Oceania Sportfishers Magazine Is Live

Oceania Sportfishers magazine is live on Issuu. For July it is a standalone magazine but from August it will be part of Oceania Sportfish - the Sportfish Project's new official magazine.

In this issue - inside Askari, Grady-White 209 and the luxury motor yacht Cosmos.

http://www.issuu.com/marinelifemedia/docs/oceania_sportfishers_july_2011

Gold Coast Sked

23rd - 27th June 2011

Quality snapper on board Sea Probe Charters

Sea Probe Charters had a good weekend. Fishing NE36fm on both Saturday and Sunday they brought home some quality fish. Saturday saw 15 Snapper, including two at 75 & 73cm plus some tusk fish. On Sunday Gavin and crew brought home 10 Snapper, the biggest 92cm and 37 trag.

Sanpper Ban Is History

Reports are that the Queensland Government will today announce that the 6 week snapper ban for South East Queensland and the southern Great Barrier Reef will not be repeated next year. But a new sustainability plan, to reviewed in three years, will reduce the bag limit from 5 to 4 and restrict the number of fish over 70cm to one. A voluntary online monitoring program will also be introduced. While sense has prevailed on the ban, there seems to be little detail on how the declining snapper stocks and loss of habitat is gong to be addressed.

More details after the release today.

Assegai 39 Express Syndication

Oceania Sportfishing Club, the Pacific Marinelife Institute's own sportfishing club is launching a Sportfisher Syndication program, starting with a new Assegai 39 Express. You can now own a 1/12 share in a legendary Assegai for $74,300 (AUD) plus annual costs.

Each Assegai is custom built to order by Barry Martin and his team at Assegai Marine on Australia's Gold Coast. The new 39 Express design has been created as the prefect day boat in the traditions of Assegai. Each Assegai hull is constructed using strip plank western red cedar and coated in hand laid fibreglass and epoxy resin.

The first Assegai 39 will be based on Queensland's Gold Coast and potentially fish the Great Barrier Reef during the light and heavy tackle. Oceania Sportfishing Club Syndication will also add at least one other vessel more suitable for liveaboard activities and a new centre console sportfisher to its Southern Queensland fleet. The Syndication Program will create 'fishing bases' along the Australian East Coast and in locations throughout the South Pacific.

For more information phone David Joyce on 0412 761 016 or register for the Expressions of Interest document via email here.

Blues Turning Up Around South Pacific

Capt. Greg Edwards from Marlin Lifestyle reported blues are turning up off Vava'u in Tonga and Michelle Jansz Temminck from Crusoe Fishing Adventures in Vanuatu posted the following this morning about fishing yesterday - " The Blues are playing with us again, Reel Capture lost three yesterday, not feeding properly".

It simply means it is time to venture out into the South Pacific.

Gold Coast Sked

Ross McCubbin fished on Lucky Strike today with a team from Southport GOLD CLUB getting 15 pearl perch, a good catch of 12 Pig Fish, 6 Snapper and a 5k Bar Cod. Prior to today, Gavin on Sea Probe Charters has been putting his clients on the fish over the weekend. On Saturday, fishing the East 36's Sea Probe brought home 22 teraglin and some snappers. On Sunday, things were a little slower, but Gavin was still able to bring home a reasonable mixed bag. Gone Fishing Charters was out a number of occasions during last week, and between the two boats, found good catches of teraglin for their clients.

Thanks to Ross on Lucky Strike - 0428 72 93 93, Gavin on Sea Probe Charters - visit the website, and Phil and Andrew on Gone Fishing Charters - visit the website.

New Sportfishing Club Launched

Pacific Marinelife Institute has launched the Oceania Sportfishing Club, a private sportfishing club that will be based on Queensland's Gold Coast, but allow members to fish throughout Oceania and the South Pacific. Membership includes entry into the Oceania Sportfish Challenge an annual year long fishing competition. Members that fish the challenge earn Challenge Points each fish captured or released when fishing on board an affiliated charter boat, in an affiliated tournament or with an affiliated professional crew on board the Member's own private boat.

Oceania Sportfishing Club members receive exclusive offers, invites to club events, discounted charter rates, shopping privileges and the invitations to the Oceania Sportfishing Club's School of Sportfishing.

Read or download the Application from - Google Docs I Issuu

For more information on becoming a Member, contact David Joyce on 0412 761 016.

Gamefishing Loses A Gentleman

Geoff Ferguson where live love to be, on the flybridge

On Saturday 28th May 2011, Australian Gamefishing lost one of its gentleman. Capt. Geoff Ferguson passed away aged 69 at his home in Brisbane after a long illness. He captained boats such as Kamari, a 40' Pleysier and the 35' Cervantes, another Pleysier during the 80's and 90's. Introducing many to the love of fishing for giant black marlin off Cairns, and for sailfish and blues off the Gold Coast and Moreton Island.

He was a mentor to many of the current Captains who are making a name for themselves around the world. Geoff was at home on the beach fishing for tailor, as he was at Number 1O Reef off Lizard Island or on a hunting safari in Africa. He will be missed by many.

Read a full tribute to Geoff in the July issue of Oceania Sportfishing magazine.

Power On Show At SCIBS

Torqeedo Cruise Electric Outboards in action

Pod drives proved popular in Engine Alley at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show for those looking for both small and larger leisure, or commercial marine engines. On display were the likes of Cummins' ZEUS and Volvo Penta's IPS, while Caterpillar, Hyundai Seasail, MAN, Scania, Twin Disc and Hamilton Jets also displayed their latest engine products. Outside of Engine Alley, Honda Marine, Mercury Marine and Torqeedo Electric Outboards were on display throughout the marine village and in the main pavilion.

Honda's New Honwave Inflatable Boats

Honda Australia launched its much-anticipated Honwave range of inflatable boats at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Touch-screens On Show At SCIBS

Simrad's NSS Sport Range

Touch-screens and access to the latest weather information were some of the features that were on display on the various electronic brand stands at the 2011 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Simrad's touch-screen NSS Sport series of class-leading multifunction displays made their international boat show debut at SCIBS.

Cabo At SCIBS

40 Flybridge ZEUS and 38 Express at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

Game and Leisure Boats' display of three Cabos is proving popular at this year's 23rd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show here on Queensland's Gold Coast. The 38 Express, 38 Flybridge, and the 40 Flybrdige ZEUS sportfishers stand out amongst the sail boats and much larger expedition style yachts that surround them.

Formula Cruisers New Release

Formula Cruisers will use the 2011 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show to showcase the first of their ICON 54C range.

A development of the ICON 54, the 54C features a larger fully enclosed fly bridge with forward helm and aft bulkhead complete with electric drop down windows.

Formula Cruisers will be located on F Marina at the Boat Show. Look out for a look inside, in one of our 'At SCIBS' updates over the next four days. 

Plenty For Fisherman At Boat Show

New Maritimo releases proved popular at the 2010 Show

Close to 130 vessels will be displayed on the water at this year's 23rd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Giving anglers plenty to look at.

Onboard Askari - Simply Assegai Magic

Askari, the 55ft custom sportfisher from Australia's Assegai Marine on Queensland's Gold Coast is another example of the craftsmanship of Barry Martin. Built with the purpose of reaching the marlin grounds off the famous Lizard Island in nearly any conditions, Askari has been having some very impressive seasons. Step on board.

New Text and Photo Logs

Pacific Marinelife Institute's FishStats is launching new text and photo logs to make it even easier to log your catch from the boat or ramp. Anglers can now simply text details of their catch including date, location, species, kept and releases plus the number of fisherman. Or they can send FishStats a photo of the catch (laid out so it is visible) attached to a text with date, location and number of anglers.

Every angler who sends FishStats a text or photo log, as well as the paper or excel logs go into the draw for monthly prize draws. There are bonus prize draws for sending in photo, paper or excel logs, as well as collecting frames, fin or otoliths.

Request an information sheet here.

High Water Mark For South West Bioregional

Queensland and New South Wales anglers have been told that the protection up to the high water mark included in the soon to be released Southwest Bioregional Plan should be seen as a precedent for what will be included in the East Marine Bioregional Plan.

Fishing groups are waiting on the release of the Southwest plan, the next bioregional plan for Australian waters to be implemented, to assess what conservation measures may be in the East Marine plan that will be released next year.

More once the Southwest is released.

Weekly Sked - 04.05.2011

Luke Fallon from Kekoa Sportfishing Adventures with Archer barra

What a week Luke Fallon from Kekoa Sportfishing Adventures has had in the Archer River on Queensland's Cape York. Fishing is improving as river levels come down. Fished for 5 days last week with over 350 barra, two over a metre, several in the 90's and 20+ in the 80's.

Ken Brown on Brisbane Sport Fishing Adventure Club's Megumi is getting some great fishing in off Cape Moreton. One day late last week they went 4 from 5 blue marlin at 500, 400, 350 and 280lb. They pulled the hooks on a smaller fish about 150lb.

Seaprobe Charters has had two great days fishing on the Gold Coast after the weather cleared. A half day on the weekend resulted in 27 teraglin coming on board off the 36's. And Gavin backed it up before the storms yesterday with a significant catch of jobfish and a good mixed bag for reef fish but it was lite on snapper.

2012 USA Launch For Cresta 70

Cresta Motor Yachts has announced that is about to start production on its first 70 open flybridge ready for its 2012 release in the USA. Established in 1965, Cresta has a proud Australian heritage and offers a range of custom sport fishers and motor yachts. Cresta also announced that, together with Volvo Penta, the Company will provide Australasia with its first experience of the all new IPS-1200. The first of Cresta's 70 Motor Yachts which has just come out of the mould is now set to raise the bar in luxury motor yacht quality and performance.

NSW Sked - 21 Feb

No fishing reports.

Sea Surface Temperature Summary:

15.02.2011 - Northern NSW to the mid NSW Coast is dominated by temperatures of 26>27 degrees. Evidence of 23>24 degree sub-surface temperatures being squeezed inshore by the strong southerly current. South of around Sydney the remnants of the hot current 28>29 degrees can be seen. Strong cold currents of 23>24 degrees is seen flowing NW from 157E > 154E.

16.02.2011 - Reformation of a strengthening southern current dominated by patches of 27>28 degree water. Increasing cold northern current 23>24 degree is seen inside 157E.

GBR Sked - 21 Feb

No fishing reports available.

Sea Surface Temperature Summary:

15.02.2011 - Patchy temperatures inside 156E. Temperatures in the range of 27>29 degrees.

16.02.2011 - Increasing temperatures can be seen over a wide area inside 157E ranging 27>29 degrees.

South East QLD Sked - 21 Feb

No Fishing Reports available.

Sea Surface Temperature Updates:
15.02.2011 - Constant 25>26 degree surface temperatures throughout the southern Queensland waters. The remnants of the hot southern current with patches of 27 degrees found inside 154E.

16.02.2011 - The reformation of a warmer southerly current is seen inside 154e. A warm oscillating current is located around 156E. The inshore current is carrying 27>29 degrees.

17.02.2011 - The warm water current has now filled in right along the coast inside 154E right down to southern NSW. This current has strengthen being squeezed up by the northerly cool current now inside 155E.

NSW Sked - 10th February

No Fishing Reports

Sea Surface Temperature Summary
07/02/11 - Water 21>22 degrees is showing close inshore. The tail end of a warm current 27>28 degrees is found inside 154E. The cool water found off SE Queensland can be seen moving south under the influence of two strong oscillating currents.

08/02/11 - Similar patterns to yesterday.

09/02/11 - Cold water, 21>22 degrees dominate in close. the warm water stream has now broken down due to cool 23>24 degree water mixing with the surface flows. The oscillating currents have also pushed further south to the east.

GBR Sked - 10 February

No Fishing Report

Sea Surface Temperature Summary
07/02/11 - Generally cooling of surface temperature in the lower GBR region. There are very slight events within the GBR feeding this cooler water into the southern regions.

08/02/11 - Warmer conditions have appeared on the surface. Patches of 27>28 degrees located in the oscillating current on the southerly current. Decreasing cool water patterns breaking through the surface.

09/02/11 - Slight currents in the lower GBR has seen cooler temperatures flood the region with 27>28 degrees on the surface dominating the area.

Gold Coast Sked - 11 February

No Fishing Reports

Sea Surface Summary
07/02/11 - cooling of surface temperature because of cooler water feeding down from the GBR. There is the exposure of colder sub-surface temperatures 22.24 degrees showing up through surface currents.

08/02/11 - Similar surface temperature conditions to yesterday. A strengthening oscillating current pushing more evident cool water close to shore. There is still a moderate southerly current carrying 26>27 degree. Cool 24>25 degree water close inshore in the southern region.

09/02/11 - Surface temperature generally around 25>26 degrees with patches 28 degrees present in the top of the fishery off the Sunshine Coast. Evidence of sub-surface cool water showing through the surface.

10/02/11 - Based on a limited number of observations, there is evidence an increase of warm surface currents expanding in the GBR region and increasing this movement into the SEQ region. There is a distinct possibility of expanding areas of warm water into SEQ during the next few days.

Gold Coast Sked - 08 February

At last weather conditions settled down enough to allow some fishing to take place. Friday, Saturday and Sunday found some really good snapper on the bite. These catches could reflect the existence of the cooler water detected in the close in reef areas. Sunday found some excellent small black marlin in the close in fishing areas. Measurements of one fish indicated a weight of around 70kg.

Sea Surface Temperature Summary

03/02/2011 - The column of cool sub-surface water has broken up the warmer surface currents. This includes the warmer currents coming down from the GBR. Sub-surface temperature range is 22>24 degrees with a very slight current.

04/02/2011 - Cool sub-surface water is still present, however warmer surface currents have increased throughout the region. Slight currents are still present.

05/02/2011 - Colder water 21>22 degrees in close, however the surface current has increased bringing with it water temperatures of 27>28 degrees. Cool sub-surface water is showing its presence throughout the region.

06/02/2011 - Surface currents and temperatures have increased. This warmer water can be seen building up in the GBR region. There has also been an increase in the strength of offshore oscillating currents.

Possibilities - the conditions found on the 5th and 6th are predicted to continue for the next day or so. However the cool sub-surface water showing through the surface currents could break up the warm surface currents.

Southern GBR Sked - 08 February

No fishing reports available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary

03/02/2011 - Surface temperatures in the southern GBR are quite cool for this time of the year. Temperature range is from 25>27 degrees. There is also evidence of sub-surface cool water currents in the region. There are oscillating currents either side of the warm water currents moving warm water in the southern regions.

04/02/2011 - The oscillating currents have produced a stronger warm water current which is flowing into the southern Queensland region.

05/02/2011 - Warm surface currents are now visible throughout the region.

06/02/2011 - Warm surface currents continue to expand. This is intensifying the warm surface flow into the southern regions.

New South Wales Sked - 08 February

No fishing report available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary
03/02/2011 - The northern areas of NSW show a lot of cool water showing through the warm current causing a lot of disruption to the surface current. Mid NSW shows the reformation of a 27 degree warm water current.

04/02/2011 - Northern NSW has come under the influence of the build up of warmer water coming down from the GBR. Close inshore along the mid NSW coast has 21>22 degree water. Outside of this cold water, is the southerly 27>28 degree current.

05/02/2011 - The cool water has extended right along the coast. Strong oscillating currents are holding a strong warm water current close inshore.

06/02/2011 - Conditions are the same as yesterday.

Southern Great Barrier Reef Sked - 02 February

No fishing reports available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary:
27.01.11. Surface temperature for the lower GBR is dominated by 27 degree water.

28.01.11. A 28 degree current beginning to feed through the region around 154E.

29.01.11. Similar temperature mix to yesterday and little development of currents.

30.01.11. Again no change to the past two days.

South East Queensland Sked - 2 February

No Fishing Reports available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary:
27.01.11. Warm current 26>27 degrees inside 153E>154E. Outside of 154E surface temperature is generally around 25>26 degrees and a cooler sub-surface temp ranging 23>24 is showing up.

28.01.11. The sub-surface cool water reported yesterday has now become apparent south of Stradbroke Island, mainly around 24 degrees.

29.01.11. Similar cool currents to yesterday with evidence of warmer surface current again extending into the southern area. An extensive cool water band is showing up well offshore.

30.01.11. Warm surface temperature around 25>26 degree within 154E. The body of cool water wide offshore is pushing closer inshore with a temperature range 22>24 degrees.

New On The Sportfish Project Blog

Starting this week, and expanding over the next month, The Sportfish Project Blog will post twice weekly Skeds (Fishing Reports) for the Southern Great Barrier Reef, South East Queensland and New South Wales. The skeds will include some of the latest catch information as well water temperature information. Plus once a month the FishStats Lab will post an overview of its data for the regions available.

Charter boats wanting to be part of Skeds can email catch information and photos to david.joyce@pacificmarinelife.com, text results to 0412761016 or completed a FishStats Log.

New South Wales Sked 01 - 28th January

Word from the around the wharf is that Gold Coast boat Mistress fished the canyons south-east of Tweeds earlier this week. Reporting 2 from 3 blue marlin.

New South Wales Water Temperatures.
24/1/2011. Two oscillating currents off mid NSW is transporting 23 > 25 degree water onto the coastal regions.

25/1/2011. The offshore currents have linked with the warm water feeding down from Queensland increasing surface temperature 25 > 26 degrees. There is evidence of much cooler layers embedded in this current.

26/1/2011. The two oscillating currents from the 24/1/2011 have now joined and pushing the warmer currents much further to the south. The cool lower layers have now started to replace the warmer surface temperatures inside 158E.

Gold Coast Sked 01 - 28th January

Last week Dreaming On found good Blue Marlin in the wide areas raising 6 for 4. These fish appeared to be on the edge of a body of water 21-23'C. The following two days of fishing resulted in no sightings possibly because of hot water currents reaching the area previously fished. This week, Kekoa fished for Blues getting 3 from 4. Sea Probe report dirty water continues to plague activity for reef fishing particularly in the close in reef zones. Small number of spotty mackerel have been taken along with some Spaniards. Fish the Deep and Gone Fishing report reasonable size snapper have also been taken east of the Seaway.

South East Queensland Water Temperatures
24/1/11. Moderate to strong current 27>degree water out of the GBR / Coral Sea east of 154E. This movement is inside an oscillating current carrying a surface temp 25>26 degrees and sub surface currents of 23>24 degrees.

25/1/11. Slight current 27>28 degrees within 153E. Oscillating current moved further west inside 154E, surface temp 25> 26 degrees. Sub-surface current showing cooling water 22>24 degrees.

26/1/11. Warm current now being replaced with cool water 22 > 24 degrees. Oscillating current pushing inside 154E, pushing the warm surface water further to the south.

Outlook. If these conditions remain reasonably stable for t next 24 hours, a current stream from the GBR could replace the cool current with 26 > 27 degrees inside 154E.

2010 GBR Marlin Year Book

The Fishing Museum (part of The Sportfish Project) will release the GBR Marlin 2010 Year Book in March. Charter boats, anglers and tournaments involved in the Great Barrier Reef marlin season still have time to submit information for inclusion in the Year Book. The first edition of the Year Book will be available as a free download, as well as an interactive edition available on DVD and limited edition coffee table version. Sportfish Project Supporters receive a discount on the price of the DVD and coffee table editions. So sign up as a Supporter today.