Team Double Dog established a new Bahamas record when they boated a blue marlin weighing 1,119 pounds (507 kg). The record breaking blue was caught on the second day of the Treasure Cay Championship, the fifth and final leg of the 2011 Bahamas Billfish Championship. Angler David Albury of Man-O-War Cay, Bahamas fought the big blue for three hours seventeen minutes before being able to bring the fish to gaff.
“When we saw the fish in the spread, we could not believe our eyes,” said Double Dag owner Don McKinney of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “We scrambled to clear the light tackle and get the 80’s in position just in time for the giant blue to crash the port short.” McKinney went on to say, “After years of tournament fishing, we knew the fish was over 900 pounds but we never imagined it to be over 1,100 pounds.” Team Double Dog has been competing in the Bahamas Billfish Championship for more than ten years and the Team won the Championship title in 2009.
An exhausted David Albury said, “I was so excited that I never realized that I was in the chair for more than three hours. It wasn’t until we attempted to boat the fish that I began to realize its size. My muscles are aching today but I’m sure I’ll feel much more uncomfortable tomorrow.”
According to the Double Dog’s captain, Jason Parker, “It was team work all the way especially when it came to getting the fish into the boat. We quickly realized that we were going to have a difficult time getting the fish through the transom door. We rigged a ‘come along’ to keep the fish straight while everyone aboard pulled the monster fish aboard.”
The previous Bahamas blue marlin record was 1060.5 pounds established by Sam Jennings of Miami, Florida in 1979 while fishing another Bahamas Billfish Championship tournament, the Bimini Summer Blue Marlin Tournament. According to BBC president Al Behrendt, “All of the blue marlin over 900 pounds caught in the Bahamas have been caught during BBC tournaments. What is significant about the new Bahamas blue marlin record is that, for the very first time, the record it is held by a Bahamian, David Albury.”
Now celebrating its 38th season, the Bahamas Billfish Championship is the oldest billfish tournament series in the world. Anglers can fish any or all of the tournaments with cumulative points determining the overall Bahamas Billfish Champions. The BBC has two endowed scholarships started in 2000 that enable Bahamian students the opportunity to pursue a degree in marine biology or advanced education in marine technologies.
For the very latest information, tournament photos and current standings visit our fact-filled website at www.bahamasbillfish.com or contact the Bahamas Billfish Championship at 866-920-5577.
