Myself John F and Daz, put a plan together to have a crack at a Metro marlin on the heavy tackle when the conditions were looking favourable. None of us having ever caught one in Metro waters we didnt rate our chances all that high, but thought we'd give it a good hard crack today out on the regulator

Morning started off shit, getting to the Marina only to have to find some cover from the pissing rain! didnt feel quite right, chasing marlin in winter weather!

Conditions were not the best, and even in the beast it was a slow trip out wide past rotto. Had a quick flick at one of the fads whilst rigging the outriggers did not provide any results other than one free jumping Dolly.

We set the gear, 80 wides to the ready and headed west.

It was quiet early on, water wasnt right so moved around to find the conditions we were after. Come lunch time we were in some warm water that looked fishy. Wouldnt have been 15 minutes and Daz half quietly says 'can you watch the long' (not a normal Daz statement he's usually screaming ON THE LONG) he's seen his fair share of Marlin, just not something you think you would be saying in Perth. Next minute off goes the long, short run and it dropped it, with a bit of teasing it came back and we were on. Fair to say we were all dumb founded that we were actually onto a Metro bill. John was on strike, and onto his first stripey. After a bit of arerial work and putting up show for himself, our first metro bill was boatside!!

Some photos and we sent him on his way, pretty green so didnt take much encouragement to swim off. We were all a little in shock that we had actually caught our first Perth metro Marlin on pretty much the first time out on the heavy tackle in Metro waters.

Spread was reset and the plan was to stay in the water we had located, was still very fishy. Must of been about an hour or so, it was my turn on strike and needed to have a leak over the side. Took the harness off and was having a tinkle when nec minute off goes one of the 80 wide on the long rigger! Whilst im mid stream and on strike, with no harness or gimble.. off to a good start, with Daz yelling "its a blue and its a good one" Sort myself out whilst the boys clear the spread and clipped onto the 80 for the stand up fight. The fish had dumped 3/4 of the 80w (37kg), John quickly clicked the 300 yammys in reverse and we were backing down on a reasable fish. It dogged it out for a bit fairly deep and was probably a 30 or so minute fight with planing the fish up.

Up comes the leader and Daz is to work, looks over the side and looks back at me and says 'its a big fish'... then up pops a cracker blue! estimated at 450lb

Needless to say we were all in shock. We've all caught bills before including blues, but just not in Perth.

Fish released really well, and we went about chasing another. we barely set the spread to have another stripe come up and look at the rigger, only to shy away. Was a fairly action packed 3 hours or so with 3 fish coming up.

Ended the day 3-3-2 Which is bloody awesome in just about any game fishing location along our coast!! Metro Marlin Madness

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