Monster blue marlin caught after 28-hour battle off Cabo San Lucas

[scattered_grass]

that sucks. not even his fish to claim

[jtocean]

Great story....I would have killed it too. The fish was probably too stressed to survive anyway if released. I agree feed the locals and take measurements for a fiberglass mount with the bill. Fish of a lifetime. Anything smaller, release!

Smoked Blue Marlin is awesome btw!

[dragline]

...the angler had broken it off at sunset rather than relinquishing his rod to someone else. If the reason for killing the fish was to provide food for locals, then so be it. In that case, the credit for the catch should go to the boat (or boats in this situation), not to one angler who DID NOT catch the fish. Understand, I do not have a problem with someone bringing in a fish that he/she caught and wants pictures with it hanging up by the bragging board. In fact, I long for the day that I feel that I have caught a fish worthy of doing so. But you can bet your a$$ that I will be the only angler that holds the rod that lands that fish! In the article, the angler described himself as a worldwide hunter and fisherman. Given the circumstances of this catch, I for one can only wonder if he has or would claim/mount a trophy deer, elk, etc. that was shot by someone else. Just the idea of doing so is absolutely unfathomable to me, as I'm sure it is to most other hunters and fishermen that live for the chance of taking a true "trophy of a lifetime". Then again however, there are those who shoot lions that are sleeping under pickup trucks. So, I guess it all boils down to personal ethics and as to how a sportsman defines the rules of "fair chase". Apparently, the definitions of each have broadened considerably in recent years. Just my take...
Semper Fi,
Dragline

[Patudo]

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Sporting ethics are all very well, but what are most charter crews in a tourist port, and most charter clients, going to think/do when faced with that situation? There's a good chance most charter boats might indeed have broken the fish off, but because the skipper/operator wasn't going to waste any more fuel fighting a big fish on light tackle into the night, but these guys didn't do that, probably the tackle was just heavy enough and the fish behaving in such a way they felt they had a chance. After fighting the fish from 8.20 to sunset this crew probably decided they had invested enough time and effort into this fish that they weren't going to come back empty handed. The angler probably agreed with them, or else he'd have broken the line. Ditto with the snag rig. After 24 hours they were looking at either coming back with a big fat nothing, or trying to snag the fish and have a chance of bringing in a thousand pounder. Not a difficult choice if one had not been weighed in for years, and you're operating a charterboat in a busy marina with dozens of other boats competing for business. As for the angler, some folks would prefer to stand next to a thousand pounder, even if it wasn't caught IGFA kosher, than break off the biggest fish they're ever going to see while trying to catch it the sporting way and to be honest, that's perfectly understandable. The credit for the catch will be given to the boat and crew by their peers in the marina and by the wider fishing community anyway. No one remembers who the guys on the rod were for most of those granders in Hawaii.

[Patudo]

IMHO the amount of damage one angler could do to a fishery is so minute by keeping his fish of a life time that it is almost rediculous to ponder.

If every single angler in a place like Cabo or Kona killed his fish of a lifetime, and for most tourists a 100 lb stripe or a 200 lb blue is going to be their "fish of a lifetime", what do you think would happen to the fishery in 4-5 years?

The oddest thing about this catch IMO was that a certified scale could not be found amongst the 100+ charter and private boats in Cabo. What with all the tournaments there and all.

[Verbal]

The oddest thing about this catch IMO was that a certified scale could not be found amongst the 100+ charter and private boats in Cabo. What with all the tournaments there and all.

My thoughts exactly. I would also like to know more about the snag-rig and how they managed to snag the fish with it? Did they see the fish on top and cast a string of treble hooks at it? Slide the rig down the mainline?

[Squidnation]

If every single angler in a place like Cabo or Kona killed his fish of a lifetime, and for most tourists a 100 lb stripe or a 200 lb blue is going to be their "fish of a lifetime", what do you think would happen to the fishery in 4-5 years?

The oddest thing about this catch IMO was that a certified scale could not be found amongst the 100+ charter and private boats in Cabo. What with all the tournaments there and all.

Thats a great point Dustin but lets be realistic on this fish. 100lb stripey or 200lb blue is a nice fish and its up to the crew to relay that to the angler or charter. "Nice fish, lets let it go to fight another day" or something like that. Now a grander gets on the other end of the line most crews are gonna say HOLY SHIT THATS A GRANDER! THIS IS TRULY A FISH OF A LIFE TIME. But then again there are guys like the asshole in that video. I can't find it now

[Catcher's Mitt]

Well put Bill.

+1,+1

[dragline]

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Sporting ethics are all very well, but what are most charter crews in a tourist port, and most charter clients, going to think/do when faced with that situation? There's a good chance most charter boats might indeed have broken the fish off, but because the skipper/operator wasn't going to waste any more fuel fighting a big fish on light tackle into the night, but these guys didn't do that, probably the tackle was just heavy enough and the fish behaving in such a way they felt they had a chance. After fighting the fish from 8.20 to sunset this crew probably decided they had invested enough time and effort into this fish that they weren't going to come back empty handed. The angler probably agreed with them, or else he'd have broken the line. Ditto with the snag rig. After 24 hours they were looking at either coming back with a big fat nothing, or trying to snag the fish and have a chance of bringing in a thousand pounder. Not a difficult choice if one had not been weighed in for years, and you're operating a charterboat in a busy marina with dozens of other boats competing for business. As for the angler, some folks would prefer to stand next to a thousand pounder, even if it wasn't caught IGFA kosher, than break off the biggest fish they're ever going to see while trying to catch it the sporting way and to be honest, that's perfectly understandable. The credit for the catch will be given to the boat and crew by their peers in the marina and by the wider fishing community anyway. No one remembers who the guys on the rod were for most of those granders in Hawaii.

Point taken ... and that may very well have been how everything went down. The business aspect never really crossed my mind, possibly because I'm still a relative newcomer to offshore billfishing and I tend to look at everything solely from an angler's perspective. However, if I remember the story correctly, the captain gave the angler the option of gaffing or turning loose. So, it appears, even after all that work, that the captain was willing to waive the potential for kudus at the dock in lieu of letting the fish go. The angler made the call to gaff because, "it was the hardest thing I've ever done". Say What? Which part, fighting the fish all day or sleeping all night while someone else fought your fish for you? Maybe those "old school" principles I grew up with are totally out of date, but I am old, so I can only call it like I see it. Billfishing is a mano e mano sport. The guy should have broken off at sunset or, at least when interviewed, should have gracefully given ALL the credit to the captain and crew that did one hellofa job working and landing that awesome fish. Nuff said by me. Good post by the way.
Semper Fi
Dragline