Sitting in Mauritius......

Here I sit in Mauritius waiting on my first hunt in Africa to begin in two short days. I have already had a trip that as a young boy growing up in Kentucky I could only dream of. I have been humbled by a 20 hour flight and a 2hr fight with a 472lb black marlin.
As a somewhat experienced hunter and fisherman I have no expectations when it comes to harvesting animals, I only wish for a chance to be a part of their environment. I was as fortunate as one could be to get hooked up with a nice dorado and would have been more than happy to have turned the boat around after that and headed to shore. As it were the mighty Indian Ocean had much more in store for my wife and I.
After battling 15ft seas for most of the day and multiple cases of sea sicknesses the Captin and crew of the Lady Diana hooked me up with a fish of lifetime. I had been taking a nap and finally woke up after a massive swell came over the boat and dumped what felt like a thousand gallons on us. I looked anxiously for the first sight of land in what seemed liked days for two sea sick Americans.
At that point fishing as I knew it was about to change forever. As the lined screamed and the Captain yelled Marlin I knew that it was a battle that I wasn't in the best shape for after a rough morning and digging deep inside of me was going to be something that had to be done.
Quickly it was 3 jumps 500 yards away( I am guessing) and my adrenaline was pumping. Here we go and sea sickness was an after thought. I pulled, it pulled and I was losing. Line screamed off the huge Shimano reel and I knew that this was something that I had never felt before.
Back and forth for two hours in some of the roughest seas, maybe THE roughest, I have ever been in. In between him taking off and myself resting I took time to lose what was left of my lunch somewhere close to the bare feet of the first mate. Finally after what felt like days I saw the most amazing sight. Something I only thought would be a part of my dreams
That deep emerald color of the black Marlin is one of the most wonderful colors I have ever seen. Officailly 472lbs!
What I had envisioned the trip of a lifetime for my wife and I has only just begun
Next stop Henry Griffith Safaris

Big fish! Great start to what I hope will be a great trip!!

Congratulation on your catch, looks like Karma is with you enjoy your Safari

Great story and a great start to your first "trip of a lifetime."

Safe to say.

You're hooked!

Pardon the pun.

NICE!!!! Thanks for sharing, enjoy the rest of the trip

I'm impressed you can smile. or maybe you are so thankful to be on land you forgot about the roller coaster.

Very nice fish.

Great story! I myself am a Kentuckian awaiting my 1st Safari.... what part of the state do/did you reside in?

I'm originally from Floyd County in the eastern part of the state. I currently live across the bridge from Louisville in New Albany, IN

Congrats, a fishing story you will soon not forget!

That is a good fish and I bet the battle was not one sided! Congrats.

Fantastic marlin, congrats, I was on Lady Diana in December, have used them several times. Hope you had a meal at the Boat House in Grand Bay.

On my way back to the states and I m having a hard time wrapping my head around the last two weeks. Henry Griffths made an amazing trip unbelievable. Check out the hunting report for the details

Look forward to reading the report