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New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Just a taste of New Caledonia's remarkable fishing

What is arguably the world’s most exciting fishing is the mainstay of an operation based in New Caledonia with the unlikely name of Le Poisson Banane, or LPB. Besides the productive, huge reef encircling the vast island of New Cally itself, the enthusiastic guys who run LPB fish flats with some of the largest bonefish found anywhere and more remote atolls and islets in these tropical waters. The images here offer just a taste of their remarkable fishing; as you can see, they specialize in throwing big lures (especially poppers) to very big fish.

New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

New Caledonia and the waters around it are home to back-breaking giant trevally like this 100-pounder! Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Double-digit bonefish took a Gotcha Shrimp Fly. The angler used a 13-pound tippet. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Besides an Edgewater center console, LPG runs this 40-foot Antares convertible for live-aboard trips to more distant areas. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Green jobfish are an aggressive member of the snapper family; they wallop poppers with abandon. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Group of anglers from Singapore pitching poppers from the bow. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Just off the edge of the outer (barrier) reef, this angler had quite a surprise when an 85-pound wahoo exploded on his popper. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Beaches and wadeable flats offer opportunities for sight casting. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Pacific tarpon don’t get a whole lot bigger than this but they fight with the same spirit as their larger Atlantic cousins. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Dogtooth tuna like this 110-pounder will test any angler’s tackle. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

If this coral trout looks pugnacious, don’t be fooled — it is! Long colorful Indo-Pacific groupers of shallow reef areas, coral trout love to strike topwater lures. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Doubled up! As multiple fish of multiple species often rush a lure simultaneously, it’s not unusual in the world of LPB fishing to come up with a fish on each hook. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Nice bonus for New Cally bonefish anglers are colorful, hard-fighting golden trevally. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Even grouper that often inhabit deeper areas will come up to grab poppers, as did this 80-pounder. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

A BFP (barracuda of frightening proportions) that, like everything else, grabbed an angler’s topwater plug. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
New Caledonia's Big Fish

New Caledonia’s Big Fish

Estimated at 115 pounds, a GT like this one guarantees a fight that no angler will forget. Few places in the world offer more shots at such fish; LPB has them dialed in. Courtesy Le Poissone Banane
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