WEEKLY ROUNDUP 20.3.15 Well last comp day was a fizzer due to the weather, but Sunday was slick calm and tailor made for everyone to dash out there for the hot blue bite. Unfortunately, with the BoM predicting 20-30 knots from the south, it just didn t pan out like that and the ocean was largely devoid of boats chasing marlin. With a cancelled charter due to the expected conditions, the Better Than Vegas boys decided to go up to the light in the hope of catching a mackerel, but given the glass-off ocean they soon hightailed it to the North Canyons.. Better Than Vegas first Sunday blue. In a stunning five-hour period, they had six bites for three blues from 120 to 180 kilos. At one stage they were 3-3-0, plus another fish that swam to the boat with the teaser in its mouth. They finally came home with a wet sail, nailing three from three, with Brendan Herden on the rod.
They stayed an hour too long though and got severely belted when the southerly did finally roll up the coast, but after a day like that you d hardly notice. Brendan swims another of his marlin prior to release. The bite was on again on Tuesday, with Vegas going 3-3-0, but with a consolation prize 15- kilo mahimahi caught by Tim King. George Blackwell on Hemingway put in a real tough 4 1/2 hours on a blue on 24 kilo, which broke off with 100 metres to go after having 700 metres out for two hours. The big blue nearly spooled them on the first run, to the point where they could see the bottom of the spool, and then it was a tough slog to get it back up. Two harnesses broke, and the rod nearly went for the big swim over the side at one stage could be a couple of Anal Fin nominations right there! Again, the shelf and out to 250 fathoms around the North Canyons was the hotspot. The bite shut down at lunchtime, and while there was still birds and bait present, the marlin didn t want to play, although Hemingway had three more fish up, a couple of which were possibly blacks.
Tim King with a nice mahimahi from Tuesday. The bite continued to fire on Thursday, with eight tags for the boats out there, and Foreign Exchange going 3-2-1 on a 150-kilo blue to Nick Brunyee. It was on Friday though, that the big fish moved in. Vegas had something like seven bites, with super keen 12 year old Flynn Young who you ll often see fishing off the back of Cougar 12 down at the harbour catching a ripper blue of 2.9 metres short length.
Hang on! A tired but happy Flynn says adios to his biggest fish so far. This was one of those rare non-jumping blues, and Flynn had it to the boat and tagged in 55 minutes. He had no skin left on his hands thanks to two giant blisters, and hung tough in the closing stages to get the fish to the boat. After posing for some photos, a two-hour nap was never more deserved. Kestelle had a late start (like 11.00am!), ran out to north of the North Canyons and hooked a double header 15 minutes after putting the lures in. They ultimately went 7-3-1, releasing one of 150 kilos. Of the other bites, one was 250 kilos and the other 300! With Hoggy s big fish experience from Madeira to Cairns, you can take those weights to the bank. He said each patch of flying fish that took to the air usually had a blue or two underneath. With the marlin totally fixated on them, he said they re feeding more like sailfish, just slashing at the lures, which is why there s so many missed hookups, non-hookups and fish just paddling along watching the lures and giving crews heart attacks. Still, it s great to be at least seeing them after such a flat season. There s a bit of a southerly due tomorrow, but Sunday looks fishable again.
That s a mighty big fish for a youngster. Well done, Flynn. Of course this is all good news for the club s Heavy Tackle Challenge, which kicks off next weekend. If you haven t entered yet, you d better do so ASAP. This is a blue marlin bite not to be missed. NEW IGFA BOOK OUT The International Game Fishing Association s excellent World Record Game Fishes book is now out, which is part of the organisation s membership package. If you d like a copy, go to www.igfa.org. It s about $50 AUD given the exchange rate at present, and in addition to the book you also get a bi-monthly copy of the International Angler magazine and a stack more goodies.
IGFA World Record Game Fishes. The book alone is worth the cost of the membership. SIGFC SPONSORS For more information about their products and services, check them out online at http://www.solitaryislandsgamefishingclub.com/our-sponsors.html