Blog Layout

776-pound blue marlin put up a four-hour fight

John Mullen • May 22, 2023

Mollie crew has a happy ride back to the weigh-in after big catch

The Mollie out of Destin won the Orange Beach Billfish Classic with a 776-pound blue marlin.

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – When Capt. Jeff Shoults of the Destin-based Mollie and his crew of fishermen boated the 776-pound blue marlin on May 20, he found it hard to concentrate on continuing to fish or fishing for other species in the Orange Beach Billfish Classic.


“We didn’t spend a whole lot of time fishing after that,” Shoults said with a laugh. “When you catch the biggest one you’ve ever caught you think about it and go ‘well, am I really going to catch one any bigger or do we just need to go home?’ We just got away home.”


Shoults and crew traveled about 250 miles off shore to boat the big marlin with angler Brian Stover on the rod and reel.


“We were live-baiting with a blackfin tuna,” Shoults said. “The average blackfin we use is probably three to eight pounds. When you’re live-baiting you call it trolling but you’re really only moving about one to two knots. I guess you’d say slow trolling.”


It took the crew four hours to haul the marlin after it was hooked.


“The last two hours we could look down and see her we just couldn’t get her to come up,” Shoults said. “She was just too heavy. We had to wait on her to get tired and make a mistake and she finally did.”


Putting distance between your boat and other fishermen led him to the deep water versus areas closer to shore.


“It’s just a matter of getting to oil rigs that are not fished very often,” Shoults said. “You’ve got the oil rigs right off of Orange Beach that get fished if not daily they get fished every other day. If you’re willing to travel that further distance you get into oil rigs that are fished a whole lot less. They’re probably fished once or twice a month much less once a week. That’s the object of going that far just to get away from everybody else.”


The first oil rig out of Orange Beach is about 60 miles out and Shoults said the other three blue marlins caught in the tournament were all caught within 120 miles of Orange Beach.


Shoults said the 776-pound fish will be donated to area food banks and other needy organizations.


“That’s the biggest one I’ve ever boated in 35 years,” he said. “The next largest was 666 pounds and we caught that in the grand championship a couple of years back. We won the triple crown in 2017, we won the Boat of the Year by In the Bite magazine in 2020. We’ve had a successful last four or five years."


That can make for some good weekends on the water including on May 20.


“We had a great weekend,” Shoults said. “Perfect, actually.”


The Alabama state record marlin was a 851.9-pounder caught by Ginger Myers on the Fleur-de-lis on July 5, 2020, off of Orange Beach.

Share this article w/ Friends...

530 Acre Controlled Burn Underway in Elberta
By R. Ken Cooper 28 Mar, 2024
In an effort to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risk, a controlled burn is currently underway on a 530-acre tract located at 8807 Baptist Camp Road in Elberta, Alabama. This planned burn is part of a broader strategy to maintain the health of the local ecosystem, protect communities from the threat of uncontrolled wildfires, and enhance habitat for wildlife.
Gulf Shores Shooting Drew Quick Police Action
By R. Ken Cooper 28 Mar, 2024
A shooting incident occurred on Wednesday night in the Surf Style Parking area near Gulf Place in Gulf Shores. The streets were filled with spring breakers. The Gulf Shores Police Department received a call about the incident at approximately 8:51 p.m. A 21-year-old male suspect was taken into custody at the Wal-Mart parking lot. A juvenile male victim was transported to the hospital, where he was later reported to be in stable condition.
Foley's Skies Will Light Up With Color For The 20th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival
By R. Ken Cooper 28 Mar, 2024
Foley is gearing up for the 20th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, set to take place from May 2 to 4, 2024. This year's festival will be once again hosted at OWA Parks & Resort. This is the fourth consecutive year OWA has hosted the event.
Gulf Shores’ Meyer Park Is Going To The Dogs
By R. Ken Cooper 28 Mar, 2024
The City of Gulf Shores announces a new event that promises to be a tail-wagging good time for both residents and their canine companions. The inaugural Doggy Fest 2024 is set to take place at Meyer Park on Saturday, April 20th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Former Foley Mayor Koniar
By Guy Busby 27 Mar, 2024
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey authorized flags in Foley to be flown at half staff Thursday, March 28, in recognition of former Mayor John Koniar. Koniar, 80, died Friday at his home in Foley. In issuing the order, Ivey authorized Mayor Ralph Hellmich to direct that flags in Foley be at half staff from sunrise until sunset Thursday. In a statement, she said Koniar had a long history of dedicated service to Foley and the country.
Bike Rack Stock Photo
By R. Ken Cooper 27 Mar, 2024
The Foley Main Street Community Foundation, on behalf of multiple local stakeholders, has announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) to create artistic bicycle racks to enhance Downtown Foley. This initiative seeks to combine practicality with artistry, providing secure and aesthetically pleasing bicycle storage solutions.
Baldwin County 911 New Director
By OBA Staff 27 Mar, 2024
In a move that bolsters the Baldwin County 911 Center's leadership and operational capabilities, the Board, chaired by David Wilson, has appointed Kristi Stamnes as the new Director. Bringing an extensive background in public safety and emergency response leadership, Stamnes is poised to take the helm at the center. With the recent restructuring to include two Deputy Directors, the center is set to tackle the challenges of unprecedented growth in the county. Stamnes's appointment is seen as a strategic step in ensuring excellence in customer service and fostering the development of future leaders within the organization.
Alabama's Red Snapper Season Opens in Gulf of Mexico May 24th
By OBA Staff 26 Mar, 2024
The Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announces that Alabama state waters and federal waters will open to private and state-licensed charter vessel anglers for red snapper harvest on Friday, May 24, 2024. The season will consist of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, beginning Friday, May 24, and continue until the private angler quota is projected to be met. Additionally, the entire week that includes Independence Day (July 1-5) will be open for red snapper fishing.
Wesley Nance
By OBA Staff 26 Mar, 2024
Late Sunday night, the Foley Police Department rushed to a home on Park Avenue after getting calls about a fight. They found 29-year-old James Ryan Vaughn from Foley with stab wounds. A witness told police that James's brother, 33-year-old Wesley Nathanael Nance, also from Foley, stabbed him during a fight and then ran away.
Spring is Blossoming on the Alabama Gulf Coast
By Puffer Thompson 26 Mar, 2024
As spring unfolds along Alabama's Gulf Coast, there’s no shortage of natural beauty to be found in the azaleas, magnolia blossoms, and dogwood trees that surround us. But take a closer look and you’ll find a diverse tapestry of other plant life that thrives in our area.
Show More
Share by: