Fishing Updates
May Update


A tad delayed... but some shots from the AIBT. POB on a deep dark mystery and Leigh and team with our only point scoring fish. On the whole, fishing was slow. I believe from 29 boats, there were just the 5 Billfish released over the two days. Champion Team went to the guys on board Port Stephens boat Diversion. On board Reel Chase our team were the top point scorers from TGFC and we had a ball regardless of the fishing!

This weekend sees the re-scheduled (due to bad weather) Gold Coast GFC Cabo Blue Marlin Classic. Looking forward to hearing how that goes. A few boats that I heard went out over the last weekend did get a few strikes so hopefully that will also be the case this weekend. The 17/18th weekend also sees the inaugural Stebercraft Blue Marlin Classic at Foster/Tuncurry. If you have any reports from either of these comps, don't hesitate to send along .
Capt. Luke and I are taking our annual vacation to the land of the rising sun as of tomorrow and so we will miss both. Don't feel too sorry for us though, I have the feeling we'll be getting our fishing fix and more over there!

Capt. Luke gets a quick Barra fix last weekend in the Gulf.

in ( ) on Fri - May 9, 2008, 07:40 AM
Ulimate Lady Rules at Wanganella (again!)

News from Capt. Tom who has just spent another 10 days fishing south from Norfolk Island to the Wanganella Banks. Fishing 2 days initially closer to Norfolk the team found some great structure and in the two days ended up with 8 Marlin, including 3 Black Marlin (3-400lbs) and the remaining Stripeys as well as some Yellowfin to 50kg. Not a bad effort at all!

But while the fishing slowed over the moon, the last two days at Wanganella lived up to everything that we have ever heard about the fishery and more. 24 and 19 respectively - 24 Marlin being Ultimate Lady's new daily record. At one stage they fought 6 fish at once!!! This trip also marked their first Black Marlin at Wanganella, a nice one sized about 500lbs.

I hope we get to see another DVD made of this trip! :-)

in ( ) on Thu - April 3, 2008, 05:46 PM
Fishing Fun and Mishaps at NSW Interclub


Ossie Collins sent me these pics and a story of folly at a NSW Interclub. Angler Shaun hooks up a marlin and on deck, Clinton leans over to tag the fish...and misses. And drops the pole in the sea.

The skipper utters some choice words at him prompting him to dive in to retrieve it. Shaun drops back the drag on the fish so it clears the back of the boat and the (now) swimmer in the water. While Clinton swims out and back, the marlin zig zags underneath (can only imagine what the marlin is thinking now). Tag pole is saved, and back in the boat and the second shot is successful and the fish is released.

Ossie explains this is now why he always keeps more than one tag pole on board!

Reminds me of a day last year when a decky, who shall remain nameless (okay, it was Brad ;-), gaffed a mackerel to bring it into the boat but left the gaff in fish in the water instead. We had to wind the fish, still brandishing gaff from shoulder back into arms reach to get it into the boat with a second gaff. Hee hee. Love these stories. Feel free to share!

in ( ) on , 05:33 PM
World Record Action from NZ

News from John and Meg Batterton at Middlesex NZ via Tim from Bluewater of some amazing World Record captures fishing with owners Eryn and Guy on board the "Hookin' Bull" this past weekend. Eryn just missing the mark with her first fish (85.2 kg on 4 - just .5kg shy of the current world record) brought it home with her second stripey which tipped the scales at 94kg - a new pending World Record - a great effort after a 3 hour battle.

Following up and not to be outdone, Guy weighed a 105kg striped marlin on 1kg line - another fantastic world record claim. Congrats guys!

Reports from the Gold Coast - Blues are there to catch, unfortunately the weather doesn't let us....! Hopefully the weather improves soon.

in ( ) on Wed - March 12, 2008, 08:01 AM
Stripies still here

There was a concern after the final day of the tourn that the Stripies had left town but we're happy to report they showed up again today. We had a fun day switch baiting starting with a double hookup and ending with three from four hooked and raising another five or so that just wanted to admire the teaser. It was glamour weather too which made a real nice change. We're heading home after fishing tomorrow so it is nice to end on a good weather and good fishing high.

Bring on the GC Blue Marlin!

On the trip back to the GC yesterday, Capt. Luke and team on Kekoa had a busy day three Stripies and a Blue.




Pictures: I wonder why they call them Striped Marlin?? Haha... And the resident
Fairy Penguin at D'Albora Marina shows us what a bait ball should look like.

in ( ) on Wed - March 5, 2008, 08:01 PM