Well you got nothing to lose and it has been done before. Maybe they just needed to see a new trick. 

Skip Dead Kahawai Bait worked for me over the weekend, tagged 2 from 4 bites all on dead kahawai skipping along at 5 knots , just like when I started marlin fishing 40 years ago, except now we use circles on nose of baitfish. Just tried twice to post image, not working, must be me?

I had success last year catching livies on site. They were all slimies and as well as the two marlin I landed I had three eat fish I was winding in on the sabiki rigs. Lost a few of them...

Hey Vance, yes I spent all of Saturday dropping live Kahawai baits down deep on the bait schools using downrigger to 40mtrs, not one bite, I was marking Marlin on sounder around bait schools, however as soon as I used dead skip baits next two days had 4 crash bites for 2 tagged , so I think they get very focused on the fish of the particular bait ball they are feeding on, which were slimy mackeral from what I caught on sabikis. The bait schools were moving very fast so hard to keep track of them, need 360deg searchlight sonar , anyway awesome to see so many marlin feeding and free jumping, bloody exciting even though I have caught hundreds of them over past 40 years game fishing, cheers swordfishsteve

It is interesting that the bait schools are moving around so much, which is typical of the slimey schools we see on the surface as well, whereas in Port Stevens by all accounts the slimey schools are fairly stationary and boats drift live slimeys down to the deep bait balls.

WOW Shane, did you try to throw a stickbait or dead bait perhaps? A school of Marlin.. That would been an amazing site to see.

shaneg wrote:

Sounds like a good bite out there again today, details boys ????

Tutukaka Holiday park is great place to stay. Just need to be in if in a vehicle by 9.30 at night and they will let you out in morning to go fishing early. Facilities very good and camp management friendly unless one behaves like a complete idiot (which you clearly wouldn't but I might have tested the boundaries in yester years) and as long as don't disrespect other campers ... drinking too loudly after 10.30pm. Is also a family friendly camp and a lot of tourists (Welsh, German, Dutch, Swedish, American) but also regular group of repeat fisher people. And we have a very good time there and have done for years. Very cool and chilled place to stay. Range of cabins. Full cabins with toilets and showers or basic bed only cabins if more on a budget Great washdown and fish filleting facilities. Can walk to club so no drink driving. Perfect really. Be good if we see you there Steve.. will be up in coming weekends once weather improves

Heading out now, good luck all

Plenty boats alright at one stage I counted 33 in front of us without even looking behind. There was 8 boats getting livies at the Frenchaman and another 1/2 dozen or more at Quango.