Marlin, ATTACK!!!!!!

[Linwood]

No huey JOSE.I saw the clip enough times to know that the fish started his jump below the surface and simply broached to rid itself of the hook.He was facing almost away from the boat`s stern when he got fired up scared.It would happen a lot more often if Big marlin were deliberate aggressors.Swordfish jump a lot more and end up in the cockpit even more often.That was an awesome clip though,wasn1t it?

[Warren_Brantley]

Catch and Release of a Black Marlin:

OK......bear with me. I ran this by a few captains after first seeing it.
And it's not like we've not caught a lot of those things ourselves. And there is this huge booing that is heard whenever any marlin is not released.

OK: Now when a marlin is brought into a cockpit, without assistance of touching the rod, reel, line, etc., by crew,(IGFA rules so to speak) and not harpooned or such; and then allowed back into the water (by volition of itself and/or mate) that is a catch and release!! Tagging is not required except under tournament rules (which did not apply during the week this fish was hooked up in the Pacific off of Panama) according to the online catch report from the charter service. Nor was weighing of the fish required as Black Marlin are released at this location anyway.

It simply was a teen billfishing with family and friends. I have done it for years with my boys all over the world.

I say "High Fives" for a magnificent (and dramatic) Catch and Release of this Black Marlin by a 15 year old! And he did it in 25 minutes. Tropic Star Lodge is reknown for putting people on billfish and this is simply an example of putting billfish on (almost in and through) people. Boy was he ever so lucky.

The Bertram held up well also.

I think out of respect of this accomplishment they should give him a full size mount of the fish to go along with the video.

I wonder if anyone got tips that day....

I think I'll go there in 2006 and see if I can get me a couple. Being too old to handle this type of severe punishment I hope mine stay in the water. And I'm sure the young man would have also.

I am extremely glad he was not injured more so than what happened and hope that this does not put him off our fine sport. And does he ever have a fish story for his grandkids one day.

It will be interesting to see what type of litigation comes out of this.....

Good luck young man and God speed. WGB

[Linwood]

As far as qualifying for catch and release status, there seems to be good evidence that due to circumstances beyond the fisherman`s control the fish won the fight.IGFA rules state that the angler is not allowed to release his grip from the rod and reel,nor at any time during the battle is the rod allowed to come in contact with the rail or gunwale of the boat.I wish it could be granted to the young man,but that was clearly a knockout in the opening minutes of the contest.They definitly should get together Father and son for a re-match as soon as possible.

[Anonymous]

did the marlin really attack the boy? that is a joke. the media is out of control.
the fish jumped, and the boy was in its path.
gimmie a break.

[Bob_Schultz]

I witnessed this first hand, being Stephen's father he was right next to me in the fighting chair. In order to confirm what I thought I saw, I broke the video down into a frame by frame scenerio and from everything that I see in this I will never believe that it was an errant jump but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

To answer other questions posted, we have no intention of pursuing anything against Tropic Star Lodge, they are nothing short of the best. The Captain, Gustavo has fished these waters for 25 years and the mates did their job quickly cutting the line and getting the fish out of the boat. The next two hours were spent on the radio alerting the managers at Tropic Star of our situation and them arranging for a plane to be standing by when we got back. They had all of our belongings on the plane and it took off immediately after we got on board.

Once in Panama, their local employee Eleanor had everything covered from the transportation to the National Hospital to staying with us until 10:00 PM that night, making sure Stephen would be taken care of. She also arranged the hotel, transportation to the airport and the flight back to Atlanta the next morning.

I make it a point to tip every employee that we deal with during our stay and had done so. The boat captain and mate are tipped at the end of the trip and this did not happen. I have taken care of this once we got back home and into a more normal routine.

Stephen will go back to Tropic Star Lodge with me in the future. My daughter, Allison, who took the video is still undecided.

My purpose for releasing this video was just to allow fellow anglers to see how fast this situation changed, nothing more. We talked about fish jumping at or around the boat prior to our trip and Tropic Star goes through this at the initial orientation. We were aware of the potential, but I never anticipated that a fish of this size could cover this much ground with one leap. We thought we were safe.

[Anommousey]

id go with earlier comments that it was just a unlucky event rather than a media beatup fish attacks etc

[Will]

Yea that was a pretty intense clip. its awsome to see them jump at the back of the boat like that ive had a few jum like that close but never come in i can only amagin whats goin through that kids head at that moment.

[DJ]

We were catching 5-10 kg yellow fin on light gear and the boat was dead in the middle of the school. I hooked one right next to the boat that started to be chased by a bull shark, in full view of, The fish headed away from the boat before turning in a large circle and coming straight for the port rear side of the boat. All three of us were hooked up, and concerntrating on our own fish. The small yellowfin shot up in the air, hurtling directly for my head. I ducked and heard a thud behind me. My mate was hit in the head by an 8kg yellow fin in full flight. He was knocked out, but recovered. we live on the edge.

[Capt._Warren_Brantley]

OK, I was duely impressed by that black marlin. I and my 20 year old plan track it down that very day come summer. Called Bonnie at Tropic Star this morning and we're coming for revenge. I'll post the results. Await with "baited breath". Docatadock/W.G. Brantley

[Bob_Schultz]

Stephen and I are heading back to Tropic Star in July for the rematch which we have dubbed "Sweet Revenge". If you go to Tropic Star you will see shirts/hats that we provided last fall, where I had the digital image of the Black Marlin on the initial jump embroidered on the back of these shirts.

[marlinhunter]

Well, it's nice to see the fishing has held up so well in Pinas Bay. We fished the reef, I guess in it's infancy, at least when Ray Smith still owned it and for five years afterwards.

[Warren_Brantley]

Regards to all,

As promised we rolled into Pinas Bay and inacted retribution; as per July 3rd.......three blacks in three hours starting at 10:38 AM. Estimated weights 525, 200 and 315. You don't pounce on someone from down our way and get away with it. We beat 'em down, stuck 'em with tags, and sent 'em swimming.

Regards, Jeb and Doc

[Adrien__Wiehe]

Friends of mine had a black marlin attack some 10 years ago. They hooked a black estimated at +- 500 pounds in an open 21 feet. While still pulling line (400 yards already out), the fish made a "circle" and headed straight to the starboard side of the boat. It did one jump and went across the boat, breaking the canopy, the outriggers and some rods. Two guys were projected into the water and one was slightly injured at the forehead, hit by the fish's fin. Fortunately the line broke, one of the "swimmers" being tangled in the line! They were all taken by surprise, since the line's angle did not show evidence that the fish was making a circle. The fish emerged at 4 or 5 yards from the boat but it was then too late for any manoeuvre...