2009 Season ends with a bang!

Bookings 2010

We are now accepting bookings for the 2010 season.

Scene seen in Key West

The skipper is off to Ft. Lauderdale - says he's only looking at boats - yeah right!

Summer sportfishing 

The early part of the season sees action on some of the blue water pelagics and then drifts into Spanish Mackerel mania.

And don't forget our fly-out option

If time is an issue the fast, turbo-prop Cessna Caravan will get you to the Redneck Riviera in just over 30 mins from Hamilton Island airport.

MARITIME ops 

We're all geared up!

 

There is lots to write about in this report so lets get right into it . . . .

Well its Cyclone Season and we are taking it easy waiting for the monsoons to p*ss off and the Autumn weather pattern to kick in.  Right now you'd have to be crazy to go fishing with stinking hot days and humidity that can only be described as . . . well you know!

Q: Who wants to go fishing at this time of year?

A: Not the Black Samurai crew.

2010 REFIT

Our 2010 refit is complete. So we're off on vacation and will kick off again in March.  This year our refit was a "ho hum" affair. You know, new linen, new cutlery etc.  Basically we are up to date with nothing special to go on about.

come Fish the Redneck Riviera

Beautiful Bugatti Lagoon - our base for the Redneck Riviera

This is the very edge of the Coral Sea

As our regular clients know we fish the area we call the "Redneck Riviera".  This is the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef on the very edge of the Coral Sea.  We start at Bugatti Reef and work out from there.  Some of our regular spots include White Tip and Little Bugatti Reefs as well as Pikes Corner and other very remote locations.

Other charter operators advertise "special" trips to the area where we fish every trip.  Remember we are fishing over 200 km off the coast.  Other charter companies advertise they are taking you on a special "gamefishing safari" to Bugatti Reef.  For our clients this is just the beginning - where we start!  Our clients fish there all year round - and have a ball.

Cessna Caravan

 

Cruising at over 250 km/h the big turbo prop Cessna Caravan will have you at the Redneck Riviera just over 30 mins after takeoff from Hamilton Island.  And it is big.  You can fly out for as little as $300 per passenger.

The big float plane can carry all your passengers and all your luggage with ease.

You will land on beautiful Bugatti Lagoon (pictured above).  This is our "headquarters" for the Redneck Riviera; and we know how to fish this area better than anyone.

NIGHT FISHING aDVENTURES

All the reef species are there with lots of great night fishing adventures.  Everything from Sharks to huge Spangled Emperor plus Red Emperor and Red Throat are all part of the action in the beautiful big lagoons on the edge of the Coral Sea. And our anchorages are bullet proof - peaceful and calm.

And if you want to chance your arm on some of the biggest GTs on earth, we know where to find them.  Last year Ray Balks released this monster 44 kg GT - at night and on 15 kg line. 

 

And don't forget our fantastic record of Spanish Mackerel catches.  Clive Leeds' 34 kg monster mackerel was landed on the same trip (again on 15 kg tackle) and where else - the Redneck Riviera!

When the going gets tough . . .  offer incentives!

Our 2010 bookings are filling steadily supporting the theory that the tough times are behind us.  Some of our corporate clients feel that in tough times it is even more important to reward high value clients; and we agree . . . .  so here's the deal . . . .

A free pocket tee for each of your guests!

As an added promotional incentive for 2010 we will continue our offer of a Black Samurai pocket tee shirt for each of your guests - free!!  Plus a Black Samurai Trophy for the best fish of the trip.

Tee shirt back features a colourful collage of gamefish

2010 BOOKINGS

We are now accepting bookings for 2010.  March is already fully booked and there are just two weekends left in April. Some of the other months are also filling so if you want the best moon/tides it pays to get in quick.  

Depending on your priorities we can advise the best moon phase for what you prefer.  For instance if you would like to chase big Spanish as well as reef fish the big tides leading up to Full & New Moon may be best.  We have bookings available in April, June and September and just one weekend in August. October to mid November we are planning to be fishing the marlin season out of Cairns/Lizard Island.  Black Marlin Charters are minimum 5 days - contact us for details.

Sportfishing

A few nice Spaniards are still being caught.  The Spanish Mackerel season is virtually over with a few tailenders still about.  They are in spawning condition and fighting hard.  We have been using only big fresh gar.  Dr.John Goldston reported that the Cobia cutlets were "first class" eating.

Alex Goldston and his mates Tom Dreghorn and Ryan Anderson bagged these beauties just after Christmas

As usual at this time of year we have been also catching our share of Wahoo.  These spectacular speedsters are great fun with the secret being high speed trolling at around 16 - 18 knots.  But beware - to troll at these speeds the only reel with a drag system smooth enough to do it is the Shimano Tiagra.  Our Shimano TI 50W's and custom rods are perfect for the job.  They are rigged with Dacron backing and mono topshots plus our own handmade wind-on leaders.

Before Christmas we saw lots of "free jumping" Black Marlin and Sailfish out at the Redneck Riviera pointing to a good season this coming year.

MARITIME OPERATIONS

We are ready to take on the really tough tasks.  Recently we did an inspection tour of Lihou Reef 600 km offshore.  Our new electric davit crane on the foredeck of Black Samurai handles the new RIB and motor so its easy.

And on San Antonio the big new 4.9 m centre console Southern Pacific pulls better than 25 knots with a full load of passengers and gear.  It is equipped with a 30 HP four stroke Tohatsu with PT&T.

MARGARITAVILLE

A couple of tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert in Ft. Lauderdale just happened to land in my lap.  So what the hell, being a genuine Parrothead I gotta go and check out some boats!