Portland Tuna - Now

[Sinsemilla]

Over the past 12 months I hooked up to two barrells (and lost both at the boat ) but that's not the point.

Both were just luck of the draw.

1 - After trolling for hours just like you around Portland, I made the call to speed over to Lady JP Island. Got there, and my first troll of a small Black Magic skirt got smashed by a barrell. There were absolutely no birds, no bait on sounder, no other boats around. After fighting it for 2hrs, we lost it at the boat. (thanks Steve and Ian)

2 - After lots of reports of barrells at Apollo Bay, we headed off to the 9 mile reef and once again 1st or 2nd troll of a small skirt got smashed by a barrell. This time around there were lots of birds diving, a couple of whales too, dolphins, etc. We fought it for about 2hrs and lost it at the boat just as we were going to gaff it (line got cut by the prop). (thanks Marek and Ian)

All up this season I must've been to Portland, Pt Fairy, Apollo Bay at least a dozen times. I only returned home with tuna twice!

Get rid of Ian.. He's sabotaging you hahah

Anth

[ChrisAbout]

No **** lol

[Sinsemilla]

Take Steve and Marek next time and if you land a barrel tell Ian you cant be mates with him anymore.. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life lol

Anth

[snapper hunter]

Over the past 12 months I hooked up to two barrells (and lost both at the boat ) but that's not the point.

Both were just luck of the draw.

1 - After trolling for hours just like you around Portland, I made the call to speed over to Lady JP Island. Got there, and my first troll of a small Black Magic skirt got smashed by a barrell. There were absolutely no birds, no bait on sounder, no other boats around. After fighting it for 2hrs, we lost it at the boat. (thanks Steve and Ian)

2 - After lots of reports of barrells at Apollo Bay, we headed off to the 9 mile reef and once again 1st or 2nd troll of a small skirt got smashed by a barrell. This time around there were lots of birds diving, a couple of whales too, dolphins, etc. We fought it for about 2hrs and lost it at the boat just as we were going to gaff it (line got cut by the prop). (thanks Marek and Ian)

All up this season I must've been to Portland, Pt Fairy, Apollo Bay at least a dozen times. I only returned home with tuna twice!

so the moral of the storey is........ never let Ian be your deeky! Cheers mate

[snapper hunter]

There is a report of a barrel being caught near the rock.

yep I caught that report.

[ChrisAbout]

purple5ive and 4liters - the forum has spoken.

lol @ Anth

[smile0784]

Just got to get out there and keep trying. Use what people tell you as a guide.
It want guantee you fish cos fish move and.mite not be feeding on that day but will give you different areas to try

[Wolly Bugger]

Just got to get out there and keep trying. Use what people tell you as a guide.
It want guantee you fish cos fish move and.mite not be feeding on that day but will give you different areas to try

In July I went to Port Mac, as by all reports the Tuna were there, headed towards where I was told to go, only to hear over the radio, that a bloke was fishing the same area as he did the day before where he caught and released 20 odd fish, Except this day he couldn't find one.

[purple5ive]

purple5ive and 4liters - the forum has spoken.

lol @ Anth

Hahaha man those scarred memories, if anyone deserves a Barrel badly it must be you, you must be able to drive to Portland now with your eyes closed hahahaha.
Poor Ian getting hammered here..

[DougieK]

It's called networking. Build a network and info freely comes and goes through that network that would not ever see light of day in public like this forum.

This is pretty much perfect advice for any specialised kind of fishing.