Blacks and Stripes

I went out yesterday not knowing what to expect. Prior to the weather last week there had been a good Marlin bite with both Blacks and Stripes along with Blues being found. So, the expectation was high but what affect had the weather had.

As we left the Heads the water temperature was good and the water dirty as to be expected. As we went out the colour changed from dirty green to a clearer green but even out at seven hundred fathoms it only got slightly better sadly never going blue. However the temperature did reach twenty-four point six.

We put the lures out just inside the Nine Mile to check out the FAD but nothing showed up except some small Kingfish so we headed for the 12 Mile.

As we passed over the reef we got a cracking strike on the Brad ‘J’ on the shotgun. I nearly jumped out of my chair, the last thing I expected was a hit in this dirty green water. But there you go, the last thing you expect when you least expect it. Anyway, no hook up. I did a couple of laps with no result so headed out to wider grounds hoping the water would clear.

We went out past Browns and headed North not having seen anything of any interest. No birds, only very scattered bait and no blue water but lots of dead plankton lines, what some call coral spawn.

In the distance I saw something popping up between swells. As we got closer I could see it was some sort of trap but it was in two hundred fathoms. Whatever it was it made for a great FAD.

Barracuda

On the first pass while I was watching the lures I saw a fish leap out from behind the lure and hit it. My first thought was that it was a Wahoo as I’d seen this happen before, and until they brought it to the boat that’s what I thought. However, when it hit the deck it was apparent it wasn’t a Wahoo, it was a Barracuda, a ‘Great Barracuda’ of around twenty kilo’s. Normally found around reefs and tropical seas, what was it doing in two hundred fathoms down here.

While we were fighting the C’uda some big Dollies came up to the boat. They hung around to watch the fight, but sadly we didn’t have any bait so we just watched, thinking we’d get them on the lures later.

Later came and as we passed the ‘trap’ we had a hit but it was only a small Dolly, then as I slowed, the rigger went off with a bigger fish which we all thought was one of the big Dollies. But to our surprise it turned out to be a Yellowfin of ten to twelve kilo’s, dinner at least. I did several more laps around the ‘trap’, we caught a few more smaller Dollies but the big ones didn’t show.

On the way in I went past the Botany FADs and though I saw a couple of bigger Dollies they couldn’t be enticed. I know the fish around a FAD can be easily spooked but I’m pretty sure we were the first if not only boat in that area yesterday. I don’t know why they didn’t come up. The water was definitely warm enough, maybe it was the colour or the algae, but that’s fishing, nothing is for sure.

Tight lines,

Ivan

• All lure used unless otherwise specified are Pakula Lures .

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I guess that by now everyone knows the Yellowfin Tuna have turned up. In particular Yellowfin Tuna these fish are ranging between fifteen and sixty kilo’s and widely spread out. Indications are that the Bluefin are still down South with Longliners working around Jervis Bay and down to Bateman’s Bay. The way the currents are setting there are indications they may turn up here soon, hopefully anyway.

I went out on Saturday knowing there had been a few ‘Fin around but after the bad weather unsure of what might happen. The charts showed a pool of slack water between Brown’s and Heaton’s, my targeted area. However, on my way out a couple of boats had found larger Yellowfin South of Browns these fish ultimately weighed in at over fifty kilo’s, by the way a new leader in the SGFC Tuna Slam. Consequenly, I headed that way and worked the area for a while eventually catching a twenty kilo fish, a first Yellowfin for a young and excited Lochie. In the meantime, another bite was happening North of Browns in two hundred fathoms, smaller fish but in numbers. I thought about going there but decided to stick to my original plan.

We headed East into a calming sea when in seven hundred fathoms the serenity was disrupted by a quadruple strike and the ensuing mayhem. After a lot of untangling we landed three of the Yellowfin. As you would imagine the clients were ecstatic and the decision was made to keep going. It didn’t take long before we had a double which were landed without any of the dramas of the previous efforts.

And the bite continued through Sunday with several Marlin being seen and hooked and in numbers I haven’t heard of for this time of year. So, whatever is happening out there I hope it continues.

Tight Lines,
Ivan

• All lure used unless otherwise specified are Pakula Lures .

A late season Striped Marlin, late season Striped Marlin are more common than most would think. SGFC records show that Striped Marlin have been caught in every month of the year.

I took Zakk and his friends from North Carolina out on Sunday. Zakk was keen to catch his first Marlin. However, after the weather we’d experienced over the previous week I had no idea what to expect. The charts only displayed the ocean currents which didn’t look very exciting, with no info of temperatures. So, we were basically going out blind, not that I that I trust the charts implicitly, however they do give a good overview.

I put the lures in at the Twelve Mile where there were a couple of boats jigging and headed out. The temperature slowly increased to 20.8C at the shelf and as it turned out only increased to 21C at the thousand fathom line. On the way out we saw nothing neither birds nor bait. But I get ahead of myself.

Browns Mountain

Just inside Browns I marked a bait school it wasn’t very solid echo but I did a circle and as I straightened up Ron let us no in no uncertain terms that there was a Marlin behind the *Blue illusion. It hit and took a bit of line but no hook up. When this happens, I always keep an eye on the *Brad ‘J’ on the shotgun. I have found that all too often if a Marlin hits one of the closer in lures and is not spooked it will come in on the shotgun. Sure enough, this one did too and was hooked up solidly, as it turned out the hook went right though the upper bill.

It was a long hard fight, the Marlin hardly jumped, saving its energy until Ron took the leader as you’ll see in the video. There was a bit of tag teaming but eventually the Marlin, a quite big Stripy was brought along side and with photo’s taken released.

With the pressure off now I continued out hoping to find the Yellowfin which should be here now. At the thousand fathom line I turned around not having seen anything. I Noticed the current was coming from the East, not a very hopeful sign, however hoping we might find another Stripy around the shelf.

Unfortunately, we didn’t find any more bait, nor saw any birds and with daylight running out it was time to head for home. On the way in we did see a couple of Whales which performed for the charter but conversely also a caution for me.

Tight lies,
Ivan

• All lure used unless otherwise specified are Pakula Lures .