Activities in Vava'u Island Group, Tonga
The Vava’u Sports Fishing Club (VSFC)
Background Information
In the early 1990’s the Tonga International Game Fish Association (TIGFA) was established to facilitate local and visitor catch records. As the sport developed, Nukualofa and Vava’u Sport fishing Clubs were established in July 2002 to record local records and TIGFA became the parent association responsible for National Records and one tournament event – the Tonga Nationals held in December each year. TIGFA and the local clubs are affiliated to IGFA and follow strict international angling rules.Tonga is blessed with world class fishing – Blue Marlin (Pacific), Black Marlin and Striped Marlin, Sailfish (Pacific), Skipjack Tuna, Yellow Fin and pelagic species such as Mahimahi, Tuna, Wahoo (Valu Louniu) and a host of reef species including Dog Tooth Tuna (valu Tonga) and Giant Trevally (GT).
Other fish include; Kawa Kawa (Mackeral Tuna), Baracuda (‘Ono), Coral Trout, Dolphin Fish, Grouper, Job Fish (utu), Long Tom (haku), Spanish Mackeral, Ranbow Runner, Roundtail Seabream (mu), Hammerhead Shark, Mako Shark, Oceanic Whitetip, Shortbill Spearfish, Bluefin Trevally (lupo), Big Eye Tuna, Snapper Emporer, Emporer Spangled (koango), Queenfish.
Tonga holds the following of IGFA world records:
1, Men’s 24kg line class for a 94kg Sailfish
2. Small Fry - Sailfish 55kg
3. Women’s 15kg line class for a 38.4kg GTMiddle FAD 18 36 700 South, 174 09 370 West Swing of 400 Metres
VSFC_-_2009_Catch_Records(1).xls
Vava’u has around 35 residential members and visiting anglers can join the club for T$10 which qualifies them for recognition of local and/or National Records.
There are 6 charter fishing operators based in Vava’u
The Vava’u Club has its HQ based at Mango’s Restaurant right on the harbour foreshore, kindly provided by Moorings, Tonga’s most successful charter Yacht business.
The club also funds a local FAD program – currently two are deployed in 1,500 meters of water some 4 miles off shore.
The Vava’u Sport Fishing Club hosts two major International tournaments:
1. Tonga International Billfish Tournament
The TIBT is Tonga’s most prestigious event attracting anglers from Australia and New Zealand. It is a four day line class tournament and is a qualifying event for the IGFA Offshore Championship Event held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico each year.2.The New Zealand Fishing News Tournament
The event is a four day tournament which attracts 30 International anglers where the teams fish on a different boat each day.CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tonga Int. Billfish Tournament - Briefing on Thursday 16th September - Fishing Friday 17th & Saturday 18th - Lay day on Sunday 19th - Fishing Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st - Wednesday 22nd is a Reserve Day & Prize giving.
NZ Fishing News Tournament - Briefing on Thursday 21st October - Fishing Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd - Lay day on Sunday 24th - Fishing on Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th - Wednesday 27th is a Reserve day.
Tonga National Tournament - Briefing on Friday 26th November - Fishing day one on Saturday 27th then Fishing Friday 3rd December and Saturday 4th December.
For more Tournament information or if you wish to receive the monthly club newsletter ‘Tonga Fish Tales’
contact Steve Campbell
e-mail: ikalahi@tongafishing.comVava'u Sport Fishing Club Official Website
www.vavausportfishingclub.com/FishTales
www.vavausportfishingclub.com/TOURNAMENTS/TIBTSummaryResultsCongratulations to the winning team, Libertas, who have received an invitation to represent the Kingdom of Tonga at the 2011 IGFA Offshore World Championships in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and the runners up, Target One, who have received an invitation to the 2011 Vanuatu Marlin Classic.
If you have any enquiries about entering the 20th TIBT in 2011 from September 15th to September 22nd then please contact the Vava’u Sport Fishing Club at info@vavausportfishingclub.com