It was a battle of will and skill when anglers off the coast of Massachusetts hauled in what is likely a record-breaking Atlantic blue marlin. The fish was so big, the group thought it was a shark when they first reeled it to the surface. Damon Sacco, captain of the boat Castafari, and his fellow anglers caught the fish on Aug. 19 about 100 miles off the coast of Falmouth. His deep-sea fishing charter had client Walter Chapman on board Wednesday. “We had a tough start. We were probably 12 hours into the trip and we had one tuna,” Sacco said. So the group changed course, and so did their luck. They filled their coolers with tuna, and their biggest triumph was still beneath the surface.
“It looked like a mammal or a shark. It was too big for a marlin. I’ve seen hundreds of marlin. This thing was four feet off the surface,” Sacco said. “We all saw the girth of that fish and realized oh my God this thing is an absolute behemoth.” What happened next was what Sacco recalls as a two-hour grudge match of chaos and constant motion while the swear words and diesel smoke sputtered. “They’re big nasty critters,” he said. “They come out of the water like freight trains. Sometimes they charge the boat. If you’re not ready they’ll shish kebab your transom, they’ll put their bill right into the wood.” And just as they’d hoped, this humongous haul was one for the record books. Coming in at 1,260 pounds and more than 11 feet long, it’s the largest Atlantic blue marlin ever caught off the East Coast. It’s just shy of the world record, which was caught off Brazil in 1992.
“We caught this fish on a 150-pound leader. That is just unheard of,” Sacco said. “The fact that didn’t break makes me believe this was a gift. This was a gift from the fish gods. Meant to be.” Sacco said it’s rare that he keeps marlins. “Some fish are that big that you’ve got to take them home,” he said.
Your attention is one of the most valuable things you own, and everyone wants a piece of it. The question isn’t whether something is getting your attention—the question…
What happens when your new truck decides you’re not allowed to drive it? Modern trucks and SUVs are becoming rolling computers, packed with driver monitoring systems, advanced driver…
According to civil society sources, militias associated with the Burmese military dictatorship operating in Kachin state are using church grounds for military purposes. The U.S.-based Burma Research Institute…
A mysterious object discovered near a remote Pacific island is not the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s missing plane, researchers said after an expedition to the site, dealing another…
After several months of bears dominating reports of startling wildlife encounters in Japan, it seems as though the nation’s monkeys have decided to take that notoriety as a…
In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow Jesus…
Good intentions do not excuse harmful outcomes. When churches prioritize growth, image, or outreach over safety, they step into dangerous territory. This is the blind spot Scripture repeatedly…
In 2018, two Christian brothers were sentenced to death over allegations of blasphemy. After about a decade of fighting for their freedom, one brother was acquitted by Pakistan’s…
Nepalese Police have arrested 24 South Korean Christians after complaints were lodged against them for “illegal religious teaching, training, and promotion.” Sources in Nepal and South Korea state…
In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around…
Whatever you constantly look at will eventually influence how you live. When the world gets loud and life gets overwhelming, don’t stare harder at the distraction, look up…
President Trump said Wednesday that “massive” oil, gas and mineral exploration is preparing to begin in Greenland. In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump…
Christian legal advocacy group the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) has welcomed moves by the UN to recognise “coerced” abortion as a form of violence against…
President Donald Trump issued pardons at a campaign rally in Alaska on Tuesday for two diesel mechanics who were previously charged with and pleaded guilty to violating the…
Neighbors in Cecil County say they are fed up with a local farm owner they blame for contaminating nearby waterways. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) says…
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper helped rescue an injured owl found in the center median of Interstate 10 near Van Horn, highlighting the role law enforcement…
The Modesto City Council is moving forward with a proposed crackdown on reckless bicycle and e-bike riding, including fines of up to $5,000 and the possible impoundment of…
When life feels like it’s falling apart, God remains your safest place. Even when everything shakes, His strength never does. Bible Verse:God is our refuge and strength, a…
The climbing alligator harvest in Arkansas has led to decreases in nuisance calls involving the reptile. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission members heard last week a presentation from…
Oregon’s northern pygmy owls may look adorable, but these tiny birds are fierce predators. They stand roughly 6 to 7 inches tall and weigh between 2.1 and 2.5…
Let the contrast sink in: when the state’s attempt to kill a convicted murderer fails, doctors rush to save her life. When a mother’s attempt to kill an…
China is expanding its efforts to drill ultra-deep oil and gas wells — defined as more than three-and-a-half miles deep — as the world’s largest crude importer steps…
A mountain lion has been spotted again in southwest Kansas, marking the latest of several sightings across the state. The Haskell County Sheriff’s Office said the animal was…
Residents and businesses in parts of southwest Atlanta, South Fulton, Fairburn and Union City are being told to boil tap water before using it or use bottled water…
You must be logged in to post a comment.