Game Fishing Durban - Blue Marlin Catch N Release

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Game Fishing Durban - Blue Marlin Catch N Release

It’s been a while since I have posted a fishing report, and I really
missed writing them. I had 2 gents from Oman who asked me to take them out to
specifically catch a Marlin, and so I arranged with Richard (Nikao) to use his
boat as mine is in between gearboxes this weekend. (Thanks Rich)

So we all met at Wilsons wharf at around 03h45 and by 04h00 we were on
our way, it was still dark and I wanted to fish deep so we ran about 26Nm until
we were at around 500m depth before we dropped lines. Along the way we
encountered 2 schools of Dolphins who stayed with us for a shot while, closer
inshore the water was greenish with temps varying from 25-26deg C, just before
the 500m we noticed a current line ahead and this was when we dropped our lines
and then made our way through the current, this was just after 05h00 and the
sun had started making a glorious golden highway ahead of us.

After the current line the water started warming up to over 27deg. C and
we noticed a lot of birds, plankton and flying fish around and made our way to
2000m depth, by the time we got to 2000m the Agulhas current was flying and so
we decided to head back towards 1000m where the current was better and we found
crystal clear cobalt water of 28.6deg.C, but the swells were big at 4-5m.

Nothing, not even a Dorado or Tuna the sea was void of all game fish and
so I decided to head back towards 500m and see what I could find there feeling
somewhat disillusioned after many hours on the water, it was exactly 12 noon
when were around the 800m area when the Penn reel on the right hand corner
growled, I hit the throttles and there we saw a Marlin which I initially
thought was a Black Marlin bouncing behind the boat and the reel was now
screaming and everyone was filled with excitement as the event unfolded.

We then got the angler onto the rod with his harness on and then I began
to slow the boat down to trolling speed and eventually to an idle, the lines
where all cleared and the fight was on, I let Richard now skipper the boat so
he can learn how to handle the boat when a Marlin is on, and I guided everyone
and was the linesman. 

About 45 minutes into the fight the angler started complaining that he
was tired and wanted to give the rod to his friend, I said no, you fight your
fish or you will regret it for the rest of your life, and so with some
encouragement, some shouting and coaxing he continued his fight.

After a 1.5hr battle, where the fish ran deep several times I eventually
got him on the leader and next to the boat, it was a Blue Marlin of around 3m
long and estimated at 400lbs (182Kg).

Photos were then taken, hooks removed and we spent about 30 minutes
swimming the fish next to the boat until he decided it was time to go and he
dashed off with speed.

We reset the spread and continued for about an hour or so but the swells
had picked up with several steam rollers of over 6m coming through and with the
wind picking up I decided it was time to go, and so we packed up and made the
30Nm journey back home in haste eventually arriving back at the mooring just
before 16h00. We out some flags on Richards boat, and everyone was smiles.

It was so great to get out again and even greater to hit the jackpot.

Blue Water Charters - Durban 

I have
been running a Fishing College course and today we went out to do some on the
water practical, showing the guys how to set spreads, run lures, speed, look
for fish, read the water and so on. Again I used Richards (Nikao) boat and he
was such an asset to have along and help. Thanks Bud!!!

We
launched at 05h00, and the was a light SW wind blowing and so we made our way
out, after going through Kona’s, Feathers and then we did Rapala fishing and
then a how to run mixed spreads and after the demonstrations we decided to do
some fishing and because the sea was not nice I decided to stay inshore and
fish light. 

By 06h30
the SW wind was blowing hard and we persisted in very choppy waters and there
was a fair size swell running with water temps varying from 24.7-24.8 deg. C.
The current is now S-N which is not my favourite. 

So we
got inshore in shallower water and rigged my 5 little ultra light babies up,
basically bass tackle which I call “The Boys” and we proceeded to look for
fish, the water was green with a few clear spots and some dirtier spots and we
started working these lines when to our right we spotted a lot of birds and
headed over to them, first pull past and there was not a touch and so I decided
to use my sliding technique which proved to be successful. 

In the
end we landed 3 Yellowfin Tuna 10-12Kg and a nice size Queen Mackerel (Natal
Snoek) and we dropped a second Snoek as I only used Flouro leaders and no
steel. 

Fighting
these large fish on the Ultra Light tackle was absolutely adrenalin pumping excitement,
and really tests this tackle to its limits.

http://www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Edited by Blue Water Charters - 08/Feb/2012 at 8:20pm