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Sat 5/28 Blue Marlin Hookup off Cape Lookout
Dorian, Jed, Scott and I, loaded up Union Jack and left Masonboro Inlet about 4:45. We ran in calm seas just shy of 80 miles, to a nice eddy over good structure about 8 miles southeast of the Big Rock. Dropped the lines when we found a break from 79.8 up to 83 degrees and ran south, southeast, into the current from 180, to 500 ft of water. The day began fairly slow with only one strike, a decent Dolphin cow in the 20lb range. Continued running off into deeper water, hoping for a late spring Yellowfin, but with no luck.
About 11am we’ watching the spread and see a bill come up next to our starboard short-rigger running a pink & white Islander on a med. Ballyhoo about 20 .yds off the stern. Much excitement on the boat ensues. Within a few seconds, just behind the Islander a bill busts the surface, mouth wide open. In the meantime Dorian, who’s running the boat has grabbed the rod off the gunwale just to his right and expertly slipped it into freespool, dropping that Islander right down the throat of the fish like he was spoon-feeding an infant. Dorian passes me the rod, as it’s my turn up, and returns to the helm. Fish On.
By now everyone realizes what’s going on we have a Blue Marlin hooked up, and he’s peeling line off our smallest set-up, a Penn12T with 200yds 50lb mono over 100 .yds of 80lb braid. We really don’t stand a chance, but in the moment that thought does not materialize. The fish runs deep, then heads toward the boat. At this point we have no idea of his size, but know it’s big from the size of the bill. Then I start putting line back on the reel. Everyone is just waiting to see the fish appear. He has other ideas. Just at it feels like he’s within sight of the surface, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
He runs a hundred plus yds in a few seconds and I’m trying to eek out more drag from the seriously outclassed 12T. No luck. Just then, off the starboard side the fish torpedoes into the air, lit like a neon sign, shakes his head furiously, then crashes back into the water. Now we know he’s big. Dorian, who’s captained his share of Blue landings from Cabo to the NE. Canyons estimates the fish is over 300lbs. Several more times, within seconds, the Marlin leaps into the air. Trying to spit the hook. I’m just hanging on, enjoying the ride as long as possible.
On the last jump, I run out of mono and as soon as the fish throws his head again, the braid and mono part ways. Fish Off. He leaps twice more, off into the wild blue. The air on the boat is a little blue, and wild as well. But the truth is, we never had much of a chance to leader him in. Not on a 12T, and not without a miracle. We fought him long enough to bring him near the boat, and then long enough to get about 5-6 amazing leaps in rapid succession until the inevitable line break. As if to rub it in, the big blue leapt another two times as we caught our breaths and soaked in the experience of it all.
The rest of the day, action was spotty but it almost didn’t matter. After hooking up, and fighting a big blue marlin to the surface and getting an acrobatic display to put the blue angels to shame, we we’re satisfied beyond belief, with only one fish in the box. We ended the day with 6 nice Mahi estimated 14-20lb gaffers, and threw a chicken thrown back, so 7 for 7 on the Mahi. Beautiful ride home, made it to the jetty wall by 4:30pm.
All in it was a day to remember forever, and one that will make next winter seem just a little bit longer. It was my first ever billfish hookup, a first for Union Jack, and most of the credit is due to Dorian Rogers, an amazing fisherman who knows how to put out a killer spread! The fish might not agree.
Southport 26CC, "Union Jack"
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