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Offshore report 18th. April’ 16

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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 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

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Ambition report 15th. March’ 16

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The Blue Marlin bite continued last week at Port Stephens the fish 150316_2moving South with the current as the week progressed and extending down to Sydney. Amongst the Blues there were quite a few Spearfish and some good sized Black Marlin along with Mahi Mahi and the occasional Wahoo. In short nothing much has changed since the week before.

For those fishing the Newcastle tournament there seemed to be a bonanza of fish but on closer scrutiny it was apparent that for everyone who was lucky enough to have found the Marlin there was someone else with the equivalent bad luck.

Back at Port Stephens were I was fishing we found the Marlin East and North of the Port up to Almark on Friday and by Sunday the concentration was down around the Newcastle canyons. The fish generally around the 100 to 150kg range by no means large for Blue Marlin, there were most definitely some bruisers amongst them, and fairly easy to handle providing you could get the hooks to stick. These Marlin were hitting the lures like express trains and personally I think that because there was and is so much bait around they are hitting out of aggression rather than hunger just using their Bills.

150316_3Where they’ll be this week is anyone’s guess. The change in weather and the Southerly blowing this week could send that Southerly current anywhere but if it keeps moving South it will certainly liven up the Broken Bay tournament providing the weather plays ball.

Until next week,
Ivan

Fishing Reports

Ambition report 1st. January’ 16

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FacebookHappy New Year everyone and I don’t think I am remiss in saying that weatherwise thank God its over. I know we are supposed to be in an El Ninio phase and it is generally windier but enough is enough – bring in the windless New Year !

KingfishAnyway back to reality, though the Kings still reign off Sydney being found in numbers schooling around the harbour with Salmon amongst them, mostly undersize but for those that know there are some good ones to be found – good bait being the sec…ret. Larger fish have turned up on the offshore reefs but they are sporadic.

040711_1Offshore Sydney the fishing remains patchy, the water being relatively cool for this time of year. But the occasional Stripy is turning up and some large ones at that, Warren Night of ‘Midnight’ tagged one of 130kg. plus after first calling it a Blue, a common occurence. Big Dollies are ranging about, Warren’s daughter taking a 17 kg. specimen in 15 kg. line for a potential Women’s record.

261014_1Though the fishing off Sydney is hard going at present Port Stephens is starting to happen, I don’t have exact details yet but I have heard reports of multiple taggings but I don’t know if they were Stripes or the inshore Blacks which are increasing in numbers along the coast and apparently going off at South West Rocks which augers well for the Interclub and points South in the coming weeks.

As I am sure you are aware AMBITION will be at PORT STEPHENS from next week and available for charter – reports to come.

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

Fishing Reports, Home

Port Stephens 2016…

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Home Splash BlackPORT STEPHENS 2016

From mid-January I will taking Ambition and  chartering out of the beautiful Port Stephens,  an easy 2.5 hrs. drive  North of Sydney.

Port Stephens is arguably the best game fishing port in N.S.W. attracting large numbers of the three species of Marlin available in the Pacific as well as Spearfish, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo and Kingfish – all attracted by the large schools of baitfish in the area.

I am discounting charter fees for those confirmed by 1st. January 2016. To take advantage of this offer call me…

Phone : 0427 887707

Email  : webmaster@sgfc.com.au

Tight lines,

Ivan