Category

Small Boat, Big Blue

Steve Kaiser, CDR, USN (Ret.)

Just eight days after 9/11, on Wednesday 19 September 2001, the crew of “Venture” had two shots at Blue Marlin and both got hooked-up. The first came at 1230 about seven miles east of the Nipple (28 nm SSE of Pensacola on the 100 fathom curve), when a big Blue ran off about 3/4 of a spool from a 50TW before we got it stopped....moments later it went into an even higher gear and during that run the line parted. Wally Coupé (longtime fishin’ buddy and Admiral’s Pilot) was the angler and needless to say was somewhat disappointed as were myself and son Lawrence. About fifteen minutes after putting the lines backout, another big Blue came up on the wayback (zucchini Knucklehead). Lawrence moved the lure just for an instant and fish climbed all over it. With about 150 yards in the water an unbelievable display of greyhounding took place....15 to 20 jumps in one direction followed by reversing course , then another 15 plus jumps.....white water everywhere. Fish then made a really long run.....had to turn the boat 135 degrees while Lawrence kept the rod under the outrigger, before finally getting fish stopped. Over 700 yards of the total 800 yards was in the water....side plates of reel extremely hot....almost burned Lawrence's forearm when it touched sideplate. Fish never surfaced again. We slowly backed down for several miles during line recovery. Took about two hours to first get to the double line....got there four more times. Got fish to the swivel three times.....each time I grabbed the 300# leader fish would not allow me to bill her....would get her to within a couple of feet below the surface and that was it....just kept swimming along keeping head down. I did not want to take a wrap in fear crimps or leader would break. Knew this was probably the biggest fish ever caught on "Venture" so was extra careful in hopes we could recover lure and get some photos. This was a really big fish...bigger than anything I had ever experienced before. Fish kept forcing me to let go of leader, and would slowly swim deeper....around the boat is where most bad things happen….Lawrence had to work extra hard to keep her off the outdrives. After about 20 minutes near boatside she tired enough so I could reach down about a foot underwater and I finally got a hold of the bill. Big Blue rolled over on her side and fought no more. The size of this fish was mind boggling.....here I am holding on to a 700# class Blue Marlin in a 23 foot boat. We took a boat line and used it to measure fish, then measured the line with a tape measure....LJFL(lower jaw to fork of tail length) measured 131 inches....then we got the line around the fish to get the girth.....all the time I am swimming this magnificent animal. Girth measured an astounding 64 inches. We took lots of photos, and “Dataman” came in close to get some video. Had been swimming fish on her side all this time and before release wanted to get her upright to ensure she was properly revived....it took all three of us to right her.....she was just so heavy. Anyway, swam her a few more minutes and she began clamping down hard on my hand, so knew fish was about ready to release....tail got swaying back and forth, so let her gently swim into the depths. What an experience! This was Blue Marlin #48 for "Venture”, but was by far the largest fish ever caught aboard my 23 foot Seacraft in her then 23 year history. I had estimated Big Blues weight at near 700 pounds.....the girth/length formula worked out to 670#. No more strikes that day, but who was complaining. Life is good.