Viking 11 & Capt Bill Billson.  The most recognised  Marlin  fishing  boat  from Cairns to Port Stephens, Sydney Australia 

Capt Bill has been  Game fishing all his life, and professionally  sport fishing for  over 20 years , running Marlin fishing charters, sport fishing charters and exclusive Saltwater fly fishing charters    Starting as a crewmen  on Australia's top  Marlin boats  and now recognised himself as Australia's No 1  sport fishing and game fishing  boat Captain. This statement can be verified by his results of the past 10 years.   No other Australian  Captain comes close to his  tournament achievements, as one example Capt Bill and his boats Viking and Viking 11 have won the prestigious Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic 4 times and runners up just as many. He is consistently in the top placing on all tournaments from Cairns to Sydney. His list of Marlin captures for his clients is outstanding, including 10 one thousand pound marlin weighed , two over one thousand two hundred pounds. He is conservative in saying that he has tagged & released  another 20 marlin over a thousand pound,
between Cairns and Lizard Island.  In 2002 and 2003 Viking 11 amazed the rest of the Cairns Fleet by consecutively catching over 100 fish for the Giant Black Marlin season , rarely done before.  (101 & 105).  Capt Bill's diversity in fishing has also been proven with saltwater fly fishing . Three of the  current world records on Saltwater fly were caught off Viking 11 with Billson as Captain. His is Fly-fishing records include the  largest fish ever caught on fly (289lb blue marlin on 20lb tippet) the largest striped marlin ever caught on fly ( 231lb striped marlin on 16lb ) and a 151lb black marlin also on 16lb. So you can be sure you are in the best of hands When  you chose  either a Marlin fishing charter in Cairns, a Game fishing charter in Sydney, or a Saltwater Fly fishing charter in Port Stephens.

2003 FISHING REPORT

Another World Record, top boat for the 2003 Cairns Heavy Tackle season, for the 2nd year running. As well as another top placing in the prestigious Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic. No other charter boat in Australia comes close to their results again VIKING II CONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT.

Captains report

Early January 2003 saw us in transit to Port Stephens, the World Record capital of Australia, for our southern season. The waters off Port Stephen's were alive with pods of striped marlin in late January and captures of up to 10 fish a day were not uncommon. Tom Evan's, multiple world record holder with fly fishing tackle was again with us and clocked up his third World Record. This time a Black Marlin of 68.5 kg (151lb) on 8kg tippet (16lb). This gives Tom the Black, the Blue and the Striped Marlin Records for tippet classes 10kg and 8kg, all on Viking II. All our clients enjoyed their fishing but I would have to say that the highlight of our Port Stephen's Season was our combined Bluewater Sportfishing Workshop with fishing trip. These were highly successful and with the testimonials listed below everyone was more than impressed.

"I picked up more tips in 2 days than in 10 years"

Gary McDonald New Zealand.

" Awesome the amount of info I took away, has done wonders for my fishing and rigging skills"

Josh McCue Kurnell

" How Many Crews of this Caliber are happy to share their secrets?” A fantastic weekend both social and informative".

Lee Williams
Enter your details below if you would like to learn more about Marlin fishing at one of our workshops.

Our fuel only transit trips, allowed for anglers to fish certain legs of our trip south and north at lure trolling speed were again popular and amazing value. Some of the more popular legs produced non stop action.

We were back in Cairns in June 2003 and kept busy with day trips, reef fishing and light tackle sport fishing.

In late July we received a contract to travel to New Guinea and work along side a 45-metre White Boat called Lion Wind. Taking the owner and clients fishing around the untouched waters of this area, we visited such places as Alotoa, Rabaul and Kavieng. The fishing was outstanding to say the least. What an Experience!.

The 2003 Cairns Heavy Tackle season was upon us once more, with 83 days in the book it was going to be a big one, and that it was. As I sit here remembering the highlights it would be hard to mention them all. 105 Black Marlin for the season my greatest result in the 17 years as Captain of Viking and Viking II. With last years result of 101 makes two consecutive years we have topped the magic 100. Great fish, Big fish, (7 around the 1000lb mark and 2 over 1100 LB). Many double headers, Tournament Placing, great clients, funny moments and great friendships. Already I can't wait till next year.

To all my Clients and my crew thank you for making 2003 another special year and I look forward to our time together again in 2004.

Capt. Bill Billson