Brett Esformes recently caught a 164-pound Marlin off the shore of Catalina, while fishing from a Sea-Doo personal watercraft. He took video of the event and has posted much of it on YouTube (Youtube@DiveBarMDR), documenting the challenge of hooking and hauling in the large fish (note: some adult language heard on the video). Not only that, the video also shows the challenge of gaffing and transporting the fish back to Catalina.
“I am so proud of this fish because I chose the equipment, I modified the lure, I tied the knot I decided where to go,” Esformes said. “I hooked the fish, I brought it home, I gaffed the fish and risked it all.”
Esformes said he got lucky and won an international bill fish tournament at the age of 12, after hauling in a 174 pound bill fish. He’s been hooked on fishing since and bought his first boat at age 19. He’s been fishing ever since, but it’s been 10 big trips since he’s hooked anything of this recent catch’s significance.
