August 8, 2013 — An Ashland man left the Cape Cod Canal on Tuesday night with quite a fish story. But the difference is he had proof: a white marlin.
Justin Sprague, 29, said he went out for a bike ride Tuesday night with no plans to fish. But after seeing a handful of fisherman, he decided to get his gear.
"I was casting for about 15 minutes," he said, "and I saw the tail out of the water."
Initially thinking it was a shark, Sprague figured out it was a marlin. "Holy (expletive)!" he said when he realized what he hooked.
After hooking it under its mouth, the fish began jumping out of the water "just like you see on TV," Sprague said. Two nearby fisherman came by to help and the men eventually pulled the fish up, Sprague said.
"I can't believe I got it out."
The fish was "a good 6 feet long" and weighed at least 60 pounds, he said. The fishermen tried to revive the fish after catching it, but were unable to, Sprague said.
Sprague's catch was caught near the popular fishing spot known as Murderer's Row on the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, said Mike Thomas, owner of M&D's Bait and Tackle in Wareham.
Some are doubting Sprague's claim, but Thomas said he saw a video of the catch Wednesday morning. Still, a marlin in the canal is a rare sight.