Marlin alarm off the island of Sao Miguel
Azores in September 2011
First time I write my catch-report not as a passionate angler, but as Wireman. I am sure that the photos without text already the hearts of my readers will be beating faster. Start of 2011 Peter and I decided to equip his boat MEA with Outriggers. I was planning the construction and bought the material. In August, Peter visited me in Munich and took his new Outrigger with to Sao Miguel. I think the Outrigger look and work well.
The situation in September, Sao Miguel: Unfortunately, no Big Eye Tunas and by catch in the area. But! The anglers spoke about white marlin and good blue marlin catches of the neighbor islands.
The fishing team: in the first six days Gerhard was as angler and photographer with us. Christa was as photographer and captain and Peter’s friend Valter helped us as Wireman and as fisherman. Peter was our skipper, wireman, fisherman …, often all in one person!
Our main fishing areas were the 4 and 12 nautical miles distant seamounts “Jose Caspar” and “Da Prata Mar”.
On 6th September we start fishing. The hours passed with no fish contact. At last! 4 p.m. two marlin strikes shortly. I saw the fish coming. 15 minutes later came the third strike. After an hour, Gerhard lost his first Marlin behind the boat.
5 30 p.m. was the fourth strike. Gerhard fought three and a half hours until I finally was able to grab the leader. It had become dark now, and for safety I cut the leader! In the darkness I could see the fish only vaguely, but I added 150lb. to my first weight estimate of 600lb.
7th September: The whole day we only had one hook-up. Unfortunately we lost this fish after half an hour.
8th September: After five miles much water came in our boat. Therefore, we turned back immediately!
9th September: Today the Sea was calmer, but we were still traveling at times as a “submarine”. Therefore after 2 hours we drove back to the marina.
10th September: Unfortunately still rough seas, but boat and lures are working well anyway. Against 2 p.m. a double strike: Gerhard caught one +250 lb. Blue Marlin.
The second marlin had been “caught himself” in the leader. Peter must pull the fish backwards – it was an extremely strong fight! The marlin came dead to the boat.
12th September: In the lee of the island we caught only barracuda. To caught Barracudas there is very simple and also how much want you!
13th September: Bad weather made fishing impossible.
14th September: In the afternoon, two hook-ups of fish to 500lb, unfortunately we lost both fish after a short fight. On the way home came another hook-up. Unfortunately, the fish came in the propeller on his stomach hurt him. The only reason we killed the fish. Christa was the whole time our skipper!
15th and 16 September: Unfortunately, torrential rains and strong winds, so today, no fishing.
17th September, Valter on board again: Four hook-ups and three marlins released, that was our best result!
19th September: Today Peter and I were alone on board. 11 a.m. was the first marlin strike. 3 30 p.m. strike number two: The fish showed no reaction even after several hours and changed his fight behavior only slightly. We were helpless and the hook sliced by more than three hours out. In retrospect, I suppose, that we hooked a big marlin on the rear dorsal fin?
20th September: Shortly after the exit port, we were again as a “submarine” on way. And so we drove straight back to the safety marina.
21st September: We were fishing specifically for White Marlin: Two hook-ups and I caught my first white marlin!
22nd September: We fished again for white marlin: two hook-ups on my new “white-marlin-lure”!
23rd September: We are fishing for Big Eye Tunas. It was only a Grander 1238 as a teaser (with hooks) behind the boat. In the early afternoon suddenly appeared behind the MEA a marlin and his target was our “Teaser-Smoker”. I was now skipper and Wireman and Peter had to fight stand-up with his 14/0 Everol. After an hour we were releasing a 500lb Marlin – good luck!
24th September, our last fishing day: Peter and I decided that Valter had to catch his first marlin as an angler. Near “Jose Caspar” we had our first strike, unfortunately after five minutes we lost the fish. After high noon, things moved quickly: Seven strikes, five hook-ups – Valter had to fight four times with this big fish. He lost all the fish, bad luck.
3 p.m. the next Strike: Valter fight more than one hour with the fish and also on the border of his mental and physical stress. Then I finally got to take the leader. Unfortunately the hook was hanging in the eye of fish and the leader wrapped several times around the sword. Therefore we killed the fish and Valter was on this day the happiest and most contented anglers in the world!
My Blue Water Fishing Lures and rigs:
My most successful lures: Grander 1238 red/black and Big Smoker dark-green/lumo/red. I had rigged my lures with single-hook only!
Our statistics: 27 Marlin strikes, 23 hook-ups, 15 fish on the boat – we were only 10 days near “Mar Da Prata”!
My opinion: the marlins of Azores are fighting extremely strong. I also believe that the MEA with their relatively small silhouette and 150hp VW-Turbo-Diesel attracts the marlins to the boat!? What happened to the fish that was killed by us: They went as a donation to a charity and to needy families.
Robert Rein in October 2011
