20-25 knot forecast for the five days of the tournament will make this year's Townsville Tournament a challenge to say the least. With our pre-fish days cancelled due to the weather and a seeming lack of fish, everyone is on an even keel to start the event on Saturday. Still, this is not the first time conditions have been like this. In past years, the weather and fish have caused concern pre-tournament, only to turn around overnight.

A weather-induced rule change means that boats will not have to return to Bowling Green or Port during the event and the fishing grounds have been extended to Otter Reef in the North and Broadhurst Reef in the East. As a result, daily updates may be sketchy to non-existant but we will try.

At the Yorkeys Knob tournament held last weekend, a good number of fish were released on Saturday. Robert Loriface (picture above left) fishing on board Pelagic took out Champion Angler. We ventured out on Kekoa ourselves over the weekend for just this single Sailfish tagged (picture above right). With more sited at the grounds so far this year, the tournament may be won on sails.

Despite the rough weather, a casual Mackerel fish for a Corporate Charter at the Palm Island group produced one very nice Sailfish for Angler Bruce. And Capt. Jim got him completely drenched at the back of the boat in the weather. So much so, we soon headed inside Northeast Bay for a relax, dry out and picnic lunch.

And also while trolling in the calmer waters inside Palm Island Angler Karen scored this nice 25lb Spanish Mackerel which was more than enough to feed us all last night.

Shaka, fishing further north at Otter Reef, released one marlin from 4 on Day 1 and one marlin from 2 on Day 2. Day 3 saw the weather too rough for them to bother with the fishing at all.

Unfortunately, today doesn't appear any better!

If you've made it this far I have to thank you for your patience. Our web hosting is currently "undergoing emergency repair" and has been for a few days. In the meantime, the sites are loading at a snails pace. My apologies - I hope they can fix the problem very soon!

Update: The hosting problem is fixed. We are out tomorrow (Wednesday) for an overnight at Cape Bowling Green. Hopefully something to report when we are back.

Reel Chase has begun her journey North for the 2007 Light Tackle season in Townsville, culminating in the 2007 Townsville Gilbert Group Billfish Challenge , Sept 1-5. I'll be joining the boat mid-next week and so our daily blogging should begin again thereabouts.

The Townsville Club crew have been out at Cape Bowling Green over the weekend but by all reports, the fish haven't shown up yet. Here's hoping they are not too far away!

To wet the appetite, some pictures from Townsville 2006: Deckie Brad on the tagpole and some Tournament Action from the Billfish Challenge 2006.

In other news: Day 2 of fishing for Tom Evans and team on board the newly relocated Inkwazi (to Vanuatu) brought early success - Blue Marlin 1142lbs!