reelmagic

Hi Guys, fished Port Stephens over 3 days this week. Tried hard for little...... A few stripes and dolphin fish. The game club only managed a few sharks and dollies. Born free fished up a seals for little. Water going uphill off Boughton. Water got warmer to 23.6 towards all mark. Plenty of bait in the 120m mark. We stayed for any hours for zeros. In addition, we fined JB two weeks before, hooked a nice black about 150+ on 80. Pulled the hooks after 15 mins. Also got two wahoo around 12kgs. Dale

Hi Guys, I have a spot if anyone is interested for this Sunday. Weather is looking OK at this stage. Fishing out around 23mile for Makos! Leave this time from 'Hole in the Wall' Sylvania @ 7.00am Return most likely late around 6pm pending a late hook - up! Contact Dale on: 0425327784 Taa

Well done Bruce! A great effort! Probably get rid off the 15's at this time of year, but great fun! Just seeing them jumping around and waiting to see IF they will take that short corner is always exciting. Remember that striped marlin are not great with lures! Dumb fish! Regards, dale reelmagic

Hi Guys, We fished yesterday south from Kiama, all the way down to Point Perp! As in many other areas at present , the birds were quick to jump upon the schools of stripies busting up the surface. Firstly, we easily picked up two small stripies for the tubes then realised that catching tuna, hindered our search for Marlin. We replaced the small lure, however, the tuna still took the bigger ones, including the skipped rigs. The water was 25.4 , current about 1.5. We fished the 140-170m area for most of the day. Without targeting tuna, we still ended up with 14 ! Had to get a few for shark'in! A few boats throughout the day reported several hook - ups! We started at the same area that was holding bait two weeks ago and then headed south. After several hours the swum garie got smashed, then the fish dropped the bait, only the turn and hit the big pakula sprocket on the other corner. After 20 mins with many aerials, the fish won freedom. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm The point of the hook was considerably bent! The sea had settled slightly, so we decided to skip a garie in a McWog........ this got hit by a big stripey and as we cleared the teasers, a big Marlin smashed the stripey! Jason struggled to extract the rod from the holder under strike load. Around 6pm, more tuna schools and birds resulted in us hooking up to another fish on the short corner,......... yes the sprocket again! The fish swum past a skip and swim bait to hit this thing! Don't you hate lures? Jumped him off as well! Always next week! ps Forgot about the little yellowfin we found straying with the stripies! Regards, dale reelmagic

Hi mate, Just cruised up to the back, sniffed around and then cruised back to the bait at 30m or so! Only a baby though.............he must have been around for a while! dale

Hi Guys, Able to finally get out for a shark fish yesterday. It's been that long, didn't really care with zeros, just needed to burn some diesel, but we were a little lucky. Started further north than usual in 480m. The drift early was 0.7knts which increased to about 1.3knts when we were shallower at about 240m. The temp. was OK at 20.9 degrees. Started burleying at 10am and didn't raise a fish until 2.00pm, a good whaler of about 150....... didn't last long as it spat the bait back at us after 10mins. You think that I would rig it properly by now! My mistake! Not more than 15 mins we had a small blue playing with the bait / trace and float until it took the bait then swum to the boat to be released. Shortly after, a small tiger came for a visit, disappeared temporarily, so we tossed out a small bait on the spin stick. Eventually the tiger eat the small offering and was at boat side soon after. NO makos today, our target fish, but it was good to get out. ps. A big thank you to the two boats who saw our massive trail and changed course to go south / around of us. Thanks heaps, greatly appreciated! Might get out again this Sunday for our last shark fish for 2010. Regards, Dale reelmagic

Well done boy's, great fish! Dale reelmagic

Mate....... can't mistake that head let alone the way he / she behaved .................. I don't cite sizes anymore (if I can avoid it), as this seems to upset many more people. But, it seemed to the crew and I, only to be around 170 ish ............. maybe more. We burlied heavily for several hours and it took the deep bait first! So I'm betting on a tiger ........ mmmmmmmmmm Regards, dale

Yeah, Very good point and one in which all my crew agree with you totally. We have probably caught over 80 sharks on Reelmagic so far, of which only about 15 have been killed, usually small makos. We have tagged and released the rest. Some come up dead or worse for wear! In addition, we tag and release just about every Marlin, except those that come up dead as well. We have also tagged bluefin tuna, yellowfin and dolphin fish. So, I'm feel'in that the odd fish for the boys to take a picture with after spending many thousands of dollars in pursuit of these fine fish is acceptable. I'm very sure that if you were involved in a fight with a big 200+ Mako for two hours or a big blue marlin tearing up the ocean, then later watching them swim away all angry, you would also see why we shark, marlin and game fish. I could also ask, how many flathead do you kill, or have killed in your fishing adventures. They are surely beautiful fish as well! Horses for courses, me thinks! Some people like the feel of a Barra, we like the feel of gamefish! Regards, Dale ps just had to express what game fisherman do and love!

Hi guys, Always looking for keen fishos to join us when our regular crew are unavailable. We have a list of raiders to call upon, so a few more would be great. Reelmagic game fishes regularly out from Yowie Bay Port Hacking, Port Stephens and Kiama Harbour. We fish seasonally for: shark, marlin and yellowfin. If you would like a trip to see if you like it: call me on 0425327784. Regards, dale - reelmagic

Hi Guys, It's been quite a while, but that thing called work does interfere somewhat in what we love to do. Manage a shark fish out of Yowie on Sunday. Nice current, mako temp water at 17-18 degrees. Plenty of patches of cowan young around and what a surprise........... many good sharks close behind. We got five bites and who knows how many others fish we didn't see. Two bites were no more than 30 feet from the boat. The water was not clear, which was interesting!!!!!! A good tiger was up in the trail and ate one bait then some burley sitting on the other line. Goodbye! A good blue shark of about 120kgs was tagged, released, then ate one of our bags and stayed with us for 1 1/2 hours whilst fighting a big whaler. Very long and heathy this blue was! The whaler presented considerable dramas, as we were a deckie down, but 'laurel and hardy' had him under control after many mins. Out of practice I think! A male, very solid and toey! A good shark day in all! See ya out there! ................... things are looking good for the comp. Regards, dale

Hi Dave, Sounds like you are doing the right thing. We pretty much do the same, BUT always use big garies rigged with a small skirt on the nose as a skip bait, or a McWog on the nose OR rig with a ball sinker on the nose and swim them. Also, they go ok for a pitch as well! Live stripies are hard to hook up marlin as they really need more time to get them down, stripes play with them a bit. However, go the blues! The fish have to be there anyway............ if you get a stripey or two, live bait the area and then more on! tight lines, dale

Hi Guys, As you all would know, hook ups with striped marlin on lures are usually very low. Try skip baits and teasers. You will get most on skip baits and just about every one on teasers. regards, dale reelmagic. ps AND you still have to be where the fish are????

Hi once again guys, As you would be well aware, many marlin were caught off the Port Stephens area over the last few weeks. We managed 8 hook ups over the period, but only got two to the tag pole. We were asked to fish on a mates boat. Fishing 10 and 15 kg was challenging particularly with new anglers. We were trying for additional points, but in hind sight should have stuck to 24kg. The bait was spread out along the coast resulting in many boats catching fish. A few sizeable dollies were around as well. We most hook ups on live baits. regards, dale reelMAGIC

Hi once again guys, As you would have read and heard, there are good shows of fish at Port Stephens. We fished Saturday the Car Park area for two solid good blacks about 120 - 130 kgs. Many other boats had shots with several also catching 2 to 4 or more including Bluewater, Gunrunner, Billistic and the like. There was a light current and 25C water. The bait were feeding on the 'red' stuff with the sounder indicating that marlin were present. This was confirmed, as we lost three jigs to marlin throughout the day. The last fished was caught at 5.10pm after all had left. Greg decided in the morning to take some footage of the tag and release with his new camera!!!!!!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm not sure about this, but his is a dive instructor, however, I reckon they eat well too! Some great footage as you see the black peel off after release, then straighten up before heading down deep!!!!! Hope he made it! I just don't know how many actually survive, and it saddens us to think that they may not! On Sunday, the weather changed with 2-3m on a 15-18 knot nor easter. The current has picked up to about 1.5 knots and the bait was spread out and at 100+m. Only 12-15 boats showed up with most getting a shot or two. Weapon got a few as did several other boats but over a much wider area, with Calypso making a quick visit before heading north. With only Weapon and us left, at 3.30pm we hooked a nice striped of about 110kg and as we were just leaving we came across the best bait of the day well south coming up to 50m! With a 2 hour trip home, it was time to go! Hope the fish will stay for the inter club!....... fat chance! We are fishing JB next week, weather pending. Regards, dale reelmagic

Well done boys', a great effort, particularly to get it in the boat! An exceptional fish! dale reelmgic

They were at least 25 km east nor east of the Kiama Canyons and in about 1400 - 1500 fathom area. Use small striped marlin lures and I'm sure you will find them! good luck! see you at sussex! merry christmas dale

Hi Guys, Fished yesterday out of Kiama and for once the weather man got it wrong in our favour, as we were met with 5 to 8 knot breeze all day on a 1m swell. We started at the Canyons with a water temp of 20.4 and once again with good colour. Sauries were jumping around in many spots so we headed SE after a word from last week. Two boring hours later, we had two little stripies in the tubes with nothing around to throw them at! In about the 1000 fathom mark the water went down to 20.1, so we turned an headed NE for the next three hours until we were about 72 kms from home. As with most fish'in, we 'ran over' a patch of Albacore and some jellybean yellowfin. Interestingly, the yellowfin took our two garfish skip baits in a pink and purple McWog! We caught our quota easily and the trolled back 2 hours to the canyons region for a late arvo marlin. No luck, just heaps of sauries once again and some stripies. Interesting though, the water temp was up to 21.9. Charts seem to indicate that an eddy was close to the area we fished, and we found the current to be inconsistent throughout the day. A 10/10 day on the water, weather wise and at one stage we were thinking about applying for a New Zealand passport. No marlin today, but won't be too far away. For those gem / blue eye fishers, plenty of shows on the canyon area in only 260 -290m!!!!!! Give it a go, as the locals always seem to do well! Regards, dale

Thanks for the insight Ross! Just makes us realise that WE ALL MUST make a noise, than just sit back and complain! regards, dale reelMAGIC

It's right up there! We tagged this thing and able to get an accurate measurement of 3.7m. Look at the charts, and it's a good one at that, even if it was 200mm shorter. Well done dave, a great guess! sounds like you had a little inside info! regards, dale

Mate ................ 2 1/2 hrs on 24kg! Alot bigger!

Hi Guys, Coops They have got to be joking! ........ we have caught and tagged several sharks on the south coast that have have two and at times three stainless steel long line hooks in them, makos and tigers. We let most go and they seem to swim away, a little tired but alive! Long liners are having a significant impact upon shark as a by-catch in our waters! As for shark'in for fins................. why should the rec anglers 'pay' as a result of this practice? What does the future hold???? reelmagic

Hi Guys, Since I put a late post for an extra pair of hands, I thought I'd put this report in! You missed nothing J !!!!!!! Fished out of the Hacking and started a drift in 380m. Early, the drift was good at 0.6knts and then gradually picked up as we entered another current line! Water temp was 21.8 and the colour was blue as! No albies up here unlike that of the south coast, hence the signs of yellowfin as reported last week. Raise a good mako at 2.00pm................ the float went down, then back up, then sideways for 10m, then down again and then the rigger popped. Left him for 45 secs or so and set the hook straight back into the head of the stripey. Don't ya hate that? The wind was up to about 18-20 knts from the NE with 1.0 - 1.5m swell. Heaps of white caps, but this boat seems to drift well in those sorts of conditions so we stayed out til 6.15pm hoping for a late bite, before making the 38km run home at 21knts. So much for sydney................. and an end to the shark season for us! Next week, back down to Kiama for a Marlin / Tuna fish! ps. I'd thought I would add a pic of a fish we caught last year. Mako.............. how much do you think he weighs?? mmmmmmmmm dale reelmagic