We launched “Beluga” at 5:30am and headed North to the Kasteel (50m Ledge). The blue water started on the edge of the reef so I slacked the speed and let out a small kona on a baitstick while Dale let out a halco. I stopped the spool with my thumb to see where the lure was when suddenly the rod buckled and the reel took off! I put up the drag and gave the rod to Dale. He brought in a skipjack of about 2kg (a perfect bait). It went straight into the live bait tube and we headed deeper.
In about 200m, I rigged the skippie on a 20/0 circle hook and an 80Lbs rig. There was a big swell so I let the bait out about 30m and attached the line to the outrigger with a rubber band. Slowly we headed deeper and over the radio, several boats were hooked up in 400-500m. We turned at 600m and headed shallower. At 500m a pod of spinner dolphin cruised with the boat for a while before heading to parts unknown. We also started seeing flying fish and even an ocean sunfish. This was definitely the area to be. Probably 5 mins later, the bait revved and the elastic popped. I fed the fish a few meters when the water behind the boat erupted and a nice blue marlin of about 150kg started jumping. I upped the drag and wound like hell. Dale increased the speed but alas, the reel stopped running and the marlin was gone. On closer inspection, I saw that the fish had become tangled in the line and trace and the bait did not even have a mark on it! Unlucky! The bait unfortunately died and so Dale and I put out 5 marlin lures and headed back to the ledge to look for another livebait.
In 100m of water, I looked back to see the port long rigger bending for the water! Next thin the rigger released and the 130Lbs Tiagra took off. Seconds later, a black marlin of about 100kg exploded out of the water putting up a beautiful display! We cleared the lines and Dale jumped into the chair. He fought the fish very well and had it next to the boat in 15mins where I leadered the fish, removed the hooks and released it. Great!
We were practically on the reef so out came the big rods and in went the bait rods. We trolled around for about an hour and managed to get a nice Dorado and lost a wahoo. At 1pm I suggested we put the big lures out and head for the deep to look for a blue or stripey. We had just started trolling when we caught a 16kg wahoo on a marlin lure in 100m of water.
A short while later, in 500m, a blue marlin came charging in to the port long rigger but turned off at the last second! I worked the area for about half an hour without any action. It was getting late so I told Dale that it was time to head home. We decided to troll shallower until the water turned green before packing up. In 74m, I noticed a splash on the centre rigger, followed by a snap as the rubber bang popped. The 50Lbs Tiagra took off and another black marlin launched itself out the water.
Again we cleared the lines before Dale climbed into the chair. The fish settled and I slowly closed the gap between the boat and fish. The marlin was about 20m away when it shook its head violently and then took to the air then stripped quite a bit of line before settling again. Dale worked it closer and the leader came out the water. I took the trace and waited for the fish to give the right approach. It kept ducking under the boat resulting in a few tense moments. With just two people on board, one in the chair, meant I had to turn the chair, skip the boat and trace the fish ... stressful to say the least! Finally, after letting go 4 or 5 times, it surfaced next to the boat and I could safely pull it closer. I grabbed the bill of a healthy 90kg black and removed the hooks before turning it loose! Unreal, 2 blacks in a day with 2 people on board ... and one on 50Lbs ... NICE! After that, we packed up and headed home.
