So I made a statement in another topic that anyone with a Lexa400 or bigger could target marlin with it if their rod could handle 5kg of drag. I wasn't planning on proving it yesterday but it happened.
Was in 125m off the back of the Manukau bar when my jigging rod and Talica 8 set up with my favourite Alby lure went off. Sweet I thought, tuna for dinner.
Had a mate with me on his first day having a serious crack at it and I told him to grab the rod and wind it in. I wasn't watching and I hear "It's a bloody marlin f....."
Turned around thinking he had something extra with his weetbix that morning and this bloody stripey is greyhounding his backside off across my spread.
Line gets tangled with the short rigger lure and while I'm untangling it the fish takes all but a few turns of line off the reel - only 250m of 80lb suffix.
I put the hammers down instructed Brian to clamp his thumb on the reel and off we went.
Anyway after 50 mins of him trying to keep the line even on the reel and unable to use a harness we got the fish to the boat and retrieved my lure.
Brian's first marlin and my first on a $4 squid skirt with a Bonze light gauge hook in it.
Best fish on a rod I made myself (thanks Chris W).
For the train spotters the Talica 8 is rated to carry 10m more than the Daiwa Lexa 400 so maybe I can't claim success...