Some 64 game boats contested the Cairns 40th Anniversary Tournament last week in conditions which certainly tested the boats and crews. Winds were 25 to 30kts for the four days of the tournament, with seas 2.5 to 3m outside the reef.

A total of 100 black marlin were tagged, mostly around the 200lb mark although several larger fish to 950lb were released.

Shaka caught three and our sister boat, Mauna Kea, won the tournament with nine.

Our most exciting moment was one that we missed. This lively 200lb fish was hooked in the cheek and came to the boat very green. He went berserk when our number 1 took the leader and put a nice hole in the transom before pulling the hook.




Watch the video!