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I’m heading back up to Cairns tomorrow and back on board Reel Chase on Friday. After a week’s break, I’m ready to get back into it. Capt. Luke tells me the weather is yet to drop but by all forecasts that is happening tomorrow (touch wood) in the meantime he has been slogging it out on the Bank with a good number of other boats. Joining the team on board Kekoa are Andrew and Paul who I had the pleasure to join on board last year. Paul and Andrew are keeping things consistent – last year they experienced some of the worst weather of the season as well!! But there were fish, and they have started on the right note this trip with a 250lb-er for Paul on day 1. Other boats reporting a fish each on Tuesday were Allure, Mistress, Release and Ningaloo with a big sail.Wednesday, more bad weather – short choppy and lots of current – Capt. Luke saw two tailers and raised on that didn’t bite with just reports of a fish each on Calypso and Lanakai.Lest you think that I have been lazing around through the break – I have some still shots from the hours of video footage I have been diligently dubbing onto the computer. (I still have hours to go!) But some of the shots for you below. Mike, Brian, Joe, Dave, Stephen and Tony in that order. The girl invariably in the pictures with the camera around her neck will speak volumes to you as to why my still shots are better than the video footage – I’m always in the way!
This post was imported into WordPress from my old Black Marlin Fishing Blog website without any accompanying photos. If you’d like to see the original post, with the accompanying photographs, go to the original Black Marlin Fishing Blog site and navigate to the post using the archive navigation links on the right-hand-side.
While many boats have returned to Port to wait out the cyclone, some are still taking advantage of it’s indecision to get some fishing in. While the weather has been poor all week (and the rain strong over the last couple of days), the cyclonic winds have yet to arrive in force. Plus there are fish to catch.
Reaching the end of their cyclone trip, Kekoa has had a tough but good week entertaining the ladies on board while sister-ship Ningaloo fished the gentlemen. Friday saw the girls go 2 from 3 on smaller fish and the third being an 800lb-er which they ‘accidentally’ hooked while trying their hand at a spot of shark fishing! After some nice jumps at the back of the boat, a kink in the (shark) wire and she was gone. Meanwhile the boys released a 250lb-er.
Saturday saw a repeat of this effort with another 2 from 3 for the ladies a bigger 900lb fish getting away. Fishing nearby as part of the Marlin University trip, Release also found the fish for their students with 3 for the day including a double header of fish at 650 and 950lbs. Headmaster Peter Wright on board SeaBaby also finished the day with one. Meanwhile Kiwi boat Lanakai with Capt. Steve has been plugging away consistently with their second fish in two days.
Sunday, with an early cease fishing as they headed back in to Port, Kekoa released another on a truly very rainy day. The boys have a very well deserved day off in Port today, hopefully to be able to dry off, before they head back out tomorrow. Meanwhile the Reel Chase crew is likewise enjoying some well deserved rest until our next trip on Friday.
This post was imported into WordPress from my old Black Marlin Fishing Blog website without any accompanying photos. If you’d like to see the original post, with the accompanying photographs, go to the original Black Marlin Fishing Blog site and navigate to the post using the archive navigation links on the right-hand-side.
Steve was kind enough to send me a couple of photos of Gavin’s 900lb-er on board Kekoa last week. [No doubt he was a bit busy fighting his own fish (est. 1000lbs) to take any shots of that one 
hee hee] Nice powerful jumps with Ulimate Lady in the back of shot! Great fish congrats to you both Steve and Gavin. Capt. Jim tells me that yesterday was by far the worst weather day this year as they made their way up the back of the reef (for protection) to join the mothership at Lizard Island. And Capt. Luke fishing off Escape Reef was exhausted last night after a day of holding on with no fish to report for the discomfort. Other reports have Wild Turkey releasing a 700lb-er at Number 5 after a couple of quiet days and fishing on St. Crispens Brilliant Company releasing one as well.With weather forecasts for Thursday looking just as bad, he’s hoping it turns around soon.
This post was imported into WordPress from my old Black Marlin Fishing Blog website without any accompanying photos. If you’d like to see the original post, with the accompanying photographs, go to the original Black Marlin Fishing Blog site and navigate to the post using the archive navigation links on the right-hand-side.
Photos from Maritimo of their big fish over the weekend – courtesy of Angler Gary from Salt Water Sportsman and Yachting magazine in the US (look out for his write up in an upcoming issue). Both at Jenny Louise, the first was estimated at 950lb for Gary and the second at a grand for Chris. Thanks guys for sharing these pics and congrats on the fish!As an aside, I should mention I’ve been misspelling Maritimo for at least two months now – sorry about that…!Back at Linden Bank yesterday Kekoa fought out the tough conditions releasing a small fish just before cease fishing and Capt. Luke tells me it was a much quieter day all round with only three fish that he heard of all day. Reel Chase spent the day in port before heading back up to the rock today. With the weather going from bad, to worse, to extremely bad over the next few days, my thoughts are with all the boats up there.
This post was imported into WordPress from my old Black Marlin Fishing Blog website without any accompanying photos. If you’d like to see the original post, with the accompanying photographs, go to the original Black Marlin Fishing Blog site and navigate to the post using the archive navigation links on the right-hand-side.
Quick mention I am off the boat for the next 10 days while the boys head back up to Lizard and beyond mother-shipping, so reports may be a little more sporadic with a lot less pictures until then.
