Chasing Dreams in the South Pacific

Since I was about 10 years old, I had heard about the perfect waves and insane fishing in the Fijian Islands. With Fiji being such a remote group of islands in the South Pacific, I never thought I would have the opportunity to experience it myself, but recently Fiji Airways has offered some incredible discounts on rt tickets as low as $750 from many major cities in the United States. My wife and I decided it was too good to pass up, and after years of dreaming of crystal-clear water, giant fish, and perfect waves, I was finally departing on an adventure to the remote South Pacific country of Fiji.

We decided to go to the remote island of Taveuni. Taveuni is a small Island about 10 miles long and 5 miles wide in the Fijian island group, located about 100 miles East of the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. To get there, you must fly into the international airport, then take a small 12-passenger plane from Nadi to Taveuni. Fiji is in a subtropical climate zone with warm weather and water temperatures averaging in the low 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Each island group within the Fijian islands tends to have its own microclimate, and Taveuni is no different. Taveuni is one of the wettest places on earth, receiving around 14 feet of rain a year, giving it incredibly lush terrain and some of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen.

The Marine Ecosystem of Taveuni

Taveuni is also home to one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on earth, with some species of fish and coral found nowhere else. The diving and snorkeling are incredible, and there are hundreds of species of fish in these waters. The infamous Rainbow Reef is like being in an aquarium for divers. The main targets for sport fishermen consist of Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Ahi Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Dogtooth Tuna, Walu, and the GT or Giant Trevally. We visited Taveuni during the dry summer months of May- October, when the trade winds bring cooler air to the islands, rarely exceeding 80 F, and slightly cooler waters, making it a great time for Wahoo, which happens to be one of my favorite fish to catch.

Packing Light: Travel Rods & Heavy-Duty Reels

It's difficult to travel with full-length fishing rods, so I took a few travel rods from Daiwa. I grew up throwing jigs with the long rod for yellowtail in So Cal, but this just isn’t feasible any longer with airline length restrictions. I have planned over 25 international fishing trips for groups and myself, and one thing I have noticed is that the majority of airlines no longer accept rod tubes over 2 meters in length as regular luggage. This takes away the ability to bring conventional long rods, so getting used to throwing poppers with spinning reels is helpful when traveling, and in my opinion work great when targeting many of the major gamefish species in the tropics.

Most popping rods consist of two pieces and are under 2 meters in length, making them ideal for traveling. They are extremely strong and designed to cast lures long distances when paired with a decent spinning reel. Daiwa has a couple lines of popping rods available, with the top choice being the Dogfight Series. The Black Wing series is great too and a more affordable option. I paired my rods with the Saltiga Dogfight 18000-H and 14000-XH reels. These are the Rolls-Royce of Saltwater spinning reels. Daiwa also has a line of 3 and 4-piece rods for both jigging and conventional fishing that are excellent for traveling as well. They offer a wide range of excellent fishing gear for all levels and budgets, but I recommend the higher-end lines for gamefish like GT’s. My guide had trolling rods available to use so we were covered for the wahoo and Tuna that were present this time of year.

Lures, Local Knowledge, and the Open Water

For jigs, I used a variety of poppers and stick baits from various companies, including Heru, Daiwa, Bighter Lures, and Masi Lures. I also took a handful of Nomad USA DTX lures for Wahoo and a few various mahi lures. There are a couple of fishing guides available on the Island. One thing I have learned is that the operations with the biggest and nicest fishing boats are not always the most knowledgeable. I went with a local guy named Varun who goes by “Bubba”. He has a small 18-foot center console skiff that did the job well.

Taveuni did not disappoint. The weather was windy, but we still managed to catch some beautiful Wahoo, Bluefin Trevally, and Barracuda. I found that the most productive lure for Wahoo is the Nomad DTX 180, 200 or 220mm sizes. Our accommodation was the Coconut Grove Resort, which cooked us 2 amazing dinners that we will never forget. The best part is always being on the water, seeing the Manta Rays, whales, and dolphins. Catching fish is just a bonus, and protecting our ocean resources is imperative for future generations to have the opportunity to enjoy the same thing.