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13TightLinesBulletin-WinterSpring2011MikeLybassMeetsFirstMarlinNewjuniormemberMikeLybassage15fromGlastonburyCThadamemorable-rsttriptoGuatema-laearlierthisyear.Mikecaughtreleasedanestimated150lb.Paci-cbluemarlinabove.Mikealsolandedhis-rsteverPaci-csail-shon.ytackleest.100lbs.whichhepromptlyjumpedinthewaterwithafteritsrelease.Mikewas-shingoutofCasaViejaLodgewithhisfatherDavidandfellowclubmem-berBobFrevert.APalmBeachMarlinTalebyWPBFCmemberChrisKelloggThisshstorytookplaceMondayJan-uary31st.Mysh-ingbuddyDonGilmanandIleftthedockfromthePalmBeachYachtClubafterbeingtoldbythedockmasterthatthereweremarlin20milesoffshore.Wellmy34x19singledieselengineAlbinwouldtakeforevertomakethatroundtrip.ListeningtotheVHFradioweheardthatnothingwasbeingcaughtnearshore.Afterrunningthroughlotsofweedsweheadedoffshorewithhopesofndingaschoolofdolphin.IthendeployedthreeattractorrigsthatIhadmodiedoneresemblingaschoolofbaitshanotherasailshattackingsquidandnallyathirdthatlookedliketwobonitosthrashingaboutatthetransomoftheboat.Wesetoutsixlinesofferingdifferentpresentationsofpoppersplainandskirtedbal-lyhootomakeupthenalspread.Nowwewereready.OvertheyearsIhavediscoveredtherealtrickinbringingshtotheboatisdeployingasoundthatattractsthem.PlayingPavorottiisasoundthatshcannotresist.MaybePavorottisoundslikeshmatingorasolicitingcallx13whateveritisitworks.Atnoonourriggedballyhooonanumbereightj-hooksnappedoutoftheleftoutrigger.Wewerein750feetofwateroffofLostTree.Dongrabbedtherodwhiletheshwastakinglineoffthespoolatarapidpace.Iputtheboatinreverseandusedthebowthrusterstokeeptheshdirectlybehindus.IhadtoreversetheboatsothatDoncouldgetsomelinebackonthereel.Thebattleensued.Eachtimewebroughttheshclosertothesternoftheboatitranoffathighspeedwithoutusbeingabletogetalookatwhatwewereupagainst.Doncommentedthattheshwasprobablyalargesharkbecauseitkeptdivingdeepandhadnotjumped.Donshookhisrodarmeverynowandthentoreleasethemusclefatigueashewasghtingtheunknownmonsterwhilestandingwithonlyarodbeltaroundhiswaist.Hewasshingwithonly30lb.monolamentlineanda40lb.uorocarbonleader.Withthelinegoingstraightdowndeepbehindtheboatwenallysawashleapoutofthewater120yardsaway.x1cWowx1dDonyelledx1citx19samarlinx1dFifteenminuteslaterthemarlinskyrocketedagainallthewayoutofthewa-ter.ItwasanunbelievablesightItwastwicethesizeoftheonemywifeandIcaughtoffofPalmBeachseveralyearsago.Anhourlaterafterbackingtheboatupover3mileswenallygotthemarlinclosetothetransom.Withtheleadernowonthereelthebigbillshshookhisheadviolentlythreetimesthrowingthehook.x1cGreatx1dIsaidx1citx19saPalmBeachreleasewithouthurtingtheshx1d.Themarlinstillhadalotofghtleftinhim.Whiledrippingwetwithper-spirationDonsaidx1cittookme54yearstonallydothisx1dx1cIcertainlydonotneedtogothegymandliftweightstodayx1dAfteralltheexcitementwecalleditadayandheadedbacktothedock.Everyoneaskedifwegotaphoto.Theanswerwasno.EverytimeItriedtoleavethehelmtograbthelonggaffinhopesofatunaortogetthecameraDonwouldshoutformetoturntheboat.Wehadtokeepthemarlinwhichkeptracingbackandforthdirectlyoffthesternoftheboatorwewouldhavelostthesh.DonandIhaveanindeliblepictureinourheadsofthatspectacularPalmBeachmarlinleapingoutofthewater.Myguessisthattheshweighedaround400pounds.Thismagnicentmarlingaveussometrulythrillingandmemorablemo-ments.CaptainToreTurneyontheVHFsaidx1cCongratu-lationsAreyougoingtowriteastoryaboutitx1dx1cWellyesx1dIsaid.ThenextdayDonsentmeatextmessagesayingx1cIhopethemarlinisassoreasIamx1d