It was a day of Giant Black Marlin yesterday at the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic right from the outset. Capt. Corey Hard’s Askari was first on the board tagging a fish for Mitch Liddall that he put at 800lbs.  Not too long after we heard that Capt. Bill Bilson’s Viking was hooked up to a double header. After tagging (but self disqualifying the first fish), they set out after the second.  A good half hour later word came through that the second fish had been tagged, a fish that Bill put at 1000lbs for angler Rick Pawluk. The day wasn’t over for Rick and big fish either. Later in the day he released his second for the day, another solid fish at 850lbs.

Next up on the big fish radar was Capt. Glenn Hunter’s Onsite tagging a fish for Grant Murphy that Glenn put at 950lbs.  Not too long after, another fish at 800lbs for the Port Hacking boys on Everwilling (who also caught…should I say ‘hand-lined’ another fish about 500lbs that did not count for tournament points but great fun.When you’re having a good day, you’re having a good day!)  The other Port Hacking team The Outlaw also scored points for a 600lbs.  But still it wasn’t over yet.

Lucy West had hooked up again (a few fish already dropped this comp) and it was at first a tense wait to see if “dropped fish” would come through on the radio. It didn’t and they stayed connected, fighting a big fish for close to an hour before getting the tag in. Donny called this fish 999lbs for angler Brendan Holland and I hear there is some great footage to come on the GoPro’s.  (For those unfamiliar, Donny is from the old school where it was ‘if you don’t weigh it, don’t say it’ and 999lbs was as good as they got!)

Then finally just before cease fishing, word came through that a few boats had hooked up… Three and a half hours later, in the dark with a torch in hand to help guide the tag shot a big fish was tagged again on Moana. This one was for tournament veteran Andrey Grigoriev that Capt. Daniel McCarthy put at a massive 1100lbs. Photo at top is of a 1000lb fish for Andrey’s teammate Sergey on Day 2 of the tournament.

Several other fish tagged during the day with a total of 15 by my count. If you are watching the twitter feed, if I’m reporting a fish of 409lbs, please read as 400lbs (fingers slip easy in this weather!)  The weather is freshening up from today.

Current standings are: Top Shot in front on 7 tags. Bite Me is clear in 2nd place on 5 tags.  On 4 tags each in this order are Althaldo, Onsite and Viking II. On 3 tags Kanahoee, Askari, Everwilling and Moana III. On 2 tags Reel Chase, Calypso, Little Audrey, Afishionado and The Outlaw. On 1 each Carolyn, Hellraiser, Mistress and Lucy West.

More Hot Fishing From Broome

I heard from Jeda from Makaira Game Fishing who had another cracking day yesterday. With the same two anglers on board, yesterday they managed 30 sails and 3 black marlin giving them a total of 61 billfish for two days fishing!! Again, when you’re hot, you’re hot!!