Port Stephens fires up - NOW WITH PICS AND VIDEO !

[REEF MAGIC CHARTERS]

Hi all,

Today we had a husband & wife team aboard for their first ever day fishing for marlin. With the fresh water flushing out after all the rain we found it hard to get any bait & even out wide we only managed to jig 3 slimeys but that was all we needed. With an amazing amount of birdlife chasing pilchards we suddenly had a fish all over the short rigger but didn't manage to stick. We decided to sacrifice 2 livies for skip baits and within 5 minutes had a nice 75kg stripe take the long rigger and Leanne saddled up for the fight. After a very well behaved fight we had a lovely little stripe swimming beside the boat with a tag in him. Her first ever marlin & what a great job she did.

We then ran a teaser & 1 skip bait leaving us 1 livie for switching. Soon enough we raised another fish only to have him just have a look and swim off. We then had a big free jumper right beside the boat. We decided to kill the other livie and skip him and soon enough had Gary on a solid 90kg fish. After a 45 minute fight we had him boatside and released him in great condition with some new jewellery.

Back to 1 skippy & a teaser we soon raised another fish and did 3 circles on him before he lit up and crash tackled the teaser only to have Leanne pull it from him and make him smash the skippy. She was onto her second fish and this was a stripe 120+ & angry. What a women.. After an hour and a half and some great driving by Mike we had a massive stripe going nuts at the boat & Leanne had tamed her second marlin.

We came back in a little closer and put a spread of lures out and had the short rigger slammed by what looked like a small black, but on closer inspection it was a big Dollie.

After some mayhem boatside & Garry doing another stella effort I put the gaff into a solid bull that ended up pulling the scales at 25kg. Not bad for a bloke needing a shoulder reconstruction.

By this time the day had got away and it was time to head for the sheds. What a great day out... 5-3-3 on marlin & a lovely dollie, pity we couldn't get more bait.

Will post some pictures when we get home.

We still have next Sunday available if anyone is keen give me a call on 0407113349.

Cheers Damo

Edited February 8, 2012 by Reef Magic Charters

[Yarraone]

YEEE-HAA looks like it is going to be a top year this year and I cant wait to get up there after I get back from FIJI... Good luck in the comp

[The Chop]

Great footage but i dont like just breaking the leader off !!!!!!!! Why dont you just cut it off has to put more stress on the fish by breaking off.

Cheers Chop

Just got off the phone with Dammo and the marlin bite is going nuts in Port Stephens !!! so if you want to get your first beakie...Call Mike or Dammo and jump aboard REEF MAGIC.

Here are a couple of great fish that they got the other day and a nice video as well enjoy.

VIDEO OF THE TWO MARLIN

Posted on behalf of Mike and Dammo aboard REEF MAGIC CHARTERS

[REEF MAGIC CHARTERS]

Great footage but i dont like just breaking the leader off !!!!!!!! Why dont you just cut it off has to put more stress on the fish by breaking off.

Cheers Chop

Hi Chop,

They way we release a fish is the best way we find for the survival of the fish. If we had our way we wouldn't even tag them, but as we get pressure put on by the authorities as a charter boat to record our captures for their statistics we do it. As you would know the fish generally takes off after being tagged exhusting the fish further and reducing their chance of survival. We try and get the fish up as quickly as possible get him swimming with the boat on the leader for a short period so people can have a good look at him then straighten the hook.

We have tested the light gauge hooks we use against the breaking strain and yes sometimes the leader breaks due to bill rubbing but more often then not the hook staightens and pulls out of the fish. We would rather remove the hook this way than leave a length of line hanging out as well as the hook if we just cut it off. If the leader breaks it will normally bust very close to the fish due to bill wear, if we tried to cut it that close we would more than likely have to handle the fish at the side of the boat, again causing more stress on the fish.

Cheers Damo

[Secho]

Great footage Damo - did the client bring a video cam or have you installed one of those gopro 2 cams up there with Mike?

Cheers

Marty

[herbmozo]

Hi Chop,

They way we release a fish is the best way we find for the survival of the fish. If we had our way we wouldn't even tag them, but as we get pressure put on by the authorities as a charter boat to record our captures for their statistics we do it. As you would know the fish generally takes off after being tagged exhusting the fish further and reducing their chance of survival. We try and get the fish up as quickly as possible get him swimming with the boat on the leader for a short period so people can have a good look at him then straighten the hook.

We have tested the light gauge hooks we use against the breaking strain and yes sometimes the leader breaks due to bill rubbing but more often then not the hook staightens and pulls out of the fish. We would rather remove the hook this way than leave a length of line hanging out as well as the hook if we just cut it off. If the leader breaks it will normally bust very close to the fish due to bill wear, if we tried to cut it that close we would more than likely have to handle the fish at the side of the boat, again causing more stress on the fish.

Cheers Damo

Hey Damo,

Great footage and nice fish mate.

What hooks do you use? Looking at getting into some beakie fishing and would much prefer this method that leaving a hook in them.

Cheers HM

[REEF MAGIC CHARTERS]

Great footage Damo - did the client bring a video cam or have you installed one of those gopro 2 cams up there with Mike?

Cheers

Marty

Yeah Marty I bought a new gopro.. works great but trying to work out how to stop the internal condensation so the picture stays clear.

Cheers Damo

[REEF MAGIC CHARTERS]

Hey Damo,

Great footage and nice fish mate.

What hooks do you use? Looking at getting into some beakie fishing and would much prefer this method that leaving a hook in them.

Cheers HM

Hey Herb thanks - we use the Eagle Claw L2004ELM - they are the light gauge and straighten well - just watch when they come flying back at you, always wear glasses. If you want any more info let me know.

Cheers Damo

[The Chop]

Thanks Damo,

Cheers Chop

Hi Chop,

They way we release a fish is the best way we find for the survival of the fish. If we had our way we wouldn't even tag them, but as we get pressure put on by the authorities as a charter boat to record our captures for their statistics we do it. As you would know the fish generally takes off after being tagged exhusting the fish further and reducing their chance of survival. We try and get the fish up as quickly as possible get him swimming with the boat on the leader for a short period so people can have a good look at him then straighten the hook.

We have tested the light gauge hooks we use against the breaking strain and yes sometimes the leader breaks due to bill rubbing but more often then not the hook staightens and pulls out of the fish. We would rather remove the hook this way than leave a length of line hanging out as well as the hook if we just cut it off. If the leader breaks it will normally bust very close to the fish due to bill wear, if we tried to cut it that close we would more than likely have to handle the fish at the side of the boat, again causing more stress on the fish.

Cheers Damo