Hosted by the Seychelles Sport Fishing Club, the Seychelles Big Game Classic is the most prestigious of the region’s many tournaments. The Marlin team fished the one-day shootout and made the most of their opportunities to finish in second place overall.
An early call for lines in the water meant a long run in darkness from the Eden Island Marina. “There was something special about watching the sun rise in the open ocean,” says Marlin Senior Editor Sam White, “and when you’re in someplace as remote as the Seychelles, it was a very powerful emotion.” They released one black marlin during the morning, which they tagged with a pop-up satellite tag as part of the IGFA’s International Great Marlin Race. The team released a second black marlin a few hours later, although the fish pulled the hook on the leader before the required video evidence could be gathered. Nevertheless, it was an incredible experience. At one point during the day, a school of 40-pound yellowfin tuna crashed the spread and five reels began to scream in protest. Numerous large wahoo and dorado soon joined the tuna in the boat’s fish box that the crew enjoyed later back at the dock.
Unbeatable camaraderie among the participating teams, terrific fishing and amazing scenery all combined to make the Seychelles Big Game Classic a winner.
