Film marks 50 years of Reef fishing
INSANE feats of fishing by Cairns anglers bringing in thousand-pound black marlin have been immortalised in a film which marlin fishers hope will lure visitors to the Far North.
The Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association has published a 34-minute film, On the Edge, which has garnered almost 5000 views since its release on YouTube on Thursday.
The film showcases almost 50 years of history, featuring members of the group’s 40plus vessels doing what they do best on the open sea.
It captures the beauty of the Reef, famous visitors such as US president Jimmy Carter, and crazy marlin catches made by fishing operators and tourists over the past year.
CPGFA president Tim Dean said the film had been in the making since this time last year and had been ready to release in March before the COVID-19 crisis threw the industry in disarray.
“The initial idea was to present to the masses what the association was and where we’ve come from since starting in 1972,” he said. “We never envisaged everything like the COVID situation.”
The film was shot and edited by Sunshine Coast filmmaker and fisherman Nick Jones, who spent 35 days embedded on the CPGFA fleet.
He moved around from vessel to vessel, capturing footage of fishing operators at work.
Mr Dean said 80 per cent of fishing clients in the heavy tackle September-December period were from overseas.
“Some operators just can’t make it work this year due to the restrictions,” he said.
“Everyone is feeling it. The announcement of the borders lifting has helped, but we’re relying on the domestic market to help operators out, put a season together.
“Cairns is well renowned for its black marlin. The travelling angler really has Cairns on their radar – those people are very serious about it.”
CAIRNS IS WELL RENOWNED FOR ITS BLACK MARLIN. THE TRAVELLING ANGLER REALLY HAS CAIRNS ON THEIR RADAR