GCGFC Light Tackle Masters 15th to 18th January

[Colorado]

Gold Coast Game Fish Club held its annual Light Tackle Masters on the 15^th to 18^th January with three full days of fishing out of Gold Coast City Marina. It was another fabulous event run by the club and turned on some of the best weather for a competition I have ever fished in. The final stats for the comp were 53 black marlin tagged from a fleet of 36 boats.

I was fortunate to fish with long-time GCGFC Club member Craig “Grinner” Newton and his crew on Grinner. The results for us were 2 Tags on Friday, 3 Tags on Saturday with one fish well over the 100kg mark that was tagged after 1 hour 55 minutes that would have given the Australian Record on 8kg and nudge but we decided to release it. Our female angler Tracey also fought an 80-90kg fish for 1 hour 45 minutes on the final day that would have easily beaten the Australian Female Record on 8kg but unfortunately it chaffed through the leader. However we were able to convert a fish on the final day to take us across the line in front with 6 tags from Ocean Instinct (who took out the Under 8m class) and Aluhra (Moreton Bay GFC) both with 5.

We were not the only boat to hook up on big fish as on Day 2, Hook Me Up fought an estimated 150kg Black Marlin into the night only to lose it at the back of the boat after 4 hours and Aluhra in the last hour of fish had a double hook up on large fish busting one off early in the fight when the lines crossed and losing the second much larger fish in over time. The fish were mainly concentrated on the Deep Trag ‘Car Park’ and feel to live baits however, a number of boats did find single fish whilst trolling in other areas.

On Grinner we also won; Best Tag Person award - Leigh Holtsbaum, Runner-Up Champion - Female Tracey Fletcher, Champion Boat Over 8m and Champion Boat Overall. It was a fantastic comp once again and I can’t wait until the heavy tackle. I will put a video on Youtube as soon as I finish editing.

[Zippidy]

I was out there Saturday morning. Was awesome to see so many boats about.

Towed some skirts for a couple of hours and didn't turn a reel.

[Jakers 69]

Sorry, like the post, press the wrong button to disagree

[Colorado]

I have just added the link to the Youtube Video

[Spaniard_King]

Well Done Team "Grinner"

I was on Garmin one we actually tagged 3 fish on Friday( most fish for Friday) only to be DQ ed at the scruntineering table (leader length 50mm too long )
We dropped a good fish after 25 min fight Saturday morning due to tackle failure, we dropped the bundle after this and towed lures for zilch

[jeffo]

Good stuff Leigh. That slimie tube is a pissa! Does it work well? Craig came up with an elaborate pvc pipe set up for reel capture that took about 4 versions to get right, I must mention a 600ml coke bottle would have done the same job!

[seastorm]

Hi Garry
I was out on Saturday and think I was fishing along side of you for a few hours ( blue and white 6.1m Seastorm boat Ella J )watch you drop that black down the bottom end of the drift. We left at around 9 and put the lures out got 1 dollie about 1km west of the bait grounds on the 50's

Andrew

[Spaniard_King]

Yes Andrew, I remember you guys, we pulled a crimp after 25 minutes on it

[Colorado]

Hi Jeffo, worked a treat. Just to hard to keep 3 or 4 baits from tangling in the tank on their own. I think we won enough in vouchers from reelax to buy some proper slimy tubes. Leigh

[seastorm]

Yes Andrew, I remember you guys, we pulled a crimp after 25 minutes on it

I had the GoPro going for you, but you where a bit to far away to get any good footage and we didn't want to get too close.