TREASURE CAY, Abaco -- The Bahamas blue marlin record of 1060.5 pounds was shattered on June 24 by a 1,119 pound fish boated by Team Double Dog, Fort. Lauderdale, FL fishing out of Treasure Cay.  The team caught the grander during the Treasure Cay leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championship (BBC). This eclipsed the previous Bahamas blue marlin record set in 1979 by Sam Jennings of Miami, Florida during the BBC's Bimini leg.

Angler David Albury of Man-O-War Cay, Bahamas fought the big blue for three hours seventeen minutes before being able to boat it. Double Dog owner Don McKinney of Fort Lauderdale, Florida said they knew this monster of the sea was over 900 pounds but never imagined it to top 1,100 pounds. Angler David Albury was exhausted but excited to be the first Bahamian to hold the record.

"At weigh-in, the dock was electric with the new record," commented General Manager Patrick Fetsch. "The excitement in the marina spilled over to the Tipsy Seagull, where anglers celebrated the incredible accomplishment beneath the mount of Weekend Hooker's grander on the ceiling."

Ranking as the third largest marlin ever captured in the Bahamas, the 1,030 pound fish displayed at the Tipsy Seagull marina-front bar was boated by Ralph Eckler in 1996. In the same remarkable week, a 115 pound white marlin, 134 pound wahoo,180 pound yellowfin tuna and 87 pound mahi mahi were all caught out of Treasure Cay.

Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina just completed their 28th Annual Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament, with Team Galati, Holmes Beach, Florida emerging as the victor earning 2,500 points for releasing four blue marlin and a sailfish. 2012 tournament dates will be announced on www.treasurecayfishing.com.

Photo: The Bahamas blue marlin record of 1060.5 pounds was shattered on June 24 by a 1,119 pound fish boated by Team Double Dog, Ft. Lauderdale, FL fishing out of Treasure Cay.

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