I have had this trip planned for almost a year and it is finally here. I am fishing next week in India. The Andaman Islands to be exact. It will take about 3 days to get there and the main targets will be GT or Giant Trevally:
and Dogtooth Tuna:
I am flying to Dallas to hook up with 2 friends then we have a 15 hour flight to Dubai. We meet another angler from NJ in Dubai. Next, a few hour layover and another flight to Chennai, India. This leg will take me approximately 36 hours with 16 hours of time changes, both East and West. We spend the night in Chennai then take another flight the next morning across the Bay of Bengal to Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India. Two anglers from Russia will join us as well. We will have 2 boats of 3 anglers each. We are actually closer to Thailand at that point than India.
We will have a condo in Port Blair and fish for 5 days using topwater lures and jigs to target these and many other reef species. Last year the guys spent 2 nights on a remote island camping on the large center console. I have a feeling we may do the same as their results were spectacular.
There is no commercial fishing allowed there and travel to the area must be approved by the Indian government in addition to the visa you must get. I will post up here some tackle preparations as I pack and try to link up some photos from the trip as it progresses.
I watched a video on YouTube of some British dudes catching those things on topwater. It looks like a blast, but they looked like they were going to cry by the end of the day. Those fish are strong!
Good luck!
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Nice. Better make sure you have plenty of snack bars and stuff. I spent a month in India (Bangalore). Food sucked and got sick 3 times. Get all of your vaccines too!
Nice. Better make sure you have plenty of snack bars and stuff. I spent a month in India (Bangalore). Food sucked and got sick 3 times. Get all of your vaccines too!
I’ve been stocking up! I plan on eating processed packaged foods as much as possible, Power bars and the like.
I’m not a lucky traveler. I’m the guy whose bag always gets lost, always. Now a little snowstorm is forecast my departure as well…
Starting to pack a bit. Always an issue for me, how much to bring? Their are no shops where I go usually that have anything like what I might need in the event of a failure. I basically bring 2 of everything just in case. Even $1000 reels break sometimes.
Five reels will go in my carry-on.
-Stella 8000HG- #60 hollow spliced to #80 hollow casting section for casting lighter baits
-Diawa Saltiga 5000(high gear)- #100 hollow for medium baits
-Stella 30000- #100 hollow spliced to #130 casting section for heavy poppers
-VanStaal VS275-#100 hollow- backup
-Accurate 600N- #100 hollow for jigging
I put an end loop in the hollow and use a Twisty casting leader to a short bite leader. This is a new system for me but I have been testing it extensively, and it is the preferred method for this type of fishing. We will use twisted leaders up to #220 and then go to a short bite leader of #300-400. This one pictured is #80 to #100 bite leader.
Trying to end up with basically a terminal tackle bag and a rig bag. I will bring some extra supplies and restock each day as need be. Owner ST-76 hooks are the norm for plugs and stickbaits. We will be pinching the barbs for better release on all fish. I have extra braid for each reel, leaders pre-tied and all new hooks and split rings. Not going to fly halfway around the world and throw some junk out there.
Bringing about 10 jigs, and a dozen each stickbaits and poppers. I have tried real hard to limit this as I know from previous experience that I just don’t use most of it. I try to cover all the sizes as I feel that can be important. With JigSkinz, I can recolor the lures whenever I want if it seems like color makes a difference. All the lures fit nicely into this one roll up bag that we stock at the shop. With heavy mesh on top and bottom of each compartment I can rinse it in freshwater each day and hang it out to dry.
Additional fishing stuff:
-PFD water activated
-Split ring plier, cutters, braid scissors, needle kit for splicing
-Terminal tackle bags(rings, hooks, assist cord, swivels, etc.)
-Tarp (for shelter if we spend the night on remote island)
-Foul weather gear
-Fighting belt and plate
-GoPro
-Sun protection
and most importantly, BOSE noise cancelling headphones. Possibly the greatest invention ever.
I should have room for a pair of flip flops, 2 bathing suits and some quick dry shirts.
I Know you have traveled with rods before, but try putting a long 2x2 board in the case to help it from bending. Made it to and from Costa Rica several times and they got broken at the Greenville Airport!
