A southerly buster on Sunday proved a challenge for the most experienced campaigners, but calmer conditions should provide them with some respite at the end of the week.

“When the southerly came through on Sunday we were about 30 miles out to sea, so it wasn’t a lot of fun,” Kaczorowski said.

“The currents have also settled a little in the last couple of days so we’re set for a grandstand finish.”

There is yet to be a blue marlin tagged and released with warmer water temperatures believed to be providing the challenge.

“The optimum water temperature is usually 25 degrees, but it was 28 the other day which is tropical,” Kaczorowski said.

“The leading boat has tagged and released five black marlin; we haven’t had any blue marlin as yet so it’s a very open tournament.”

Eight anglers tagged and released their first-ever marlin on Tuesday.

“It was hotly contested and the inshore fishing was very good,” Kaczorowski said.

“We tag and release about 98 to 99 percent of our fish so it’s only about two or three that are captured.”

Angler Janet West caught a blue marlin on Tuesday which weighed 119 kilograms, caught on 24-kilogram line.

The event was proving attractive to competitors for a number of reasons.

Kaczorowski said the Golden Lure features one of the top three or four prize pools for an event with somewhere around $50,000 to $60,000 on offer.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.