Fisherman impaled by giant fish as it leapt across boat

The Times of London ^ | August 4, 2006 | Simon de Bruxelles

[Charles Martel]

We aren't talking about sitting on the bank and fishing in the pond here. Off shore fishing IS an extreme sport.

Oh, I know; I've fished saltwater since I was old enough to cock the bail on my granddad's spinning reel. Every other year or so, a bunch of us would put together a fishing charter, but going after billfish is very expensive to do that way. Better to visit the rigs and load up on Amberjack and Cobia. Between the rigs, we'd usually toll for Pompano. Not high-end gamefish, but plenty of fun ('specially those big Cobia).

It'll be a few years before I get to do that again; all of the charter boats that I used to book were taken out by Katrina - either washed a mile inland or just plain gone without a trace.

Ironically, I've heard that the fishing has been very good in the Gulf (dammnit).

[Sam Cree]

The guy who used to work on my car told me him and his son once caught a carp about 30 pounds. They didn't know what to do with it once they got it up on the bank, so they shot it. Probably had a few beers by then.

Seriesly though, I know of at least one case where a marlin has killed a guy. They've rammed holes in boats too.

Catching them the old fashioned way.

[Ditter]

For about 20 years we owned boats and regularly fished 100 miles off shore of Galveston and Freeport. It was great fun but hard hard work and we are too old to do it now. The fish that I mentioned that knocked me down and left a mark was a Ling. My husband reminded me that the fish wasn't on anyones line, he was just swimming by and my husband reached out with the gaff and gaffed him. Talk about bringing a green fish into the boat WOW! That is why he flipped off the gaff and knocked me for a loop.

[ArGee]

This is obviously one of the Marlins which is evolving to eat mammals that venture out over the water.

Shalom.

[RightWhale]

It's going to be quite a scar. The entry wound is fist-sized. Must have mostly missed the lung.

[Phsstpok]

The marlin is telling his buddies about the "one that got away."

Fishermen everywhere better hope he's not telling his buddies about the value of offensive tactics in a life or death conflict. 

This fish could be the Bruce Lee of the Marlin community.  "Spear Kun Do," the way of the intercepting sharp pointy bill. 

[Charles Martel]

Bringing a large fish aboard before tiring him out can be hazardous to your boat. I saw some guys in a small center-console boat (well, small for that far out - I think it was a 23' Whaler) try to boat a *big* cobia. They must've been slow to whomp him with the "Welcome Aboard" club, because a loud thrashing commenced and the stainless bow rail, along with big chunks of the fiberglass gunwhale were knocked loose. I think they headed in after they finally subdued the fish, not wishing to push their luck. :-)

Here's an interesting image to go with this thread. I think it's legit, not Photoshopped. Looks like a still from a videocamera. Go to the image's site and click on the pic for the full-size version.

[Ditter]

How do I get to the photos site?

BTW Cobia is another name for a Ling, the fish that whomped me.

[tutstar]

ping...

OUCH!!

[razorback-bert]

I have had a very alive 114 catfish and three boys in a 12 jon boat.

It wasn't long until the fish had the boat to himself.

[dalereed]

Not that unusual except for getting impaled by it.

I had a striped marlin come across the transom and exit over the side fishing marlin in Baja.

It missed me by about a foot, only an idiot just stands there with their mouth open and lets it get him.

[Phsstpok]

It wasn't long until the fish had the boat to himself.

The picture in my mind is priceless.  Thanks for that! 

[Charles Martel]

Here's the link