Malta Fishing Forum

Boat Fishing in Malta => Video's => Topic started by: twoutes on October 27, 2010, 04:17:27 CET

Title: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: twoutes on October 27, 2010, 04:17:27 CET
Very early this morning l arrived back home from a two week trip to my favorite place in Australia, The Great Barrier Reef. After some sleep, l caught up with what was going on back home, checked emails and faxes to sort out some work and got right into downloading my photos and editing video clips....though l shouldn't have told my clients when l was returning home, as the phone calls were a real distraction. You know how they say 'never put off till tomorrow what you can do today'?....well l'm a great believer in that till it comes to work.
I jumped on Moana III after arriving in Cairns after midnight a couple of weeks ago, and spent all day Wednesday stocking the boat with supplies for our trip up to Lizard Island for the 24th Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic.Captain Dan's son Dough joined us again to help catch some well needed fresh bait. Tom was deckie again this season, and a newcomer to the team Jimmy eager to learn a bit about heavy tackle fishing.
It was a smooth run all the way to the island, and much bait was caught on 10 - 15 kg outfits, together with some fresh fish to make its way to the table for dinner.



(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA140002.jpg)
Dough catches a personnel best Yellow Fin tuna on 15kg outfit which weighed 18kg

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA170170.jpg)
One of many spotted mackeral caught on small skirted lures later to be stiched as skipped or swim baits depending on size


Jimmy was keen to get on the next rod to go off so Dan steered Moana III close to the edge of one of the ribbon reefs to try and score him a Dog Tooth Tuna, and almost on cue the 10kg outfit went off screaming, with jimmy jumping on it like a jack rabbit he caught a 20kg doggie which put up a great fight



(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA150010.jpg)
You can see why they call these things Dog Tooth Tuna.
Some of it found its way on the dinner table that night.


We arrived at the island the day before the briefing which gave us some time to do some more exploring on and around the island.



(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA160070.jpg)
Moana III anchored in Watson's Bay - Lizard Island


The previous year we hiked up to Cook's Nook to enjoy the fabulous views around the island, and l made a mental note to visit the 'blue lagoon' the next time l had a chance. So while Dan took Dough to the airport, Tom, Jimmy and l took the track to the other side of the island for a swim and a snorkel



(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA160089.jpg)
The beach at the lagoon with other islands close by

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA160127.jpg)
Snorkeling the edges of mangroves at the southern end of the lagoon



On the way back to the boat we stopped at the shack at the airport to find Dan greeting Andrei, our Angler for the tournament. Andrei is a very keen marlin fisherman from Russia, who has fished in some of the best marlin grounds around the world, and this was to be his fifth or sixth year fishing with Dan. Unfortunately for him though the weather was not as good for the rest of the week with it getting up to 30knts some days. we had one really rough night camped behind Hicks reef with wind gusts recorded to 60knts at nearby cape flattery. We pulled the anchor up the the next morning to find it was bent in the shape of a banana



(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA200199.jpg)
Some big seas while fishing the tournament


Andrei's turn on a black marlin didn't come till the fifth day of the tournament, but his patience was rewarded with the biggest fish of the tournament, which came up and tried to eat our deckie Tom, and in the process take the tag pole off him. He was very lucky to just end up with a grazed elbow, as the marlin made contact with him with its coarse bill. Things could have been much much worse.
The marlin, which was estimated by Dan to be around 1100lb, was eventually tagged with a N.S.W scientific tag and released without harm to continues its breeding cycle, which was the whole reason for it being there in the first place










Since start fishing didn't start till 11:00 am we had time to catch more fresh baits for the day's fishing, as well as some snorkeling. One morning we rigged up some Halco laser pros with wire and put them out for a bait session

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230238.jpg)
Lasor pros rigged up and ready to go

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230247.jpg)
Shark mackerel for swim bait

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230256.jpg)
I think we'll keep this spanish for dinner

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230262.jpg)
Enough caught for the day after about an hour

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230266.jpg)
Paint on lures don't last very long up there, this was only after it spent one hour in the water.


To get out of having a poor anchorage, a few times we opted to anchoring at Watson's Bay, which gave us the opportunity to spend time at the marlin bar to catch up with friends. One in particular was 'Dammo' who deckied on Joe Joe for many seasons, but had now bought his own game boat 'Saltaire', and was working with Nomad doing heavy tackle as well as sports fishing in the areas at the time. He tipped us off where we could get Andrei some Large G.T's up to 40kg.
I just happened to take up with me a new river2sea Dumbell Popper, and the very first fish to get caught on it was a 40kg plus G.T.


(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230273.jpg)
Now that's how you christen a new lure

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA230276.jpg)
Dan helps Andrei lift his G.T for the photo


Another unusual catch on the way out from the island was this Big Eye Tuna. In saying that we have caught many of these on previous trips out on the sea mounts but never on the inside of the reef


(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k372/twoutes/PA170168.jpg)
Big Eye Tuna.


I will apologize now for the long report, and hope to show you another longer video clip of the whole trip, but l think tomorrow l better start making some of my clients happy, and think about another trip somewhere



Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: fishfinder on October 27, 2010, 04:35:34 CET
Thanks for sharing your incredible fishing trips Twoutes. That Fellow was really lucky by avoiding the Sword of that Black Marlin cause it really could have ended up much much worst. How I wish I was born In Australia :'( . Hope to see more of your fantastic trips and well done. 8)
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: twoutes on October 27, 2010, 04:59:42 CET
Thanks for your comments fishfinder.
You are absouletly right in saying that it could have ended much worse. I think he had a bit of a shock and lucky to only have graze marks along the bottom of his forearm caused by contact from the rough bill.

About being born in Australia.....all l can say is that l am Maltese (born in Sliema) and dad decided to move here when l was still a baby.
Malta is a beautiful place to live, but if you want to do some game or sports fishing, come for a visit here, and l'll help you out....Might even join you ;)
Cheers
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: robby017 on October 27, 2010, 08:09:14 CET
Blimey............. really big fish down under...... well done.
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: fishfinder on November 01, 2010, 14:43:06 CET
Thanks Twoutes, I really wish that one day will come over to visit my Cousins and may be find sometime (everday) for fishing especially with someone good as you are.  ;)
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: shanook on November 01, 2010, 17:58:45 CET
as usual twoutes great shots........so even down under u have guardian angles, good thing that Tom had his on duty that day.
Well done.....keep them coming mate.
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: jessijames 2 on November 01, 2010, 23:34:05 CET
Hi i think when GOD was a kid he use to play on that beach
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: baghira on November 03, 2010, 19:54:31 CET
Amazing/fantastic etc
I am confused on what expression to use.
Simply WOW
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: twoutes on November 03, 2010, 20:47:42 CET
Thanks for all the comments guys.

Check out this short clip of the G.T. that was caught using a river2sea dumbell popper.
Usually you have to really work these type of poppers to get the required action to obtain the bite. But since we were casting into a 'moblile bommy' which is an actual school of G.Ts in tight formation whick looks like part of the reef, the angler was simply instructed to wind without popping the lure.



Baghira...you would just love spearfishing there...but l think you would be a bit confused as to which direction to fire ;)
The new 'extreme' spearfishing up there now is to bringing black marlin to the back of the boat while trolling hookless lures and teasers, with the spearfishermen ready to go when given the word by the skipper. The shaft is connected to 'bungie cord' which is attached to large floats. After spearing the marlin the spearfisherman hangs on for the ride of his life.
Not the sort of thing that l like...but each to their own.

....just to give you the idea

Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: The_Gaffer on November 04, 2010, 16:19:59 CET
Joe - You shouldn't appologise for the write up.  It's always great to read up on a fantastic fishing trip.  Amazed at the footage presented.  Well done!!  BTW, the Moana III looks like a Hatteras...is it??
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: The_Gaffer on November 04, 2010, 16:23:28 CET
BTW - in my next life I want to be born in Australia - Queensland, and own a 45 Riviera!!....is that too much to ask??
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: baghira on November 04, 2010, 19:40:13 CET
We always dream of one such catch in a lifetime.
For now all I just wish and pray for is that my sinuses etc heal and I can go underwater again.
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: twoutes on November 04, 2010, 20:55:38 CET
Quote from: The_Gaffer on November 04, 2010, 16:19:59 CET
  BTW, the Moana III looks like a Hatteras...is it??

Hi Joe. Thanks for the comment. No Moana III is not a Hatters, but  custom built by Mr Dick Ward and his team at Cairns Boat Builders. My Mate Daniel (the skipper) was involved from day one, and contributed to design on behalf of its owners to suit not only their needs, but to make it suitable for long range 'live on board' Charters. I was fortunate enough to visit cairns a few times during the build and was amazed to see what is actually under all that fibreglass.
The engineering fit out is nothing short of brilliant but still simple:
# Cruise Speed 25kts, max speed 32 kts
# Powered by twin Cummins QSM-11s @ 660 hp each set at 580 hp
# Twin Disc 5114A Quick Shift gear boxes and ES300 Controls
# 13.5kva Isuzu/Zenth Genset
In your next life....give me a call and l'll come deckie for you ;)

Baghira....anything is possible, but in the meantime l hope your sinuses clear up and that you get well soon.

Cheers
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: twoutes on November 13, 2010, 02:21:01 CET
Hi Guys.
Thought you might like to see a short clip of of what we get up to on the boat.

Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: baghira on November 13, 2010, 16:09:02 CET
Simply Amazing...
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: shanook on November 13, 2010, 18:28:36 CET
very nice Twoutes............
Title: Re: G.T's, Mackeral, Tuna, And Grander Black Marlin
Post by: digger0579 on July 14, 2011, 11:10:59 CET
Does are what I call nice boats