from Radio New Zeland News


The first marlin of the summer has been hooked in the Bay of Islands.


The game fish, estimated to weigh about 80 kilograms, has been tagged and released near Cape Brett.

Geoff Stone, a local fishing columnist, says skipjack and albacore tuna have just started arriving in the bay.

He says the striped marlin, which was caught off a charter boat, is a sign the big fish are on their way.

Marlin usually arrive about Christmas time along with warmer water temperatures, he says, and at the current temperature of about 18 degrees the early arrival is a welcome surprise.