Latest News

Nov 20 2008

While we have had 3 days up at Lizard Island with a group of guys from Melbourne celebrating a 50th birthday with lots of snorkelling, catching sharks in the opening and little bit of marlin fishing, a few days ago the bite was on to the south at the seamount off Cairns. Those that were there on the first 2 days had great fishing, while the boats that showed up late did not do as well. For a full report check out Kelly Dallings blog www.blackmarlinfishingblog.com

I speared a really nice trout this morning, which is on the menu at the Lodge for the boys tonight.

Got a day off tomorrow, so can catch up on some boatwork and maybe a bit of a spear in the afternoon, then back out on Saturday for the day.

Tim

Nov 17 2008

We are joined for a couple of days with Brad and Ashley on their honeymoon. They are great friends with a whole bunch of mine from Florida and are really enjoying their trip to Australia.

Yesterday we had a pretty good day, the weather came down in the afternoon, and we saw 3 fish on Number 1 Ribbon, a bite from a little one that ate the mackeral that was almost as big as him!!! Which didnt last too long.

A little later we had a nice fish up, lit up like a christmas tree that looked at the scad and the camera but no bite. And in the late afternoon we had a bite from another fish that also ate the scad but didnt come tight.

This morning we woke up to a beautiful calm morning and after our big seafood dinner last night are looking forward to a nice swim.

Tim

Nov 16 2008

Capt Kim Anderson got this giant one off Cairns yesterday 1324 lbs!!!

The big fish are still here and a couple of good ones encountered each day by the fleet.

There are lots of little fish still here and showing up in different places each day so hopefully our turn on another big one will be soon.

Reports from Myrmidon Reef off Townsville has some good fish and numbers down there. So we will be there on the way home.

Tim

Nov 15 2008

We have just finished a wonderful 6 days with first timers to the Reef, Steve and Jo from Western Australia.

The fishing on the marlin front has been slow, but we have had a couple of good days, the first one being Wednesday where we saw 4 fish on the camera, including one about 500 that swam between the scad and the camera , and had one about 150 fall off at the back of the boat, only to try to eat it again. All of this was at No:5 Ribbon.

Thursday we started off with a few scad and swim baits, a couple of tunas and 2 nice dolphin fish. While we were wnding in the dolphin, a marlin about 150 lbs came in on it, and made a couple of passes, but would not look at the pitch scad that went straight over the back when the fish showed up.

I then put out a double hook rig scad on the pitch rod and skipped it off the rigger for a mackeral or wahoo or dogtooth bite. The fish didn't disappoint, a giant spanish mackeral ate the scad and Jo was in the chair on the 50 getting pulled out of the chair and line peeling from the reel.

Up to the side of the boat came this giant Spanish, well over 80 lbs, on the scales she pulled down 93 lbs, by far the biggest I have seen in a long long time (way before Green Zones) and Jo's biggest fish other than a marlin.

Later in the afternoon we tagged a 200 lber for Steve out a little wide off # 5.

Lots of good swimming and a few nice trout sessions on the spear as well this week.

Reports of the fish in numbers down wide off Cairns and further south from the longliners has us all excited about a week at Myrmidon later in the season.

This trip will be 5-10 days from Cairns and finishing in either Townsville or Mackay or even Hamilton Island.
Plan to leave Cairns on Dec 8 - Let me know if you are interested in doing this trip.

Tim

Nov 9 2008

Finishing up 5 days fishing with some friends, and we tagged 2 fish from about 6 bites, and pulled one off at the back of the boat.

The weather has been incredible, and Liz caught her first ever fish, as well as many more including a nice big GT.

The water at Linden Bank has been really good, and the skipjacks are everywhere, with a few ,marlin around as well.

The fishing has been a bit patchy again up the top end and middle Ribbons, but a few good fish still around.

The moon in on the way up this week, with good afternoon flood tides, so hope the fish co-operate for Steve and Jo this week who are joining us for 5 days.

Tim

Fishing should still be good into mid December like the last couple of years, and am looking to do another trip from Cairns down to Townsville or even Mackay leaving the 7th of Dec, let me know if you would like to join me for this of Bundaberg to the Gold Coast.

Nov 3 2008

We have just finshed a wonderful 7 days with Rich and Kelly, with the father daughter team having the whole GBR experience.

Mornings spent diving and spearing, bait fishing, a couple of great scuba dives at Opal Reef and some good fishing days thrown in as well.

Kelly caught a fish for her birthday, and Rich got a nice one about 650 lbs that put on a good show. As well as a 3 fish day.

There have been some incredible days if you are on the right boat, and we have had our shot at a giant fish that missed the bait completely.

Out again tomorrow for 3 days to Cairns and then 2 days back to Cooktown.

With this being a late season, we can fish well into Dec with good fishing this year.

Tim

Happy Halloween from the GBR

Can it get any better? the sun is out, the wind is 15 knots , the seas are much nicer, oh, wait the conversion rate for us can definately improve!!!

Been seeing them and getting them up the last couple of days, but are continuing to have the small fish entangle themselves in the leader and fall off after about 30 seconds. Just long enough for Kelly to get all set in the chair, feel the drag and then fall off. Not the best result.

Thursday saw us raise a big fish that made a pass at the big bait and then disappeared. After working the area for a few hours it was time to head up the track a bit closer to Opal for the run in. At 6.20 we jumped off a little one and that was our day.

Friday we had 4 bites came tight on 2 and they both fell off, but did continue to mark good fish and bait in the area.

Been about the same for most boats, with a few getting the right bite each day, our turn is coming soon hopefully.
Still some good fish around the lower Ribbons , with some 700 and 800 fish the last couple of days.

Next week is open Nov 4 - 9 Tuesday to Sunday inclusive.

Let me kow if you can come.

Tim

Oct 29 2008

Donnie and Rob fished 3 days with us, and what a start to the trip, we found a small one tailing at the top of number 3 and did a few laps and raised a big fish that followed us for a while before committing itslef to the spanish mackeral skip bait.

She just exploded, with more than a dozen big long jumps and got her up to the boat fairly quickly. Chris grabbed the leader, and off she took, just like a blue marlin, ripping the topshot off the reel straight down sea towards the reef and into 100 feet of water in the opening.
After an hour plus with a ton of drag we had her close and the peg mark was on the reel for quite a while but she would not budge with the leader wrapped up on her somewhere. She ended up getting chased and all we got back was the wire all kinked up. Donnie had done a great job in the chair and there wasnt much more we could do.

While we were fighting this fish there were at least 4 other big fish caught right around us.

Later in the afternoon we tagged a feisty one for Rob.

The next 2 days saw me dodge the fish and have a ring side seat to quite a few fish, including more big ones.
Down on the Bank the fishing has been consistent, with lots of tailers and a number of fish over 800+, including a couple over 1000lb fought as well.

Back into Cooktown for changeover and we started yesterday with Richard and Kelly, and after a swim at the Agincourts and lunch we fished Opal ridge in the afternoon for 1 from 2 and saw another one.
Moana and Viking both caught 800 lb fish yesterday down here, and the other boats also had some good fishing.

Meanwhile back in the middle the fish decided to really snap, with over 20 fish caught, many giants over 1000, and one over 1200 lost at the boat.

The fishing has really improved over the last week, and our turn is coming to get amongst some big ones. We are having a dive at north Opal this morning then back out to the Ridge/Bank for the afternoon.

Have next week open, Nov 4-9 inclusive in and out of Cooktown

Let me kow if you can come.

Tim

Fri 24th Oct 2008

Back in Cooktown this morning to resupply with Donnie and Rob for a few days.

The last few days have seen a some good wind, some big fish and a few misses!!! On Sunday we jumped off a really big fish up at Day Reef, and went back on Monday and found a small one for Dave that went nuts. Tuesday we had our second day of the whole season without a fish back up at Day Reef.

Wednesday we headed down the inside of No: 10 Ribbon where we stocked up on big baits, and fished the top of No: 8 for the afternoon, not so good for us, we missed 3 big fish , one of which was a real nice one.

Thursday was our day to reconcile, and after getting a ring side seat to Deano on Castille catching a one right around or over 1000 lbs, we found a nive 600 lber for Dave on his final afternoon. So not too bad , got 2 from 4 in 4 days, and missed 4 others.

Meanwhile also fishing downsea with us was Deano on the Castille, who went 2 for 4 including one about 700 at 2nd Corner on No: 10.

The big fish are definately here now, with 2 over 1000 tagged yesterday, and a bunch of big fish also hooked. Word from the tuna longliners is that there is a large body of fish out wide off the Ribbons, and with the wind conditions , they should be here this week!!!

Everyone is so jacked up!!! cant wait to get back out there tomorrow.

Nov 4-9 inclusive is open, as is Dec 5-15 out of Cairns with another late season, Dec should be great like last year.

Tim

Oct 19 2008

Lizard Island

Guess what? The wind is still blowing hard, solid 25-30 knots the last few days, with the 7 day forecast for the same. But the good news is that the fish have seemed to have returned after a few days on the quiet.

We joined the Atlantic Princess on Friday night after our first day without even seeing one of the season. Thursday we did some bait fishing, and Brett got a fun little black inside the reef while we had all the scad gear out, so it got plenty of line out on us!!!

Yesterday we bait fished to the bottom of No 10 Ribbon catching a bunch of perfect sized small scaleys, and then fished downsea all day. We saw 3 fish, had 2 bites and released a nice little one for our guests from New Zealand.

Meanwhile also fishing downsea with us was Deano on the Castille, who went 2 for 4 including one about 700 at 2nd Corner on No: 10.

I have a great opening in a couple of weeks, NOV 4-9 inclusive that needs to be filled, come and join us. With the wind blowing for the next week at least , the big fish are showing up more and more each day so the next part of the season should be incredible.

Tim

Lizard Island Tournament 2008 Wrap-Up
Oct 12 2008

Well Lydie did an amazing job on the last day to catch 1 from 1 in the comp, and we tagged another after cease fishing to bring her total number to 7 in 7 days!!!

Lydie ended up Champion Female angler on 5 fish, and top male angler had 5 as well, but Lydie got her 5th before he did, so if there was Champion Angler Overall she would have won that as well !!

Champion boat for the second year running was Kanahoee with 6 fish, Hart Throb with 5, Iona with 5, and us TRADITION with 5 for Lydie. I am pretty sure we came one place higher than last year with a 5th, and this year a 4th !!!.

I want to thank the boys for an wonderful job coaching and helping in the pit and we look forward to seeing Peter and Kydie back next year to fish 50lb for the Womens record.

Fished 2nd corner to Heartbreak on #10 today and tagged a feisty small one with some good footage. The fish are snapping in the middle and we are off there in the morning to meet up with the Atlantic Princess in a few days.

Peter B got one near us over 1000lbs, one of 4 this week on the reef. The big girls are here and our turn is soon!!

Tim

Oct 10 2008

Lizard Island Comp day 6

Well Lydie did it again, she is kicking the boys butts!!!

After a great swim at Pixie Pinnicle at the bottom of No 10 Ribbon, we fished down 10 with Moana and Mauna Kea.

The wind was no where near the strength forecast, and was just good fishing weather today.
Sharky on Mauna Kea got off to a good start and tagged one next to us at the bottom of the marks, I didnt see much till mid afternoon when I got to my old hole at Heartbreak Ridge where Lydie did a great job on a nice fish about 450 lbs in 2 minutes, and then we tagged a second fish just after 5pm at second corner, this one about 300 lbs.

Todays fish gives Lydie a total of 4 fish and champion lady angler with one day to go, and the top male angler has 3.

I am pretty sure there are 2 boats with 5 fish and 4 with 4, including us, tomorrow is going to be a ripper of a finish!!!.

Here is todays 450lb fish eating the scad.

Check the available dates for our few openings available for this season. With the Australian dollar down , it is a great deal.

Tim

Oct 10 2008

Well after another great breakfast and swim behind No:5 Ribbon Reef, and a good session on the big baits we fished up from the bottom of No: 5 to the top of No: 8 in the afternoon.

There were 11 fish tagged today, with Kanahoee tagging 2 fish on No:7, while we caught Lydie her second one of the comp that counts, a nice fish about 500 lbs on No: 7 as well. At the moment with 2 more days to go she is leading the champion lady angler division, which is our goal for the comp.

The wind is sort of here now, about 20-25 knots, and picking up a bit on Saturday before going back to 25 for Sunday.

Not sure where I will fish today, but will end up at Lizard for the night.

Tim

Thursday Oct 9 2008

The fishing has been improving each day with 11 and 13 tags for the last 2 days.

We did not see one yesterday, but had a great swim and spear at No:1 Ribbon yesterday morning and the girls had a great time.

Brian Felton is leading the comp with 5 fish, mostly fishing up the top end of Day, Hicks and Jewell Reefs on a little Riviera. Brian helped build Tradition and has had a hand in all the engineering of Dick Wards boats.

Dan on Moana III went out real wide with the longliners for a couple of days and only had one bite, but what a bite it was, he was pulling lures and hooked and fought a giant BLUE marlin for 1 hour 40 minutes and pulled the hook on the leader with the fish just dogging at 20-30 feet, they never had a shot at it with the gaffs as she was too deep.

The Longliners have been having good shots, but the sharks and pilot whales have been destroying their catch, with one boat loosing 150 hooks from one shot to the sharks.

The wind is coming this afternoon, and will be here for a few days so we are all anticipating the fish to start showing up in numbers any day now!!!

Tim

Oct 6 2008 :Lizard Island Comp Day 1

We picked up Peter, Lydie and Claire up in Cooktown after we all had an incredible dinner at Shadows, which is now our go too place in Cooktown!!! We ran up to the top of No:8 Ribbon and fished down 9 for awhile, then went for a great snorkel and lunch, then just bait fished up to Lizard for the registration and breifing. I took the girls for a snorkel to the clam gardens and we all had a nice relaxing afternoon.

First day of the comp and after the sailpast (which this year was ok, I just waited and let everyone go!!!) we had the first fish on for the comp for Lydie, which we pulled the hook on the leader after about 10 minutes, so did not count for the comp, but did for Lydie!!!

Brian Felton running a littel private Riviera got the first release of the day, a nice big 900 lber up the top end, Hicks/Day area which also proceded to break the chair out of the boat!!! They then spent the next few hours fixing it before going back out.

Fishing was slow, I think there were only 6 fish tagged for the day, and another 6 or so bites. We anchored at the bottom of No:9 and are heading south today. The reports form the long liners off the seamount off Cairns is that the fish are thick, and on their way in. The forecast is for 10-15 and 15-20 the next few days, then really blowing Friday and Sat, so any fish offshore will be blown in in no time - Cant wait to catcha few big ones.

Tim

Here is Lydies fish on the tow cam as it ate, and a nice close up of a barracudas mouth!!!

Oct 3 2008

Chugging into Cooktown this morning after a quick swim and leaving the boys on the mothership to head to Lizard Island to catch their flight home.

We had some pretty good wind, and as a result found a few fish, we fished No: 10 again on the 1st but did not see a fish all day, but yesterday with a change of plan we bait fished down to the top of No: 7 and on the second downsea tack got piled on by a real fun 350lb fish for Justin, and later in the day we had one follow the swim bait for 2 minutes on the towcam before eating the bait and we got a nice little one about 200 lbs for Simon.

After a great dinner on the Atlantic Princess we watch the footage from the day on the big screen.

Into Cooktown today, to pick up Peter, Lydie and Claire, and off to Lizard island tomorrow after a fish down No: 10, then the breifing for the annual Lizard Island tournament.

Tim

Wed Oct 1st 2008

Well we have had good couple of days on No: 10 Ribbon Reef, on our way up we tagged another one about 300lbs, and yesterday with the boys from Christchurch in New Zealand, we tagged a really feisty one at Heartbreak that was about 250 for Graeme.

Fished down to the middle/bottom of the Marks and watched Release let go a real big fish, and the Allure got a small one as well.

Other reports form further south has the Too Easy with a nice one 2 days ago about 750 and jumped another similar one off yesterday. About 10 boats fished the Bank yesterday and Calypso got one of about 4 or 5 fish total, but was the BIGGEST he has caught up here. Not sure how big, as the charter called for the tag and release.

The conditions are perfect, SE 15-20 knots for the next week and we are having a blast with the mothership Atlantic Princess.

Thats all for this morning, off for breakfast.

Tim

pics of dinner by Brett , Kuranda falls fromt he Skyrail, Mossman Gorge, and yesterdays fish for Graeme.

Sept 29 2008

No: 3 Ribbon Reef

Finished up wth David and John on Friday, after 2 days of windy conditions and a couple of small fish that jumped off at the back of the boat while fishing Spur, Onyx and the bottom of Linden Bank. The boys also managed a really nice yellowfin tuna each the last 2 days.
There has been a good bite at the Bank, with 1-4 fish per boat the last few days, but mostly small ones so far caught. Up to 800lbs, with a few bigger ones cruising around.

We left Cairns yesterday and ran up to Opal Reef to drop off some parts for Calypso, then bait fished up St Crispins where we topped up on big baits.
We spent the afternoon fishing downsea and tagged a couple of 300 lbers at Lene Reef, and ended up anchored at No: 3 for the night with Kekoa and Viking II.

Heading up to Lizard Island for the night to meet up with the Atlantic Princess for a few days mothershipping with clients.

Still have the opening after the Lizard Island Comp- Oct 12-24 inclusive. Either with or without the mothership for that period.

The bite in the middle Ribbons has been really consistent, with the few boats that are there catching at least 1 a day, as are the boats fishing No: 10 Ribbon off Lizard Island.

Will be fishing No:10 this afternoon.

Tim

Tues Sept 23 2008

Noggin Reef, just south of Cairns.

After a few good days bait fishing we now have full freezers and start heavy tackle in earnest today.

The fishing on Linden bank has been good, and we will be fishing there this afternoon. Compared to last year the water is already 78-79 degrees (as opposed to 76 last year ) and the current is smoking south at 1.5 knots, so the good water is in close and running hard. All the best signs we could hope for!!!

now some bad news for me, but good for you!!!
One of my clients cannot make his trip from Oct 12- Oct 24 inclusive.

We also have the mothership Atlantic Princess available for Oct 16-24.

Please pass this on if you know anyone who might be interested.

Capt Tim

Sept 18 2008

Another day at Cape Bowling Green with lots of encounters but not many results to the boat.

We had/saw at least 8 fish again today but only managed to convert 2 all the way to the boat, one for each of the boys. Here is John with his Black Marlin.

Also have a pic of a typical bait ball.

The weather is still incredible and we are starting to wander further north today.

Tim

Sept 17 2008

Cape Bowling Green , Townsville

Chris and I have had the most incredible trip up the coast, less then 15 knots the whole way wind wise, and pretty much 5-10 knots from the SE each day. I cant remember not getting hammered coming up the coast for a long time!!!

We got a nice Blue of about 450 on the way from Lady Musgrave up to the bottom of the Swains, and then spent 4 days filling the freezers with big baits.

We picked up David and John at Hamilton Island on Sunday afternoon and spent a wonderful night in that magical place - Nara Inlet. Monday we fished from the Whitsundays out to Old Reef, about 30nm from Cape Bowling Green, and managed to get a nice big sail of around 100lb and feisty little black as well form another bite and one other sighting. We spent the night rafted up to the our mothership "Atlantic Princess" www.AtlanticPrincess.com She has another big refit and is just beautful.

Yesterday we fished Cape Bowling Green and while seeing about 8 fish , we only managed to catch 2 , while jumping off 3 others!!! The bait was not really to be found , but we will see what happens today.

Reports form up north have Bill on the Viking starting his heavy tackle season yesterday and went 3 for 5 out front of Cairns. The big girls are here, and we will be there at the end of the week/early weekend to fish the bank all next week.

Only 1 or 2 openings left so if you want to come for what is shaping up to be an incredible season, drop me an email.

Tim

Sept 3 2008

Well the paintwork and varnish are almost finished, the boat is all waxed up, and Chris and I leave for the great warm north this weekend. I am so excited about this season, the little blacks have been back to good numbers and after a heavy wet season, the feel is for the fishing to return to the exceptional times that we used to have 5 -10 years ago. I cant wait to see all of my regular clients , and especially keen to show those guests fishing with us for the first time this season, a wonderful experience that only the Great Barrier Reef can deliver. Cant wait to see and hear from you all, Tim.

Some of the open dates have been filled and a few still open as outlined below. Let me now if you want to take one of these openings.

Cairns Heavy Tackle openings: (all dates are inclusvie)

Sept 26 - Oct 3 Starting in Cairns and finishing Cooktown AU$2750 (US$2500) per day special, one my favourite and most productive times of the year.

Oct 12 - Oct 15 inclusive 4 days Cooktown to Cooktown

Nov 4 - Nov 9 inclusive 6 days Cooktown to Cooktown inclusive

Nov 16/17 Cooktown to Cooktown or Lizard Island

Nov 21 - Nov 25 Cooktown to Cairns

Dec 10 - ? Mackay/Bundaberg to Gold Coast -via Lady Musgrave/ even outer reefs - light tackle, heavy tackle, snorkelling, a fun week away from work!!! $2000 per day , up to 3 guests all inclusive. Lots of options, great weather and good fishing.

Mid Dec Gold Coast to Yamba via Byron Bay, Ballina 3- 6 days light and heavy tackle fishing. $2000 per day

Capt Tim Richardson

www.TraditionCharters.com

For more info on any of these openings please contact me by email at Tim@TraditionCharters.com or intl 61 427 758768 or in Australia on 0427 758768

18 August 2008

Well it’s that time of the year again when we are in full swing getting the boat ready for the next 4 months of fishing and travelling. The varnish and paint work is well underway and will be heading north the first week of September.

With no charter for Townsville this year I am just heading straight to Cairns to start heavy tackle fishing around the 20th of September.

These extra few weeks came in handy, I had an accident and broke 5 ribs, punctured a lung and broke my shoulder blade into 4 pieces, and so having some recovery time has been very helpful. It’s been a month now and is getting better each day, but always overdoing it getting the boat ready for you all to enjoy.

I have also been busy with the design and drawings for the new 56 Tradition, which will start as soon as I have the current boat sold. The 56 will feature many features never seen before and has evolved into the most exciting boat to be built for what we use it for.

For more info on the 56 see www.TraditionBoatworks.com, more updated drawings will be uploaded in the next couple of weeks, and if you have always wanted to own the greatest 50’ game boat built, (the current Tradition) please let me know.

Now to fishing, the little blacks have been consistent out of Townsville and Cairns for the past few months, which have been a good sign of good heavy tackle fishing over the years, and last year proved it right, with no little blacks, and slow fishing, so hopefully the trend stays.

I have a wonderful crew this year again with Paul Sharpe running the deck for the season, joined by a Cairns first timer in Chris Weeks, who has just spent this season pulling on big blues in Madeira on Tracy Melton’s boat. My good buddy Brandon is coming as well to fish the Lizard Island Tournament with regulars Peter and Lydie, and staying to fish some of his clients.

I have a few holes to fill that seem to be getting booked and unbooked over the last month!! I would love to find some keen folks to fish the first couple of weeks of the season,
Sept 20 – Oct 3, this has always been one of my favorite times of the year, with lots of fish and many big ones around as well. I can do great deals on this time, as I want to fish it so much.
I also have the week after LI Tournament, Oct 12-18, which has always been a consistent time, and we know exactly where the best fishing is as the fleet is spread out for the previous week.
For those who like the warmer and calmer times that November brings, I have Nov 4-9 and Nov 16 – 30 open.

I am also open for trips down the coast in Dec, via the popper fishing and wide grounds of Myrmidon Reef, Bugatti Reef complex and the Swains, down to Brisbane.

Well best wishes to everyone from me and I hope to hear from you all and hopefully see a few of you in those great openings I have open.

Capt Tim Richardson

www.TraditionCharters.com

For more info on any of these openings please contact me by email at Tim@TraditionCharters.com or intl 61 427 758768 or in Australia on 0427 758768

May 28 2008

Well I have been slack and neglecting the website for the last month or so, but there are good excuses :) I have been busy editing video, fishing all over and getting all of my wonderful clients dates sorted for the big Cairns season coming up!!!.

We fished the Certifiable in the World Sailfish event in Key West and just got flogged!!! It was very frustrating, fishing side by side and watching everyone around us catch them one after another, whilst we just could not raise any fish. We did manage a couple, but after 3 days of fishing were really looking forward to heading home and over to the the Bahamas for some blue marlin fishing.

Off to the Bahamas and back to Boat Harbour in the Abacos after more than 5 years since I was last there. It hasnt changed at all, same place and people that we have known for nearly 15 years wheni first started fishing the BBC events.

A half hour in the computer and all my old event markers are in the GPS and we fished the first day catching a blue and a white. Glad to see the fish still know where to be!!! The next 2 days we got 2 more small blues, so not too bad.

The Bertram Hatteras Shootout is one of the oldest events in the Bahamas, and with only 30 boats this year was nice and fun. We all cought up with lots of friends, and made some new ones as well. The weed had been brutal, basically with 4 guys in the pi and me on the bridge constantly winding in, de weeding and resetting the baits and lures for hours on end. Really tough conditions. As a result the fishing as slow to say the least, and my previous days efforts were not to be repeated!!!

We did mange a sail on a pitchbait, and Mark again did the damage. Shortly after we did get a bite form a nice fish around 400, but just knocked it out and went away. The boys on the Fish Tales, a 60 Hatteras won with a few fish, and took the double, having won it also last year, a great effort. Hatteras took home the trophy for top manufacturer for the unpteeenth year in a row!!!

Our fine Bertram lived up to its reputation as the crappiest sea boat ever built!!! Coming back in the south Man of War cut, just following a few boats and with the Hatterascal behind me. Just rolling along in the tower and making the turn before the bombie, the boat broke loose and turned right as hard as you could imagine was possible. I had absolutely no control over the boat at all, no steering and heading for the breaking reef about 200 feet infront. I grabbed the controls and pulled it back to neutral, but of course with electronic controls the big 16V2000's were not too keen to slow down that fast. When it finally stopped the bow was over the breaking waves and I was able to find reverse and get back into deeper water. It was the scariest situation I have ever been in, in my life. Who ever designed the hull should be shot!! a giant keel and tunnels on a 40 knot boat is just a recipe for disaster. We found no failure in the steering, nothing broke, the shitty hull threw dirty water in the rudders and she just broke loose. Dave on the Hatterascal said he saw my entire port rudder out of the water it was leaned over that hard.

With the boat back home in florida we went back down to Bertram to look at the new boat, and after 3 weeks since our last visit, they had not done a thing other than put it into the water. And as a result we know have to take the current boat north for the tournament season.

Anyway I am off home for 10 days to do some work on Tradition, (the finest sea boat ever built) . I am really excited about taking her for a run, and spending some time with my family. I have been gone since December, so will be fun to go home for a week.

Well I have about 2 weeks open for the Cairns season this year and just cant wait to get home and fish on a real fishing boat that handles, rides and is such a pleasure to be on!!!

Then back to Florida to head north for the mid atlantic tournament season.

If you want to come and fish this year, let me know !!!

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com

April 08

Just got back to Florida after a long weekend fishing with my buddies Capt Bruno and John on the Pipe Layer. We were fishing out of Casa De Campo in the Dominican Republic, a 2 hour flight south of Miami. the airport at La Romana is about 10 minutes from the marina complex and one of the most beautiful places to stay and eat that I have been too. Definately world class, and leaves most of the other countries around to shame for quality of food and ammenities.

Then there is the fishing, we fished 2 days and saw 9 blue marlin, 4 on the first day and 5 on the second. We were trying to catch John one on 20lb tippet on fly so were set up for teasing.

A long rigger on each side , and bridge teaser on the left, the right rigger rod run from the left side of the chair to give plenty of room for the fly angler on the right.

Day 1:
We raised a fish that would not switch, and were constantly getting piled on by big dolphin, I mean damn 30-40 lbers for an hour or so, then we got away from them. As a note, there was one that went 68lbs caught while we were there. And thye are all super fat and healthy, as are the little blue marlins we are targetting. Most fish run 60-150 lbs, and are perfect for teaser fishing with 30 and 50s. We then had a fish tease in nice and John put the fly in the right spot as we pulled the teaser away whilst in neutral. It is probably the best style of bite you can get, no white water, a big fly and an angry lit up blue marlin!!!

The fish failed to find the fly, and faded off, and would not take a ballyhoo we cast back to him. Off again and raised one that switched well, ate a new bigger fly and we were off , only to last about 5 monutes before this fish tore all over the surface and broke the tippet on its shoulder. I think we raised another one that just went away.

The next day John wasnt feeling so well, so he informed me I was the angler for the day!!

So Arturo and I set up the spread and about 30 minutes in, we raised one on the bridge teaser, Bruno teased the fish in, neutral, I cast the fly and the fish ate going away perfectly. this one was about 120lbs and just took off stright down into the backing and just screaming line off the big Abel reel. Up on top and just tearing the ocean apart, as well as the tippet, so that one was over in about 5 minutes.

An hour later we raised another fish , Arturo teased it in, and I cast the fly once in neutral, the fish was all lit up and about 70lbs, he was coming at me so I popped the fly and he missed, then spun around and ate going away. Perfect hookup , and after a great battle of 30 minutes we let him go and got our fly back.

Arturo caught one on a 50 after it wouldnt tease in and i jumped in and got some video of this fish.

We also saw one tailing that day as well, but couldnt get close.

Back at the dock, a great meal, and ready for the flight home the following afternoon. Tuesday moring we went to the shooting range, and shot some skeet, with was a ton of fun.

I cant wait to get the Certifiable there next year after our time in Isla Mujeres Mexico. Hope the boss is keen.

Off to Key West this week for a week of pre fishing prior to the World Sailfish Tournament, then the Bahamas for the Shootout, Harbour island and the Big Four, then back to Florida to pick up the new boat.

Still got some openings for Cairns, so let me know if you want to join me on Tradition.

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com

March 22 2008

How Good Tactics Pay Off.

I am currently in Florida running a 63 Bertram which basically fishes 3-4 days a week, and we fish most tournaments, about 15 a year.

We were in the Bahamas to fish the Bacardi Billfish Tournament, which this year was mandatory to fish circle hooks with bait, whether dead or alive, even though there was a lot of money for the tuna, wahoo and dolphin categories.

Billfish were based on blues at 100 points, white marlin at 75 and sails at 25, with a point per pound for blues over 99 inches(about 375lbs)

So the goal was to fish for a weighing fish, and see what happened.

First day was slow, and we saw a white and a sail but no bite from either, only a few fish caught by the 38 or so boats. Most boats are 50 foot and up, fuel was US$4.62 a gallon, so long runs cost. We were running about 20-30 nm each way.

Second day I went to the huge eddy out over the tuna canyon area south east of Port Lacaya, and we managed a white marlin on the shotgun lure, and a nice dolphin that missed the money by 1 lb. Finishing day 2 with 75 points for our white, put us in 3rd place on time. Extremely slow fishing. Rum Bum released a little blue for 100 points and the lead.

Third day I went back to the same place to find less bait and the eddy moving north away from the canyon edge. I moved down to Little Issacs where we saw a boat catch a sail and heard of a white and sail in the same area, these were the only 3 fish for the fleet for the day.

So with this in mind we headed for the exact spot where 4 boats had released 3 fish, and on the way after a meeting of the minds decided that we should fish for sails and whites as all but one fish for the 3 days was a white or sail.

We rigged up the 20lb rods with naked ballyhoo on circle hooks, a daisy chain of mullets on one side , and a green squid chain with a mackerel on the end on the left.

We left out our shotgun, just incase.

I found the bait on the edge in 600 feet and just ran up and down the ledge over the bait till a sail popped up on the left teaser, we switched it to the bait and released a sail in about 2 minutes. Returing to the spot, I headed into the current and found some more bait and an hour later we raised a white marlin, and after dumping to it once, with no hookup, the fish came back up on the retrieved bait, and dumped the bait again and came up tight this time. A tough fight of an hour on a white about 75 lbs and we let him go. This fish fought on top like a blue, then took about 600yards straight down, the line hooked under his pectoral fin. We found why he went nuts, the circle was right in the roof of his mouth into the nerve.

We put a ton of heat on this fish, and having a 25 year veteran boat captain on the rod (Mark) made the difference.

Meanwhile 8-9 boats were fishing rigger to rigger with me, and only one other had made the switch for small baits, and he had not seen a fish all day. The other boats , still pulling 80's for marlin had not even raised a fish, and by this stage needed a blue to catch us on points anyway.

I ran back to my numbers, as we had moved about 3 miles out to sea fighting the fish,, and had just finished setting up, when here comes a sail on the mullet chain, a perfect dropback, came tight and released our third fish of the day in less than a minute.

About 30 minutes later the wind switched, the bait disappeared and we kept pounding the edge for the next 2 hours as we waited for the 3pm end of day call. Only 3 sails were released by the rest of the fleet for the day.

We had come from about 6th on time, and ended up winning the daily with 125 points, to give us a total of 200, and the win by 50 points.

So with a good decision to play the odds and fish light for the sails and whites we outfished everyone else who had stuck to fishing for a weighing fish.

I will be home for the Cairns season, so come and fish with me.

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com

March 15 2008

Exciting last minute win at the 29th Annual Bacardi Rum Billfish Tournament

"Certifiable", a 63' Bertram, owned by Sydney Sussman of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, roared back on the last day of fishing to score a narrow victory over an elite field of 38 participating boats. "Certifiable" is captained by Australian heavy tackle Captain Tim Richardson (who runs the TRADITION for the Cairns season) and crewed by Mark McDevitt and Brian Woll, both of Florida.

Entering the last day of fishing in third place, Certifiable released two sails and one white to win this popular event by a margin of fifty points. Sydney Sussman is one of the most colorful and well-liked personalities in the tournament circuit. At the awards, their victory was cheered by all of his peers.

Second place in the tournament was awarded to the smallest boat in the fleet, Mirage, a 31 foot Contender, owned by Charles Chamon of Sea Bright, New Jersey. Mirage released a total of two sails and one white to earn 125 points.

Luis Bacardi's seasoned Rum Bum was the third place winner, and released the only blue marlin in the event.

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com

March 13 2008

We have fished the first 2 days of the 2008 Bacardi Billfish Tournament, and there have been no blue marlin released yet.

First day there were 7 sails released, and the biggest wahoo was 58 lbs, dolhpin 25.5, ours was 3rd at 19.5 and the biggest tuna was a blackfin at 7 lbs!!! incredible that there are no yellowfins around at all.

Yesterday there were 3 whites and a couple of sails , we are in 3rd overall on time with our white release.

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com

March 2 2008

Well it has been a busy couple of months, I got back from Panama and went up to the snow with one of my clients and his boys for a long weekend and we all had a great time.

Back in Florida, I am now running a 63 Bertram called the Certifiable, out of Palm Beach. We sailfish about 3-4 days a week and are fishing most of the Bahamas Tournaments over the next few months before heading up the coast for the summer Mid Atlantic Tournaments.

Heading off the end of the week for the Bacardi Rum Tournament out of Port Lacaya, which is basically a big party as spring break is also on!!!!

Will update as we go along.

I am filling up the Cairns season, so let me know if you would like to come.

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com

Panama 2008

Just got back from 10 days in Panama and Pinas Bay.
Fished with my clients from the Pipe Layer with Capt Bruno. We had an absolute blast!!! The night clubs in Panama City are incredible and seeing the Canal again is just as awe-inspiring as the first time you see it.

The country side is just absolute tropical jungle, and being only 6 degrees south of the equator it does get a bit warm in the sun!!!

We fished Pinas bay for 4 full days, and saw some marlin and a bunch of sails but they were feeding funny, and just grabbing the pitch bait and dropping it, the last day they started to chew so we made up for lost time and released 6 big sails for our guests.

I got some great underwater footage, and the pics can be seen below.

I am back in Florida now for a while, so if you want to talk to me in person about fishing on the Great Barrier Reef this season call me on 772 214 7120 or email Tim@traditioncharters.com

Tim

www.TraditionCharters.com