Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Had nice fight with a big Blue Marlin today off Stuart. I have not done much Marlin fishing and I had nothing to gauge it's size so estimate was in the 400lb Class. The fish sucked in a skirted Ballyhoo off the Starboard outrigger in 105' of water. He put on quite a dance and wore my friend Curtis out for about 1Hr/40 Min.

The Cool Thing was at one point I was in neutral and according to the GPS this bad boy was towing my 23' SeaCraft at 2.3 mph :D

The funny thing was it was hooked & fought on standup gear TLD 20. All knots held including the 8/0 J hook with a 75lb snap swivel crimped to 60lb fluorcarbon leader :eek:
We didn't want the fish to die after such a long struggle on light line so we brought the boat up and over the fish and broke him free approx 15' - 20' from the rod tip....
Another great SeaCraft adventure for sure!

The bad news is I didn't have Mark on board taking the pictures...Enjoy anyway!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0052.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0036.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0045.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0037.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0040.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...24-08_1120.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/DSCN0046.jpg

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Great job on the fish. I hope that the marlin is not "SeaCraft Shy" next time he passes South Carolina.

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Holy S--t! WAY TO GO!!!!
Years ago when the whaling industry was active in New England, a harpooned whale would often end up towing the dory that the whalers were in. They would call that a Nantucket sleigh ride.

You now know what that sleigh ride was like. Congratulations.

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Excellent!! Congrats and great pics!

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

GREAT JOB CHUCK!!! Man you know how I love blue marlin! I was in the mall when you called today buying the newest guitar hero for Joby wishing I was with you.I'm going to shanghi Marks lift at the Stuart house and put the new boat there so I have an excuse to come down and go harass all the Martin county billfish with you.Congrat's on a kick ass blue one!!!!

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Awesome,and what a fish to get off a 23'Seacraft,Congrats on the catch.
We catch lots of salmon,and they fight very well,but i can only imagine what a fish like that fights like. I'd be in my glory catching a Marlin like that.
Dam what a catch.I'm not sure I'm in good enough shape to even fight a fish like that.
Great job Chuck.

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Excellent job Chuck. I had sent Chuck an email with a screen-shot of the St. Lucie inlet saying how it was flat calm and he should take out his flats boat for some fishing. About ten minutes later, my cell phone rings and I see it's Chuck calling. I assume he's merely replying to my email via phone. I answer to hear an out-of-breath Capt. Chuck saying he's moving along at over 2mph being towed by a marlin. We spoke several more times by phone during the battle but it was as much a highlight of my day as it was his. Really great job Chuck, can't wait to hear what you go out and catch tomorrow [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Tell Curtis hello for me, I'm sure he'll remember this for a while ;)

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Outstanding job Chuck!! That is way cool :cool: :cool:

TLD 20 on a stand up rod, and the man in the blue suit was dragging you backwards :eek: Your buddy Curtis is the man!

This reminds me of a mexican charter boat using Penn Senators, and with a billfish hooked up, the mate keeps screaming...

"SENOR, DON'T TOUCH THE STAR!"

Congrats to the crew!

Lloyd

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Jealous as hell!! good Job there Capt Chuck!!! Thanks for sharing. :cool:

strick

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Did the TLD smoke?
color / type skirt?
Main line # test?
These are the days we live for!
I`m SOOOOO jealous.
Nice pics and memories.
Well done.

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Capt. Chuck-

Dr. Gucci is livin the dream :D :D..............Solid fish in 105ft of water :eek: :eek:!! Just another piece of evidence of that Legendary Treasure Coast Gucci lifestyle ;)

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Is it me or is the wrap on those rods Green too ;) way to go Capt Gucci! Great Catch

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Nice Job Capt!!

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Hi Capt. Chuck

Great job

Fellow-Ship


Just for the Grins :D

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Seriously cool. That's what it's all about. While I love the looks of the SeaCraft line, they are meant to catch fish.

If Spider Crab got a hold of that fish everyone in the hills would be eating well tonight.
[image]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/Slide1-9.jpg[/image]

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Outstanding Capt Chuck

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Great fish.. Love that forth shot!

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

The TLD is in perfect shape, no spool or drag issues
Small boone jet head w/ pink & blue skirt.
30lb Mamoi Diamond Blue Mono
Sandy
The more I think about the whole ordeal it is just possible that we had a bonita as the initial hookup and the marlin sucked him in shortly after. The first few moments after the knockdown things sure led us to believe we had another head shaker at he end of the line :D

Hermit
Custom Gucci Green all the way Bro

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Last time out we also got blitzed by Bonies, which got me thinking. I`ve got an ugly old mustard colored Lott Bros 50-80 class full roller tuna stick w/ brown wraps. Nice old Penn 50 w/ an amber handle. Anyone know what years they used the amber handle? Weighs a bloody ton.

I made up some 150# leaders w 13/0 J hooks. Bridle a Bone,give it a little rudder adjustment and put it to work!

Love that last shot! Reminds me of the scene in Bullitt when the hunter becomes the hunted!

That`s a very plausible scenario Chuck. I was on the drift boat years ago and a guy had a big king at the rail when a slob of a reef pimp {Cuda for my Yankee friends} whacked the king in half. Mike the mate, free gaffed the pimp and boxed em both. Later on we put em back together. King was 48" to the fork. Pimp 46.

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Hey Capt. Chuck. This is No Slack....Read the post......Awesome...really did make me smile. :D

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

so i am listing to the south florida fishing report today and the discussion of a 400# pound marlin comes up. capt chuck did you have anything to do with that???

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Thats one nice Hook Up. Nothing better than light gear fishing.
Great shots for handling the boat and first mating at the same time.

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

I suffer from one of the seven deadly sins - ENVY!!

Re: Marlin vs SeaCraft
 

Remember my first Blue in East Cape Baja....still remember that eye looking right at me when he jumped across two baits going for the right rigger.....however to see that again in my own SeaCraft, instant woodie! Congrats, I'm beyond jealous!