GAME fishers on Queensland’s Gold Coast are starting to experience some hot early season action in the run-up to Christmas.
The accompanying photo was shot last Friday by Fishing World’s David Green from his trailer boat Gemma 3. It highlights the closing stages of a battle with a blue marlin that raged on for three hours and 20 minutes. The big blue was hooked in 130 fathoms and managed to tow the boat seven miles out to a depth of 290 fathoms before release. The man soaking up punishment on the rod was Aykut Ahmet.
Greeny told Fisho today that the big blue jumped “only about six times” during the fight and had taken a liking to a pink bonito coloured Meridan Ahi skirted lure. The marlin’s weight was estimated to be around the 600-650lb mark and it reportedly swam away strongly after the encounter.
Greeny also reports that he ventured out yesterday with son Michael, and found early success with another marlin hookup almost immediately after their lures hit the water. Unfortunately, the Greens could do little to stop the fish’s barnstorming first run which saw a 50 sized game reel emptied of 700m of 24kg line in around 90 seconds. The next hookup ended badly too when another hooked blue popped the mainline during an initial explosive leap for freedom.
The Greens went on to console themselves by landing five nice dolphinfish (mahi mahi) and an impressive 27.8kg wahoo.
With the water temperature off the Gold Coast already at a warm bath-like 26.5 degrees C, QLD’s game fishers are no doubt hopeful of a big season this summer.
