Lizard Island, Australia – Congratulations to Top Shot for winning the 26th Annual Lizard Island Classic. It took 14 Black Marlin to win this years week long competition. Little Audrey managed 8 Black Marlin to take 2nd. Fishing was slow on average for most boats, with 26 Boats participating and 84 Black Marlin released. It can be said however, that only this Tournament could be deemed “slow”, when 7 Grander Black Marlin were released during this competition. This is absolutely unparalleled Tournament when it comes to big fish. Below is the report from Bob Lowe, the President of the Lizard Island Gamefish Club.

REPORT ON THE 26th LIZARD ISLAND BLACK MARLIN CLASSIC 2012.

The 26th Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic got off to a flying start at the Calcutta Auction Briefing Dinner on Saturday, 20th October 2012, in the Marlin Centre at Lizard Island Lodge, where 26 Teams from 9 Countries registered,

After a spectacular Parade of Boats in Anchor Bay in front of the Lodge, the signal was given for the fleet to proceed to the Outer Reef for start fishing and our boats from 80ft down to 35ft blasted off in a spray of blue water foam.

DAY 1:There were 24 strikes, 16 hook-ups for 10 tags with the Daily Award for most tags going to “Viking II” with their team tagging a 600 pounder ahead of 9 other boats who each tagged 1, ranging in size from 150 pound to 700 pound.

DAY 2:  “Think Big” took out the award for most tags with 3, on a countback from “Top Shot” with 3. There were a total of 14 tags with one over a 1000 pound on “Kekoa”. Champion Team at this stage was “Think Big” with 4 tags from “Top Shot” with 3. Size ranges from 250, 300, 400, 650 and 850 pounds, from 24 strikes and 19 hook-ups.

DAY 3: We had 20 strikes for 14 hook-ups and 11 tags, with 1 of 1100 pound, 1 at 1050 pound, one at 900, 1 at 700 and through the range down to the smallest ever tagged in 26 years of this event, a 30 pounder!
Daily Award for the most tags went to “Maverick”, with 1 on a countback from 10 other boats, also on 1.
“Think Big” retained Champion Boat title with 4 tags from “Top Shot”, also with 4.

DAY 4: There were 29 strikes, 22 hook-ups for 15 tags, including another 1100 pounder. Sizes ranged from 900 to 800 to 750, down the range to 150.
“Top Shot” with 3 tags, moved into the Champion Team, with 7 tags, destined to be never headed. “Think Big” went to Runner-up with 5 tags, on a countback from “Viking II”, with 5.

DAY 5: The best so far, in the prevailing windy conditions. There were 35 strikes 24 hook-ups and 17 tags, from 950 pound to 600 to 150 pound.
“Top Shot” won the honours with 3 tags and remained Champion Team with 10 tags from Runner-up “Think Big” with 6 tags, on a count back from “Viking II” and “Little Audrey”, also on 6.

DAY 6: The weather improved and there were 31 strikes, 22 hook-ups for 15 tags, with 1 at 1200 pound and 2 at 1100 pound, then ranging from 800 to 500 to 150.
“Top Shot” won the Daily Award again with 3 tags, to retain Champion Team with 13 tags from “Little Audrey” with 8.

DAY 7: Glassy seas, but the slowest day of the event! There were 5 strikes for 2 tags, with a 950 pounder to “Maverick”, who took out the Daily Award on a count back from “Top Shot” with 1 tag.

Overall Champion Team was “Top Shot” with 14 tags from Runner-up “Little Audrey” with 8 and “Kekoa” in 3rd Place with 7, on a count-back from “Maverick”, also 7.

Champion Male Angler with 14 tags was Tomonori Omi from Japan fishing on “Top Shot”.

Runner-up Male Angler was Jim Wild from Canada on “Viking II” with 6 tags.

Champion Female Angler was won by Sharon Poulter on “Think Big” with 5 tags.

Runner-up Female Angler was Sue Ahlers on “Hellraiser” with 1 tag, on a count back from Patricia Azelis on “Reel Chase” and Sue Tarbotton on “Iceman”, who also had 1 tag each.

Champion Boat went to “Top Shot” with 14 tags from Runner-up “Little Audrey” with 8.

Overall, there were 158 strikes, with 119 hook-ups for 84 tags. With 7 “Granders”, the estimated size of all 84 Black Marlin tagged was as follows:

30 lb 1; 100 lb 5; 150 lb 13; 200 lb 14; 250 lb 15; 300 lb 6; 350 lb 4;  400 lb 3; 450lb 1;  500 lb 2; 600 lb 2; 650 lb 1; 700 lb 1; 750 lb 1; 800 lb 2; 850 lb 2;
900 lb 2; 950 lb 2; 1000 lb 2; 1050 lb 1; 1100 lb 3 and 1200 lb 1.

The Stats of this 26th Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic supports the claim that this event is the best Heavy Tackle Black Marlin Tournament in the World!!

Next years dates 12th to 19th October 2013.

Lizard Island Game Fish Club Inc
Bob Lowe
President & Tournament Director.