The Giant Trevally (GT) is the primary target for anglers working poppers and stickbaits all around Kadavu Island’s Barrier Reef slopes, coral bommies and inner lagoons. They range in size from 5kg juveniles to huge fish over 50kg.
Dogtooth Tuna
Dogtooth Tuna are the #1 target species for anglers jigging Kadavu Island’s offshore seamounts and Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef. Doggies range in size from small juveniles to monster fish over 100kg. Bite Me holds the Fijian All-Tackle Record with a Doggie of just over 90kg.
Yellowfin tuna
Red Bass
Not the most popular of fish with the heavy tackle GT popping anglers, especially when a big GT is chasing a popper and a Red Bass zips in, gobbles the popper and promptly buries you in the reef. They are however a lot of fun on light tackle and do put up a good fight.
Groupers
There are a huge variety of Groupers found on the Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef, inner lagoons and outer reef slopes. Groupers are sometimes caught on poppers but more often on stickbaits and jigs. Sizes range from small lyretail or Peacock Cods in shallow waters to giant Brown Marbled and Malabar Groupers on outer reef slopes.
Almaco Jacks
The Almaco Jack looks very similar to an Amberjack but soesn’t quite grow to the same size. They do however fight hard ! They are only caught on jigs as they tend to spend most of their time at depth. Often caught whilst jigging for Dogtooth Tuna, anglers are always surprised when an Almaco Jack pops up instead of a 40kg Dogtooth !
Bluefin Trevally
A smaller cousin to the Giant Trevally, this trevally does not grow to quite the same size. Average weight is about 4kg but they are often caught to 6kg when fishing heavy tackle for GTs. We find them all over the reef systems depending on the tide but they do have their favorite areas.
Other Species
We catch a huge variety of species when popping and jigging the Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef. Whilst we are generally targeting GTs on poppers and Dogtooth Tuna on jigs, you never know what else is going to smash a lure.
Giant Trevally – Habitat
Giant Trevally – Description
The giant trevally is the largest member of the genus Caranx, and the fifth largest member of the family Carangidae (exceeded by the yellowtail amberjack, greater amberjack, leerfish and rainbow runner), with a recorded maximum length of 170 cm and a weight of 80 kg.
Specimens this size are very rare, with the species only occasionally seen at lengths greater than 80 cm.[10] It appears the Hawaiian Islands contain the largest individuals, where indivduals over 100 lbs are common.
