On Monday we started on the ledge on the 350 line, hoping to get some wahoo early. All we got were barracudas, bonitas, and kings. We pushed out a bit deeper and got a sail bite or two, but could not keep them on the line. We caught some nice blackfin tunas (three) in 430 feet of water. They hit the squitches on the long riggers. We pushed back into the ledge on the outcrop and caught a nice dolphin. The sharks were chasing bonitas on the ledge and we caught a few more of them.
As we crossed the ledge and got into 160 feet of water, a billfish came up behind a naked ballyhoo on the mid rigger. My son David fed the fish and hooked him up. Thinking it was a sail, we put my wife, Cindy, in the chair for her first billfish (also her birthday). The fish really started taking line and then came out of the water. It suprised all of us to see a blue marlin coming out of the water. After a one hour fight on a TLD 25, we were able to release the fish alongside the boat. It looked like the marlin was about 200-250 lbs. The water was as calm as I’ve ever seen it yesterday. Going on a 3/4 day tomorrow and a full day on Thursday.
Glad you guys found the fish - after we passed you on the way in we couldn’t keep the cudas and bonitas off the line but it did provide some good action. Did you pick the blackfin up around the skipjack out deeper?
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