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Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 26th.October’25

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October Marlin Mayhem…What a remarkable day at sea today was. I took out Qing and three of his friends for their first day at Game Fishing and they had a baptism in fire, truly October Marlin Mayhem.

The video will give you some idea of the mayhem, but you had to be there to appreciate it. Bear in mind that these guys’ experience was only some small fish caught rock fishing.

The day started slowly for us, but the radio was telling that the bait schools hadn’t moved on and that several Marlin had already been seen and tagged.

Bait Schools…

I worked the bait schools for a while with no result so had decided to move on. That’s when we got our first strike, a blind strike on, surprise, surprise the Brad’J’ bullet. One of the guys took the rod and the others moved in to help him, one holding the rod, one winding and the other holding the guy with the rod, we were in trouble. It didn’t take long to realise it wasn’t a Marlin and as they brought it closer, I was surprised to see it was a Yellowfin around twenty to thirty kilo’s. Sadly, as luck would have it and with the help of some slack line the fish won its freedom. Though there have been a couple of Yellowfin taken around these bait schools recently it still comes as a big surprise to find any inside the shelf these days.

Qing's marlin
Qing’s marlin

So, we carried on and shortly after all hell broke loose. We had five, maybe six Marlin in the spread hitting the lures. Ron was running around like a chook with its head cut off. He was trying to tease them into solidly striking the lures but to no avail. We had a couple on for a short time however not one of them stuck, but it was exciting to say the least. Sadly, the video does not do it justice.

Fortunately, the day wasn’t a complete failure, we did end up tagging a Striped Marlin.

Never too late…

Later in the day we had a double hook up. And between the four of them on the rod they got one to the boat where Ron released it. The other fish was left to its own devices, the rod just left in the holder, so lost. By this time none of the guys were feeling terribly well so they decided it was time to go back in. A frustrating decision since it seemed the bite was happening with several boats hooking up as we left.

Other than the seven or eight Marlin that came into our spread throughout the day. I saw another couple tailing down sea. Also, considering that three other boats, Rampage, Shoki and another whose name escapes me, had caught three when we left, not to mention several others boats with at least one to their credit it is hard to imagine the number of Marlin in the area.

This Marlin bite has been going on for quite some time now and it is only October, the next few months could be quite something. The question is, are they holding in the area because of the bait or are they constantly passing through?

http://www.ambitioncharters.com.au

Tight lines,
Ivan

 

  • All lure used unless otherwise specified are Pakula Lures .
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Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 6th.October’25

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.Yesterday was a most remarkable day, for fishing anyway. After last week-end’s effort where we raised two Marlin with no hook ups, yesterday was a complete turnaround. Reports during the week had indicated that the Marlin and most importantly the bait were still in the area so hopes were high for today’s adventure and hopefully another remarkable day.

 

In Search…

We headed out intending to catch some bait to use either alive or as skippies so as to get a more secure hookup. It didn’t take long to catch the bait and that achieved, we headed for the shelf. It was a pleasant trip with some fair weather for a change. As we neared the shelf the bait and searching birds started to build up. The plan was to start with lures and to change over to baits as the day progressed.

Robbie's Marlin
Robbie’s Marlin

So, out went the lures and it wasn’t long before I marked a fish, which actually surprised me, because it was nowhere near any bait. It was only a few seconds later that the Brad ‘J’ on the shotgun took off and after a good fight a beautiful Striped Marlin was brought to boat and released.

Robbie's Marlin
Robbie’s Marlin

Continuing on and searching for bait I noticed heaps of Mutton birds on and beyond the shelf and went to look. Most of the birds were on their migration South from Siberia but amongst them many were working on what looked like Striped Tuna. I worked these schools for a while hoping there might be a Yellowfin or two amongst them. The end result was we didn’t find any so went back inshore and to chase the Marlin.

Skip Baits…

By the time I got back inside the shelf the bait had thinned out. Then just as I was considering changing over to skip baits the Brad ’J’ took off again with another nice Striped Marlin tearing the ocean apart. This was a tougher fish than the previous one but it was handled well and eventually brought to the boat and released.

By now the bait had thinned out considerably so it was time to put out the skip baits. Having deployed the baits it was time to keep the eyes peeled and be ready. Suddenly the bait on the Port rigger popped out. Since it didn’t appear to have been a hit Rob wound it back and put it back up when the Marlin showed itself. It popped the rigger again but again no hook up. Then while Rob was winding the bait back the Marlin appeared again and  this time Rob teased it and it aggressively took the bait. After free spooling for a short time, the drag was engaged and we had a solid hook up. This one was also eventually brought to boat and released.

So, now we had three Marlin for three of the four guys on board. The last guy was more interested in catching a Yellowfin. As luck would have it a friend, fishing out wide, had just landed a fifty kilo Yellowfin. Consequently, I suggested we might go out and see what we could find. The guys all agreed so out we went.

In the deep water there were heaps of birds migrating but we found several schools of Striped Tuna which I worked to no avail. Continuing on I was just about to head for home when there was a bust-up a couple of hundred metres ahead of us. Expectations were high but after working the area with no other sightings it was time to go home.

It had been a remarkable day’s fishing for us with three Marlin under the belt. Generally speaking I would say to get three Marlin in a day off Sydney is remarkable. However, to have, as I would guess, over twenty caught in a day off Sydney in October is exceptional.

Tight lies,
Ivan

All lure used unless otherwise specified are Pakula Lures .

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Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 28th.March’25

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Ambition Report 28th.March’25

Marlin and Mahi Mahi were the result of a fun day’s fishing for Linwei. Marlin and Mahi Mahi were what he was wanting to catch.

By any standards yesterday was a glorious day to be at sea, especially as look out of my window this morning. The sea was calm and warm, actually it was hot, the temperature was over 25 degrees at the 12 Mile getting up to 26.7 degrees at Browns, and the current was raging.

We left the club with Linwea and his group with high expectations and reports of Blue and Striped Marlin as well as Yellowfin and Mahi Mahi of varying sizes being taken over the last couple of days.

Linwea Mahi Mahi
Linwea Mahi Mahi

We put the lures in at the 12 Mile, there is always the expectation of a Striped Marlin between there and the shelf, but not today. A couple of boats found Yellowfin around fifteen kilo’s in the Browns area and were working patches of birds. We arrived in the area and worked it for a while, marking fish down twenty to thirty fathoms which we couldn’t induce to come up. I thought about jigging but with the current raging didn’t think it was a feasible option. Meanwhile the boat ‘Shoki’ had moved wider and caught a Blue Marlin and a big Mahi Mahi, later on they also took a good sized Yellowfin. That made up my mind and we headed off.

Linwea Mahi Mahi
Linwea Mahi Mahi

At around eight hundred fathoms the water temperature started dropping and the current slowed considerably. It was looking really good but also as we headed out each one of Linwea’s group succumbed to sea sickness and at nine hundred fathoms they wanted to go back.

Linwea Mahi Mahi
Linwea Mahi Mahi
Turnaround…

So, we turned back, I was disappointed, but seasickness is a horrible thing which cannot be appreciated unless you’ve been there.

And then it happened, a splash behind the Pakula Lumo and the fish took off. It was a big Mahi Mahi. The seasickness was forgotten, Linwea took the rod and with a bit of instruction brought the fish to the boat where Ron gaffed it. As you’ll see in the video it did what Mahi Mahi do and went crazy. Also, it appears that tag team angling is very popular amongst the Chinese, the tourists anyway.

Continuing on…

We continued trolling in and just on the shelf a Striped Marlin came up on Pakula’s Brad ‘J’, took off some line and just let go. Shortly after we go attacked as a big Blue Marlin came into the spread and had a go at all the lures finally deciding on Pakula’s Brad ‘J’, taking off like an express train, as they do, trying to overtake the boat.

After a bit of chasing and backing up the fish went deep, and stayed there, I couldn’t get it to come back up. We were at a stalemate. I figured the fish had died and tried planning it up but that didn’t work either.

By this time Linwea and his crew had each had a shot at fighting the Marlin and were stuffed. Ron stepped in, but after nearly an hour he was done too. I must say this was not the sort of fish you expect to run into inside the shelf. Then, almost as a relief the line gave way, and it was to home we pointed.

http://www.ambitioncharters.com.au

Tight Lines,
Ivan

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Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 26th.February’25

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Ambition Fishing

I can only describe yesterday’s Ambition Fishing, for me anyway, as one of the most frustrating days I have ever spent at sea. I won’t go into details but Ambition Fishing was ambitious, it could best be described as a ‘good news, bad news day’.

Mikayla's Marlin
Mikayla’s Marlin

The good side was that the clients caught some beautiful Mahi Mahi and experienced the excitement of catching a Marlin which put on a great aerial display.

Mikayla's Marlin
Mikayla’s Marlin

The bad news side the details of which as I have already said I will not go into but suffice to say the current run of Marlin continues unabated. All three species are evident with several Blacks being found on the inshore grounds. Out wider there are both Blue and Striped Marlin and even further out you’ll find Yellowfin tuna. The Yellowfin are moving around and moving quickly so take a bit of finding. However around them there is always the chance of running into a big Blue Marlin.

Mikayla's Marlin
Mikayla’s Marlin

Surprisingly for the number of pelagics around there is not much bait. I did find patches but I would have expected more. However, I did see something I haven’t seen off Sydney for years. As I was approaching a private FAD I saw Mutton birds working over a small patch of what looked like a pool of blood in the water. It was in fact a bait ball of ‘Red Bait’ with a school of Mahi Mahi rounding them up from below. If you’ve never seen ‘Red Bait’ before I can assure you that you’ll never mistake it for anything else.

http://www.ambitioncharters.com.au

Tight Lines,
Ivan

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Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 22nd.November’24

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November Marlin although not uncommon are still a surprise. A November Marlin is worthy of gloating about.

Well, it’s always an ice breaker when you catch your first Marlin of the season and yesterday, we caught ours, a good sized Stripy.

November Marlin
November Marlin

I took Shouren and five of his friends out on a perfect day, weatherwise. The plan was to catch some live bait then head out to the FAD’s and have a shot at the Mahi Mahi which have been so prevalent lately. But as it happened,sadly, not this day. As luck would have it the Mahi Mahi had gone off the bite at the spots I visited. I must say I wasn’t unduly surprised as they have copped quite a hammering over the last few weeks.

November Marlin
November Marlin

So, we made the move to go offshore and see if we could find a Marlin or maybe a Yellowfin.

November Marlin
November Marlin
Marlin Time…

Game fishing is probably the most fickle discipline of the fishing world, Perseverance and persistence being the key to success and sadly not for everyone. So, after a few hours of trolling in what was the ocean’s equivalent to a desert the natives were becoming restless. Fortunately as luck would have it, we got hit on the shotgun but no hook up. The crew were all screaming and I turned around in time to see a Stripy hitting the ‘Lumo’ on the rigger, doing what Stripies do…missing the hooks, so frustrating. The Marlin disappeared after a couple of shots.  Then a few minutes later the shotgun took off, a solid hook up at last.

After thirty odd heart stopping minutes, we had the fish at the boat. It’s when you have a fish like this on the line you can appreciate the difference between a good angler and one of lesser experience, but I won’t go into that.

On the way home I thought we should give the FAD’s another shot. The Mahi Mahi should have had enough of a break from the hammering to come on the bite again. When we arrived the fish were evident but not going off their heads as they had been but after persevering we did catch a couple, the crew had something to eat and it was time to go home.

In general, the water had changed from the previous week. The current coming in from the East and the water cooler and greener. However, we found that Marlin in a current line of that beautiful blue water.

Tight Lines,
Ivan

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Ambition Report 2nd.September’24

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A  Mahi Mahi in winter is more than a surprise it’s a  sign of an early summer since that is when we catch our Mahi Mahi.

Spring…

After checking the weather on several different weather sites, three of which were pretty well corresponding, however one, incidentally the BOM, showed the worst case scenario,  I decided to see what the conditions were like in the morning before making a final decision. As it happened surprisingly, conditions looked perfect in the morning, there was no wind at all.

Winter Mahi Mahi
Winter Mahi Mahi

At present there is a warmish current with twenty degree water pushing down the coast between ‘Twelve Mile’ and ‘Browns’ covering the shelf were bait generally accumulates. Ideal for an early season Marlin . There had also been word of Yellowfin tuna on the edge of this current but further North.

So, we headed out in great almost Summery conditions. We put the spread out near the ‘Twelve Mile’ and headed towards ‘Browns’. On the way inside the shelf there was huge amounts of bait but not very densely packed. I did mark a couple of fish and worked the area for a while to no avail so continued on to ‘Browns’ looking for the cooler edge of the current where I hoped we might find the Yellowfin.

However by then the North Westerly was beginning to puff so I decided to move back to the warmer water then head North to get a better run home . Then, in about two hundred and fifty fathoms a Marlin came up and hit the short corner (Black Betty). It missed the lure and surprisingly didn’t come back to hit any of the other lures which Striped Marlin usually do. I worked the area for a while but nothing happened so continued back on course.

Surprise…

Back in the warmer water I found some birds working. To my surprise they were on Mahi Mahi, not something you usually find at this time of year. After a couple of passes with hits from smallish fish we got a solid strike on the shotgun. Old ‘Brad’ was into a more decent fish. This turned out to be a good six kilo’s of good eating Mahi Mahi.

By that stage the wind had come away blowing around fifteen knots. Not something that would worry me, but I got word from Scotty Torrington ‘Freedom’ of twenty-five to thirty knots of Westerly heading out way. In light of the fact that a couple of guys on board were quite seasick they decided enough was enough, so the course was set for home.

It had been an interesting day and with that warmer water moving down and the build up of bait on the shelf area we could be in for an interesting Spring. More reports of Marlin sighting and Yellowfin are coming in as well as Kings on the offshore reefs, it could make for an interesting times.

http://www.ambitioncharters.com.au

Tight Lines,
Ivan

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Fishing Reports

Ambition Report 19th.August’24

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Tuna  …

It seems like forever since I last wrote a report. Being overseas and then experiencing a rather unfriendly virus causing me to miss a lot of fishing days not to mention probably the best run of Bluefin Tuna off Sydney in recent years as well as Yellowfin, that didn’t help my reporting either.

Colin's Yellowfin
Colin’s Yellowfin

Well, the Bluefin seem to have moved on, pushed out by the warmer water moving down the coast. However, some good-sized Yellowfin turned up to replace them but at present they seem to have moved on too. The Yellowfin do come and go depending on the currents but from my records they should be coming and going for the next few months. Sadly, by the time most people hear about them it’s too late they are gone.

 Yellowfin off Sydney
Yellowfin off Sydney

On a more positive note, I have heard reports of Yellowfin further up the coast and with a bit of luck they will move down and give us another shot at them. Also, with this warmer water there have been more encounters with Striped Marlin, always a treat. Incidentally the last time I was out, a couple of weeks ago chasing those Yellowfin, I saw a heap of Sauries take to the air and to my surprise they were being chased by Mahi Mahi, who would have thought, Mahi Mahi in August .

The Mighty Yellowfin
The Mighty Yellowfin

So, getting away from the Game Fishing, Kingies are showing up on some of the offshore as well as the regular inshore reefs.

The last time I was out, Browns Mountain looked like the ‘Car Park‘  at Port Stephens  with all the bottom bashers looking for Gemfish and Blue Eye.

Interestingly it has become apparent that with all the boats out there chasing the Bluefin and Yellowfin how few now the boating regulations, most notably about giving way, not to mention just plain courtesy.

Anyway, we’re here to fish,

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Fishing Reports

Ambition report 15th.December’23

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Cuyler's Marlin
Cuyler’s Marlin

I was keen to get out today after being out last Monday when we raised a Striped Marlin but sadly missing the hook up. However I was

surprised today to see how conditions had changed. On Monday the inshore water temperature was around the 23 C which is unusual enough for this time of year but offshore at 300 fathoms I read 25.2 C a temperature more normally found in February and March. Even allowing for error in my temperature guage the STC’s were showing 24.7 C, so it couldn’t have been too far out.

Cuyler's Marlin
Cuyler’s Marlin

Today the inshore waters were a more normal 21.7 degrees but dirty green probably from the rainwater runoff. However offshore, past the shelf, it was still over 24 degrees and a beautiful blue. The colour which induces confidence even if it is unseasonably warm.

We trolled towards Browns where we raised the Marlin on Monday when in roughly the same area the rigger with ‘Pakula Lumo’ took off at a rate of knots. Surprisingly even though both Ron and I were watching the lures neither of us saw the hookup. The Marlin jumped once and just raced off on one huge run leaving poor Cuyler (I hope I got his name right) an awful lot of line to get back.

Cuyler's Marlin
Cuyler’s Marlin

He did eventually get the Marlin which to the boat and released it. Then while Ron was resetting the gear the rigger with ‘Pakula Lumo’ went off again sadly this time it didn’t hook up.

We had another strike later in the day on ‘Brad’ by what I thought was either a Wahoo or a Spearfish but again no hookup. It was only because of the water temperature that I even considered a Wahoo a fish not often seen around Sydney these days.

What this unseasonal warm ( hot ) water might mean to the Sydney fishery is going to be anyone’s guess.

Will it continue to warm up?, seems most likely.
Will it bring more tropical species down here? , hopefully but whether this is good thing or bad thing is another question.
Will is push our Striped Marlin fishery South?, I hope not.

I am sure there are many other questions and likelyhoods but whatever the end result it will be interesting.

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Fishing Reports

Ambition report 26th.November’23

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Joe’s Marlin

I took Joe and his wife, from Florida, out last Friday on what turned out to be beautiful day at sea. The sea calm and the rain cleared as we headed out. So off we went out looking for Joe’s Marlin.

Joe's Marlin
Joe’s Marlin

Joe had experience having caught Sailfish and Mahi Mahi in his home waters in the Carribean. However he hadn’t caught a Marlin and that was his ambition, no pun intended.

So we headed out and after hearing of Mahi Mahi around the FAD’s did a couple of circuits around the Sydney FAD with no result so headed out over the twelve mile to the shelf.

Joe's Marlin
Joe’s Marlin

Just past the twelve the current picked up and the temperature started to climb and the water turning that beautiful blue and 22.5 C.

I started to mark bait around the shelf and out to around 140 fathoms but it was very patch and obviously not being harassed. On approaching Browns I saw another boat and it looked like they were fighting a fish which was confirmed when I saw a Marlin jumping. Turns out it was a boat called ‘HotRod’. Later on they told me that they had a 2.5 metre Blue Marlin on board which had sadly died during the fight.

Joe's Marlin
Joe’s Marlin
Action

Spirits were now high and expectation great. Further out as I was watching the Mutton birds migrating South I could see that some patches were circling and indeed working an area. I concentrated on them for a while and though it was obvious they were on something I couldn’t make out what it was and nothing was marking on the sounder. Subsequently as I move further North I saw several more patches of birds working the same way. I have in the past seen similar behaviour when the Mutton birds were chase Flying fish in that hey scare the fish into taking flight then pounce on them.

Then Ron screamed out Marlin! and there behind the short corner was a Striped Marlin coming up behind ‘Evil’ mouth open and ready to eat. Ron dropped the lure back but no hook up. The Marlin came back onto the lure, Ron teased it a little then dropped it back and this time hooked up and the fish took off.

It was a very stubborn fish and I actually thought it might be a Blue which stayed deep and made Joe really work for it. However, he did eventually get the fish up and we released a good ninety to a hundred kilo Striped Marlin.

It was getting late by then so I turned for home anticipating my next trip out into the blue.

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Ambition Report 30th.October’23

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Striped Marlin…

At last something to write about – October Marlin. Though over the last couple of weeks a few Striped Marlin have shown up October Marlin start the run, the last couple of times I’ve been out have been a misery of bad weather with cold and green water. Though there was plenty of bait around there was little if any bird activity… the water just seemed dead.

Mark's Marlin
Mark’s Marlin

Yesterday was a whole different kettle of fish, no pun intended. I headed out towards Browns put the gear in at the Twelve Mile, trolling out from there. The water wasn’t a great colour but at least it wasn’t that dirty green and the temperature was increasing with the current coming in from the East and the bait was building up.

Mark's Marlin
Mark’s Marlin

I was several miles North of Browns when I saw a heap of birds working, they weren’t going South with their migrating mates. It took a fair while to catch up to them since out there the current was going North and with the Northerly wind it made for a less than comfortable ride. I did catch up eventually and found they were chasing a school of Striped Tuna one of which took old ‘Brad’.

Yellowfin Tuna…

I decided then to go downwind to Browns to ease the pain for one of the guys who was not feeling very well. As it so happened after only a few minutes we had a double strike on the riggers with ‘Lumo’ and ‘Illusion’ hooked up on Yellowfin. The fish were around twenty to twenty-five kilo’s. We got one in but sadly lost the other at the boat when it took a last desperate run.

On the radio I heard there were a couple of boats around the ‘Bait Station’ and that they were working over large schools of bait. I stayed out in the deep water hoping to find the Yellowfin again. As I went North the temperature increased and the current swung more to the East. I didn’t find the ‘fin again but around mid-day a solid strike on ‘Lumo’ resulted in a good-sized Striped Marlin charging in at the boat. We actually thought it was coming aboard when it slammed into the starboard corner forcing Mark to duck for cover. It was a very active fish and Ace who had been very sick all day had to hand the rod over to Mark who brought it to boat.

I kept trolling North to give us a better run home and on the way marked incredible amounts of bait, the sounder virtually blacking out. Then again from eighty five to sixty fathom found birds and dolphins rounding the bait up.

With all the bait out there and with that warm Southerly current pushing down it can’t possibly be too long before the scene comes alive. Optimistic! maybe, too optimistic! probably but you never never know.

I also had confirmation from Rob the owner of ‘On Call’ that they had caught a good-sized Mahi Mahi and saw a couple of Striped Marlin wide of the shelf on Sunday too.  This reminds me that over the years large Mahi Mahi have become a common capture during November. To me indicating the warm edge is not far away.

Tight Lines,
Ivan

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