Charter boat hauls in 1,260-pound blue marlin believed to be East Coast's largest catch

A charter fishing crew in Massachusetts says it landed what could be the largest Atlantic blue marlin ever caught off the U.S. East Coast. On Wednesday, Damon Sacco and his client Walter Chapman fought the fish for about three hours aboard the Castafari near Atlantis Canyon, roughly 100 miles off Cape Cod. The marlin measured more than 11 feet (335 cm) and weighed 1,260 pounds (571.5 kg) when it returned to land in Falmouth. That total was 142 pounds (64.4 kg) short of the 1992 world record set off Brazil, according to International Game Fish Association records. University of Maine Pelagic Fisheries Lab director Walt Golet said the cold Northeast waters narrow the season, and the fish’s age could be 25 to 30 years. The catch was reportedly destined for a shared meal.