Hooked marlin gets away as fishing boat sinks (great pictures)

A hooked marlin sinks a fishing boat? Well, something like that
By: David Strege



A fisherman off Panama was battling a huge black marlin when the battle took a turn for the worse. The fish sank the boat.

Or as Marlin Magazine put it on its Facebook post, "Marlin Wins!"

Not all the details are in, but apparently the captain began backing down on the huge fish, a common practice in big-game fishing when a fish is taking line. He puts the boat in reverse to chase the fish.

One commenter on Marlin Magazine's Facebook post who apparently had some knowledge of the incident said that the captain fell as he was backing down on the fish at full throttle. The boat took on too much water and, finally, there was no correcting the situation.

Marlin Magazine reported that the boat went to the bottom of the sea and everybody on board was rescued by the photo boat. And, of course, the fish got away.

More photos as the boat sinks and the fish continues to jump:

Good thing there's pictures else no one would believe it.

They are also lucky that the people on the boat taking pictures also rescued everybody.

WOW! does this mean you actually can drink too much beer and fish at the same time?

J

Well when the boat was almost in danger, and prior to picture #1, somebody should have cut the fishing line.


Rick

This happens more often than you would think. It is certainly preventable. Properly closed and secured hatches along with unobstructed cockpit drains go a long way in keeping a boat above water when "pooped" (that is, water coming over the rear of the boat when backing down.)
I have personally witnessed this happening durring a fishing tournament in Cabo many years ago. Basicly the same scenario. The fisherman continued to fight the Marlin even as the rear of the boat became completly submerged. He argued to the tourny judges that he touched the "leader" of the hooked fish despite the partially sunk boat. He was awarded his 400 points though he did not win the tourny.

Go Marlins!

Probably the water came in over the stern while he was backing up to get back line. That will do it every time.

Chat on Marlin Magazine suggests that there was a boat, a marlin, and a guy with a computer and photoshop!

Snopes says it's legit:

Snopes: Black Marlin sinks fishing boat