It seems that the offshore fishing off Sydney is in the doldrums at present though there have been a few highlights.

Kingfish are making there presence felt on the inshore and offshore reef as well as in the harbour with some good Snapper being taken by those in the know but don’t ask me where they are, secret spots are just that.

As I mentioned offshore fishing is quiet, not to say there is nothing out there. Browns is hit and miss some catching good sized Blue Eye and the occasional very small Gemfish but the majority doing nothing but losing gear. To make matters worse or better depending on your preferences Mako’s are showing up and stealing catches. One Mako taken last week went 268 kilo’s which augers well for the upcoming Mako Tournament held by SGFC in early August. Mako numbers should start to increase over the next few weeks when they and the rotten Blue Sharks move in for their spawning run to coincide with the Gemfish migration in July and August.

Tuna, there are reports of Yellowfin to the North and Bluefin to the South and virtually nothing out front. The currents off Sydney look good for Yellowfin but when you get out there other than whales it is a virtual desert, surely it is only a matter of time. To the South Bluefin have been caught as close as Jervis Bay and appear to be coming our way.

Over the last few years the Bluefin have turned up off Sydney in early to mid-July but how long they stay is anyone’s guess, one thing for sure it is not for very long so be prepared…

Tight lines,
Ivan

All I can say after this week-end is that there are still Marlin around, well at least one. Even though he/she may have a sore mouth it may still be hungry.

We went out on Saturday thinking we had a good chance at the Yellowfin which were sighted last week, because it was rough, certainly rougher than I would have expected from the weather report but we all know that ‘fin like it rough. Anyway the guys were keen so off we went. We covered a lot of miles and saw nothing there wasn’t even anything to learn from the radio chatter as there was none.

Sunday couldn’t have been more different than the day before. Other than the rain which we managed to avoid, the sea was dead calm all day even glassing off in the afternoon. Again we covered a lot of miles, going out to and past Heatons were the temperature got up to 21 degrees but with no definite breaks.

It was only when we got back close too the shelf that I found any bait with occasional schools of Sauries showering across the surface and Gannets flying high looking for  the bait schools which were holding up deeper in the water column. It was all coming together but by this stage we had pretty well given up hope of finding anything and it was getting dark almost time to bring in the gear and head for home.  The relief was almost tangible when that Striped Marlin hit the ‘lumo’ on the rigger with the Tiagra screaming in protest and pandemonium prevailed. Unfortunately, as I intimated in the first paragraph, after about 15 minutes the hooks pulled free and we lost the fish.

In general the fishing on Saturday and Sunday was pretty ordinary around Sydney. Those fishing Browns are having a lean time and there were Barracouta on the 12 Mile which is pretty sad in itself. Even the Kings are quiet unless you are really know what you are doing and have good bait.

But, we can always blame the moon…

Tight lines,
Ivan

Yesterday was a good day at least compared with Saturday when I was last out.

On Saturday there were several club boats out and I am pretty sure all saw or had hits from Marlin but only one was tagged. And on what should have been a pleasant day out at sea in fine weather turned into a day of frustration with a new breed of idiot making their presence felt on the radio, these guys even made ‘Wing-nut’ look good and that’s saying something.

Yesterday was the opposite the weather wasn’t quite so good but I think I was the only boat out and it was a pleasure to be out in good company on a good day. If my clients from America had heard the goings on from Saturday heaven knows what they would have thought about Australian fishermen.

My plan was to go out wide were the charts were showing  a decent temperature break and look for Yellowfin. I did spend some time around ninety fathoms where there was huge amounts of bait but after an hour without any action continued out.

I finally found the break in a thousand fathoms and started to work my way down criss-crossing the break. It was looking good with the occasional flying fish as well as the occasional shower of Sauries taking off. There had to be Yellowfin around and when we did get a strike which was in the sun’s glare so I couldn’t see it I was sure it was a ‘fin. But then out of the glare a good sized Stripy appeared tearing up the ocean grey hounding away much to the excitement of John and his friends.

After a good fight we had the fish boat side and after taking photo’s released it unharmed. We hadn’t even set up the lines properly when we had another hit and another Stripy, a bit smaller than the previous one, took to after air and after a good fight was successfully released.

Well that was it for the day I turned Ambition for home – a good day indeed, two Marlin in one day in mid-May.

Tight lines,
Ivan

The fishing over the week-end was not real hot which as is usual for this time of year but some quality fish were encountered.  Conditions were perfect, some would say too perfect, a couple of good Blue Marlin were weighed at the Port Hacking tournament and at least one good one lost, Spearfish and Striped Marlin were also taken the latter being found nearer the shelf and to top it off a 60 plus kilo Yellowfin was also weighed. The one surprising fact which stands out is the lack of big sharks which are usually encountered around this time of year in fact the really big ones have been missing all summer.

At least Yellowfin are being encountered more regularly with a couple hooked near ‘Heatons’ and a long liner seen working nearby so there must be good numbers of them around. Hopefully as the currents change and the temperatures drop their numbers will increase and bring them within easy reach.

Bottom fishing at Browns is producing small Gemmies and Deep Sea Perch with Blue Eye in the catch as well, also the occasional Hapuka and Mirror Dory is turning up. It won’t be long before the Gemmies turn up in numbers and with them the Mako’s and the dreaded seals – winter is coming.

Tight lines,
Ivan

A bit of a late report I know but I’ve had Internet problems or more particularly Telstra problems but that’s another story.

The weather over the Easter week-end was incredible I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such great conditions over the entire four days. Unfortunately the fishing wasn’t near so good but as is usual for this time of year there were some good Blue and Striped Marlin  about  and also as usual  it was hard work finding them with sadly a number of the Blues being lost, often dying or just being too big for the gear.

Most of the Blues were encountered around Browns and out to the 600 fathom line whereas the Stripes were found inside and just over the shelf where there was some bait. Friday was the best of the days for the Marlin with very little action on Saturday and Sunday and then again on Monday the action increased as the water changed over and increased in temperature.

On Monday I fished out wide looking for Yellowfin but a Blue would have done just as well. Significantly I found a couple of logs, I think brought down from the floods and if that’s so there should be many more, actually, one of which found me, it was so water logged I didn’t see it I only heard it when hit it. There were some good Dollies around the log but with no bait we used jigs hooking several but they usually jumped off. Then we started losing the jigs on the drop, after losing four we finally got a solid hook-up and landed a small, a very small Wahoo.

Throughout the break there were encounters with Yellowfin out wide from as far up as the Norah canyons and down to Wollongong. In true early season Yellowfin fashion they were fixated on whatever they were eating as well as moving very quickly and hard to approach.

Other than the Game fishing it appears the bottom fishing at Browns has gotten off to a good start with most boats getting some Gemmies even though they were all on the small side, there were some Blue Eye taken also.

As an aside with Browns being so heavily fished these days it is in everyone’s interest to report anyone seen obviously disregarding the bag limits. It is easy to spot boats with few on board using multiple electrics or those using illegal hook rigs. Note their registration numbers and even film them then report them to fisheries.

With what looks like another good weather week-end coming up and the water temperatures still up there it is still looking good for the Marlin fishermen with even a chance for the much anticipated Yellowfin.

Tight lines,
Ivan

As much as I love it at Port Stephens it is great to be back in my home waters.

I brought Ambition back last Friday in ideal conditions. Fishing  out as wide as 1200 fathoms looking for those Yellowfin that habitually turn up at this time of year as well as the Blue Marlin that often accompany them. Unfortunately I didn’t find them and in fact saw nothing but flying fish the whole way back. Even the radio was quiet until later on the day I heard of a couple of big Blue Marlin lost down off Botany. On the surface it wasn’t looking good for the SGFC’s Peter Goadby Tournament  over the next couple of days.

What a difference 40 boats can make on a day. Whereas the previous day had been very quiet off Sydney on Saturday there seemed to be Blue Marlin everywhere. The main bites were North above the ‘Bait Station’ and South off Botany where the biggest fish were caught  including a monster of 348 kilo’s by the boat ‘Rabbit’ which obviously won the Capture section of the tournament. The Tag & Release section was also won in that area by ‘Little Audrey’ owned by Phil Webster the major sponsor of the tournament and skippered by Dan Carleson, tagging three Blues.

I chose to go due East where in 600 fathoms I found the remains of what I thought was a drift net supported by several bubble floats. As I app

roached we had a strike which turned out to be a small Yellowfin which was dutifully tagged and let go. It took a while looking to find the net again and in doing so tagged another couple of Yellowfin and keeping a couple of Mahi Mahi for dinner. We did have a Marlin come into the spread but we couldn’t induce it to eat, so frustrating. Interestingly and frustratingly there were big Yellowfin occasionally busting up in the area but they were up and down so quickly I couldn’t catch up to them.

Sunday was a very different day – because of what I’d seen on Saturday I went back to the same area only to find the water temperature had dropped a half a degree.There were still plenty of flying fish and the occasional shower of Sauries about but from the radio chatter it was apparent the bite had moved further South. The change in conditions was reflected in the results for the day which were dismal by comparison with the previous day.

In summary Sydney is living up to its historic reputation of having its best fishing for the big ones between end of March to May so there’s plenty more time to get amongst them…

Tight lines,
Ivan

I have just completed my last charter at Port Stephens for this year though I might come back in August and give the Kingies a shot at Almark as well as try for an early season Striped Marlin too.

Out wide up here the water is still over 24 degrees, still running South and still with little life in it other than flying fish – but when that current eases allowing the bait to hold up anything could happen.

Inshore there are still Blacks showing up with the occasional Cobia to add to the mix on the inshore reefs. Closer in and even in the bay you can find Longtails, always exciting to catch.

The big news this week-end is the Sydney Game Fishing Club’s annual Peter Goadby Memorial Tournament which is always a great competition.

At this time of year off Sydney we catch the biggest of species and every year there are Blue Marlin over 200 kilo’s taken making the major prize of $25,000 for the biggest Marlin over 225 kilo’s quite attainable. Striped Marlin up to 150 kilo’s have been taken and quite often there is a run of big Yellowfin signifying the start of their run – always much anticipated.

So… the weather is looking good and you’ve got to be in it to win it.

Get that entry in ( available to download from www.sgfc.com.au)

Tight lines,
Ivan