When Fish Fight Back: Captured Marlin Topples A Boat

It's always a struggle when catching a big fish. More often than not, however, those in possession of the fishing line win. Not in this case.

In a sequence of photos, which have recently gone viral, a hooked marlin makes a great effort in a bid for freedom, reports the Daily Mail.

Splashing around the coast of Panama, it rocks the boat violently before capsizing it and vanishing into the deep.

In a result that can only be described as: Marlin: 1 Boat: 0, the boat's alleged manufacturer has a different explanation.

They claim that it was human error, whereby a wrong turn of the captain was met by a rogue wave, which knocked everything off balance.

The manufacturer was allegedly quick to defend their ship's strength when responding to the post on their Facebook wall. They claimed that 'hundreds of marlin' had been captured 'without issue or concern'.

"Direct from Panama I was told that the seas conditions were not as calm as they seem to be in the pictures and the captain was an experienced captain," they wrote.

"You can see how this might happen," they added.

"As you know, when fighting a fish, the captain is facing aft with his hand on the throttles and when slipped the last thing your hand is holding onto is the throttle controls."

A bumpy ride, plus a slip, allegedly meant the throttle went on full in reverse causing the boat to lurch backwards and take on water.

Wikihow, the one place on the internet where you can learn to do anything, proves itself again, offering nine tips to reel in a large fish:

1. Let the rod to do the work once you have solidly hooked the fish.
2. Work the fish closer and closer to you by pulling the rod tip up, then reeling rapidly as you drop the tip down.
3. Use the space around you.
4. Wear out the fish before landing them on the boat.
5. Use the boat to your advantage.
6. Use a harness.
7. Let the fish run when it is to your advantage.
8. The line must be always tight sot the fish will not throw the hook.
9. Stop a running fish when necessary.

Let it never be said LADbible doesn't advise you.

Thankfully, nobody is said to be hurt from the incident (although that status is unknown for the marlin) and all were rescued by the boat crew photographing the incident.

Sadly, though, the boat had it. That sunk to the bottom, and the fish, who was seen to swim away after, will forever be known as the 'one that got away'.

Featured Image Credit: Marco Canu

Topics: fishing

Michael Minay

Mike Minay is a trending journalist at LADbible. He’s co-ordinated interviews with some of the big names from the world of news and sport including ITV’s Robert Peston, Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling and darts champion Michael van Gerwen. His reporting days began on University radio in Birmingham, before moving to BBC Sport Online – creating content for large events such as Wimbledon and the FA Cup final. Mike still commentates on Football League matches at the weekend. A Manchester LAD at heart.

@MikeMinay