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Ambition report 19th September’17

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The good news, well not news anymore, is that we have just experienced the best and longest lasting run of Bluefin Tuna in a very, very long time. The bad news, it is most probably over unless you have access to the South Coast to where the currents holding the tuna are retreating.

bluefin tuna fishing sydneyLast Friday and Saturday there was still a good bite around Sydney though the fish were still hard to find a few boats found the Bluefin and Albacore wide of Browns out around Heatons and down to the Southern canyons strangely there were even some Mahi Mahi caught with more than one boat encountering Marlin.

The water then was clear blue and around 18.5C but by Sunday the only clean water around Sydney was inside the 600 fathom line and South. A cold green water current had moved in and was only 17 to 17.5C, by Monday it was inside the 200 fathom line and the fish had moved on.  The Bluefin had moved South and were found between the Southern canyons and Stanwell Park. As the system moves on so will the fish – Bermi might even get another shot at them. This is one of those times when a trailer boat would come in handy.Tuna fishing Sydney

The hope is that as the cooler water is pushed South and the current changes to the North bringing some warmer water in we might get a run of Yellowfin, there have been a couple caught out wide – one lives in hope.

I might mention that all the temperatures I have quoted are from my temperature gauge. Not knowing how or if other gauges have been calibrated temperatures from other boats will vary.

Tight lines,
Ivan

 

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Ambition report 18th. July’16

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This strange mixed season fishing continues with Marlin, Spearfish and Mahi Mahi being caught in the same water as Albacore, Yellowfin and Bluefin for the lucky few. Kingfish are on the reefs as well as some good Snapper and Teraglin for those that know.

My week-end started on Friday which I thought would be a great day, the weather rough enough to keep the multitude off the water and the expectation of Bluefin and the Yellowfin we’d caught the previous week. And what happened – everyone had the same idea, every man and his dog was out there, c’est la vie. We ended up not catching anything but there were some good fish taken. Bob Curry on ‘Marquis’ had a double hook up on 70 + kilo Yellowfin, landing one. I saw a small boat hook a Striped Marlin which they later landed and I think a couple more were encountered as well as some Mahi Mahi of really good size, small Yellowfin turned up at the temp break South-East of Browns and some Bluefin turned up around the Southern Canyons and further  South.

fishing charters port macquarieSaturday was much the same but with more boats out and again captures of Marlin, Mahi Mahi, small Yellowfin and some larger ones. I think some Bluefin were taken but they were further South. I decided to go out wide and wide of Heatons I found a nice break which I followed for a while and ultimately was rewarded with a triple strike. One was definitely a tuna which we lost, another was a Spearfish which we caught and the other an unknown which dropped the hook on its first run which was a screamer.fishing trips sydney

Sunday was a repeat of Saturday except the main bite had moved even further South, down around 34’55, and some good fish, both Bluefin and Yellowfin were taken. I didn’t raise anything on the troll but started a cube trail in about 600 fathoms and at times was moving at 3.5 knots to the South. I was marking fish down deep but because of the speed of the drift the baits couldn’t get down to them, however we did manage a couple of Albacore on jigs. What I thought was strange was the number of Mutton birds flying around us and they wouldn’t settle on the water or try to eat our baits, usually they are a painful pest.deep sea fishing nelson bay

So that was the week-end. A strange one indeed I think there were more Marlin taken than any of the more expected fish for this time of year. I am sure there was more that happened and would be happy to hear of any other reports.

In early August the Sydney Game Fishing Club is hosting the annual ‘Geoff Woolley Monster Mako Tournament’ any anglers in an affiliated club are more than welcome to enter. With increasing Gemfish and Blue Eye numbers at Browns it won’t be long before the Mako’s and other sharks move in, probably when the current abates, so not long now…

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Ambition report 5th. July’ 16

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After all rotten weather we’ve been having lately it was a pleasure to get offshore on Sunday even though it was cold it was calm.

We ended up having a great day starting on the inshore reefs jigging there were some nice Kings and even better no Jackets. The girls on board had a great time using electric jigging reels all they had to do was hang on, it was quite hysterical at times.fun fishing charter sydney

We then trolled out to the ‘Mountain’ , catching nothing on the way, were conditions were really good with very little current and we managed several Gemmies and three good sized Blue Eye then off to the deep blue looking for tuna.

I was looking for an area with a small temp break which I did find but it wasn’t anywhere near where the charts indicated. Anyway we started our trail and the first dropped jig brought up a 10kg. Albacore with the rest of the school closely following. In the meantime one of the girls was drifting a pilchard when it got hit and it became quickly apparent that it wasn’t an Albacore. Unfortunately after about half an hour and a trip around the boat the line crossed with one of the jig rod’s braid, the nylon being the loser. However we still had the Albies around providing the afternoon’s entertainment.

20160703_154714I went out again on Monday but the water had changed out wide with the break having been pushed in by the colder water – we caught nothing and to add to the frustration we had a school of Yellowfin come down our trail, leaping out of the water like torpedoes, and virtually under the boat without touching anything –  you have to wonder how two days can be so different. Even the inshore reef fishing was quieter but that was mostly because a couple of pro’s were drop lining.

On the bright side there have been a few caught on our Bluefin charters, still a bit far away for most of us but one weighed at the SGFC on Monday morning  went 125 kg., hopefully, they will get here soon.

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Ambition Report 5th. June’16

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I went out again Sunday week ago hoping to succeed where we had missed out on that good ‘fin the previous time with the same crew who were ready and raring to go.

fishing charters AustraliaStarted out with a jig at 12 Mile with limited success but managing one nice King of a metre before the jackets moved in. The sea was up a bit despite weather reports to the contrary. However we ventured out to the spot and started cubing. All was quiet except for the occasional upchuck but then as the sun was setting one of the rods went off, it wasn’t a ‘fin but it had us guessing –  a Stripy, a shark or maybe even an Albacore – well after a short but solid fight Marty landed a Striped tuna of 8kgs. , thank God they don’t grow to the size of their bigger cousins.

The boys were getting tired and not feeling any better so were considering returning but I said give it another ten minutes. I hadn’t even finished speaking when first one rod then the other took off and the organised panic set in. Both fish were obviously Yellowfin and giving the anglers hell.

Well I hate reporting failure but we lost the first one when the line broke after the fish crossed lines. The other continued for another half hour when we had it circling just under the boat. I managed to take the leader – a good fish at least 45kgs. but it was still too strong and I didn’t want to take any risks. Ten minutes later the line broke and on inspection the leader had worn through just above the knot – so close, so bloody close.

I took the same group out again on Friday but to cut a long story short we didn’t even see a fish. The sea was perfect, dead calm all day some would say too calm and over 23 degrees, maybe too perfect. I heard of two Marlin taken around the shelf with one of the boats, ‘Tintola’ owned by Rick Camilleri , also taking a Wahoo – Wahoo in June who would believe it. The only good thing about the day was that we made it in before the weather went sour but even then we came back through a very intense but short lived thunder storm.

Hopefully this week’s intense weather will make a change, you’ve got to be optimistic.

Until next time…

Tight lines,
Ivan

 

Fishing Reports

Ambition report 9th. May’ 16

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Even though the currents looked all wrong and the temps were down the weather looked far too good not to get out there and have a shot on Saturday.

First stop was the mountain where there was a fleet or maybe it was an armada of fishing boats all bottom dropping. It didn’t take too long to bag out on Gemmies, using one electric reel, also managing a nice Blue Eye in …the mix. It is apparent that the Gemmies are increasing in number, though not in size, making it more difficult to target the Blue Eye. I must say it amazes me to see boats out there using two and three electric reels, surely they must bag out in just two or three drops yet they stay out for hours – do they just keep killing Gemmies until they get the Blue Eye.

Next was to get out to the temp break another thirty miles out and hopefully find a tuna or two. We saw lots of bait both deep and on the surface on the way out and on the radio heard of a few Striped Marlin hook ups and I think one was brought to boat. About forty five miles out with still another ten to go we found an area where there were Pilot Whales, dolphins and surprisingly Sperm Whales working with occasional showers of Sauries showing – this had to be the spot.

We worked the area for a while to no avail. There was another smaller boat trolling out there too and as he passed a couple of hundred metres in front of us he hooked up and landed a very nice Yellowfin around the sixty kilo range, the luck of the game.

I later learned that further South, one report saying off Sydney and another saying off the Kiama canyons there were several Yellowfin taken, I don’t know if it was the same report or not but with the current running North they will hopefully get closer and of course that tongue of warm water to the North East is coming down bringing who knows what.

In May anything can happen…

Tight Lines,
Ivan

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Ambition Report 3rd. May’16

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Not really much to be said about the offshore fishing over the last week or so, the water within easy reach of most of us has cooled considerably and the current is moving offshore in close and to the North wider out.

There were a few Marlin, both Blue and Striped and Mahi Mahi encountered from Norah canyons North to Port Stephens but with the Marlin you still had to be on the spot to encounter them and even luckier to keep one on the hook.

Inshore the Snapper are showing up and Kings continue both in the harbour and on the inshore reefs as long as you have the right bait namely fresh squid.300416_1

There is the hope that the Yellowfin will turn up soon and I think that is what is keeping us motivated to get out there especially while the weather is so good.

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Offshore report 18th. April’ 16

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160416_2 

Fishing off Sydney was as tough this week-end as it can be at this time of year. Most Game boats headed North to the Norah canyons area where the Blue Marlin bite had been during the previous week but as luck and Murphy would have it the water had cooled and the currents changed and though a few fish were encountered the expected bonanza did not occur. There weren’t too many fish taken but those caught were very good as portrayed by the results of the SGFC ‘Peter Goadby tournament’. The fishing was very typical of this time of year with quality fish rather than quantity.

Two Blue Marlin were taken one 171.5 kg the other 168 kg. as well as a monster Tiger shark weighing 479 kilo’s and a good Yellowfin just shy of 60 kilo’s. hopefully the start of their run also and surprisingly a Wahoo was taken a little further North. There were also several Striped Marlin tagged.

Browns was slow this week compared with last week-end with the Gemmies yet to start their annual migration.

The Kings are still there with quality of bait being the major factor in their capture as well as a bit of luck.

160416_1Attached are a couple of shots of a Striped Marlin we caught late on Saturday…

 

 

Tight lines,
Ivan

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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