Fresh Sydney Fishing Reports

Well, all I can say is bring on another Bluefin ! this run just keeps on giving. The eddy South of Browns is pretty well stagnant so who knows how long it may last. One thing is for sure I'm not making another prediction about their movements, not after my last one anyway. On Friday I spent the day fishing in close with Jamion and his friends looking for Kings. We did get a couple of undersize fish and a few Bonito but that was all we caught between Googee and Long Reef. All the while I was hearing about the Bluefin bite going on out wide, a very frustrating experience. On Saturday there was only one place to be and that was just South of Browns. We ran out hearing on the way that a couple of boats had already located the school. By the time we arrived there were about twenty boats in a small area cubing with several guys fighting fish. I trolled around the group and managed to pick up a fish on one of my skirted lures, I don't need to tell which one. The cubes went over the side and in short time two of the guys were hooked up, one on ten kilo line the other on fifteen. After a really good fight while winning on the ten, the fish was lost when the lines crossed. Unfortunately we lost a couple of fish that way but still ended up bagging out. The 'fin weren't the biggest being 35 to 45 kilo's but still great fun on light line and very good to eat too. At present off Sydney the only game in town is Bluefin and this has got to be the best run we've had, at least in the last forty or fifty years. Since their numbers are on the increase it is feasible that their range will continue to expand and we'll see more of them but that may be more dependant on the prevailing currents and with global warming who knows... Tight lines, Ivan

Well I guess those with their ears to the ground will know the answer to the question - are the Bluefin still here ?... to those who may not have heard the answer is a resounding YES ! how long they stay is anyone's guess but you only have to look at the charts to see why they're here. My plan was to head out wide of Browns to where the current changes directions then troll North and find a likely area to cube into the evening. We were only a few miles East of Browns when we had a double hook-up one of which dropped off after a short time but still long enough to gave Rob a fight he will remember. By the way, we were running a Pakula skirt off each rigger, two minnows flat and a large bibless on the shot gun and both fish took the riggers, a 'lumo' and an 'Illusion'. Old Ronny still had his fish on and after a very long hour during which time I thought he might expire, got it boat side were it was finally gaffed. We didn't hear much from Ronny for the rest of the day. We stayed out until dark cubing and managed an Albacore but by this time the guys were stuffed, most holding back seasickness from the joggling in the large sea all day as well as the fact that 8 kilo's of Albacore didn't seem worthwhile after 70 kilo's of Bluefin, it actually went 71.5 kilo's. The run home was fabulous, a big long swell pushing us along nicely but I must admit it became a little disconcerting when every now and then all went dark and all the lights in the city disappeared. Unfortunately on the run in one of my exhaust hoses burst and though it didn't hamper our run back it meant I couldn't fish today and my friends woke me up to the fact by ringing me this morning to tell me how good it was out there...good friends ! The bite continues... Tight lines, Ivan

Yesterday was a good day the weather looking good and there was the prospect of tuna in the air. The plan was to end up out wide and do some cubing but first on the agenda was to catch some dinner. We started by trolling the cliffs to catch some fresh bait in the form of Bonito then have a few drifts on the Flathead grounds. All went to plan and before long we had some good Flatties in the esky and were off to Browns for some Gemmies. Much to my surprise there were only a few boats at Browns but that's a good thing. Anyway after a few drifts we had 6 good sized Gemmies on board then the bite just seemed to shut down. It was either that or they weren't interested in anything but the fresh bait we had just run out of. So it was off to the wide grounds to find a good patch of water and start cubing. At around five hundred fathoms I noticed some current lines full of Bluebottles with the occasional Mutton bird following the lines and Striped tuna surfacing occasionally probably chasing the small fish that hide amongst the Bluebottles - this was our spot. We started our drift at around 4pm. when after about an hour Mark had a hit but after a short fight lost it then a short time later Rob had the same thing happen. It went quiet for a while then out of nowhere this big shark cruised up to the boat. I still can't say whether it was a Mako or a White. I guessed it to have been 300 to 400 kilo's in weight. We never got to see its teeth to be certain of its identity but going by it colour I'd say it was a White. The shark stayed with us for 15 to 20 minutes before disappearing to where ever it came from. I guess that was the cue because soon after it left we caught our first Alby and the action was on. It wasn't a mad rush more an steady flow with all on board catching a fish or two with the occasional loss also. It was pretty late by the time the action had all but stopped so with a nice mixture of Bonito, Flathead, Gemmies and Albacore for the BBQ we packed up for the long run home which was going to be slow due to the number of Whales we'd seen earlier. So with the hope of Yellowfin following the Albies tight lines, Ivan

Ambition Charters in Winter ------------------------------------ Back here in Sydney June through September is winter time. The currents from the North have slowed and generally after a morning blow from the West we enjoy beautiful calm afternoon and evenings allowing the offshore reefs to be fished more easily. Kingfish will become more common on the inshore reefs along with Snapper. Further out on the offshore reefs there will be Blue Eye and as we proceed to July and August the Gemfish will become the major and most sought after species. Unfortunately or fortunately as Gemfish numbers increase so do Mako and Blue shark numbers as well as the occasional Seal, sometimes making it difficult to get the Blue Eye and Gemfish to the surface. However the sharks are good fun and Mako’s good to eat. Tuna numbers should increase with both Albacore which are great to eat and Yellowfin up to 80Kgs. being taken trolling and cubing into the early evening. If we are really lucky sometime in early to mid-July we might get a run of Bluefin which in the past have been caught up to nearly 150kgs. in weight and as you would imagine are much sought after. And to top it off there is still the chance of a Marlin which have been caught in every month of the year off Sydney. Tight lines, Ivan

Before going out on Saturday I checked the SST’s which didn’t show any significant features. But you know how it is, the charts don’t show everything so we went out in great conditions and expectations after last Monday’s effort. Again the idea was to go wide and try to find the Yellowfin that can’t be too far away, there are plenty at the fish markets. Trolling out there was some bait down deep inside the shelf but no temperature breaks. At around 300 fathoms there was a 0.5 degree rise which we worked for a while but it appeared devoid of life so we continued on our way. Until near Heatons the temp was constant then it dropped nearly a degree and we found quite a few Sperm Whales in fact more than I have ever seen at any one time as well as several pods of Pilot Whales all moving South. I figured that if everything else is vacating the area so should we so I turned around and headed for the Bait Station. At around 500 fathoms, basically in the middle of no where the cry went up there was a Stripy following the shot-gun. It made a couple of half hearted hits at the lure then must have become Bill wrapped as it ran for about fifty metres then just fell off. And that was it for the day other than seeing some Sauries taking off around the shelf. It was a frustrating but pleasant day at sea. The only action I heard on the radio was of small Gemfish and the occasional Blue Eye on the mountain which had twenty or so boats on it. Tight lines, Ivan

Yesterday was a good day at least compared with Saturday when I was last out. On Saturday there were several club boats out and I am pretty sure all saw or had hits from Marlin but only one was tagged. My plan was to go out wide were the charts were showing a decent temperature break, and look for Yellowfin. I did spend some time around ninety fathoms where there was huge amounts of bait but after an hour without any action continued out. I finally found the break in a thousand fathoms and started to work my way down criss-crossing the break. It was looking good with the occasional flying fish as well as the occasional shower of Sauries taking off. There had to be Yellowfin around and when we did get a strike which was in the sun's glare so I couldn't see it I was sure it was a 'fin. But then out of the glare a good sized Stripy appeared tearing up the ocean grey hounding away much to the excitement of John and his friends. After a good fight we had the fish boat side and after taking photo's released it unharmed. We hadn't even set up the lines properly when we had another hit and another Stripy, a bit smaller than the previous one, took to after air and after a good fight was successfully released. Well that was it for the day I turned Ambition for home - a good day indeed, two Marlin in one day in mid-May. Tight lines, Ivan