Congratulations to Capt. Ross Finlayson and the crew on Top Shot and angler Masa on a fish yesterday that Ross put at 1000lbs+ on 50lb(!!)

Regular Japanese fly angler Masa is back on board and the team were already on a high from converting a smaller fish on fly on Friday.  Yesterday, they had a fish up that Ross deemed too big for the fly so pitched the 50lb outfit that they had on standby.  And were soon hooked up!

Ross said he had the “uh-oh” moment when he realised they had just pitched 50lb to a real big one, wishing it was on 130 but happy to report after a 1.25 hr fight, the fish was released to a very happy angler Masa and crew marking the first grander black marlin for the 2016 Cairns marlin season!

Big congrats to all!!

There are many more boats that kick off their seasons this week (and last) so stay tuned for more reports and coming daily very soon from the 50th Anniversary Cairns Black Marlin tournament that starts on Sunday 25th (fishing starts Monday).  54 boats are entered in the tournament to commemorate 50 years since the first 1000lb black marlin – and so its very fitting that the first for 2016 has been caught this week!

Capt. Craig “Sparra” Denham’s Hot Shot is in the north and caught two juvie black marlin yesterday.  Capt.

On his way north for another Cairns season is Rod Hawkin’s C’Mon Aussie. Rod tells me they picked up a nice blue yesterday for his 12 year old son Corey Hawkins in the chair with Captain Jared Weir at the wheel. They were fishing the good old reliable spot on the edge north of Fraser.