Big Marlin- Big Fight

(Originally published in  Coastal Angler Magazine’s MS Gulf Coast section, November 2011 Issue)

It had been a really good fishing trip for us in the Gulf, with two blue marlin weighing over 300 pounds already released. Standing on the flying bridge, I happened to look down and right behind the boat swam a mammoth sized marlin, speeding effortlessly along like a large submarine. 

As soon as it hit the center rigger, I grabbed the rod and scrambled for the fighting chair, with line peeling off the reel at an alarming rate. As I settled in for the fight I knew two things for sure: it was a blue marlin and it was big- really big.

Tuna Cobia Vixen Trip

Sometimes you get good weather. Sometimes you get great fishing. Once in a while you get both. Well, we did—sort of, on our last Vixen bluewater overnight trip.

When we headed out early in the morning, the forecast called for 5-10 knots, 1-2 foot seas, with only a 30% chance of rain—perfect weather.  Our game plan was to catch some live bait for tuna fishing later along the way to hit the cobia. Capt. Eric Gill had heard good reports and, as usual, was spot on. We caught ten!!

At one point, we had three cobia on at once. After throwing seven in the fishbox, we worried about not having enough room for tuna (and because we like to be good stewards of the fisheries), we released the next three, two of which were nice sized fish and only one small one. It was the small one that caused me grief.

Gulf South Outdoors

About to enter its eleventh season, the “Gulf South Outdoors” TV show is considered to be among the best produced show in its class. While employing a documentary style, the show strives to create better overall movement and add interest to a wider viewing segment. Unlike many such outdoor shows, Gulf South Outdoors features multiple storylines rather than having a singular focus on simply watching the host hunt or fish. This broadens the show’s interest beyond viewers whose primary interest is participating in the sport.