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.