FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members, I would like to congratulate all participating boats in the Peter Goadby Memorial Tournament, as well as our esteemed sponsors. Without their generous support, organising such a tournament would not be feasible. The weekend was blessed with beautiful weather conditions and plentiful Striped Marlin. The Sydney Game Raft-Up showcased the exceptional camaraderie on the Saturday night that it's renowned for. A special note of thanks goes out to all the dedicated helpers who generously volunteered their time over the weekend, contributing significantly to the resounding success of the tournament. I extend my sincere appreciation to Annita Flannery for her outstanding organisational efforts, Graham Williams OAM for his invaluable contributions on the radio, Anthony & Adina for their service at the BBQ and in the kitchen, Bart Portelli for breakfast arrangements, Ivan Bennett for overseeing the point scoring system, and Stephen Pitchfork for his photography skills. Looking ahead, Port Hacking is set to host the final round of tournaments, combined Central Zone weekend. Currently Sydney leads the leaderboard in Tag & Release within the Central Zone, Additionally, junior angler Billy Anderson stands out as the frontrunner in the Junior Tag & Release category. With favorable water currents, indicating a potential influx closer to the shelf, the prospects for exceptional fishing remains promising. TUNA SLAM, the upcoming Tuna Slam scheduled for the months of June, July, and August. Exclusively open to Sydney-based boats, this event promises to once again cause some excitement. With an entry fee of $300 and both categories commencing from scratch, participants have the opportunity to bolster the prize pool through their participation. Tightlines Glenn Wright
ADVERTISE WITH US Tight Lines advertising is available. It's a great way to get your message out to your fellow members For more information please Email our club secretary Annita Flannery on secretary@sgfc.com.au
Calendar of Events SGFC May 2024 4th - 5th Summer Pointscore last day of Summer Pointscore 6th - Start of Winter Pointscore 7th - Club Meeting 28th Committee Meeting Tuna Slam June, July, August 2024 June 2024 1st - Start SGFC Tuna Slam + Winter Pointscore 4th - Club Meeting 25th Committee Meeting July 2024 1st - SFGC Tuna Slam continues + Winter Pointscore 2nd - Club Meeting 30th - Committee Meeting
The Peter Goadby Memorial Tournament re cap Saturday 13th the fleet of 36 boats on Day 1 were treated to Blue skies and calm seas, beautiful conditions for the Sydney Game Peter Goadby Memorial Tournament weekend. The scoreboard by the end of the day ,reflected the excitement of the day's catches, results were 56 fish Tag & Released, 26 striped Marlin, 1 Blue Marlin, 3 Yellowfin Tuna, 3 Tiger sharks, 22 Dolphin fish. 2 Captures on day 1 were recorded. Sydney game boat "Smartbill" was on top of the leader board with 5 tagged marlin on 15kg followed by a few boats all on 2 marlin. Noteworthy was a 77kg stripe marlin landed by the talented Sydney Game junior angler, Billy Anderson, aboard Rampage from Broken Bay GFC. Dark Horse from Port Hacking GFC also made waves by subduing a 282kg Tiger shark on 15kg just shy of a maximum counting fish. As the sun set, the famous Sydney Game raft-up tradition took shape, with over 20 boats tying up, marking yet another memorable chapter in Sydney Game Fishing Club's history. Day 2 greeted the fleet with even better weather conditions, fuelling anticipation for another exciting day on the water. 37 boats went to sea 33 fish were tagged & released a mix of striped Marlin and Dolphin fish. Broken Bay boat Kalastaa made a significant move for the lead, landing a triple hookup on 15kg line, bringing them within striking distance of Smartbill. Smartbill was hooking up but not converting, by days end Kalastaa had tagged 5 stripe Marlin on 15kg taking their total to 6 Marlin and a Dolphin fish, On the capture side, Port hacking game boat Shorething weighed in a commendable 93kg stripe marlin, earning them maximum points in this category. - Champion Boat Tag & release Kalastaa 69,029pts Broken Bay GFC - Runner Boat Tag & Release Smartbill 57,500pts Sydney GFC - Champion Boat Capture Dark Horse 19952.56pts Port Hacking GFC - Runner up Boat Capture Shorething 15093.50pts Port Hacking GFC - Most Tagged Marlin angler Sebastian Debono SGFC 46000pts on a count back - Most Tagged sharks Dark Horse Port Hacking GFC - Most Tagged OGF Finfinder Sydney Game Fishing Club - Champion Junior Capture Billy Anderson Sydney GFC 77kg Stripe Marlin on 10kg - Champion Junior Tag & Release Hossan Kobels Sydney GFC 3000pts On Behalf of President Glenn Wright and the committee we wish to thank all competitors who fished in this year’s Peter Goadby memorial tournament as well to the generous sponsors whose support made the event possible. Recognition goes to Graham Williams OAM for his unwavering commitment to running the radio skeds and to Secretary Annita Flannery for her tireless efforts behind the scenes. Thanks also to Anthony and Adina Levi, on the BBQ and kitchen. Bart Portelli with breakfast on late notice , Ivan Bennett point score , and Stephen Pitchfork Photography for their invaluable contributions. Thank You Tiddles
Murrifin on Striped Marlin
Where else would you rather be on a Saturday Night !!
Tantrum with a Striped Marlin
Black Jack with a nice Marlin
Champion Junior Tag & Release Hossan Kobels Sydney game fishing club 3000pts
Runner up Boat Capture Shorething 15093.50pts Port Hacking GFC
Champion Boat Tag & release Kalastaa 69,029pts Broken Bay GFC
Champion Boat Capture Dark Horse 19952.56pts Port Hacking GFC
Most Tagged sharks Dark Horse Port Hacking GFC
Champion Junior Capture Billy Anderson SGFC 77kg Stripe Marlin on 10kg
Runner boat Tag & Release Smartbill 57,500pts Sydney GFC + Most Tagged Marlin angler Sebastian Debono SGFC 46000pts on a count back Most Tagged Marlin angler Sebastian Debono SGFC 46000pts on a count back
Most Tagged OGF Finfinder SGFC
Little Audrey on a nice Striped Marlin
Sammy-Jay Tagging Black Marlin
Wednesday morning 17th April, Scooter and the boys off FV2 decided to go out for a daytime sword drop off Sydney with adrenaline pumped with anticipation of what the day would bring & the weather conditions excellent. The game plan was simple head to Browns Mountain drop baits on 37kg hoping for that elusive day time sword off Sydney. Then on the second drop of the day, we saw the rod tip bounce and everyone on the boat jumped with anticipation of the bite. No bite came from it so we decided to tease the fish up about 50 meters, it was then the rod came tight the moment we were all waiting for Nicco fought the fish for over 25 Minutes with skill & determination, Nicco managed to bring the fish to the surface where we all got our first look at it. Yes a Sydney Broadbill, Daytime Sword. Gaff it was the instruction with the adrenaline pumped the shot unfortunately pulled out. There went our sword fish lucky still connected, Nicco got back into the fight and brought the fish back boatside for another gaff shot which was successfully sunk. High fives all round we had done it, caught a day time swordfish off Sydney, we had a plan set a goal and before Lunch time we had achieved it. Team effort fishing with great mates makes it even more special.
FV2 Day Time Swordfish
FV2
www.tantrumlures.com
My Fishing Tales by Finn Doble
Introduction Hi, my name is Finn Doble and I'm 12 years old. I started fishing when I was 4 years old. My Pop and Granny live near Karen in Watsons Bay. Karen was kind enough to invite me to an open day for the Game Fishing Club (SGFC). My Granny paid for me to join after the first open day as a Birthday present. My Fishing Tales I have been fishing at Watsons Bay baths every Wednesday since I was around 6 years old and continue to after school. I catch Yellowtail, Leather Jacket and Bream there and I usually catch dinner. In summer if you are lucky you might catch the odd Kingfish there but the timing has to be perfect and you have to have all of the right gear. One Saturday mid last year I went down to The Baths with my Dad to try to catch a Kingfish with my new rod. I got the rod the day before and I was so excited to use it. Everything was going perfect, Yellowtail were biting and there were big fish around that we suspected to be Kingfish. I caught some live bait and put it on my hook then sent it out. A few minutes went by and something started biting. I hooked up to it, got it pretty close and then it came off of the hook. I was disappointed because I had lost a Kingfish but I continued to try. About 10 minutes later I hooked up again but this time the fish was bigger and I was not paying attention to my rod. I looked back and found my rod was not where I put it. I ran over straight away and saw it in the water heading towards the Opera House with a big fish on the end. I never saw that rod again. Conclusion Some weekends I go with my Pop on our boat which is moored near the pilot station wharf here at Watsons Bay. We catch big Flathead and Flounder on hand lines off the South Head while drifting. When I am old enough I am going to get my boat licence straight away. I would like to thank Annita and Karen for my opportunity to write in this book and all of the fishing opportunities that they offer me.
Ed Aspden
Red hot Summer on Groundswell. By Jamie Mackay January to March 2024, will have to go down as some of the best game fishing we have seen off Sydney in years. We were blessed with amazing weather and a hot current close to the shelf that just kept pumping down the hill and with it a seemingly endless quantity of stripe and blue marlin from 70kg to 150kg. And if that wasn’t enough to tempt Sydney game fishos, then the abundance of legal to well over a metre mahi mahi on the FADS and free swimming certainly was. For Groundswell it was our best year on marlin, starting the season with my mate Richard Norgaard’s seventeen-year-old son Tom capturing his first ever blue marlin, which he fought fearlessly on 24kg stand up. I’m usually strictly a tag and release skipper, but this was a special fish for Tom and his dad so given none had been weighed at the Club in early Feb and the fish was well exhausted from a long fight we decided to weigh it. Rest assured most of the meat was taken and when smoked fed many families for weeks. This was the first of many trips to the Shelf normally starting at Bait Station then moving down to find the water, bait, and fish. Our best day was 9, 8, 4 yes, we lose a lot more than we tag! But with all the action our young crew got plenty of lessons and most importantly had a shitload of fun! On one occasion we even got our regular celebrity / legend guest skipper Ivan Bennet to cast a few lures for mahi. And boy can Ivan fish, giving the boys a masterclass in angling and self-gaffing ! At last report and based on our successful Goadby comp, the fish are still biting off Sydney. Let’s hope the tuna season is as productive! Tightlines. Jamie Mackay
Tom Mackay
The crew with a Blue
Groundswell. F
Steph's first ever mahi
Provisional Point Score and some fishing stats - 66 Marlin caught over the tournament - Heaviest Shark 400kg to Xstream - Heaviest Marlin 107kg to Katana - 12 Dolphin fish caught - 29 boats participated
Congratulations to all the Trophy and Prize Winners and a big thank you to our sponsors for their donations and contributions.
What does the pope eat during lent? Holy mackerel! How do fish go into business? They start on a small scale! What is the richest fish in the world? A goldfish. What do you call a small fish magician? A magic carpet. While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft. Spotting an old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted, “Are there any gators around here?!”.“Naw,” the man hollered back, “they ain’t been around for years!” Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore. About halfway there he asked the guy, “How’d you get rid of the gators?” “We didn’t do nothin’,” the beachcomber said. “The sharks got ’em.” Why can’t you tell a joke while ice fishing? Because it’ll crack you up. What do fish use for money? Sand dollars! A fisherman returned to shore with a giant marlin that was bigger and heavier than him. On the way to the cleaning shed, he ran into a second fisherman who had a stringer with a dozen baby minnows.The second fisherman looked at the marlin, turned to the first fisherman, and said, “Only caught one, eh?” Where do football players go shopping in the offseason? The tackle shop. What is the difference between a fish and a piano? You can’t tuna fish. Which fish can perform operations? A sturgeon! What did the fishermen say to the fish that swam away? “You bass-tard!” If fish lived on land, in which country would they live? Finland. What do you call a fish with a car? A carfish! What swims in the sea, carries a machine gun, and makes you an offer you can’t refuse? The codfather. What do you call a dangerous fish who drinks too much? A beer-a-cuda. How many fishermen does it take to change a light bulb? One, but you should have seen the bulb, it must have been THIS big. A man was fishing in the jungle. After a while, another angler came to join him.“Have you hadany bites?” asked the second man. “Yes, lots,” replied the first one. “But they were all mosquitoes.” Retired colonel, talking of the good old days: “Have you ever hunted bear?” His grandson’s teacher: “No, but I’ve been fishing in shorts.”
Love the SAINT
SAINTLY WHISPERS
Mysterious sunbathing striped marlin Tristan Guillemin .
Over the years, many anglers have reported seeing marlin, particularly striped marlin just sitting on the surface, fins out of the water, not doing anything. Much to the anglers avail, when striped marlin are in this lethargic state, they don’t seem to take any interest in lures or baits. But why does this happen? The answer may have been found by a group of researchers asking a much different question! Chris Rohner and co-authors wanted to know how susceptible striped and black marlin in the Indian Ocean were to long lines. To do this, they needed to know in which depth the marlin spent most of their time. Satellite tags, which record the depth marlin dive to are a great way to test this. They tagged 34 black and 39 striped marlin. While they found that most of the marlin spent the majority of their time at the surface, a few marlin went on incredibly deep dives, some as deep as 470m! Through dietary studies, we know that species like deepwater squids, lancetfish and swordfish end up in marlin diet, so it is likely that they make these incredibly deep dives to feed on the many species of the deep oceans. This is still interesting as the waters in the deep are far colder (with some in waters as cold as 10oC), and far less oxygenated than surface waters marlin usually prefer. But what does this have to do with our sunbathing striped marlin? The answer lies in those incredibly deep dives. They found that after those deep dives, marlin often spent a lot of time just sitting and barely moving right on the surface. Sound familiar? It is likely that the reason we see these sunbathing marlin is that they need to warm up and reoxygenate after going to such deep waters. Only once they’re back on their A game can they start hitting lures again! If you’re interested in the whole study, there’s a great summary on the following url: https://marinemegafauna.org/news/marlin-diving-behavior
29/3/24 Game changer headed out for some Easter fun ran into some Yellowfin weighed this, 65kg on 24kg on there way back in just North East of Browns had triple hook ups on stripe marlin.
Nothing BEATS a raft up at SGFC During a Tournament always room for more