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Small-Boat Anglers Land Surprise Blue Marlin Offshore
A pair of unexpected blue marlin catches are turning heads in the offshore community and has anglers questioning what’s possible from small boats when it comes to offshore fishing.
In one case, two Gulf Coast fishermen known for their YouTube shark-fishing content decided to chase tuna nearly 100 miles offshore. In the other, a father-son duo on Florida’s Treasure Coast hooked into a fish of a lifetime ten miles out while fishing from a 14-foot skiff. Both crews ended up in the same improbable position: staring at a blue marlin beside the boat after a long fight on gear far lighter than what is normally used for the species.
Pensacola anglers Dylan Wier and Blaine Kenny have spent the past two years filming beach-based shark charters for their Coastal Worldwide channel. But on a calm fall morning, they trailed their 22-foot center console toward the Ram Powell Rig south of Orange Beach, hoping for yellowfin tuna.
The Ram Powell Rig is a popular fishing destination for anglers targeting Yellowfin Tuna. Photo: Mike Mason
The first day was slow, and even the next morning brought little encouragement. With just hours left before heading home, they dropped a small bait deep in the water column, hoping to salvage the trip with a single good tuna.
Instead, a blue marlin estimated at more than 300 pounds exploded from the surface.
Kenny grabbed the ultralight setup and held on as the fish tore across the open water. Wier, filming the chaos through his camera lens, kept the fish in frame while maneuvering the boat to help prevent the line from parting. With only 60-pound fluorocarbon and a small circle hook, they expected a quick breakoff, but nearly an hour later, the marlin was still attached.
When they finally eased the fish to the gunwale, they saw why: the hook had lodged behind a pectoral fin, preventing the marlin from wearing through the leader during its jumps. After touching the leader for an official catch, they allowed the fish to swim off.
Caught on camera: the moment a blue marlin blew up on a tiny bait meant for yellowfin. Screenshot: Coastal Worldwide YouTube
For Wier and Kenny, the moment served as another step in their push to catch every major pelagic species in the Gulf from their small boat.
Hundreds of miles away and weeks earlier, Stuart angler Joel and his father had launched their 14-foot skiff to chase blackfin tuna near Push Button Hill ahead of an approaching storm. Their plan was to troll the ledges, but the rods stayed quiet until a long line snapped free and a fish dumped nearly all the line from their spinning reel.
At first, they assumed a large tuna had eaten their feather lure. But when the fish vaulted skyward, everything changed.
With no fighting belt, no heavy gear, and waves from an incoming system, Joel battled the marlin from the top of a cooler as his dad maneuvered the boat to help regain line. For more than an hour, the fish dove and jumped but slowly tired. When it finally circled just beneath the hull, they grabbed the leader, removed the lure, and released the fish as it flashed electric blue and disappeared into the depths.
Though the catches occurred in different regions under completely different circumstances, both highlight the same takeaway: in calm seas and with the right preparation, small-boat anglers can stumble into encounters offshore once thought impossible.
The post Small-Boat Anglers Land Surprise Blue Marlin Offshore appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
Small-Boat Anglers Land Surprise Blue Marlin Offshore
A pair of unexpected blue marlin catches are turning heads in the offshore community and has anglers questioning what’s possible from small boats when it comes to offshore fishing.
In one case, two Gulf Coast fishermen known for their YouTube shark-fishing content decided to chase tuna nearly 100 miles offshore. In the other, a father-son duo on Florida’s Treasure Coast hooked into a fish of a lifetime ten miles out while fishing from a 14-foot skiff. Both crews ended up in the same improbable position: staring at a blue marlin beside the boat after a long fight on gear far lighter than what is normally used for the species.
Pensacola anglers Dylan Wier and Blaine Kenny have spent the past two years filming beach-based shark charters for their Coastal Worldwide channel. But on a calm fall morning, they trailed their 22-foot center console toward the Ram Powell Rig south of Orange Beach, hoping for yellowfin tuna.
The Ram Powell Rig is a popular fishing destination for anglers targeting Yellowfin Tuna. Photo: Mike Mason
The first day was slow, and even the next morning brought little encouragement. With just hours left before heading home, they dropped a small bait deep in the water column, hoping to salvage the trip with a single good tuna.
Instead, a blue marlin estimated at more than 300 pounds exploded from the surface.
Kenny grabbed the ultralight setup and held on as the fish tore across the open water. Wier, filming the chaos through his camera lens, kept the fish in frame while maneuvering the boat to help prevent the line from parting. With only 60-pound fluorocarbon and a small circle hook, they expected a quick breakoff, but nearly an hour later, the marlin was still attached.
When they finally eased the fish to the gunwale, they saw why: the hook had lodged behind a pectoral fin, preventing the marlin from wearing through the leader during its jumps. After touching the leader for an official catch, they allowed the fish to swim off.
Caught on camera: the moment a blue marlin blew up on a tiny bait meant for yellowfin. Screenshot: Coastal Worldwide YouTube
For Wier and Kenny, the moment served as another step in their push to catch every major pelagic species in the Gulf from their small boat.
Hundreds of miles away and weeks earlier, Stuart angler Joel and his father had launched their 14-foot skiff to chase blackfin tuna near Push Button Hill ahead of an approaching storm. Their plan was to troll the ledges, but the rods stayed quiet until a long line snapped free and a fish dumped nearly all the line from their spinning reel.
At first, they assumed a large tuna had eaten their feather lure. But when the fish vaulted skyward, everything changed.
With no fighting belt, no heavy gear, and waves from an incoming system, Joel battled the marlin from the top of a cooler as his dad maneuvered the boat to help regain line. For more than an hour, the fish dove and jumped but slowly tired. When it finally circled just beneath the hull, they grabbed the leader, removed the lure, and released the fish as it flashed electric blue and disappeared into the depths.
Though the catches occurred in different regions under completely different circumstances, both highlight the same takeaway: in calm seas and with the right preparation, small-boat anglers can stumble into encounters offshore once thought impossible.
The post Small-Boat Anglers Land Surprise Blue Marlin Offshore appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...