SKIPPER Bill Billson has made an impressive start to the region's black marlin season reeling in the first 507kg grander.

The 31 season captain caught the heavy tackle marlin on Sunday at Jenny Louise Shoal, east of Cairns.

He said it was day one chasing the marlins with Darrell Mann, Glenn Parris and Todd Parris from the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club, when he reeled in the 3.4m (11 foot: 3 inch) fish.

"It was just before 5pm and this really big fish came and ate the bait and was hooked up for about two hours," he said.

"It was a very tough fish, probably one of the hardest I've experienced.

More on this at the Cairns Post