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Ambition report 11th. April’ 16

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Well in spite of two solid days of fishing in …absolutely ideal conditions there is not very much to say as far as results go.

There were a couple of Striped Marlin taken on both Saturday and Sunday around the 70 to 80 fathom area and a nice Blue was weighed at SGFC by Gary Sexton of ‘Double Trigger’ which weighed 136 kg. I did hear of another supposedly about 180 kg. taken wide of Botany Bay.

Another very large Blue Marlin that Glen Wright of ‘Tantrum’ estimated at over 300 kg. was lost at the boat after a five hour fight from Glen’s 82 year old father when the leader gave way after it was gaffed. It was gaffed by Karen (Glen’s wife and preso. SGFC) and the very lively fish was still green enough to tow the boat around. Karen still holding on had her hand badly crushed, finally the Blue managed to throw the gaff to gain its freedom.

After a long run home Karen was taken to hospital.

Both the Blues above were caught wide off Broken Bay.

Off Sydney very little is happening. There are still some Dollies about on the wide traps and I did hear of a couple of larger ones taken while trolling for the Marlin. For those who like bombing the mountain there are quite a few small Gemmies, some good Blue Eye and other assorted uglies. In closer the Kings seemed to be on holiday with mostly undersized fish being encountered.

I went out past Heatons and to say conditions were perfect would be an understatement. I found big schools of what looked like Slimies also lots of Flying fish but there were only Dolphins chasing them.

Here’s hoping for next week,
__________________
Ivan

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Ambition report 5th. April’ 16

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nelson bay fishing

Well after almost 3 months of very mixed fishing especially after the frustration of losing three weeks of prime time due to a blown engine my stay at Port Stephens has come to an end, as much as I love it up there it is good to be back on home territory.

It was a very mixed season starting with a brief run of Striped Marlin which was put to an early end by the strong and very hot Southerly current that has persisted right up until the last couple of weeks. However nothing is entirely without benefit and the current brought with it a huge run of small Black Marlin which stretched all along the East coast and I believe there is still the occasional one being caught. There were numbers of Wahoo, Spearfish and even the occasional Sail that I haven’t seen for ages – but the most amazing capture to me was of a tropical Barracuda caught by Gale Force on their way up to Port. I would love to hear about any other rare northern visitors to out waters.

coffs harbour fishing chartersThe numbers of Blue Marlin this year is just phenomenal I have never seen a run like it. There was the occasional big Blue, I mean over 200 kg., amongst them but the smaller fish probably averaging 130 to 150 kg. were just as explosive initially but a lot easier to handle with the benefit of being able to tag and release them.

Back here the Blues are still around though a little harder to find, I tagged one at Port before heading South and ‘Gale Force’ tagging two off Sydney on Saturday both around 150 kg. mark. The good news is the appearance of Striped Marlin with several being tagged and lost in the 80 fathom zone where there is a warmer current running – Micky Doyle from ‘Luna C’ having tagged two.

Sydney at this time of year is at its best, not necessarily with numbers of fish but their quality. In most seasons the biggest of species are caught at this time of year when the water is at its warmest. However with what has happened this whole summer who can say what will be. I personally would like to see the return of Yellowfin, there have been some schools sighted and a couple of good fish caught South of us so there is hope…

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Ambition report 28th. March’ 16

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The run of Blue Marlin continued up at Port this week and from what I hear further South too those boats lucky enough to get out during the week getting multiple strikes and hook ups. They were a little harder to locate during the week-end as they moved further South. 260316_1

I found some off the Newcastle canyons on Saturday managing two out of three. They weren’t big fish as Blues go being around 100 and 130 kgs. but they still performed the way only Blues will, that strike and first run electrifying. One good thing about the smaller ones is you generally get them to the boat alive to release for another day.

I can’t remember a season like this with so many Blue Marlin or such a hot current extending down the coast for so long and holding so many good sized Dollies, Wahoo in numbers not seen for years down here as well as the more than occasional Spearfish and even the odd Sailfish.

Up here the current has now eased. The temperature is still 25 to 27 degrees but has slowed to a point where the bait is starting to gather on the shelf. I had a look at Almark and marked what I thought were Kings down there but they didn’t take a jig but on dropping baits we managed a couple of Bar Cod as well as the ubiquitous ‘Jacket.

Whether it is too late or too warm for a late run of Striped Marlin is a matter for speculation but it would be good.

I hope to bring Ambition back to Sydney this week-end depending on the weather. Anyone wanting to come for a last day’s fishing up here on Saturday and/or the trip back on Sunday should give me a call or contact me through my web site.

www.ambitioncharters.com.au

March, April and even into mid-May is when the fishing off Sydney comes into its own. It is a period when in the past not necessarily the most of species but the largest were caught but the way it has been this year anything could happen.

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Ambition report 21st. March’ 16

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It looked like the warm water had moved back in close last Saturday but it is very fickle with temperatures around 24 degrees at Seal Rocks last Thursday and back to 21 on Saturday.

While fishing the Gibber I did mark what appeared to be a couple of Marlin but with no takers it remains a matter of speculation, we did manage a couple of Snapper and a Trag as by catch though.

First off we went out wide stopping off at the FAD and managing one good Mahi Mahi before they went off the bite. It was a good to see that the current had eased and the temperature was up around 24 C, there. However, as we went wider the current increased dramatically and with it running South into the building Southerly wind and swell it was becoming quite nasty, at around 80 fathoms the decision was made to fish inshore where we ended up at the Gibber and the ‘V’ catching some nice bottom fish as mentioned but no Marlin.

Looking forward the weather is looking good over Easter, unusual as that may be and with the warm water still moving in we could expect another run in shore and if we keep our fingers crossed and the current eases along the shelf maybe even a late run of Stripies with the Blue Marlin always a possibility. I know it is a lot of ‘ifs’ but if you’re not optimistic you’d never go fishing.

Because of the weather and the potential for a late run I’ll be available up here at Port until after Easter so if anyone wants to give it a go give me a call or email me via my website…

Tight lines,
__________________
Ivan

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Ambition report 15th. March’ 16

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The Blue Marlin bite continued last week at Port Stephens the fish 150316_2moving South with the current as the week progressed and extending down to Sydney. Amongst the Blues there were quite a few Spearfish and some good sized Black Marlin along with Mahi Mahi and the occasional Wahoo. In short nothing much has changed since the week before.

For those fishing the Newcastle tournament there seemed to be a bonanza of fish but on closer scrutiny it was apparent that for everyone who was lucky enough to have found the Marlin there was someone else with the equivalent bad luck.

Back at Port Stephens were I was fishing we found the Marlin East and North of the Port up to Almark on Friday and by Sunday the concentration was down around the Newcastle canyons. The fish generally around the 100 to 150kg range by no means large for Blue Marlin, there were most definitely some bruisers amongst them, and fairly easy to handle providing you could get the hooks to stick. These Marlin were hitting the lures like express trains and personally I think that because there was and is so much bait around they are hitting out of aggression rather than hunger just using their Bills.

150316_3Where they’ll be this week is anyone’s guess. The change in weather and the Southerly blowing this week could send that Southerly current anywhere but if it keeps moving South it will certainly liven up the Broken Bay tournament providing the weather plays ball.

Until next week,
Ivan

Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 8th. March’16

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Probably not the report a Charter Boat Skipper should write but I must admit the four days fishing of the Interclub were the most frustrating days and disappointing days  I have fished in many a year.110115_1

I would like to say there were few fish to be found for though the first week-end as tough fishing in the most uncomfortable conditions on Saturday, there were still good results for those who persevered.  All I could manage was a very healthy Mahi Mahi which was tagged, much to the disdain of my crew, and to watch several fish taken on boats nearby.

During the mid-week a bite developed wide of the shelf and continued into the second  week-end with Yellowfin tuna, Spearfish, Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi and Blue Marlin being taken. The Blue Marlin were particularly  numerous, in fact the best bite in years. However again all I could manage was another Mahi Mahi which under threat of mutiny I didn’t tag this time.  Again and most frustratingly I watched fish after fish being caught where I was going, where I had just been and even alongside – if I could have pulled my hair out I would have !

The interesting thing about the Blue Marlin bite is the number of fish lost.  Generally a Blue hits a lure and is hooked and the fight is on but these were biting more like Striped Marlin and
mishitting lures or being lost shortly into the fight. It could have something to do with their size these ones being generally smaller than our usual run of Blues, not to say there aren’t some bruisers amongst them.

Well here’s hoping the bite is continuing this week and I can get my timing right.

Tight Lines,
Ivan

Fishing Reports

Ambition report 24th February’ 16

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Marlin1803_1It has been a series of ups and downs at Port Stephens for Ambition. Missing the first 3 weeks up there due to an engine failure and having to sit by the sidelines while the bite was running hot is not something I recommend either for the nerves or to appease frustration.

When we did finally got into action the bite had slowed somewhat. There were and still are plenty of small to mid sized Blacks around but you have to work to find them and put up with very crowded conditions .  One day they are at Seal Rocks then at theIMG_0167 Lighthouse or the Gibber, lucky ones or those in the know manage reasonable numbers while the rest work hard just to get a bite.

Fishing out wide has been complicated by the high temperatures and the speed of the current out there.  Whether it is worth going out there to chase Blues is questionable but there have been some good sized Dollies taken as well as an unusually large number of Wahoo, good food fish at least.20160222_125821

With the Interclub competition on this week-end it will be well worth watching the results…

Tight lines,
Ivan

Fishing Reports

All back together again…

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Finally the installation is finished and she ticked over first time; thank God for Danny Frizzel mechanic extraordinaire, there were a few anxious moments with wrong parts but it all came good in the end…

Sea trials tomorrow then its back to the ocean to refill my veins with salt water and maybe catch a Marlin or two…

Tight lines,
Ivan

Fishing Reports

Ambition report 1st. February’16

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MV AmbitionWell as my new engine gets closer, hopefully within the next week or ten days I sit in frustration hearing about the good bite which appears to be happening all along the coast.
Blacks being found inshore, I have heard even close than the artificial reef off Sydney and close in off Long Reef as well as the inshore reefs off Port Stephens. There are Stripes, the occasional Blue and good sized Mahi Mahi further offshore though they are a bit harder to locate unless you are on the South coast.
The water out wide off Port Stephens is still very hot around the 28 to 29 C and as you would expect other than some flying fish not much else in it . It seems strange that in an El Ninio year the water is so hot.
Kingfish are still making their presence felt and downrigging seeming the way to go.
As I sit here writing, hearing the reports and looking at the good weather the salt water in my veins is slowly diluting I’ve got to get another fix real soon…
http://www.ambitioncharters.com.au
Tight lines,
Ivan
Fishing Reports

Ambition report 25th. January’ 16

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MV AmbitionBecause of my ‘blown’ engine and with a couple of weeks to fill in I went out on ‘Gale Force’ and fished the Bill Heyward Memorial tournament over last week-end:  that is some boat.

To say I was glad to be on a plus 50 footer would be an Striped Marlinunderstatement as on Saturday the seas were scary verging on frightening and the weather atrocious. Sunday was a turn around with calming seas which by afternoon were dead flat.

Out from Long Reef there was and still is a good bite happening with average sized Stripies being hooked regularly but as usual hard to keep on the hook, basically if you could find bait there were fish there, persistence being the key.  Among the Marlin there are some good Dollies and even a couple of Yellowfin were in the mix, closer in shore small Blacks were encountered  – it doesn’t get much better than this off Sydney.

Here’s to hoping it continues for a while yet…

Tight lines,
Ivan