When spear fisherman Joel Smith dove into the waters off San Diego last week, he would have been satisfied with piercing a couple small catches. So the 413-pound marlin he came home with was like winning the lottery, he told NBC 7 Tuesday.
On Sept. 2, Smith ventured 25 miles off Point Loma with his dad, Andrew, and best friend Jaden Jeters.
The trio was in search of small, floating kelp patties that attract bait fish and predators. With spear guns in hand, Smith and Jeters dove in while Andrew manned the boat.
It was Jeters’ first time getting in the water to spearfish, so the group celebrated the moment he got his first catch. Soon, a few more fish were reeled in from the boat.
“We would’ve been happy just calling it a day after that,” said Smith.
However, a few yellowfin tuna caught his eye not far away. When he started to pursue them, a huge marlin came shooting out from the darkened depths, also on the tuna’s trail.
The marlin spied Smith and moved aggressively toward him, like it was “trying to show dominance,” Smith described.
Local
But as it came within 10 feet of the fisherman, the fish made a fatal error: turning broadside and presenting the perfect opportunity.
Smith was able to get off one good shot. The marlin twitched and floated upside down, making Smith believe he killed it.
The astounded fisherman began pulling the enormous fish toward the boat, but it soon stirred from its daze, beginning its struggle against him.
Smith was forced to grab hold of a buoy to stay afloat and keep a grip on the marlin. He had just enough time to swim close enough to the boat so Andrew could toss him a line and pull him in.
Grasping the line with just their hands, Smith and his group spent three hours chasing the marlin through open waters. When they finally managed to subdue it, they spent another half an hour plotting how to lift the 413-pound catch onto the vessel.
One of them finally stood perched on the swim step as all three muscled the fish onto the back of the boat.
Smith told NBC 7 he normally processes his own catches, but this one was too much to take on. Instead, he took his prize to Point Loma Seafood, where they smoked it for him.
On Monday, Smith picked up about 150 pounds of vacuum-sealed fish steak.
“It’s like when you win the lottery and suddenly you have a bunch of friends,” said Smith. “Everyone’s like, ‘Hey man, where’s my steak?’”
Thankfully, he has a deep freezer in his studio that can hold the gold mine of seafood, and he does plan to share with family and friends.
