Tournament Debrief 2019

Port Douglas Marlin Challenge 10th Anniversary 8th - 11th November 2019

With a near perfect weather report for the 10th Anniversary tournament days it was great to see
everyone in an excited mood for the briefing night at the Port Douglas and District Combined Club.
Just under $7000 was raised to fish for in the Calcutta, along with some great trophies and prizes.

Day 1

The first day sail past was a real spectacle on such a perfect morning and the
boats headed off to their chosen fishing grounds from Ribbon 5 in the north down to
Jenny Louise Shoals. A few hook ups were called in but lost on the first day fishing,
then Dan Bergamo’s Wild Turkey tagged a small Black Marlin late in the day to take
out Day 1 and put them in the lead.

Day 2

Day 2 had the fleet spread right out along the reef and it was the boats up north that found the
fish, Wild Turkey with 2 tags, Gorilla with 2 and Cam Bartlett’s Black Magic with
1, giving Day 2 to Wild Turkey on count back from Gorilla.

Day 3

Day 3 went a little quiet, with tags for Black Magic and Reg Moore’s Duyfken
only two minutes apart. Christian Chapman’s Reel Cross tagged a fish later in the
day, giving Day 3 to Black Magic.

Day 4

The final day on Sunday started with Wild Turkey in the lead on 3 tags, from
Gorilla with 2 tags, on count back from Black Magic also on 2 tags. Black Magic
was the first to hook up and tag, moving them into second place. Gorilla hooked up
but lost the fish. Above Grade hooked and fought an estimated 900lb black for about
45 minutes only to pull the hooks. Duyfken also tagged one and finally Wild Turkey
tagged an estimated 500lb Black Marlin to take out the tournament on 4 tags for
angler Bob Reynolds - the first angler to achieve a back to back win in the tournament
and once again have his name engraved on the Leon Thomas Memorial Trophy.
Congratulations Bob !

Tournament statistics:

28 bites for 16 hook ups and 12 tags between 9 boats.