In the world of topwater fishing, the Giant Trevally (GT) reigns supreme, a titan among fish that fuels the dreams of anglers worldwide. Known for its brute strength and formidable presence, the GT has etched its name into the annals of sportfishing lore, offering a battle that can test the mettle of even the most seasoned fishermen. Ocean Blue’s Jono Bleakley dives deeper into its legendary battles that lure anglers worldwide.
A Profile of Power
The giant trevally, the largest member of the trevally clan, is a fish of many faces. Juveniles frolic in the shallows of estuaries, bays, and lagoons, while adults command the deeper offshore realms, from reefs to atolls. Capable of growing up to 170cm and weighing as much as 80kg, GTs are the embodiment of power, using their heft and aggression to dominate their environment. Their diet is as vast as their habitat, ranging from baitfish to the occasional bird unlucky enough to find itself within striking distance of these aquatic predators.
GT Fishing for Legends
The pursuit of GTs is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a sport that demands resilience, as these fish are known for their ferocious strikes and relentless fights. Anglers share tales of awe, likening the experience to vehicular collisions or elemental forces unleashed upon their lures. The GT’s take is explosive—surface lures are ambushed with such vigor that witnessing a GT in action is an unforgettable spectacle. Their fight is brutal; GTs use every advantage their environment offers, from the reef’s jagged embrace to the abyssal depths, in their bid for freedom.
Tackling the Beast
Equipping oneself for battle against a GT is akin to arming for war. The gear must be robust, with lines and knots fortified to withstand the onslaught of raw power. Lines of at least 37kg are recommended, though many anglers venture beyond, employing braid lines surpassing 50kg to counter the GT’s immense power and sharp defenses, like their notorious tail scutes. Yet, despite their formidable nature, GTs are also revered for their resilience and ability to be released back into the wild, a testament to their hardiness and the respect anglers hold for these majestic creatures.
The ideal rod and reel setup combines a robust rod with a durable, high-performance reel capable of withstanding the GT’s notorious ‘turn and burn’. For rods, the popping rods designed by renowned brands like Shimano and Daiwa, such as the Shimano Grappler and Daiwa Saltiga series, stand out. These rods are engineered for the specific demands of GT fishing, offering the perfect balance of strength, sensitivity, and casting ability. As for reels, the Shimano Stella and Daiwa Saltiga spinning reels are the top choices among seasoned anglers. Both reels boast exceptional drag systems, unrivaled durability, and the smoothness required to handle the explosive fights GTs are known for. As a general rule of thumb, you want a pe 8-10 rod, with a 10000 size reel – but this can fluctuate depending on where and what your fishing with.
Most fishing guides offer their gear on a replace if lost or broken basis. More and more charter companies and guides have turned toward the Penn Slammer and Authority range due to their durability in charter situations where gear gets knocked around daily. Apart from being battle hardened, able to stop the toughest of trophy sport fish, the Penn’s don’t hurt clients as much in the back pocket, when the inevitable happens.
Brands like Nomad and Halco are hard to go past when choosing your lures, offering an array of poppers and stickbaits. Whatever brand you choose, you must check the terminal tackle. If you cheap out on small or weak hooks, you will undo all your hard work when you hook that fish. GT’s are the most powerful fish in the ocean – they will destroy anything that isn’t top quality.
The Art of the Chase
Finding the fish isn’t the hard part, it’s getting them to bite which is the challenge. The art of enticing a GT lies in the lure’s dance across the ocean’s surface. Poppers and stickbaits are the weapons of choice, designed to mimic the frenzied escape of prey. The popper, with its boisterous splash, and the stickbait, with its enticing glide, are pivotal in drawing the GT’s ire. It’s a game of cat and mouse played out on the ocean.
It’s all about the presentation and the retrieve, Allistair explains. “Sometimes, it’s the slow, enticing glide of a stickbait that gets them. Other times, it’s the aggressive pop and splash that drives them wild. Reading the water and the fish’s mood is key.”
When chasing GT’s, understanding the current and the tides is crucial. It’s all about ‘pressure points,’ areas where water movement creates the perfect hunting ground for fish. To identify pressure points, you need to understand which way the current is flowing, and then find permanent structure that will create an upwelling.
Allistair King, Ocean Blue’s head guide, says that “fishing these pressure points during the right tidal changes is a game-changer. It’s when the GTs are most active, hunting for prey caught in the current’s flow. That’s your moment to throw your lure in and make it look like a baitfish that has been disorientated in the current”.
“Having guided in two of the world’s big GT hotspots, Oman and now Vanuatu, I can tell you, FIGHTING a Giant Trevally is no walk in the park. These beasts are pure muscle, and they’ll give even the most seasoned angler a run for their money. But that’s what makes it so exciting—every fish is a true test of skill and determination.”
Alistair King
Ocean Blue Fishing
The Place To Be
These apex predators are predominantly found in diverse marine habitats that range from the shallow, crystal-clear waters of flats and lagoons to the rugged, deeper offshore reefs and drop-offs. These environments provide the perfect hunting grounds for GT, offering abundant prey and complex structures for ambushing. The flats and lagoons are ideal for sight casting, where anglers can spot and target individual fish in the shallows. Meanwhile, the outer reefs and drop-offs are hotspots for popping and jigging, techniques that mimic the erratic movement of GT prey. These areas are characterised by strong currents and tidal flows, which GT use to their advantage when hunting, making these habitats both a challenge and a thrill for anglers seeking the ultimate sportfishing experience.
GT Fishing Vanuatu: The Journey Beyond
Chasing GT on lures is more than a sport. It’s a path walked by those who seek not just the thrill of the catch but the connection with the wild, untamed spirit of the sea. The GT, with its sheer power, indomitable will, and breathtaking presence, offers a gateway to this primal adventure. It’s a pursuit that tests the limits of what it means to fish, pushing anglers to the edge of their capabilities and beyond.
So, why Vanuatu, you ask? It’s simple. This place has it all: shallow flats for sight casting, deep offshore reefs for the big boys, and an unmatched variety of other reef species to keep anglers busy.
“Vanuatu is a great destination to target giant trevally,” Luke said. “The diversity of fishing spots here is unparalleled. It’s not just about the number of fish but the spectacular places you catch them.
Echoing Luke’s sentiment, Allistair adds, “Having guided in two of the world’s big GT hotspots, Oman and now Vanuatu, I can tell you, fighting a Giant Trevally is no walk in the park. These beasts are pure muscle, and they’ll give even the most seasoned angler a run for their money. But that’s what makes it so exciting—every fish is a true test of skill and determination”.
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