 Fishing
Reports
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Giant Blue Marlin -
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In Funchal’s Marina
many well-equipped big game boats lie side by side
that daily set out to hunt the gladiators of the
Atlantic Ocean. Madeira is particularly famous for
its big tuna and blue marlin in record sizes.
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Madeira is a popular Portuguese
tourist island framed by beautiful nature with lava
coasts and scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
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It was exactly at northern latitude 32 37´642
and longitude 97 05´118 in the Atlantic Ocean off the Portuguese
island of Madeira, the huge blue marlin suddenly appeared in the
wake of the big game boat “Margarita”, running amuck
on the outer Konahead.
- In a few seconds the huge marlin stripped the
130lb big-game fishing equipment of more than 400 metres of line
in one breathless run, Jan Ring recalls. And suddenly the several
metre long colossus leaped clear out of the water, gleaming in
silver and blue among white spray of exploding water.
Jan Ring puts all his power
into the big game equipment while the drag on the reel
sounds like a hammer drill and the line quivers in
the air like an old telegraph wire in a storm.
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- It was really a hard and exhausting
fight and what a powerful fish! Jan Ring elaborates:
-The big game reel’s drag sounded like a hammer drill at full
rotation and the 130lb nylon line quivered in the wind like an old
telephone wire in stormy weather while the blue marlin jumped again
and again on the edge of a wave, making the sea splinter in gigantic
splashes.
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–At that time I knew it was a possible “grander”,
Jan says. After only 50 minutes, the marlin was close to the boat
and presented itself in full dignity. A fantastic creature of almost
4 metres in length, shining in blue, fluorescent colours, thickset
and longer than the rail of the big game boat.
– As soon I
saw the enormous fish I knew I wanted to release it,
Jan Ring says and points out that even though a trophy
on the wall looks impressive, a marlin is much prettier “alive
and kicking” in its natural element. Capt. Santos
got hold of the leader, and according to the catch-and-release
regulations of IGFA and the International Billfish
Association this is what is required to confirm the
fish as being caught.
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WOW! 1000lbs in free training
on the Mustad Tuna hook size 12 (ref. 7732).
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 Jan
Ring’s grander appears under the keel and shines
in blue-fluorescent colours. Captain Santos is ready
to put the release-tag in the blue marlin, documenting
that the fish was caught and released.
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Then with bravado Capt. Santos placed
catch-and-release tag number 149283 on the marlin’s
dorsal fin. He estimated Jan Ring’s grandiose billfish
to be approximately 3.80 metres in length and more than
1.4 metres in circumference. Consequently, it was one
of the biggest blue marlin caught in the European part
of the Atlantic Ocean. |
Part
II
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