The Bucket List
Richard Batto
n and his wife Joy from
Macon, Georgia came to Kona late in the season to try their luck at catching a Pacific Blue Marlin and to enjoy a family fishing trip. They had never caught a fish larger than 20 pounds. They baitfish in Georgia and I believe it was their wedding anniversary. They are a very cute and very gracious Southern couple. When they met, Joy was 15 he Richard was 16. (She said no, you were 17.) Not to mention this was on their “Bucket List”. We left the harbor and had been fishing for about 2 1/2 hours and got our first bite! The fish was on and taking line for about five minutes and then shook the hook. As the day was coming to an end and the thrill of the first fish was merely a memory, we were headed back towards town when the long rigger line came down. We are Hooked Up! Richard is in the chair and the battle begins. It is such a thrill for me to look at an angler make their way to the chair, get locked in and hear the screaming reel and feel the weight of the fish! As we clear the deck and start backing down we are at a standoff. Richard gets into rhythm and we start collecting line back. After a half hour fight, we have the fish beside the boat and Brett holds it until Richard can get out of the chair and touch the beautiful estimated 225 lb Pacific Blue Marlin before we release it. Check this off the Bucket List!
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
