6/27 underwater blue marlin vid

[Captain Fred Archer]

Nice try, Franky, but that picture was not taken on my boat...and it's a white boy, which I sadly have not caught in way too many years. Guilt by association, I suppose. Guess I shouldn't have used that particular picture, considering my beliefs as far as what is being done to that fish is concerned. My reasons for doing so don't matter here. Kicking myself in the butt right now.

Still, that picture doesn't change what I had control over...what happened on my boat. If you've read my books and not just gone "aha!" when you saw that cover, you know what I DON'T usually even talk about on the sites...the fact that I am an inveterate marlin hugger with very strong ideas about killing or injuring marlin. That went all the way to not fishing marlin kill tournaments in a venue where we had pretty reasonable chances of doing well in them. And we occasionally lost a charter when they found out that we wouldn't kill a marlin no matter what. I mostly avoided commenting on this kill issue on websites because I knew that it would ignite controversy and attacks by those who didn't agree with me, or who weren't as radical as I was about it.

And finally, I too am very disappointed about what is going on here. This has been my favorite site for a long time and I hate the thought that it might go. I had no idea that my post could affect whatever it is that is happening here and I sincerely hope that it did not.

So, mouth shut and going into the corner with my dunce cap...and my marlin hugger t-shirt.

[frankypettolina]

Fred- I had a strong notion that it wasn't your boat in the pic- like I said, I couldn't resist.

I have read Grim Ripper cover to cover, many times and thoroughly enjoyed it. One of my favorite pieces of fishing "fiction" (I quoted that because there is so much fact in the book that it almost becomes a text book about makos). I don't go in much for fishing how to books, but I will take yours in when the opportunity arises.

I can definitely appreciate one being a Marlin Hugger. There was a period in my life where I was. Years ago I went as far as pulling a White Marlin out of a dumpster after someone killed it and merely cut off its bill (the fish was caught in a tournament, but still no excuse for wasting the meat!!). I then took the fish and tagged it, filled out a sarcastic tag card, taped it to the fish and tossed it in the culprit's cockpit. I spent a little time in Kona in 1991 and my world views changed a little, not to the point of wanting to kill every billfish that gets near my boat (as was very common there back then), but to a responsible use of the resource. I don't go out of my way to yank a fish in the boat for pics, or to kill one for the table, but in certain circumstances I will do either of those. I personally believe that these critters are more resilient than we give them credit for (at least when picked up for a pic- not so much when gaffed and fileted). If pulling a fish in for a pic creates a fishing addict that will some day become a Marlin Hugger or a part time Marlin Hugger, it probably does more good for the fishery than harm, in my opinion.

I see no need for either of us to have to don a dunce cap and sit in the corner. We have had plenty of exchanges on here in the past, some where we agree, some where we do not. I hope that we have plenty more.

Preach on Rev. Fred. Preach On!!

[Capt-D]

These vids are awesome and I hope the owner doesn't mind me sharing it on facebook. Why not commend the guy for putting up great vids that will help more in teaching ppl how marlin an sails act as they move in on bait rather that berate him for pulling the fish on-board for some pics.

-D

[squidvee]

Kinda funny how many people have no reservations about sticking 24 tuna with a gaff in one day but don't ever harm one marlin. I'm all for conservation but if a billfish is killed occasionally you may deplete the population, come on give me a break. Aren't tunas and marlins both fish?

[fish4fun]

Great video! Keep them coming.

[mate4hire]

squidvee, im righ there with you, not all the way, but Capt Fred, im not trying to call you out but whats the difference between killing a swords and spears and not harming marlins other then the flavor of the meat? Not trying to call you out but just wondering what the rationale in the ethics are.

[timbtuna]

sorry could not resist

I happened to fish with Mr Archer back in like 1998 in Cabo i had caught a strp marlin and i do indeed have a picture of it out of the water we fished on his 36 pacifica and the fish was caught pulled from water and was caught on a superbar never the less the fished was released unharmed COOL VIDEO KEEP POSTIng PLEASE

[DropinBack]

I have harmed bill fish. I have taken their picture, i have gut hooked them, i have done harm! Poor Marlins...

For someone to say that while they were on a boat they have never pitted a marlin in 30 or 40 or 100 years of fishing is full of ****...

[reel fool]

Underwater video is the coolest media to happen to sportfishing. I have invested in cameras, underwater video cases, head cams, etc...but had little (read that "NO") cooperation on charter or private boats anywhere I fished to capture good footage. It requires a commitment to the cause to get enough footage worth posting. And editing it is still beyond me. I hope that Pumpin' Hard continues to post some good video.