BlueWater reader realises his dream

BlueWater reader Tony Brindle, of Pindimar, Port Stephens, has been a keen sportsfisherman since he started gamefishing on local boat Born Free in the 1980s. He joined the Newcastle & Port Stephens GFC in 1987 and fishes the Interclub Tournament religiously, on winning boats twice, winning teams seven times, and once winning the champion angler for his club.

Throughout his 20-year fishing career, Tony has cherished a passion for chasing 1000lb-plus black marlin, and recently he realised his dream.

Tony's bait was ambushed and Capt 'Slippery', from Cooktown, called out, "Glad I'm up here in the tower - it's a monster!"

' Wazza', an old-school Cairns deckie now living in Salamander Bay, said to his 60kg, ringing-wet young apprentice,"Here's your first wiring job."

Stammering, the poor boy, Josh, looked back at Wazza and replied, "I'll just watch this one thanks."

Tony still hadn't seen the fish, but if an experienced captain like Slippery said it was big, he believed it. Heart pounding, Tony carried the rod to the chair, locked himself in, wound the rod a few cranks until the line came tight and the creature from the deep poked its head out of the water and shook the line from side to side.

Two and a half hours and a lot of jumps later, Tony and the crew tagged the fish.

" I could not take such a magnificent creature," said Tony of his decision to release the fish. "Having reached my goal, I will now put effort into making sure future generations can experience the thrill of fishing tag and release. Thanks to my old skippers and crews, and the memories of my deceased mates from gamefishing: I know you all must have helped somehow," he said.