The Gold Coast GFC’s Garmin Blue Marlin Classic start fishing is today. There have been a few fish around in the leadup. Scott Watson’s as yet un-named 48 Viking released a solid blue on Thursday while Capt. Ross McCubbin’s Lucky Strike found them as well seeing 4 for 3 bites yesterday, releasing one about 180kg. GCGFC’s Alisa Schofield reports that there are over 100 entrants, including six female and two junior anglers registered. Good luck to all competing!

At Port Stephen, Capt. Tim Dean shared the IGFA’s news with Mark Davis confirming daughter Katie’s first black marlin on board Calypso at Port this year completes here Billfish Royal Slam. At just 12 years old, she will be the youngest female to have achieved the feat. Congratulations Katie!

And results from the World Offshore Championships in Costa Rica this week – where the world record for billfish  releases was broken in the first three days of fishing (2,314 releases). The event was won by the Luanda Sailfish Classic with 76 fish.

Australian team placings – The Perth Game Fishing Club (2013 Bertram Marlin Cup Winning Team) came a very respectable 9th place with 58 tags for the week while the Cairns Bluewater Billfish Tournament winners (Hellraiser’s Sue & Steve Ahlers) came in 13th with 55 tags.

The team from the Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club placed 40th with 38 tags and team winners from the Blue Marlin Classic placed 53 with 33 tags.

And lastly, I received this video from Simon Fisher of a blue marlin they caught on the NSW north coast. Very well done Simon – great video – nice swim there at the end (screen grab at top!)

North NSW Blue Marlin from Simon Fisher on Vimeo.