- Happy New Year to all! Time to get back into marlin fishing as the southern seasons kick off for 2011.
- The Gold Coast seems off to good start already. Capt. Ross McCubbin, back at the helm of Lucky Strike, fished Sunday for a 50kg sail in 50 metres of water off Jumpinpin as well as 5 dollies and a few wahoo. Ross also tells me that Vince on Barco went out Sunday for a 90kg stripe in the morning and a 150kg (300lb) blue in the afternoon. The latest report as of Monday lunchtime was that he’d added another blue on Monday morning as well. Ghostrider was also out yesterday for a sail and some dollies too. We’re out later in the week so hopefully the fish are still around.
- Meanwhile, on the Sunshine Coast, a few boats are starting to venture out now that the weather is clearing. Ymer released a sail at 8 mile on Sunday. And in between, Sunny Coast ex-Cairns crew Ross Martin tells me that Ken Brown on the 44 Assegai Megumi released a blue he put at around the 650lb mark off Cape Moreton on Sunday as well.
- Down south, perhaps a few are showing up off Port Stephens and Sydney. Last week Capt. Ross Hunter on Broadbill reported that he released his first marlin of the season — a stripey of course.
- Next week there are a few tournaments kicking off and so we look forward to hearing some more reports. The Port Macquarie Golden Lure tournament starts with the briefing on Friday and fishing Saturday. And the Gold Coast Light Tackle Masters starts late next week. Up north, the Yorkey’s Knob Boating Club hosts their Wahi Wahi (wahoo & mahi mahi) comp next week as well. Looking ahead on the Sunshine Coast, in early Feb is the Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club Classic.
