Gamefishing for beginners

The elusive marlin is not only a bucket-list fish for many fishers, but one of the largest, most spectacular fish that can be caught during the game fishing season here in New Zealand.

This is the second season that my Dad and I have been properly targeting game fish in our Stabicraft, Fish Magnet, mainly in our local area around Mayor Island. Shimano gear was an obvious choice when buying rods and reels, and when it came to lures, we opted for whatever caught our eye but didn’t break the bank! Top brand lures are often $100 plus each, so these are a treat, but we are slowly building up a collection of various lures of all shapes, sizes and colours.

Game fishing is an expensive sport to establish yourself in, but once you’re set up, it’s a lifetime investment and you’ll be hooked! I am currently running two Talica 50 II reels on Abyss bent-butt rods, a Tiagra 70W and a TLD 25, with a couple of Seacope outriggers to complete our 5.5m Stabicraft set up. There are endless expenses, but our little setup is working well and as newbies to the sport, I am satisfied with our gear choices.

My Dad and Josh are my two best fishing buddies and between the three of us, we had clocked up the hours trying for a marlin this season. Dad and I are usually inseparable when it comes to fishing, but this time he regretfully made the decision not to come, which made it the first time I would take the boat out without him.

So, Josh and I set off with Fish Magnet in tow set to launch at the Bowentown boat ramp. Josh landed his first marlin just a few days before while fishing out of Mercury Bay, a nice blue, tipping the scales at 183kg. So not only were our spirits up, we were as keen as ever to get back out there on the briny!

After much deliberation we decided to head straight for a specific area inside Mayor Island. Not only have we seen a marlin there, but also hooked one earlier in the season. We had put many hours of trolling into this area. Other than marlin, we’ve come across a surface broadbill, leatherback turtles and plenty more critters all hanging around in the same patch of water, so we thought, “why not give it another shot?”

By 9:00am we had set the lures and I was on the wheel, attempting to stay within a slightly warmer current line where the temperature gauge read 21.5 degrees. Half an hour went by and just as we were getting comfortable, Josh shouted out a moment before the long rigger pinged off and my reel started screaming. Josh had seen the marlin rise up to the Black Magic Super Stripey No.2 lure and hit it hard.

Adrenaline started pumping as the marlin flew out of the water, shaking its head and putting on a show for us. With just two of us on the boat, I stayed on the wheel, keeping up the speed to stay with the marlin, which was tail-walking out to our port side. Meanwhile, Josh rushed to wind in the other six rods and bring some order to the chaos in the boat!

Stroppy stripey!

By the time I had my gimbal on and grabbed the rod, the stroppy marlin had dived deep, still steadily pulling line even against a slightly tighter drag. Josh had slowed the boat and we set out to get some line back on this stunning fish.

With a great skipper and some top-quality gear, the fight was a breeze and I gained on the fish fairly quickly. However, this changed as soon as the fish got near the boat.

Leader attempt number one: the double came through the eyes of my rod and Josh tried to grab the leader… and off shot the stroppy little stripey, tail-walking again and again away from the boat, making for some amazing footage.

Leader attempt number two: by now I knew the fish was well hooked, so I wasn’t afraid to up the pressure a tad. The marlin appeared again as I pulled it up towards the boat, and Josh was about to leave the wheel, when it decided to dive straight under the boat! I screeched as the line rubbed the hull, backing off the drag as we attempted to get the line free. Our hearts were racing as the marlin took off, getting clear of the boat. Close call!

Leader attempt number three: we couldn’t afford another mistake like that! I vowed to get that marlin in my hands! No mucking around, I cranked up the line and Josh got hold of the leader and was not letting go. The stroppy stripey fought against Josh, trying to tail-walk away from the boat, but we were determined to win this fight. Once Josh got hold of the bill, our stripey finally gave in, resting in our grip after an hour’s fight. It wasn’t the biggest marlin, but boy was it a stunning, feisty fish! Having an elusive marlin in your hands is sublime and I was in awe of its beauty up close.

The hook was perfectly stuck in the corner of its mouth and came out easily, leaving minimum damage to the fish. I barely even considered killing this stunning fish, so after a few photos I guided it upright alongside the boat as Josh slowly motored forward.

It swam along in my hands and I was satisfied that it would swim away healthy as I loosened my grip on its bill. My stroppy stripey disappeared down into the clear blue water from where it came.

Josh and I were thrilled and pretty chuffed with our efforts on my first marlin in New Zealand waters, the first for Fish Magnet, and a successful release. What a shame Dad wasn’t here to wind it in!

I now understand why marlin are such a bucket list fish. Feeling the weight of one on the end of your line, watching it jump and tail-walk, seeing the vibrant colours and details as you hold it in your hands and watching it swim away – what a rush! The hours and money spent trying and hoping for a marlin and the perseverance put into game fishing pays off big time once you get that marlin in your hands.

But the big thing about catching one is that you almost immediately want to catch another! I’m glad and thankful that fishing is my one and only addiction!

And we are still on the hunt for Dad’s first marlin…