The Best of the best Braided Line

Having been blessed with the opportunity to travel the world, fishing for super strong exotic brutes, having a super strong line is a must to have a chance at landing these beasts. In my opinion, the best of the best is the Varivas Avani GT Max Power Plus and Jerry Brown Solid Core.  Varivas Avani GT Max Power Plus is my favorite.  It is extremely smooth to the feel helping out when passing through guides.  It is really thin which allows added line on your spool and is super strong.  It has great knot strength.  It is made in Japan and I buy it on ebay. 

Jerry Brown Solid Core in made in the USA.  It is Spectra that is furnished in many different diameter fibers to suit the particular application.  The smaller the fiber diameter, the stronger it is but more costly.  I recently used Jerry Brown in both Papua New Guinea and La Zona and highly recommend them.  Both lines are smooth to the feel and are not prone to wind knots.  So, I highly recommend taking a look at these lines and taking off that popular extremely stiff feeling braid many of us previously used!

La Zona's Holy Grail!

A few years ago news broke that the governments of Argentina and Uruguay would no longer allow sportfishing next to the Salto Grande Dam.  There would be an imaginary "starting" line about 100 meters from the dam where those fortunate few who obtained permits to fish in La Zona would be allowed to start fishing.  Panic broke out from many of the diehard Golden dorado fisherman as I heard everything to nobody will catch a dorado anymore, to guys eating their deposits and not showing up.  I highly disputed their reasoning and stated in a post that I believed the fishing for monster dorado over 40lbs would increase in numbers.  After a few years, the facts are in and I was correct in my thinking.  Not only are more trophies over 40 lbs increasing, but huge golden dorado over 50 lbs are now becoming weekly catches.  Everyone now is shooting for a 60 lbs!  When the zone restrictions were set into play, a few diehard dorado fisherman such as Dr. Gary Clark and Joe "Sparky" Bullock began experimenting with super strong spinnerbaits.

  These "Holy Grail" lures were not buzzed across the surface, but rather pulled across the tops of giant boulders where the monsters wait to ambush their prey!  All one does is to move the rod up to 12:00 and back down to 9:00 to get the giant spinerbait blades to rotate.  Clark's "doradokiller" spinnerbaits have fixed hooks while Sparky's killers have a rotating hook where the dorado cannot get leverage to toss the lure while jumping.  Both models have accounted for numerous golden dorado over 50 lbs the past few years.  Dr. Clark only makes his models available to a few lucky friends, while Sparky will sell them to those who contact him.

He can be reached here on Facebook or contact me at doradokiller@hotmail for more info on buying these "Holy Grails"!  Do not head to La Zona without them!

La Zona Golden Dorado Rods

During my recent trip to La Zona, I used the TFO TFD Big Fish Model TFD BFC 763-2.  The rod is 7ft 6in and comes in 2 pieces which makes it travel-friendly.  These rods are extremely strong yet light and can deliver lures to jaw dropping distances..  I used the Power Mag 3 model which can handle casting heavy lures such as the La Zona spinnerbaits I mentioned previously.   Hall Of Fame Angler and friend, Larry Dahlberg designed this rod to handle the brutal punishment put out by some of the largest freshwater and saltwater beasts on earth! So, on your next trip for monster species do not lose the trophy of your lifetime with a subpar fishing rod!

La Zona Lodge Hotel update

During my recent golden dorado fishing trip at La Zona Lodge, manager Giuliana Bradanini , gave me a tour of the new hotel which is under construction.  Withiin a few weeks, clients should be able to stay in the beautiful new hotel. The hotel has a very spacious relaxation room where lodge owner, Hector Bradanini, has decorated the walls with various species which swim in La Zona.  Located in this room is a fully stocked bar where clients can sit around after their fabulous day of fishing and tell their fish stories!



During the afternoon and evening, in the hotel is a giant sized dining room for the delicious meals La Zona Lodge is famous for!  After filling your appetite, there are king sized bedrooms consisting of 3 beds, private shower and toilet, and large screen televisions.  Normally these bedrooms will house 2 clients during their fishing adventure.  Construction is still under way with the majority of the hotel where weddings and private parties will be held.  Also, the groundwork for dredging out a channel to La Zona that is within walking distance of the hotels is underway.  During my stay, the construction workers were working even on Saturday.  So, from what I have seen, I would give the hotel 5*****.  Reservations are currently being taken for the 2020 season.  As I have mentioned in the past, the lodge fills fast so act now to get into the best Golden Dorado fishing on earth!

Golden Dorado at La Zona/ Argentina March 15-18

Had the opportunity to once again fish my favorite worldwide fishery, La Zona during March 15 to 18 along with 2 friends. Since we were a man short due to a flight cancellation, I was able to wet a line with a few local friends.    A few days before arriving, the water levels rose to approximately 6 meters and remained steady throughout the trip.  For the 4 days of fishing, the group caught and released 50 dorado over 30lbs which included 19 weighing between 40 to 50 lbs and 2 exceeding 50lbs.
  We also had good luck landing a few surubi catfish weighing up to 100 lbs.

The top lure was once again Joe Bullock's custom made spinnerbaits which were dragged across the rocks.  For the surubi we landed them mostly on Rapala cd-18.  The weather was in the upper 70s/ low 80s and had some rain showers during 1 morning.  La Zona is now taking reservations for the 2020 season.  Get your booking in soon as they fill quickly!

GIANT TREVALLY ADDICTION/ LONG REEF ALOTAU/ MILNE BAY PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Fishing for Giant Trevally has become my latest addiction.  Let it be the fighting power and punishment these brutes exhibit or just the thrill of an aggressive species chasing down my monster popper before engulfing it with a huge explosion. These brutes have been known to reduce grown men to tears!  Often after the battle is over, I feel like I just went 12 rounds with the heavyweight champ of the world!

During January 31 to February 9, I once again had the opportunity to thrill my addiction while fishing on Long Reef out of Alotau, Papua New Guinea.  I was led by Rock Expeditions, guide and good friend Luke Wyrsta.  The weather out in the Coral Sea was windy during the expedition along with massive strong currents which made the bite tough.  Still, my partner, Gary LaRose and I were able to land a few trophy Giant Trevally and other species on topwater poppers.  Gary landed the largest GT of the trip, a beautiful trophy estimated around 80 lbs.  My largest was roughly a 50 lbs brute. 

The highlight of my fishing was a trophy sized barracuda measuring over 7ft  landed on a Heru popper.  My guides, Richard, estimated the weight at 45 kilos, which would have broken the current IGFA all tackle record.  Not being into records, I released the monster hoping to give another the opportunity to take photos with it.  The scenery in Papua New Guinea is beyond belief.  The residents of Wari Island were extremely nice and quite polite.  I dream of returning next winter fishing again with good friends like Luke.  I know for sure that my dream will come true!

Monster Golden Dorado at La Zona

La Zona Lodge owner, Hector Bradanini, recently reported the catch of a 68 lbs golden dorado by a Brazilian Angler in La Zona.  The monster was landed on a Rapala Mag 18.  Currently, the official IGFA all tackle golden dorado record stands at 55 lbs 11 oz which was landed by Andre de Botton in La Zona on January 11, 2016.  This record has been shattered numerous times especially in the past year. 

However, many including myself do not want to go through the hassle of requirements set forth by the IGFA such as weighing the fish on land which puts an enormous amount of stress and possible death.  At La Zona, all dorado are released to grow into these huge sizes. As I mentioned a year or two ago that the size of the golden dorado would drastically increase since the government does not allow fishing next to the Salto Grande Dam.
My reasoning was there are an abundance of 30 lbs dorado which grab your lure before the monsters get their chance!  For once, it appears I am correct!  There are a few opening remaining for this year at this magical fishery.  No place else on earth gives you the opportunity as La Zona to catch 50+ lbs dorado!