Press Play Above to Watch The Bugatti Reef Newsletter Video June 2010
Bugatti Reef - World's Best GT fishing - 520 GTs released in a week
The Bugatti & Elusive Reef systems have proven over the past 3 years to be the best all round GT fishing locations in the world. This is a big statement we know, but one that is easily backed up by past catches.This reef system just keeps getting better the more we explore and learn. In May 2010 we released over 520 GTs in a week, fishing between Bugatti & Elusive Reefs, with fish ranging in size from 20kg-60kg. This was with 12 anglers fishing on our 4 sportfishers, and included one boat catching 50 GTs in a single day between 3 anglers. These catch rates and sizes of fish have never been achieved anywhere else in the world.
This system is a sportfishing paradise, with not only the world's best GT action, but spectacular all round sportfishing as well. It is one of the most wild, spectacular, rugged and fishy places we have ever visited anywhere, with so many big GTs, and a huge variety of other spectacular sportfishing options for mackerel, tuna, red bass, coral trout and many other species. This reef system has an appeal that keeps anglers coming back year after year, and with the fishing getting better every year why wouldn't they!
The fishing has always been sensational, since our first trip to this area in July 2006, and as we learn more about the reef every year, the fishing just seems to get better - this reef is simply alive with fish.
Check out the Bugatti Reef 2010 Newsletter for full details. But don't take our word for it, you can also check out a report from one of the anglers on the trip, Brandon Khoo.
The reason the fishing stays consistently spectacular at this area is because of the massive area of reef we have to fish. The huge area means that each individual "area" of reef might only get fished for 1-2 weeks per year, with many months between visits, so this means that the fishing is spectacular all year round.
Where is it?? You'll notice the lack of a map on this page and that is because the area we are fishing on these trips is not named, and the entire reef system we are fishing is not even charted. The only way to get here is to jump on our seaplane at Hamilton Island and we'll take you there. The only people who will ever know where this reef system is are the ones who fish it with us. It's a massive area of reef stretching over 200 nautical miles, so we've split the northern end of the reef and called that end Bugatti Reef, and we've called the southern end of the section Elusive Reef, just as arbitrary names for reference purposes - well we had to call it something!
Trips to Bugatti Reef are part of our Coral Sea Lagoon Explorer package. All the details on travel, tackle, boats and everything else is contained in the lagoon explorer section of the website.
However, we do run trips to the very northern end of Bugatti(a little closer to Mackay) as part of our Drive Out special trips.
Some of the fishing options at Bugatti are as follows:-
Popper and stickbait fishing for GTs is simply as good as it gets. We have never heard of anywhere else in the world with fishing like this for numbers of quality GTs.
General sportfishing for longtail tuna, golden trevally, coral trout, sweetlip, spanish mackerel and many other tropical reef species is superb, you'll just have to find time to stop fishing for GTs to appreciate it!!
The soft plastic fishing, reef fishing, and light jigging for coral trout and red emperor is simply superb. Quality red emperor and coral trout are available within a short distance of most anchorages.
We are expecting to find some good dogtooth tuna fishing on our Ultimate Adventures trip to Bugatti Reef in September 2008, but this trip with the bigger sportfisher will open up a range of other bluewater options.
The Reef Structure
Apart from a huge number of adjectives we could use to describe this amazing place, it is an area of coral reef and sand cays stretching over 90 nautical miles in length and around 40 nautical miles wide.There is a huge amount of reef area to fish. We believe we were the first to ever cast lures for GTs at most of the reefs in this system, and it has continually produced quality fish in excellent numbers since our first visit. We also believe that the huge area of this reef that we have not yet fished is completely untouched by anyone ever casting lures there - very exciting stuff, which means that nearly every trip to this reef is a new adventure.
The reef structure forms a massive amount of "rivers" running through the reef system. These rivers and channels are very narrow and funnel the current through the reef passes. The whirlpools, eddies and currents experienced in these areas are spectacular, and 10-12kn current flows are common on the big tides. We believe the main reason that this section of reef remains uncharterd is due to the massive tidal flows, and the immense and intricate area of reef. Nobody else fishes here due to the massive currents, but as we know, the GTs and other reef species just love that!!
Dates for 2011
For 2011 dates please refer to the rates/dates page.
If you would like to make a booking for any of these dates, please contact us.
All material copyright Nomad Sportfishing Adventures 2007
