First blue marlin for the Yellow Rose

[Oldcabdriver]

This is my first post here, but at least I've got something fun to report. We had a special day Wednesday on the "Yellow Rose" out at the Blackjack Hole off of Cape Fear. Her first blue marlin. The boat is a Grady White 30' center console that has proved to be a great fishing platform in the year I've had it. Two of our experienced crew members estimated the marlin's weight at 350 to 400 lb. It took 45+ minutes to get boatside and released. Rick Pedings, an experienced big fish angler, was on the rod. I was at the helm. Hank Newton and Tatnall Hurtt rounded out the crew. Rick did a great job of dropping back the bait after the first short strike by the fish missed and waiting patiently for the followup solid take. Thanks to Murphy's Law, it hit one of our Penn 30's set up for dolphin, so we didn't have exactly the right tackle combination in play for a fish that size! But we took our time, stayed calm, and it worked. The first sight of the marlin's head shaking out of the water was just pure awesome. We chased the fish around the ocean, waited through its soundings, and finally backed the boat down for the final push. Things got a little busy at the end with boat maneuvering and other stuff, and our designated photographer unfortunately wasn't in a position where he could get photos of the fish. Too bad, but things happen fast sometimes. It was a beautiful fight with the marlin breaking the surface several times, greyhounding for our viewing pleasure, showing us its side next to the boat, and basically just making sure all of us got enough looks to make this one of our most memorable days ever on the water.

There is never a day that I don't think about how lucky and grateful I am to be able do do this sort of thing at this stage in my life. And today was one of those very special ones.

I promise to keep my future posts shorter!

[Wireman]

Congrats on your boats first blue one, and welcome to this site.

[joeksr]

Welcome aboard. Nice first post.
Got pics ?