December 1998 - Grant Kime got an early Christmas present when he landed a 92kg Black Marlin off the rocks at Jervis Bay. The fish was caught on 24kg which makes it a world record! Unfortunately, the double was just over the IGFA legal length.

December 1998 - According to a spokesperson for the Australian Pilchard Industry, this new outbreak of the herpes virus seems to be more fatal then in 1995, as it is killing juvenile pilchards. This didn't happen in 1995. In a recent media report on ABC Television, the report showed it's concern for the industry. Perhaps 60 people may lose their jobs or be stood down until the pilchard fishery becomes healthier and number increase. The report went on to interview local pilchard fishermen. Most of these fishermen catch pilchards to sell to the bait or pet food industry*. There was NOT ONE mention of the impact to the food chain in the report. It is this type of attitude to the environment that has cause this problem in the first place, as the imported frozen pilchards are being blamed for the introduction of the virus again!!
* We rape a native fishery to feed a introduced species (the family cat)

25 December 1998 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

December 1998 - It seems the mysterious herpes-type virus has struck the pilchard fishery in Australia again. Over 100,000 tonnes of pilchards have died already along the Western Australia and Southern Australia coast line and the virus in spreading into Victoria. The last time this happened was in 1995 when millions of tonnes of pilchards died. It is unclear why this virus has occurred again and scientist are baffled about how to combat it. This virus may have been introduced to Australia in imported frozen pilchards from New Zealand. These imported pilchards are used to feed the Southern Bluefin Tuna population which are farmed in huge transportable pools at Port Lincoln, South Australia.  This is extremely serious for not only the pilchards but everything that feeds on them. Billfish, tuna, sharks, dolphins and sea birds will suffer possible starvation with such a huge chunk taken out of the food chain. BTS will keep you informed.

November 1998 - Well....the BTS team went, seen and conquered. A trout of 1.8kg was landed on a Mr Flash Demonoid and released. Unfortunately the shutter on the camera was allowing to much light in and that ruined the film. I unlikely story we hear you say.......well.. you just have to believe us!

November 1998  - BTS is continuing to perfect it's Ocean Flies (and the BTS Ocean Flies page) the only way we know how.......by catching fish on them.  Recently an excellent capture was made on a BTS Mr Flash Demonoid, while testing the casting weight against strong winds (on a 8wt BTS Come Hither proto-type...of course) in one of the local lakes............a TROUT!!! Unfortunately no photo is available as he didn't have his camera. The fish weighed about 3lbs and was released. As a result of this bizarre capture, the BTS team is going to the same lake, stand in his footprints and give it a try soon......so stay tuned!!

November 1998 - Australian Flyfishing Guru Dean Butler has written an excellent article in the September 1998 edition of MARLIN ( The International Sportfishing Magazine) which details the techniques that may help in catching that record fish.

November 1998 - Karen Heldt, after 10 attempts on 6kg game tackle she succeed. She captured a 112lb Blue Marlin!!!! She battled her fish for nearly 3 hours. This fantastic achievement happened on 8th May, 1998. I bit late for news, but hey.....we only found out yesterday.

October 1998 - The Botany Bay Game Fishing Club (BBGFC) Sydney, Australia, is hosting a major gamefishing tournament in the year 2000. Entitled the "Botany Bay 2000 Olympic Game Fish Tournament" is should prove to be one of the most successful tournaments ever held in Australia. Dates are October 6th to 10th 2000 and the tournament contact is 61 2 9526 1446 (international), so feel free to call to organize a charter boat. October is a great time for fishing off Sydney as the warm currents bring Mako, Yellowfin, Albacore and Striped Marlin. Mammoth Tiger Sharks can of course be caught all year round!

October 1998- Due to the amazing season Port Stephens (Australia) had with Billfish captures, the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club (NPSGFC) will run a new tournament, to be held next year. Entitled  "The 1999 Fly Rodders Billfish Grand Prix" , it will generate a great deal of interest, both in Australia and overseas. It will be held Tuesday, March 16 to Sunday, March 21 1998, as this is prime time for Billfish and other gamefish in that area. Five world record captures occurred this year at Port Stephens and next year should be just as successful. Of course there's stories of the ones that got away, like the great Billy Pate fighting a two Marlin in the 330lb to 400lb range. Billy broke the 10kg tippet on both fish, one of them close to being gaffed........next time Billy.
For more information, contact the NPSGFC Secretary, Mr. John Ambrose. Fax 61 2 4984 3837 (international) or (02) 4984 3837 within Australia. BTS will also keep you informed regularly.

October 1998 - The Australian Government has set up a Bycatch Device Sub-Committee under the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to test devices which will decrease bycatch by Professional Anglers. The devices will be introduced in the year 2000.

September 1998 - Australia - Minister for the Environment, Senator Robert Hill, issued a plan requiring longlines to be set at night when sea birds are not feeding.

June 1998 - The IGFA has approved the claim for a world record by angler Barbara Woodill of New Zealand. She landed a 366lb, 6oz (166.2kg) Striped Marlin on 15kg tackle and as the line tested at 12.7kg she becomes a member of the IGFA's prestigious 10-1 club.

5 April 1998 - Jeremy Block of  Nairobi, Kenya is believed to be the first angler to have successfully landed a Broadbill Swordfish on a fly. The fish weighed 54lbs and was caught on a 10kg tippet. Congratulations to Jeremy!

April 1998 - The Warrigal crew (doing what they do best!) and Californian angler Brian Kane landed a 222lb Black Marlin after a 2 hour battle on 20lb tippet. The fish was again caught off the fish rich water of Port Stephens, Australia. Yet another record smashed!

March 1998 - The Warrigal crew ( Skipper - Craig "Sparrow" Denham / Deckie - Dean Butler) took Moroccan angler Fouad Sahiaoui out to for a spot of fishing off  Port Stephens, Australia. Within the first hour Fouad had landed a 221lb Striped Marlin on a 20lb tippet , which beat Dean's record of 199lbs (caught in 1996). The boat also landed a 112lb Black Marlin on a  20lb tippet and a 123lb Black Marlin on a 12lb tippet. GREAT WORK GUYS!
 
March 1998 - The National Marine Fisheries Service in the USA has announced new minimum sizes for the following:    White Marlin - minimum capture length of 66" (1677 mm)
                                        Atlantic Blue Marlin - minimum capture length of 96" (2438 mm)
The measurements are taken from the lower jaw to the tail fork.
The ideal is to reduce the killing of these fish by 25%. It seems that it only applies to recreational anglers.