In order to better understand Marlin Fever, let’s look into some definitions and a bit of basic knowledge.

For my purposes, this is what the following words mean:

Marlin: A large fish with a bill at the front, used to club food into submission. It is a predator at the top of the food chain. This fish goes where it wants, when it wants. It eats anything that will fit in its mouth. They come in a range of colours including Blue, Black and Striped.

Fever: The affliction I am suffering. Probably brought about by contact with the species; they are the only known carrier. It’s so contagious that it can be contracted through sight only. Simply looking is enough to give it a hold in your system. This has been proven through observation of individuals in an advanced state, just watching videos of the species.

The symptoms are much too terrible to be described in a forum such as this, but treatments for relieve of the symptoms have been explored.

Marlin fishing is the first thing I would prescribe to the afflicted individual. Typically this involves a boat ride to cobalt blue water somewhere. Possibly it’s the salt air that helps.

The problem with the cobalt blue water is that it does not reduce symptoms in all cases. It has been directly linked to resurgences and relapses. This is even in individuals who had been “off” the Fever for twenty years.

For the purposes of this study, Marlin Fishing has been reduced to its component elements. Not all of which are actually fishing…..

A typical day Marlin Fishing is about ten hours. This includes a bit of bait gathering, an hour or so run to the grounds, a bit of fishing, then back home again.

Despite looking like fishing, a boat ride is easily distinguished due to the lack of Marlin. Selective techniques are employed, so as to target this fish especially. On a bad day this means that you can see nothing, not even a by catch species. To decide fish of the day you need to weigh live baits, see who caught the biggest bait. Sometimes I will just BBQ the baits.

If you have seen, and even caught Marlin, a boat ride can help reduce Fever symptoms, especially if you have convinced yourself you are in with a chance.

But, what else would you call ten hours driving around in a boat?

Marlin Watching is more than just a boat ride. You actually see a Marlin. I mean in the flesh, no doubt, positive id.

These fish are very difficult to hook. It requires a blend of technique, skill and luck; people good at it make a living doing it

They have a tendency to “play” with lures and baits. This means they make a full hearted attempt to kill the lure or bait, smashing it with their bill. But for some reason they don’t eat it and you don’t hook up.

You might even see a few and not hook up. So it’s called a Marlin Watching tour, which still ranks much higher than a boat ride, by orders of magnitude.

But spare a thought for the poor guys on the boat ride.

A screening process should be in place to detect if any of the Marlin watchers have contracted this disease.

And now an understanding of Marlin fishing dawns…

Despite all of the odds stacked against you, you not only found a Marlin, but convinced it to eat something with a hook in it. You are now connected, good luck, you will need it. You won’t win all the battles, but all we ask for is a chance.

This part should receive extensive coverage through out this site. It’s up to the individual involved to decide if this is worth all the effort.

Win or lose the Fever just gets stronger.