Trolling for Beakies - Port Stephens NSW

Got One Port Stephens (NSW)

It was my great pleasure to get the chance to go out from Port Stephens for a days fishing with the Dunphy clan from Shimano recently.  Their boat Titan is a 43ft Mariner and was in town to compete in the 2008 Riviera Interclub competition.  My host for the day was Mark Dunphy, our local Shimano rep.

Birds Eye view of the 'Titan'

We met at the Anchorage berth at 0630 and there was a fair crew already aboard.  JD (John Dunphy) was there (‘cause its his boat), Terry and Mark D, Pat Levy from Gillies and also Andrew ET Ettinghousen and a film crew.  There were quite a few others on board – a total of 15.  I have to say that out of the past few weeks I had chosen the best day weather wise over the past few weeks and the trip out was magnificent.

We steamed out through the heads and past Cabbage Tree Island and then about half way to Broughton decided to drag some lures while we were heading for our destination (Canyons off Seal Rocks).  We put out a spread of skirts on five T-Curve 15kg standup rods with Tiagra 30Ws.  The lures were spread with the outriggers and staggered distances.  The guys also threw in a Rapala Witchdoctor which really threw some light around up close to the boat. 

Not 10 minutes later and we had the fist fish up and having a real good look at one of the lumo skirts.  It is very exiting stuff seeing such a large fish on the surface behind the lure some thirty metres from the boat.  The fish had several ‘cracks’ at the lure and then struck hard and hooked up.  It gradually peeled off line and moved across the spread quite casually, obviously not yet aware that it was hooked.

The crew went about frantically getting the other lures back to the boat while Pat Levy elbowed everyone else out of the way and grabbed the rod to start the fight.  The fish was very well behaved in the initial battle and got to within 10m of the boat before it woke up and realised what was going on….Then all hell broke loose.  The 80-90kg striped marlin broke the water and tail danced away from the boat at lightning speed.  It jumped about 20 times throughout the fight trying to shake the hooks.

Mico the skipper reacted and manoeuvred the boat expertly throughout the fight to ensure that not only the angler had the best opportunity to land the fish, but also that ETs camera crew got some great footage. My guess is that he done it a few times before.  It was a great fight that lasted nearly half an hour and finally the tag was set, the fish re-swum and released.  0830 in the morning and as boat tradition has it – we were all in our first beer.  What a great experience it is to see such a big fish perform, be tagged and be freed to fight another day.

I was earmarked for third strike, however that early morning hookup proved to be the only one for the day.  We covered a lot of ground and got two more follows / strikes but did not set hooks.  We changed lures, changed gear to the big 37kg bent buts with Tiagra 80W trying to entice a big blue, but to no avail.  The boys from Shimano sure put on a great day with near perfect conditions, great hospitality and a good bunch of blokes aboard. If you’ve never been game fishing I urge you to save those pennies and try to get out on a charter.  Pick your time of year and go out with someone that has a good reputation for putting people on to fish.  You won’t be disappointed.

Happy fishin’

Shep