Classic Week - Trolling the Gold Coast

[Smithy]

I hope Wayne doesn't mind me pinching this off the Marlin Bar to start the ball rolling and to save me a bit of typing.

Just hopped off a 43 foot Riv fishing the 2 days of 'Classic Week' out of Sanctuary Cove. We've had a myriad of people on board the 2 days, fishing against 7 other Rivieras in a freindly tournament designed to get people to Sanctuary Cove, mingle, and donate up to 2 Mill to Charity.

Last nights festivities included me standing watching Vanessa Amarossi next to Rob Sitch, George Gregan and Phil Kearns (and their wives). Tonight, Marcia Hines is appearing, but I am having a night off (getting too old for this). Tomorrow, Delta Goodrum is on stage, and they are auctioning off a New Riviera as well !

NOW... The fishing.

8 boats, 4 marlin over the 2 days. All were in 36 fathoms half way to Brissy ! Way up North past the Pin. Lots of stud Dollies and Fat tuna were about and we got our share. We managed to get fish for all of the punters on board, and we had a fat old time showing the novices any type of fish.
Not a huge amount to report yet, but the signs look good. If you want to fisnd fish at the moment, it seems like the wider zones are best.

Lots of 'clubbies' helped out either driving or deckie-ing for the event and it was great to catch up with people again.

Cheers

Wayne

First day for me I deckied for John Freestone aboard his two year old 42' Riv Craitonic. Captain Dazzle was on the sticks and our Sanctuary Cove people aboard were Kaye, Damo and Scott.

Kaye was first on strike and we actually had a strike while she was harnessed up in the Black Magic harness while I was going through the gear with everyone and about 2 minutes after setting the lures. Probably a Wahoo that got off going by the haircut to the skirt. We rotated strike on the half hours and during Damos first rotation we had a blind strike then he landed a Mahi Mahi about 3kgs. Back on Kaye's next rotation she landed a Mahi Mahi about 5kgs. On Scotts second rotation we hooked a nice Black about 30kgs. It took a while to get the harness on but then he settled into the fight with a very stubborn fish on 8kg line.

I had a tag shot about 20 minutes in and the tag never stayed in. The next chance at 40 odd minutes I got the one away in the following pics. After tagging we went over the button and it still took another 20 minutes for the leader to come up. With the big duckboard we couldn't really back her like a Black Watch. I had to dump this first time as we thought the fish was already tagged and we wanted to bring it aboard and with only 100lb wind ons we had to take it easy and not lock up on the leader. At 1.05 I got my second chance on the leader providing some awsome video action but wrapping on the heavier lure leader and steering the fish away from the immaculate boat I actually snapped a Gamakatsu SL12s. I couldn't believe it, they usually straighten first. Anyway the fish swam away in good health as it was still quite fiesty on the leader.

Scott did real well having done no fishing before whatsoever and the Black Magic Harness made it so much easier. As crew we were pleased everyone had seen one and everyone aboard had caught a fish of some description. Here is Scott hooked up.

[Smithy]

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[Smithy]

Pity about the tag pole in this shot.

[Smithy]

But this one would have been better if framed right.

[Smithy]

Cease fishing was at 1.30. Darren had just dropped it from idle speed 2 to idle speed 1 on the electric controls when a Black came in on the Moldcraft one of the visitors was winding in. It peeled a little bit of line then spat it. By then I had the longest lure level or a bit in front so Darren yelled freespool which I did and it must have been straight down its throat as I felt the hit and came stright up tight. As it was after cease fishing and I was already holding the rod I might as well play it for club points and it would not have been GFAA legal to hand the rod off to anyone else. This was a smaller fish about 20kg but still had us at its mercy for 35minutes as the conditions were rougher and this one kept tracking into the northerly as well giving us a thourough soaking from backing up into them. Once near I looked up on the windon for Damo to tag but we missed it and the fish took off and under the boat coming out the starboard side and once again breaking off a SL12 again. This one was a brand new Teflon one. Game, set and match. Game On a 37' Riv club boat took the honours with a Black tagged a bit before us and a couple of Mahi Mahi that went 8kg.

Next day we had Andreas and Lisa (owners of Waeco) onboard and Warren from Toowoomba. Lisa started the same as Kaye getting a Mahi Mahi virtually straight away. Warren missed out and we didn't see a Bill for the day but we kept the second Mahi Mahi Andreas caught. Fasination the 51' Riv tagged one and apart from a few more Mahi Mahi and Wahoo things were pretty quiet. Weather was beautiful though. Probably had another 2-3 hookups by other species that fell off and a couple of mystery strikes but I wouldn't have called any for Blacks.

Andreas and his fish. Good ice boxes by the way. We had one onboard both days.

[Smithy]

It was teed up that I would fish with old friends Mark and Roz on Reel Crazy on the Sunday. Weather forecast was good till we saw this cloud. If you ever see anything like this don't hang around too long. It preceded about 20+knots of SEer. We had one shot on something at the 24s and that was it and pulled the pin early with a sloppy run into the Seaway.

[Smithy]

Mark has done her up through winter. New clears and top, padded coamings and teak covering boards. Looking good in the black and white colour scheme. Did have lots of blue trim.

[mackmauler]

Thats what I like to see smithy some fish to balance out the boat shots, amazing how tough some of those small ones can be when there in the mood, plenty of water between em by the stats but a few around, is there anyone lure thats doing the best job atm?

[pittymick]

hey mac,mauler. thats a nice brendan abbot impersonasion( the bank robber)

[StevenM]

Nice report and almost good pics Smithy.

Hows John and the boat goin? All happy now?

Cheers

Steven

[Toppy]

Hey Rob, Nice work over the weekend!
Did you meet any of the celeb,s at the night doo?
Are you still going to work with Nomad in your holls?
Cheers
Toppy

[Smithy]

A Wellsys pusher in a Fuzz colour at short corner got the most action but both of the Blacks were hooked on a Lumo coloured Wellsys pusher which I run at long rigger. We had no outriggers of course seeing as it was actually a cruiser not a fishing boat. The second one came in on a Black/Purple/Silver Moldcraft Wide Range before switching to the Lumo. We did take shots in every postition and every colour so I don't think there is any pattern developing yet. One club boat we talked to who is getting out a bit and having some early success was also finding short corner the most productive spot but they were running a lure not many people use and a special colour. Forgot to mention that Double Trouble a 47' Riv raised/hooked 5 Blacks but didn't tag one. Bit of angler inexperience going on over there. Beefa should have had his crew a bit more schooled up. They had one guy pull the rod out of the rod holder and hold it upside down and start winding backwards etc., etc. How long have you been running doubles? I thought you were the original single hook on mono man with a rubber band keeping the head at the right spot? What happened - too many experiences with Wahoo?

[Smithy]

Steven,

we did break one of the padded comings - probably on the fish but it should have went back in its pen Sunday arv.

Paul,

I only saw Tim Horan and Marcia Hines. Did go to some thing at the Hyatt put on by Havana Club. Not a bad dropped compared to Bundy, good food and hot birds in red dresses doing Latin dancing. Missed out on the Riv function and the concert the first night after the storm. Nomad didn't work out this time. Might be a spot in May. Check out a guy called Wally Worlds post on the Marlin Bar. He must have been a punter on the trip I was suppossed to be on. Awesome photos and looks like the Sea Plane thing worked out. That would be a good holiday for you or are the Black Bass still first and foremost in your holiday thinking?

Oh yeh forgot to mention to top the weekend off I spent an hour on the brand new 60' Assegai Shaka. Chalky showed me right through it. It has two mainframes running the electronics and other crazy stuff like that. Simply awesome. Has only had the seas get him down to 24 knots once. Cruises at 30 knots everywhere. Would love to get that Kerry from the chatboards out on an Assegai or Pleysier to show him just how good they really are.

[gcbfc]

No probs with the copying Smithy..

I ended up going back last night for the Delta Goodrum concert and to see how the charity auctions ended up. They raised 2.4 Million for various organisations over the 3 days. Delta was superb and the fireworks at the end were as good as any I'd seen in Sydney for New Years (mind you I'd had a few too many Chardys by that stage !!!!)

It was a fun 2 days fishing and socialising. I'd forgotten how much fun having punters on board can be !

Cheers

Wayne

[magicpudding]

Good to hear all went well smithy. There seems to be the odd lil black around, we managed to go one from one yesterday close in to Mooloolaba.

CJ