Giant Trevally Fishing in Thailand: GT Jigging & Popper Fishing

 
Thai Fishing offer Giant Trevally fishing trips in Thailand. The fishing destination is one hour outside of Khao Lak, which is 100 km north of Phuket, on the west coast of southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The area offers some of the best fishing, in Thailand, for Giant Trevally.

The fishing ground is at the FAD located, around the Similan Islands. FAD stands for ‘Fish Aggregating Device’, which is an artificial semi-submerged floating reef. Deployed to attract bait-fish and pelagic predators. These fishing spots can hold some mammoth fish; that you will wish you had never hooked. Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis,) or GT; as they are universally known as, are ‘pound for pound’ one of the toughest fish to catch in the world.

FISHING SEASON AND TECHNIQUE

Our season begins in October / November and runs through to May. The best fishing months are from October to January, especially the days around full and new moon. The best catches normally occur on an incoming tide. You will have the opportunity to fish with popper, jig’s and fly on these trips.

POPPER FISHING FOR GIANT TREVALLY

The FAD around Similan Islands can provide some hot action, for the popper fanatic fisherman. One of the most exciting fishing methods for Giant Trevally is popper fishing – using large surface poppers that give a large splashy wounded baitfish action. Fishing the popper with a vigorous jerking motion is the preferred technique. Because of the noisy, splashy action is something that can get the attention of the GT’s and it produces some of the most spectacular visual surface strikes. The Giant Trevally hits hard and fast and fights with an incredibly power (and generally heading for cover of anything it can find.)

A buckled over rod pumping out 20 kg of drag is a sight that needs to be seen to be believed. Accompanied by the high-pitched hum of braid rocketing through the guides, coupled with sweat and sheer determination, this is what popper fishing for Giant Trevally is all about.

JIGGING FISHING FOR GT

Normally on the first drift at the FAD we cover the water with popper. But there are days / periods, where GT are not surface active. In this case, we change fishing techniques and use jigs. The water depth varies from 60 – 80 meters, jigs between 80 – 250 grams are used depending on the current conditions on your fishing day. When covering the whole water column; by vertical jigging, the rewards can also be enormous thanks the many other species; including Amberjack, Dogtooth and Yellowfin Tuna, Spanish mackerel, Wahoo, Dorado, Barracuda, Cobia, Rainbow Runner, Big Grouper and Snapper.

GIANT TREVALLY FLY FISHING

For the experienced saltwater fly angler, is it also possible to fly fish at the FADs. Giant Trevally on fly is one of the most challenging forms of fly fishing on the planet. Catching a GT on a fly rod places you amongst a few elite anglers, who have ever captured these species on fly. You will not forget the strike of a large Trevally on a popper fly. This is how most anglers prefer to approach these fish.

Please note. We do not offer or rent out Fly fishing equipment or flies. These trips are for fly fisherman; who are able to make some long casts. There are days / periods when the fish are not surface active, so fly fishing will not be productive. There can only be fly-fished with one rod from the boat at time, so if you are 2 fishermen you will need to share the same rod. Be sure to bring a spare line and also spare backing. Because some Trevally might just grab your first outfit and take off to Japan!

FLY FISHING EQUIPMENT FOR GT

We recommend 9′ ft single handed fast action rods for lines #9-12 and suitable fly reels with good quality drag and a minimum of 200 m strong backing. Floating lines and also intermediate tropical w.f. fly lines are the most used fly lines. GT’s like fast moving flies and also surface popper flies, they can be taken on a wide variety of all big saltwater streamer patterns and top water poppers. Strong hooks are as important as anything. Good flies for Giant Trevally; Clouser Minnows, Deceivers sizes 1/0 – 4/0 in colours white, white/yellow, white/green, white/blue and also poppers in the same colours.

Thai Fishing provides all Popper and Jigging fishing equipment:

Our Popper reels are Shimano Twin Power SW 8000HG, Shimano Stella 10000SW, Daiwa Saltiga – z 6500H Dog Fight and Saltiga 6500GT. Jigging reels are Shimano Twin Power SW 6000HG; all reels are loaded with braided line, together with popper and jigging rods that balance to the lures. We have a huge selection of jig’s, poppers and stick-baits; all poppers / stick-baits, are assembled with Owner Hyper wire split rings, together with Owner ST-66-TN-4X treble hooks. You are obviously more than welcome to use your own equipment if you prefer to do so.

TIME SCHEDULE FOR GIANT TREVALLY FISHING TRIPS:

Tour starts at 07:30 hrs pickup from your hotel in Khao Lak area. There will be approximately 20 minutes driving to the waiting boat and you will be back at your hotel around 17:30 hrs.

GT FISHING PACKAGE:

Peak season: October – December

What is included in the price:
– Round trip transfer from any hotel in Khao Lak and Bang Niang beach area
– Use of a 27 ft walk-around sport fishing speedboat
– Bottled water and soft drinks
– Thai captain and deckhands. They can help you with popper fishing. The staffs are NOT fly fisherman.
– All Jigging and popper equipment. Please note; the price includes 3 Jigs pr. day. If you lose more than that; you will be charged 350THB extra per jig you lose. In case of break or lose rods and reel by your fallibility you may need to replace a new one. (You are obviously welcome to use your own equipment)

What to bring:
– Polarized Sunglasses
– Sun lotion
– Fishing hat
– Camera and your very best smile
– Lightweight waterproof clothing

Price:
1 person 22.500THB
2 person 24.000THB
(The trip is private charter maximum 2 person only on the boat)