Catching a marlin from your ski is right up there in the achievement stakes. Avid angler and experienced jetski  fisho, Tom Clancy, ticked that one off his list a couple of days ago with a feisty striped marlin caught in 70m off the Manukau bar.

Launching his Yamaha Jetfish ski from Cornwallis at 5am to bypass a lengthy kilometre queue of keen boaties launching at Little Huia, the game plan was to target a tasty yellowfin tuna. A mint forecast and very little swell the South Channel meant an easy ride with only a steady stream of boat wakes to navigate

Armed with a Shimano TLD 25 and a Tyrnos 50 both running 24kg mono Tom set two lures at about the 50 m mark behind the bar and trolled west. Reaching the 70 m mark after a couple of hours he heard a reel briefly run and turned to see a stripey smacking the lure on his TLD 25. A couple of brief pumps on the gas teased the fish into a bite and it was game on.By the time the other gear was cleared the spool was almost empty and it was only after some serious winding and chasing before the fish was under control.

“With conditions being so settled, I knew the biggest challenge was not to lose the fish by being in a hurry” said Tom. "It was great to have David McKenzie riding alongside reminding me I had all the time in the world and not to go too hard on the drag settings". Long runs had Tom nearly spooled a couple of times, including once when he almost had it to the ski. The marlin then went deep for 45 minutes or so before there was an opportunity to grab the bill. David snapped a few photos before the stripey was safely released to fight another day. 

“Catching a marlin on a jet ski is just an amazing experience. You have to do everything including driving the ski, fighting the fish and trying to keep the adrenaline at manageable levels, and while skis these days are very stable, keeping your balance is a top priority” Tom added. “It was a real battle and rather like trying to wrestle an angry refrigerator!"

Next on the list - a yellowfin tuna.

Photos: David McKenzie
Grant Blair - NZ Fishing Media