The 20th of August 2005 is a day that neither of us will ever forget... because it happened!!!
The sight that met us on that morning at Ocean Blue Charters was a 40ft Blackwatch, gleaming Gold Shimano 130kg reels, and Corky Decker the skipper beaming from ear to ear "we're going to catch you guys a Blue today?" "Yes!!" we chorus, the excitement is palpable, "one each" Corky raises an eyebrow "okay, one each it is" We all smile eternal optimists the lot of us.
8.30am on the 20th August 2005 we're hooked up, on a blue I'm on strike, my husband John is such a gentlemen letting me go first . An hour and ten minutes later the tags in my first Blue Marlin, what a buzz words can't describe, but I'll try, pain, sweat, elation, pride, estimated weight 300kg.
Johns turn, hooked up and a forty minute fight with a feisty 100kg blue, tags in, John's first Blue. All before lunch. Well done you say you achieved your one blue marlin each, we're smiling because it aint over yet!
By 4pm on the 20th August 2005 I had caught 3 blue marlin tagged and released and John 2. We had caught 2 Mahi Mahi and a yellow fin tuna as well, we were exhausted, but we decided to drag the lures around just once more.. We have a strike " Big Fish! Big Fish!" cries Sennet, the decky. 900 meters of line screams off the reel by the time we clear the gear, twin 500
HP Yanmars at 2300 revs in reverse and we managed to regain the line over the next 40 minutes with no let up ( john was working hard and so was the skipper!) She's 30 meters from the boat still shaking her head, up out of the water her shoulders come, she's a beaut!! She shakes her head six times and spits the hook. She lives to see another day, and by 8am the next morning John had tagged and released his 3rd Blue Marlin any way.
In 24 hours we had tagged and released 6 Blue Marlin, lost the big one and had experienced the most amazing fishing anyone could hope for, a world class trip. Our thanks to Ocean Blue Charters and Corky Decker the skipper and Sennet the decky, for their expertise and professionalism, but most of all their friendly enthusiasm which made the trip complete, a great team
effort, we're looking forward to fishing Vanuatu again.
John & Wendy Williams
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