Game Fishing on the Wright '1'

• Game fishing - What is it?

Blue water game fishing off Sydney, on the east coast of Australia, can be a relaxing day out - if you're unlucky.
It can also be an adrenaline charged day of hope, frustration , jubilation, and pure excitement.

Picture yourself hanging onto a rod that is bent, bucking and about to tear itself out of your grip, while you try to control twice your own weight of pure muscle at the other end of a thin nylon line. Experience the thrill of seeing a dancing, tailwalking dynamo rise out the ocean and become airborne within metres of the boat.

Feel an underwater express train strip 500 metres of line off your reel in seconds. Pump and wind to the point of exhaustion recovering line metre by tortured metre then, when you think the fight is over, watch in horror as your line peels out once more, crackling under the strain.

Imagine yourself, after a battle lasting an hour or more, bringing a magnificent wild creature to the boat, patting it goodbye and seeing it swim away strongly - when you feel like you've been run over by a truck.
What is it? - This is marlin fishing.

• What can I catch?

You can expect to catch different fish at different seasons but there is action at any time of year.

From January to April we chase Black Marlin that follow a warm, cobalt-blue current down the east coast of Australia. Striped Marlin are also caught in this warm water, arriving and leaving a month or so earlier than the blacks. The mighty Pacific Blue Marlin is not as fussy about water temperature, so can be found most of the year. There is always a chance of hooking up a 'big blue'!

Winter and spring (i.e. June to October) is tuna season. Albacore and yellowfin tuna appear with the cooler weather, heralded by gannets and albatross. The action is fast and furious when the tuna are 'on' and they are are also great to eat! We fish for tuna by trolling or by floating baits down a 'berley' trail.

In autumn (fall), from March to May/June, we often bring out the light tackle and chase mahi-mahi (dolphin fish or dorado) and yellowtail kingfish. Catching these spectacular and acrobatic creatures on light tackle is an unforgettable experience!

Fish being unpredictable animals, any of these fish, along with wahoo, bonito and striped tuna can be caught at any time of the year - blue marlin in July and big yellowfin in January for example.

• What do I get?

Hire of the boat, captain and deckhand for the day with room for up to six passengers/anglers.
Use of top-line big-game fishing tackle: custom built rods, Shimano Tiagra 50W reels and 24kg IGFA rated line. Use of a huge range of lures including the best Australian and Hawaiian makes. Use of pre-rigged bait, hooks, accessories, rod gimbals and harnesses.
Instruction in the use of all equipment.
You get to keep any fish caught, except marlin, which are tagged and released unless the fish cannot be revived.

• What do I bring?

Bring lunch and cold drinks (we find water is best in hot weather). Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses (polaroid if you have them). Canvas sandshoes or deck-shoes with rubber soles. A windproof/showerproof jacket. A camera.

If you an experienced big game fisherman (or woman) and have a game fishing outfit that you want to use, bring it and we'll look it over. If you are not experienced but think your tackle might be alright - don't bother, use ours!