By Bev Mortimer:
“Once I caught a fish alive… then I let it go again…”
This line from the well known kid’s nursery rhyme came to life over the Easter weekend when St Francis Bay fisherman, Garth Webb, caught an approximate 250 kg Marlin. Then the lucky fish had its life spared by being released back into the Indian Ocean – though not because of a bite to a finger.
Webb hooked the great fish 36 miles off St Francis in rather warm, 25.3 degree, water while fishing from the boat, Ocean Warrier, on the Saturday.
“The Marlin gave us an absolutely awesome display on the surface… tail walking and jumping out of the water… in an attempt to throw the hook,” says Webb. “This lasted for a good 5 minutes after which the fight was really on with the fish running against full drag for about 600m in its initial run.
“Fortunately I had hooked the fish on proper Marlin tackle and managed to bring the fish to the side of the boat after 40 minutes,” Webb relates.
After a photo-shoot of the Marlin in the water the hook was removed without any damage to the fish. It was then set free to fight another day.
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