January Striped Marlin
January Striped Marlin, it is the beginning of the season and January Striped Marlin are on the menu.
It was good to get out on Saturday since the predicted weather for Sunday didn’t look good. Sadly though the reports throughout the week were not encouraging. There was the occasional Marlin if you were lucky as well as some really big Mahi Mahi but again they weren’t prolific.
Hot Water Marlin
Reports coming in from Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour indicate the Black Marlin are on their way, Peter tells me they are the two year olds not the general run of the new season fish. Incidentally the water temperature down to Port Stephens is verging on 28 degrees; that is tropical water. What will happen if it gets here is anyone’s guess.
At Port Stephens they have been catching Striped Marlin even in that, what can only be described as hot water so all is not lost. I suppose it is possible that this hot water is layered over cooler water where the fish are more comfortable.
Anyway, going out on Saturday the water at the Heads was a very nice 23.5 degrees and out on the edge 25.5 degrees. Still hot by normal standards but there was heaps of bait and the Marlin were quite active with several taken throughout the day as well as a few very big Mahi Mahi. I did hear of a Blue Marlin and with the water temp being what it is I would have expected more, hopefully they’re yet to come.
We raised three Stripes and tagged two with one not hooking up. Incidentally none of our fish played with the lures they were all blind strikes probably accounting for the better hookup rate.
I think the next few week are going to be very interesting especially if that 28 degree water reaches us down here. I can’t wait to hear the reports.
Tight lines,
Ivan
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