marlin struck while skipper was releasing line within 20m from boat..

everybody's stunned when the it leapt and skipper yelled " M A R L I N " .........................

Fish spooked....released bait....

circle around it.....then came back for it.....

this time, 

skipper yelled "  S T R I K E ".....

Paul      WHACKED  !! 

then the Marlin shot like a torpedo along the starboard side, round the bow and back along the port side...

ala...that's when we lost it ! 

went eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,

grabbed the bait....

leapt like this 

and gone !! 

 ........at 5.15pm ....

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...it went again, 

leapt & 

this time, Paul, all geared .....

went WHAAAAAACK with absolutely no mercy ...........!!!

Yes......YES.....

YOU'VE GOT HIM ! 

Paul.....a fight to remember in his lifetime

-------------------

a whole one and a half hours.....

everybody's tired except the angler and the marlin !! 

yet skipper offered..."beer sir ?" 

the fight continues....with boat giving chase too !

Marlin leapt, danced, zoom, flipped...& 

we just went " W O O ......W  O  W ....  OH NO.....R U N   A G A I N  " !!

no....the fight continues....it's getting dark ! 

& once again.....it zoomed straight for the bow !! 

well....once the fish's along side .....skipper considered it landed ! 

so it's game over Mr Paul...

with that, we released it at 7pm...

and head for merang....tired, numb and blistered ! 

Mr Paul, you are now on our Billfish Roll of Honor !! 

Congratulations ! 

------------

deutzia's picture of the year !! 

well, that was certainly the highlight of the trip!!

a CPR (catch, photo and release)..

thanks Paul !

Paul, Meow and Zara...thank you for being with us......

and thanks for the season's Grand Finale ...!