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Fishing Reports

Ambition report 24th. September’17

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Game Fishing Charters
Lindon’s Bluefin on 15kg.

Well,  all I, on Ambition Fishing Charters, can say is bring on another Bluefin ! this run just keeps on giving. The eddy South of Browns is pretty well stagnant so who knows how long it may last. One thing is for sure I’m not making another prediction about their movements, not after my last one anyway.

Game Fishing Charters
Greg’s first Bluefin…

On Friday I spent the day fishing in close with Jamion and his friends looking for Kings. We did get a couple of undersize fish and a few Bonito but that was all we caught between Googee and Long Reef. All the while I was hearing about the Bluefin bite going on out wide, a very frustrating experience.

On Saturday there was only one place to be and that was just South of Browns. We ran out hearing on the way that a couple of boats had already located the school. By the time we arrived there were about twenty boats in a small area cubing with several guys fighting fish.

Fishing Charters
The group, five Bluefin, one each and a few lost…

I trolled around the group and managed to pick up a fish on one of my skirted lures, I don’t need to tell which one. We immediately started cubing and in short time two of the guys hooked up, one on ten kilo line the other on fifteen. After a really good fight while winning on the ten,  we lost the fish when the lines crossed. Unfortunately we lost a couple of fish that way but still ended up bagging out. The ‘fin weren’t the biggest being 35 to 45 kilo’s but still great fun on light line and very good to eat too.

At present off Sydney the only game in town is Bluefin. This is the best run we’ve had,   at least in the last forty or fifty years. Since their numbers are on the increase it is feasible that their range will continue to expand and we’ll see more of them but that may be more dependant on the prevailing currents and with global warming who knows…

Tight lines,
Ivan

 

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Ambition report 11th. September’ 17

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Well I guess those with their ears to the ground will know the answer to the question – is there still Bluefin Tuna Fishing  in Sydney?… to those who may not have heard the answer is a resounding YES ! how long they stay is anyone’s guess but you only have to look at the charts to see why they’re here.

Port Stephens Charters
Help me…

 

My plan was to head out wide of Browns to where the current changed directions then troll North and find a likely area to cube into the evening. We were only a few miles East of Browns when we had a double hook-up one of which dropped off after a short time but still long enough to gave Rob a fight he will remember. By the way, we were running a Pakula skirt off each rigger, two minnows flat and a large bibless on the shot gun and both fish took the riggers, a ‘lumo’ and an ‘Illusion’.

Old Ronny still had his fish on and after a very long hour during which time I thought he might expire, got it boat side where it was finally gaffed. We didn’t hear much from Ronny for the rest of the day.

Port Stephens Fishing Charters
Ronny struggling

We stayed out until dark cubing and managed to do some Albacore fishing but by this time the guys were  stuffed, most holding back seasickness from the joggling in the large sea all day as well as the fact that 8 kilo’s of Albacore didn’t seem worthwhile after 70 kilo’s of Bluefin Tuna Fishing – it actually went 71.5 kilo’s.

The run home was fabulous, a big long swell pushing us along nicely but I must admit it became a little disconcerting when every now and then all went dark and all the lights in the city disappeared.

Unfortunately on the run in one of my exhaust hoses burst and though it didn’t hamper our run back it meant I couldn’t fish today and my friends woke me up to the fact by ringing this morning to tell me how good it was out there…good friends!Port Stephens Game Fishing Charters

The bite continues…

for Port Stephens Fishing Charters experience of a lifetime, book today!

Tight lines,
Ivan

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Ambition report 4th. September’ 17

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Well I think the only thing on most offshore anglers’ minds this week is whether or not  the Bluefin are still out there. It was totally unexpected that of all the tuna  Bluefin tuna would turn up on the week-end.

Deep sea fishing SydneyOn checking the SST’s and seeing that the current had dropped off and that there was a fairly strong Southerly current 35 to 40 miles out I thought Yellowfin might make a showing. It was a real surprise when ‘Phat Cat’ ( I think that was the boat ) called in with a six way hookup on Southern Blues and to his credit transmitting his position on the radio. I would be most surprised if most thought it was a hoax call as the usual radio idiots were out in force. However it didn’t take long to realise it wasn’t a hoax call and several boats headed out to the area where a couple of them got onto the fish. I unfortunately couldn’t get out there due to my group having to be back early.

Deep sea fishing Sydney can be a frustrating journey at times, but it’s all about the thrill of the chase!

The way the weather is shaping up this week it won’t be until Sunday when we might be able to get out wide and see if they’re still around. Whether they are or not there have been Albacore caught and rumours of Yellowfin showing up too, so here’s hoping.

Contact me for fishing trips Sydney. I’ll be out there…

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. 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