The Betta Electrical Billfish Bonanza was held over the past weekend in relatively good weather conditions (considering it is November!). The forecast windy conditions which kept boat numbers down a little on last year’s Bonanza didn’t eventuate, and anglers were treated to near glass conditions in Exmouth Gulf.

Unfortunately the sailfish weren’t as active as they have been in the previous weeks leading up to the tournament, and as result most boats struggled to find billfish over the weekend.  In what was a close competition, the local boat Frantic skippered by John Morley and with Michael Jacobs as crew took out honours as champion boat overall, and champion boat Tag & Release Sailfish, by tagging what was the winning fish within only half an hour of lines out on the Sunday.

Michael also took out the Champion Angler Sailfish by personally tagging four sailfish over the two-day tournament. The all-female crew on board In Deep fished hard all weekend and finished runner up, one tag behind Frantic.The Champion Boat Marlin category was left unclaimed, with only a couple of boats trying (unsuccessfully) to locate marlin on the west side.

Despite the lack of sailfish many competitors couldn’t stop talking about all the other species that were coming up in to the spread of sailfish teasers and baits. Big cobia, spanish mackerel, longtail tuna and trevally kept anglers busy re-rigging, constantly taking baits and lures meant for the billfish.

With the warm weather there have been some good reports of big bluebone being caught along the west side beaches. Over the summer months the bluebone come right in close to the beach, cruising often as close to only a couple of metres of shore. Big local prawns fished whole on heavy gear are your best chance to catch these tough fighters.

With cray season having just begun, many people have been swapping the fishing rods for masks & snorkels to jump in to try and snare a cray. From all reports the season has started off well with most people having no trouble in gathering a couple of crays for the dinner table.