Lots of photos and video’s at the end.

Capt. Adam Jordan has taken Iona 2 out for a wander to the Seamount. We won’t know how he did until he gets back, but he certainly was doing pretty good when last we heard.  A 600lb black marlin for John St. George about 25 miles from the edge, and then a second that Capt. Adam put at 900lbs before we lost radio range.

Fishing on the bank, there were a number of smaller fish around yesterday with a few big fish raised and lots marking. Capt. Dean Beech on Castille III released two, a 250lb-er for Lucus from Sweden, his first marlin, and a 300lb-er for Cam Beatie, and fought a big one before cracking her off.  Square Bear released a little guy for Fred Cameron that tried to jump in the boat.  And on KEKOA, we put 12 year old Josh onto his first ever black marlin (below) and he can’t wait to go and get another!

Josh’s first marlin on KEKOA

Updated: Some catch up reports and results (and these are now corrected as per the tournament committee):

At the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge the Champion Boat was Kyrenia with 3, followed by Mistress with 2 tags on countback from Reel Impressions also with two. On one tag were (in order)  Joe Joe and Gorilla.  The biggest fish was estimated at 950lbs on Kyrenia.  Congrats to Kyrenia’s  George Argyrou who was Champion Angler from Barry Alty on Mistress as runner up, both with two tags.  Sue Ahlers on Hellraiser took out Champion Female. The tournament stats were 40 strikes, 28 hook ups and 13 tags. It was a slower final day but Rat Bag got on the board to take out the Day 4 daily. Congrats to everyone who competed!

I also heard from Gary Ryan who fish with Capt. Rob Bonser on Pirate last week. Gary sent me these photos from an estimated 400lb-er for Curtis Wallbridge on Saturday and a 450lb-er for Gary himself on Sunday.

I also uploaded another video, this one is Chase’s 950lb black marlin on KEKOA last week. I have heaps more coming if I can find the time.

And Rod put together this video of their first early season day out on Murrifin.  Starts out with some mako action and then onto the stripes.  Good stuff!

We’re in Cairns on changeover today so I’ll be waiting at the doors of Woolies when it opens at 8am to do our shopping which means that today’s report is EARLY!  But guess what? It’s also pretty BIG!  If I do find out more as the day goes on (or photos come in) I’ll put them up, so please check back.

Mooloolaba GFC Club President Nathan Douglass and his parents Wayne and Sue Douglass are currently on their annual trip with the team on Kaizen.  After a quiet first day, they moved up the reef to find the fish. And find them they did.  Yesterday started out with a solid fish that they put at 950lbs for Nathan soon after lines in.  But Sue did one better, later in the afternoon she released a fish that Capt. Russell put at over the mark!  I spoke to Nathan last night and he said they were all suitably elated.  He has promised photos which I will add when they come through. Well done all. I hope that Wayne gets his turn in the chair today!!

Back down at Linden Bank, on KEKOA we finished our trip with the boys from North Carolina on a high with a 800lb-er for Richard which gave another amazing jumping display and put us on 10 marlin for the trip.  It was almost an even bigger day. At lines in to run back into Cairns we got piled on by a fish about 700lbs which jumped and spat the bait in short order but also had two fish following with her (one bigger) threatening to bite. Maybe they’ll be there waiting for us when we go back out today!

Capt. Adam Jordan on Iona 2 went one from two with a fish at 550lbs and jumped a second one about the same size off (video).  Capt. Ian “Wobbles” Ford on Hot Shot went two from three on the little guys while Capt. Tim Dean on Calypso released one about 400lbs and Capt. Tim Richardson on Tradition released one as well.

Hopefully, final results for the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge later today as well.

The fish seemed to come on the bite yesterday and on KEKOA we made the most of it with four black marlin released including another big girl that Capt. Luke Fallon put at 900lbs for Chase. This is only Chase’s second black marlin ever, his first black marlin that he caught on the first day of the trip being 950lbs! Not bad for your first couple of black marlin — 950 and 900lbs! Richard also added another feisty smaller fish in the chair and Michael did the double, one in the chair and one on 50lb standup pitched to the fish while he was following the stinger. We also raised and had bites out of another couple of big fish.

Fishing at Lena Reef, Capt. Tim Richardson on Tradition also released a nice big fish that he put at 850-900lbs.

Boats fishing the Port Douglas Marlin Tournament saw a lot more action yesterday. Capt. Brett Alty on Mistress got things rolling with a fish early in the day ending up with two for Barry at 300 and 200lbs. Barry says the first fish was lassoed and the second ate a big scaly (he’s not sure how they hooked it but they did!) Amokura and Reel Impressions also tagged to get themselves on the scoreboard, while tournament leaders Kyrenia with Capt. Damon Crusdev tagged another to extend their lead, and there were many more hooked up and lost. Paul Poulter on his boat Think Big is fishing the tournament and raised a 200lb-er they couldn’t hook on Opal Ridge and then, just before cease fishing hooked up on a very big girl which unfortunately broke off on the leader after an hour’s fight. (Tournament standings below).

Also fishing the bank, Capt. Tim Dean on Calypso released one from a few bites and we saw Cool Runnings fighting one as well. [Update from Cool Runnings: Jye tells me they got a 750lb-er and a smaller fish yesterday as well as nice big sail. That puts them on 5 black marlin and a sail in three day. Top fishing!! ]  On his Bus Stop, Capt. Adam Jordan on Iona 2 also released one that he put at 250lbs (photo above and YouTube video).

At the Light, Little Audrey got a late start and released two in only an hour and a half’s fishing at 350 and 200lbs while nearby, Shaka realised a small one as well.

Capt. Damon Olsen’s Saltaire has been fishing the top for a little while now and made the move south in the last couple of days releasing one that he put at 600lbs at the bottom of Number 10 on Saturday and on at 500lbs on Number 7 on Sunday.

Port Douglas Marlin Challenge Results: Kyrenia is leading with three from Mistress with two and the following boats on one fish each, Joe Joe, Gorilla, Hellraiser, Reel Impression and Amokura.  Today is the last day of fishing. Good luck to all!

On the Gold Coast, a few more boats fished for the blue marlin on Sunday including Barco who went one from four. Vince tells me he heard of one other being caught and another boat pulling the hooks on two more. He says that there seems to be quite a few out there with a bit more size to them. Updated: More reports from the Gold Coast from Surfers Paradise GFC Club President Mat Stehmann. On Saturday, Murphys Law went 3-3-1 on marlin which was their first stripey about 100kg as well as two dolphin fish. Another Surfers Paradise GFC club boat Chaos went 2-2-2 on blue marlin yesterday also and reported both fish around the 120kg mark. Thanks Matt!

Meanwhile, the Findlay Brothers on Murrifin went out for an early season marlin fish off Broken Bay and ended the day with two from two striped marlin. How good is that!?

Just a couple reports from the reef yesterday. Cool Runnings had the pick of the day at the top and bottom end when John notched up his second and third fish in two days with a nice one that Capt. Troy Dallman put at 900lbs as well as a smaller fish at 200lbs. Fishing nearby, Capt. Tim Dean on Calypso raised the big one but couldn’t get her hooked and Capt. Simon Carosi on Brilliant Company reported a little fish that was all over his bait, when a big girl whooshed up and tried to steal it out from under him, and then they both disappeared. On the Ribbons, Capt. Bobby Jones released a nice that he put at 950lbs! And Capt. Corey Hard on Askari released a small fish before heading in for changeover as well.

Mick Keogh’s 800lb marlin on Lucky Strike

On the Gold Coast, Mark Moreland on Lucky Strike headed out to the sea mount and put electronics guru Mick Keogh onto a nice solid marlin that they put at 750-800lbs out at Jim’s Mountain. Happy with their day, they started to head in and then released two more on the way back for Bruce Willis and his daughter Kelly (Kelly’s first blue marlin) bringing their total for the day to 3. Congrats to all–what a great day! Thanks Bruce for the photo (above). Clarification: the Captains who’ve seen the photo have correctly identified Mick’s fish as a black.

And Ben sent me a teaser trailer YouTube clip from his solo sailfish (2) on fly. Can’t wait to see the full clip!

While it was a quiet Friday for many of the boats fishing the reef, there were a couple of boats who found the big black marlin. Capt. Adam Jordan on Iona 2 caught 3 from 4 yesterday at 80, 200 and 700lbs. Adam says that they also jumped off another fish about the 400lb mark. The Lake Macquarie guys from the boats Magic and Weapon, Robbie Hyland, Dale Green, Pete Sutcliffe & Mark Griffiths are having a great trip with 10 in the last six days. (Thanks to Rhino for the photo and another video link, I don’t know how you do it Rhino!!)

Capt. Tim Dean on Calypso meanwhile was heading in early for changeover but still managed to go two from three at 400 and 150lbs to finish the trip on another good note.

Capt. Ian “Wobbles” Ford on Hot Shot fishing Euston Light released two at 200 & 350lbs. And Jye on on Cool Runnings tells me they also released one at 550lbs at the top of the bank.

Port Douglas Marlin Challenge: These are provisional results. Unfortunately the committee have not been in contact with all of the boats fishing and so these results may change. In the lead after the first two days is George Hickory’s Kyrnia with two fish including one that Capt. Damon put at 850bls.  Following on one fish each is Joe Joe,  Gorilla and Hellraiser.  (Please forgive my spelling if I’ve got the lead boat wrong.) The boats have a lay day (golf day) today and will be back out tomorrow for the final two day’s fishing.