The fishing improved day 3 on the edge and a few little blacks have shown up inside as well as some decent blues. Ted's Toy weighed a 273kg blue.

The day started off pretty well for both Weapon and T-Star in the morning session, which only got better for T-Star who added another in the afternoon. The Beshoff family on Offshore continued their Port Stephens tradition with another good day and seemingly pulling further into the lead.

Inside, KEKOA fishing off Broughton Island caught a sailfish (not for the angler with it on her bucket list), and a decent sized black, keeping their away team lead status. On board Reel Chase we had chaser early in the day that didn't hook-up and for a change, the live slimeys were everywhere. After lunch we managed to add to our points with a successful switch and followed it up just before cease fishing with another aggressive fish on the milkfish teasers, which although he stole the teaser, was hungry enough to take the live bait - resulting in a second successful tag and release for first time marlin angler Bob.
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UPDATE: Current standings of the NSW Interclub at the end of day 3 are:

Capture Teams = 1. Lake Macquarie T2, 2. Sydney T1, Newcastle/Port Stephens T1.
Capture Boats = 1.Offshore, 2. Outcast, 3. Ambition.

Tag & Release Teams = 1. Newcastle/Port Stephens T2, 2. Newcast/Port Stephens T6 on countback from 3. Lake Macquarie T1.
T&R Boats = 1. Born Free, 2. Weapon 3. Time Out.

Tuesday was Trade Day and Party in the Park at the Interclub so no fishing updates from down here although there was some news from the Gold Coast again. Message from private Gold Coast boat Tsunami: caught 18 black marlin for the day including 10 in the last two and a half hours fishing. Number 14 for the day, a 90kg black, ended up in the cockpit after an energetic jump.

Not a bad day at all!

TowCam footage from Monday of an inquisitive dolphin checking the camera out close up.

Current standings of the NSW Interclub at the end of day 2 are:

Capture Teams = 1. Lake Macquarie T2, 2. Newcastle/Port Stephens T1, Composite T1.
Capture Boats = 1.Offshore, 2. Boss Hog, 3. Tycon.

Tag & Release Teams = 1. Newcastle/Port Stephens T2, 2. Lake Macquarie T3, 3. Broken Bay T3.
T&R Boats = 1. Born Free, 2. Time Out, 3. Apple Pie.

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Ladies days was a bit of a bust for Talina and I. We did not see a fish all day - but we were in good company. We did get the underwater camera out however and entertained ourselves going over the bait balls. We have some good shots of the dolphins checking out the camera too so hopefully we'll be able to go through that footage and post it later. The winning team was the girls on board Freedom who won with one marlin and several dolphin fish releases with Scotty's daughter Alex taking out champion angler. Congratulations!

Starting slow, except a triple header to Born Free (!) the fishing did get better on Day 2. There was a lot of bait materializing in the afternoon and it was surprising how many boats were hooked up at cease fishing at 5 o'clock - including both On site and Ambition on double headers.

Speaking of which, we had a double today and managed to catch this guy for Bob. There were also a few more blues caught today for those who fished for them. KEKOA managed to catch one when he wasn't - ending with the two fish, a blue and a stripe. But by far again the champion boat of the day was Born Free who managed another stripey on the third sked bringing their total to 6 for the two days plus a field goal in the form of a T&R dolphin fish.

I'm fishing ladies day tomorrow so no updates until we're back in port:-) Wish us luck!

Day 1 of the Interclub dawned to reasonable weather although we only saw the sun once or twice. On the fishing front, we thought we were off to a good start when we had a striped marlin bite while setting the lines. But unfortunately he was lost. And we didn't get to join the number of boats with marlin on Day 1.

The first sked was a little quiet with Running Bear reporting a striped marlin and Born Free reporting a double header and still fighting. Things picked up a little during the day and ended on a similar note with Freedom fighting a double header, only to have the reel seize on one of the fish, but at least they tagged the other. And nearby, Ross Hunter on Broadbill also pulled one off the same bait school and gave us something to watch and improve the enthusiasm level.

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Update / Day 1 Standings:

Capture Teams = 1. Lake Macquarie T2, 2. Newcastle/Port Stephens T1, Port Hacking T2.
Capture Boats = 1. Tycon, 2. Offshore, 3. Baja.

Tag & Release Teams = 1. Newcastle/Port Stephens T2, 2. Lake Macquarie T3, 3. Sydney T2.
T&R Boats = 1. Born Free, 2. Apple Pie, 3. Time Out.

Of course all this has now changed with the 9:10 sked on Day 2 heralding only one boat with marlin releases being Born Free who successfully tagged and released a triple header before 9am.

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Meanwhile back on the Gold Coast (did we mention we just came from there?) Ross McCubbin on Lucky Strike reports the fishing wider around Spot X has resulted in 19 marlin tags for the last three days for himself, topping it off yesterday with 10 tags while other Gold Coast club boats reporting up to 7 tags each yesterday as well. Hopefully this change in fishing brought about by the south-east weather we've experienced along the NSW/SE Queensland coast in the last week and indicates a bit turnaround here in Port Stephens about to happen.

Thursday - The sun came out and the wind went away and the bait showed up in plague proportions. We also managed a couple of striped marlin bites and to see a few more. It seems as though the fish are starting to move into the area with the conditions perfect.

The dolphins however, were the ones capitalizing on the bait yesterday. They had them all balled up and the feast was on. We had balls of bait hiding from dolphins under KEKOA. Who needs a dredge teaser? We had a fully live version swimming along under the boat.

Many of the other boats also reported bites although no-one managed to catch one that we know of. The good thing about stripies is that they can show up overnight - and we're hoping that they do. We have a day of rest and re-supply today and out for the tournament tomorrow.

Caption: A stripey bite on the live bait behind the teaser and one of the bait balls hiding in the shadow of the boat.

There were a good number of the boats who hadn't been out in over a week who took advantage of the easing of the weather yesterday. And for once the conditions were better than than predicted - especially for us out wide - although the boats who fished in close reported sloppier conditions with the current running south and the solid ground swell. Today, we may even get sunshine.

On KEKOA, we went out to the car park, and although we returned fish-less, we're happy to report that the bait has shown up and the current has disappeared. 22 and a half degree water, more suited to the striped marlin than the 27 degree and raging south current of late. We did see a tailer, but couldn't get a bait in front of it.

Capt. Bill took Viking to the north for a look-y and had exactly the same result as us throwing a bait at a tailer that didn't bite as well. Freedom and Broadbill fished the Gibber, reporting plenty of bait as well but no result. The only fish we heard from the day was a trailer boat fishing inshore off Cabbage Tree Island releasing a small black.

With conditions now favourable, we can only hope that the fish will show up. A lot of boats will be fishing their way up and down the coast to the Port today and tomorrow in prep for the tournament on the weekend. We'll keep you posted on any news.

It started so well - a tidbit of fishing here and there, and even some pictures. And then dead silence as unfortunately the weather for the past week has not been entirely conducive to fishing - rain and gale winds.

But here's evidence of some blue sky - the first blue sky we've seen in over a week - and although the wind is still howling today, it looks good to settle for Wednesday/Thursday so we can get some fishing in before the Interclub comp starts on the weekend.

Fingers crossed anyway.

North of Jervis Bay again yesterday, a report from Capt. Luke before heading in when the wind came up just after 3 - saw 9, had three bites, released 2 (big 100kg plus models). He's heading home for the weekend now that the wind looks like its set in. And Capt. Jim had the Scott boys out on Reel Chase at the Goldy yesterday now that he's back from his mini break, with two small blacks on laser pro's including one they dropped at the back of the boat.

Just a quick note from Capt. Luke who yesterday ended up just north of Jervis Bay and reports they have found masses of bait and a few fish - although the longliners may have beaten them to it with a few boats in the area. After losing one shortly after putting the baits in the boys were soon hooked up on a double header. And, with only the two of them on board, Capt. Luke tells me he was glad when his fish soon fell off. Big stripies I'm told. With Steve the machine back out again today, hopefully we'll hear some good results.

Up at Port Stephens, more boats are seeing fish. Perhaps a turn for the better?!

Well the blue marlin fishing yesterday at Port was a bust for some but a success for other. Capt. Bill and Viking II got two yesterday at 300 and 500lbs. Capt. Luke says the boats are pretty spread out and while they had no luck for blues out wide, had a shot on a stripey on the way in but had to settle for a good size dolphin fish.

Capt. Pete on Little Audrey tells me they had more success at Ulladulla for the Jess Sams Open on the weekend seeing 17 and converting 5 - 4 stripes and a black - which seems to confirm that the fish are down south of Port at the moment. The boys plan to fish their way back down to Sydney today and out of Ulladulla later in the week hopefully with more success. Stay tuned!

On the Gold Coast, Lucky Strike took out the Pakula Friendly comp on the weekend with two blacks on both days.

Capt. Luke arrived in Port Stephens yesterday, fishing their way up from Sydney with an early hook-up off Terrigal for one 60kg striped model, later jumping another off and raising another before heading in to Port as the weather came up. By all reports, the fishing for the past couple of weeks has been slow - but as Capt. Luke tells me, it may be on the improve now. The best stripey fishing is in close off Terrigal and there have been a few blue marlin off Port Stephens.

Yesterday many of the boats at Port chose to chase the blues instead. Rob Curry on Marquis releasing two while Capt. Bill on Viking II released one as well. Capt. Luke heads out today for some blues action himself.

The Lake Macquarie comp was held over the weekend, champion boat (anyone?) reportedly ending up with 3 marlin.

Many skippers have been enjoying some well earned R&R over the holidays, and after another busy Cairns season - and over 3 months jam packed marlin fishing - and who can blame them! While things have been quiet on the blogging front of late, you can still check out the action in the blog archives for September, October, November and December. And while many boats are now gearing up for (or already fishing) Port Stephens for striped marlin and blues and blacks, many have also been keeping the reels turning still at the home port.

The northern fleet have been hammered by rain of late (and a cyclone overnight) but when they can get out there, are enjoying the light tackle fishing. Capt. Ross on Top Shot has been targeting the blues and popper-fishing for GT's and dogtooth.

While Wild Turkey has been getting in on the light tackle action too including some good sized sails, like these off Linden Bank.

Triton has also been busy light tackle fishing on the Sunshine Coast, still catching a few little blacks in a late run though they have mostly moved on now. The Phantom, visiting from the Sunshine Coast won the recent Gold Coast Riviera Light Tackle comp with two black marlin, making the most of the adverse conditions. Iona fished the Port Macquarie Golden Lure where a good number of blue marlin were caught during the week. Meanwhile KEKOA, Reel Chase and Viking II, Gold Coast season over, are now preparing for the trip south to Port Stephens. (Update: Capt. Bill is already there and Capt. Luke has likewise popped down for a week before heading back again next week.)

Blogging is about to start up again in earnest. Someone just needs to tell the fish down there we are ready. Stay tuned. Or if you're down there already, send in your reports~!

Some season recaps videos are done (more to come after Port Stephens). You can check them out in the post below. That should get your excitement levels up for another fantastic marlin season in 09. All the Captains are already at work filling their 2009 Cairns seasons, so if you're planning on fishing, get in with your booking fast.