Well the trophy for the first Marlin of  the season for the Sydney Game Fishing Club has been taken out. Coincidently the first Marlin for the Broken Bay Club was also taken out. Artie Saren caught Sydney’s first a  Striped Marlin from the boat Compton.  A bitter sweet day for many of us as it is a much vied for Trophy. On one hand it means the Marlin season has started on the other the pressure is off  and we can save a lot of fuel looking for that first fish.

I was out on Sunday looking for Marlin. The conditions were almost ideal with lots of bait around the shelf, good water colour and temperature but no birds. We did get a strike late in the afternoon which I’d like to think was a Marlin. A few boats encountered Marlin further North, around the Norah canyons,  but I didn’t hear of any other than Compton’s.

Inshore the Kingfish are around but you have to put in a lot of time  to catch the bait needed to attract them. Even when you do get the bait it is tough to find a keeper fish. I fished on Friday trolling live baits close to the rocks in quite rough conditions but only caught undersized Kings and a couple of Bonito.

Browns also seem to be running hot and cold with Gemmies and a few Blue Eye still on offer. From what I have gathered fresh bait is necessary.

Overall the fishing is on the quiet side. Whether you are fishing inshore or offshore perseverance is the key and of course good bait…

Tight lines,
Ivan