Grouper Boys Records

[MarkR]

Hi guys,

Check this out:

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Listing of Mogi-san's grouper boys club records. Probably need to use a translation software like Babel or Google to make sense of the script.

Their recent trip to Marion reef saw a new Napoleon Wrasse and Dogtooth record...look at the size of the record Amberjack, Hapuka and Samson Konishi-san seems to hold many records for an array of exotic species

Hope you like it!

[stickbom!]

Hey Mark, see that huge Amberjack Mogi was carrying? That was caught on an ABU 8000 and a 7' long ValleyHill jig stick! Makes me feel over-geared and under-fished!! LOL

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

Hey Mark, see that huge Amberjack Mogi was carrying? That was caught on an ABU 8000 and a 7' long ValleyHill jig stick! Makes me feel over-geared and under-fished!! LOL

No need to feel over-geared dude. However, compared to those guys, all of us should feel under-fished!!! Come to think of it, all of us should feel UNDER-geared compared to those guys. The amount of tackle they bring on these trips must be real scary!!!

I can't comment on the ValleyHill rod, but as far as the Abu 8000 is concerned, we will never know how may fishes were reefed before he landed that one. Imho, regardless of whether the user "mods" an Abu or not, it is still not exactly up to the job for this kind of fishing. We don't get to fish exotic locations as often as the grouperboys do where it is literally one-drop-one-fish kind of situation. They can also certainly afford to lose as many jigs, miles of PE line or FC or shock leader & tons of terminal tackle because they are most likely "sponsored" or pay very special prices for their equipment. Therefore, these guys can certainly afford to have such "fun".

More often than not, jigging & popping trips involves great expense and precious leave days for most Singaporean anglers. As such, to go on a trip armed with say, an ABU 8000, would for sure end in a disaster imho

Opinions differ of course

[Sportfisherman]

Mak ,

Konishi-san used to sport Penn SS series but that reel has been fully modified that only the cover is Penn, the Handle , Gearings , Drag washers , Bail-arm assy. , etc. are not original Penn components so that Abu may be the same , only looks Abu but with modified intenal components . Certainly looks can be deceiving !

Sportfisherman .

[Makaira]

Hi Jon,

Firstly, I am not taking away anything from the achievements of the grouperboys. And I would certainly be fishing as much as they do if I can afford it!!!

As for the ABU 8000, it may well be modified to the hilt, so to speak. But for the cost of the modification parts alone, you can probably almost buy a reel off-the-shelf that can do the job just as well or even better. Some may not agree, but imho, a Torium or a Saltist will outfish a fully decked out no-holds-barred modified ABU 8000 anyday. To a lesser extent, perhaps the same may hold true, at least technology-wise, for a Saltiga Blast or a Shimano Twinpower over a full-blown modified Penn SS. Cost-wise, a fully modified Penn SS with all the works will cost at least the same as a Saltiga 6000.

The point I am trying to get across is for anglers new to the jigging game not to have the misconception that any good old reel will suffice. Going esoteric is only for people who have the luxury to do so, not for most of us.

Best regards,
Makaira

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Makaira

Some may not agree, but imho, a Torium or a Saltist will outfish a fully decked out no-holds-barred modified ABU 8000 anyday.

Totally agree with Mak. Heck, even one of them new Tica and Okuma reels will outfish a fully-mod ABU 8000 Yes, gears and a lot of other stuff may be swapped, tuned and upgraded but there are still a lot of constraints on performance when an ABU 8000 "shell" is used.

Anyway, it just doesn't make sense to pay top dollar to fish far away big fish destinations (even if it's once a blue moon) and scrounge with your tackle. By all means be budget conscious but don't be silly!

Opinions differ of course

Best wishes,

MarkR

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by Makaira

Hi Jon,

Firstly, I am not taking away anything from the achievements of the grouperboys. And I would certainly be fishing as much as they do if I can afford it!!!

As for the ABU 8000, it may well be modified to the hilt, so to speak. But for the cost of the modification parts alone, you can probably almost buy a reel off-the-shelf that can do the job just as well or even better. Some may not agree, but imho, a Torium or a Saltist will outfish a fully decked out no-holds-barred modified ABU 8000 anyday. To a lesser extent, perhaps the same may hold true, at least technology-wise, for a Saltiga Blast or a Shimano Twinpower over a full-blown modified Penn SS. Cost-wise, a fully modified Penn SS with all the works will cost at least the same as a Saltiga 6000.

The point I am trying to get across is for anglers new to the jigging game not to have the misconception that any good old reel will suffice. Going esoteric is only for people who have the luxury to do so, not for most of us.

Best regards,
Makaira

Mak ,

It is true , according to my Japan based friend , the modifications on Penn SS may end up pretty close to a new Stella , I asked this to Konishi-san when I met him in Bali a few years ago , he said by using what appear to be Penn reels that he is not siding with Shimano or Daiwa , I think he was truying to be politically correct here .

The last trip he came down n fish Komodo , he was seen using Stella and his partner is using Saltiga , in other photos he is seen using Saltiga 6500EXP with OMA92 targetting YellowFin Tunas .

Jon .

[DaFrogman]

Originally Posted by Makaira

No need to feel over-geared dude. However, compared to those guys, all of us should feel under-fished!!! Come to think of it, all of us should feel UNDER-geared compared to those guys. The amount of tackle they bring on these trips must be real scary!!!

Yeah Mak,

Boy do I feel underfished...... As for the tackle, I reckon the only big "Classic" equaliser is the handline, but its kinda hard to jig and pop with it .

I think Mikey was just getting nostalgic for a moment there..... ..... With the kind of reasonable prices for reels like the Toriums and Saltists, there is no real excuse to go out on a big trip under gunned.

I still reckon the midrange spinners like the Twinpower and Saltiga Blast are a bit on the pricey side, but then spinners are always more expensive then their equivalent overhead counterparts.

Even on the rod side of the equation with rod ranges like the Jigwrexs and I reckon manfacturers like Rapala and Tica are coming into the market with decent jig sticks, I guess the idea is to spread the Japanese inspired "happiness/disease" as far as jigging goes.

So AHEM!!!, whats the entry requirements for the Grouperboys Club??... Maybe we should do a budget FO equivalent called the "Kerapu Lads" ....

Regards,

Saimee

[tmlim]

It would be cheaper to make an emblem of Abu 8000 and stick on the reel. Mark is probably right that the Abu 8000’s thin-walled housing or shell needs reinforcement with carbon fiber to handle the load.

[stickbom!]

Errrr... guys, I'm not asking ppl to go buy an ABU and jig with it... just saying with a bit of patience and down to earth drag settings... we can all catch fish with decent gear that comes with a reasonable price tag. Back in the 90s when Mogi San caught that Amberjack, reels like the Jigger, Torium, Torsa wasn't invented yet. They had a few high speed reels like the Daiwa Grandwave/Shimano Speedmasters and those have pretty poor cranking power. I don't think the ABU 8000 Mogi used was modified... I've never really heard of people trying to hot-rod an ABU

As for Konishi-San's Spinfisher, I spoke to the man about his reel before and he told me the handle was just about the only modification/upgrade he did for the reel. He even admitted that Mogi hated the rattling noise from the spinfisher! Anyway, he might have a bunch of Spinfishers in his home so what Jon mentioned and what was related to me by the man was 2 different reels.

[sk8]

Back in 80s, I still remember a pictures of a well known Australian fishing personality (whose name escapes me) in a fishing mag, casting poppers with an Abu, mono line and having a coffee table size GT drag his little tin boat around, and actually landing the fella in the end. I also do recall though, that he was complaining about losing too many poppers to the fish!

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by sk8

Back in 80s, I still remember a pictures of a well known Australian fishing personality (whose name escapes me) in a fishing mag, casting poppers with an Abu, mono line and having a coffee table size GT drag his little tin boat around, and actually landing the fella in the end. I also do recall though, that he was complaining about losing too many poppers to the fish!

Sk8 .

Mel Florence ( deceased ) or Rod Harrison ( still kicking ) , the former is tall while the latter is stubby . I wud say losing lures to GT casting is just like losing lead sinker when bottom fishing .

Sportfisherman .

[scarpie]

The last two 3 kings trips with Konishi San, he used Stella, TLD30II (WTF?) and borrowed Saltiga. Mogi San said that the Japan 100kg (previously 100lb) Club is history. The "Grouper Boys", I think has changed from being an exclusive fishing club to what is now a convenient label given to Mogi's fishing mates which always includes Konishi San and Okada San both wonderful guys and expert jiggers! I'll ask him next April!

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by scarpie

The last two 3 kings trips with Konishi San, he used Stella, TLD30II (WTF?) and borrowed Saltiga. Mogi San said that the Japan 100kg (previously 100lb) Club is history. The "Grouper Boys", I think has changed from being an exclusive fishing club to what is now a convenient label given to Mogi's fishing mates which always includes Konishi San and Okada San both wonderful guys and expert jiggers! I'll ask him next April!

According to Bertrand Picarda , he n Nicola are members of Grouper Boys so I think it's just a matter of initiation by Mogi-san , not an exclusive club such as those with charter members , etc. .

Sportfisherman .