Dive Forecast: Fiji June

Location: Fiji Islands

As managing director of Freedive Fiji Charters, I am excited to be a part of Spearblog.com, reporting from Fiji to all my fello spearos on this incredible haven of unspoiled spearfishing territory right at our doorstep. The areas that we dive and will focus on for our dive reports include the following:

BEQA LAGOON / FRIGATES PASSAGE / VATULELE / KADAVU/

Beqa (pronounced benga) lies 7.5 km south of Pacific Harbour, Freedive Fiji’s headquarters on the Fiji main island of Viti Levu, and is separated by a 260 m deep marine passage. With a barrier reef system running 68km around the island gives the diver access to great hunting grounds in all sea and weather conditions. Inside the Lagoon is a maze of reefs, jumping up out of the depths providing excellent structure for GT’s, Mackeral, Tuna and a wide range of reef species. Lying next to the surf break at Frigates Passage is a series of sandy gutters witch hold massive doggies making for some serious action working flashers and burly around this area.
Vatulele is an island situated 56km west of Pacific Harbour and lies in line with two major current systems giving it an excellent reputation for producing big blue water gamefish. Eight miles from the tip of Vatulele lies a spearo’s dream rising up from 2000m, an atoll nicknamed “The Take Out Shop”. During the winter months this area is home for massive schools of Wahoo and Tuna, a must see for the serious bluewater hunter.
Kadavu Island is located 120km south from the main island and is known worldwide for its unspoiled fishery. From Kadavu the “Great Astrolabe Reef” is only minutes away and stretches for 45km. The reef extends along the north eastern and east southern coast of Kadavu and Ono Island. To have Sailfish and Blue Marlin fighting over your lure or Dogtooth Tuna taking Spanish Mackeral from your spear needs to be seen to be believed. This place is truly amazing with mind-blowing Spear and Game fishing all year round. Kadavu has earned respect from the world’s most dedicated blue water hunters.

Outlook for spearing in this region for the coming week:

Time to bring out those long range guns. With the Wahoo season just around the corner the waters around Beqa Lagoon have already been producing good numbers with fish coming in daily from 18kg to 25kg. While the water temp is still dropping to around 25degrees, we’re looking at a great season ahead and expecting fish to well over 45kg. An abundance of baitfish still around has kept the Yellowfin backed up hard against the reef and on the surface which will continue to make for some really exciting diving. Last week’s shotty weather had kept us from going wide a couple of the days but with weather having cleared up we look forward to getting out and finding the fish for the week ahead!

Visibility: (2 sections near shore and offshore)
0-2ft= Blacked out, Chocolate Milk
2-5ft= Only if you are really desperate
5-10ft= Thank goodness I own a 75cm gun
10-25ft=At least I can see all 12 feet of that shark now
25-50ft= Wooohoo!!! It’s good enough for anywhere.
50-100ft= Great vis might as well be in the Bahamas!
100+ft= doesn’t get much better, the rest of the world hates me right now

Wetsuit this week:
Naked: water is as warm as it gets
Rashguard: keep the jellyfish and sun off
1mm suit: Comfortable and warm
3mm suit: cool enough for a hood and full suit
5mm suit: cold, bring some hot water on the boat too
7mm suit: freezing, invest in a good suit and a warm jacket
Drysuit: arctic, time to fight the polar bears for your fish

Shark Factor:
0- Better chance of seeing a Jaguar shark
1- Might see one but nothing to worry about
2- Definitely going to see one but shouldn’t be a problem
3- Going to see them and they are going to be looking for a free meal
4- Undoubtedly going to see them and plan on losing a fish or two
5- Great Whites breaching on the surface or Tigers looking to see if you are Craig

Weapon of choice:
Pole spear/Hawaiian Sling/three prong
Small gun: (up to 75cm)
Mid range: (90-110cm)
Game gun: (110-130cm)
Cannon: (130-Tuna gun)

Best Bets:

If you want to shoot something big this week hunt: Wahoo, Dog tooth Tuna, Yellow Fin Tuna

If you are just looking for dinner hunt: Bluespot Trout, Green Jobfish, Bluebarred Parrot Fish

Rumour has it:

Doggies have been playing a bit hard to get due to the hot surface temps found on the inshore reefs this time of year but with some persistence, the boys managed to land a few nice fish. After the local tax collectors took their share, Simon was left with only a head nudging the 40kg mark, great fish Simon!

Once the sharks got lunch they let Trav Corken and Trav Hogan land there first doggies weighing in at 37 & 17kg.

The inside reefs around Beqa Lagoon have been producing good numbers of mackerel averaging around the 12kg mark with the occasional fish over 20kg. Craig Watts from London was pleased with his first Spanish of 13kg.

The ever present GT’S are still bullying the reef guys making sure everybody keeps their gear up to scratch. This one stretched the scales down to 33kg.

LATEST FREEDIVE FIJI CHARTER: Saturday morning started out fantastic coming across a bait ball that held yellowfin and wahoo feeding right on the surface and made for some super exciting casting allowing the guys from WA to to get multiple hookups from this insane bait ball just outside the lagoon. A massive great hammerhead managed to catch up to a 30kg+ wahoo and destroyed it only seconds from the boat. Sightings of humpbacks feeding off the bait really topped off the day.

Open Seasons of note: Closing out Yellow Fin Season, looking forward to an excellent season of Wahoo and Sailfish (Best months: July – September)

Regulations and size limits for your area:
www.fisheries.gov.fj

About Us:

Freedive Fiji Charters is headquartered in Pacific Harbour, the “adventure capital of Fiji” which offers numerous adventure excursions including shark diving, ziplining, jet skiing, surfing, deep sea fishing, and now spearfishing! Spearfishing and gamefishing charters are available daily, offering half day, full day, and overnight charters. We aim to create the ultimate adventure experience for our customers while striving to meet and exceed all expectations on every Freedive Fiji charter.

Upcoming events:

Check out our schedule for daily and overnight trips offered by Freedive Fiji Charters. More details on our website: www.freedivefiji.com

Vinaka Vaka Levu, Sota Tale…

(Thank you very much, until next time…)

The crew and staff at Freedive Fiji Charters