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.
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.
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