Ph 08 9937 2043
Our big annual Kalbarri Sports Fishing Classic was on at the beginning of the month. The biggest event in Kalbarri each year draws a hugecrowd over the Labour Day week end. We had 36 boats this year and a number or river anglers. The weather the first 2 days could have been
better but the last day was a pearler! Most of the fish were caught on the last day and some of the better fish are show below.
All my boats were competing again this year and my 7.8m who won “Champion Boat game over 7 m” last year were beaten this year and
dropped to 3rd place. The guys in my 5.3m who won their game section last year came in 2nd this year. I was in the 6.1m again this year
with the same crew and managed to pull it off again winning our 6th Classic in a row.
Biggest snapper, 7.8kgs, Steve Wiseman 
Biggest cod, Paul Maindok, 15.99kg 
Biggest Dhuie, 9.1kg, Darren Westlund,
Biggest river bream 1.8kgs, Marlin Healey. 
Champion Junior Bottom, Bryce Parker. 
Champion Junior Game, Jared Malton
Champion Angler River, Aaron Kenzler
Champion Junior River, Rylee Eley, 
Highest Point Scoring Tuna, 19.99kgs on 6kg line, Sue Olive.
Mackerel, James Scovell. 3kg line. 
Mackerel, John Hoye, on 3kg line. 
My 7.8m boat and 5.3m boat down at Wagoe landing mackerel.
Men’s Meritorious, red emperor 12.75kgs, Gary Renwick.
1.07kg tuna on 1kg line, Stan Sutherland. 
4.4kg tuna on 2kg line Laurie Malton,Daniel Kwek is a frequent hirer and books the boats over the Easter holidays every year, bringing friends and family from Perth
and Singapore. You would have seen Daniel appearing in these newsletters a few times as he is one of those guys that
always lands fish of a life time on every trip, making “Bite of the Month” a few times as well.
I have to admit, but the fishing was really off. We struggled to find bottom fish and when we found them on the sounder
they refused to bite! Over the four days we picked up a few fish but not like it normally is around Easter.
Daniels best catch this trip was this 20kg yellow-fin tuna that took a lure, trolled over a big bunch of baitfish seen on the sounder.
The mackerel took an unweighted mulie out the back of the boat during a drift out from Wagoe. Caught on the little flick rod he is holding.
Bite of the month
Daniel Kwek’s 20kg tuna makes the grade this month. A superb fish trolled up while
we were sounding for a likely looking spot to bottom fish. It sure gave him a workout
on his Saltiga and 50lb braid.
See all the previous Bite of the Month winners on my website.
Tell you what I want, what I really really want, it’s a mackerel!
Roy Killik has been coming up to Kalbarri, on and off for many years. All he wants to catch is a mackerel.
He did catch one on my boat, but a very long time ago. Since then every time he comes up here the mackerel leave town.
He is know as “Should have been here last week” so avoid him if you can!
He did manage to get a respectable snapper to take home though.
I also blame a certain orange bucket. Seems every time I take this orange bucket out with me the fishing shuts down!
The above problem was corrected on the following trip.
Darryl Friend has been itching to get up here and amongst the fish ever since his dad, Craig, had
a very memorable trip out. He got together a bunch of his mates and hired the 7,8m for 2 days.
Just after “Should have been here last week” Roy Killick left, Darryl and mates arrived. I felt that they might have problems getting into the fish, as it started very slow, then all hell broke loose when trolling past a particular cray pot. I seemed that the fish were only within 100m of a certain pot. Every time we went past, almost to
the exact spot, we were getting mackerel and at one time a sextuple hook-up on tuna, followed by a quadruple hook-up!
It was a full on day catching and, in the end, releasing as they bagged out.
The first days catch with mackerel and tuna, Ryan and Pete show them off. The groups catch with 6 persons on board.
On the second day we had the orange bucket on board for a few hours and no fish.
We decided to “Free Release” it over the side.
It was not long after, we started to get the first few strikes that went on to intensify. (Superstition or what???)
The second day out on the 9 mile reef was much the same with another sextuple hook-up on tuna, followed by a quadruple hook-up!
(After releasing the orange bucket?)
Darryl, Ruben, Pete, Ryan, & Julian. The rest of day was spent releasing tuna.
They had a ball.
Julian’s tuna went 9kgs, nice fish Julian!
They even brought the lemon and soy, with Ruben carving up a fresh sushi on the bait board.
Yes the Tuna was included in their bag limit!
Here’s what they had to say via email on their return.
Hi Laurie,
Thank you very much for a very enjoyable weekend of fishing. The fishing far exceeded my expectations.
The first spanish mackerel that I caught I will not forget in a long time!
The hardest part of the weekend was having to leave to go back to Perth on Monday.
I might get a bit of practice in on surf casting before we come back up to do some tailor fishing. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks again for all your expertise and help to make for a very enjoyable weekend. Looking forward to next year already.
Kind regards,
Ryan
Hi Laurie
Just a quick mail to say thanks for a fantastic weekend. Look forward to seeing the photos. I will send a couple of the sunset ones through soon.
Cheers Pete
Hi Laurie
Thanks for a great weekend we all thoroughly enjoyed and are looking forward to the next trip.
Cheers
Darryl
A tuna at the side of the boat
and around the filleting table.
Tailor fishing at Blue Holes
Marlin Trip
Alls going to plan so far regarding my marlin trip to Exmouth. We are all struggling a bit to find/borrow/beg
24kg stand-up gear but it should all come together in the end. I am re-guiding an old cheap rod, and getting my
Penn 50TW serviced and new 24kg line. I just hope it will hold together for the 10 days!
The 7.8m boat is hired after me in Coral Bay and then comes free on the 21st May.
If someone wants the 7.8m boat up Exmouth/Coral Bay it will be free for a hand over from the 21st May onwards.
Thevenard Island
This year the 6.1m and 7.8m boats are already booked for Thevenard Island in the Mackerel Islands group off Onslow.
Phone 9184 6444
admin@mackerelislands.com.au
http://www.mackerelislands.com.au/
Gnaraloo Station
Gnaraloo contacts for accommodation:
Barbara: 9315 4809
Email: bookings@gnaraloo.com.au
Website: Gnaraloo.com.au
Game, Bottom and Beach Fishing Action
These links will take you to Youtube showing some great action video clips taken from
my boats and also a very good mulloway from the beach.
Triple tuna hook-up
Dhuie and snapper
Beach mulloway
Or go to the Adventure Bound website and view them there. Click this link.
http://www.adventurebound.com.au/news/latest/youtube_kalbarri_wa_offshore_episode.html
Noel and Robyn are willing to accept bookings for my boats at Port Gregory
I will deliver the boat down there for 2 or more days hire for free.
& return it to Kalbarri for you.
Remember if you rent our accommodation in Kalbarri you get big discounts on our boats.
Have a look on my website for the details, and check out the savings.
5-day weather forecasts, http://www.buoyweather.com/ go to virtual buoys, pick the location you want.
This is the one I go by!
Big bait – big fish
Laurie
