By Al Jordan

Thursday, October 11, 2001
At 1:00 P.M., we left for the Orlando Airport. Barbara and I stopped by Frank and Peg's house to pick up Frank prior to going to get Chuck. Our flight was at 4:15 P.M. and because of the increased security at the airport, we wanted to arrive early. Matt was driving from Birmingham to Atlanta, where his Delta flight was departing. We were going to rendezvous at Los Angeles airport and depart for Sydney, Australia at 10:15 P.M. that evening.

Frank, Chuck, and I got to the airport at 1:25 P.M. and got through security. By 2:30, we were in the bar. We departed on Delta flight 333, a 777 aircraft. We arrived in Los Angeles at 6:12 P.M. It was a five-hour flight and of course, we gained 3 hours due to the time change. After arriving in Los Angeles we proceeded directly to Air New Zealand to check in for our flight to Sydney, Australia. At 7:40, we arrived at the Air New Zealand 1st class lounge where we waited for Matt to arrive. We departed for Sydney at 10:15 P.M. Oct. 11, 2001 on Air New Zealand, Flight 15, a 747 aircraft. The flight had a scheduled in air time of 14 hours and 5 minutes.

Saturday, October 13, 2001
We arrived in Sydney at 6:15 A.M. local time on October 13, 2001. We departed Sydney at 9:00 A.M. and arrived in Cairnes at 11:55 local. At this point, we had been traveling for 30 hours and 30 minutes. It was great to get to the Radisson Dockside Hotel in Cairnes at 12:30 local. We went to our rooms and then checked on our boat, The Iceman. In Cairnes, they were having the Reef Festival the entire week.

Sunday, October 14, 2001
On Sunday morning, October 14, Frank and I went down to the restaurant and had breakfast. We went to the dock and met our captain. We have a crew of 4-the Captain, Bob Jones; our cook, Julie Handy, and the mates, Sharkey (Chris Miles) and Brad Ferguson. The plan for the day is to go NW approximately 40 miles out and start fishing. We would be fishing near the Great Barrier Reef and docking the boat there for the next six nights. The best time to get a big Marlin is between 3:00 & 6:00 P.M.

Captain Bob Jones did not disappoint us. At 3:05 P.M., while trolling, a big Marlin struck our closest bait. It immediately went airborne, perpendicular to the boat. Due to the fact that Chuck and Matt were both sleeping, I took the game fishing chair and the crew strapped the rod and reel into the chair. Capt. Jones had the crew reel in the other lines. At least 2 minutes passed the whole time the Marlin was taking out line.

When the lines were secured in the boat, Capt. Bob Jones reversed course and started backing to the Marlin. I kept reeling till I felt like my arm was falling off. I was able to reel to the leader and Sharkey, the 1st mate, wrapped the leader around his hand. At that moment, the fish went airborne and Sharkey was able to release the leader. The huge fish took out line again and Capt. Jones continued to back down on the Marlin. Again and again, the fish went airborne. Sharkey grabbed the leader again and the Marlin went airborne again. Sharkey was able to wrap the leader a second time and release the fish. The weight was estimated at 300 lbs.

Monday, October 15, 2001
We awoke at 6:00 A.M. had cereal and pancakes for breakfast. Capt. Bob Jones repositioned the boat to another part of the reef and we went snorkeling for an hour or so. The water was extremely clear and refreshing. At 10:00 A.M. we started trolling for baitfish. We caught 5 Bonitas that weighed up to 20 lbs. and started trolling with live Bonitas. We had one strike, but missed the fish.

At 4:00 P.M., while trolling a live Bonita, Capt. Bob Jones had another Marlin. It was a ferocious strike. The Marlin headed straight down with the bait while the mates reeled in the other lines. Chuck was in the game fighting chair. Capt. Jones took off as fast as he could and Chuck started reeling the monster in. The fish came within 15 feet of the surface and we all saw the giant shadow before it went straight down taking out all the line Chuck had gained back. The huge fish veered to the right, jumped completely out of the water and Capt. Jones moved the boat forward. The Giant began stripping line again, and jumped at least 3 feet high, completely out of the water and then veered left and went toward the front of the boat.

Chuck was still reeling as fast as he could, moving forward and using his leg strength to pull back. At one point, Chuck was leaning forward and it appeared the fish was going to pull him in before the mate grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back into the seat. The fish made another run and leaped completely out of the water. We got great pictures. It was a totally awesome sight to see the size of the fish completely airborne. The first mate reached for the leader when the fish was in close proximity. The catch was made and he cut the leader, but still held on to it. The fish almost pulled him in. The estimated weight of the Marlin was 440 lbs.

Tuesday, October 16, 2001
We woke before daylight, had breakfast, and went hand lining for Coral Trout. We caught 3 trout and then headed for the Black Marlin. at 1:30, while trolling with a live mackerel, we saw a giant Hammerhead Shark swim by our live bait; he circled around and took the bait. The fight was on! Matt fought the Hammerhead Shark for at least 30 minutes before we gaffed it at the boat. It was a huge fish that put up an exceptional battle. At 2:10, while trolling with a live Bonita and a Mackerel. We got a hit on the Mackerel; the Marlin took all the baitfish but the head. Matt was in the fighting chair. We brought the line in and quickly put on another Mackerel while Capt. Jones turned the boat around. The Black Marlin darted to the new bait and took it. The fight was on!

Capt. Jones started backing to the fish; Matt was reeling in the whole time. The huge fish jumped out of the water at least 10 times. When it first hit, it jumped twice, going directly from the boat, and then twice more it veered off to the right, then it went deep and and skipped 10 feet in the air twice in succession. It again veered to the right, jumping twice more, completely out of the water, it again went deep and skyrocketed directly behind the boat. Matt kept constant pressure on the huge fish. The Marlin then veered to the left once again, coming out of the water. The mate grabbed the leader and cut the fish loose at the left side of the boat. It was a great fish and a great fight. we all got excellent pictures and all joined in the excitement. This Marlin weighed 460 lbs.

At 4:15, while I was in the fighting chair, the second Marlin of the day hit our live mackerel. The mates brought in the other lines and the Black Marlin raced away with the bait. Capt. Jones took off to set the hook and the fight was on. The Marlin's estimated weight was 330 lbs. We went the rest of the day without another strike. We have been fishing for three days and had 4 marlin. That night, Captain decided that we were going to go 40 miles farther out, due east, and then fish to the north. Capt Jones said there were a lot of Giant Marlin in that area.

Wednesday, October 17, 2001
It took us 4 hours to get to the fishing area. We trolled all the way there and continued to troll with Mackerel. Chuck was in the fighting chair at 12:30 P.M. a giant Black Marlin hit our skip bait, it came out of the water and then went deep. The mates quickly pulled the other lines and the fight was on! Capt. Jones started backing down on the fish, but this Marlin reacted completely different than the 400 lb. Marlin we had caught the previous day. It went deep and stayed directly under the boat, ripping line off the reel at an unbelievable pace. Capt Jones had to keep moving the boat away from the fish. We all knew this Marlin was the largest one we had caught or seen. Chuck kept trying to regain line, but the fish kept taking line out.

After twenty minutes into the battle, Chuck started gaining line, although he was exhausted, he continued to persevere. At that moment, the huge Marlin surfaced and we could not believe the size of this fish. Its upper body came out of the water and there was no doubt this was a Grander. The huge Marlin again started straight down, ripping over a hundred yards of line off the reel. Although Chuck was exhausted, he continued to apply pressure on this huge Marlin. little by little, Chuck was winning the battle. The Marlin continued to stay deep, Chuck continued to to gain the advantage to the point where the mate grabbed the leader. At this point, the huge fish jumped completely out of the water. It was almost a shock to see how huge this fish was. It jumped a second time and the mate cut the line. This fish was estimated to be over 1150 lbs.

There is no bigger trophy than to catch a Marlin over 1000 lbs., but Chuck did it! Congratulations! Frank threw 25 cents into the ocean for good luck on the next fish. Thirty minutes later, another Marlin was on, Matt was in the fighting chair. All lines were brought in. This Marlin stayed deep and took out several hundred yards of line. we all knew this was a huge fish. Matt fought the fish for 15 minutes before it surfaced 120 yards behind the boat. This fish was definitely over 1000 lbs., and Capt Jones started backing to the fish. Matt started gaining line, then the fish went even deeper, stripping line off the reel. Again Matt started regaining more line. Capt Jones had the boat in reverse.

It was filling up with water. Everyone was excited and running around trying to facilitate the catch, suddenly the fish veered left and you could see the large shadow coming to the top. It suddenly jumped completely out of the water and jumped a second time. The mates had the leader and cut the fish away. A once in a lifetime fish and the weight was estimated at 1250 lbs. Congratulations Matt!

At 2:15, another Marlin hit. I was in the chair. It struck a mackerel and immediately went airborne, sailing high through the air. The mates brought in the lines, Capt Jones started off to insure a good hook set and the fight was on! The Marlin jumped three times in succession as Capt. Jones backed the boat down to the fish. I kept constant pressure on the fish and reeled down as fast as I could. The fish suddenly went skyward and jumped three more times in succession. I reeled down on the fish, the mate grabbed on to the leader. The fish leaped again as the mate cut the leader. The Marlin was estimated at 350 lbs. The crew quickly put out new bait and we were ready for our 4th marlin of the day. At 3:45, 4:30 and 5:15 we had strikes but the marlin did not hook up.

At 5:35 while trolling a mackerel we got another strike. This time the fish was on, the 4th of the day. The mates brought in the other baits, Chuck was in the chair, and capt ones gunned the boat forward to get a good hook set. The Marlin immediately leapt 4 feet into the air, perpendicular to the boat and began stripping line. It surfaced again to the right, and jetted straight down behind the boat, stripping line as it went. Chuck was reeling the entire time; Capt. Jones kept backing to the fish. Chuck kept pressure on the fish and then it darted to the left striking the boat on the port side, and veered back toward the mate. He jumped back, barely escaping the fish. The Marlin went straight down, Chuck kept pressure on the fish, the mate grabbed the leader, and the Marlin bolted to the right and then left. The first mate cut the leader and the Marlin seemed dazed and was on its back. The mate tried to turn the huge fish over. It finally swam off, exhausted from the fight. It was a great fight! The Marlin was estimated at 250 lbs.

Thursday, October 18, 2001
It was a rough night. We were 40 miles out from the reef in 2500 ft of water. There was no chance of trying to anchor so we drifted all night. We were in 20-mph winds and drifted over 9 miles by morning and that was against the current. Needless to say, it was a rough sleeping night. Chuck said he didn't sleep at all, Matt said he got very little sleep, and Frank and I got some sleep. At 6:45 A.M. this morning, we started trolling with mackerel for Black Marlin.

We got two hits that produced no fish, then at 3:00 P.M. a Marlin was on; Matt was in the fighting chair. The Marlin stayed deep the entire time, it never jumped. Matt fought the fish for 25 minutes before he got it in. The Marlin was foul hooked on the right side just below the dorsal fin. A 12-foot shark was circling the Marlin; the mate grabbed the leader and tried to revive the fish. It took 5 minutes to get the Marlin where he could release it. The shark continued circling the boat the entire time. The Marlin was able to swim away. Its estimated weight was 200 lbs. It was our 9th Marlin and our 5th day at sea. Friday, October 19, 2001 We woke at 6:45 A.M. and had breakfast and then went snorkeling on a reef that was a mile away. Matt dove 15 feet down to get Barbara some sand for her collection.

Speaking for Barbara, what a lucky man I am. She is the greatest. The water is crystal clear on the reef. We saw several species of fish that had unbelievable colors. At 10:30 A.M. we went fishing. We were looking for our 10th Marlin. After trolling for an hour, we missed a fish. At 11:30, we got our 10th Marlin on. I was in the fighting chair. The Marlin jumped immediately and then dove deep. It was estimated at 150 lbs. but was putting up a good fight. Suddenly, it veered right, then left. Capt. Jones had the boat in reverse. I continued to gain line. The mate grabbed the leader and it was over. Chuck is up next. We caught a 15 lb. Yellow-Fin Tuna, the best bait you can use. We started trolling with the tuna. Frank was holding the line with his hand. When you feel the Marlin hit the tuna, you release the line and let more line out then you gun the boat forward at the same time you crank as hard as you can to set the hook as deep as you can. After trolling for an hour, we got a hit on the tuna, Frank released the line and the marlin ran with the bait for over 50 yards. Capt. Bob Jones gunned the boat forward and Frank reeled as hard as he could. The Marlin hit our slap bait and went straight down. We let it run for 30 or 40 seconds. Capt. Bob Jones gunned the boat forward. The first mate reeled as hard as he could. Again the Marlin had eaten half the slap bait, which was a 20 lb. tuna. It is now 4:10 P.M. We are looking for our 11th marlin. The day ended with only one Marlin.

We got back to the Great Barrier Reef and were invited to a cocktail party on the mother ship, Balile High (hosted by Peter B. Wright, who is a renowned Marlin fisherman and is said to have caught more Marlin over 1000 lbs. than any man alive.) Saturday, October 20, 2001 We will be fishing towards Cairnes. At 10:00 A.M., while trolling lures, we had a giant Marlin surface on one of our lures. You could see the bill of the fish out of the water. The Marlin was trying to line itself up to attack the bait. It then disappeared for a moment and then came back. You could see the bill again. You could tell it was a huge Marlin. It disappeared a second time and then reappeared again and lined up directly behind the lure. The big Marlin crushed the lure and went straight down. The mates reeled in the other two lines. Matt was in the fighting chair. The Marlin was ripping line off the reel. The captain was backing down on the Marlin till the fish was directly under the boat. The back of the boat was flooded as the water kept coming in while the boat was in reverse. Again, the fish was directly under the boat and Matt was gaining line. The fish started stripping line a third time. We could only watch as the huge Marlin gained back all the line for the third time and more. Matt could do nothing but watch helplessly as the line was being stripped off the reel. For the 3rd time, Capt. Bob Jones put the boat in reverse. Matt kept reeling; the rear of the boat was filling up with water. We got back all the line for the 4th time and we could see the Giant beneath the boat.

To our surprise, there was a second Marlin following the hooked Marlin. The sheer size of the Marlin we had on was unbelievable. I could see the fish about 20 to 30 feet down. It was definitely a Grander. The Marlin veered left, then right, and for the 5th time, the giant Marlin was stripping line off the reel. Matt lost all the line he had gained. Matt was worn out, perspiring, deflated; There was nothing he could do but watch the line being stripped away. Bob started backing down on the fish for the 5th time. Again, water was coming into the boat. Matt was digging down deep, trying to gain back the line and he did. The huge Marlin was now directly under the boat. Matt was gaining line and suddenly the huge Marlin surfaced. It was a giant! The mate cut the leader and the Marlin sank back into the deep blue water. Capt. Jones estimated the fish was over 1250 lbs. We are now trolling for our 12th Marlin, drinking bourbon, and smoking cigars.

We started looking at the video and for the second Grander Matt had on the line, I missed the picture of the Marlin. Thank God Chuck got it on film. It was truly a magnificent fish. We continued to fish the rest of the day without a strike. Reflecting on the 7 days at sea in search of the Mighty Marlin, on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, we caught 11 Black Marlin that averaged almost 570 lbs. each. We caught at least one Marlin every day. Our best day was Wed., Oct. 17th. We caught 4 Marlin. Our overall catch was estimated at 6140 lbs.

The most exciting part of the trip was catching the three Granders. We caught two within 30 minutes of each other. Capt. Jones has been fishing for 18 years and had never caught 3 Granders on the same trip. I think it was the absolute good luck that Frank Crider has when he goes fishing or hunting. We felt good about releasing all the Marlin and not killing a Grander, just to see it weighted. It was a great trip. The boat, the captain, and crew were 1st class. The fishing was excellent and we have memories that will last us a lifetime.