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Chasing Black Bass in PNG is a great fishing experience, they require fairly solid gear to turn them around before they get back into the snag's. If you don't turn them with-in the first 5 seconds or so, you will probably lose the fish and your lure. I have a personal preference for Shimano reels and rods, Calcutta 400 or 700 baitcasters with the drag done up very hard, around 6 to 8kg. I am running 30lb braid on my 400 with 80lb mono wind-on leader. The lure choice is open to lots of opinions as to what is best, but I will have to mention JJ's Stump Jumpers with the large bib fitted for extra depth, 4 to 6 meters. They can handle the mauling that the bass inflict on lures and have quality hooks that don't pull straight easily. I have also done well with Reidy's lures, " The Judge" in metalic blue colour and Tilsan lures are popular with barra. But, I think any quality lure presented at the correct depth and with some good action from the angler will tempt a hungry bass.
Papuan Black Bass we believe are terratorial to a large extent, and take many years to reach maturity, the big one in the earlier pic may have been 15 to 20 years old.
They are not very good eating at this size, so it's much better value to release these big monsters to smash up another anglers prize lures, and make his day!
They are not delicate eaters, these predators attack the lure with freight train like power, if you get caught out not holding your rod tight, it will be gone in a blink! When you talk power to weight fish, these things are awsome fun, other than you think that your onto a monster until you see it is only 6 or 8kg. But the big ones are very hard to haul in, I have witnessed my fishing mate's Calcutta 700 with 27 kg leader wound onto it, and the drag done up as tight as he could, still get smashed by a big bass? What a hoot!
He has landed a 22 kg bass in the Fly River in 2003, it was a horse....
Anyway, I am returning to PNG on Monday so the Lurestreet Lures will get a good test during the next few months, I look forward to trying them out and sending you some good pics for the website. They look very well made and of solid construction, just the thing for Black Bass.
I will send you some more details of Suki fishing lodge and related travel costs to Suki from Australia, and a few travel tips for PNG.
Suki is pristene wilderness where only a few people have fished before, the waters are abundantly blessed with barra, bass, saratoga, tarpon, sooty grunter and catfish. The people are very friendly and helpful, they will do whatever they can to make your stay enjoyable, although accomodation conditions are basic, they are very clean and tidy.
You will not find any fishing lodge in PNG that cost only 50 Kina a night. (about $20) Bargain!!!
To use someone else's cliche, "do yourself a favour" experience fishing in PNG while it is still an untouched frontier.
You won't regret it.
Bassman
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