Weekly Fishing Report

Archives

We, on “De MAKO,” are continuing on our hot streak - in just 3 weeks, we have had over 50 Blue Marlin bites, with over 20 fish successfully released. Blue Marlin fishing just does not get much better than this!  It is no wonder we are seeing more and more boats making the crossing to try their hands at Bermuda’s  great Marlin fisheries, which is quickly becoming the new Blue Marlin hot spot, thanks in part by all the hard work of Dan Jacobs for spreading the news on the other side of the Atlantic!

Hey, the other good news is the return of the Allisons. The tide on Argus is very strong but, if you can put up with it, you will be rewarded with some nice size Tunas.

The best bite is from the eastern to the southern side of Argus - not surprising, the best Marlin bite is in the same place.

On Monday, July 7, Jane Crosland managed once again to add another Marlin to her tally.  Jane is an avid Marlin fisherman and a close friend.  She is a renowned New York floral designer who has written a book titled “A Voyage in Flowers” in which she has dedicated an entire chapter to Marlin fishing in Bermuda.  It is always a pleasure to fish with Ms. Crosland and we hope that she will continue to grace Bermuda with her presence.

For those of you who are interested in catching some Yellowfin Tunas, there have been some good catches on the eastern side of Argus Banks.  You might not catch large numbers of fish, but the quality is there, with your average fish being between 30-60lbs.

Good luck and stay tuned for the results from the “Bermuda Big Game Classic.”

July has always been the top month for Blues but, this year, we are seeing more 600 & 700lb fish being caught, than normal.  With so many big fish around, it should not be long before someone gets lucky and manages to hang on to another Bermuda Grander.

It should be noted that even with all these big fish being caught, we are still seeing 95% of these fish being released island-wide!

The Wahoo fishing was also not bad for July, with some catches as high as 10 fish per day.  There is a little bit of a Allison Tuna bite on the East and Northeast corners of Challenger.  Most of the Tunas are small (15lbs) but, if you put the time in, there are a few nice ones being caught, 40-80lbs.  The top Tuna boat for July is definitely the “Gringo.”  Joey has put in the time and has had some nice catches.

On “DeMako,” we have started August off on the right foot with our catch of 3 Blues out of 5 bites, yesterday. The two largest fish (350 & 450lbs) were a double strike - lots of manuevering and lots of fun!

August should bring continued good Marlin fishing, plus an increase in the amount of Tunas & Wahoos  being caught, so standby for more great fishing this month!

August 4th - “De MAKO” is red hot!!    We started the week off by releasing 3 Blues out of 5 bites. Missing our first two bites & then releasing a 170 pounder, closely followed by a double hook up, releasing a 350lb & a 450lb Blue - so much action!

Day two: We managed to release one, about 200lbs, out of three hookups - a little slow!

Day three: Red hot!  We finished up with 7 Wahoos and 2 Blues, released out of 5 hookups.  The 2 releases, 170lbs. & 350lbs., were 2 out of a triple hookup.  We lost the third fish, which was about 500lbs. - talk about action!

Day four: Catch a few Wahoos in the morning and go 2 for 2 with the Blues in the afternoon, 150lbs & 200lbs.

Day five: A few more Wahoos in the morning and 2 for 3 with the Blues in the afternoon, and another double hookup!  We released both fish, one 175lbs. & one 300lbs. These two fish were jumping side by side - what a sight!

Day six: Hard luck day... we finished up 1 for 5, lots of bites, but only managed to keep the hooks in one, about 150lbs.

Day seven: Another double hookup, this time losing the smaller Marlin and releasing a 550lb Blue.  Line back in the water for 20 minutes and we are hooked up again, with a another Blue. A few mintues later, we release a 200lbs Blue - 2 for 4 for the day, not too shabby!

What a week!  “De MAKO” had 13 Blues released for 27 hookups!  We are now at 47 Blues for 118 bites for the year, tying our own record of 47, back in 1986.  It has always been a goal of mine to be the first boat in Bermuda to release 50 Blue Marlins in one season. I think it is safe to say that James & I will make it happen this year, so stay tuned!

The Blue Marlin shootout, between Somerset and Spanish Point, is heating up, with Somerset gaining steam!  So, let’s go Spanish Point... we need some help out there!

August 18th - What a tough week!  So close, but so far away!

The Marlin bite was slow this week.  A bite here and there and, to make things worse, our lucky streak had ended, but we managed to pull it off with my good friend, Hamish Burns, releasing “DeMAKO’s” 50th Blue Marlin for the season - a 400 pounder. The bar has been raised!  “De MAKO” is the first boat to catch 50 Blues in one summer and we still have a few weeks to go!  I would like to thank all my friends & customers for all of their support and a special thanks to my mate “Bigger” James, Bermuda’s Best!

Hamish had the last trip for the week and we were stuck on 48 Marlins with nothing but bad luck.  The day started with us trying a little Tuna trolling with 50’s.  Wouldn’t you know it, after trying all week to catch a Blue, one comes up and eats one of our little Tuna baits.  After some very aggressive boat maneuvers and lots of winding, Vince Frith releases a 200lb Blue on 50 standup tackle, his first ever Marlin!

As the day goes on, we catch a few small Tunas and pull the hook on a 40lb Dolphin, close to the boat, but that is about it. As the day closes, Hamish looks up at me on the bridge and jokingly shouts out  “Hey Mako, I want to be here for the fiftieth!”

I look at my watch and it is time to head home.  It has been a long day and an even longer week.  What the heck, let’s make one more run up the edge to the SE corner of Challenger.  Half way up, down comes the left rigger, ”got him on” but no one wants to get in the chair! After what seems about 10 minutes, Hamish reluctantly gets in the chair but, as luck would have it, the Marlin gets off like so many this week. Disappointed, I keep heading up the edge but, having marked the bite in my GPS, I was torn between finishing my run to the corner or staying in the area. One mile up the edge and my gut said to turn around and try that fish one more time.  Here we go, hard right turn Clyde! The GPS is counting down the distance to go, we are back in the same spot.  Snap,  goes the tag line “got him on again!” Hamish, this time, flies in the chair - we are in business! 20 minutes later and it is history………50 Blue Marlins and Hamish’s first, great job Hamish!!

“DeMAKO” Marlin stats to-date: 50 Blues for 130 bites.

Hey, for all you Tuna fisherman - we caught our biggest Tuna today, a 130lb Allison, on the eastern side of Challenger... angler Nigel Mortimer.   Nigel did a great job catching this fish on 50lb standup tackle.  Congratulations!

August 26th - Can you believe it? August is almost gone and the Wahoo tournament is just two weeks away.  It’s time to switch gears, pack up the Marlin gear and break out the Wahoo gear!   However, the Marlins don’t want to go!  We did our last Marlin trip on Friday, finishing the day 4 for 5.

We started the day by missing a shot before we even made it to Challenger Bank.  Then, just about lunch time, it started - first, we released a small Blue (150lbs.) and then, about 15 minutes later, we had a fish about 400lbs pile on our teaser.  Out with the pitch bait, in with the teaser - great switch by Mike... what a bite!

Early afternoon and we have two Blue Marlin releases and one missed shot.  Sounds like a great day, but wait, here we go again - another De MAKO double!  One fish was 250lbs and the other 650lbs.  Talk about trouble!

It’s a good thing we have three fighting chairs in “DE MAKO” because we sure have needed them this year.  While Mike is doing battle in the main chair with the big fish, poor Barnesey is fighting it out in the side chairs.  That’s right, Barnesey had to change from one side to the other many times.  Come to find out his fish is foul-hooked, making it veer from side to side.  Now, with Barnesey’s fish tagged and released, it is time to focus on Mike’s monster, which by now has done all it’s jumping and has decided to go down deep and fight it out.  After about a forty-minute battle, Mike manages to bring to the boat a much-tired Marlin.  We quickly get her tagged and spend the next 15 minutes slowly reviving her.  She is still tired but is swimming good and we decide it is time to turn her loose. It is great to watch her swim off to fight another day!

Four Blue Marlin releases out of 5 bites - hey, the Marlin season maybe ending, but it does not get any better than that!

The Marlins maybe staying, but the Wahoos are coming anyway!  Catches in the double figures are happening more frequently.  Our best catch this week was on Sunday, with Alan Reid’s annual birthday trip, finishing up the day with 13 Wahoos, 4 Tunas and a Dolphin...  “Happy Birthday Reide!”

The current on the banks has finally changed and we are seeing more life on the northern sides of both banks.  There is even a little action from a few Yellowfins. With the water temperature starting to drop, we will see the Tuna & Wahoo bite improve daily. Don’t pack up your tackle, the best is yet to come!

Blue Marlin Tally: Somerset 95, Spanish Point 106

We just got our electricity & phones back, on Friday, making life a little easier.  The good news is that all the charter fishing fleet got through with only minor damage, and everyone is ready to fish! Unfortunately, with a few of the major hotels closed and most people busy getting their homes back in order, no one wants to go fishing.   It’s too bad because the fishing is great!  The frigate Mackerel have arrived and the Wahoos & Tunas are willing.

The Wahoo tournament was held last Sunday, with 75 fish weighed in. The top Wahoo was a 67.4lb caught on 20lbs test line by Mike Judd on the “Sandpiper.”   First day back fishing for “De MAKO” was on Saturday, with Hamish and crew catching 14 Wahoos & a Tuna.   We caught 8 Wahoos in the tournament, on Sunday, but none big enough to make the winnings. We fished again on Tuesday & Thursday, with catches of 6 Wahoos, 4 Dolphins and 12 Wahoos.

We have a few trips coming in, now that things are getting back to normal, and we should see the good fishing last until the end of October. So, try your best to get out before the live-bait season ends, as it is loads of fun!

Blue Marlin Tally: Somerset 95, Spanish Point 106