My friends Boyet Sacdalan, Noli Manas, Gary Manas, Captain Boy Caldoza and myself

went to San Vicente, Sta. Ana, Cagayan to check out whether there is still good fishing

there during their “off season”. It is called “off season” by the Philippine Game Fishing

Foundation (PGFF) club because San Vicente is considered the best place for sailfish fishing

only from the months of April to June of each year. After that period the anglers stopped

visiting the place because the sailfishes and dorados  have already left and it is the onset of the

typhoon season.

We left Manila in the early morning on the 7th day August  2008 with two Quintrex 4.20 on top of our cars.

We reached the PGFF Fishing Camp in the afternoon (14hrs drive!) and was refreshed after taking hot showers.

After dinner and two shots of Tequilas each brought by Noli, we went to sleep.

5:00AM August 8, (Beijing Olympic Opening date) the boatmen woke us up by the loud knock on our door.

(Boatmen here are equally excited to go out and fish). Breakfast finished, we head off to the opening (Bukana) between Palaui and Bawa. It was windy fishing at PGFF Camp. But it was calm at Palaui and Bawa. The Sierra Madre Mountain range provides ample wind protection. We trolled with our Rapalas and Strike Pros CD 14 at the speed of 5KMH. We maintain our trolling course at 40-60 ft deep of  water as shown on our fish finder.

The slow speed allows us to cast Poppers, spoons, Lures and 60 grams jig (Bass Fishing style) 

or Pinoy Anglers style (Jig-Pop-Troll).

We have 9 strikes on our boat for the day. Landed 4 GTs. The biggest was an 11kg Giant

Trevally Caught on Strike Pro CD 14 BDNG color by Gary Manas.

I have also tried jigging on 60grams jigs and caught 2-3kilo size of GT off Palaui.  

The other boat driven by Noli Manas had a strike but not landed.

He swore it was a big one that got away.

Captain Boy Cardona caught caught 4 GTs. The big one was 14kgs.

Another boat of Crispin Saez who showed up in San Vicente unannounced had 300 meters 80lbs

braid spooled out. And the Next day, his ever loyal team mate Ferdie Layson caught 17kgs of GT.

In sum the “Off season” fishing at San Vicente, Cagayan is still good for fishing Giant Trevallys.

Comments (3)

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Off season San Vicente
written by Sean Manley, September 02, 2008

Good to see you guys are still at it in the off season!

I WISH I CAN catch BIGGER THAN THAT
written by rolando abol, October 05, 2008

that was great we hoped oneday we can catch even just like that...were basically from leg. and the was not bigger than we saw on you...goodluc...

corection
written by rolando abol, October 05, 2008

and that was realy big not bigger than we saw in leg...we are lucky to catch one for all of us...