Over 430 marlin were tagged over the three days of fishing with many of the 115 or so boats that contested the event reporting multiple marlin encounters, according to Brent "Hammer" Hancock, from Tackle World Port Stephens.

Brent fished the tournament on his trailerboat True Grit with Newcastle and Port Stephens GFC Team 3 and finished third with 12 marlin tagged and released.

"Sydney took out top club honours just ahead of Central Coast and NPSGFC finished third," Brent reported.

"We finished third in tag and release with 12 marlin which wasn't a bad effort for a trailerboat.

"Sydney boat Smart Bill got 20 fish to take top tag and release honours."

Fish were spread across a 12 mile stretch on the shelf with plenty of good size fish raised.

"I got a black that would have weighed around 150lbs and the guys on Omen got another that went 300lbs.

"A lot of fish were caught skip baiting and switch baiting."

Scott Morris, secretary of Newcastle Game Fishing Club, fished Interclub on his boat Game Time.

"The NGFC Teams 1 and 2 did quite well," he said.

"Friday was probably the pick of the day for us. Saturday we found the bait was a bit scattered but those who found the bait found the fish. We struggled a bit. Sunday was excellent. We ended up with four marlin and a big whaler.

"Overall there was a great mix of blue, black and striped marlin tagged - probably the majority stripes.

"On the Sunday, the Penn-sponsored boat Playpenn found some black marlin in close in about 30 metres of water which confirms what we've been expecting or hoping would happen for a while.

"There's been reports of juvenile blacks up off the Gold Coast for a couple of weeks now and it looks like they have moved down the coast."

The good news is that things haven't changed much this week and it's looking sensational for a marlin fish this weekend.

"The fishing is still going," Brent said. "Calpyso got six marlin on Wednesday.

"Scott Thorington got four marlin and a sailfish the day before. This weekend looks sensational and I can't see much change in the marlin side of thing."

That is good news for the organisers of Newcastle Game Fishing Club's annual East Coast Classic which will be held in two weeks time from March 6-8.

"The long term weather forecast looks good and here's hoping the fishing stays good too," Scott said.

"Entries are rolling in and we're expecting at least 70 boats and over 400 anglers.

"We have over $85,000 in cash and giveaways on offer, including $50k for the biggest marlin over 250kg.

"The tournament is always a great spectacle for the harbour with a big fleet of boats making their way in and out - particularly Saturday afternoon.

"Fishing finishes at 5pm and so from between 6pm and 7pm it's a great chance to set yourself up on the harbour and watch the boats parade by."

NGFC has pulled of a bit of a coup by securing hosting rights for the 2021 Australian International Billfish Tournament.

This prestigious competition is normally held in Cairns or Western Australia and attracts top gamefishos from around Australia.

"People ask how we did it and I tell them, 'We applied and got it - simple as that," Scott said.

"It will run in conjunction with next year's East Coast Classic and will add an extra level of interest and excitement to our event.

'The winner gets invitational entry to the exclusive Hawaiian Billfish Tournament."

The rocks are hopping lately, according to Jesse Dedman, from Newy Fishin'.

Jesse f bagged out on big bonito down Catherine Hill Bay way last weekend and picked up some nice kings as well.

"I got 15 bonito and there was a stack of rat kingfish chasing every bonito in," he reported.

"They'd have to be the biggest bonito I've ever seen.

"I was using 40g metals and stick baits worked at speed - nothing too complex about the method other than reel in quick.

"The water was still pretty green, but it didn't seem to turn them off. There was a lot of bait in the water."

Check out Jesse's video of the session on the Newy Fishin' YouTube channel.

Brandt Archer and Sean Fitzgibbon have been enjoying themselves chasing soapy jew in Hunter River.

Meanwhile, Brent says estuaries are firing up at the moment, with some big flathead about.