Second Marlin Caught Off Washington Coast

Thu., Oct. 9, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Commercial tuna fishermen have caught the second marlin ever known to have been hooked off the Washington coast.

The Canadian fishing boat hooked the 100-pound marlin about 25 miles off Westport and landed it in Astoria, Ore., on Sunday. Last month, two men fishing for tuna about 30 miles off the coast caught the first marlin ever known to have been snagged off the Washington coast.

Usually associated with tropical waters, the 7-foot-long marlin is apparently another indicator of the effects of El Nino, the ocean-warming climatic phenomenon in effect this year.

A number of tropical fish have followed the warmer water north this year, including barracuda and mahi mahi.

The latest marlin was caught by Gary Shepheard, who was trolling with hook and line for tuna.

“It just hit,” Wayne Dievert said Monday. “They didn’t even know - just thought they had a tuna on.”

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