Already a few big girls – the giant black marlin – are starting to show up on Linden Bank off Cairns. Linden Bank is a series of underwater shoals that rise to within 10 metres of the surface with the outer edge dropping off to 200 metres. It is a prime fishing ground, not only because it produces big fish year after year, but also because at only 35nm from Cairns it’s very fishable from Cairns or Port Douglas on a day trip or overnight.
This weekend in particular we were blessed with some very decent weather – glassing out at 10 knots – and local boats were out in force to join the marlin fleet.
On Saturday, Shaka, a 60ft Assegai that has released some big fish at Linden Bank in recent years, got another estimated at 950lb, a first black marlin for angler Dave Tuthill. John Hendry on Shaka also took the picture hereabouts of a local trailer boat fighting an estimated 650 pounder nearby. Another Port Douglas private boat skippered by Cairns veteran, Allan “Tiger” Geale, released one estimated at 800lb. And on Sunday, Cairn charter boat Cool Runnings released an estimated 750 pounder for 18-year-old angler Jye Clayden.
Trailer boat action off Linden Banks – Pic: John Hendry
The marlin are also starting to show up along the Ribbon Reefs – a “ribbon” of reef that runs from east of the Daintree up to Lizard Island. The Ribbon Reefs provide an almost continuous break wall with small openings no more than a mile wide separating them. They are a favourite for boats doing extended live-aboard trips as the anchorages behind them are without question some of the best in the world.
We fish on the outside edge of the reef where the water drops off and are anchoring less than 10 minutes from where we fish.
There’s some great light tackle sportfishing to be had behind the reefs out of Cairns.
The daily program on a live aboard trip might consist of (our program for today): Wake up and enjoy a leisurely hot breakfast on anchor. Get the cameras out to capture the pod of dolphins who have made their way in behind the reef to say hello. Pull the anchor and go for a spor tfishing troll while we wait for the sun to burn off the morning clouds. Catch eight Spanish mackerel in 30 minutes to keep deckie Dave on the go non-stop. Troll some more picking up some big baits for this afternoon’s marlin fishing. Put the anchor down again for a swim in close to the reef and take along the speargun to pick up a trout for dinner.
Then, close to 11 o’clock we pop out from behind the reef and put the big baits in, we’re marlin fishing again until 6pm.
It’s a tough life, but someone has to do it!
Read more on the Cairns big game scene from Kelly Dalling in Reports.
