It concerns your fishing future.

The Billfish Foundation can help you by presenting a very convincing case to politicians and fishery managers that sportfishing is the BEST way to utilize the country’s fishery resources of large gamefish and their prey.

This video explains how and why a gamefishing industry is worth far more economically to a country – in financial return as well as in jobs and the creation of infrastructure for the population – than commercial harvesting of those same species. Once these fish are harvested they are dead, whereas with gamefishing they are ‘rented’ – contributing economic value through their use, but then returned alive to sustain the ocean.

The Billfish Foundation will present this case to politicians and managers on our behalf, but they are a charitable organization funded through membership and donations from caring citizens like you. They need your support to enable this to happen. Please join right now. Visit: www.billfish.org and take a membership from as little as US$40 – or make a sizeable donation.

The Billfish Foundation can help to preserve your lifestyle and protect your access to grounds and your ability to find quantities of large gamefish. They have already done it overseas. In some South American countries, longlining and purse-seining are now banned – and the proliferation of gamefish, and gamefishing, has been astounding. With your help, they are keen to make that happen in the South Pacific too.

Please take action – NOW.

Thank you.

Tim Simpson, Editor BlueWater

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (UNFAO) State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report for 2008 reveals that around 80 per cent of the world’s fish species are either fully or over-exploited. Many in the sportfishing industry feel that it’s time that sportfishing – and particularly the tourism that it generates – was recognised as providing ecologically sustainable and economically beneficial answers for creating healthy, sustainable fisheries.

Current government attitudes give primary industry (especially commercial fishing) or Green groups priority in the use of natural resources. Recreational fishing as an industry will need to organise itself to achieve
better and more conservation-minded fisheries policy, and demonstrate they offer a superior alternative to both the short-term outlook of commercial fishing and the protectionism of the
Green lobby.

Studies by organisations such as The Billfish Foundation (TBF) show that conservation programs like those advocated by the sportfishing industry actually increase the quality and quantity of commercial harvests over time. TBF reported that sportfishing in Baja California Sur – a single State in Mexico – generated over US$630 million in 2008, accounting for 35,000 jobs and more than US$1.25 billion in revenues overall.

A 2004 study by Ernst & Young on the economic impact of the striped marlin fishery in NSW, quoted in the 2011 Boating and Fishing Council of Australia report Keep Australia Fishing, concludes that recreational fishing’s contribution to the local economy surpassed that of commercial fishing by a factor of nearly 30.

The international market for eco-tourism is rapidly expanding and seeking new destinations, particularly in the area of sportfishing. There are an estimated three million recreational anglers in Australia alone, fostering economic activity of up to $10 billion annually.

Recent market research shows that a tourist destination that has reduced over-fishing and put in place sound conservation regulations on sportsfishing increases the probability that a travelling angler will choose that destination by over 80 per cent. In the United States alone, approximately 7.5 million people travel outside their country to fish.

Australia has many advantages in attracting recreational anglers. In addition to the wide range of fishing experiences and species that are accessible, the sport is very popular locally, with an experienced, high-quality local industry with worldwide connections. To further support the industry, there is established tourist infrastructure in many of the best gamefishing locations, and recreational angling enjoys growing popularity with the expanding Asian tourism market.

Low environmental impact industries like sportfishing offer a sustainable, rewarding way to maintain and protect domestic fisheries while still being able to profit from them. Eco-tourism has been hugely beneficial to many of the world’s most highly regarded, pristine environments; offering protection and the managed use of a unique, irreplaceable resource.

Australia already trades heavily on a reputation for unspoilt natural attractions – like the Great Barrier Reef or Kakadu – and a great outdoors lifestyle, so sportfishing tourism is a natural fit with the existing perceptions of the tourism market.

To capitalise on the economic and environmental benefits of an expanded sportfishing industry will require more coordination and political representation from the diverse array of associated individuals and organisations. If properly managed, a robust and responsible sportfishing industry is in Australia’s long-term interest, and should be encouraged by all who value the preservation of our natural environment.

After an exhaustive planning and development phase, Cresta Motor Yachts have announced that the first of their model 70 Motor Yachts has been successfully released from the mould and is now taking shape for an expected release towards the end of 2011. It will be Australasia’s first vessel to demonstrate the highly anticipated third generation of Volvo’s groundbreaking IPS system, the IPS 1200.

The triple IPS installation in the new 70ft motoryacht offers owners a massive 2700hp of standard pod-drive propulsion. Volvo Penta’s Gavin Rooney said, “Conservative performance predictions are pointing towards a maximum speed upwards of 40 knots, with a range of 600nm at a cruising speed of 26 knots”. The new Cresta will also feature Volvo’s highly acclaimed Sport Fish Mode and DPS (Digital Positioning System). Tim Ballintine from Cresta agreed, saying, “This propulsion package will allow Cresta owners to get out faster, stay out longer and explore further than any other vessel in its class”.

Cresta has also enhanced the styling of its latest vessel with significant input from Sam Sorgiovanni – arguably the world’s leading superyacht and luxury motor yacht designer. “Cresta vessels have always carried a distinctive signature look, especially with the flare in the bow and knuckle in the sheer line. I was able to add some of my own style and influence to the superstructure of the 70, which has helped complement both the hull and superstructure, while still maintaining that very distinctive Cresta profile,” said Sam Sorgiovanni.

The first Cresta 70 Motor Yacht is due to arrive on Australian shores in the final quarter of 2011. The second boat in the class will be a 70 Open Flybridge, which will be completed in time for its US launch in 2012.

The 70 Open Flybridge will feature five-star interiors and a price tag of less than $3.5 million. Considering that similar vessels, with significantly less propulsion, are up to twice that price, Cresta believe their new boat will generate substantial interest in the marketplace. “At this price the 70 Motor Yacht even stands up against the second-hand market!” said Cresta’s Tim Ballintine.

To learn more about Cresta and their upcoming motoryacht release, visit: www.crestamotoryachts.com

After catching several marlin off Port Stephens, Al McGlashan jumps into the water with his underwater camera to film the release of a striped marlin. That’s when a very large mako shark showed up and things got really exciting!

The 2011 season started pretty poorly for the Strikezone crew. It seemed that wherever we went we always missed the bite. Another frustration was my plan to take my photography to another level. At the start of the season I invested in a new underwater housing and I was excited to get wet and start shooting underwater. For years I’ve been inspired by the underwater images from the likes of fellow BlueWater contributor Bill Boyce and was eager for a fresh, new angle on my own photography.

Over a lifetime on the water, my fishing has evolved from just catching fish to an ever-increasing desire to learn more about the underwater world and how it works. The problem is that as fishermen we see everything from above, when all the action happens down below. As a result we never get the full picture. The more time I spend on the water, the greater my urge to jump in and see everything from the fish’s view. Finally I was armed and ready – but the fishing was slow.

EVERYTHING CHANGED

By early February we were still only ticking away, tallying a few fish along with the rest of the fleet. Then suddenly, as is so often the case, everything changed in a heartbeat. We had just shifted camp from Jervis Bay up to Port Stephens after hearing that the baitfish were stacking up. Things looked promising upon our arrival at the ground known as the ‘Car Park’ when Scotty Thorrington on his new boat, Flyingfisher, hooked-up straight away. The water was crystal clear, making it perfect for filming underwater.

It didn’t take long to raise a fish, and before we knew it we were hooked-up and fighting. On one of its first jumps, the striped marlin flicked the mackerel off the hook and deposited it in the water close-by our transom. Another striped marlin rushed in and seized the opportunity, scooping up the mortally wounded baitfish. Then, to our amazement, this free-swimming marlin cruised straight up to the back of the boat, apparently fascinated with our Honda outboard. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for! Without any hesitation, I jumped in armed with the new camera. All of my life I have wanted to swim with a wild marlin, watching it in its natural environment unhindered by a line.

The fish seemed surprised to see a pink walrus-like figure in the water. It edged over curiously. The guys pitched out a livebait to tempt it, but the marlin seemed more interested in my presence than the easy meal. Watching this fish lit-up in neon blue, moving effortlessly through the water, was incredible – and then it came so close that I could almost touch it. Unfortunately, the magical encounter was cut all too short – not because the fish lost interest, but because the other marlin that the guys in the boat were still fighting was quickly spooling them. Reluctantly, I clambered back aboard and we gave chase…

WHAT’S GOING ON?

We caught that fish and an hour later we were hooked-up again. Hoping that it would provide a perfect opportunity to film the release, I prepared the camera as the fight came to a close. However, things were a little different this time and the fish kept struggling really hard, making it difficult for the guys to get a grasp on the leader.

While battling to control this marlin, the sounder kept marking a second fish below us. Figuring it was another striped marlin, the guys fed out another mackerel in the hope of a double hook-up. The bait was not taken, but with all the commotion that the team already had to deal with, the second fish was not given a second thought.

Eventually, we got our marlin under control, so with guys holding it by the bill I took the plunge. For the first few minutes I shot a series of images from various angles and even dived down to shoot silhouettes from below. By this stage the marlin had calmed down and seemed more interested in me than anything else.

Shooting with a super-wide-angle lens means that you have to take care to be in the right position to frame the subject correctly. For the release sequence I had to swim wide and then come in at right angles to the boat to get the best shot. This all sounds easy, but with wind drift and a current running hard, plus a camera that’s as awkward to hold as a sheet of plyboard, I was struggling to get into position. My oversized flippers were working overtime and I was almost in position to raise my camera for the shot when I suddenly felt a rush of water as something big swooshed close-by at high speed. I spun around to see a huge blue shape attached to the marlin at the side of the boat. For a second I struggled to comprehend what was unfolding, but as reality sank in I realised that it was a massive mako shark and it had latched on to the marlin barely a metre away from me!

IN THE KILLING ZONE

Everything was in slow motion from that point. It was a classic example of seeing your life flash before you. I thought of my wife and the kids, and how horrified my mum would be when she learnt that I’d be devoured by a sea monster. And then I snapped out of it and got down to business, making sure that the camera was in focus.

Everyone reacts differently to a situation of danger. Rightly or wrongly, I have always had a very cavalier attitude to sharks and the risks involved with my job. I just figured that when my number is up, it is up. When that happens, it doesn’t matter whether I am swimming with sharks or walking down the road. Still, when it actually came to facing death in the eye, I have to admit that I was surprised how calmly I reacted. I think I was mesmerised by the spectacle.

The shark initially struck near the marlin’s anal fin and then mouthed its way down the body towards the tail. It didn’t bite chunks out of the marlin so there was little blood, it just literally felt its way down the body towards the tail.

At the same time, I still remember glancing up at the guys in the boat, then looking back underwater, double checking to make sure the shark was really there – because everyone onboard seemed completely oblivious to what was unfolding! In fact, the footage from another camera attached to the boat’s rocket launcher shows the shark clearly – yet no-one onboard saw it!
Once the huge mako got a grip on the marlin’s tail it showed its full might by crunching down and then rolling to get full leverage and snapping the tail clean off in a split second. I still remember watching awestruck as blood erupted from the marlin as the shark severed all of its arteries. The water quickly clouded with billowing plumes of an eerie red.

The shark was lost to me in the cloud of blood and suddenly I felt I had overstayed my welcome. I made a dash for the boat – and if you think the likes of Ian Thorpe can swim fast, well, believe me, he would have had no chance against me.

I never would have imagined the ensuing media storm that followed this amazing encounter. In fact, I was surprised to learn that apparently no-one else has ever witnessed a mako attack on a marlin from a front-row seat underwater – and certainly no-one has ever filmed such an event.

THINKING LIKE A SHARK

On reflection, the risk wasn’t as big as many may think. The shark was probably there for a while, following the fish during the closing stages of the fight, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. What is really interesting, though, is the fact that the mako deliberately waited until I got out of the way before it pounced. During the attack, while I was filming the shark, I was often right up close – often within arm’s reach. In fact, I even dived down to get some shots with a different perspective – from below, looking up. Yet during the whole episode the mako never threatened me. But don’t get me wrong; this wasn’t because the mako is a caring individual who wanted to look after my welfare. Instead, it is most likely because it was unsure of what I was – and therefore was unwilling to risk getting in my way. And while a mako certainly is an incredible predator, like all large predatory sharks, when it launches an attack it instinctively closes its eyes to protect them from damage. Taking on a big marlin is already a risky business even for a mako, so going blind for a few seconds is something it will be wary of doing when it’s vulnerable to another, unknown predator in the vicinity.

At no time did the shark show any interest in me. Even when I had dropped back and swung wide for my final photos of the marlin, my flippers were making quite a commotion and I was well away from the safety of the boat, yet it bypassed me and headed straight for the marlin. Looking back now, I shudder to remember all those old shark-attack theories about how splashing supposedly attracts man-eaters.
That mako seemed single-minded about what it wanted from the start. To the mako, I probably seemed to be another predator that was also lining up to attack the marlin. If it had known that I was not a threat, it would probably have rushed in and not waited for the last possible moment when the fish was alongside the boat.

I wonder if things may have turned out differently had the shark been a great white. Immature whites and makos regularly feed on tuna, but when they reach adulthood the makos add marlin and swordfish to the menu while the whites upgrade their diet to seals and dolphins. Maybe to a white shark I would have seemed less of an unknown threat and more of an unfamiliar meal!

The experience is something I will never forget, and I often look back at my footage and stills and think how lucky I was to have witnessed nature in the raw like this and still be around to tell the tale.

Few anglers have ever caught a big fish solo, but Richard Abela has achieved an accomplishment that few anglers would even consider possible: catching seven marlin completely unassisted during a single day.

Despite residing in Victoria, Richard regularly tows his 6.7m Noosa Cat Dream Catcher to the NSW coast during the summer and autumn gamefishing season. After a successful start at the marlin hotspot of Port Stephens on the mid-NSW coast, Richard followed the bite south to the ever-productive Jervis Bay.

For two weeks he and his crew did well, but by April 1st his crew had to go. However, with favourable sea conditions and reports of fish out wide, Richard couldn’t resist heading out on his own. It’s something that he’s done before: several years ago he landed a couple of marlin off Bermagui while fishing solo.

Keen for a repeat of this success, he headed out from Jervis Bay for the ground known as ‘The Kink’ and trolled a couple of live slimy mackerel on 37kg outfits. Despite a late start he hooked-up almost immediately, and even though manoeuvring the boat was a big challenge, he was able to release the first fish in under 20 minutes.

He sent out two more baits and didn’t troll for long before he found himself in the daunting position of having to deal with a double hook-up. One of them escaped, but he successfully released the second marlin. The fishing scene was obviously red-hot that afternoon, so rather than risk another double hook-up he re-set just a single rod. Richard said he barely had time for a drink before he was on again. With the third fish released, he needed a well-earnt breather, but before relaxing he re-set another livebait. You guessed it – within seconds there was yet another marlin jumping behind his boat. This one was a black, which luckily stayed near the boat and was brought in for a quick release.

“With four solo releases my body was now starting to feel the pain,” recounts Richard, “but the bite was too good to be true and I just couldn’t resist feeding out more baits.” Sure enough, he was soon hooked-up again. “While fighting this one I marked a second fish on the sounder. I couldn’t resist, so while fighting the first marlin I fed out a second bait and was quickly hooked into my second double-header for the day.

“Excited about the prospect of actually pulling off a double-header on my own, I made short work of the first fish and was soon working on the second one. However, it was an hour before the second fish was finally boatside.”

By this stage it was late afternoon. Richard was exhausted, but has fished enough years to recognise that he was experiencing one of those rare occasions when everything falls into place. “The fishing was just too hot to leave, so I flicked out one last bait and, of course, it was nailed within five minutes,” he said.

Ten minutes later he’d released number seven for the day. His final tally was six striped marlin and one black from nine bites. To the boats nearby that witnessed the proceedings, Richie’s day was probably one to make them green with envy – not everyone shared the same success. As Richard says, “It is a day I will remember for as long as I live!” ?