Catch Report: The Maldives Pilgrimage 2016 (Part 1)
Each year, a group of hardcore Gomoku jiggers would descend upon The Maldives for a week-long metal-bouncing pilgrimage. This year, Fred Goh and friends are back once again on Mas Hibaru in search of jig-munching species. Here’s their photo catch report.
Andy starts the ball rolling with a Coral Trout on Storm Gomoku Koika Green Sardine
Followed by a Double Strike by Andy and Thomas
Koika Green Sardine scores again!
Daniel Soh with a rare Saddleback Grouper
Next up it’s Barry’s turn to hit a demersal dweller.
But the pelagics were active too!
Guess which Koika colour is the top performer?
But the Naked Flash Koika is not too far behind too.
Photo bomb!
Storm Koika Green Sardine setting the pace ahead of the pack
A Dogtooh Tuna landed by Barry in the wee hours of the morning
A good sized fish worth posing half-naked for ;)
Thomas also lands another Doggie by slow jigging
That’s one hefty Yellowfin Grouper by Noel
Some decent surprises from deeper waters
Siang’s Gomoku Black Kaiten cushioning the run of a speedster
It turns out to be a little Dogtooth!
Slow jigging always yields nice surprises
Hard fighting GT by Thomas
Playing Blackjack
Noel has good reason to smile!
Fred hit’s a cute little Black Jack.
Three’s a party!
Siang was trying out a new prototype Gomoku jig when this large Emperor decided to nail it
A good sized Coronation Trout by local standards
This Rosy Jobfish provided great fun on the Storm Adajo PE2.
Noel delighted to catch a new species from the deep.
Siang is not to be left out from the fun
Check out those eyes!
Sometimes the fish preferred longer profile jigs
At times a slightly fatter profile fared better
Night time jigging has its own set of fun and challenges
Apart from the Big Eye Trevally, GTs also came out to play
Foul hookups were common
A good GT specimen by Daniel Soh
Storm Super Gomoku jig (SGS) in UVSB worked like magic at night
Check out the super vibrant blue on the Bluefin!
After breakfast it’s speed jigging time again. The Super Gomoku jig (SGS) does not disappoint.
The speed jigged Super Gomoku also attracted GTs
When arms are aching from speed jigging, it’s time for slow jigging
Double take!
This size of GT is fun to battle on light tackle
Coral Trout are never jig shy
Good job(fish)!
Just when you think there are no sharks around… TA DA!
Say “AHHHH”
Rusty Jobfish do take jigs quite high up from the bottom
A decent sized fellow by Thomas
Double strikes were becoming a norm
The bully of the coral reefs
Rosy or Rusty Jobfish were abundant on this trip
