On Monday Bruce, our skipper, announced the news we had been hoping for. Winds were easing, tonight we would sail for Saumarez Reef. The plan was to leave at midnight which would have us arrive at the western edge of Saumarez at first light.

We left Gladstone right on 1600 hours and after a bumpy first night [ a lot better than the trip in for the previous group], especially for those in the front cabins such as myself. We started trolling at 0600 hours Sunday morning. Not one marlin or close relative across the voids between Swains Reef and Saumarez - completely different to last Novembers marlin infested trip.

I have a feeling I owe the man upstairs....Bigtime. Two cyclones, then a week of strong southeasterlies had made me a little apprehensive about how the weather would treat us as our departure date of Saturday, April 15 approached.Incredibly, the wind abated, the weather pattern stabilised and we were treated to almost an entire week of blue skies and near flat seas.