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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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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

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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

Fishing Reports

Ambition report 7th. December’ 15

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The unseasonal run of Blue Marlin, jumbo sized Striped Marlin and Mahi Mahi continued over the last three days though the numbers decreased with each passing day.

Blue 041215_1Friday saw the most activity for those lucky enough to be out there. We managed a Blue of about 150kg. using my second favourite Pakula lure, the Blue Illusion, on the afternoon tide. Another few taken earlier in the day, one of around 200kg. was lost when it couldn’t be lifted after dying. The saving grace for John (Spanish Fly) was finding a large number of jumbo Mahi Mahi and landing several. These Mahi Mahi can turn up anywhere from the shelf to well beyond, a bit of a lucky dip.

Saturday saw more boats out but for fewer results since the waterBlue 041215_2 was changing, the good pool having moved further South. A couple of Blues were lost out wide and several Stripes were encountered from 75 fathoms out – at the same time there were fewer Mahi Mahi.

Sunday was even worse because of the expectations there were more boats out and the returns were few. One Blue was lost after two hours having died and was unable to be lifted, another estimated at 200kg. was lost at boat side after throwing the hook. A couple of Stripes were tagged and a few more were seen. I didn’t hear of any Mahi Mahi though there might have been some.

The unluckiest boat was CASEY – they were shark fishing and dropped a bait jig which loaded up and was then hit by a Marlin which was as you would expect, lost !

Until next time here’s a short video of the action…

Tight lines,
Ivan

Fishing Reports

Ambition report 23rd. November’ 15

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221115_2I went out on Sunday with a plan which is unusual for me since I generally let the conditions on the day govern my approach. But after looking at Saturday’s chart with a ‘Zero’ line close inshore and hearing from the local ‘bottom bouncers’ that the water was hot in close, almost lapping up to the cliffs I planned to look for Marlin in close.
However, on Sunday there was no hot water in close and the current was raging so it was off to look for the good stuff. The temperature and colour didn’t get appreciably better until into the 80 fathom area but we kept going. After the 300 fathoms the water cooled to less than 20 degrees with no appreciable life but I was going out.
In the 700 fathom area it started to warm again I and there were birds both searching and working but on something small which I couldn’t make out.
221115_1Anyway to cut a long story short I found a Long liner and he was setting so I spent some time in the area where there were groups of birds heavily working on baitfish being pushed up but because of the current they were moving by quickly. As I worked one of the groups we had a triple strike and I saw the ‘Shotgun’ explode and really scream off, unfortunately whatever it was straightened one of the hooks. One of the others fish just threw the hooks so we ended up with one out of three, a nice 38 kilo Yellowfin.
Through the day there were some nice Mahi Mahi taken one of which is a potential Junior record going 22 kilo’s on 15 kilo line. – a good effort.

Tight lines,
Ivan