Tonga's biggest Blue Marlin
 It had to happen I've been waiting for over 20 years to go head to head with a big blue. Over the past 10 years we have had plenty of encounters with Big blues aboard Hakula all have won their freedom. Our biggest to date was a 258kg monster that had another 50kg eaten off one side by a Tiger Shark.
We have seen plenty that we called over 300 and a few that we were not game to put a figure on.
I have always been hoping for the day that we would have the perfect conditions and a experienced angler when that day came around but that was not to be the case.
My Nephew Todd had done lots of fishing and was hoping to get his first Marlin on his visit to Tonga. But he did not bargain for what was about to see him and Ki'i land the biggest Blue Marlin ever caught on rod and reel in Tonga.
Remember when I was saying there has to be a big one out there? Well there was ............My Brother in-law Jim along with my Nephew Todd arrived Tuesday. I needed a days rest and a day for maintenance then we headed out at 11p.m Thursday night to head north and stay over night to chase some Dogtooth tuna ( Photos will follow later). We filled the Aft Ice box in a 3 hour frenzy of Dog Tooth and Wahoos. After a night of bottom fishing and the Ice box full it was not worth hanging around Toku too long so with 1 more pass of the hot spot and 1 more Doggy forced into the Ice box we headed home Time 7 am Saturday.
Our intention was to hit the FADS and do some strip baiting for Mahi mahi and then head straight in early. My estimated time of arrival at my dock was to be 4pm. Only that was not to be. About 20 miles out at 9.10 we had our first Marlin hit a big fish snuck in to the wash and stole the Tantrum Sharkie lure and peeled of 400 steady meters with out showing its self. Then must have opened its mouth and dropped the lure I checked the GPS and noted I had several other hook up in this same area on past occasions. The seas were a bit rough with the wind steadily building so I wasn't happy working the area in stead continued on my course to the FADs for calmer conditions. We had only just got the Lures set when a Big Blue cruised in on the Shot gun lure made 1 pass and came back and inhaled the Blue and Silver Tantrum lure. We were all awake after the first encounter and saw a fantastic display of tail walking purposing and aerial displays. After stripping 400 meters of the Tiagra 130 it started a slow deep dive we started backing down the line in what was far from perfect conditions with the fish almost straight up and down we settled in for a long fight 2 hours later with almost 800 meters in the water and the line pinging we went finally up to sunset at this stage we called it a dead fish. The tactics changed and our only interest was to get this fish up from the depths So I convinced Todd that he had to let line off the reel as I drove away 100 meters.
This was Todd's first Marlin and he couldn't believe that by getting a better angle on the line we may be able to raise the fish. After 2 attempts it was obvious that it was working. Only problem was Todd was very tired then as it happens things started to go wrong. With the weight of this fish testing all the gear to the maximum. The 130lb rated game chair buckled at the gimbal and the retainer twisted and out popped the gimbal Todd was screaming in pain trying to hang on so we had to steep in and help. We managed to jerry rig the gimbal and secure it back in place so now it would not count as a record fish. Todd was disappointed but battled on for another hour. With Todd on his first marlin and in pain we decided that we were not going to get this fish Todd had got back about 300 meters and now with a half full reel Ki'i stepped up to the plate.
Ki'i had been giving Todd lots of stick telling him come on wind and pump so as soon as Ki'i got in the chair it was Todd's turn to give him stick. Now most of you know Ki'i and would all choose him as an escort down a dark alley any time Ki'i thought he would get on the rod and show Todd how it was done but he was in for a rude shock and after 1 1/2 hrs.. was also feeling the pain but was getting line back on the reel.
Passing the 6 hour mark we started to plan how we would land this fish Ki'i was showing signs of Tiring.
Todd had recovered some what but had never seen how to gaff a big fish. So with only 20 meters to go and the fish still straight down Todd jumped back on the chair. I had schooled Jim up on the controls and had my Gloves on ready to assist. Then all of a sudden the fished pooped up 20 meters out the back mouth wide open and rolled over on its back dead I was down the stairs like a fireman on his way to a fire just in time to grab the trace followed but the gaff from Ki'i we had done it we got her up from almost 900 meters. Now the fun begins how to get a 400kg plus Blue marlin aboard in a very knarley sea? (A) Just leave it to Ki'i he and Todd able assisted by Jim and great boat manoeuvring on my part floated her through the transom door. Next problem it wont come all the way in the door. So we lifted the tail and managed to get the door closed. Now time to celebrate after 6 hrs.20 minutes we had landed a monster fish now for the long haul home almost 7 hours late. We arrived back at Hakula Lodge in the dark. Next problem how to get this monster on the gantry your guesses it leave it to Ki'i with the fish pulling the scales down to a massive 477kg that's 983.4 lbs
Summary
The game chair even though rated 130lb still need some beefing up. The 130lb Kilwell rod that I have had on board Hakula for 10 years finally got to show how good it was. The Tiagra 130lb reel will have to be stripped down after being at sunset for over 4hrs was locked solid and wont come back of sunset. The Lure a Tantrum Blue and Silver had just been re skirted after a Wahoo attack I cant say enough good things about these lures Thanks Nick
Even thought we cant claim it as a record fish it will still stand as the biggest Blue marlin caught on rod and reel in Tonga just 17lbs short of a grander
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