Papua New Guinea (PNG) had been on our minds for years, and when we finally had the chance to explore it, we couldn’t wait to set off. The idea of visiting these remote, untouched locations – once just dots on a map – was something we had looked forward to for a long time. At Solid Adventures, scouting is in our DNA. Since 1991, Solid has been exploring some of the most remote fishing destinations in the world, from the early days in Russia and Cuba when there were very
few people around, to Patagonia (Jurassic Lake/Las Buitreras), Greenland, Indonesia, India – just to name a few. Now, it was time to venture to the other side of the world. PNG is a place where everything is just a little wilder. It sits on one of the world’s largest islands, boasts around 800 spoken languages, and is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. Many scientists believe undiscovered species are still thriving in its waters and jungles.
So far, we’ve completed five scouting trips in PNG, each packed with lessons, surprises, and epic fishing. The challenges have been real – rough weather, inaccessible spots, and terrain that didn’t match our expectations. Flats mapped as perfect were too deep to wade; sandy beaches turned out to be unwadeable coral. That’s exploration’s nature, but it’s worth it. When a plan comes together after months – sometimes years – of preparations, the feeling’s indescribable.
Take landing a 118 cm giant trevally in a tiny lagoon we’d scoured on maps and Google Earth for months. Conditions aligned, the drift was spot-on, and the fish appeared just as we had dreamed it would. Those moments are priceless. That fish took 100-200 meters of backing in a matter of seconds as it raced past several coral bommies. We had to dive multiple times to clear the fly line from coral, and in the end, somehow managed to land it. A fish like that, in waters where no fly had ever been cast before, is something you’ll never forget.
After those first trips in 2023, we knew we had only scratched the surface. The potential was huge. That’s why, in 2024, we took the next step – acquiring a mothership, the MV Tiata, to serve as our base for further exploration. With new trips starting from Port Moresby and Alotau, we identified prime locations,flats and beaches perfect for stalking fish, as well as
deep atolls rising from 1,000 meters, where after every cast you expect to see a monster behind your fly. The waters here hold giant trevallies, bluefin trevallies, dogtooth tuna, napoleon wrasse, milkfish, and more. We’ve even spotted permit in deeper water, and we’re excited to see if we’ll eventually find them on the flats.
After those first trips in 2023, we knew we had only scratched the surface.
Contributed By
Felix Hansvencl
Felix began his career in the sports industry, first playing professional soccer for German Bundesliga teams and later overseeing International Business operations at Eintracht Frankfurt. In 2015, he transitioned into the fly fishing world, hosting trips around the globe and working as a lodge manager and guide in various locations. Today, Felix plays a key role at Solid Adventures, focusing on managing destinations, hosting trips, running scouting operations, and serving as the primary photographer for both Solid Adventures and Solid Tackle.
Website: www.solidadventures.com and www.flynature.eu
