REPORT : Marlin Skiboat Club Comp - 2015

[maganything]

We fished the comp in port edward hosted by marlin skiboat comp from 30 April - 2 May.
This is a catch and release comp and you are required to catch 10 Species. ( 5 Bottom fish, 5 Gamefish)


5 Bottom fish are:


1. Daga/Geelbek
2. Englishman
3. Scotsman
4. Black Mussel cracker
5. Rockod (Yellow belly/Catface)


5 Gamefish are:


1. Dorado
2. couta
3. Yellowfin
4. Bonito
5. Yellowtail


There we a total of 30 boats that entered and up for grabs was a seacat 465 with 2 x 40hp Yammies on the back.


Day 1


SW winds were predicted of around 20-25knots, so we launched at about 6am.
We decided to keep it local around the TO Strand area, as i knew i could get a catface and tuna there easily.
We set our first drift with livies mackeral on circle hooks and just as Brad was winding in the last bait, he got smashed 3m from the back of the boat. the fish came straight out the water and to our surprise it was a dorado. He played the fish like a champ, and after about 15mins i was able to grab the fish, put it on the mat, have a quick photo and send him on his way. We were on the board, with the fish that was said to be the most difficult to catch...


We then changed focus and went to look for a catface, we battle and the the wind was blowing about 15knots by now. I went down and imidiately went tight and landed a catface of 70cm. This was my personal best rockod. We set the drift again and as i went down i got pressed again and landed another catface of 80cm. So i got my 2 PB rockod in 2 downs. We were now on the board with 2 fish and went to look for a tuna.
At about 2:30pm with no more luck we callled it a day and beached.


Day 2


We were the 4th boat to lauch and got bait just around the nets at Port Edward. The plan for today was to look for a Scotsman, Englishman and a cracker. We were going south towards Red Sands as we had heard the guys had got there the day before. The west was oumoing and the sea was ugly and we battled our was down. The 22km run took us about 40min and i was buggered by the time i got there. We rigged up our rods and went down. On my first down, i managed to get a nice scotsman of about 55cm and we had 3 species on the board. We then went out a bit deeper for the englishman, and decided to fish the 36m line. We gave this a crack for about 2hours but could not find and englishman or cracker. At 12pm, i decided to head back up to Port Edward to try for a tuna and bonito.


We arrived back at TO's and i set our live bait spread. Within 10mins we went tight with a small bonito and it was measured and released! I so badly wanted to keep if for a Couta bait, but the rules said it had to be released!!
I reset the spread and about 30mins later we went tight again and after a 15min fight, Brad landed a yellowfin of about 90cm.
We now had five species and it was 3pm so we hit the beach!!


Day 3


The final day of the comp and we heard that the leaders were on 8 species! We needed 3 to catch up and be in contention and the spirits were high!!!
I was confident that we could get 2 more species today and once we had the cracker and englishman we would go look for a couta or Bek.


The sea was amazing this morning, perhaps tp amazing! We had drawn the last number to launch so were on the water at about 6:45. We got bait and i headed deep, i went to the 80m line off Palm Beach, and first down we got and englishman, but it was only 35cm (minimum of 40cm required) we went down again and got one of 37cm, still not enough. We got 4 englishmen all between 35 and 37cm!!! by now i fuming and frustrated!!


We then went inside to the 36m line where i have previously got a daga and a cracker and on the ride in got hit by a buster which must have been blowing at 25knots. We had a few downs and decided to call it a day!!


We ended the comp on 5 species (6 if you count the undersized englishman)


The winners ended on 9 species! and was the boat..... you guessed it BLIKSEM!! This is the 6th boat that they have won and they truely are remarkable fisherman!! The pipped us for the biggest dorado which was also the fish that they were looking for on the last day to give them 9 species!


The boat called Gaffer came second (8 species) and the kingfisher (7 species on weight by measurement) came 3rd.


This truely was a great comp and run superbly well and such good spirit!!
We will most definately be back next year!!!


Below a few pics...


1. Brads Dorado
2. Brad holding dorado
3 my 80cm catface rockod

[maganything]

1. Scotsman
2. Bonito
3. Yellow fin tuna

[maganything]

1. Our englishman that wasnt size...
2. The winners BLIKSEM on their 6th boat

[Shaun17]

Lekker report Scott and well done bud, some awesome results there. Piet and his crew are machines...

Really like this comp format, think this will be one for the calender next year if work permits!!

[maganything]

just a side not, about 850kg of fish were caught and released!!


Noteable fish
2 x couta over 20kgs
1 cracker of 31kgs
scotsman of 9kg's
yellow belly of 11.5kg's
tuna of 22kg's

[lebaka]

lekka report 

just on a side note that prize boat is never gonna through the surf with hansen sitting at the back 

[shagnrelease]

lekka report 

just on a side note that prize boat is never gonna through the surf with hansen sitting at the back 

Fair comment!!!

[Hammer]

Great report Scott, you got me thinking maybe next year 

Hansen needs a boat with at least twin 100's to go to sea.

[Umpa Lumpa]

Lekker report Scott, well done on thee fishing, need to hhave good game plan to execute that comp. 

[Prego]

Some good skills there Mags to get those 5-6 species. Well done 

Like the format of that comp, definitely more skill than luck needed and the catch and release is something that more clubs need to start using in comps.

[Bwana]

Congrats Scott you guys did extremely well bud. That dorado is a great catch this late in the season. Piet and his crew are machines, very focused, well prepared and meticulous, they thoroughly deserve that boat!


Did any of those marks help?

[maganything]

Congrats Scott you guys did extremely well bud. That dorado is a great catch this late in the season. Piet and his crew are machines, very focused, well prepared and meticulous, they thoroughly deserve that boat!


Did any of those marks help?

i got the scotsman on the one, Mark. thanks.
Need to spend some more time down there to practice for next year...


Rumor has it there could be a 565 up for grabs!!!

[SAfish]

  Well done Scott, and an awesome report. You guys did well and I am sure you will get your chance on the podium next year. 

[L Hooker]

Lekker report well done

[Seventenths]

Great Stuff Mag.. I love this format and would love to fish it, is it a protected launch or from the beach? Maybe can move my tupperware down for next year.....

[CLS]

Well done Scott.

[Shaun17]

Great Stuff Mag.. I love this format and would love to fish it, is it a protected launch or from the beach? Maybe can move my tupperware down for next year.....

Or... 

[Seventenths]

Great Stuff Mag.. I love this format and would love to fish it, is it a protected launch or from the beach? Maybe can move my tupperware down for next year.....

Or... 

[maganything]

Great Stuff Mag.. I love this format and would love to fish it, is it a protected launch or from the beach? Maybe can move my tupperware down for next year.....

its a surf launch.


This year the surf was quite tame, but the previous two years ....    hectic!!!!

[maganything]

here is the video from this years comp...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDclqnarDg4