On March 22nd Mark Eldridge and Steve Dodd of Australia both tagged Vanuatu’s first large Blue Marlin of the year. Steve’s fish came out of the Yellow fin schools and was estimated between 180-190kg, while Steve’s crashed a Hawaiian Takamoto lure and was an impressive 250kg. The fish was Steve’s second in two days and his best fish to date. The very next day on Ocean Blue 2 our local Captain Charlie Tui found another nice blue at Devils Point FAD. Unfortunately the fish died during the three hour battle and had to be boated; later the big marlin was donated to feed the local hospital. With the healthy bait schools scattered all over the area our Marlin action should really start heating up.
We will soon see the Sailfish returning and first big Wahoo runs trickle in. Warm temperatures throughout April has kept the Yellowfin schools around; in some areas, especially at the island of Santo the Yellowfin are thick and the action is world class! Live baiting for Blues in the afternoon has taken a couple nice fish last month.
The highlight of April was a once in a lifetime moment off the coast of Santo on April 22nd for Graham McCloy and Carmen Darcy. A double Marlin strike at 6:10 am had our two anglers woken up to a pair of screaming Shimano’s! Both fish danced across the waters surface, and displayed series of spectacular launches while Graham and Carmen jumped into action still half asleep and in their pyjama’s!. Twenty minutes later they were both tagged and released; 1 Black and 1 Blue!! This was the first time I’ve ever seen a Black and a Blue caught at the same time, in fact I’ve never even heard of it being done before. Ocean Blue it is nothing but pure Magic!
Tight Lines
Corky Decker |
