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Those of us approaching 10 from the north seemed to have a much quieter day yesterday with the only reports I heard of fish from those coming up the reef from the south. We got as far down as far down as Heartbreak without a bite and did not hear of a fish from those of us fishing from this end. But coming up from Number 9, Capt. Luke on KEKOA released another little guy at the Marks, while Capt. Laurie on Ningaloo released their first big fish of the season, an estimated 850lbs after an exciting 10 minute fight. TowCam footage from KEKOA of their fish above and below water. Update for Wednesday’s fishing: Due to the lack of cooperation of the fish, there is no update A few bites but no releases reported.

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.

For those with trips coming up, be thankful we’re taking care of this nasty weather for you now. Yesterday was 25 knots, but for the most part very fishable, with some ugly little squalls thrown in for good measure. One such squall blowing a nice 34 knots and pouring rain brought Capt. Jim down from the tower for a spell. With most of the boats having a rest and replenishment in Cooktown on Sunday, the fleet is now spread from the lower Ribbons all the way to the top. Mixed reports with most people seeing fish. But catching a bit more difficult in the trying conditions. At Number 10, we managed one fish from two bites. At Number 7, Capt. Luke managed two fish from four bites to the 350lb range. Other reports were few and far between, though we heard that Capt. Corey had a tangle with a monster and Capt. Bill ot one on his trip downsea and Capt. Peter B. catching a small one on 10 as well. Top photos: Trevor on his fish and TowCam pole cam shot in the water. I need to work on my aim.And below, Capt. Luke’s fish at Number 7 Ribbon Reef. All are video stills. Too wet for the digi camera. Of the four boats that finished the day at the top of Number 10 – Reel Chase, Viking II, Iona and Sea Baby IV – we all pulled the pin and were running into the anchorage within minutes of each other trying to beat another rain squall we could see approaching. And half an hour later it had hit, and most of us were still trying to set our anchors = some very wet skippers and deckies. Not the smoothest night’s sleep to be sure, but we certainly did not go anywhere!

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We are starting a three day mothershipping trip from Lizard Island today, and anglers depending, we’re hoping to do some fishing on Number 10 Ribbon. Unfortunately, the weather no longer looks like this. Winds 25knots and rain… Hopefully our anglers will decide to tough it out because there have been some promising reports. On Number 10 yesterday, Capt. Ross on Top Shot released a est 180lb black marlin for his fly fishing anger on 20lb tippet while Tradition also released a smaller fish. But word is that Capt. Peter B also released a grander.Friends fresh from changeovers at Cooktown will be joining us at the top end with both KEKOA and Castille planning to fish to the vicinity of Number 9 today. And Capt. Laurie on Ningaloo had three bites from 4 fish he saw yesterday releasing one in the middle.

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Champion Boat went to Kanahoee who snuck in with two fish on the final day to push them over the line in front of Hart Throb (I have now corrected my spelling..) who lead all week and took home two of the daily awards. Champion male angler went to Adam Furst on Iona with 5 tags. Champion female angler went to Lydie Fayard on Tradition also with 5 fish. Interestingly, if the prizes weren’t divided by the sexes, Lydie would have won Champion Angler overall on count back.Meanwhile in the middle, more big fish are being seen tailing down sea as well as behind the baits. Shaka released this one estimated at 800lbs. Capt. Laurie on Ningaloo released another 400lb-er and Capt. Ross on Top Shot has made the most of his latest trip finishing with 8 fish in 7 days, the biggest to 650lbs.

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Well the fish are finally starting to show up in numbers. They may not be in time to make much of a difference in the tournament, but it is looking promising. And there are some big fish amongst them. Outside the comp, Capt. Kim on Flying Fisher 1 on its maiden charter released an estimated grander plus at Linden Bank Thursday for angler Jill Gardis. In the middle The Allure released 4 including a big one, Ningaloo released two and Top Shot has been getting a couple too. On number 7, Shaka, returning south with John back in the chair, released this one (picture courtesy of CP).In the comp, Sharky is making his usual late charge that we’ve come to expect, with Mauna Kea releasing 3 from 4 on Day 6. This brings them into 2nd place with 5 fish on count back from Heart Throb who hold on to the lead despite not adding to their total since Thursday. Moana III have come back to the Ribbons after their big adventure out wide to finally kick off their tournament score card with their first, second and third fish all on Day 6. And fishing next to them on Number 10, Tradition released two for the day bringing their total for the tournament to 4 fish, all for lady angler Lydie.Up at Jewel, the littlest boat in the fleet, Hell Raiser, caught a big girl estimated at 850lb – the biggest fish for the day for their lady angler Sue – who lost an estimated 900lb-er in the tournament in 2007 after a 4 hour battle. In the same area, we thought we got lucky when a large black shape crashed the big bait, however the first jump instead showed a very nice sailfish on the end of our line which was tagged and released for angler Mick. In the same area, Hell Raiser also raised a sail which shows you never know what’s out there. Later in the day, a nice black marlin invaded the circle entanglers and that was our day other than some more good popper action for trout and GT’s in the virgin Jewel Reef country. Other fish on Day 6 belonged to Hard to Swallow, Iona 2, KEKOA and Little Audrey (whose 150lb jumped into the cockpit during the fight). Current leader-board standings are: Heart Throb with 5 from Mauna Kea also with 5 and Reel Ripe on 4.