BLUE MARLIN CAUGHT BY DON BALLENTINE'S BOAT OUT OF SAN ISIDRO

June 24, 2004, Don Ballentine, San Isidro, south of La Paz, Mexico:

I have not been fishing for a month and thought I would see if there are any fish out there. Limited in a couple of hours with one blue marlin and two Dorado.

This Blue Marlin got up and tail walked for at least 300 yards. What a sight. I was solo and thought I was going to get spooled. The one big advantage with a small boat is the maneuverability. The fish actually pulls you around. I usually like to turn these loose, but he was upside down and near dead when at the boat.

This Marlin was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. He ran straight away without jumping. I thought I was going to get spooled and had another rod ready to attach to the pole. He then came up out of the water straight for me about two hundred yards out. Walking on his tail he came past my boat about 30 yards out. Not entering the water till he was at least 150 yards back past the boat. What a beautiful sight.

He had to be doing at least 35-40 mph. I had to continue in my same direction to get line back. He had made a big loop. The Marlin then went down about a half of a spool, and it was a tug of war from then on. He never jumped again. When he was finally at the boat he was belly up. I try to get them in as fast as I can so that they still have some life in them. I like to turn them loose if they show some life. This one would not have made it.

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