The Madness Continues...And They're Getting BIGGER!!!

[Capt Josh]

Well folks the bite continues to border the sublime down here in Vallarta-land, where tunas breach the 300# mark and behemoth marlin gobble peanut yellowfin like gum-drops.

The last few days of fishing with our regular crew from South Carolina opened up an entirely new can of worms when it comes to big fish hunting around these here parts.

In the past we've relied almost exclusively on trolling 4 - 8 lb skipjacks and bullet tuna for our larger tunas and marlin, and really until this season haven't paid too much attention to the larger baits like dorado and 15 - 30# yellowfin, much to my current chagrin.

Lately, however, we've been bridling up some larger baits and the results have been staggering.

Sunday afternoon bode fair winds and ice-cold Modelo induced euphoria around the deck of the 40 Cabo Conquistador. The morning garnered some exceptional tuna action as we landed fish of 150 and 250 pounds on the usual skipjack. Later the bait bite died down around the seamounts so we opted to head offshore with the lures where we managed several dorado to 40#'s and hooked and lost two marlin.

Not really caring about going 0 for 2 on the marlino's, since we already had an exceptional day in the bag, the boys continued to sip their Modelo's as the hours ticked by and i steered us back towards the reef, where i hoped the afternoon bite would yield some sort of similar monster as we'd encountered earlier in the morning.

Getting back to the high-spot i could see a sky literally clouded with birds and water so dimpled with breaking fish that it was all i could do to change out the lures and replace them with fresh bait catching spreads.

In short order the bait rods were hammered, but not by our usual bullets. No, this time a pair of 20# yellowfin hit the deck and one look from my deckhands, Ryan and Ben, was all i needed to solidify our plans for the afternoon.

"GO BIG OR GO HOME BOYS!" i bellowed from aloft in the tower, and we immediately sent the two XXL baits astern in the riggers.

I'd just cracked my first Modelo of the afternoon and was enjoying the view from above when an extremely nervous right rigger bait caught my attention. The entire outrigger was literally snapping back and forth as the bait tried in vain to outrun whatever demon had risen from the depths in search of gluttony.

My eyes followed the path of the spectra as it left the outrigger clip to the location where the bait was just in time to see a neon sign appear below the now frantic yellowfin.

The monster swatted the bait with a massive strike, sending the yellowfin catapulting through the air. The line popped free from the outrigger, giving the now schizophrenic yellowfin a little more breathing room but TOO LATE! SMASHFUCKINWHOOSH!!!! The behemoth marlin charged in again, half out of the water, to engulf the bait in a large and messy way.

"HOLY CHIT!!!! DID YOU SEE THAT BOYS LET THAT SONOFABITCH EAT!!!" Is what i tried to say...in reality it came out sounding more like this...

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHOLYFUCKMEMAAAAAARRLIIIIIIIIINNNNEATINGRIGGER (GASP!) MARLINEATINGRIGHTRIGGERBIG (GASP!) BIG...BIGGGGGGGBIGBIGBIGMARLINFUCK!"

Ben somehow remained cool and collected as the monster made it's move and ended our little yellowfin's career in a biblical explosion.

I counted to ten in my head and then screamed "NOW!!!" to Ben who immediately locked up the 80W and held on for dear life as i hit the throttles....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....GAME ON!!!

Adam, who was driving the Boomer not 100 feet away from this scene, and who had released a 700# black earlier that same morning while we were playing with the cow tunas, screamed over the radio "HOLY CHIT JT THAT'S ANOTHER PIG MARLIN!!! GET HIM YOU BASTARDS!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" And then his voice trailed off and the radio went silent as the choking and violent contortions took over.

The beast erupted astern of the Conquistador and hit the turbos, to steal one of my earlier lines, it "cleaved a swath through the ocean that would have done Moses proud!"

Jamming the throttles in reverse we literally filled the cockpit to the brim with water in hot pursuit. We all know spinning the boat and chasing these things bow first is far more efficient, often safer, and generally a better idea but sometimes amigos you just have to say "SCREW IT!", jam the gears in reverse and have at it, i'll be goddamned if that's not EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

RATTTATTTTAATTTCHITTYCHITTTYBANGRATTATERAAATTACHITTYCHITTY we flew after that fish in reverse as fast as 2,000 hp and the metal in the tranny gears could carry us, the entire time the fish just going BESERK for the cameras and crew below.

Eventually, after a spectacular 45 minute battle Ryan reached out and took his wraps on the 400# leader and the 700# black marlin kicking his ass on the other end. That hairy, wiry 21 year old frame of his got a first hand look at what he went all the way across the world searching for, and i'll be damned if he didn't do one hell of a job on the wire for his first time with a real one.

In short order the beast lay panting amidships and the boys reached out and removed the 14/0 Owner circle hook, patted the behemoth on the back and set her free. Ho-hum...another epic one.

Yup, i've said it before...and you can get used to it now cause i'll be saying it over, and OVER again...

IF IT GETS ANY BETTER THAN THIS I SURE AS HELL DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT!

Rock on amigos, it's on FIRE out there!!!

[triniswordfish]

WOW what a report and the pics are awesome
sure you dont need an extra deckhand ???? seriously

[Anders]

Once again another great report with unbelievable pics, thanks for bringin pics from the place where dreams come true

[gradywhite273]

wow , i thinks that was the best one ever capt josh.... holy guacamole batman

[Nauti Natured]

Awesome report .... got my blood boiling!!

[Ravens16]

Just craziness Captain Josh!
Holy shit, flying Black pics are nuts!!
I expect we'll be seeing these in some magazine soon!
Rig that dingy up with some video cameras
I'm out, damn!
Thanks

[Robja]

Great report and pics as usual Capt. Josh

[Adam Cargill]

I will admit that that fish is a little bigger than mine was. About 2 or 3................................lbs bigger. God those were two nice fish Bro.

[Capt Josh]

I will admit that that fish is a little bigger than mine was. About 2 or 3................................lbs bigger. God those were two nice fish Bro.

Jyes amigo...quite a day at the office eh?!?!?!

[SLAYER25]

that was a great report your tempting me to come down there, how long is the tuna bite on for the bigguns?