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Striped Marlin - Monday 13th April


wise one

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Took my Scout 205 centre console out for its first "true" gamefishing trip yesterday.

After the sensational flat seas for the 3 previous says, it was a bit dissappointing to be confronted with a fair bit of chop coming in from the SE. Whilst we were making mid teens knots, it wasn't the quick cruise out to Browns we had expected. As we approached the 12 mile, a squall hit us and chopped the sea up further, so rather than fight our way through it we decided to set the lures and troll at 8-9knots out past the 12 mile and onto Browns. Water temp was hot (at one point in time we registered 28C!!!) but there was no bait or birds anywhere. But then, out of the blue, midway between the 12 mile and the shelf the lumo cockroach on the long rigger was hit and a nice big striped marlin (well over 100kg) put the afterburners on.

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We cleared the decks and commenced fighting the fish in the pouring rain (so no photos of it jumping) then it went deep and became a slug fest for the next 2 1/2 hours dispite numerous attempts to drive off the fish and plane it to the surface.

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Eventually with judicious increase in drag and thumb pressure on the spool and the use of the low gear on the TLD50 we managed to get the tired fish to the boat before unhooking it and swimming it for 5-10 minutes before release. A great fish and an exhausted and wet crew!

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As you can see from the pics, the weather had settled down and the seas smoothed out during the fight as the squall had passed over us.

We then continued to head out to Browns, having heard reports of some good YFT taken wide of Browns. Unfortunately all we managed was a very greedy 63cm dollie grabbing our 10" marlin lure! Still - that was a feed for supper!

On the way back in the purple cockroach on the short rigger was hit but did not hook up, on inspection the leader was badly chafed - obviously a striped marlin swatting the lure.

We continued trolling but only managed a couple of tiny striped tuna.

After that, with storms brewing out at Browns, we pulled the lures in and high tailed it back to the Harbour where we received a thorough drenching!!!

Still a great day, a nice big marlin and a first for the boat (which now has some battle scars to prove the catch!)

Edited by wise one
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