Tahitian Fishing Adventure

Tahitian Fishing Adventure here we come…. By Michell De Veth

We are off on a holiday with my 5 siblings and partners stopping in Tahiti for the night then on to Moorea.  All of us very excited especially for our planned fishing charter adventure on the boat Seawolf on 15^th November. We were all eager to test our luck against the legendary fish of the Pacific.

It was early in the afternoon and with the hum of the boat’s engine with quiet reels, a few of us started to feel the effects of the choppy waters, especially when facing the wind. The question of changing plans and heading for the reef for some bottom fishing was raised, but the boys, fuelled by the dream of a big catch, were determined to keep trolling.

Little did we know, fate had other plans. Just five minutes later, a fin sliced through the water, followed by a violent strike – a big fish had taken the bait! The air was filled with excitement as everyone sprang into action, reeling in the dormant lines. “Michelle, the clock says it’s your turn!” someone shouted, pointing to the vacant chair. Without a second thought, I leaped into action.

The marlin, leaped twice out of the water, its powerful body glistening in the sunlight. The reel screamed as it fought, pulling line with incredible force. I gripped the rod tightly, my arms burning with exertion. At one point, I glanced at the reel, my heart sinking as I saw the line dwindling on the reel it was disappearing at such a fast rate and looking like we were going to run out of line, at this stage the skipper turned the boat to chase it.  The line went slack for a bit making us think we had lost it but it soon came up tight and I was again back into the fight.  No sooner had I started to gain back line on the reel, the fish had other ideas and again started to peel back out again. The skipper was doing a great job backing up and positioning the boat to keep the line off the back.

I fought it for quite some time even having to wind using both hands at times. John, helped me reel in the slack, a welcome relief to my aching muscles. After a gruelling 43 minutes, the marlin finally surrendered, its magnificent blue body shimmering in the sunlight. We had done it! We had landed a 220kg blue marlin..

Before long the skipper started to steer the boat towards the dock, and soon, a crowd of locals gathered. Within an hour, the marlin was expertly filleted, and shared generously with the community. There was nothing wasted, a testament to the respect and appreciation for the ocean’s bounty.

We all reflected on the day’s incredible adventure. It wasn’t just about the catch; it was about the shared experience, the camaraderie, and the connection to the beauty and power of the ocean. It was a day we would cherish forever, a day etched in our memories as the day we landed a 220kg blue marlin in the beautiful waters of Moorea, Tahiti.