It’s only the middle of September but the season is already shaping up well as members of the fleet kick off their 2011 seasons almost daily. Capt. Chris Jolly and the boys on Amokura notched up their first two heavy tackle black marlin on their first day of the 2011 season yesterday. They started off early with a 300lb-er for angler Kevin Curry before lunch. Then ended the day on a high-note with a second black, this one Capt. Chris put at 850lbs for angler Dean Shears (photos). Chris tells me the weather was a steady 20+ knots but it was a good troll down the outside with the from Jenny Louise through Flynn Reef and Linden Bank to spend the night at Opal Reef. Both fish were caught on Zacattak Smoker lures.
Some photos courtesy of Rhino from yesterday’s fish on board Iona 2 at Linden Bank’s Bus Stop. Capt. Adam tells me they finished the day with 2 from 3 black marlin. The first one 10 minutes after the baits went in the water that he put at 800lb, plus another at 150lb. Adam says they also had a bite out of a fish in the 600lb range and boated 4 yellowfin and a wahoo as well.
First heavy tackle marlin of the season! Congrats guys – great start!
There is so much good fishing going on right now, Cairns heavy tackle aside…. sailfishing. Coming back to Cairns later.
First mention has to go to the very talented, Capt. Ben “Notso” Bright, who often spends time on the reef here off Cairns with us, but this year will remain guiding in Weipa instead. Ben had the day off yesterday so he decided to head out alone in his 6 metre centre console. What a day, he raised 15 sails, hooked 13 and successfully released 9 including a double header. Yes, that would be solo! He even finds the time to tag them. Great job Ben! Hopefully we can get some hatcam footage out of you soon.
Meanwhile, down on the Sunshine Coast, the newly engaged Smthy (big congrats!) also reports a great sailfish bite, the likes of which they haven’t seen since the late 1990′s. The 24 boats competing in the Telstra Shop Kawana Waters Spring Shootout tagged 33 sailfish light tackle and one striped marlin heavy tackle on Day 1.
The 7.2m Kevlacat Reel Capture is in the lead with 8 sails and a dolphin fish, from the trailerboat Raising the Game with 4 sailfish and a dolly, from the 34′ Black Watch Ymer also with 4. Aptly named 5.8m trailerboat Sailfisher is level with 3 tagged sailfish with Cabelero the 32′ Cabo with a tagged heavy tackle striped marlin.
Fishing continues today with the presentation tomorrow.
As for the heavy tackle off Cairns:
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Sunshine Coast: Another good day on the water. Ymer released 2 blacks, 2 sails and landed a 23kg mahi mahi which is a pending new 8kg Australian record. While Spot On went 1 from 3 on black marlin. David also sent me this link to his footage from Tuesday. Great stuff!
Ribbons, Cairns – Capt. Adam continues to get the jump on most of the fleet who are just now turning their attention to the impending start of the heavy tackle season as Iona 2 released another two smaller fish yesterday at 80 and 100lb. He saw five for the day including a monster at Number 10 Ribbon.
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