550-LB. MARLIN WINS DERBY

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By Patrick Lujan

John Hattig and Andrew Guerrero reeled in this 550-lb. marlin to win the Guam International Marianas Derby on Sunday. (courtesy photo)

“I got lucky.”

Call it luck or call it whatever you want, but that’s how John Hattig described his 550-lb. catch that was more than enough to win the Guam Marianas International Derby over the weekend.

“This is the first time I caught that big of  a marlin on my own boat,” said Hattig, who reeled in the monster fish along with partner Andew Guerrero about his 22-ft. boat Da’net named after his daughter.

Hattig hooked on to the marlin around 11 am Sunday at the ‘icebox’, a spot north of Rota. He and Guerrero took turns reeling it in for about an hour.

“That thing wore us out. He didn’t want to come in quick, so it was inches by inches to bring it in,” Hattig said about the challenge.

Hattig estimated the weight to be 350-400-lbs. but didn’t realize the true weight until they hit the scales at Agana Boat Basin.

“I knew it was big but not that big.”

The sea has been good to Hattig recently. He also took the yellowfin division with a 62-lb. catch on Saturday.

Just about a week ago, he caught a 300-lb. marlin off the Rota banks.

Hattig was on board Mike James’ 942-lb. catch from last year’s Saipan derby.

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