As we enter September, the countdown is well and truly on! There are only a couple of short weeks until the fleet start fishing and the reports start getting bigger. Several of the southern members of the charter fleet have already begun their journey’s north to Cairns. One of which is Capt. Tim Dean’s Calypso from whom I have two angler interviews for you today!
Both speak high praise of Capt. Tim who reminds us he has some days open for this season (Oct 9-11, Nov 20-26, 27- Dec 1, call Tim 0411 111 476) as well as several other members of the fleet – check here and get in fast – time’s running out!
Angler Zack Sotiropoulos
Can you give us a brief description of angling history?
Rockfishing for black marlin Jervis Bay( 7 in one day Jan 2002 ), Gamefishing Sydney,Jervis bay, Port Stephens.. Sportfishing Botany bay, the hacking and Sydney Harbour.
When was the last time the you fished in Cairns? 2011
What was your best memory of any Cairns trip to date?
2011 trip had us see the Biggest fish to date, Billy Red in the chair.. A modest Tim Dean still yet to estimate her. His comment as I recall– “one of the better real ones I’ve let swim away”.. a credit to Tim and his dedication to sustaining the GBR fishery. 5 trips total aboard Calypso, 5 granders (real ones as Timmy calls them) to date and counting..3 or 4 close to the mark and lost count of how many others
What are your hopes/bucket lists items/goals for your trip to Cairns this year?
Good weather to start, good company a given, enjoy good food as always, hopefully
See a rookie tangle with a real one
When can we expect to see you here this and how long are you staying who are you fishing with?
We’ll be fishing 7 days aboard Calypso 2nd to the 8th October 2014
Angler Zac “Hollywood” Henderson
Can you give us a brief description of angling history?
Most of my angling history comes from filling in as a backup on other people’s boats. I was a mate all through college in a small Texas port called Port Aransas on a boat called Cherokee, so most of my bill fishing has been in the cockpit as a wireman or gaffman. I’ve caught a handful of blue marlin, a couple white marlin, and several sailfish (both pacific and Atlantic). I’ve caught 5 black marlin with Captain Tim Dean over the course of 2 trips. 2 in 2010 and 3 in 2013 estimated at 350, 900, and 950 lbs respectively.
When was the last time the you fished in Cairns?
2013. My best friend D.A. Hughes and I traveled to Cairns from Texas to fish with Tim Dean on Calypso. In 6 days, we released 6 black marlin…800, 350, 900, 900, 900, and 950 lbs respectively.
What was your best memory of any Cairns trip to date?
Best memory was releasing 2 x 900lb-ers within 2 hours of each other on 1 Nov 2013. In Texas, November 1st is the opening day of white-tailed deer season…when I was a kid, I never dreamed I’d be catching giant black marlin and drinking cold beer on the other side of the world when I would have normally been in a cold deer stand drinking coffee!
What are your hopes/bucket lists items/goals for your trip to Cairns this year?
Not going to Cairns this year, but hope to go to Port Stephens to fish with Calypso in March of 2015.
The Cairns season is almost upon us and it’s my job to get you all excited about that and looking forward to your daily dose of big marlin fishing reports!
For that reason I’m running a series of a 5 question interviews with anglers, skippers and crew who will be fishing the Cairns season in some way or another in 2014. Don’t forget there is still some availability (while perhaps not these exact dates still, this will give you an idea). You can contact members of the fleet directly through the BMFB Boat Directory.
