Wild Turkey heads home from Cooktown

Yesterday after bidding fair well to Mark and his team, Wild Turkey started the journey back home to Yorkey's Knob. Of course this will take several days saving on the engines and fuel as well as allowing the crew time to relax and enjoy the fishing themselves.

Due into Yorkey's Marina Wednesday afternoon.

Update on last 4 days

Due to phone range and Wild Turkey being out on the Reef reports have been very very sketchy... The last day of our charter was very productive with a 900 lb'er and a 500 lb'er being caught as wel as other - full report on Wild Turkeys return.

Dates Available Cooktown to Cairns

Wild Turkey will be heading back to Cairns on approx the 31st Oct from Cooktown - we are booked out of Yorkeys on the the 4th November, which allows us 4-5 days - any one interested in fishing back with the boat over this period please contact me for pricing and details prior to Sunday 29th. No more than 2 - 3 people due to sleeping arrangements.
PHONE 0400 015902

Bens friend Mark jumps on for some serious fishing

This morning saw Wild Turkey head out from the port of Cooktown once again - Only this time there was something quite wrong - it was being reported that the seas were about 15 knots ! ! How calm is that ! ! FANTASTIC ! !

The next 4 days will see Wild Turkey fishing the Ribbon Reefs and in search once again of the Giant Black Marlin - with serveral boats reporting some very nice fish being caught it was good to hear that by lunch time we had jumped off 1, and had a double header about 100 pounds with a shark - but at least they are there.

Wild Turkey will be out of range but with Bens good friend Mark on board with a couple of other I am sure they will have some great stories to be told.

2 Day Charter - SUPER ROUGH

In the normal 25 - 30 knots out we headed from Cooktown on Monday with Matt, RJ, and Nicole - to battle the seas and find them Black Marlins. The 2 junior anglers on board were super keen and were more than eager to battle the rough seas.

After a tough 2 days there were no Marlins for this Charter but the catch included

• Tuna
• Spanish Mackeral
• Scaley Mackeral
• GT's

It was a good trip and an adventure to be told.

Look forward to your report thanks Kris...

Last day trip From Lizard Island and then let the Celebrations begin

Wild Turkey is doing another day trip today out of Lizard Island with the same group as yesterday, so lets hope we can find something big and keep it hooked up for them.

Today is also the end of the Lizard Island Tournament so we will have final results once they come to hand - sometimes with communication in the north it is hard to reach them but will try.

The Champion Team "Tenacious
Runner-up Champion Team "Diamond Girl
Champion Male Angler Jim Warpole "Allure"
Runner-up Male Angler Kevin Cook "Diamond Girl"
Champion Female Angler Trudy Myburgh "Marlin Blue"
Runner-up Female Angler Janelle Heany "Viking 56"
Champion Boat was "Tenacious" Runner-up Boat was "Diamond Girl" Third place "Allure" Fourth "Don't Ask Me" Fifth "Kanahoee" Sixth "Billfish" Seventh "Adrenaline" Eighth "Iona" Ninth "Marlin Blue" Tenth "Shaka"

Marlins were there for Wild Turkey today - well done Randy...

Wild Turkey arrives at Lizard Island

This is the place to be. FABULOUS LIZARD ISLAND ! !

5am this morning saw the quiet departure of Wild Turkey from the dark and still sleepy port of Cooktown. Her destination being famous Lizard Island.

Joining the large amount of boats who are in those water fishing the Lizard Island Tournament, our crew will do 2 single day trips from the lodge.

With reports of some very large fish being caught yesterday - 1 yesterday right beside The Turkey weighing in at 1268 pounds - HUGE ! ! Well done Cory.

Bring on the Marlins !

Todays update:
Had 2 great anglers on board from the lodge. They managed to hook a nice size Dolphin Fish as well as about 300 pound Marlin - but as luck would have it, not tagged as they jumped him off.

Tomorrow is yet another day.. Well done all !

Into Cooktown Tonight

Wild Turkey fished from Escape Reef yesterday and heading closer to Cooktown - In the Giant Blck Marlin Zone.

The boat is currently out of range so I have got no news to report of details from either yesterday or today. With them arriving into Cooktown tonight and being back in range I am sure to be updated on the fishing results.

Wild Turkey will then head to Lizard Island to run a couple of day trips and be at the Island for the end of the Lizard Island Tournament and Presentation Night Party - havent they planned that well ! !

Bruce and Frank departured with smiles on arrival into Cooktown. Unfortunately for them there were no Marlins to be caught in these last 2 days but they did plenty of bait fishing which kept them busy and helped pass the time. Well Done to you both and we look forward to seeing pictures of your fish and your return.

Happy Birthday Bruce

Wishing one of our crew Bruce a very Happy 25th Birthday for today - lets hope they caught one 1,000 pounds to make this the most memorable ever.

Quick Lizard Island Tournament Update

We may not be there but the results are always good to know - especially when Marlins are involved.

Day 2 brings with it the following

• Billfish leading with 4 on a count back & Champion boat Day 1
• Kanahoee with 4 & Champion boat Day 2
• Allure with 4
• Tenacious with 4
• Other boats in the count include Diamond Girl with Champion boat Day 3, Castille, Bite Me, Bill Collector, Mistress, Calypso, Dont Ask Me, Shaka, Top Shot, Kamari, Sea Baby IV, Fasination 2, Iona & Joe-Joe (sorry if someone is missed out)

Day 3 results just to hand

• Diamond Girl leading from Tenacious both with 5 tags.
• Billfish on 4 tagged in front of Allure and Kanahoee.
• Joe-Joe, Don't Ask Me, Iona, Shaka are all following on 3.
• Adrenaline, Top Shot, Hellraiser, Whirlpool, Bill Collector, Bite Me, Marlin Blue, Fascination II and Kajiki are all on two fish.
• There are a number of boats with 1 tag as well but I couldn't catch them all.

It is believed that the fishing at present is a little slow so to still see them being caught is excellent fishing.

Thanks for the Update Kelly - Reel Chase

Day 2 - Marlin's are there !!

The day started with a relaxing swim and refresh before getting serious today about these balck marlin's.

It wasnt too long before Frank got the bite and hauled in a great 500 pound Black Marlin. He hadn't been feeling to well in the rough conditions but apparently the Black Marlin also brings with it the miracle cure for all seas conditions - I personally think he is now HOOKED ! The whisper of the sea is once you catch one you will alway come back......

Heading North to Cooktown and Giant Black Marlins

This is the time of the season that they all live for.... Entering the legendary Giant Black Marlin Zone.

This morning we are taking our first extended live aboard north through the Ribbon Reef and finishing in Cooktown over the duration of the next 4 days.

Ben is hoping that the seas settle a little, as they are still blowing up around the 20 - 30 knots. They will be thinking that 15 knots is flat calm soon. But all they can do is hold on tight and ride it out until they can work with it. They are also hoping as well as fighting some waves to be going backwards a bit and hopefully fighting some very large fish that happen not just by chance to take a hold of the line trailing behind.

Phone coverage on the Ribbons Reef will in some cases be limited but the plan is to receive some information once a day at some stage via a Text SMS. So lets hope the satellites are in the right plans and we known when they have "Big Jules" on ! !

End result for the day was saw 6 Blacks had bites from 3 and hooked one about 700 pounds - of which they retreived only the tail. This was quite an effort to bring him in and soon it was know why - nevermind Bruce always tomorrow ! ! This still must count for 1 though....

One last Heavy Tackle day before heading north

Yesterday was cancelled once again due to the strong winds and shocking conditions on the seas but today we are out for one last heavy tackle day trip before heading to the Ribbon Reefs and working from Cooktown.

We have got Peter and his son Luke on board who are keen divers as well so there should not be too much of a concern with the rough seas.

See what they bring home !

Final Changes before heading North

Wild Turkey has hit the standards and to some extent the luxury of the much larger boats in the fleet.

She has had AIR-CONDITIONING installed - Yahooo! !

Word has it from the crew that it is super icy cold - so time to supply more blankets to sleep snug at night with. For a 34 foot boat I dont think there is much more that she now needs, lead a lone that she can fit on board ....

So now it is time for the winds to ease and the sun to shine it's glorious way north. Monday sees Wild Turkey head off on our extented charters north to the Ribbon Reefs and doing so serious Black Marlin Hunting.

Good Luck to our anglers Bruce & Frank; Matt, RJ & Nicole; Mark and his team

Hopefully there will be a constant stream of reports about the great fish being caught.
FINGERS CROSSED.

Last Light Tackle Day

Thursday 12th October

With weather condition again not too nice - we are braving it out - yet again. With all dates booked before heading north, today was really our only option, as the next few days are UGLY.

Light Tackle today so we will see what the seas bring.

It was a great family day for the boys while the girls went shopping.

Strong Winds rolling in - YET AGAIN!

The weather this season has not been kind to any of the Game Fleet. With strong winds of 20 - 30 knots making days trips in and out of port very hard, not to say very rough!

With trips moved and cancelled, people not happy missing out - the weather is one thing that unfortunately I have no control over.

Longer trips allow the boats to get out in the seas and then have the chance to hide behind the shelters of the reefs. Which to some extent they can miss some weather if planned right.

We are now juggling the last few day trips around the 30 knot winds and bad weather before we head north on our extended trips.

Heavy Tackle day saw Black Marlins at Linden Bank

7.30 deprture today saw a great group of 4 heading out to Linden Bank to find the Black Marlin's. In moderate conditions sitting around the 15 knot mark, the nicest weather we have been having, it was a good day to be out.

It was a slow morning with the bite not turning until lunch. This then included:

• The head only of an approx 50 pound Yellow Fin Tuna was brought in. Those sharks can be quite sharp out on the bank.
• 4 bites from Marlins for the day
• 1 hooked up was of a Black about 700 pounds. He put on quite a display with beautiful jumps and leaps for all to see but we lost him.
• 1 Black Marlin was also tagged for the day. This one was only small about 100 pounds.

It was a great day for this group who enjoyed the thrill of the chase and the opportunity to see the well talked about Black Marlin.

Well done Bill and your anglers.

Blue Water Photographer captures Wild Turkey in action

Just to get you all tempted! Here are 2 pictures that well know Photographer David Granville has taken of our vessel Wild Turkey. A lot of David's work makes the pages of Bluewater Magazine. The bottom picture is of 1000 pound black marlin! What a sight to see.

To view more of his work http://www.davidgranvillephotography.com/

New Polos have arrived

For those of you who have purchased our Polo shirts but have been waiting patiently for them to arrive by mail - rest assured that I have collected the new supply today and will get them all mailed off this week-end.

Please accept that we are very sorry for this delay that was a little out of our hands and caused by our supplier.

Many thanks Michelle

Back out for Heavy Tackle

Wild Turkey has had the plesure of having a few lay days during the awful weather that is still around. What a tough season it has been.

But today we are out with a keen group of 4 off to catch their first Black Marlins! With the seas being a little nicer it will be great for them to head back into the marina with a couple of tag flags flying proudly to show their catch.

As the sun set and time ticked on Wild Turkey came into the Yorkey's Marina just after 6.30pm with 2 Tag Flags flying proudly - Yahoo! How nice this always is to see.

Fishing was at Linden Bank today in moderate weather 15 - 20 knots with the following:

• 2 x small Black Marlin
• Plenty of Scad - Bait fish
• a nice Sailfish was hooked up but they jumped him off

Reports as the boat entered the berth was that they had the best time

It was a fantastic day!