FISHIN DAYS FUN DAY

[Baywolf]

Fueled up iced up and prepped baits for the make up for Sat. yesterday, when Tim came to the boat and said the make up guys just canked it. Screw it he said, we've been busting our butts on this boat and I want to go fishing, we're going anyway, FOR HER! Blue Marilns baby and I don't care if it is just the 2 of us, okey doke! I get a call about 7:00pm last night, Bill ( Tuna Taxi) and his son Garret 13 yrs old are going to join us, RIGHT ON! I fished with them in the FKT last year and had a great time and Garret is a fine young angler, better than a lot of adults I've seen. I get to the boat this morning and Garret says I want to catch a Blue Marlin, yes sir, we'll see what we can do. His sister caught a White last year and he wanted to put that in her face. Lines in at the 670 line 35 ftms. About 20 min into the troll, 8:05, zit on the long bridge pole. Tim does the drop, she picks it up and goes. Drag tight, I look up, Tim says someone crank this fish in. I say chair and Garret hops in. Up till now we had no idea what it was. drag is burning while I'm am trying to get the butt in the gimble Bill says nice gaffer, then Tim says, "windshield wipers, I see a bill, we got us a bill fish boys, clear the gear". When we got settled and right on que she starts the show. She busted and gray hounded for about 20 seconds, settled for a bit then put on another show charging the boat, going ballistic. Garret managed it like a pro. Then she turned and ran from the boat airing out the whole way. Tim and full reverse throttles, we were cavitating hard and had the pit full of water. All Garret could do was watch the spool get smaller. Finally she stopped and Tim kept backing and Garret was cranking his ass of to get the line back. She stopped and laid there as if to say, ok boys come get me and let me go. We got back about half the 150 yd 100lb top shot when Tim says she is ours now she can't go down, not with all the air she took on during that show. I guess she didn't read that book because down she went. You should have seen the look on Garrets face when the brain started peeling off and kept going. We were about 20 mins into the fightand Garret was doing it all without a harness. I didn't know if the bucket would be small enough but we put him in it. After a few quick sessions of coaching from his dad and I he was all over it. When she got down she just sat there and swam with the boat for about 10 mins, we'd get a little and she would take a little. Tim made a move to get her to make a move and she didn't like it. Off went another 150 yds, but she came back up to the surface. The last 50 yds seemed like forever. I still had no idea how big she really was. 7 knts of current, we were pointed up sea and she was pointed down, couldn't get her to turn, only 20 ft from the boat. I grab the line and start to help, she turned and up she popped. Did a back and forth across the stern and came to rest on the starboard side. She was big fat and beautiful. Got Garret out of the chair so he could take a look and that smile he started with at the beginning of the fight came back, you will see what I'm talking about pics. Bill got some great pics and the are coming soon. Garret even took the plunge when we got back to the dock in that cold nasty water for his first bill fish. Congrats Garret on your first bill, you did an outstanding job my friend.......Oh don't worry I won't tell EVERYONE you spent the rest of the day sleeping on the bench next to Tim. Bill it was truly a pleasure to fish with you again and hope we get to do it again.

God I love this job!!!

[JMS-ILM]

awesome report. seems as if the blue marlins taunted just about every boat from the low 200's on up the road to where yall were fishing. what a bite today! 5 caught down our way that we heard including a fat pig pushing 5 large.

[cblocal]

Congrats on the bill. I'm still waiting on mine.

[dunn6253]

Great report, glad to hear the fish are starting to show up. Can't wait for the pics, and congrats to the fine young angler on his first blue girl.

[Crazy Eyes]

Awesome catch Garrett and great reporting Rick.

[slip slidin]

Congratulations Garrett, Block, Bill, and Tim. Pretty work. Lookin forward to the pics.

[yachtsnc]

Just a few pics of the girl. Great day on the water again with good folks and a great mate.

[Glenn W]

Pretty work there buddy, I'm proud of you.

[weekender]

awesome catch, excellent write up, super pics the whole crew had to to be spot on cause she came to the boat, WTG Garret!!!!!

[SeaBiscuit]

Congratulations Garret! She is a beautiful fish and a fantastic accomplishment.
Thumbs up to the Fishin Days crew. It one thing to say we are going billfishing and another altogether sticking one!
Thanks for the report and pictures.
SeaBiscuit