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Thread: 1,370lb Atlantic Blue Marlin

  1. #1
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    Oct 2003
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    Default 1,370lb Atlantic Blue Marlin

    https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/...ibextid=Zxz2cZ

    South African citrus farmer Ben Vorster, 50, was fishing aboard the 37-foot Bertram charter boat Smoker with renowned Capt. Ryan “Roo” Williamson the morning of May 19 when he hooked into one of the biggest Atlantic blue marlin ever caught on a rod and reel. The crew was trolling off Africa’s central-west coast near Mindelo, Cape Verde, when they first saw the fish.

    “At 7:30 a.m. Roo noticed a monster marlin rise on a far back trolling lure just 15 minutes after setting up for fishing,” says South African Capt. Steve Andrews, one of Williamson’s best friends and fishing buddies. (Williamson was out marlin fishing when Outdoor Life contacted him for an interview, but he told the story of the fishing adventure to Andrews, who shared with us the tale from Cape Verde.)

    South African Crew Catches Second Biggest Atlantic Blue Marlin Ever
    The blue’s tail fin measured more than three feet across. Ryan Williamson photo
    Williamson only trolls a single long-line lure—typically a Pulsator tube of his own design—for giant marlin, Andrews explains. The idea is to tease a big fish up close, drawing it into the transom teasers and dredges. The crew then tries to seal the deal by pitching out a 4-pound tuna bait rigged on a circle hook.

    When this particular marlin rose behind the Smoker on Thursday morning, Andrews says the deckhands worked hard and fast to tease the fish within easy pitching distance. It took the bait right away, and Vorster hopped into the fighting chair to do battle, using a stout rod and an 80-pound trolling reel spooled with 130-pound test line—an ideal setup for pitch-fishing to huge marlin.

    “After hooking the fish, it never jumped, so they couldn’t confirm how big they believed it to be,” says Andrews. “Ben is a strong, tough farmer, and a big game hunter. [He] did an incredible job fighting the fish and getting the marlin to the boat in only 30 minutes.”

    South African Crew Catches Second Biggest Atlantic Blue Marlin Ever
    One of the biggest blue marlin caught in decades. Ryan Williamson photo
    As the big blue neared the boat, the crew realized just how massive it was. They hit the billfish with flying gaffs while it was still green and plenty strong. The fish bent open one of the gaffs, but the crew was still able to wrestle it into the boat.

    Back at the marina, the marlin was placed on a digital scale, where it officially weighed in at 1,370 pounds. It measured 12.6 feet in length with a 6.6-foot girth, and the fish’s tail fin alone was nearly three feet across.

    South African Crew Catches Second Biggest Atlantic Blue Marlin Ever
    The still-green marlin bent out the gaff hook. Ryan Williamson photo
    “It’s a dream come true for Ben Voster,” says Andrews. “He’s an avid marlin fisherman and boat owner, just like his brothers Gerhard and Michiel, who were alongside him during the catch.”

    The Voster brothers were fishing a six-day charter with Capt. Williamson. Andrews says they enjoyed phenomenal fishing over the course of their trip, catching and releasing 14 blue marlin up to 800 pounds. Virtually all those marlin were caught using the pitch-bait tactic.

    “The last morning of the charter trip was when Ben caught his giant marlin,” says Andrews. “The Cape Verde area is just a spectacular blue marlin fishery.”

    South African Crew Catches Second Biggest Atlantic Blue Marlin Ever
    Teased, then pitched. What a fish. Ryan Williamson photo
    Williamson would agree. He believes the area might the best place in the world for catching lots of big blue marlin, Andrews says. And Roo is a pretty good judge of the world’s marlin fisheries. The son of the late but legendary Capt. John Williamson, founder of the famous Williamson Lures company, Roo has fished nearly everywhere the species swims. When he’s not chasing marlin and chartering offshore trips, he produces big game lures for Pulsator Lures, which is based in South Africa.

    Putting their catch in perspective, the fish that the Smoker crew landed earlier this week is the second heaviest blue marlin ever caught from the Atlantic. Although plenty of anglers target these giant billfish in deep water, it’s not very often that a fish over 1,000 pounds—also known as a “grander”—is brought into the boat.

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  2. #2
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    Default

    That's a grown one, wow.

  3. #3
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    30 minute fight for that one, wow.
    Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn't go so far as to call a dog filthy but they're definitely dirty. But, a dog's got personality. Personality goes a long way.


    You might take out a dozen before they drag you from your home and skull fuck you to death. Marsh Chicken 6/21/2013

  4. #4
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    Feb 2003
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    united states of america
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    I got the email from my buddy as he was 20 min into the fight. They had to give him mustard packs after he emailed me.

  5. #5
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    Jan 2009
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    Big one. Very cool

  6. #6
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    Mar 2002
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    GVL
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    I caught one of those in Moultrie one time..still eating on it
    At least I'm housebroken.

  7. #7
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    Nov 2004
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    Timberman’s daddy’s is bigger.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
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    That is a big fish!
    Yup, he's crazy...


    like a fox. The dude may be coming in a little too hard and crazy but 90% of everything he says is correct.

    Sort of like Toof. But way smarter.
    ~Scatter Shot

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