Looks like an awesome trip mate have been thinking about this trip at some stage. Could I ask the question of what a trip like that costs?

 that would be an awesome trip. that skip bait is unreal

 Sammy around 2 K a day all inclusive meals etc maximum four anglers.

Rick the sound of the 130 Wide Tiagra at 20 Kg Drag was amazing when one of these skip baits gets consumed like a jelly bean.

Sounds like an awesome trip. Big baits for big fish. Trip of a lifetime I would think.
Was that 2k total for the boat per day. Pretty good value I reckon for a trip like that.

Correct Tim 2 K a day covers all taclkle supplied from Tiagras to Stella's for Popping and all meals Bassic Refreshments.

The skipper had us out from Ribbon Reef Two on Two days out of the five days where we tagged three Billy's one over the Grand and Nine that we couldn't convert.

To watch the Decky rig a bait is a true art and when you are getting this many strikes lets say he was busy.

Epic and to see One of these big girls up close and personal being followed by her two male companions is a once in a life time experience mate.

We had five GoPros on board and over the five days recorded 180 Gig off footage which has saved all the memory's for life.

Thanks for that info.
Been looking on their site already and trying to work out how I can get the missus to let me go next season.
Its actually pretty reasonably priced for that Trip of a Lifetime

Awesome mate.
 

Is that $2k a day for the boat? Or per person? Because if for the boat and you can have 4 people on there then that's much better than I thought.

 Thanks mate I will definitely look into this. 

Yep 2 K split 4 Anglers 500 per person per day Dan.
Its very good price considering two reasons fuel consumed tackle supplied Dan I know you like your surface action they use Stella SW 1800 with Varvias PE 8 custom rods Poppers are ASWB on a loose and replace plan.
This saves on rod tubes and tackle cartage a blessing in my book.
Tiagras from the small to the Massive 130..
Ash (Skipper)will put you on fish Reel Work his boat is a fish magnet.
The Big Name Guys it would be per person for the 2 K.
I am not affiliated in way with Seafever but have used there services for four charters now and will continue to use there services as they provide a professional and environmental approach and a focus on making the angler enjoy his experience while on the water.

 Great post thanks for sharing.

That sounds great mate - and very reasonably priced. Wished I'd known a year earlier so could have done a trip! About to move overseas for a couple of years.

A very interesting read.
From the Main Man in Marlin.
CAIRNS DELIVERS BIG GIRL SEASON

By Captain Billy Billson

I have had twenty six Giant Black Marlin seasons as Captain of Viking and Viking II. Yes I have experienced some amazing fishing, and as I rekindle the memories of the season just completed, whilst cruising south bound for our home port Gold Coast I realise that it was certainly up there as one of the best, or if not the best season for large, and very large fish that I have ever fished.

Seeing the first big fish of a season, certainly makes you realise where you are fishing and what you are fishing for. This happened on the second day of my first charter of the 2013 season. Normal privateers from the big Riviera "Jag”, Mick and Deano decided to charter this year, and left Jag in her berth.

Our first day was fruitless, although a large fish mark on the sounder, certainly got my interest. 2nd Ribbon reefs with a spread of lures in tow. A 250 lb fish broke the ice, and we settled in to working the opening between No 3 and No 4 ribbon reef's for the afternoon with some baits. The big fish bite happened at 5.00pm. She came up from the depths fast and aggressive and crashed the Scaly Mackerel bait. All went well until the circle hook failed to find its mark. The boys were still very excited by the action, and it was nice to see our first big fish of the season.

Some more small fish action kept us entertained, until the start of the boys last day. The baits were in the water less than half an hour, when the line came tight on a real nice fish. Deano was in the chair, and he got his first true taste of a Giant Black Marlin on the Barrier Reef. Deano's peak physical condition from years of drinking the amber fluid, soon took its toll on the fish. It is always entertaining to see unbelievably fit anglers like Deano doing battle with large fish.

Our first fish over 1000 lb for the season was released, and congrats all round was halted as the bait being put back out got eaten by a 800 lb'r. Mick jumped in the chair and before lunch we had already had a great day, with 2 quality fish, and our first grander for the season. Cooktown for changeover of clients and a toast to Deano's first grander.

Regular client Lucky Dave McPherson was next up. Dave's past record is impressive to say the least. Multiple grander releases including 2 well over a grand in a day. This year Dave wanted to make a movie of his trip, so he bought along Brett Richard on the movie camera, and Chris Yu from Fishingworld for the stills. Dave Macpherson's first day on the reef resulted in a 250 lb fish a 500 lb fish, and our second fish well over 1000lb for the season, Dave gets a tattoo of a large marlin on his arms or legs for every time he gets a grander. He is quickly running out of room. More action on small to medium fish took lucky Dave's tally for his 4 days to 6 fish.

Black Marlin Video

Charter No 3 and our three Texas clients got what they had travelled all this way for. On day 4 of 7 a truly big girl left a hole in the water as if a bomb had exploded on top of the stinger bait, this was a very fat and healthy fish and I had no trouble calling her over 1100 lb. A tough fight with magnificent jumps, and our 3rd

The Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic was next with my regular clients Jim Wild and Rick Pollock on Board from Canada. Jim and Rick have experienced the pleasure of being the anglers on one of the 5 times I have been fortunate enough to win this prestigious tournament. Day 4 of the 7 day event was our day. Heartbreak corner on No 10 Ribbon Reef again proved to be a great fishing hole. A Double header in a heavy tackle tournament can make a quick adjustment to the score, but with heavy tackle double header, everything has to go your way. One angler has to fight a fish with a heavy duty stand up harness with a 130 lb chair rod, while we try and catch the fish with angler in the chair as quick as possible.

The double header we hooked at Heatbreak was not going to give us the break we needed this time. Jim lost his balance and the rod touched the covering board, making that fish not a legal capture. The call came to cut him off so we could get after Rick Pollock's big fish. Another great fight and another great fish released our 4th

Our day was not over and an 850 lb for Jim Wild had us in the hunt with a smaller fish caught on previous days. But day 4 was ours for Champion boat.

Another 850 lb'r for Jim Wild on Day 7 which was the last fish in the tournament and put us among the top 10%, with our big fish results, we were more than happy.

Charter No 5 newcomers Paul Harper and Matt Smith joined us for 3 days. Day 1 the score is a 350 lb and a 850 lb. Day 2 and Paul releases our 5th the performance of Pauls fish had us all overwhelmed.

It looked like our luck took a big turn for the worst when the port motor just stopped for no reason the morning of their last day. We had to fish on one motor until the fault was realised. Yes Murphy played his part and yet another very large fish created a large blue tube of oxygenated water as it ate the mackerel tuna being skipped on the left rigger. On one engine a very large marlin, it was time to put the 26 years of practice into play, fortunately the fish made all the wrong moves and we made all the right ones and we had our 6th cracker 3 day trip for Paul and Matt. I did a MacGyver on the port engine, and it came back to life, and then back to Cooktown for another debriefing and cocktails.

In 26 years as skipper of Viking and Viking II in the Cairns Black Marlin Season, I have never had a run of big fish as I have had so far this season. We have fished 25 days so far and have caught 10 fish over 800 lb and I totally believe 6 of those fish were over 1000 lb.

Charter No 6 my business partner Beau his wife Ying and friend Gee arrived from Hong Kong for 6 days. I was happy to have a rest from the cooking chores utilising the mother ship Aroona. Beau and Ying enjoy reef fishing in the mornings on light tackle, so the Marlin Fishing is kept to the afternoons. I could not have been more pleased when my good friend Beau released our 7th grander of the season.

Not to be outdone Gee in just another hour of trolling was hooked up to a larger than large Black Marlin. It was an extremely tough fight and this wise fish knew all the tricks. After 2 hours even though we had the leader early, but could not get the release, the 650lb leader had chafed through. It was a big effort by Gee but he was more than happy with the experience.

Charter No 7, past contenders Henning Hassel and Nils Christian were aboard for 6 days. We got amongst some nice fish again, 3 over 900lb. The highlight of the trip was day 3, a 900 lb a 950 lb and a 650 lb fish, and all fish performed like you would not believe.

Charter No 8 I was joined by my mates from the Gold Coast, Joel, Stuart, Colin and a laugh a minute, Ashleigh, for 4 days. The action finally slowed and the boys managed 3 fish for the trip, great reef fishing, and of cause good mates having a few cocktails in the evenings.

The last day was the highlight, we got a double header on fish around 700 lb, one of these managed to escape, and when we got the other alongside, we were amazed to see the other identical fish swimming with his mate, both fish lit up like Christmas trees, a wonderful sight.

Charter No 9 back for a second trip this season is my business partner Beau and we settle into the same pattern as we did on Beau's first trip. Plenty of reef fish, trout, red emperor, etc. the Marlin fishing had slowed for the whole fleet, we went wide with the lures searching, and got a blue marlin around 350 lb. The last day Suzy a young female friend of Beau's family had a lot of fun on a active 500 lb Black.

Charter No 10 some more close friends from Brisbane arrived, Ben Gripski, Dad Paul and business colleges. Again the fishing was not red hot but considering what was happening 4 fish to 450 lb not bad. The boys also love to spearfish and had a ball in the mornings.

It finally came around the last trip of the 2013 season. Herve and Daniel from Abidjan Ivory Coast. Daniel had weighed a Blue Marlin over 1000lb in his younger days and on the bucket list wanted a black. The boys only booked 4 days at the end of the season, and for these lucky anglers our big fish run kicked back in. First day a 950 lb, second day an 800 lb, third day the monster over 1100 lb and last day well a rest.

What a way to finish, myself and wonderful crew, Westy and Carl, were tired but so pleased as to the seasons results. The anglers who spent so long in the plane to get a crack at a large Black Marlin, were so impressed they are already looking at next season. A great party at the dock with other boats that had just completed the season that evening followed, and we were rewarded by many great comments about the special season we had just completed.

Big fish results Viking II Cairns 2013 season.

18 marlin over 800 lb

14 marlin over 900 lb

9 marlin over the magic 1000 lb

I now look forward to fishing the Gold Coast during December and January, and Port Stephens February and March.

If you want to get amongst the big fish next season dont waste any time in calling to book as there is a limited season and spots available on my boat.

Billy Billson

 Hoping to travel that part of the coast next year or 2015 Will try for a fish also.

cheers

Dale