Townsville Billfish Challenge

Day 1 of the Mike Carney Toyota Billfish Challenge was fished yesterday in some of the best weather conditions for the tournament that we have seen in years.  22 boats are competing this year (13 in the big boat category and 9 in the small boat/best three day category).  Although the fishing hasn’t come back as much as hoped by the comp, there were still some good results on Day 1.

Private boat Emma Kate is ahead in the standings with a 4-3-3 on the second sked yesterday rushing them into the lead with the three tags for the day (all black marlin), while the team on Game On skippered by Ben Colvin are 2nd on countback in front of KEKOA, both on two tags. Reel Crazy (first marlin), Levante and Utopia (first sailfish) are all on one for the big boat category while for the smaller fleet, Anthony Florence’s Flotation is ahead of Ruffian both on one tag a piece. That makes 12 tags for the day (11 marlin and 1 sailfish) – let’s hope the fishing turns it on today!

Cairns Black Marlin

Another report from Jay Edwards Masterbaiter in Cairns also taking advantage of the better weather on Thursday with 2 from 5 again. This time they caught Little Billy curry his first marlin. (Little bill is 7 years old.) Then they caught Big Bill Curry his first. (Big bill is 57.)

Pictured below are Bill, Brendan, little Bill. Congrats to both!

And a quick reminder from Capt. Brett Alty on Mistress with the big marlin season fast approaching now, there is still some peak season availability – check here for some dates and Brett advises he has the following availabilities: September 30th to October 3rd (Depart and Return Cooktown), 17th October to 20th October (Depart Cooktown, Return Cooktown),
10th to 14th of November (Depart Cairns, Return Cairns).