Hello folks

Started with new clients, from Brisbane today. Scott Watson, and friends. I was going to troll lures up to Escape reef as the water on Linden Bank went off the day before. But after an hour of heading north, I had a feeling that things were changing, and a new run of good water was coming in. Should I stay or stick with the game plane.

I selected to give it another day on the bank, and it was the right call. Workiing just inside the wide trench at the top of the bank. We had 2 bites out of nice fish, one we jumped off, But the second stayed attached and with scott in the chair, The Viking 11 was in hot pursuit of another nice fish for our season, This one had a huge head and shoulders but very very short, so was released at 850lbs. Scott was still a very happy man and the boys who have only fished for small blacks and sails off Brisbane, could not believe the size of these creatures.  

Hello Folks

Been a few days sinced my last blog, To be honest Just getting a little to tied some nights. Have been fishing Brent Morehouse for the last 5 days and averaging a fish a day, Today we had 4 bites on Opal Ridge and got 3 to 850lb, Brent is no newcommer to catching nice marlin having caught 3 up and over the 1000lb mark since he has been with me, in 9 years. He also reminds me that he has’nt missed catching a nice one in the 9 years he has been coming to the reef. Brent is from the states and loves Australia and the GBR.

I am getting quite excited as in 5 more days, or as my son Kai tells me 5 more sleeps I will be seeing my whole family for the first time in over 2 months. It will only be for 3 nights untill I go back out and do the last few weeks before heading home. Holly, My eldest daughter, Emmie- Rose, and Kai, and of cause the wonderfull Kimmy, will be staying in the Shangra la  hotel for a week, complements of the owners. The job does have some great perks. But being away from the family for so long is very hard and I miss them very much. This may not be a Marlin shot but means so much more to me .

 much. 

Hello folks

Started new charter with regular Brent Morehouse, this morning. And Caught his first fish, only a small one by 300pm his second bite came soon after, and this was a nice one, But after severel attempts at crashing the bait and totally missing it , it gave up and left. God they Can be funny creatures some times. Little wind and rain at present.

Capt Billy 

Hello Folks

Yesterday was a special day. Beau Quok owner of the Shangri la Group of hotels Caught a special fish on a lure after a special fight. The fish eat a lumo Spocket, which was the same lure I have caught Many giants on. The biggest weighed being 1134 lb, This fish I feel was larger.

I did not see the bite, and the fish was wound to the boat as if a 15kg Wahoo, I good see the lure and a little bit of colour and called it a wahoo as the angle of light was playing tricks on me.

The so called wahoo took off, ripping line off the reel with 20kg of drag, and I started backing out to see chasing this 15kg Wahoo. 15 Minutes later a very large fat Marlin started jumping all over the ocean, Many times reassembling a blue marlins performance, It was a outstanding fight that left us all breathless, It was a serious battle and Beau did an outstanding job, the leader was taken after a solid hour of the most amazing big fish fight I have ever witnessed.

On the other matter, I do not make such comments without justification, and the grand poo Bah of the NSW Charter boat licencing Mr James found no record of the mentioned boats, Having a Charter boat licence to operate in NSW IN 2009.

As he pointed out to me all boats with a CFB No must display the number very visibly on the vessel, Or this vessel is deemed not to be a licenced NSW charter boat. Just as any commercial vessel. This No is to let the public and other operators know that the boat, is legal to operate in NSW. 

As for the legal action that I have been threatened with, bring it on!! 

I will not enter into the personal mud slinging that was seen on the other site, No one is perfect and yes I have regrets. The most important thing to me is not what certain boat operators think of me in this industry, But how my clients think of me, Mr Beau Kuok for example, and the other regulars who fill my boat up hear year after year, and have been doing so for 23 years now.  And I am only out hear supporting a family, and  at 52 that is the most important thing to me. I will not be drawn in to mention any of the Past history of one of the Capt’s of the boats in question, to compete with the mud slinging on me, But remember people who live in class houses should not throw stones.

Hello Folks

I know been a while since my last blog, Been up at Yonge Reef out of range but let me catch up. Firstly the Lizard Island Black marlin classic has been run and won. With Sharky Miles on the Mauna Kea, having a hot day on the 6th day, finding a nice little pod and getting 4 from 6 in 2.5 hours, And gave the boats in the hunt a little bit of a slap in the face .

Mauna keatook out Champion Boat with 11 tags, Spartacus runners up with 9 tags, and Joe Joe 8 tags, and Viking 11 with also 8 tags, Congratulations to the winners, and to Bob Low and his team for another outstanding Tournament.

One of the big Highlights of this tournament was the fact that, 10 fish over 1000lb were tagged and released.

My good friend Beau Quokand his lovely lady Ying, from The Shangra la hotel group, are back for their second trip of the season, this time doing a live aboard, Beau loves the livaboard deal withjust him and his lady, and plays second chief with his amazing abilities in the galley.

We always spend a big part of the day light tackle and bottom fishing, and sneekout for a few hours Heavy Tackle in the afternoon, we are loading up the freezers and have still managed to keep in touch with the marlin averaging 1 a day.

CONTROVERSEY CORNER

Had quite a few enquires as to why my Boat and a couple of others, get so little mention or not listed as the Cairns Charter fleet, on another Major fishing Blog. Well I am not in a position to speak for the other guys but hear is my side of the story, and happy to let it be known.

As many of you may not know, to legally operate a charter boat in NSW, you have to have a NSW Charter boat licence, these had to be obtained by showing history in the industry in NSW as the licences were capped at around 200. They did not issue them easily, and the other option was to purchase  a transferable Licence, at a considerable sum of around $20,000.

Being a Owner operator and 3 kids to support, It is easy to get frustrated when you find that operators who live in Queensland take there boats to NSW and operate and market themselves as being available for charter out of Port Stephens NSW, without the proper licensing and Documentation.

The boats in question are run by the father and fiance of the author of that other marlin blog,

In a industry that is hard enough to keep your head above water, when you are the Man who  also pays the Bills, I will not accept The fact that Charter boats, who are owned by wealthy owners who have employed full time Captain’s do operate illegally and are competition in a market place, that I have spent large somes of money to operate legally.

On my last trip to Port Stephens, I let the operator or one of these boats, That he should address the fact of becoming legal, and I was less than impressed with what he and his future father in law had done and were consistently doing.

In retaliation, I was removed from the mighty blackmarlinblog, by the wife to be, and of cause she finds great difficulty in having to mention Viking 11 on her blog.

As my Father well and truly drummed into me as a youngster, some things in life just can’t go unchecked. And I will never back away from expressing myself, and doing what is ever necessary to look after my family, and If I see the other businesses operating unfairly, and potentially taking food from my children’s mouths, I will be very happy to express my points of view, again!!!.

With close to 30 years in this industry, and a Client base and friends from every corner of the Globe, This foolish move in retaliation for my Honest and just comments, will only help my business in exposure, and let honest hard working people, in other lines of work know a true storey.

By all means do not stop tuning in to Kelly’s blog as she has much more time and skills, to keep you in touch with whats happening on a day to day basis. But you may have to click on another site to get the full story.

Looking forward to comments, and if Luke, Kelly, and Jim would like to discuss this further, I am always available.

PS. Should get the mobile phones ringing on the reef.

Capt Billy  

what he and his future father in

Hello Folks

Well I made the call to run to Linden Bank this morning, and it payed off, in the first hour of fishing Jim wild in his 8th season to Cairns finally got a grander, Jim did a outstanding job, but was a little overwhelmed by adrenalin.  We had another 2 big fish bites but did not eat properly, but after a bit of luck in the last hour we got another 2 fish up to 400lb. This gives us 6 for the tournament and I think close to the pace.

3 More days to go, and it is very close. I will be asking for some special help from above Keep turned on todays results.

Capt Billy 

Hello Folks

After 2 days without a bite today, the monkey hopefully has left my back, the 3rd day of the tournament, we managed to catch 3 and get us on the board, The pace is 5 after the 3rd day so I need to pull a rabbit out of the hat to get in contention. The boats at the top of the ladder are Spartacus, Joe joe, Hatitude, Top shot, with 5 and 4 repectfully, then a few boat on 3 including ourselves. Today is a important day.

Hello Folks

Before I start, I received a comment from my friend and crewmen on Castille Kenton Geer, and he informs me that the Captain who said the fish they were fighting a very large fish, had been sharked was misstaken, the fish was in good condition when released, Damed if I know how much missinformed information goes unround this industry, But I am glad to hear that what I was told was not the case. And good going to the boys on Castille.

Talking about Castille the first day of the Lizard tournament today, saws them blitz the fleet, with 3 tagged fish, out of a heap of bites, Plus one they called 950 lb. A great effort well done guy.

Boats with 2 fish for day 1, include Hattitude, Little Audry, and a number On one fish.

I had a shocker with out even a bit, Hoping for better luck today

Billy 

Hello folks.

Well the flood gates opened yesterday and the big Girls came rolling in. We had a day to remember releasing two over the magic 1000lb figure, and jumping another fish off. The last big fish was released at 6:00 pm and the boys were jumping out of there skin. I witnessed the Watch dog also doing battle with a nice one, and in the distance could see other boats fighting big Girls, It was a day to remember for this season, and my new crewmen Peter Twiner leadered his first grander, and did a out standing job.

A few days ago I was complaining About not staying attached to big fish, these clients have now caught 1 over 900lb and 2 over 1000lb in 5 days fishing, and they still have 2 days to go.!!! 

Hello folks

The strong winds that have been on us for the last couple of days climaxed last night to 38 knots, anchor watches were put into place on the mothership, and the fishing day was looking a little doubtful.

But after the action we have been having the last few days, my clients were still keen to give it at least a couple of hours, so after a late lunch aboard the Mothership Atlantic Princess, at 13;30 the ropes were thrown and out we went.

Fortunately the wind was backing off, and it was’nt any worst than the day before, we managed 3 bites and caught a 400lber and jumped two similar size fish off. It was hard work for the crew down below and my clients really apreciated the effort.

The winds will lay off in the next couple of days, and the fishing will now be more consistent after the blow. 

Capt Billy