Fishermen hook 172-pound marlin off Southern California coast

A 40-minute battle with a beast of a fish off the coast of Newport Beach resulted in an unforgettable moment for some sport-fishermen Tuesday.

Newport Landing Sportfishing shared the tale of a massive marlin that was caught during a Tuesday morning excursion as they made a trip to Catalina Island aboard the Patriot, one of the company’s sportfishing vessels.

Mike Jensen, captain of the Patriot, said he had been noticing a large number of marlin between Newport Beach and Catalina.

Jensen suggested they set up their rods out the back of the boat as they made the trip out to sea. That’s when a massive marlin hooked itself on the line.

Carter Voorhis, an off-duty deckhand, was put to work to reel the monster in, a company spokesperson said, and after 40 minutes of fighting, the massive fish had been caught.

The marlin required three people to display it and the sportfishing company said it weighed 172 pounds.

“This type of fishing is not something you’ll normally see on a 12-hour fishing day off our coast, but summertime fishing brings in some unusual species and rare opportunities to fish big game in our backyard in Orange County,” the company spokesperson said.

Those interested in the rare chance to hook a monster fish of their own can contact Newport Landing Sportfishing to book a fishing excursion online or by calling 949-675-0550.

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