Video: Billfish Chases Crew Member Right Out of the Boat
OutdoorHub Reporters 07.06.16
A “green” billfish coming over the side of the boat and wreaking havoc on the deck is no joke, and it happens more often than you might think.
Plenty of fishing rods, coolers, fish boxes – and more than a few human legs – have been smashed by a thrashing swordfish or marlin that invited itself on board. Typically, such fish are released at boatside, or if they are brought aboard, it’s only after they’ve been played out.
In this clip, the fish is obviously lively and simply breeched extremely close to the boat, causing the angler and crew members to duck and run. Like a guided missile, however, it almost seems to lock onto one of the crew, chasing him around the fighting chair.
It might look like the crewman decided it was safer outside than inside the boat and he jumped overboard. But slow-motion viewing shows that he tried to jump onto the rail. A slippery surface and momentum combined to do the rest.