Mr Squidy Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) With all the talk of Dolphin fish out there in good number's Stewart (Mr Squid) and I (Mr Squidy, confusing I know) had decided to take a change from our usual pursuit of chasing Jewies and head out to the Southern FAD early Saturday in Stew’s boat. This all seemed a great idea until I got the wharf at 6am after more than a few cold ones the night before and 4.5hrs sleep. Still what better way to work off a hangover than a morning on the open sea with a nice little roll coming down from the cyclone up north? Anyway, knowing that there would be plenty of other hopefuls out there sharing the FAD with us the plan was to fill the lively tank first to give ourselves every shot. The livies were a little finicky to start and the itch to get out there was growing by the minute but we stuck to it and thank god we did. Finally after maybe 40min or so had a nice tank full of yakas and we were off punching through the swell toward the FAD. Leaving the Hacking the water was green with the temp was sitting at 21.8 on the sounder and aside from two Dolphins showing off their best aerials there was little signs of life. Thankfully as we started to get within about 5km of the FAD the temp started to climb nicely to around 23.5 and looking over the side the water was that blue that all offshore fishos dream of. Arriving at the FAD we sure enough found about 6 or 7 other boats already fishing the area and a group of spear fishos in the water. We started off trolling skirts wide of the area for a little observing the other boats and from what we could see there was very little action although we noted we couldn't see anyone else using livies. After a short time with no action on the skirts we made the call to set up for a drift past the FAD and send out some livies. Sure enough, not 5min went past before Stew's rod buckled and he was on to a nice little Dollie of 67cm. Another 5 min later and it was my turn with a throw back, then another throw back for Stew. Re-setting our drift and the patterned continued, another keeper for Stew and another throw back for me. Still from the other boats we were seeing very little action, the livies were paying off. Next drift and zzzzzz Stew's rod again buckles this time with a much nicer fish looking to be up around the 1m mark, by now the other boats had to be a little jealous As always with fishing though, just as you start getting cocky it brings you right back down and this fish chewed through the leader just as he was starting to look beat. How quickly the mood changes sometimes in fishing. Anyway, after a moment or two of silence (there really is nothing you can say when someone looses a good fish is there?) we re-set our drift and were back at it. Things had slowed a bit and by now only two or three other boats remained. Just as we were coming to the end of the drift Stews rod whipped down and back up as something grabbed then spat the bait then seconds after my rod buckled in the same manner. Lifting the rod I could feel something toying with the bait so I dropped the tip and gave it some line then felt that lovely feeling as a big fish starts moving off at a steady speed with unstoppable force zzzzzzzz. "Ah, this is big Stew, really big", "Righto Rich", "I really don't think this is a Dollie Stew", "Sure sure", "We'll see it in a sec, its coming up", "ITS A BLOODY MARLIN", "WOOOOHHHOOOO!!!!". There are some moments in fishing that stick with you forever and seeing this black marlin launching clear of the water on its first jumps is definitely one that will for the pair of us. This was the first ever Marlin hook up for either of us. How quickly the mood changes sometimes in fishing. After the first few jumps away from the boat the marlin turned and came charging right back at us. I was winding furiously to take up slack as it made one, two, three jumps whilst I was thinking if it makes a fourth I'm going to need to take some seriously quick evasive action. Instead it turned and headed wide again zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Stew cleared the decks and we started to take stock of the situation. Thankfully I had a TLD 50 set up with 500m of 24kg, the only problem was that I had that rod neatly stored in the torpedo tubes above our heads with the trolling skirt from earlier still attached. In my hands I was holding my 8-15kg Rapala Braid Concept (yes, the ones that have a reputation for exploding under heavy load), with an 8000 stradic spooled with 300m of 30lb braid main and a 40lb fluro leader, a great outfit for jewies but not quite the first choice for tussling with your first ever Marlin. Still, wasn’t it nice hearing that little stradic sing!!! Stew and I quickly agreed that with the 40lb trace I'd be lucky to stay connected much more than a couple of minutes so I may as well just put what hurt on him I could manage with that gear and enjoy the ride. Besides, at least the other boats are jealous Two minutes came and went, the fish was jumping, the adrenaline was flowing, "Hangover, what hangover?!?!". 4min, The fish had dived and I could do little to get line off him but we were still connected. 6min and we had planed him back up but getting down below half spool we then had to back up on him to get some line back 8 min, still connected, a healthier looking spool and we are starting to wonder if maybe this circle hook has done its job and the leader might hold after all? 10min, the arm is starting to really ache now, and "oh yeah, that hangover" 12min still connected and the fish is off jumping again. 15min, his runs are slower now and when he stops I'm making good headway, pumping and winding. 16min, we might just do this!! 17min gone… Winding in we found that of all the things that could fail it came down to a simple pulled hook. The leader was somewhat fraid so there was no guarantee how much longer it would have held but we had survived the worst of the fight and I reckon another 5 to 10min and would have had him. It was a shame not to land him but we would have let him swim anyway. Also, to get our first ever hook up to one of these awesome fish and to then give it a genuine fight on that light gear, we were both thrilled. Half an hour or so earlier we had been rock bottom after losing a nice Dollie, now we had lost a fish ten times the weight of that Dollie but were both grinning like idiots. Funny thing a fishermans emotions… Talking after the fight we both estimated the fish as a black somewhere in the 50-60kg region. Stewart took about 15min of footage on the phone which I am yet to see but hopefully there will be some footage worth showing. After that excitement things quitened right down. Heading back to shore we came across a seal sailing his way along with his flipper in the air. With some livies in the tank we decide to hit Osbournes on the way back to see if there might be some kings about. No luck there but we did watch as another Marlin swum past, tail fin clear of the water. We through a livie his way but he was gone before we could get him interested. Incredible to see one in so close to shore and in the cooler green water, a good sign for any LBG fishos out there i’m sure. So, after all that we ended up back at Yowie ramp, soaked to the bone from the rain squalls that hit through the day and with only two keeper Dollies but still both in total agreement that the experience of the day had already made the summer for us. It was a shame not to land the Marlin just to make the day perfect but now we have had a taste of them, I am sure he wont be our last. Thanks again Stew for a great trip. And lastly, the lesson for those still reading who missed it, put the effort into doing the little things right. Without the 45min spent catching livies this would have been a very different write up. Cheers, Rich Edited March 1, 2015 by Mr Squidy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtBundy Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Awesome story - can feel the ups and downs on the session in that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamestown Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I don't think other fishermen get jealous when another boat is catching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katoe Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Great write up mate sounds like an awesome day out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big Neil Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Great story Rich. Feel as if I was there with you. A good day anyway, mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brickman Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 great report ,bad luck on the black but as i tell new game fisher people go with the hope off seeing a marlin if you see one its a good day if you hook one its a great day and if you land one its the best fishing day off your life so you got to fight a black marlin off Sydney and got to see a free swimmer bloody good day cheers gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arob Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 bloody good read guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobycb Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Nice job guys, how close to the FAD were you when the beaky took the yakka? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squidy Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Cheers guys. I don't think other fishermen get jealous when another boat is catching. Yeah, jealous may be a harsh way to put it but it is nice when those days come along when your the one doing the catching rather than the watching. great report ,bad luck on the black but as i tell new game fisher people go with the hope off seeing a marlin if you see one its a good day if you hook one its a great day and if you land one its the best fishing day off your life so you got to fight a black marlin off Sydney and got to see a free swimmer bloody good day cheers gary Yeah spot on mate. Not the trip of a lifetime but probably the trip of the summer. Nice job guys, how close to the FAD were you when the beaky took the yakka? Reckon we had drifted maybe 50m past the fad when he took. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacnoel Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I'm jealous just reading about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWG Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I get jealous. Then i think if there is 1 marlin maybe there is another 1 somewhere down there, but i still get a little bit jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night_rider Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I can feel the hurt in my forearms. Sounds like a top day out on the water. No better hangover cure than a tight line and the sweet tune of a big reel screaming for help as line is ripped off! Top report Rich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vos Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 How quickly the mood changes sometimes in fishing. Very true, nice report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squid Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hey Rich,, Couldn't of written the storey any better, it was a great morning fishing. Had had a quick look at the footage which I will get to you this weekend. Good shots of the marlin coming out of the water and the comments are great - "Dan you should of come along" is quite notable. Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squidy Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 Hey Rich,, Couldn't of written the storey any better, it was a great morning fishing. Had had a quick look at the footage which I will get to you this weekend. Good shots of the marlin coming out of the water and the comments are great - "Dan you should of come along" is quite notable. Stew Awesome, was wondering how the footage was going to come out. I'm off to Secret Garden Festival this weekend so might try to pop round and pick it up one night next week. I'll give you a buzz anyway. Cheers R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonfish 65 Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I don't think other fishermen get jealous when another boat is catching.I do. Big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Great story and great write up! I really enjoyed you explaining your hangover! Zzzzzzzzzzz "what hangover". I bet you made a few people jealous that day! Well done Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertos87 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Such a great write up mate, really painted a picture. May not have landed it but half the pain in not landing a fish is not knowing what you had, at least you got to see the beauty. Congrats in hooking your first marlin. I'm going out to the fad on Wednesday, I'm really fired up after this post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fragmeister Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Great in depth account of the day. Better luck on the Marlin next time. Cheers Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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