GOLDEN TREVALLEY (Gnathanodon speciosus)
Golden trevally is a part of jack family and is distributed in tropical waters of Indo-Pacific. It can reach 35 inches (90cm) and can weight up to 67 lb (30 kg). Shape is similar then cousin bluefin travelly, although golden travelly have fleshy, rubbery lips, golden yellow body with black bars. They are foraging for food in reefs and sandy bottom and can be found near bigger fish looking for leftovers. They also suck crustaceans , fish and molluscs from reef and sandy substrate, making them exciting specie to target on the reef and sandy bottom of Maldives.
Golden trevally flies:
Golden trevally are predominantly foraging for shrimp, fish and mollusc on reef and sandy bottom. Most often we use fly patterns that imitate other fish species like baby mullet, wrasse, small bonefish and shrimp and mollusc imitations. When they are foregoing near reef they can also take crustaceans and squid patterns. When fishing on sandy bottom we use flies that have hook pointing upwards, avoiding snagging the bottom.
Equipment:
For golden travelly, 10 to 12wt, 9ft rods are used. Reels are extremely important, since they need to have strong drag, that will be able to stop the fish. If golden travelly is allowed to run freely it will brake of in the coral.