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The weather has certainly changed from summer to autumn this last week, with morning temperatures dropping and fewer flies about (hooray!).
The waters off the west side have been a little green as the large tides have stirred everything up. Anglers that are fishing Gamex have already started to show up in town as they try to get in some practice before the event. This year will see some new faces and familiar ones with over 60 boats expected for the nine-day event.
There will be six days of fishing, and locals and tourists are welcome to come down to the gantry at the rec centre each fishing day evening, to see what is being weighed in.
If you would like to partake in the rigging session on Friday the 27th of March, it starts at 6pm at the rec centre. If you would like to attend the presentation night which is a dress-up pirate theme and live band, you must get tickets first. Tickets will be available from Monday the 30th, but numbers are limited.
The queenfish have been coming in to the marina chasing small bait balls. Youngsters fishing with light spinning outfits have been having success catching these sport fish on tiny metal twisties and soft plastic lures. Large mullet constantly patrol the walls and occasionally get smashed up by large predators. The buff bream also come in through this area and an afternoon there can be very interesting.
Reel Teaser skipper Ross Newton is back in town for Gamex, and headed out for a night chasing broadbill swordfish. On the way out the crew caught a marlin and through the night three sharks were landed, but no broadbill... so far.
The interesting catch was that of a wahoo at 4am on a downrigger, using fresh squid bait. The nights can be amazing on the water, but good weather is imperative. Now is the time to do this and hopefully we will see some more broadbill tagged and caught for this year's event.
 Kevin Field and Anita Beaman were visiting from Sydney last week, when they were greeted with lovely fishing conditions during their eight days. The first day Kevin caught his first longtail tuna of around five kilos. The next couple of days were spent down the creeks at the bottom of the Gulf, catching their first mangrove jack and plenty of good sized cod; baits were the winner on the two days. The third day was spent in the Slot and they were introduced to the shark population we have up here at the moment. The last couple of days were very quiet fishing but the scenery, according to them, was magnificent.
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