameon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper Tom Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Hey Greg That first GT is the most awesome damn creature I have ever seen. Its not a horse, or even a buffalo its a damn MACK TRUCK How the hell did you manage to get it in!!! That storey would be worth reading on its own. Regards Trapper T PS, still looking at my next fishing adventure for Nov, do you mind If I Pm you and ask for the details of your trip?? Cheers Trapper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgey Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 An amazing trip, Greg. No wonder you pulled up a little stiff and sore! Fantastic photos and a terrific read as usual. I too am very envious Cheers Hodgey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 2 words, Greg - AWE SOME!!! hehe do I spot a couple of fins in the water there?? That 2nd pic of the reef from the air, sort of looks like a whale, too! What a terrific trip - bet it goes to the top of your fishing list for another trip, soon!! Cheerio Roberta Let me know if you ever need anyone to carry your rods for you as you travel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Awesome fishing Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snag Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Good to see you getting into some what i would call huge fish, so you ready to go breamin next sunday . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thanks all Was definately a high point in my fishing life but then it also fires up my addiction..... I just can't get enough of it! I think I need some help.... Good to see you getting into some what i would call huge fish, so you ready to go breamin next sunday . Nah mate flicked it and now heading upto Darwin on Thursday with Evi to go chase Milkfish. Never even seen one before so it's gunna be a challenge! Recon I'll be taking a few poppers and one of me bigger sticks too! G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray R Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Hey Greg, mate what an awesome trip, and the fish, mate how are your arms after pulling in those monsters. Great shots too mate. Congrats you're are one lucky boy.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImDale Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 As I sit here to type this out, it has been 4 days since last time I casted a rod. My ring and baby fingers still hurt plus the left side of my neck cracks and creeks every time I stretch it! That’s 3x hour and a half massages later with plenty of lying around pool eating and drinking with nothing much more! What gets the body to such a state when your suppose to be on holidays? Doing this 4-500 times a day with a freaking huge lure on the end! Then you have to blop a Cubera 125 popper. 125gms, 170mm long back to the boat or twitch back a 230mm stick bait as hard as you can! Bugatti Reef is situated around a 45min sea plane ride east of Hamilton Island. The plane ride gives you a good idea on what you’re about to fish over the next week. Mother shipping is the best way to really fish these remote areas. The tenders give you access to shallow sections and blue holes in the reef. Bugatti is known for its GT fishing so casting huge poppers and stick baits was the preferred method. Big tackle was only used just as the same as single hooks with crushed barbs. Stella 1800 reels and Ripple Fisher rods made casting and fighting fish easier. 100lb braid with 100lb twisted leaders were minimum, (2x 100lb in 1) I’d hate to use gear that was anything less in such coral infested water! Fishing was tough going but enough bites to keep you casting all day long. Technique was everything to get bites and keep them on your line. It was hard to not strike and just wind onto the fish before you try to “rip it’s ____ing head off” as the guides would say it! This type of fishing is definitely not for everyone but hell it’s addictive! Nothing compares to a 30kg fish smashing lures off the surface, a reel screaming off with near 10kgs of drag, your body thrown against the side of the boat with you screaming “I think I got one!” Heaven I tells ya! I was very lucky with the group I was with. Guys from many different backgrounds and I only new 3 at the start. By the end of the trip I had made many new friends and contacts. We all swapped around fishing on each of the boats with different guides and fishers. It kept it interesting and learnt many new things every day. The knots and rigging were totally amazing and I have many more hours of practice ahead of me to get close to these guys! Well I think I have found my new addiction and now I’ll never laugh at guys telling me I need to start training 3 months out before the trip..... Tell me whats wrong here? So there you have it, trip of a life time and yep plans are already started to go again! Cheers Greg great report matey.. love th pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olitay Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Sensational! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahajo Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Beautiful gts Nice report Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rezzy Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Mate i wish i was you.Those GTs are bloody solid. Excellent report,good on ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendong Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Sounds like the trip of two life times.....well done Greg.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason baker Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Awesome trip and awesome fish. You could enter some of those puppies in the Melbourne Cup. Are they noahs in the last photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) Greg, Huge gt's I bet they fought hard and tested your stamina, well done again from me. I just came back from Darwin and if you wanna see feed, & touch metre plus Milkfish before you go chasing them, head down to aquascene down at Larakeayah next to Darwin CBD, theres plenty there swimming around your feet on the high tide. cheers. Edited July 27, 2009 by penguin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squid hunter Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 nice read mate great fish does it beat catching red fellas on sps though?/ regards Squid Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) Here's a series of a typical short but sweet fight on your average 20kg GT. I could crap on but I think the pictures say it all! Enjoy! Greg Edited July 27, 2009 by GregL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hottyscotty Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 looking a bit tired there eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adjustedpete Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Legendary bro, that is just bloody amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Only got one thing to say Greg, and I can't use language like that so.... Great fishing and great report. Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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