Topwater Strikes Over Nosy Be's Reef Edges.
The most visual strike in fishing — and one that takes some practice.
Giant Trevally are the main target around Nosy Be’s reef edges and drop-offs, where a popper worked over structure brings them up.
Dogtooth tuna are the other headline fish on a popper — powerful reef fish that need a dedicated rod and 80 to 130lb braid.
Popping is at its best in low light — early morning and late afternoon — when the take often comes right as the popper pauses.
A popper is a topwater lure with a cupped, concave face, worked back to throw up a splash and a bubble trail on the surface.
Cast out and worked back with sharp lifts of the rod tip, that cupped face imitates a fleeing or injured baitfish struggling on the surface, with a distinctive “pop” on every retrieve. The retrieve is a rhythm of short, sharp pulls followed by a pause — and it is during that pause, as the popper sits still on the surface, that most strikes happen.
Because the take is visible and often violent, surface popping is one of the most exciting ways to target surface-feeding predators, and is usually most productive in the low light of early morning or late afternoon.
Two pages on the most visual, most explosive way to fish a reef edge.
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A popper is a topwater lure with a cupped face, worked back in sharp lifts that throw up a splash and a bubble trail.
The retrieve is short hard pulls followed by a pause — and it is during the pause, with the lure sitting still, that most strikes come.
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Early morning and late afternoon over reef edges and drop-offs is where poppers earn their keep, on Giant Trevally and dogtooth tuna.
A popping rod with 80 to 130lb braid is standard — the take is violent and happens in full view.
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This is a visual, active style of fishing best suited to anglers who want to see the strike happen, not just feel it. Low light — early morning or late afternoon — and structure such as reef edges or drop-offs are where surface poppers are most effective.
Surface popping is fished in low light — early morning or late afternoon — over structure such as reef edges and drop-offs, where Giant Trevally and dogtooth tuna hunt.
The lure is a topwater popper with a cupped face that throws up a splash and a bubble trail like a fleeing baitfish. The take happens on the surface in full view, often right as the popper pauses.
Expect to work for it: a dedicated popping rod with 80 to 130lb braid, and a technique that suits intermediate to advanced anglers. Our guides talk you through the retrieve and the strike.
Tackle and crew are provided and fish are tagged and released. Pair a popping session with trolling or jigging on a Nosy Be fishing holiday.
Send us your dates and group size. We will tell you what is running then, and whether Surface Popping is the right call for that week.
Rough dates and who is coming is enough to start. No lengthy booking form, no card details.
If the days you have will not cover it, we say so up front and adjust rather than take the booking and disappoint you.
Nothing sold off a shelf. Priced against your dates, group and interests — in USD, Euro or ZAR.
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Rods rigged and the crew ready on deck.
Low light — early morning or late afternoon — and around structure such as reef edges or drop-offs.
A topwater lure with a cupped, concave face that throws up a splash and bubble trail to imitate a fleeing baitfish.
Giant Trevally and dogtooth tuna are the main targets around Nosy Be's reef edges.
A dedicated popping rod paired with 80 to 130lb braid, built to handle explosive strikes and powerful reef fish.
It suits intermediate to advanced anglers — working a popper correctly and handling the strike takes some practice, but our guides talk you through it.
Because the take happens right on the surface in full view, often as the popper pauses — it is one of the most visually exciting ways to fish.
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