Hosted Trip: Indonesian West Papua with April Vokey and Dean Butler

After an extremely exciting expedition in Guyana last year, I’ve decided to take on yet another adventure—this time to West Papua. This is a trip I’ve never been on before, so we’ll be experiencing it together for the first time. Led by trusted Australian Captain Luke Wyrsta from Rock Expeditions, we’ll be among the first to set foot in fisheries that have never been fished. I’ll include the details from Luke below, but first, a quick personal note: these exploratory trips are no joke. They are dangerous, exciting, unpredictable, and often require a ton of hard work. Physical fitness is important, as is an understanding of potential dangers in such remote areas. For more details, please email me at [email protected] or sign up right away here.

We’ve reserved six spots at $6,000 USD per angler, and the dates are August 10th to 19th, 2025. We’ll be fishing for New Guinea Black Bass and Barramundi.

Expedition Overview

Operating out of the famous Black Bass port of Kaimana (Indonesian West Papua), you’ll have the opportunity to explore the many coastal rivers, estuaries, creeks, and swamps of the “Papua Barat” and “Central Papua” provinces. You’ll board the Rock Mothership “Putri Senja” for a 9-day, 10-night itinerary searching for the Papuan Black Bass on fly and conventional gear. The expedition will focus on the eastern zone where the Kaimana/Timika regencies meet—this area is known for confirmed Papuan Black Bass catches. There may be opportunities to scout creeks and estuaries that have not been fished before.

Itinerary

10th August to 20th August 2025

1. 10th August: Fly to Jakarta, Indonesia (arrive the same day). Alternatively, you can fly via Bali/Denpasar at an appropriate earlier date of your choosing.
2. 11th August: Just past midnight, fly to Sorong, West Papua via Garuda Air [GA682], connect to Kaimana via Wings Air [IW1522], pick-up by ROCK for departure on the liveaboard vessel (EXP-Day 1). Relax and get comfortable for the overnight journey to the fishing areas.
3. 12th August – 18th August: 7 Days fishing in East Kaimana/Timika Border [EXP-Day 2 to Day 8], PM of Day 8 or similar depart for return to Kaimana port.
4. 19th August: Return to Kaimana (all day reserved in case of weather). Stay on board (included) or lodge at Grand Papua Hotel (cost not included).
   • 20th August: Transfer by ROCK to Kaimana airport for onward journey via Wings Air [IW1529]. Suggest you overnight in Sorong @ Swissotel as we recommend flying Garuda where possible.
5. NOTE: Last QTR Neap event falls on the 16th August.

Fishing Location

• Eastern Kaimana / Timika border area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8ebuwm7r2nFJmw4c6
• This area is remote and difficult to get to. Luke’s team have fished here before and are aware of others that have visited the eastern area for Black Bass. There are confirmed remote areas and upstream areas of interest that have never been fished.
• All areas do require a tribal permit (included).

Weather

• Rain can be and will be experienced at any time—it is an inherent risk of the region and fishery. Our goal is to find cleaner water where possible and avoid flooding catchments.
• The monsoon season is affected by many environmental factors that cannot always be predicted; however, August is generally considered part of the dry season with confirmed catches from our local captains.
• August can experience easterlies averaging 10-15 knots offshore average—we may have to seek shelter behind islands during the respective passages to wait for favorable current/conditions.

https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/omba_indonesia_8516337 (simulated average rainfalls, i.e., non-weather station). Headwaters show similar trends.

Accommodation/Liveaboard

• Live-on-board accommodation in 1 air-conditioned cabin featuring 8x single bunks
• Pillow & mattress provided (long pants and long sleeves are recommended if you are particularly sensitive to cool AC)
• Power available in each bunk (Indonesia 2 pin), AC 240v
• 1x Shower & Western Toilet, 1x additional Indonesian toilet
• Living/dining area (under cover) with power/charging
• Large living and social area at midship, bow (not under cover)
• All catering—3 meals, bottled water, soft drinks provided
• Beer available on pre-order basis (Bintang 500ml)
• Luggage will be stored in the hold; recommend a light duffle/overnight bag for essential cabin items/toiletries etc.

Fishing

• 2x anglers per vessel with local captain/deckhand (vessels range from 5.0m to 7.0m)
• There will be some language barriers, but we will do our best to bridge those gaps! Part of the adventure…

Catering

• All food and meals are included.
• Menu focuses on Asian cuisine such as rice, noodles, chicken, fish, prawns/shrimps, clams, lobsters, lots of chili/sambal, etc.
• Bottled purified water, Coke & other soft drinks will be readily available

Entry Visa (Indonesia)

• Visas are simple to obtain and may be applied/granted for on the same day. This is the official government link to apply: https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/front/info/evoa
• We recommend you also complete your customs declaration prior to arrival for more efficient entry into the country: This is the official government link to apply: https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/

Other Important Information

• Due to mangroves, swamps, flood plains, and stagnant water—mosquitoes are a fact of life in this region. Please consult your GP for advice and possible anti-malarial medication suitable for you.
• We highly recommend a layover day or two in Jakarta or Denpasar (Bali) for acclimation purposes, overcoming jet-lag, and to ensure you have adequate time for connecting flights/transfers.
• If you would like to arrive or stay longer in Kaimana—we recommend staying at the Grand Papua Hotel. Do not confuse this with a hotel of the same name in Papua New Guinea.
• Some flight itineraries may have extended layover periods (particularly for Kaimana > Sorong > onward destination)—due to the timing of the respective flights. We recommend staying at the Swiss-Belhotel in Sorong. You can book direct or through Booking.com.
• We recommend full-length clothing for this region as mosquitoes, sand flies, and contact with vegetation are likely.
• Medical/Evacuation insurance is essential/mandatory for this expedition.
• Any personal expenses in Kaimana will require CASH. Excess baggage in any airport outside of Jakarta/Denpasar will likely require cash payment.

Further Information

https://rockexpeditions.com/sportfishing-destinations/west-papua-black-bass-expeditions-indonesia/