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The last couple of days, the docks have been a-blaze with boats setting off for the start of the 2008 Heavy Tackle Marlin Season. Today we’re joining them along with a lot of the remaining boats including Shaka, Moana III, Ningaloo, The Battler, Blue Dog and Calypso. Most of us will likely initially fish the bank before moving north. And reports from there indicate we should be in for a good couple of days. Watchdog, fishing their first charter off Cairns in the new boat Sunday/Monday finished with 3 fish for the two days including an estimated 800-850lb-er. Too Easy had another good day also with another estimated 850lb-er. And all the way up towards the rock, Tradition released a 300lb-er. Most boats will be heading in that direction for the 22th annual Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic which starts Sunday.Photo: Team Reel Chase, team photo as always. Ashley, Capt. Jim, myself and Darren.

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.

Mistress began their 2008 campaign Sunday, fishing Linden Bank for two for two – both fish around the 550lb range – marking a great start to the season!Other reports filtering in are that Tradition, fishing at Lena Reef also finished the day with two while Too Easy at Opal and Viking at Number 3 got one each.Hopefully more details to come. Stay tuned.

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.

A quick report from Capt. Bill fishing the middle Ribbons, who reports not too many full days on the outside due to the winds (it’s been gusting to 25-30 knots even here in the marina – though today seems a much better day). Yesterday team Viking already hit double figures for the season thus far with two fish – a 250lb-er and very active 500lb-er in just three hours fishing, one of which being US anglers very first black marlin – bringing their total to 10. Good going guys!

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.

We thought that things had been pretty quiet, but as it turns out, in Cairns we just weren’t hearing anything. So after a quiet day at Jenny Louise on Tuesday, with just a good sized dolphin fish (photo bottom) and a tuna for sushi on the trip home to show for it, yesterday we instead ventured out to Linden Bank – where we found some of the fleet who had been hiding out and finding some fish. Iona II released three fish in three days to 500 including a rare Japanese black marlin (comes equipped with its very own set of chopsticks instead of a bill – photos above) at 350lbs. They also missed a double header of bigger fish 600 and 800lb. Castille also caught a small one and missed an 800lb-er. Tradition lost one at the back of the boat. And we had a sneaky one eat the tuna feather on the shotgun before we’d even had a chance to put the baits in the water. After a very good angling effort by Pierlite rep Ian on the bait rod, we tagged the feisty 250lb-er to open our 2008 heavy tackle season scorecard. And congratulations to 11 year old Jac who caught his very first marlin out at Linden Bank last week on the first day of a three day trip! (Picture – Jac dwarfed by the chair)

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.

Word from Townsville over the weekend is that Cape Bowling Green continues to fire late into the season. Although the bait is starting to disappear, when you do find a patch, you find the fish. Out of 10 boats, 20 marlin and 4 sailfish were tagged including 6 each for both Sedative and Nail It. Congrats guys!At Hinchinbrook, Capt. Sharky on Mauna Kea took out the billfish tournament, with 10 tagged from Moana (the original Moana) second and Sea Baby IV third – with over 60 billfish released for the four days fishing. Howling winds have limited much of the fleet up here over the weekend although there are a few, who have been sticking it out on the reef – including Castille who got a nice 300lb-er for Steph over the weekend before venturing further south to calmer waters. Others, including us on Reel Chase, are heading out this week so hopefully more reports will filter through soon.