OK, this is gnarly...

Post by **Admin** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:43 am

First, here is a first hand report from the guy with the camera (not the video camera): --------------------------------------------------------- Here are the still pictures that we have of the 600 pound Black Marlin that Stephen caught on Thursday, July 7th. What you don't see is what happened during the fight, which we have on video tape of this Marlin attacking the boat and striking Stephen in the head causing four fractures to his left cheek and the force split the back of his throat open. We were 30 miles offshore when this happened and it took over 2 hours to get back in and Tropic Star had a plane standing by to take usto Panama City to the Hospital. He was in a lot of pain and bleeding quite a bit but we got him there as fast as we could and into x-rays. They kept him overnight and we left for home Friday morning and took him directly to our hospital where they checked him out and send us over to Atlanta Plastic Surgery. The surgeon examined Stephen and felt that right now we should wait for a week and bring him back after the swelling goes down but feels that him may not require any surgury on his injury. If you check picture 481, this jump was probably 30-40 yards away from the boat and the fish turned to the left during the jump. The next 1 to 1 1/2 seconds it launched itself directly at me sitting on the starboard edge of the boat and then turned slightly to port, hitting its' chest (if it had one) directly in the middle of the back edge, bounced up and moved it's head left to right and struck Stephen on his face with its' bill, knocking him out of the chair. We have the entire thing on video tape which I plan on sending to everyone, at least the last several seconds so you can all see how much in control we were and how quickly that changed. Bob --------------------------------------------------- Now, here is the footage: Marlin Attack David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

Mikedcabo · Post by **Mikedcabo** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:02 am

Scarey for sure-I'd heard the story but kept missing it on the news. Good reason to let green fish wear down a bit, away from the boat.

Post by **Admin** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:07 am

The fish certainly knew what the problem was. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:51 am

Damn. Scary stuff. We hooked a white marlin once last summer offshore of Fort Pierce, FL. The guy that grabbed the rod was trying to muscle the thing in, and as a result ended up smoking my reel and eventually breaking the line at a tied splice. Probably a lucky thing, considering what they apparently do when you pull them in before they are tired. Next time that happens I'll be telling whoever is reeling to let the thing run until it runs no more. I've heard stories of hooked barracuda jumping out of the water and biting people too. One fishing buddy of mine has a scar on his leg because he saw a 40 pound Cobia swimming around the boat while bottom fishing at anchor. He managed to gaff the sucker and haul him into the boat. In the chaos that ensued, the fish bit him. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:10 am

No way I can compare any experience I've had with that(fishing anyway) but I do keep a bottle of cheap vodka on board just for pooring into the gills of bluefish. They calm down instantly. Last year I was bit pretty hard on my thumb and forefinger which bled for quite awhile and ended our trip early. Still,nothing compared to that marlin of course. Frank Price

Post by **Admin** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:20 am

Frank, what bit you? David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:35 am

David, It was a blue fish, probably about 26 inches.Very common around here and fun to catch. They have teeth like a shark, very sharp and shaped like triangles, and they bite everything instinctively, mean bastards. Splash a lttle vodka in their gills and they go instantly limp.(No jokes here) Frank Price

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:21 am

That's the most incredile video I've seen! Amazing how quickly the situation changed. Check out this fish story - They have an annual monster shark tournament on Martha's Vineyard every year and ESPN covered it again this year driving up participation. The big story was that the last boat in had caught an 1,191 pound tiger shark, but arrived 6 minutes after the deadline and didn't win. The shark was so big they had to tow it alongside, making it a slow return trip. A friend of mine who is helping to organize the Nantucket Billfish tournament told me that the guy ended up blowing an engine trying to get back to the dock in time. No win and lost an engine .... that's gotta hurt! http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/47 ... etail.html http://www.mvtimes.com/News/07282005/gone_fishin.html Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Westbrook, CT

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:59 pm

quote:Originally posted by Brian Davin The shark was so big they had to tow it alongside, making it a slow return trip. Was an old, thirsty looking guy with white hair running the boat? Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:24 pm

Yah, I think I saw the movie.... Frank Price

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:34 am

Dave, Seems that the Marlin Video expired on SportFishing.com. Did anyone save it? That was one of the wildest fishing video's I've seen ! Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Post by **Admin** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:01 am

I wasn't able to save it, but I just clicked on the link and it still worked. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator