| Meatball Madness
The season so far, has been nothing short of spectacular, for all boats. The weather in particular has been magic! The long range forecast had looked good, but 2 days before our departure for another 10-day trip to the wanganellas, it didn't look so good. The three previous trips this season I had been able to tell the boss that we would steam straight through, leaving immediately, however a depression was due to develop over Brisbane and then track directly towards New Zealand. So while the weather was beautiful now, in 48hrs when we would be on the fishing grounds we would also be in the middle of a deepening low.
Our guests were understandably disappointed, but I informed them that we would steam through to the Three Kings and maintain a watchful eye, and you never know, we might just get a chance.
We arrived at the Islands 2300hrs with news that the King bank was fishing well. The morning bait catching proved difficult with the Kohies disappearing as soon as the sun was up. We only caught 2.
28th April
Flat calm today, with good marks on the top of the bank. We trolled to the north looking for some English mackerel, with no success. The bite had been happening late in the afternoon, so I was steaming back to some foul when we raised one of the smallest fish we had seen this year. I had to look twice, as I think the boys did too. However we missed this one. We then stopped for a bottom fish and drifted our only two kohies off the bow. It was a very relaxing day and a pleasant surprise when we noticed the balloon dip, followed by the rod I was holding getting bit. The fish had tried to eat both baits and the second bait had become tangled in the leader. With the fish remaining close to the boat, we were able to sneak up and save the bait, before releasing this fish. One fish was better then none!
29th April
Last night's sword fishing had been a peaceful night, we had the one bite at 2030hrs and we managed to crack this fish off. We were all standing in the cockpit and simultaneously noticed the rod bounce and the band break. As I raced to the bridge, the boys tended the rods. Once at the rear driving station, I noticed the line was slack with Matt winding furiously, then as we were coming tight, the line angled forward and under the boat, far too quickly for even the most nimble of boats!
The morning was good and we had caught 10 English mackerel on the top of the bank, when I checked up on the weather, it was looking good. So with that I made the precautionary phone call to my weather girl and it was a thumbs up. We would steam immediately to the wanganellas.
30th April
Arrived 0830hrs with very nice conditions. The morning bite was slow on the lures, with only one pack attack and a couple of doubles. I was anxious to use my fresh livies, so we set up and drifted for an hour and half, for zip!? But it wasn't until we started trolling again and found the fish off the bank. 1400hrs to 1500hrs we fished meat balls of small bait fish being attacked by large packs off marlin. We trolled our live and dead baits through these meatballs. Four baits out, meant four fish on! It all ended when the dolphins turned up. They were every where, even while we backed down on a fish, there would be ten dolphins riding on our stern wave, and I noticed on two occasions a dolphin seemed to try and hit the line with its tail. In the afternoon the rain started and the wind rose to 15knts, fishing was again slow with just a few isolated bites but then at 1800hrs the meatballs started again. We finished the day with 11 fish tagged and released.
1st May
A scruffy night on the sea anchor meant everyone was a little tied and slow today, so no one was ready when we raised the first fish. It was still overcast and a little lump, but the bites were consistent and we lost count of how many we lost on our lures. We were out of fresh bait and our freshly frozen jack mackerel which usually are never spat back, were getting spat back today. The meatballs started in the arvo right on time, 11 fish released.
2nd May
With the fish turning their noses up at our baits, and in a continuation of the lures versus teasers debate, I told the boys not to rig any baits, we would fish lures and lures only. To say that they weren't happy was an understatement. If yesterday was chaotic, today was anarchy! On the way to reaching our 250 fish for the year, we raised an estimated 40 fish, maybe more? We released 15 fished today.
3rd May
Another epic day, with similar shots as yesterday and again released 15 marlin. The sun made an appearance, which made it easier to spot the birds and meatballs. Witnessing the marlin crashing through the bait was a sight, and as we approached each meatball, often a marlin would be seen feeding right beside the boat. On one particular meatball we hooked up five fish and played all five for ten minutes before one line parted, bugger! The remaining four we played for another twenty minutes before a hooked pulled. #%$% it! We had our sights set on four, but can't complain with three.
4th May
Today was a complete turn around from the previous days and even from all our days spent at the wanganellas. We have noticed changes in the mood of marlin with regards to the moon, but none so significant as this. The fish just weren't interested, and very lazy, even while hooked up they fought differently! We had half as many bites today, and some meatballs didn't produce any bites! We still had fun and managed to release a further 10 marlin and bring the trip total to 63 fish. We steamed for home in flat calm conditions at 1830hrs.
Another successful trip, with some very happy guests.
Good fishing Tom.
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