Tag Archives: Gamefishing australia

Port Stephens a mighty place.

Hello folks

Viking 11 is currently at Port Stephens, and as predicted the amazing small black marlin fishing on the East coast of Australia this year has spread down to this fishery. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Port Stephens, It is a got to go there place. My first true experience of Game fishing still in primary school, was at Port Stephens, and memories of giant fish hanging from the Shoal bay weigh station in the late 60’s are still in the depths of my mind. My first ever marlin I caught off Port Stephens, and later in life The largest tournament in this country The NSW Interclub held off Port Stephens we won, and as history would now show have won a total of 4 times. It is also a destination regularly mentioned in the IGFA world record book many times for outstanding Captures on light, Ultralight, and Saltwater flyfishing tackle, The largest fish ever to be caught on flyfishing tackle ( 138 kg Blue Marlin on 10kg tippet ) was caught out of Port Stephens on Viking 11.

So as you can see, it holds as a special place for me, and many others who have experienced the sort of fishing this place can produce. Black Marlin, Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin Grand slams .

Days of double figure striped marlin are not uncommon, and this season with the large influx of small black marlin, so much fun on lighter tackle, Both species big number days, will be possible.

The few days that I have already done out of Port Stephens, have produced some big number days, with the clients having a ball, some of this excellent fishing is only a few miles out the front of the Bay, making it very easy, The big tournament month of February is upon us, and itis peak season hear now, so come aboard for the Viking experience, off Port Stephens .

Capt Billy Billson

4th Grander Tournament Torture.

Greetings my friends.

Some time since a blog, busy days for this Old captain. To Catch up Sarah and Scott Smith from the USA. finished there trip with 4 fish in the 5 days and Sarah’s big girl we fought into the night. Good going during a slow time and we had a wonderful diner at the 1770 Resturant to say our goodbys to very lovely pe0ple

The 26th lizard Island Black marlin classic has just finished its 5 day, We started well winning the first day, and regular and past winner Jim Wild is back again with a special friend. We are in the hunt but l

ead boat Top shot is having a blinder, one special day we got three and Jim got another grander to his name, But some good luck has been mixed up with weid bad luck. Example 650lb leader breaking on the strike somehow!!! Hooked up and fighting, than the bait coming back like it has not been touched, unbelievable. Easy to start pulling your hair out. But we are having a great time, and again enjoying having Jim wild aboard.

Never over till the fat lady sings so we will see what happens in the wash up. But No complants Jim’s Fish well over the mark is our 4th for the season, Very happy to have that result, and my clients have being a total pleasure.

frustration has a whole new meaning.

Frustration has a whole new Meaning

Hello Folks

The first weekend of 50^th anniversary NSW interclub tournament is now history,and as I ponder on the wording for this blog, I realise how much the luck factor can play in the sport of game fishing.

We were on the Board with one of the first tag and realises of the tournament, a solid black marlin, then with in another half an hour, we were again hooked up to another over size black for this fishery. This fish well over 200kg gave us a early chance with the Tag pole, but it did not find it’s mark, and it realised that it better keep as far away from that screaming engine noise as possible.

The hours ticked by and another couple missed opportunities, and then after four hours of what I could only call now wasted time the inevitable happened. Obviously feeling a bit flattened we were back on the spot, the sked report made me aware that we had wasted too much time and the pace was getting away from us.

When it rains it pours and again within minutes we were hooked up again, this time to a very large Striped marlin that took us all around the fleet in hot pursuit. Then it took off down sea at top speed for what seemed an eternity. Again when the opportunity arose, the tag shot went astray and made contact with the line. I remember saying something like bad luck or maybe something along those lines.

We had been hooked up most of the day and yet our result at the end of day 1 was one tag, well off the pace of 5 for the top boat.

Well with that day out of the way, you would think that, things could only get better. I arrived on the grounds at 0630 due to the crazy time they start fishing in this tournament. (leaving the entrance to Port Stephens at dark with another 170 odd boats of all sizes departing at
similar time is a navigation night mare, and it looks like they will not change this criteria until someone has a collision at sea, which could have a disastrous outcome. I only hope that this stupidity does not cause a loss of life.) The baits went in the water at start fishing 0700 and immediately we were hooked up to a double header, both going in opposite direction, and we were getting smoked, I made the decision to lock up one or lose both. With one fish gone I was just about to do chase to the other fish, and due to the amount
of line out the line parted. It appeared the Monkey had not got off my back.

Well my old mate Percy veer came to my aid, and our luck finally turned, after a shocking start we finally started catching. At the end of the second day we caught 5 striped marlin for the day, up there with a good result for the day, but our 6
fish total for the 2 days is well off the pace. The result for the Tournament so far in general is outstanding, good results both in marlin of all sizes and extremely large sharks. It looks like the 50^th anniversary Interclub will be one to remember. Stay turned.

Hot water early and the big ones are here.

17th September 2010

Tim lonsdale first of 5 days was a cracker, Tim fished last year and you may remember that group Caught 2 over the 4 figures in a day, Tim came back as a loner this year, and again has already experienced what Cairns is famous for. I spoted the bite of a nice fish on the left bait, and it was so good to see, the circle hook caught the corner of the jaw, and after a great fight the nugget of the fish was released every one aboard was stoked as it was our first big fish for the season and on our 3 day of fishing.

Tim fished Both Azores and Madiera before comming hear and went 8 days without a bite, well as the day progressed we caught a small fish and towards the end the right rigger with the swimming scad came out of the clip like a arrow from a bow, another big fish started ripping up the ocean, and after 45 minutes I was looking at a fish alongside that had the length to be 4 figures I believe it was a bit lean from what I saw of the Jumpes so 950lb would be a safe call.

What a day the water is much hotter than normal for this time of year, and the water is purple and plenty of bait marking on my spots I love for the big ones keep tuned.

Capt Billy Billson

17th September Linden Bank North of Cairns

With the south east trade wind of 20knots pushing against a 1.5 knot southerly set, perfect conditions for the big blacks but not so perfect for Client Chris Egan, who had a little trouble keeping his breakfast down. So a run into south Opal for a regroup and debriefing plus a swim, had him keen for another go at 2:30. By the time we got the baits in the water at 3:00, we were limited in time to work back to the bank, but once there things looked promising with a big fish marking on the sounder, up came her small companion and grabed the big bait and pulled it out of the rigger, the small fish could not eat the yellowfin tuna skip bait, so a shark helped himself to the fresh offering and after a short fight the mono leader got bit off.

With another bite by a small fish and a few others marked, our first day finished looking very promising, and Chris had a miricle recovery so a bigger effort will be put in tomorrow.

Finally calm weather and giant fish.

Hello folks.

Sorry about promised Pictures, put having trouble with the bloody computer,

Yesterday started with New American Clients for 7 Days working off the Mothership Alantic Princess, glamour, great day good weather for a change and on his first day Terry Caught a cracker, Knocking at the door one could say, we had 2 other bites on small fish But hooked the big one late, came in behind the reef at night with everyone on a high. Their has been some other nice ones also caught recently from Moana, Little Audry, and Iona 11, all on Linden Bank.