Near World Record Atlantic Blue Marlin Caught

A remarkable fishing expedition off the Massachusetts coast culminated in the capture of an Atlantic blue marlin weighing an incredible 1,260 pounds. Captain Damon Sacco and his crew, initially focused on tuna, found themselves in an unexpected battle with this colossal creature. The arduous two-hour struggle, involving quick maneuvers and skill, ultimately led to the marlin being successfully brought aboard the vessel. This monumental catch is now recognized as potentially the heaviest Atlantic blue marlin ever reeled in along the U.S. East Coast, narrowly missing the global record by a mere 142 pounds.

The journey began as Captain Sacco and his four passengers endured a challenging and largely unproductive trip aboard the 'Castafari' on a Wednesday. Hours of patient trolling had yielded only a single yellowfin tuna, far from their target. Recognizing the need for a change in strategy, Sacco guided his vessel eastward, where he soon spotted tell-tale signs of marine activity: birds, baitfish, and an abundance of tuna. Their fortunes turned, and they began to successfully haul in numerous tuna, some weighing up to 90 pounds.

While engrossed in tuna fishing in approximately 1,400 feet of water, Sacco noticed a significant fin breaching the surface. Initially mistaking it for a large shark, he quickly identified it as a colossal marlin due to a flash of neon blue beneath the clear waters. In the ensuing commotion, Sacco inadvertently offered the marlin a horse ballyhoo bait intended for tuna, instead of the preferred marlin lure. Despite the misstep, the marlin aggressively took the bait and immediately began a series of spectacular leaps, nearly stripping all the line from the reel within seconds. Sacco, realizing the magnitude of the fish, quickly maneuvered the boat to pursue it.

The battle intensified, pushing the limits of their tuna fishing gear. Angler Walter Chapman skillfully managed the rod, enduring a brutal two-hour fight. The marlin's immense power caused it to make repeated runs, testing the tackle to its breaking point. When a mate finally managed to touch the leader, the fish surged away once more, forcing the crew to adopt a slow and steady approach. Recognizing the fish's immense size, Sacco and his crew made the decision to boat the marlin for official weighing, a rare move for them as they typically release 95% of their marlin catches. After another hour of intense struggle, the exhausted marlin was finally brought alongside the boat. The crew believed the fish would not have survived if released due to the prolonged fight.

Upon returning to Falmouth, the massive marlin was weighed on certified scales, confirming its astonishing 1,260-pound weight. It measured 12 feet from tail fork to jaw tip and had a girth of 82 inches. This catch now stands as a testament to the sheer power of Atlantic blue marlin, coming incredibly close to the International Game Fish Association's world record of 1,402 pounds, 2 ounces, set by Paulo Amorim off Brazil in 1992. The fish's meat was later shared among the anglers, crew, and friends, and Captain Sacco plans to keep the bill as a memento, along with an ink impression of its enormous tail, to forever commemorate this extraordinary angling achievement.