In a mere 40-minutes, friends John Phillips and John Tyrrell of Florida reeled in an 884-pound blue marlin marking the largest blue marlin caught in Lahaina this year.
“I’ve caught my first blue marlin,” said Tyrell who has been on many sport fishing charters in Florida. His seven-year-old son Reese joined him on this trip.
“This is actually my first deep sea fishing trip,” said Phillips. “It is just an unbelievable experience.” Daughter Carter also shared in the exhilarating experience, which was made possible by Captain Denny Putnam of Start Me Up Sport Fishing.
Even more unbelievable, the marlin bit two lures surprising even deckhand Randy Evans.
“This doesn’t happen often,” said Evans. “The marlin bit the first lure – a nine-inch junior purple softhead – then jumped up and over the line to bite the second lure – a nine-inch disco ball.
The marlin was caught about four miles outside of Lahaina Harbor during a four-hour afternoon fishing trip debunking the myth that morning is the best time to fish in Maui.
“Everything about this catch is remarkable,” said Doug Armfield, owner of Start Me Up Sport Fishing. “I always tell my customers that they don’t have to wake up at 2 A.M. to catch the fish of a lifetime.”
Start Me Up also makes a $300 donation to a local charity whenever a marlin over 500-pounds is caught. In honor of this catch a donation will be made to the Maui chapter of the American Cancer Society.”
“We chose the American Cancer Society because nearly everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer,” said Armfield. “In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 4,700 people in the Hawaiian Islands will be diagnosed with cancer, so donations are very important.”
Start Me Up Sport Fishing is the largest sport fishing company in Lahaina Harbor on the island of Maui. Combined, the captains and crew have more than 10 decades of experience fishing in Hawaii and around the world frequently catching marlin, mahi mai, ono, spearfish and aku. You can follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and BD Outdoors.
