Water Dog and crew of Randy, Gene, Rob and myself left Lynnhaven at 0430 filled with optimisim. Arrived, in great shape, at the 22 fathom finger with lines in at 0700. 30 min. - small dolphin of about 20 lbs. Then the long drought set in. We went deep, we went shallow, we went to Waynes World, the 44 fathom wreck, the Canyon, the tip.We could not buy a strike. After listening to report after report of fish at the Cigar--in desperation -I returned to the Fingers hoping for even a small tuna. At 1300 another small dolphin. I am sitting in Water Dog's tower, thinking, man, what a disappointing day.
Then, there is strike on one of the two 80's we run as shotguns from the tower. I pick up the rod and damn if that fish doesn't pull off. I start jigging the line and looking at the baits and there is a literal explosion in the shotgun baits and a large plume of white water goes up in the air.
The 2nd 80 in tower just begins screaming and I thought it was going to break the rod --then I see a masive shape, lunge out of water and then jump straight out of the water like a rocket.
It was the biggest blue marlin, l have ever seen- except in picture. Line just melted from the 80 in in a flash- half of the spool was gone, gone. I hand down the rod to Rob, who was belted up in our tuna belt and stated backing the boat right through the spread. We cleared what we could and the boat cut-off the rest and we backed about a half mile at top backing speed, with the Caterpillars screaming. In about 30 minutes, it was apparent we were getting wasted by the fish. Rob was in agony in the lower back and it was all we could do to keep line on the reel. We then broke out the bucket harness fot the first time ever. After rigging that, we got the pressure off Rob and on Mr. Man in the Blue Suit and a pitch battle began. Three hous later - we had grabed the leader - three times and wound it on the rod twice and that fish would still not give up. We had our release and I had my first blue marlin in 29 years of offshore fishing!!!
We broke him off after meauring him. Estimated length-9 1/2 feet with a girth of at least 40 inches. We figured about 600lbs. but we have to recheck the calc's. No kidding at all, those were very conservative measures.
Rob got the citation, Water Dog will have its first blue marlin shoot down painted on the side. The flag still flies this am, but will come down shortly.
Kent
Full Version: Report 7/16
Virginia Beach Sport Fishing > VBSF.net Sport Fishing Forums > Offshore, Gulf Stream & Canyons (Ocean City MD to Hatteras NC)
Great story, congrats.
Good thing he hit the 80 huh?
Eric
Good thing he hit the 80 huh?
Eric
Awesome job Kent.....it's a great feeling to get that first Blue one.....the pinnacle of offshore fishing for sure...may you have many more.....Caught my first one on my dad's boat in the Bahama's in 89...on a 30TW.....8 hours on the rod....
Congrats....Bob
Congrats....Bob
That's the battle of a lifetime, pretty work!
Kent,
Great job!!!! Boy, did I screw up passing on that trip!!
Mike
Great job!!!! Boy, did I screw up passing on that trip!!
Mike
Back'n down on a big blue must be priceless!!!
I hope I can do it alittle quicker than 29 years, though.
Pretty work!!!
-Mike
I hope I can do it alittle quicker than 29 years, though.
Pretty work!!!
-Mike
QUOTE (gradyman @ Jul 17 2006, 07:35 AM)
Water Dog and crew of Randy, Gene, Rob and myself left Lynnhaven at 0430 filled with optimisim. Arrived, in great shape, at the 22 fathom finger with lines in at 0700. 30 min. - small dolphin of about 20 lbs. Then the long drought set in. We went deep, we went shallow, we went to Waynes World, the 44 fathom wreck, the Canyon, the tip.We could not buy a strike. After listening to report after report of fish at the Cigar--in desperation -I returned to the Fingers hoping for even a small tuna. At 1300 another small dolphin. I am sitting in Water Dog's tower, thinking, man, what a disappointing day.
Then, there is strike on one of the two 80's we run as shotguns from the tower. I pick up the rod and damn if that fish doesn't pull off. I start jigging the line and looking at the baits and there is a literal explosion in the shotgun baits and a large plume of white water goes up in the air.
The 2nd 80 in tower just begins screaming and I thought it was going to break the rod --then I see a masive shape, lunge out of water and then jump straight out of the water like a rocket.
It was the biggest blue marlin, l have ever seen- except in picture. Line just melted from the 80 in in a flash- half of the spool was gone, gone. I hand down the rod to Rob, who was belted up in our tuna belt and stated backing the boat right through the spread. We cleared what we could and the boat cut-off the rest and we backed about a half mile at top backing speed, with the Caterpillars screaming. In about 30 minutes, it was apparent we were getting wasted by the fish. Rob was in agony in the lower back and it was all we could do to keep line on the reel. We then broke out the bucket harness fot the first time ever. After rigging that, we got the pressure off Rob and on Mr. Man in the Blue Suit and a pitch battle began. Three hous later - we had grabed the leader - three times and wound it on the rod twice and that fish would still not give up. We had our release and I had my first blue marlin in 29 years of offshore fishing!!!
We broke him off after meauring him. Estimated length-9 1/2 feet with a girth of at least 40 inches. We figured about 600lbs. but we have to recheck the calc's. No kidding at all, those were very conservative measures.
Rob got the citation, Water Dog will have its first blue marlin shoot down painted on the side. The flag still flies this am, but will come down shortly.
Kent
Then, there is strike on one of the two 80's we run as shotguns from the tower. I pick up the rod and damn if that fish doesn't pull off. I start jigging the line and looking at the baits and there is a literal explosion in the shotgun baits and a large plume of white water goes up in the air.
The 2nd 80 in tower just begins screaming and I thought it was going to break the rod --then I see a masive shape, lunge out of water and then jump straight out of the water like a rocket.
It was the biggest blue marlin, l have ever seen- except in picture. Line just melted from the 80 in in a flash- half of the spool was gone, gone. I hand down the rod to Rob, who was belted up in our tuna belt and stated backing the boat right through the spread. We cleared what we could and the boat cut-off the rest and we backed about a half mile at top backing speed, with the Caterpillars screaming. In about 30 minutes, it was apparent we were getting wasted by the fish. Rob was in agony in the lower back and it was all we could do to keep line on the reel. We then broke out the bucket harness fot the first time ever. After rigging that, we got the pressure off Rob and on Mr. Man in the Blue Suit and a pitch battle began. Three hous later - we had grabed the leader - three times and wound it on the rod twice and that fish would still not give up. We had our release and I had my first blue marlin in 29 years of offshore fishing!!!
We broke him off after meauring him. Estimated length-9 1/2 feet with a girth of at least 40 inches. We figured about 600lbs. but we have to recheck the calc's. No kidding at all, those were very conservative measures.
Rob got the citation, Water Dog will have its first blue marlin shoot down painted on the side. The flag still flies this am, but will come down shortly.
Kent
Great work Kent and Company!!! Ya gotta keep on those big fish, you guys did great. Its amazing how long it seems to take to clear lines and how little time it seems to take to pull off 6 or 8 hundred yards of mono.
Can't wait for the pix!!!
Tight lines.
Dave
If that little white flag with the upside down blue fish on it is not off the rigger by noon, you may find it tacked to the dock!
Way to Go.We need to throw you off the Dock a water Bath for the water Dog.!
Great job Kent!!! Congrats!! There's a lot of billfish out there.
congrats on the catch. cant wait to see the pic. 
Thanks for responses guys. We have one decent picture which I am trying to learn how to post. I am not a very good computer guy.
Gradyman...you can send it to me if you would like....bobdu11@cox.net...I'll get it posted....Bob
Great Job! i wish i could trade in all the whites we've caught for that blue..
Fantastic job to you and your crew Kent. That's the fish of a lifetime. Most drag the deep their entire lives and never see one, let alone master one. That is the pinnacle of sportfishing. Tuna are sushi, wahoo are steaks and tarpon are bait beside the mighty Blue Marlin. But let me tell you, Rob may join a very exclusive club, anglers that have successfully battled a big blue one, but my hats off to the captain who handled the boat, and whoever was working the cockpit. Great job guys!!! 
QUOTE (Marlin Maniac @ Jul 20 2006, 08:28 PM)
Fantastic job to you and your crew Kent. That's the fish of a lifetime. Most drag the deep their entire lives and never see one, let alone master one. That is the pinnacle of sportfishing. Tuna are sushi, wahoo are steaks and tarpon are bait beside the mighty Blue Marlin. But let me tell you, Rob may join a very exclusive club, anglers that have successfully battled a big blue one, but my hats off to the captain who handled the boat, and whoever was working the cockpit. Great job guys!!!
Thank you,man, it was a GREAT thrill-hope you and everyone on this board gets a shot like we were fortunate enough to get. One of those days when everything went right.
[quote=gradyman,Jul 21 2006, 07:03 AM][quote=Marlin Maniac,Jul 20 2006, 08:28 PM]Fantastic job to you and your crew Kent. That's the fish of a lifetime. Most drag the deep their entire lives and never see one, let alone master one. That is the pinnacle of sportfishing. Tuna are sushi, wahoo are steaks and tarpon are bait beside the mighty Blue Marlin. But let me tell you, Rob may join a very exclusive club, anglers that have successfully battled a big blue one, but my hats off to the captain who handled the boat, and whoever was working the cockpit. Great job guys!!!
[/quote]
Thank you,man, it was a GREAT thrill-hope you and everyone on this board gets a shot like we were fortunate enough to get. One of those days when everything went right.
[/quote]
By the way, I certainly did not catch this fish by myself -- I had a very experienced crew, Earlytimes on this board was handling the cockpit and directed the battle. If you ever want a man wto be in foxhole with, he is doing his is your man.
Thank you,man, it was a GREAT thrill-hope you and everyone on this board gets a shot like we were fortunate enough to get. One of those days when everything went right.
[/quote]
By the way, I certainly did not catch this fish by myself -- I had a very experienced crew, Earlytimes on this board was handling the cockpit and directed the battle. If you ever want a man wto be in foxhole with, he is doing his is your man.
Congrats on the blue If your measurements are correct (114inchesX40inches) (114X40x40 = 182400/800=228) then your fish is with-in ten percent of 228lbs. I just did a lot of reading on est. blue marlin wieghts because of the 320lber we got the weekend before the 4th. This website is a quick reference on marlin estimating.
http://www.sportfishhawaii.com/fishunivfishwt.htm
Again congrats on the big blue
If your measurements are correct (114inchesX40inches) (114X40x40 = 182400/800=228) then your fish is with-in ten percent of 228lbs. I just did a lot of reading on est. blue marlin wieghts because of the 320lber we got the weekend before the 4th. This website is a quick reference on marlin estimating.http://www.sportfishhawaii.com/fishunivfishwt.htm
Again congrats on the big blue
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