THE video below features Michael Kirby and his crew on the Viking 54 Gale Force as they experience some wild fishing conditions during the 35th Annual Viking Diesel Marine Port Hacking 100 off Sydney.
Here’s a wrap-up of the event from Chris Beldon of Rapala VMC Australia who was on board Gale Force:
Forty-nine boats totalling well over 100 anglers entered this year’s Port Hacking 100 tournament with the aim of taking out a number of prize categories; Team Gale Force’s target species would be the striped marlin, hopefully securing our team the tag and release division.
Saturday 28th April dawned as Daniel Kirby fired up Gale Force’s twin diesel engines and pointed the bow toward Sydney heads. The weather was calm as predicted and we proceeded to the continental shelf. As we approached the shelf the sounder lit up with life and two sets of bait jigs were deployed, unfortunately resulting in small slimy mackerel fit only for the likes of rat kingfish and flathead. As we moved on, a six-inch feather lure was sent out the back which shortly resulted in a small mack tuna; and another; and another! Before long we had secured enough good dead bait for skips to last the rest of the day.
By now Bob Danckert had taken the helm as he continued to work the area in which we had located the bait, however for no result. We had a small slimy mackerel on a ‘rigger with one of the mack tuna on the other and a garfish out on shotgun on an Okuma Makaira 20II filled with 10kg IGFA line.
With the hours of the first day dwindling, the decision was made to pass via the Botany Wide FAD and target some dolphin fish on our remaining live baits to at least make the scoreboard – this was a success with five legal dolphin fish tagged to Daniel.
Hours passed until just after lunch when the long corner (Pakula Mouse in Frigate) was struck by an unseen adversary. The lure was dropped and a small striped marlin made itself known as it surfed a wave through the middle of our spread. “Live baits – LIVE BAITS!” screamed Daniel as he and John Wise flung their yakkas from firmly mounted slimy tubes into the white-frothy abyss behind. A 5m tower of water lifted the stern of Gale Force as she shot forward and pulled John’s line tight on our first and only marlin of the tournament.
After the decks were cleared and the situation began to get under control (as best as possible given the conditions), I made a dash to the flybridge with camera in hand anticipating some interesting photo opportunities. Bob was at the helm as he backed down in hysterics screaming “I can’t believe you guys threw in the Makaira 10kg outfits. You’re all nuts!” Bob backed the Viking down and manoeuvered in the best way the sea would allow to secure a tagged 50kg striped marlin in under 20 minutes on 10kg line. The event left all persons on deck soaked and stoked for the remainder of the day.
Team Gale Force secured a win in three categories with a tagged striped marlin on 10kg line; Champion Team Tag & Release, Leading Boat Tag & Release – Marlin, and Highest Point Scoring Angler Tag & Release.
FINAL RESULTS Tag & Release (courtesy of gamefishinghub.com.au):
Champion Boat T&R: Gale Force, SGFC, 12,655 Point
Runner Up Boat T&R: Blood n guts, SGFC, 2,500 Points
Champion Male Angler T&R: John Wise, Gale Force SGFC
Champion Female Angler T&R: Jillian Coyle, O, PHGFC
Champion Junior T&R: Jack Connellan, Time To Tango, PHGFC
Champion Small Fry T&R: Clayton Rayment, Team Seaflex, PHGFC
Highest Point Scoring Boat T&R Other Game Fish: Lockout, BBGFC
