Fortunately for the 22 boats fishing, the weather forecasters got it wrong, for Friday at least. A glamour day on the water.

Unfortunately, the fish did not cooperate. Day 1 saw just the three fish, a stripe and a blue released as well as this blue marlin weighed by the team on board Mistress at 200kg on the dot - no doubt seeing the team take out the heaviest marlin gong.

Day 2 saw the weather come up in the morning and many of the smaller fleet head for home. For the bigger boats who stuck it out, the fishing did not improve with just the two more blues added to the tally including a potential Queensland womens record blue marlin for Carmen on Caboom.

Final results - first boat on the scoreboard took out the honours - Yvonne (spl?) with one striped marlin.

On the other side of the big ditch - has everyone heard about the big blue weighed at Hohoura, North Island, NZ on Thursday?

It is the biggest marlin ever weighed out of NZ waters at 483.4kg = 1063lbs. (The previous biggest being a black at 473kg = 1040lb.) Apparently the beast was caught on Harlequin with John Douglas by first time marlin angler Ross Jameson. They've been having a cracker of a season and this is just an awesome catch.

The Gold Coast Heavy Tackle Tournament starts tomorrow with the briefing this evening. The weather is refusing to cooperate and so we'll be interested to hear if fishing goes ahead (tomorrows forecast 15-20 and increasing, Saturday 20-25 increasing). Writing from my sickbed, I won't be participating regardless this year :-(

Watchdog was one of the few boats who braved the bad weather in the leadup to go one from two blues on Sunday and none from two Monday indicating the fish are there just waiting for us to go and catch them. Brett tells me their lost fish Monday peeled line like he's never seen before.

Meanwhile, Port Stephens continues its late run with reports of steady fishing. Capt. Bat also reports the odd black showing up on the light tackle grounds in Cairns and the mackerel fishing red hot.

Pic: this is the only fishing we've been getting into thanks to the ongoing bad weather offshore.

Well the Gold Coast (and in fact, much of the east coast)'s weather has been pretty dismal of late, not allowing for much fishing. (Although perhaps plenty of boating in residential streets in flooded areas such as Coffs Harbour!) And while the Gold Coast GFC Heavy Tackle Tournament is fast approaching, none of us have been able to get out wide in advance of it.

So my project for the past week has been an overhaul of the Reel Chase website. I've used over 200 photos from anglers and crew alike. It has 8 slideshows and 5 video so far - including some footage from Ben's hatcam during the Griffiths trip in 05 that I came across going through the files. Its well worth a look - you'll think you're there and cop a wave in the face for your pleasure!

www.reelchase.com - taking bookings now for the Cairn Heavy Tackle Black Marlin Season 09.

Now if you can't use your own website to give yourself a plug, what else is there to do?

I create/design/overhaul websites. Anyone in want of a website, I'm your girl. I'm fast, budget friendly and I have great ideas ready to go for your site now. Give me a call on 0434 520 343 or email me.

TGFC club members made a break for Myrmidon Reef this weekend as weather reports predicted a glamour weekend on the water (they were wrong it turned out.) 7 boats fished with multiple marlin sightings. Its well and truly the end of the season but its good to see a few resident marlin hanging around. Princess C broke one off estimated in the 300lb range while Pirate released an 80lb model. Other club boats Viagra and Far Cry also raising fish. The yellowfin action was as always good around Myrmidon with reports of a couple big eye mixed in.