On the Sunshine Coast, the Sunshine Coast GFC’s Tony Cross sent me this picture of Russell Wright and his very first black marlin caught on Saturday on Out Quoting, which was also the first black marlin caught at the 8 mile off Mooloolaba for the season. Its been a slow start, but maybe things will be taking off now. Tony said this fish was caught in 42m of water on a skipping gar off a small school of pillies. On Sunday, they found some good yak schools and raised another which spat the bait (and potentially had a bite out of another on the bait jig).

While reports indicate some of the smaller blacks showing up on the Gold Coast as well, the blue marlin fishing remains too good to turn down. Mistress fished its first day yesterday since returning home to the Gold Coast from the northern black marlin season 2 blue marlin at 200 and 325lbs. Barry said they also boated two yellowfin around the 40kg mark.

Also, a blast from the past: Moose sent me this footage from an old Toohey’s commercial that is well worth the share. It was filmed up north with Rex Mossop, the angler in the chair.  You can see Brazakka coming down from the tower (in the white singlet) towards the end. Moose said they didn’t actually catch anything of the day fishing so the fish footage is a bit of stock footage and a mash-up from different fish.

Feel like a Toohey’s now…!

Down off Port Stephens, Gary Ryan on his boat Ben My Chree reports three striped marlin on lures fishing the Car Park.  Gary said it was a day for the girls with Annie O’Leary and Trudy Curley on the rods.

Little black marlin have been also seen on both the Sunshine and the Gold Coasts. No doubt more reports will come in.

Meanwhile also back home on the Gold Coast but yet to get out water, Barry Alty’s sent me his season recap from on board Mistress. You can read the full recap here. Barry says they finished their season with 35 fish for 42 days fished including three over 1000lbs!

Some more reports from the fleet returning home to southern ports indicate the season is well underway all down the coast. Off Musgrave, Grant on Cjig went three from four blue marlin yesterday including one that Grant put at around 550lbs for 11 year old Julian. Julian’s getting plenty of experience on the marlin this season. They also followed up today with another blue as well as a couple of yellowfin, a wahoo and 7 dollies! Some photos from Grant below – thanks Grant!

Also on his way past Lady Musgrave, Capt. Dean Beech on Castille III released a 400lb blue before they had to pull the lures in and straight line it to the Gold Coast.

Likewise, Capt. Daniel Carlson on Little Audrey getting closer to home and still catching marlin.  Capt. Dan with Brady on deck put the lines in off Norah Head Canyons at lunchtime and released a 100kg blue and 2 striped marlin (60 & 80kg) all on 15kg tackle in short order. Brady, who spent much of the season on crutches, catching his first blue and striped marlin as the angler for a change.  Congrats Brady!  Dan says they saw over a dozen free swimmers along the way.  No doubt also happy to be home, but what a way to end the trip! Dan tells me that Gorilla was also on their final leg and released a blue marlin out off Port Stephens.

On the Gold Coast, the Surfers Paradise GFC are reporting 5 tags among club boats today with a total of 14 raised.  I’m looking forward to hearing how the rest of the weekend goes!

And, Rhino has beat us all to the punch and uploaded his season recap videos Part 1, 2 and 3 from on board Iona 2.  You can check them out via the links below–thanks Rhino!

Part 1

Part 2 here.

Part 3 here.

Cairns: A catch up report from fishing out wide over the past two days. On KEKOA we returned from an overnight trip to Holmes Reef (it was almost like a fly-by!) and while the trip out was pretty quiet, we released three from four on the trip back in with two blue marlin and one black marlin, all on lures.  Congratulations to angler Bevan, who, as a double amputee, put in the hard yards to achieve his dream of catching a marlin. But it was very worth it in the end as the fish gave us a fabulous display as blues like to do.  Likewsie, Capt. Tim Richardson on Tradition returned to port on Tuesday from fishing near Holmes and Flora Reefs via the seamount and released a blue on the way in to wrap up his season.  Capt. Craig “Sparra” Denham on Square Bear is also fishing out there at the moment and we look forward to hearing how he goes upon his return.  It seems like Valykyrie had the pick of the days on the seamount earlier in the week as there hasn’t been too much to it since.

That’s it for our regular season now too save a 4 day trip late next week.  I know that more of the southern fleet have made it home over the past couple of days, after encountering some bad weather on the trip down the coast, and I’m sure they are looking forward to catching up on some R&R as much as I am.  I have received some videos to share which I will do over the next few days after I’ve caught up on some sleep.  (Holmes Reef is a looong way for an overnighter!)

Coffs Harbour: A report from Glen Booth who tells me there are a few stripes and blues around. They tagged this striped marlin on the way home on Sunday on Wicked Weasel, and The Edge tagged a monster striped of 140 kgs just over the shelf. Last week the blues were in quite shallow, with Foreign Exchange tagging one from two bites in 55 fathoms, and losing another out in 85 fathoms.

On the Gold Coast there are whispers that some of the little black marlin are showing up in close. With the blues still being caught, it sounds like it might be a great summer season on the Coast!  And I also heard from Jay Housham who was on Haulin yesterday and released a 1-1-1 striped marlin off Newcastle yesterday as well.

Millimetres that is!

Photo of a 1290mm short length black marlin that Ben “Nosto” Bright and partner Kristy Philliskirk released on Ben’s boat Last Cast yesterday.  Photo by Fish Philliskirk from nearby making it look much bigger than it was. Ben estimates it was around the 12kg mark.

Good news on the marlin fishing Cairns front with the big boat Valkyrie returning to port overnight. They fished the seamount yesterday going 4 from 7 — 2 black marlin and 2 blue marlin – the largest a blue estimated at 500lbs.

We head out wide overnight today and so no blog in the morning until we’re back in phone range!