The fisherman who ate his destiny, but did he really?, by Faridat Ene Suleiman

March 13, 2021

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In Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, was a Fisherman who was accused of eating his destiny.

The fisherman whose name is yet to be disclosed was reported to have caught a Marlin fish worth $2.6 million (N1.2 billion) and was eaten with members of the community moments after it was captured.

The blue marlin of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are more widely pursued by sport fishermen than any other marlin species.

Marlin is part of the billfish family, of 10 species which are of the most interest to anglers. It refers to a group of predatory fish characterised by prominent bills, or rostra, and by their large size, and they include Atlantic and Pacific blue marlin, black marlin, white marlin, striped marlin, Atlantic sailfish, Indo-Pacific sailfish, longbill spearfish, shortbill spearfish, and swordfish.

They are apex predators which feed on a wide variety of smaller fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods, which are classified as being closely related to the mackerels and tuna within the suborder Scombroidei of the order Perciformes.

Marlin fish and other species of billfish leap hard when hooked, which can be a danger when they get close to the boat. While there don’t seem to be statistics on the amount of time it typically takes to catch one, it takes hours to get on board when they’re not trying to impale fishermen, They are some of the toughest fighters in the seas.

The wide distribution in tropical oceanic waters and seasonally into temperate zones makes marlin fish available to many anglers, and the potential to reach great sizes and spectacular fighting ability makes them a highly desired catch to some anglers.

Is a Blue Marlin fish really worth $2.6 million (N1.2 billion)?

According to the International Game Fishing Association, the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland, is a week-long competition held annually in August, it’s basically the Super Bowl of the nation. It’s a competition for the best fisherman to get rich while doing what they love.

The prize money for this type of competition is worth more than $5 million, making it the most super-rich fishing competition in the world.
Perhaps this is what made Nigerians think that it’s the worth of a Marlin fish. It is safe to say that the price for a Marlin fish when caught is only given in a competition.

How much a Marlin fish worth?

The world record for blue marlin was last set in 1982 when a couple caught a 4.9 metre, 624kg (1,375-pound) fish off Hawaii.

The marlin is worth about $31,325.30 (N12,000) per pound.

Fishmount Length Fish Mount Price
Blue Marlin 75 inch $900.00 (N342,660.60)
Blue Marlin 80 inch $960.00 (N365,502.64)
Blue Marlin 85 inch $1020.00 (N388,348.68)
Blue Marlin 90 inch $1080.00 (N411,192.72)

Is the Marlin fish eatable?

Because these fish are at the top of the food chain, it is good to note that they can also be loaded with toxins.
“Marlin often contains unhealthy levels of mercury and other toxins that may be harmful to humans,” says Appel, Marine expert. However, their meat is considered a delicacy, particularly in Japan, where it is served raw as “Sashimi.”

Below are some comments and reactions to how the fisherman supposedly missed out on the opportunity fo a lifetime.