The Billfish Report is counting down its Top 10 Billfisheries of the Year, and our #9 Billfishery is Exmouth, Australia. Criteria for our Top 10 include fish numbers, variety of billfish species, average size of fish, length of season and numbers of boats fishing.
Tucked away in far Western Australia lies what is becoming a Billfish Hot Spot. This small town of only 6,000 people may not have the notoriety of its East Coast brethren, if it continues to produce the numbers and variety of Billfish, it will no doubt become a more well known fishing destination. Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin & Sailfish all roam these water and from what we can tell it has excellent inshore fishing as well. This is an almost year round fishery with a chance to catch a billfish in any month.
While this is certainly not a big fish fishery, there were three (3) marlin reported to us over 500 lbs including a pending State Record 651 lbs. Black Marlin for Tails Up and 780 lbs. Blue Marlin for Blue Horizon.We can’t call this a numbers fishery either as they don’t get many 10+ Billfish days. What they do well is variety of billfish species and consistency. When we look at the reports from the two most prominent charter operations in Exmouth (On Strike Sportfishing & Peak Sportfishing) they get an average of 2-3 Billfish a day. Combine that with an almost year round fishery and that is tough to replicate. This is one of the smaller fleets that we cover, which always leaves us with a case of the “what ifs”. Size apparently is not an issue however as they are pumping out marlin that competes with all the big boys.
Congratulations to all the crews fishing in Exmouth, Australia our #9 Billfishery of the Year!
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Peak Sportfishing went 2-2 on Blue Marlin and 3-3 on Striped Marlin
Freeballer went 5-12 on Blue Marlin
On Strike went 5-7 on Black Marlin
Pelagic Hooker released 19 Sailfish
1 Comment
Lakatos
Nice response Darren, it is also good that Vanessa is cocnrened with the state of fisheries in oz.Maybe the community of anglers (non-game) will think twice next time before catching their limit of four snapper in exmouth.The combined age of 4 snapper can be up to 40 years, and this is at their minimum size limit.Does anyone speak out about bottom fisherman? Do they get heckled? All I see is big smiles and high fives from peers and onlookers at the fish cleaning table!?A pelagic fish like marlin are common and prolific in Australian waters, they seem rare to the un-educated public who do not encounter them often.Game fishing and their clubs only help protect fishing through science and education.By the way, on an unrelated subject, plenty of blue marlin were landed this week in 180-200 meters of water. They must of heard about the comp!
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