With our season a short one due to family commitments, we headed south for our final quest. It looked like we might go unrewarded when we came up empty handed on the first two days. However, all good things come to those who wait and mid-afternoon on the third day we hooked up.

This was a truly beautiful fish. At around 900lb, it did everything a Black Marlin is supposed to do. So much so that CP remarked that it had probably been caught before and had learned the ropes.

It took line, jumped all over the ocean, went deep and fought hard for about 40 minutes.

Young Elliot displayed a new found skill as a photographer while simultaneously steering the chair.

This was my 19th marlin for the season and it looked like I had ended on a good one. However, having previously declared the season over on Sunday evening and heading for Cairns on Monday morning, we elected to have a quick fish on our way south. We caught what we called the Airport Marlin - the one on the way to the airport - and although he was a virtual baby at 150lb, he made it 20 for me for the season.