CONGRATULATIONS!!

This weekend (6/13/09) was a good one for four of our club members.  John Picklo, Tom Mulligan, Tom Frankovich and Rob Stewart were offshore in John's 23 Contender in 800 ft. of water trolling when they hooked up with a Blue Marlin. Tom M. faught the fish, Rob handled the throttle and kept maneuvering the boat to keep the line in the best location and John and Tom F. kept Rob advised of the fish's location and took care of clearing a path as Tom fought the fish around and around the boat. 

After two hours Tom M. brought the marlin to the side of the boat, Rob maneuvered the boat so the fish could be handled safely on the starboard side, John helped Tom M. with leadering and handling the fish and then jumped over to take photographs.  Tom F. grabbed the leader and then held the bill while he removed the hook from the corner of the marlin's mouth.  The marlin was released in very good condition and swam away with a couple of flicks of the tail.

The two pictures show Tom Mulligan fighting the fish with Rob Stewart maneuvering the boat and  Tom Frankovich holding the marlin's bill while removing the hook.  The whole two hours was a great team effort and the reason everything went smoothly. 

On 5-2-09 Mike Casale was 20 miles out in 3-5' seas, solo and one-handed when he caught these beautiful Dolphin and Tuna.  He's really trying to let that shoulder heal this time!

3/26/09 Red Henson caught a 34" Dolphin while fishing on the Blue Chip Too with out-of-town friends from Manassas, VA.