Well, it’s definitely not on fire, but there have been a few more reports of marlin and sailfish in the north in the last week or so as the light tackle season gets underway and the weather eases allowing boats to explore the grounds.
Off Townsville, Elektrakusen ventured to Bowling Green for the first time this season for a lone sailfish late last week. Chris reports that there is bait on the northern grounds and that Townsville Bulletin fishing newsman Eddie Riddle has reportedly raised a couple of blacks there in the last week. Further to the north off Lucinda, local legend Peter “Mutta” Mammino has reportedly been raising a few around the reefs, tagging two small black marlin and a sailfish.
Off Cairns, Square Bear pulled the hooks on an angry little black marlin Friday and also raised a sail. Tara also tells me that Steve on Hellraiser likewise had a couple of bites from little blacks in the paddock. Grant on Cjig also took advantage of the better weather for a trip out jigging on the shelf. Grant says there are still a lot of Spanish about as well as mac and yellowfin tuna but they didn’t raise any marlin.
Meanwhile another Cairns local Shan took his 5.8m runabout Extreme out to enjoy the fine weather with similar results. Shan reports losing a small 20-30 kg black on near Oyster in the first five minutes after setting the teaser which broke him off by darting under the teaser. He also had a free swimming/sunning sail of around 30kg cruising alongside just east of Pixie but it wasn’t interested in eating.
Heading North, Sydney based Little Audrey has begun its trip north for the upcoming Cairns Heavy Tackle Season. Capt. Daniel Carlson and crew are spending a few days on the Gold Coast before the journey continues. Dan tells me on the way through they released their first GC blue marlin of the season for first time angler Tom Murray, a solid 650lb-er which was released in 15 minutes after a great jumping display!
The August Black Marlin Fishing Blog newsletter is coming out in the next few days. If you haven’t already subscribed, you can do so here.
**Update: Joe Joe’s Capt. Tim Ryan tells me that Saltaire lost an estimated 400lb black marlin at Opal Ridge on Sunday…. there are some bigger fish around already!
After a week of pretty blowy weather in the north, the next few days forecast is for glamour conditions. And so hopefully some of the fleet will be fishing and reporting back with more little black marlin releases. The Yorkey’s Knob Light Tackle Slam, due to be held over the weekend, had been postponed to August 20th.
Square Bear braved the weather to fish on the weekend and raised two little blacks as well as catching a bunch more mackerel. Tara reports that they boated 3 spotted mackerel and released 5 undersized Spanish. On Saturday they raised a little black (20kg) that did not eat in the paddock. On Sunday they caught 19 Spaniards and raised a 30+kg black on the long rigger but ended up pulling the hooks.
There have also been reports of a blue marlin on the Gold Coast, as well as more striped marlin seen, and yellowfin out wide.
On another note – technology moves fast (in the rest of the world – if not in Australia…the NBN will never reach the reef!) Starting today, SportFisherman.com are live streaming the White Marlin Open which runs August 8-12. Live streaming!! You can check it out via the link below – if you are in need of an office distraction today!
http://stream.sportfishermen.com/2011-white-marlin-open.html
They also live stream a bunch of other tournaments, you can check it out on their website at www.sportfisherman.com
Is this the start of something? Reports of little black marlin over the weekend including Capt. Craig “Sparra” Denham’s Square Bear on a day trip from Cairns releasing a little black. (Oh and 18 Spanish mackerel!!) This marks the Square Bear’s second black marlin of the light tackle season. Tara told me it was approx 20kg and went wild in the air. They hooked up trolling in from the wide grounds and Oyster Reef on a pink woghead out long.
Meanwhile fishing off Hinchinbrook again Capt. Adam Jordan on Iona 2 had rubber hook syndrome jumping off 3 little blacks (But converting 28 Spanish mackerel!!) Adam tells me these were a bit smaller than the 100lb fish they released last week – approx 30kg models more like what we are used to seeing at this time of year.
Hopefully this is just the start!
Not quite the little black we were expecting, but Capt. Adam Jordan on Iona 2 has capped off a great day’s fishing off Hinchinbrook with and estimated 100lb black marlin which came on board for a quick pic. Adam says there’s plenty of mackerel and they some great nannys too!
Maybe the little ones won’t show up and we can have light tackle fun with these models this year?!
Hailey’s photo of her twin sister Hutton’s first sailfish!
First some international news today from regular Cairns crew Jarad “Dingo” Boshammer who lives the rest of the year in the US with his lovely wife Beth. Dingo has been getting in plenty of practice for the season ahead fishing some of the tournament season in Hawaii before heading back to home to Florida again for two short months before he heads back to Australia. Fishing out front of Jupiter Inlet in Danny Fords 25 ft centre console for dolphin fish, Terry Fohey’s 16 year old twin daughters (Hailey and Hutton) each released their very first sailfish (and 60 dollies all up too!).
Following up on Day 3 of the trip, the girls stayed home while Dad Terry and Dingo headed 15 miles off shore to try help Terry Fohey catch the last billfish he needed to finish his billfish slam (every species around the world). Set up with 80lb braid, 10lb lead weight, light sticks and mac tuna belly for bait, they hooked up on the first drop in 1700 ft of water. Soon after Terry boated a sword with a 48 inch short measurement to complete his world slam – an awesome feat. Big congratulations to Terry (and Hailey and Hutton too!) and thanks to Dingo for the report!
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Meanwhile, Broome FC has been hectically trying to keep up the live updates but great fishing is getting in the way! Day 2′s recap was missed however Day 3 was reported as 146 sails raised, 110 strikes, 85 hookups and 56 tags as well as 11 marlin raised, 7 strikes, 5 hook ups and 1 tagged. Sounds like its hotting up!
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And, more Aussies fishing overseas: The annual HIBT is once again underway out of Kona, and Aussie anglers are well representated. Day 1 results were 16 blue marlin tags and 1 weighed as well as a stripe and short-nose spear each tagged and a yellowfin boated. Looking forward to hearing how the rest of the tournament pans out!
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Lastly, for those who aren’t subscribers, the July newsletter went out last week and you can see it here. I also have some exciting new features coming up over the next two months and subscribers will get the announcement first so if you would like to sign up for the monthly newsletter, you can do so in the sidebar on the rights.
