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 The organisers of the Vanuatu Marlin Classic are proud to annonce that the Grand Hotel and Casino has become the naming sponsor and major sponsor of this yearly event. This relationship has been years in the making and is an obvious fit for both the Grand Hotel and the Vanuatu Marlin Classic Tournament. The Grand Hotel boasts high quality facilities including various well appointed and award winning dining venues, a world class Casino, a host of luxury accomodation and access to a wide variety of activities; all supported by their professional and well trained staff. We believe that this arrangement will provide an even better experience for our competitors and their family members that travel to support them and to enjoy quality time in the heart of Port Vila, Vanuatu. The Grand Hotel is offering special accommodation packages for competitors starting at $175 AUD/night. From the morning shotgun start (7am) in front of the Grand Hotel and the day’s activities to the evening weigh-in, fine dining and nightlife the Grand Hotel is where you will want to be.

The 2010 Marlin Classic will see a few changes in the overall format of the tournament. The first 6annual VMC competitions have all been based upon the best score over three days of fishing. Feedback from participants and local fishing enthusiasts has led us to modify our approach. Starting in 2010 there will be 4 major prizes rather than the three (1st, 2nd and 3rd places) we have always featured in the past. The 4th major prize will be awarded based on the most points scored on a single day of fishing. This will allow for single-day and two-day entries as well as the full three-day entry. Entrance fees are 150,000 vatu for a full 3-day entry, 100,000 vatu for a 2-day entry and 50,000 vatu for a single-day entry. The tournament is held over a 7 day period which allows team entered to choose their fishing days. The Marlin Classic is a tag and release tournament. Points are awarded based on line class of the tackle employed including: 130 lb, 80 lb, 50 lb, and 30 lb. Lighter line class captures receive significantly more points. There will also be prizes for the best Mahi Mahi, Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna caught during the tournament. Visit the Grand Hotel and Casino Vanuatu Marlin Clasic website for further information; www.vanuatumarlinclassic.com The Vanuatu Marlin Classic is also a qualifying event for the IFGA Offshore World Championship held from Cabo San Lucas in Mexico each year.

The Vanuatu Marlin Classic is held from the 23^rd - 29^th May 2010.

For availability on our vessels, just drop us an email and we can let you know what we have available!

 The Vanuatu Marlin Classic is being held from the 23rd—29th May 2010. With a bigger and better format, next years tournament is sure to be huge. There is plenty of cash and prizes up for grabs and if this years tournament was anything to go by, we are sure that there will be some great fishing to be had. If you are keen to come over and fish the tournament, you better book a boat as places are filling fast!  

 Father and son duo Steve and Joseph decided to escape the winter cold of Victoria and headed over to Vanuatu for some warmth. Joseph had decided that he wanted to catch a Blue Marlin as he had caught allot of other species. We ventured out on Reel Capture for a full day charter and worked the new FADS off Port Vila, with a nice Wahoo in the boat we decided to work North. After an hour or so, Joseph was hooked up to a nice Blue Marlin around the 130Kg mark, unfortunately his fish ended up tail wrapped and died, after a 2 1/2 hour battle the fish was in the boat. The guys decided that they wanted to head out again for another day on board Nevagivup. This time Joseph was on a mission and wanted to catch a bigger marlin, unfortunately this fished died and weighed a nice 165Kg. Steve also landed a nice Wahoo around the 25Kg mark. The guys had a great time and have vowed to return next year for a live aboard charter.  

Sunday the 22nd of February 2009 saw five vessels take the ladies out  to fish the waters of Port Vila. The weather gods had looked down on us once again and the ladies had a great day out on the water with the odd glass of champagne being consumed.

Nevagivup skippered by Captain Charles Wheeler, with anglers Michelle Temminck and Samantha Vale and deck hands Russ Housby and Richard Moruk, took out the tournament with two Mahi Mahi to Sam and adding another 10Kg record to Nevagivup’s tally. We also lost two Blue Marlin, with the hard luck story of the tournament going to Michelle after a 1 1/2 hour fight with a 500pd Blue Marlin on 30pd line. Due to some minor problems on the boat, we had to cut the fish off.

All in all, it was a wonderful day out on the water and some of the ladies got amoungst the action.

January 2009 saw Horizon head up to Santo for a two week charter on Ratu Island, one of Santo’s newest resorts. After a hectic Christmas period, Michelle, Charles and Paul decided to bring Horizon home after her charter with Charlie and James and take a short fishing break.

The weather was superb and allowed us to fish off Santo for the first day mooring at Bokissa Island that night. This day Paul tagged and released his first Blue Marlin. The second day saw us head South to fish the rich waters off Malakula. We encoutered some rather large Yellowfin Tuna and Charles tipped the scales with a nice fin around the 70kg mark. We anchored at Port Sandwich at Malakula which is a large river with amazing scenary. Wednesday morning was an early start to encounter some large Dogtooth Tuna at the southern end of Malakula. Michelle encoutered some large doggies only to pull the hooks. We landed two nice doggies around the 20kg mark and landed a couple of Wahoo as well. We then trolled down to Cooks Reef and anchored off Emae Island for the night.

Thursday was also an early start as we had to make the passage between the islands where the currents meet. Here we encoutered some nice blue marlin as well with Michelle tagging a Blue around the 100kg mark and Paul tagging another blue around the 200kg mark. We also raised another two for the day and landed a couple of nice Mahi Mahi for dinner as well. We overnighted at Havanna Harbour. Charles decided that we would try for a Ladies 10Kg record. After trolling for approximately two hours, we raised the perfect fish for 10Kg around the 80Kg mark. The bite was perfect and after ten minutes, we had the leader at the back of the boat and just out of gaff range, then Michelle broke her rod! After the fish dissappeared into the blue yonder with the rod tip, we managed to get the fish up again after 30 minutes only to have the line part.

The trip was a wonderful fishing experience with many of the islands accessible to fish and we managed to get amoungst a wide variety of fish as well.

The Tusker Game Fishing Classic was held on the 8^th & 9^th of November from Port Vila Vanuatu and twelve teams entered for some fantastic fishing on Blue Marlin and the usual pelagic species. The weather gods turned it on with no more than 10 knots on Saturday and no wind on Sunday and it was hot out on the water. There were quite a few Blues hooked on Saturday and only two were tagged and the action hotted up on Sunday morning with the first Marlin being hooked at 6.15am. The bite lasted for about an hour and boats were hooking up one after the other!There were some notable catches of Mahi Mahi one being 10Kg caught on 4Kg and a new Vanuatu Ladies record on 24Kg for a 21.8Kg Barracuda. There were also some nice Dog Tooth Tuna bought to the scales as well.The team aboard Nevagivup consisted of Rodney & Gayle McPhee and Michelle Temminck skippered by Charles Wheeler and Deck Hand Richard. Rodney and Gayle were out to defend their winning title from last year. The first day we saw 4 Blue Marlin and 1 Sail fish and we managed to pull the hooks on two fish! Gayle landed a nice Mahi Mahi on 15Kg line as well. The team aboard Horizon, all Aussie anglers and skippered by Sean Winslett and Deck Hand James managed to raise 3 Blues as well for the day. Sunday saw Nevagivup turn into Reel Capture due to engine troubles and we hooked our first Blue at 6.35am only to have him charge the boat and throw the lure. Ten minutes later Michelle hooked a Blue around 130Kg on 15Kg and we had the tag in the fish after 15 minutes. The competition was hotting up with other teams tagging fish on heavier line classes and we knew that we had to tag another one on 15Kg to secure the lead. Rodney hooked a nice Blue on 15Kg at around 11.20am and after 25 minutes the tag was in! Horizon raised three Blues but the hooks were pulled as well. Between our two boats we raised 13 Blue Marlin and 1 Sailfish and landed a couple of nice Mahi Mahi.The final run down for our winning team on Nevagivup/Reel Capture was;Best Angler Tag & Release             Michelle TemminckBest Boat                                           Nevagivup/Reel CaptureBest Lady Angler                              Michelle TemminckBest Skipper                                     Charles WheelerAll in all this is a great tournament and the fishing and competition was enjoyed by all.

Crusoe Fishing Adventures and Sheer Delight are offering extended Mothership-Fishing Charters from 2009

For the first time we are offering a unique opportunity to explore the unspoilt outer islands of Vanuatu. Experience the culture by traveling to many islands that are rarely visited. Meet the locals in their villages and fish these rarely fished waters for Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna and Dogtooth Tuna.

After an action packed day on your choice of our game boats, what better than to return to the 5 star luxury vessel Sheer Delight. A 75ft catamaran that is fitted out for sheer indulgence and boasts a crew that will cater to every whim.

While you recall the highlights of the days fishing, watch the sun go down in air conditioned comfort, in our spacious saloon or relax with a cold drink on the rear deck while our chef prepares mouth watering menus that highlight the delicacies of the islands. Be tempted by locally traded fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, crab and lobster and do not miss out on Vanuatu’s locally produced pork and beef.

Sheer Delight can host 4 to 6 guests in 4 spearate air conditioned cabins. Whether it be for one week or four, do not miss out on this unique opportunity to enjoy the little luxuries in life that we have come to expect.

Packages start from $6,500AUD per day and is all inclusive of game fishing vessel, accommodation on Sheer Delight, all meals and alcohol. For further information, please send us an email.