2022 IN REVIEW

 

2022 finally opened the doors for international travel due to the past covid lockdowns.  Many lodges already were booked full as clients had credits once the travel restrictions were lifted.  In January, I again returned to my home away from home, Argentina.  Here I would fish at La Zona for golden dorado for 2 weeks before heading south to the Patagonia region where Jurassic Lake Lodge sits.  I visited the towns of El Calafate

and El Chalten during my visit.  I once again toured Glacier National Park which should be on everyone's dream list!  The fishing at La Zona was spectacular in extremely low water conditions.  Friend, Etan Zimmet caught the potential IGFA all tackle record at 56 lbs.  Many monster dorado over 50 lbs. were landed during our stay.  Jurassic Lake Lodge is without a doubt the best rainbow trout fishery on earth!  The end of April is the last week of Jurassic season and the big rainbows come out to play.  20 lbs. rainbows are caught everyday here.  I have become a big fan of flyfishing which is extremely easy at Jurassic except when the winds are blowing in excess of 70 mph!!!

Once again, my July trip to Russia to the Tugar River in search of giant Taimen was postponed due to the war.  Hopefully peace comes soon, and Russia will again allow sportsmen to enter their vast country.  In August, my brother, Bill, and I went for bull redfish with Capt. Keith Kennedy out of Venice, LA.  The fishing is normally good, and Capt. Keith knows where the fish are biting.  Many good bulls were landed by Bill and me. 

Toward the end of September, I again visited Argentina for a few weeks.  I fished at La Zona and Jurassic.  September is the opening at Jurassic Lake Lodge, aka Lago Strobel.  The rivers are chocked full of spawning rainbows.  It is extremely difficult to describe on paper the abundance of rainbows here.  A few dorado over 50 lbs. and some rainbows pushing the scales over 20 lbs were landed.  Toward the end of October, I took at dream trip to the Seychelles in search of giant dogtooth tuna and other saltwater species.  Seychelles is located off the coast of Tanzania and offers once in a lifetime fishing.  I fished with YF Specialists. We stayed on a luxury yacht and went out around 100 miles offshore.  We were suppose to go further but had motor issues.  However, we able to land numerous dogtooth.  I had a great time casting poppers to Yellowfin Tuna.

After Thanksgiving, I went back for the 5th time to Papua New Guinea under the guidance of Rock Expeditions.  This is an extremely long flight through Brisbane, Australia then to Port Moresby, PNG. 

We then take a small plane to the Island of Misima to begin our adventure with Rock Expeditions.  During the trip I landed the dogtooth tuna of my dreams along with my personal best Giant Trevally.  I love the fishing, scenery, and people of Papua New Guinea and plan on returning year after year.  

2023 should again be an exciting season with trips planned to Argentina, Papua New Guinea, Louisianna, Panama, and possibly Finland.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to have good health and the finances to go on these adventures.  

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!  May everyone and their families have good health and prosperity in 2023!!

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

 

Papua New Guinea is located off the Northeast corner of Australia.  Here, a metropolis of fishing opportunities is endless for the adventure angler.  In PNG, there are thousands of waters both inland and offshore which have never seen a lure.  Anglers can fly into Port Moresby which is accessible from many international destinations to start their adventure.  Australia angler, Luke Wyrsta, had fished all the top Giant Trevally destinations worldwide.

  On a visit to Papua New Guinea, Luke saw the amazing potential PNG offered to adventurous sportsmen.  In 2013, Luke formed Rock Expeditions, which would offer anglers the opportunity to land huge Giant Trevally and other species while experiencing the PNG outdoors!  Luke would negotiate with local island tribes in the Louisiade Archipelago to provide accommodations to visiting anglers. 

So, locals would financially benefit with many hired as cooks, guides, etc. and clients would experience the most authentic trip offered on earth!  The goal would be to only leave footprints, to leave the island grounds as found. Luke's trips are not for everyone.  If high end meals are on your list, this is not the trip for you.  Expect lots of fish and noodles.  However, if beautiful untouched scenery, fantastic fishing, and having the opportunity to visit and stay with locals then this is the trip.  Fixed base camps offer fishing near the lodge.  I do not prefer houseboat trips as found them to be uncomfortable, hot, and expensive.  Camp base trips such as those offered by Rock Expeditions offer the ability to "pack up and move" within hours.  Most trips have been starting out of Misima.  The base camp on is Bouchy Island about a 1 1/2 hr boat ride.  The fishing here is normally outstanding. 

However, if new fishing area is on the list there are hundreds if not thousands of islands within a 6 hr. boat ride to move camp to.  We did this on my recent trip.  The locals have been outstanding with housing construction and more or less taking care of everything.  It is amazing to wake up in the middle of the night and look up at the millions of stars.  In the summer of 2023, the plans are in the works for an exploratory trip near the Fly River in search for PNG bass opportunities.  So, if triple digit Giant Trevally and Dogtooth tuna are on your wish list along with an outdoor experience, look no further than Rock Expeditions which I can highly recommend as being one the greatest experiences I have experienced in my fishing years!!