Target Species:
Available species in SE Queensland are Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin and Northern Bluefin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Cobia, Wahoo, Spanish and Spotty Mackerel. Our main targets are the bill fish and the other species incidental catches, but if we encounter good numbers of those other species and the club members wish to catch them, we will concentrate our efforts on that.
Marlin Fishing Season:
Blue & striped marlin on the Continental Shelf from September to June. Small black marlin and sailfish, between Noosa and Coolangatta from December to March.
When we fish:
Brownie will watch the weather patterns and be aware of whether there has been fish around or not and will advise the members by email or text, the good times to fish. By having only 10 members in the BSFAC it will be easy to achieve this.
Once a fishing adventure is booked, Brownie will keep a close eye on the weather and as the trip draws nearer, will advise on whether or not it is looking suitable for enjoyable fishing. A final decision to go or not will be made either the night before, or early in the morning of the fishing day. If it is too windy and the seas too rough to be enjoyable, the adventure will be rescheduled to when conditions are better.
Day Trip Fishing Adventures:
After weather checks the previous night, members and their guests will meet at the boat early and discuss the plan of attack. Departure time is usually 6am from Manly Harbour, but Megumi will be moved to Southport or Mooloolaba if the fishing is good off those ports, or members request to fish from those locations. The run to the inshore fishing grounds in good weather takes about 1 hour 15 minutes and to the wide grounds about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Marlin and other pelagic species are usually caught by trolling lures or baits in areas where they are likely to be feeding, such as around bait schools. They mistake the lure or bait for a fleeing baitfish and attack it. Watching a marlin come up on and eat a bait or lure, is one of the most exciting fishing experiences you will have.
On arrival at the fishing grounds the selected line class tackle is put out and the trolling process starts. For lures, trolling speed is 6-10kts and for baits 4-6kts. Anglers get themselves comfortable and wait for the action, which tends to happen in bursts. Trolling is very relaxing and anglers either enjoy the company of their fellow anglers, or kick back and take it easy.
Once a fish shows up and bites, the mood changes from languid to frenzied as line screams off the reel, the angler whose rod has the strike gets into the chair, and the other lines are cleared. During all this, the fish is usually jumping and racing away from the boat. When that initial crazy period is over, the fight to catch the fish begins in earnest, which involves backing the boat down toward the fish to put line back on the reel, as the fish usually weighs much more than the line class we will be using. Fish are tagged and released or just released and the process begins again.
For sailfish and little black marlin, we often employ live baiting, which involves catching small slimy mackerel or yakkas on bait grounds, keeping them alive in our live bait tank and then drifting through, or slow trolling them around areas where schools of sailfish or marlin are feeding. This isn't as exciting as seeing the fish strike a lure or bait, but it is a very productive fishing method and the excitement starts when the fish start to jump and fight.
Fishing usually ceases about 3.30pm with arrival back in port about 5pm.
Like all fishing, there are good days and quiet days, so there can be no surety of catching a fish, but the crew will always be trying everything they know to find them and get them to bite.
Members can either bring their own lunch and drinks and we suggest prawns, chicken, cold meats, salad and bread rolls, or catering can be arranged on request and paid for via credit card on the day of the trip.
Multiple Day Fishing Adventures:
Good weather windows usually last 2-3 days, the ideal time for multiple day fishing adventures.
Members can either fish multiple days out of Manly, Mooloolaba, Southport or Coffs Harbour and return to port after each day's fishing, or fish multiple days where we find a suitable place close to the fishing grounds to anchor up for the night. Areas such as Sandy Cape on Fraser Island, Laguna Bay at Noosa, Yellowpatch and Tangalooma at Moreton Island, Amity Point and Dunwich at North Stradbroke Island and Southport Broadwater on the Gold Coast will be used.
Members can either live on board Megumi for these multiple day trips, or bookings on the mother ship Curtis Ambassador can be arranged, where all catering is provided.
If living aboard Megumi, the crew will find out catering preferences and purchase and stow all food and drink for the required number of days and people on the adventure. Payment for catering will be accepted aboard Megumi via credit card.
The comfortable number of guests on Megumi for live aboard multiple day trips is either 2 couples or 3 males or females, although we can accommodate 5, if the 2 small wing bunks in the forward stateroom are used.
If mother shipping, 6 guests can fish as there is ample comfortable accommodation on Curtis Ambassador. (see pic below)
Reef Expeditions
Members can request to fish the Great Barrier Reef. We can take Megumi to the Whitsundays with pick up and drop off of guests at Hamilton Island, or base ourselves in the lagoon at Lady Musgrave Island, as it is an ideal anchorage and the fishing to the east of there is very good.
Members can either live aboard Megumi or bookings on the mother ship Curtis Ambassador can be arranged.
Forward planning is required for these reef trips.
