The run of juvenile black marlin has continued for anglers off the Sunshine Coast but has slackened off for all other ports. North Queensland is still getting them off Airlie Beach so they may well go into May. The interesting thing has been the run of 3-5kg micro ones. These may well be September –October spawn from Cairns. These micro fish often show up in June and July off the Sunshine Coast so they may continue for a few months. The usual autumn run of blue marlin has been very disappointing though.
A bit of stable weather over the Easter weekend and weekend prior saw quite a few boats out. The Surfers Paradise Club were also able to conduct their ladies comp and their All Tackle, All Species Tournament. A few sailfish have turned up down there and certainly this time of year at places like the Tweed 9 mile, anglers targeting the wahoo hook quite a few sailfish and black marlin. There have also been reports of marlin being hooked in amongst the mackerel fishermen inshore. It seems the Gold Coast is seeing more Spanish mackerel than the Sunshine Coast so far though there have been good spotted mackerel off Caloundra and Noosa. There has been sporadic blue marlin action off the Gold Coast but it has been very quiet off Brisbane and Mooloolaba.
Off the Sunshine Coast sailfish and black marlin continue to be caught from the 8mile all the way out to the Little Ship Grounds. Which ground is best is a day to day proposition depending on the bait situation and which spot has the most. 7.2m SCGFC Kevlacat Reel Capture owned by Craig McCulloch is now on 96 billfish for the season and should easily crack 100 fish by June 30. They are still behind on points from the 33’ Obrien Kamikaze but breathing down their neck. Angler wise Jeff “Phill” Oates is close to 60 by himself with more fish but less points than Jay Graham who usually fishes on Kamikaze on 4kg and 6kg line and 49 billfish. In the SCGFC small boat category it is a two horse neck and neck race between the 19’ centre console, Walk the Line and Jamie Behrens’ 5.2m Haines Hunter centre console Reel Hunter.
This month we should look forward to a continuation of the black marlin and sailfish run on the bait schools but the blue marlin are well overdue for a big bite. On the inshore grounds it is also the peak time for big Spanish mackerel, the return run of big spotty mackerel that have fattened up down in NSW and the peak time for tuna fishing, both longtails and mack tuna in close and yellowfin and skipjack tuna out a bit wider.
On charter I have had the odd good reef session and am finally starting to get a few mackerel. I am stuck on 32 marlin for the season so far dropping all of my last half dozen or so. The 52 in a season I got in the Stabicraft looks safe for now. I recently picked up an ex government 4.55m Seajay Nomad barra boat in survey from the auctions to do estuary and freshwater charters. If that interests you get onto me and we can set up a trip. Alternatively it is a good windy weather option.
Give me a call at Smithys Fishing Charters on 0407 574 868 or check out my website, (www.smithysfishingcharters.com.au) to get out there and get into some fish!