i wouldnt even consider spearing a fish like that

a mate of mine had a go at a big tuna with a gidgy (told him not to) but anyway it nearly tore him a new arse

its a waste unless you are going to eat it, and its a WHOLE lot of fillets. I dont see the point personally?

But to each their own I guess....

I think those from the gamefishing fraternity would frown upon such behaviour as the majority of marlin are tag and released in Australia.  In other countries however this is not the case.  Personally I would have to question why anyone would want to kill such a creature especially if you had no desire to consume the flesh. 

Smoked fish is not as popular in Australia as it is in some other countries but I can assure you that smoked marlin tastes magnificient.

a BIG No..

Some friends shot yellowfin out of dongara somewhere and it nearly drowned them. Marlin just can't be worth it.

till the use of float lines eliminate that factor and then the chase is in the boat. i think it would be a 1 off thing wouldnt do it a second time

if your going to eat it brenz then i suppose its ok .. i dont even know if they taste any good ?? if it was a tuna or dollie go for it :)  

A "kill" shot is not that easy and takes alot of practice.  If you spear a big fish and haven't placed the pik in the right spot, you are generally in the "Sh*t".

What would you do with a Marlin once you have killed it?

at the end of the day they still stand a chance of dieing after line capture to so is there a difference ? just curiouse not a dig at all i think there has been members on here that it has happend to and they have kept them ?

Personaly no. Much better fish to eat and most would go to waste but mostly its a beautiful creature and i couldnt bring myself to kill one.

are infinitely greater after being caught on a line than having a spear rammed through its skull. If you miss and it swims off, what chance has it really got?

probably prety good if it swims off as you didnt hit it right there for not killing it

Personally I wouldn't and to show it off at a boat ramp would be suicidal.

But in saying that a lot of billfish are killed while game fishing from exhaustion and sharks and a lot a killed by longliners aswell.

I know a local guy in Exmouth that takes the occasional marlin to eat when they wont go back. He rates it highly.

but dont hit a kill shot, the pik isn't designed as a catch 'n' release item......

Anyways, its pretty clear you have decided you are going to try it should the oppurtunity present itself, so good luck with that.

I kill shot is not whats intended. For bill fish shots are placed in the centre of the fish on the lateral line. These shots do hold and cause a large amount of damage to the fish as the shaft tears inside the fish. There also is a chance of severing the spine with these shot.

Personally my answer to shoot or not, is why kill a fish which you wont eat? Its breathless seeing one, Id leave it.

I'd personally like to keep a small one to eat one day just to try, and if I had the choice I'd like to shoot it rather than keep one caught on line. I've swam with them and released them underwater and it's pretty cool but I'd still pull the trigger on a free swimmer, only once though, if I had the chance. I don't think there's anything wrong with shooting a fish that is within legal limits and only if the fish is going to be put to good use.
Adam and I were discussing this in Exxy earlier this year and we decided, if I posted a photo with a 20kg, old, slow growing speared dhuie, I'd get plenty of compliments. If I posted a photo of a 20kg, 1 year old fast growing black marlin I'd get bagged. It's funny how some fish are regarded above others.
ps I'm not a spear everything guy, or a greenie. What does p*ss me off though is the wasted fish hung up at comps, then left to dry out and dumped the next day.

You're right on there Tim.  Personally I reckon there's probably less negative environmental impact in keeping a marlin than parking up on a lump of coral and taking your limit of reefies  -  but I'm sure you'd be in for a bagging if you posted the marlin picture.

For the record - I did catch and fillet a marlin earlier this year (about a 50/60 kg Black) and it was pretty fine table fare.  I dont reckon I'd keep every one I catch but I certainly reckon I'll do it again.  I'm not sure if I'd spear one or not but I certainly wouldnt judge anyone for doing so as long as it was used appropriately afterward.  I'm with you regarding the spectacle of fish dumped down at the tip untouched.

Wal

I'd spear one. Nothing will go to waste - smoked marlin is magnificent.

Don't think I could handle a marlin over 50kg anyway - it'd have to be manageable.

i'd squeeze the trigger on a small one, have eaten a fair bit of Marlin before, they taste ok, a little dry but I'd have no problem with killing one again (have never got one on spear YET). Big specimens would likely have a fair amount of Mercury in them so the little tackers are the go and safer to get no doubt, just be careful you don't get speared by the Marlin, apparently black's in particular have an aggresive reaction to being speared, know your limits and your equipment well cause you could easily end up in some major trouble. i would suggest having 2 easily accesible knives on you and a very alert topside man (boat) just in case you get wrapped up and taken down deep.

I'm with Tim on this one.If it wasn't wasted,wheres the problem?A marlin is not a mammal and just because it looks different, is bigger and jumps higher  than a dhuie or a snapper,that makes it off limits?A fish is a fish and I would bet there are a lot more marlin in the world than dhuies.

with a smaller beakie being speared and then eaten, but Brenz was talking about pinging a +100kg fish which IMO (and it seems a few others) is a waste of a great fish.

Kill only in life, what you will eat.

Plenty off better fare, and it would be to brag only.

I was born in Africa in an era changing. Shooting the big 5 (lions, leopard, elephant, buffulo, rhino) was still widespread, but has changed dramatically. Now they are shot with big cameras, even attached to "guns" so you can claim a kill so to say.

However they walk away unharmed. The hunter has a kill shot, happy. The animal is probably not happy because it didnt realize that yrs ago it would be dead, but it is lucky. Plentiful impala and springbok are still hunted for eating as game or biltong (yum).

I see it the same with these masters of the sea. Top of the food chain and rare. Get the thrill of the potential shot and kill the better to eat, more plentiful fish for the table.

Just my opinion.

Cheers

Neels

huggy i said a fish of this calibre meaning marlin of any size not in particular a 100 + kg job

Personally i wouldnt shoot one(i do spearfish), but if it was all eaten and not just binned i dont see a problem with someone taking a Marlin or even a Sailfish to eat for that matter. Like Tim said, i see no real difference between one of these and say a big cod. Except one is regarded as more a sportfish and grand the other is a fat but tasty reef slob(i do think Cods are pretty beautiful fish too).

I'll stick to my slow moving reefies to shoot. Not the most agile person underwater :)

What i find even more amazing/waste is these guys that go spearfishing giant Tiger Sharks off the coast of Mexico. Just go onto utube to see them. Now i'm pretty sure they dont get eaten.

I'd say no, I'm against spearfishing anyway.

JMO

Cheers
Dale

i would shoot one. not too big though. it definately would get eaten.

i dont see what all the fuss is about. eastern staters kill big sharks, billfish, etc for comps and string them up for points.

over here half you pussys cry if the flyspray is too strong.

I don't think I would have the nuts to hold on once the spear is in. Would be a hell of a ride though.

It would have to be a great shot though otherwise I reckon it would smoke you.

Lets face it Marlin grow at a awsome rate so I can't see the issue spearing them.

Smoked marlin all round  yum.

Agree with Scotto regarding the crying bit   :-)

I'm Sorry.

But the only good thing "I" see about spearfishermen.

Is they make good shark Bait.

I personally do not agree with it..

Regards
Macka17

Now that's a decent bait macka17. Scotto and catchfishy could learn a bit from you I'd say.;)

What part of spearfishing don't you agree with?

Not got anything against anybody John.

I Personally. (My opinion only).

Don't agree with spearfishing.

That's all.

Just made a comment.

Macka17

I'm just asking 'what' don't you like about it?

Macka that is not even funny as a joke mate, Go tell the familys of the blokes that have been taken by a shark that and see how they react.

Plus what is the difference between a hook and a spear ???

OK.

I'm old fashioned.

At least the fish have a fighting chance when Fishing with rod and line.
Choice of. Are they here?.. on our part. and
Will I take it or not. On their part.

Skindivers. Do and have. Emptied good areas of fish.
Cause they in the water with the fish. Can see. and kaill all they want.

Carrying a propelled weapon. The poor old fish don't have much of a chance.
And "Some". Not All Tend to be. Not too discriminate..

Sorry.
But I've seen too many Good. Regular Fishing spots killed.
Over the years. Solely through Spear fishing.

You asked.
I answered.

As said. I have NO problem with people fishing.I've done it for over 60 yrs.

I.. Jusy don't like the Speargun way of Doing it.

Regards.
Macka17

PS I retract that "Shark bait" comment. ok.

Are you talking about spearing on air, freediving or both Macka17?

Personally I don't agree with spearing on air but as for freediving, its something that requires serious dedication to get good at. This thread about spearing a marlin is pretty much pie in the sky IMO as it would be a lot more difficult than some people think and if you were really keen to get one it would take huge dedication in regards to fitness, developing your breathhold, finding the fish, and finally having the gumption to jump in on a baitball in the deep blue and sit there suspended waiting for the shot.

I've shot trout and bluebone but only very selectively and yeah, if I was bloody minded (like some people no doubt are) I could have killed a lot of fish in the past two years but I've only shot about 15 in total.

To me its a different challenge that can liven up a quiet day with the rod, and big fish don't get big because their dumb.;)

Scuba John.

Should have added that at beginning.

Scuba. The fish have no chance.
It could never be considered a sport.
110% odds in your favour with that system.
Macka17

I rekon go for it if you're planning on eating it. You'd wanna use a big gun like one of Tommy Botha's offerings, slip-tip (ice-pick), few solid floats in series, a nice long bungee and make sure you're well clear of your rig line when the prick takes off!!!!

You'd definitely want a safety diver with you hey.

Record Black - 176.90kg

Blue - 78.0kg

Striped - 76.0kg

Sailfish 63.20kg

 Interestingly, Australian Record Baldie is 14.061kg

Dhuie - 24.039kg

Sambo - 43.37kg off Cowaramup Bay

Black Marlin
Open
National
L. JONES
Fido Reef
24-01-1998
176.900 kg