6th November. Great finish and Great Start

Greetings to all.

Johan my new Swiss friend finished his 6 days on board with another big fish to his name, A little earlier start due to his last day and earlier finish saw us  catching some nice fresh Bonito. They were put in the water at 10.00 and soon after a very active 200lber was released.

Another fresh morsel was put out, and a quality 8oolber grabbed it. Johan was more than impressed, with his trip, 8 for his 6 days  a 900lber a 800lber and came close to keeping a fish well over 1000lb.

Beau my partner owner of the Shangri la chain of hotels, Started his trip on the 4th, Beau this time bought along his daughter for the first time and regular young couple Susie and Eduardo. A nice lunch on the Mothership Galaxy, and we started fishing at 13.30. What a after noon we had.

Sussie was put on strike first by Beau,  and a hot hour of fishing began. Susie who has never caught a marlin before was hooked up to a very active 600lber, than Beau’s daughter who also has never seen a marlin, got a 400lber, Beau jumped in the chair for a 300lber all in a very active hour.

Things settled down, and  Eduardo was wating his turn, and at 17.00 it happened a nice 800lber grabed the long bait, and the fun began again.

What a great afternoon Beau was ecstatic, He yelled up to me” Bill back to the mothership to celebrate ” Which of Cause I obliged!!

Love this job.

2nd November 2012 Tournament results Swiss client battles with the big girls

Greeting folks.

Another catch up on whats been happening on the reef with Viking 11. The lizard Island Tournament has been another amazing success, especially with the number of big fish Caught. A total of Seven black marlin over the Magical  1000lb   number were released during the tournament, My client Jim Wild who was my angler when we won the tournament for the 5th time in 2010, caught his second black marlin over 1000lb. It was not our year this time and Top shot with Ross Finlayson at the helm taking out the the major award, But again we were on the podium with Champion boat day 1 and runner up Champion Angler.

Swiss client Johan Christensen has had a great trip so far with 6 marlin up to 900lb, he is keen to keep a real Giant and 2 days ago we had her on,  the big gaffs were made ready but she knew all my tricks, the serious drag was put into play, and Johan was amazed at the power of these fish.

Alas it was not to be, another fish went though the line, while under maximum drag and it was over. We have one more day to try and make Johan Dream a reality, and with some sea monsters out there hear,s hoping.

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.

lady battles Giant marlin into the night.

Greetings all.

Well after a slow trip with my old friend Paul original owner of the original Viking. My new Clients Sarah and Scott Smith from USA, joined us in Cooktown, Sarah was a very keen angler and in the sport now for 3 years. After a early lunch and Chair setup specially for her, we were underway.   We worked No 8 Ribbon Reef most of the day, hooked a fish but it got off, I had a hunch to try a spot on No 9 Ribbon that has worked with the current runing this way before, and at 5.40pm my hunch paid off.

The right rigger went off with a crack, and Sarah was hooked up solid. The fish was making all the moves of a large one, and than she showed herself, another very large fish Viking 11 was hooked up to.

I was amazed at the energy and natural ability that sarah had in the Chair, with the very heavy tackle, and what she lacked in size she certainly had in strength and determination.

The fish had all the tricks, and showed herself fully many times, believe it or not sunset came and  Sarah took on sunset drag without a problem.  Our oportunity came and Randy Baker got the leader, The fish had been caught, Randy did his best to keep a hold but the big seas got us at the wrong time, and the leader got pulled from his hand, we fought the fish into the Dark, and with sharks starting to show on the Furuno, I made a call to cut her free.

A tricky trip back behind No 9 Ribbon in the dark, and I climbed down the ladder to congradulate a very tied lady

Viking 11 No 2 for season.

Hello Folks

Day 4 of Joel Pallaster and team started as usual, the boys climbing out of their bunks looking very ordinary after the preceedings the night before. They have been still celebrating stuart wright grander.

A lunch and swim behind the reef, got everyone back in shape. Baits in we headed down the ribbons, the water turned nice at the top of No 5 and it was already busy with other boats working. A look around myself reveiled some good marking, I stuck it in to see if I could get a bite amounst the pack, and not to long before a fish took the stinger bait. The size was not clear, but it was showing all the sighs of being the extreamly large mark that got my attention on the Furuno.

Shane the angler fist time marlin fishing in the chair, was getting pulled, but the fish was lazy and than not far from the boat she came up and did a couple of large lunges towards the boat, Randy Baker grabed the leader, and this very large fish laid their for all to see, the screeming and yelling again was crazy, I called the fish 1100lb, and the atmoshere was electric.

2 more bites for the day, got the boys a 500lber and 350lber another amazing day on the GBR.

Capt Billy Billson.

Viking 11 first Grander 2012 7th October 2012

Hello Folks

First day with my  friends Joel Pallister, Stuart wright and their  bussiness associates, had me wondering weather I should have turned right instead of left on departure from Cooktown. By 4.00pm I had not even marked a fish nor had a chop off, than a few marks started to show and than the big crash tackle on the skip Bait 20 minutes later, a 800lb fish was released after a very spectacular performance. It was ashley’s first marlin what a first fish.

The boys were stoked, but little did we know what was about to happen, 30 minutes later a blind bite and Stuart Wright vertually just wound it to the boat, I called that it may be a shark, how wrong was I, all of a sudden the line started to angle up, and out she came, Yes over the figure. The fished relised it was in trouble and started smoking all over the place, the speed that this big fish got up to was amazing, and one would be excused for thinking it was a blue marlin. It was a great experience for all aboard, and the yelling screaming so on was heard from the other boats in the area.

Stuart wright the angler of my first grander for the season has had a amazing year of luck, His first meter Barra, his first hole in one, and now his first Grander, we celerbrated a little that night, No I should say alot, This blog has taken me a hour to write, Talk soon

There back

Hello folks.

It had to happen, one thing certain about the cairns fishery is it dosn,t stay calm forever and after so many days of Glamour weather, the wind came with a vengence. With the wind came the fish, and up and down the reef the reports started to flow in.

My clients of the last 4 days Chris Batty of Complete Angler and friend Rebecca, started off. Chris got his first fish of the trip and Rebecca got the shots with the SLR, Day 2 and the weather got fresh to frightening and little Rebecca, started doing it tough. Back to Cooktown to let her sit it out and Lucky Andrew Penniski joined us. We elected to spend the day light tackle due to the weather, and caught about everything that swam around the reefs.

The next day we toughed it out, and Andrew got his first fish of the trip a 500lber, the bites Keep coming and on the last day we were getting a good furry of bites, one a real nice fish that managed to fall off.

The tally at the end was 5 to 550 lb in the 4 days of heavy tackle fishing, GT’s, Bluefin tuna, Spanish Mackerel, behind the reef to break it up.

The weather is coming down and the bite is heating up Stay tuned.

Capt Bill

Water running uphill

Hello folk.

Just finished a three and four day charter, Rodger and Barbara Cunningham, from NZ had 3 days of Glamour weather, and some good action, a 500lb and 300llb marlin were caught as well as some nice yellowfin on the bait rods to 15kg that gave them both some good entertainment, and the extra oversize spanish mackerel kept coming.

You may remember Dave Mcpherson from last season, Dave was lucky enough to catch 2 huge marlin in the one day. The first I called over 1100lb and than another that I don,t know but it was much bigger. Dave luck was not as good on this trip, the current had turned to be running uphill and the action slowed, but we stillo got a couple of smaller fish to 300lb for him, Dave is one of those Guys who loves it just for being out there and he has certainly seen the highs and lows.

The wind is kicking in and we have a few rough days ahead, but it will more than likely bring them on, I will keep you informed.

Capt Billy Billson

2012 Giant black marlin season on the Viking 11 is away

Hello Folks

After a Clamour trip from the Gold Coast to Cairns, on the 15th September we started our big fish season. Four new Clients joined us for  first trip, from Indonesia, We used Mothership Galaxy 1 again, and with great weather and great fishing, the first trip was a good Kick off to the season.

We ran a couple of light tackle rods out on our way to the Mothership on Day 1 and within moments were hooked to a small Black Marlin on the inshore grounds, which was pulled aboard for quick photo, than released. A nice spanish mackerel was also caught just on the way to the mothership while the clients had not even got into their fishing atire.

Our first day fishing for the bigger fish, we kicked off our tally with a 250 lber. and a couple of nice yellowfin.

Day 2 the current runing to the south kicked in and so did the Action 3 Shots a 400lb fish and a 600lb fish released, and another decent fish jumped off.

Day 3  Coral trout, a huge wahoo, A nice Bluefin, Battle with sharks, and another black around 250lb keep the clients busy all day.

Great food and service again on Galaxy 1, the clients thoughly enjoying there fist experience on the reef.

Great workshop, and succesful teanage girls

Hello Boys and girls.

Jus tfinished my second workshop for the season out of Port Stephens, and from thefeed back I got it was another great success. It was nice to have a couple o fthe female gender on board this time. The Two girls were keen to lean all the tricks, and were soon tying all the knots and rigging like seasoned crew. The day at sea saw us spending allot of time with bait and switching technique, as the strong current on the normal grounds had the fish stocks spread out, the class got very excited when they saw how the whole concept worked, when we teased a striped marlin right to the back of the boat and switched it to a skipping mackerel. It is without a doubt the most spectacular way to fish, and as well as highly successful when one becomes accustomed to it. Another marlin to a first time angler, and with one lost during the day and a few other sightings,the students were kept entertained as well as occupied.

You may remember lucky Steve Pennisi, who caught the 836lb blue Marlin off the Gold Coast earlier this year. Well Steve decided to get his family interested in his new sport, and got me for a couple of days charter out of Port Stephens recently. Steve put his young teenage daughters up on strike first. I don’t know what it is with the Pennisi’s but would you believe a blue in the 180kg to 200kg class climbed on the skipping mackerel,and the young lady did a amazing job on the 15kg outfit to land her very first marlin. Later in the day her sister also caught her first marlin, a very active stripy of around 80kg. The girls are now hooked, and on to Dad to get them out.again, God I love it when a plan comes together.

On the podium again

Hello folks

Well after our frustrating start to the 50th anniversary interclub tournament, we managed to crawl our way back to end up on the podium.
The tough fights on 15kg line with larger than normal fish for this area persisted for us, and a couple of black marlin in the 130kg class took up moretime than what we required.

My clients from the Port hacking Game fishing Club were more than happy, when we got called up as third place in this large and competitive
tournament, and as a bonus I picked up the major sponsor award from nautilus insurance.

First and second place in the Tag and release section wen tto Gun Runner and Diversion respectively, Top effort from both these teams.

As mentioned before the fishing at Port Stephens this season has been outstanding, with big numbers as well as big fish.

As a special mention, Rod Templeman and wife Tracy fished the mid week Billfish challenge with us. Rod unfortunately has been doing it
very tough of late with cancer, and it has always been a dream of his to fish on marlin boat, in a tournament. They fished the midweek tournament devoted to tag and release for Billfish, Rod’s energy levels were very weak due to his medication, but his effort came close to being rewarded as we were only one fish from taking out this tournament which had a purse of $5000.00. This was  aoutstanding effort for someone in his condition and bought a lot of emotion on board.

frustration has a whole new meaning.

Frustration has a whole new Meaning

Hello Folks

The first weekend of 50th 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 50th anniversary Interclub will be one to remember. Stay turned.