Giant black marlin fishing on the Great Barrier Reef is without doubt the pinnacle of fishing, so it’s little wonder it attracts anglers from around the globe. No where else in the world do you have a greater chance, at any minute, of catching a ‘grander’ black marlin, that is a fish that weighs over the magical 1000lbs mark! Measuring over 14 feet in length, 6 foot in girth and a 20 inch tail circumference, these beasts are serious fish. I once heard a captain say – if they growled you’d be too scared to catch one!!
I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of this scene for most of my life, and my father Ron is now on his record 43rd season fishing the GBR. The old man is recognised as one of a handful of captains who helped pioneer this fishery in the late 1960’s, and while he admits things are different on the reef these days, with so many rules and regulations such as green zones and closures, the marlin fishing is just as good!
This trip was a special one, as it was a gathering of two marlin fishing families from opposite sides of the world, and a chance to introduce a third generation of Jenyns to these waters. My younger half brother Bo Jenyns, is somewhat of a ‘rockstar’ in the marlin fishing scene since being named ‘Mate of the Year’ by USA published Marlin Magazine. He is now based in Florida with his delightful wife Lisa and their one year old son Luke Jenyns who quickly gained his sea legs after the long flight!
Bo’s in-laws, Jeff and Patty have fished all over the world with him, including exotic marlin hotspots such as Ghana, Hawaii and Madeira, but this year they made a return trip to Cairns so the extended families could spend some time together doing what we all love – giant Black Marlin fishing!
Reading the reports on blackmarlinblog.com leading up to our trip, expectations were high, with an impressive 7 fish over 1000lbs released during the Lizard Island Tournament two weeks before we arrived. The fishing had slowed but was gradually on the improve with the moon phase when we arrived. We averaged 1 to 2 fish per day, from around 4 bites per day, which is average for the Cairns fishery. Our fish ranged in size from 150lbs through to an estimated 1,100lbs fish which jumped off after less than a minute. Given the bite is usually in the afternoons, the mornings are mostly spent bait fishing and spearfishing to put Coral Trout on the table.
If you love your fishing, it really doesn’t get any better than this, and I urge you all to experience it at least once in your lifetime!
If you are interested in finding out more, or arranging a charter for next season then give me a call.
