With the few remaining boats in the Middle Ribbons now heading south, the focus has switched to the grounds closest to Cairns.
Capt. Tim Richardson on Tradition‘s angler Helmut was in Port Douglas overnight and preparing to head out today to the Coral Sea for another fishing adventure. He’ll be hard pressed to top this trip however, finishing up yesterday with another big fish that Tim put at 950lbs (above) as well as a smaller model about the 100lb mark. That makes 7 fish in 5 days with two over 900lbs.
Likewise Calypso’s Capt. Tim Dean headed into Cairns last night for changeover, but not before notching up another big fish for his Texan anglers that he put at 950lbs for Zac Henderson. That brings the tally to 6 in 6 days and plenty of big ones at 800, 350, 900, 900, 900, and 950lbs.
After a quiet couple of days in the Middle Ribbons, Capt. Bobby Jones on Iceman headed south to join the bulk of the fleet and released this nice one late in the day for GBR regular Mike Dobbins – photo below. Thanks Sam for the pic – nice one Mike!
Meanwhile after releasing a fish about 250lbs the day before, Capt. Brett Goetze on Reel Chase tells me they only had the one bite yesterday, but it was a good one from a nice fish that was one of the toughest batters they’ve had of the season with much of the fight with the drag on sunset (photo of their fish below)!
Capt. Ashley Matthews on Sea Fever also spent a quiet few days on the Ribbons and came down to Opal Ridge yesterday when he released 2 from 4 at 250 and 600lbs.
There were several more small and mid-range fish around too. Capt. Craig “Sparra” Denham on Black Label had a go at three on the light line jumping one off, breaking the line on another and catching a third. Capt. Adam Jordan’s Iona II, also one from three with a fish at 250lbs, and on Capt. Luke Fallon’s KEKOA, likewise, we opened the around for our angler Brett on his first day on the GBR with similar sized one on a lure. I also heard that Capt. Simon Carosi’s Afisionado had a few up and caught a small one later in the day as well.
There were plenty more boats fishing so perhaps some more reports to come in… Stay tuned.
Meanwhile in Weipa
Just a couple of weeks after their annual billfish comp, local club boats are still out and enjoying the action with 24 sails and 1 black marlin tagged by just five of the club boats yesterday. Ben “Notso” Bright tells me that was from uncountable numbers seen, lots of the fish coming up in pods!
