Beakie Heaven Descends

Newcastle Herald

Friday January 18, 2008

Fishing, Simon Walker

IT'S as if the great game-fishing director in the sky cried "let there be marlin", and it was good.

Reports this week of blue, black and striped marlin being caught off the Shelf east of Port Stephens down to Redhead, have come in biblical proportions.

It couldn't be scripted any better with the big-game fishing tournaments rolling around in February.

Truth is, fears were growing in the game-fishing community that the 2008 season might be a bit slow.

But last Friday, following a full moon and perhaps some divine intervention, it went from zero to 100 kmh in five minutes.

All the boats started heading out, and all starting raising beakies.

Tim Dean, skipper of Calypso, got seven on Sunday, according to Karl "Gus" Gould, from Nelson Bay Tackle.

"He's been getting them every day," Gus said yesterday. "He had guys out on the Shelf spearfishing for them last week. He's out there again today.

"We've had blues up to 200kg, and smaller stripes and blacks in the 100kg range. They've been braining them."

On a bit of a tangent, Dave Tucker, on Bulletproof, hooked a 420kg tiger shark last Saturday on 15kg line, which ain't a bad effort in itself, then he helped Ally Harris land some marlin aboard Pelagic the next day.

Blue Horizon, a new Luhrs 32 on the scene in Port Stephens, was christened in style last weekend with seven shots and two marlin.

Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fisherman's Warehouse reports lake game fishos experienced the same phenomena south of Nelson Bay.

"The guys aboard Phil McCloy's boat, Timeout, raised six and tagged three stripes on Sunday," Jason said yesterday.

"A few boats got two. There's been a few blues mixed in. Most of the fish were found north of Swansea.

"It's been very tidy. The trick is to pick the weather.

"Anglers have had to contend with big nor-easters and southerlys. The best bet is to be ready to go at the drop when a window appears."

Seems a couple of anglers in trailerboats raised a few marlin in about 60 fathoms too off the Farm.

So you don't need a big rig to get into the action.

Top tourney times

February is the pinnacle of game-fishing tournaments in the Hunter.

The season officially kicks off with the Big Fish tournament run by Lake Macquarie Game Fishing Club on February 2 and 3.

The Luhrs Shootout, based in Port Stephens, will be run on February 16-17.

Then the annual Interclub will be the focus of Nelson Bay on February 23-24, punctuated with a midweek event, before climaxing the following weekend.

"Four weekends out of five will be tournaments," Jason observed. "Sounds like a recipe for divorce."

A shore bet

Closer to shore, dolphin fish are showing up in reasonable numbers around the local FADS.

There have been a few striped tuna caught off The Farm, which may explain the prevalence of marlin in shallower waters.

It certainly offers some great options for anglers not looking to head out too wide chase dollies, grab some striped tuna for bait and target a marlin magic.

FADS takes a hit

Whilst on FADS, the one off Swansea was damaged recently either by big seas or a ship mowed it down.

Anyhow, it's presently marked with two white drums crowned with fluorescent orange just slightly north of its usual co-ordinates.

Mega mulloway haul

Big numbers of mulloway have been turning up on beaches, breakwaters and in the lake and Newcastle Harbour, no doubt gorging on prawns.

Anglers have been consistently hooking fish up to 15kg on Blacksmiths Beach and off Swansea breakwall.

Slab baits and squid have been alluring.

Inside the lake, smaller schoolies have been biting on stripped baits off the Drop Over, and around Green and Coal Points.

The great news is a lot of the fish have been caught before sundown, making for excellent twilight barbies.

Kingfish up to 6kg continue to be caught in the channel and up around the Drop Over.

There have been some great whiting caught throughout the region and the bream, as reported last week, have been everywhere.

Meanwhile, Herald sports editor Kevin Cranson reports the Wallis Lakes system and Forster surrounds are thick with flathead.

swalker@theherald.com.au

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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