Fishing Reports 2006 / 2005 / 2004

"ON THE HOOK" with Ross and Glenn Hunter
29th September

TUNA FRENZY CONTINUES
Hot Press It's Friday 29th September and Billfisher is out there catching the hell out of them as I write. One 30 kg gem trolled on the way and a swag on the cubes.

So we have a long weekend and reasonable weather and I do feel we can look forward to some great tuna fishing, especially later on in the week as the full moon gets closer.

Best Techniques Have been cubing, but do not put the lures away as the fish may start feeding on the surface shortly.

The sauries, cowan young and slimy mackerel are building up on the shelf line and it would not surprise me if a big fish or two might be encountered amongst the bait schools .whilst trolling in and out of the grounds.
Striped marlin are starting to make a bit more of a regular appearance, we had one up on Broadbill as did Glenn on Billfisher through the week. Both got away when they threw the lure.

We have not fished much since the bad weather but it is enlightening to know that this fabulous run of 30kg fish keeps on going.

On our boats we have not had the numbers of fish, but the quality has been there .

Our best day has been five, our worst was none….However there was a reason and it wasn't that the fish were not there.

Colour on a 35kg tuna	job done
Nick gets the strtetch out on a 30kg tuna taken on the troll on a boodshot lure	brads fish with mack mauler
Nick with 30kg tuna caught on a Bloodshot lure	Deckie Jason does not want A BITE
Pricilla says I nearly caught one this big...bugger!	A pod of Orca whales (killer whales) were encountered check out this 2 metre fin on this male

TROLLING MAY START TO WORK ON THE UP COMING MOON
On that day the nor easter was pumping at 20 knots, the current boiling at 3 knots, giving us a drift of 4.8 knots over the ground. This is never a good scenario for cubing. The average has been two to three fish per trip That's OK certainly better thatn none.

We have been trolling a few on Bloodshot Tuna Hunter lures and bibles minnows.
All of our crews have had a great time with many of them tuna virgins.

The eddy of water is still sitting off Sydney so we will see you all on the tuna grounds
Go and stretch those arms.

I will paste a better report after the long weekend.

"ON THE HOOK" with Ross and Glenn Hunter
18/9/06

We were worried that after the spate of gale-forced winds and terrible conditions our beloved yellowfin tuna may have moved to greener pastures, however the good news is they a still there bigger and better than ever.

The eddy of warm water is fragmented but still shows up to 21 degrees the strong south winds did alter the surface temp, but that has not worried our Sydney tuna population one little bit.
We have worked most days since the weather abated and have caught fish every trip.

A tern has rest on a bit of flotsom	A whale shows off on the way to the tuna grounds

Imagine after all that horrible weather to go out and fish light breezes, maybe see a bunch of humpbacks breaching on the way out, then doing battle with some overzealous yellowfin to return at dusk to a Sydney Spring sunset. We have had a wonderful tuna season and the good thing is there is more to come

I have always claimed that the wide grounds off Sydney produce some of the best yellowfin waters in the country. The reason that the waters are so attractive to the tuna is the underwater seamounts and canyon areas we are lucky to have as natural attractions. This however is not enough to be total magnet we also need the right current flows and eddies and this season we have had all that and more, making it the best yellowfin season in a decade.

I never want to see another pichard again says Johnny the cubemaster	Waiting for it to hit the fan

Whilst the average fish have been small compared to the seasons before long-lining in the 70s and 80's The fish of today are averaging 30kg There have been a few 26kg fish and a couple of 60 kg fish but in general 30kg.

These are the perfect size for the average angler, they fight hard, scream line off the reel but are catch able after a 20 to 30 minute tussle on 24kg thus allowing another angler to step up to the plate, keeping the action alive when the bite is on……….and that's gold.

On the weekend the fish did not bite until late, so it was a late dark trip home for Captains and crew, but no one was complaining. There were stretched arms, bent backs and big tuna in the cockpits as they have been all season………………..job done

Worth a mention is the fact that the oceanic currents are screaming to the south at around 2.5 knots If you have a nor- Easter blowing as well, then you may find that you are drifting at 4 knots to the south, This is never conducive to good tuna fishing. The fish can feed on your cube trail for miles because of the drift speed and because there is ample food present may not visit the boat for that all-important bait.

The wait goes on on Billfisher	The Wingham boys came to the big smoke to try to catch a fin on Broadbill, they did. Just ask Joe as he hangs on

There are too many individual anglers to mention; however we will try to name them on the photos.(check out some great shots courtesy of Rob "Soxie" Cox)
Definitely the best method and most successful is cubing this has been responsible for 90% of our catches all season and will continue to be best until the tuna start feed on the surface bait, then bib-less minnows may come into their own.

David Bartz is first up	I think I might havea beer to night says Dave Bartz
Viv holds up his tuna	Rods' fish gets close Soxie and Johnny on the gaffs
Great sight	Wingham's favourite son Joe with his first tuna and what a beauty it is
Another happy customer Rods a happy camper	A calm ocean and some great tuna

THANKS TO ALL OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS
To all the crews that we have had the pleasure to share our boats Broadbill and Billfisher with and there have been some in the past couple of months We, to-gether, have enjoyed some wild, champagne world-class tuna action. Glenn and myself thank you for your company and whilst we realise we are not the cheapest charter boats around and you have paid us well for the day.

We have produced the fish through 100% effort and determination even if it means getting back at 9pm at night and that is what you pay us for and we do appreciate it.

The boys from Bathurst caught them again	Thursday's group fared well
A great days tuna fishing ends with a pretty sunset

COSTS FOR A YELLOWFIN CHARTER
The day is 10 to 11 hours duration…includes Captain and crewmen, tackle and bait We take groups of 6 people and the cost is $1450.00 per day
Individuals $250.00 per head Do not hesitate if you want to book as the tuna can go as quickly as they came.

PT STEPHENS '07…."THE MARLIN,MAHI MAHI TRIP OF A LIFETIME"
Do not forget that our three day Pt Stephens bookings are now open but filling fast Why not get six friends to gether and join us at the Port for a fishing holiday of a lifetime.
It will be screaming reels and wild action for you and your crew fishing on Billfisher or Broadbill
Visit "Fishing Adventures" section on web site for details

"ON THE HOOK" with ROSS AND GLENN HUNTER
8th September 2006

ONE PERFECT DAY on the YELLOWFIN
It is reasonably rare that I personally have the opportunity to enjoy a days fishing with my son Glenn on his boat Billfisher, however last Tuesday we decided we would do just that.

The night before we had picked up a charter out of the blue. Ben Johnson rang wanting to get into the busy tuna action we have been experiencing on our boats since May. As we had no time to organise a crewman it was decided that Father and Son would team up for the day.
It had been some years since we had worked to gether and the same since I had been out on Billfisher.

We had worked many days through the week so it was no novelty going fishing, but it was different to be on Billfisher as a decky.

We picked up our angler Ben Johnson the founder of "the Entertainment book " at 8.30 Am after the formalities were over we headed out across the bay and out on the briny.
The twin diamond series Cummins burbled lazily at 2200rpm giving the boat 19 knots over the ground.

Glenn eases the throttles back at the shelf as we ran a set of Bloodshot lures to the Mountain.
The day was magnificent with a light north wind puffing at no more than a zephyr, the sea was quite calm and the sky blue Spring was with us and it felt good.

Arriving at the wide grounds we had spoken to a couple of friends on the radio who told us that the current was galloping to the south at 2 .2 knots and that is about as strong as it gets
Both Glenn and myself reckoned we would start our cube trail 4 mile north of Browns to allow a drift over the mountain.

There were a few reports of fish caught but not many,we had just fished a great weekend on them with Broadbill's angler catching a great fish after three hours (read previous report)
I had prepared the cutting board as Glenn turned off the donks, the scene was set for the days tuna fishing .throw the cubes feed the baits back and wait with anticipation…same old same old.

We had a young lad, Brad Jackson fishing with us, Brad was on work experience from school.
He has an ambition to study marine science hence his choice to experience a day or two on a game boat.

First job was cutting pilchards and throwing them into the Tasman Sea, not terribly romantic but alas a necessary evil to catch a yellowfin.

Twenty minutes passed and the 24kg short stroker Shimano bellowed in panic …our first tuna.
The reels drag was set at strike drag, the circle hook set beautifully as Ben picked up the rod and watched 60 metres of line pour off in quick time.

Ben Johnson a picture of concentration as works his magic on 10 kg on a 40 kg tuna	Always a refreshing sight for a tired angler..colour
Ben socks it to another yellowfin	Brad Jackson hangs on for grim death as the tuna pours line off
A 40kg tuna at the gaff	Captain Glenn Hunter with some bulky tun a caught last week

We had preset the drag to 6 kg, a perfect drag setting for 24kg..Some say one third the breaking strain of the line class is correct,we always fish lighter because you will snap a line at one third, and if that happens it all over red rover, you haven't given yourself a chance…. so a lighter drag is better we reckon.
We catch that fish he is 35kg .

By now we have six fish at the back of the boat we hook another one on 24kg, we catch that, it is the same size .

Ben requests to catch one on 10 kg, so we change tackle, we now have 8 fish in the slick They eating every bit of berley that hits the water.

Ben feeds out the light gear and it goes off immediately, I saw the fish take it and estimated it a t 40kg Ben hung on as the TLD screamed almost at an alarming rate.
Fifty minutes later we had "Colour" and a great fish of closed to 40 kilo was gaffed and boated by Glenn We now had ten resident fish in the slick .

Glenn had a 24kg outfit dangling 6 feet from the transom having wound it in whilst Ben played his fish on light gear, thinking that nothing would take it there …wrong off it went, and as Ben had just hooked another on ten kilo he offered it to the work study lad, Ben.

Talk about it "hitting the fan". Brad just hung on wondering if the rampaging tuna on the other end which by now was sounding like a hump back whale would ever cease the decent, it did and after much grunting, groaning and back breaking torture he earned his first tuna.
Glenn gaffed it and Brad just gazed in amazement, never thinking in his wildest dreams that his work study would involve his first encounter with his biggest fish ever seen, let alone a personal experience.

Ben caught a fine fish of 40 odd kilos after 55 minutes and we all agreed that at 3.20 pm with a great catch of fish that a great day was had by all and we could head for the hole in the wall
Glenn sparked the Billfisher up as ran home at 19knots ..into the fresh nor easter.We had drifted 8 mile to the south of Browns in the strong current that's drift of 12 mile in 5.5 hours
The nor easter was blowing at 15 knots as we cruised home.
We had a great day ….especially for me, it was a personal thrill to spend a day with Glenn and I really did enjoy it

Ben Johnson Brad and Glenn along with Lookers On at the wharf hold up the catch
Brad with his tuna Another tuna virgin no longer	A 68 kg tuna caught byJeff Manson on Spindrift last week

BROADBILL FEATURED ON ET'S ESCAPE
This year at Pt Stephens in February I had the pleasure of catching a black marlin for a remarkably determined guy called Phil Smallman……Phil is a Para plegic but loves fishing and it was great thrill to be a part of his first marlin tagging from his wheelchair. On the day we had ET and his film crew on board .

The show "Escape with ET" will be screened on the 25th November 2006..it will be worth a look.

G’day Ross,

It’s Phil Smallman (wheelchair angler) here and I fished with you and ET back in February. I know this is somewhat late but I’d really like to say thanks for a fabulous day on Broadbill. Apart from the privilege of having a day out with ET It was great that you gave me the opportunity to come out with you and finally tangle with a marlin. Johnny was great also and I’m sure he’s a real asset to Broadbill.

I have attached a coup-le of photos that you might be able to use in your reports page. Once again, it was a special day for me and not one I’ll forget.

Cheers for now, good hunting, screaming reels and tight lines!

Phil Smallman

Don, Neil and ET	ET watching the action
Neil, Johnny and the Film crew	End of day group

BAD WEATHER HITS US FOR THE WEEKEND…..(bugger)
As I write there are black dogs flying past with chains attached, so there will be no fishing this weekend for any of us.
Lets hope by Monday, Tuesday it all abates and we can get back out there and do battle with the tuna again

PT STEPHENS '07
Don’t forget that Billfisher and Broadbill will be fishing the best marlin grounds in the world between Jan to April '07 Read "Fishing Adventure" section of the web site for details of this exciting place.

If you want to catch your first Billfish or do battle with the oversize dollies, then get a few mates to-gether and enjoy some of the wildest fishing you will ever experience at Pt Stephens '07.
Share charters available.

"ON THE HOOK" with Ross and Glenn Hunter
(SPRING EDITION)

NEW WEB SITE
Firstly welcome to our brand new site……we have endeavoured to make it as informative as possible Have a roam around it and enjoy. Thanks to my web designer Kurt Bonney a good job and well done.(see link to Monkey designs)

Both Glenn and myself will keep you informed through our "Fishing Reports Section" as to "where and when and what's happening" on Mother Ocean. on a regular basis.

Do not forget that our Pt Stephens '07 marlin, mahi and tuna adventures are coming up in '07
Why not get a bunch of friends to- gether and join us next year It is always a lot of fun with some wild fishing action….See Fishing Adventure Section for details.
Enjoy the new site and thanks for visiting.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND IT'S ALL GOLD
Well Spring has sprung and with it has come some most exciting fishing. All customers on our boats have experienced some of the best yellowfin fishing we have seen in these waters for a decade. The fish are averaging between 25 and 30 kg, mostly all caught on the cubes, fabulous fun on medium tackle and great on the table.

We have been fishing around Browns Mountain, however a tip is. If you encounter 58 boats in a square mile, do not sit in the middle of the parking lot ...You see you do not have to be on the top of the mountain to catch fish.

Try to plan the angle of your drift to be over the mountain at 4 pm in the afternoon, by then most of the boats will have gone and you are positioned perfectly for the afternoon bite.

Both Glenn and myself it seems have developed into "Mountain dwellers"..So much so it would be nice to have a motel out there thus saving coming home each day …..We are not complaining the fishing has been wild and it is what we do for a living.

THREE HOUR EPIC
One particular catch was Keith Westbrook's three-hour epic on Sunday; we were just about to leave when I spotted a tuna in the cube trail. We fed out a pilly and whack instant success with a line-burning hook up.

It was Keith's first big tuna experience and he looked most surprised as the fish half emptied the big Shimano on the first scintillating run.
He kept his cool however and settled into the fight like a veteran, as the gut-busting see sawing fight lingered into 2 hours.

At this point I have seen many an angler call for a replacement, because of aching arms and back muscles, the lactic acid which by now has really kicked in, not Keith, he gritted his teeth and knuckled down to the task.

At 3 hours in the floodlights on Broadbill we got colour. I manoeuvred the boat with my heart in my mouth, partially blind as to where the line was, even with the lights on.
It was now 7 pm and we were still on the fish……It is at this point that you start to think maybe Mako shark, this was milling around in my mind, but experience told me that it had the ear marks of a big tuna……. I was thinking maybe 70 to 75 kg.

The surprise ended as Keith worked the stubborn fish up for the last time, crewman John Giles stuck the gaff into the tuna and a 55kg plus fish joined the crew in the cockpit.
Not the biggest we've ever caught, but by far but one of the toughest. 3 hours and 10 minutes proved that.

We have hada couple of quite days on our boats by this I mean catches a smaller fish and not seeing a decent tuna but always remember that there is a certain amount of luck involved in the whole scene…. It isa big creek out there and you can be in the place and the right time sometimes, however since May we have had some memorable days, sometimes driving away from tuna frenzies, having caught enough.

See some of last week's photos. From BILLFISHER and BROADBILL

Anthony Orley's team from Elders real estate with yellowfin tuna	It's a bloody mess says Tom after regaining his breath from battling this one
Nick & Tuna	The lads on Billfisher had a busy day last wednesday
Sharron is the strongest 40 year old woman in the world She struggles for ages to lift this bulky tuna	The start of a 3 hour ordeal as Keith first hooks up on his big fin
Bent rods screamin' reels	A big fish that took 3 hours to catch. A really good effort by a first time angler
Gavin Strong with a yellowfin	Look Mum my first fin

Snapper have been great at the hump Pat Diasnos and Garry Parks on "Yum Yum" had a terrific catch of fish to 4kg last week.

We have the full moon arriving this week and this will improve the already exciting tuna fishing