10:32 AM Thu 4 Feb 2010 GMT
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'How about young Harry? Harry Foley, 10-years old and he’s tagged his first marlin in the Gold Coast GFC’s light tackle tournament. - Gold Coast GFC tournament'
Alisa Schofield
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Thirty boats and more than 150 anglers turned out for the Gold Coast Game Fishing Club's light tackle tournament, with 84 black marlin tagged.
Organisers reported 184 strikes and 145 hook ups during the three-day tournament, contested off the famed tourist strip on the sparkling waters of the south Pacific.
Early weather reports were not encouraging, but the Sunday prior to the tournament opener proved a turning point, with a lowering swell and blue skies making a welcome appearance.
On Day 1, 'Amigo' scored the first tag at 7.34am, and that was only the start; by 0800 the radio was alive with boats reporting hook ups.
After only one day fishing, 34 marling had been tagged.
Day 2 began at 0700 and within two minutes it was 'Amigo' again reporting a hook up, but then lost it.
Two other boats, 'Addixion' and 'Five Star' were quick to tag two good fish each and add to their day one scores.
'Grinner' and 'Salt Shaker' then got into the action with tags.
At lines in, 'Amigo' was looking good with nine tags, 'Five Star' had seven and 'Addixion' and 'Salt Shaker' finished with three each.
Day 3 and it was that boat 'Amigo' again, achieving a double hook up in the opening minutes.
'Addixion' and 'Just Teasin' also reported hook ups and subsequent captures, but 'Amigo' was 'on fire', twice boasting triple and doible hook ups.
The fact that most were converted into tags indicates the skill and professionalism of the skipper and the crew.
Not surprisingly, it was 'Amigo' which emerged the winner with 14 tags.
In a promising sing for the club's future, ewight juniors competed in their first tournament and eight of them tagged billfish.
Although there were only eight ladies competing, four of them tagged marlin.
A club official said the competition proved once again that the Gold Coast was home to one of Australia's premiere marlin grounds.
The club's next event is the annual heavy tackle tournament scheduled for April 16-18.
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Bryan Grafas (left) and club president Darren Malaquin aboard ’Wet Dream’ with a small black tagged and released. - Gold Coast GFC tournament - Alisa Schofield
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by Bob Wonders
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Macquarie Island, TAS
