I know Gatesy from up here went down for the Bluewater Classic (I think thats what its called, anyway Perth billfish comp) and they raised a fair donkey but couldn't get it to eat.  Definately a few down there and a good size too, just few and far between, sure theres big yellowfin as bycatch though.

I was thinking of heading out off Two Rocks to 250-450m and trolling down to rotto staying overnight and trolling back the next day .

something i will try and get a chance to do this summer, generally when the water temp gets warmer paul, after christmas would be a starting point but better in feb onwards i would say, as adam said a good by catch out that deep could be a big yellowfin tuna or wahoo maybe

Yes well im going to have a go, will just keep my ears open and get the boat all set up .

Have tried but no luck. Feb too Apr from what Í can gather and southern wall of the rotto trench. Need to get onto the SST charts this year and find the temp brakes.  Plenty of bait out there but yeah still yet to raise one.

Thanks Macca beats sitting at home

Hi Paul I usually try a few times a year when the weather allows ,will be trying alot more this season seeing as the bans and reduced bag limits will more than likely be introduced.

Times for us in Perth are definatly the warmer months, different to up north generally..

As for lure patterns and spreads I generally run a very broad selection of colours and sizes and shapes as the fish encounted in Perth can be very broad species wise and limited at the same time so hence you have to cover all bases unlike up north where you can target a specific type of fish due to quantity...

I would suggest you target the deeper end of the scale your willing to try as my best results have come from there, I havent worked out why yet still researching but more than likely water temp related..

If your looking seriously into it I would suggest the sea surface temp charts,I havent used them personally but have heard very very good things about them...

I havent caught a billie out from Perth but have raised two years ago but was very new to the game{ bill fish} so it was operator error that resulted in missed fish, now a bit more aware so hopefully can convert the next one...

As was mentioned there are bycatches as well usually tuna, no mackeral for some reason maybe due to lure choice or depth but its weird !!!!

Anyway good luck its alot of driving as you know so a auto pilot helps and be prepared for alot of boring hours but the anticipation of a strike in Perth waters is very enticing and keeps you on your toes ...

Cheers   

Hell yeah I think a metro bill fish of any kind would be pretty sick. May even be a chance of a broadie having seen the photo of the fish caught on the inside of the trench. That was a once in a life time capture(maybe).

yep Paul G if you need a 2nd boat... Il put my hand up now@#$@

Not done it either, but def going to give it a nudge.

Thanks fishfish for the imfo intresting,Bodie will let you know closer to time two boats is beter than one .

Just make sure you take your dive gear, you can be a bit more sure on the rotto crays than stickfaces.

Yes thats true,will do that for sure.

i know it's not really metro though has anyone done much trolling for macks up at jurien bay?  Was thinking of giving that a crack this summer as i've heard they get a few up there...

can see in years to come a bigger marlin fishery out from perth, i know this year i will be out there giving it a crack, the guys out from bunbury and busso etc are in a good possy for a chance at a billy or two around march and april too

I know 10 to 15 years ago alot of Blue Marlin got raised out of the Rotto Trench as well as off the Capes believe it or not. Not many caught but plenty teased to the surface. They are there and Blue Marlin in the Indian Ocean follow a similar pattern to the Blacks in the Pacific. Indo Blue Marlin hunt the currents of the Indian Ocean and although captures of good fish are caught out off Mauritius, there are years when the warmer currents flow south and east of Mauritius and push fish closer to WA.
Chasing Marlin is an expensive exercise and I think with the innovation of deep water jigging Blue Marlin captures have declined not only because of Longlining but because less people target them directly preferring now to target other species out wide.

agree there is similarities to over east, they are out there to be caught just have to have the currents push further south to help, theres plenty of baitfish out there each year,i might even aim to troll a couple of live striped tuna on 37kg gear out the trenches this year i think

We ran lures last year until we picked up a couple of small (very small) tuna then skipped them behind the teasers. Found the water was very dirty just before the trench last year and think you would have to go west till the water cleared? Would be a lot more comfortable out there knowing your not the only boat out there doing it. Also going to give cubing a go on the south wall gotta be some big yellow fin out that way.

Sea rescue doesn't take that long to get there. I enjoyed a tow back to Perth from one of the Northern FADs last year.

yeah but worse than braking down you miss the rotto pub on the way home

well when the time comes we should get a group together and do an overnight stop at rotto.

Keen as the more boats and teasers in the water the more chance of raising a bill.

if ya need another boat we is in my boss is just finishing his boat a big cat decked out with a chair  out riggers the works and a couple of them big flash penn internationals

I think anyone whos intrested in heading out the back for marlin ,just need to watch for the post ,i'll post up when we are doing our trip and if anyone wants to meet out back or head out together then thats fine with me .will be new year from what im told i'll give plenty of notice .

Count me in macca. Im calling shotgun.

I know my boy will try to talk me into letting him take the boat out when you go but i think my boat is a little bit small to go out deep! Am i being paranoid guys or should he tag along with one of you if there is room?? I suppose with a few boats its safer but still don't want to lose my boat out there, i'd never get it back!

that yes, it will be too small. I'm guessing from the photo your boat is around 16 foot or so? My own boat is about that size and I wouldn't consider heading that far out. Its a long long long way.........

The trench is probably 60km or more off-shore. Its a fair slog back if it turns nasty in a boat under 20 foot - even in the bigger boats it'll be a slow trip back if it slops up.

In perfect conditions, then the sea is your oyster and the trench wouldn't be a problem (provided you have enough fuel to get there, troll and get back with a saftey margin). But how often does that "perfect" day happen?

Now to convince him lol