Blue Marlin Fish
blue marlin fish
Kadavu Black Marlin - new fishery in Fiji?
Some time ago, bite me Gamefishing was contacted by Peter Mumford, a regular on the east coast of Australia black marlin fisherman who was looking for an opportunity to explore new waters in search of its kind favorite, the black marlin. Peter had landed a large number of fish (including granders) at the famous black marlin fishing grounds of Queensland Australia and was looking for a new fishery.
A bite board, occasionally head well offshore and successfully target 80 lbs Blue Marlin class chair tilted against the butt, but looking for a great black along the Great Astrolabe Reef Kadavu island barrier would be an experience completely new to us.
We know that blacks are great here, I have personally seen a black in excess of 16 feet swimming right below the boat inshore and divers have become complex with stories of great marlin herding them to stop the reef ... and photos to prove it.
One of my fellow captains charterboat Tadra Wai 'a a black on the Kadavu seamount estimated by BlueWater magazine editor David Granville at 950 pounds.
There is no doubt that large Black Marlin Astrolabe Reef cruise, but try and catch one was different. the search for Pedro gave us the perfect opportunity to give a serious chance.
No mud around. Fly Glen Gardener, a friend and professional deckie Sydney Australia who normally works the deck of the needle on board the leading charterboat "Bounty Hunter."
Glen brought with him and extra 18 "flying gaff and two arms of the chair 130 pounds Bounty Hunter.
We fished 'Cairns style where we spent the morning and handling of the capture of live bait, then moved to large trolling lures around lunch time. Lures such as MBT 22 "Buddha and Pakula big Joe Smokin.
In the afternoon, the time that most expect a bite, we went to one skip-bait and a bait swimming in the 130 run off the riggers. drag Strike was set at 20 kg, but when running, reels was running with the ratchet in a large loop was removed and later abandoned the reel and dropped back in the wake.
We used the mackerel shark (SCAD) and narrow prescribed (Spanish) mackerel with mackerel bait in general, making the best of swimming baits.
All baits were destroyed, stitched with waxed thread and fitted with a dacron flange 130 pounds on the nose to a Mustad 16 / 0 circle 39960BL Demon hook. The hook was carried out safely away from the bait with a three inch piece of rigid tube.
The tail Penn international 130 lbs Greenspot Dacron with a mono top shot 200 yards ending with a short double-stranded and Yo-Zuri ball bearing snap swivel HD. The 600-pound mono leader to connect then is attached hereto.
Our favorite fishing areas were only 10 minutes, just opposite the station. It was not long time. 12:55 A jump with bait on the left rigger was engulfed in a ball of foam as a billfish left a hole in his wake. Everyone went into action. Pedro screaming and took the team went to the chair as the fish swam away with the circle hook rigged bait. When Peter was bound and ready, the drag was relaxed hooks circular filed with the corner of the jaw of the fish and 300 pounds of angry black marlin took to the air.
I have seen and fought many blue marlin but this was my first black and the differences were striking. Blues eat hard and fast, then take a direction and go go go with no intention of ever stopping. If you do manage to stop one, which then often you and sound can be turned into a slug-fest. Blacks are completely different and this fish fought like a typical black. Will be charged around, particularly at or just below the surface with no clear battle plan and put on a show for photographers spectaculor. As an acrobat and Pacific sailfish and as strong as a bull that is characterized by many anglers spend fishing for black marlin yearafter years. What amazing fish.
We took an hour and ten minutes for the leader of the hand. We have been in close fairly quickly, but she was so green and therefore a serious danger to the crew, softened and take our time. At 320 pounds she smashed the existing M-130 Fiji National Record and Peter decided to weigh the fish. The first documented Kadavu Great Astrolabe Reef black, I know that tipped the scales just under 320 pounds. Just one more great, but you can not start!
It is our intention to take every opportunity to continue fishing for Kadavu Island Black Marlin and tag and release enough to paint a clear picture of their habits and seasons. Given the sightings by divers and our own experiences of Black marlin here, our goal is to find Grander Fiji first.
Sometimes it's fun to be a pattern ..... charterboat
About the Author
Adrian was born on the island of Cyprus and graduated to his first rod & reel at the age of five. Having fished around the world from the Arabian Gulf to the North sea and English Channel, he finally settled for the tropical waters of the South Pacific around the island of Kadavu, Fiji Islands. Director of Matava Resort Gamefishing, he skippers 'Bite Me', the resort's 31ft DeepVee Gamefishing vessel and thoroughly enjoys exploring the light and heavy tackle fishing around the island and Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef. An IGFA Certified Captain, he advocates tag & release and is a keen supporter of the IGFA and the Billfish Foundation.
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