Connie snares her dream catch - a 385kg Marlin

by Media Services on 7 Nov 2011 An 85-year-old great grandmother, Connie Laurie, has realised a long-held dream and hauled in a 385kg marlin in far north Queensland - much to the surprise and envy of local anglers and experienced game fishers.

Connie caught the black marlin during a fishing charter trip off Cooktown, north of Cairns, over the weekend, a feat which fishing professionals have called 'utterly amazing'.

Mrs Laurie says she has been fishing her whole life but snaring the big marlin, which was later released, is something she will never forget.

'I certainly didn't feel 85 when I was bringing it in, I was too busy concentrating on keeping it on and getting it into the boat,' she said.

Thanks to the Qantas groundings, Connie extended her stay in Cairns and managed to get an extra day out on the water, on a charter boat, Top Shot, owned by Ross Finlayson Marlin Charters.

Her first catch of the day was a 12-pound mackerel as a bait fish. She didn’t have much time to admire the marlin circling the boat – she soon got a pull and then began a short but intense battle of wills to bring the 850-pound beauty up to the boat.

'Only twice did I get lifted out of the seat when it made a run, but I was able to get it right up to the back of the boat before we released it,' she said of the battle. 'It was just a magical sight to see this huge big fish jump out of the water.'

Now living on the Gold Coast, Connie told the local newspaper of her close ties to the Far North: she attended Cairns High School from 1939 to 1947 and her parents, keen anglers, wrote the fishing tips for The Cairns Post.

The thrill of the catch was the highlight of her trip to Cairns. 'It’s something I’ve wanted to do all my life, to go out and fish for something big,' she said. 'I got my wish. It was absolutely fantastic and made my holiday.'

And the secret to this octogenarian's strength of mind and body? 'Staying active,' she asserted. 'I've always loved fishing and I want to continue doing it down on the Gold Coast.'