Cairns Light & Heavy
September in Cairns is always a busy month as crews arrive in preparation of the big marlin season. Its also a great crossover month with the juvenile blacks still around and the bigger fish starting to show up. This year’s NQ little black marlin season has been a cracker and we can only hope the momentum carries through to heavy tackle soon!
Over the last few days in Cairns, Capt. Ross Finlayson’s Top Shot has been getting into the little fish now fishing heavy for a bigger model. On Sunday they were 4 from 8 and Monday 3 from 5 on the little fish. Yesterday they unfortunately dropped one about 150lbs close to the boat. Updated for Wednesday: Capt. Brett Goetze on Amokura released a 200lb black on his first day of Heavy Tackle yesterday.
Yesterday we fished on Capt. Luke Fallon’s KEKOA for 6 from 7 little blacks across the 10-20kg range with the early mark heading home at 2. Nearby Ian Ziebell was solo in his boat Thirsty for 3 fish and Jason on Marlin Brando was likewise solo for a 2 from 2 and parked up at home by noon! Jason said the fish were still biting when he left (they were!) but wanted to end on a high note after a less than successful mission the week before. Capt. Haydon Bell’s Kanahoee was bottom fishing nearby and jumping marlin off on his bottom gear. And GBR Sports Fishing’s Tim Sparks was also in the same area for a 6-4-2 on Monday.
Light tackle photos below!
Weipa Sails & Black
Weipa is taking over Broome’s spot as Number 1 Australian sailfsh destination with fantastic numbers for their local fleet again yesterday. Duane and Linda Jay on Get n Any went 15-12-7 including a black for Linda they put at 30kg (photo by Jay with thanks at top!). Darryl French fished solo on Wine Down for a 8-5-5 yesterday and 6-5-4 Monday (all sails). Just Teasin’ with Quinton and Tracey Small and Kristy Philliskirk tagged 1 and broke another off on the leader. Kristy teamed up with Dad Alan Philliskirk for a 7 from 13 on Friday including a bite out of a black. Hopefully the fishing stay’s hot for their tournament (check the calendar) on 29 Sept – 3 Oct and following Ladies Day on November 4.
