Travel

Kona’s Magnificent Marlin

Camera in hand, Carol Lynne captures the drama and excitement with Capt. Marlin Parker off the Kona coast.

By Doug Olander

Updated: January 29, 2015

As crew for Kona’s legendary Capt. Marlin Parker, Carol Lynne has become adept at taking advantage of opportunities to catch in photos the drama and excitement of large and acrobatic billfish. In this gallery, she shares 15 favorite shots from her repertoire. You’ll find more information on this unusual photographer at the end of this gallery.

Power and Grace

In this photo, the awesome power of a raging 750-pound is captured dramatically in the productive waters nearly lap the coast of Kona: The shot was taken on the 1,000-fathom line just outside Honokohau Harbor. Carol Lynne

Full-Charge Mode

The same 750-pounder caught in full charge, straight towards the Marlin Magic II. Carol Lynne

anglers releasing marlin in Kona, Hawaii

Tagged and Good to Go

A quick shot before this stunningly lit blue powers off provides some idea of the great girth of a large marlin. Carol Lynne

700 Pounds Airborne

This impressive blue demonstrates its power to fly. Those remoras may be in for a bumpy landing. Carol Lynne

Upon Further Reflection

The fun-house-mirror aspect of the stunningly blue Pacific waters distort this diving blue. Carol Lynne

Greyhounder

Greyhounding blue reveals the perfect placement of a single hook rig. Carol Lynne

Sideswiper

With an estimated weight of 800 pounds, this blue kicked up quite a fuss. It grabbed a Marlin Magic Ruckus on a short rigger. Carol Lynne

Takeoff Near the Airport

Fittingly, this airborne blue is a long stone’s throw off the island’s airport (Keahole Point in the background) and that proximity serves as a reminder that the Pacific’s azure waters nearly lap the shoreline off Kona. This photo is one of Marlin Parker’s faves. Carol Lynne

Emerging Monster

An estimated 650-pound blue comes up and out near the boat. Carol Lynne

marlin caught offshore fishing in Kona, Hawaii

Handle with Caution

This 550 is about to gain its freedom off the corner of the Marlin Magic‘s cockpit. As expected, the vibrantly lit fish swam away hard. Carol Lynne

Intense Hues

The intense blue/purple hues of a fresh 375 reflect, literally and figuratively, the beauty of these fish. Carol Lynne

blue marlin swimming by fishing boat in Kona, Hawaii

Tagged and Ready to Go

In this unusual view from directly above, it’s easy to see the hydrodynamic shape of blue marlin. Carol Lynne

jumping blue marlin caught fishing in Kona, Hawaii

On the Slide

A 500-plus-pound blue slides acrosss the calm Pacific, its sides adorned in a striking green. Carol Lynne

jumping marlin with fishing lure in mouth, Kona, Hawaii

Just Off the Beach

Just off the Kona shore, this 600-pounder, that snatched a Marlin Magic Hard Head in purple, dashes for its freedom. Carol Lynne

Incoming!

Thanks to the angle, this looks smaller than the 750 pounds estimated by the crew when the fish was boatside, but check out the size of the tail. Carol Lynne

About the Artist

Carol Lynne

While “unique” is an absolute term, it’s still hard to not conclude that Carol Lynne is more unique than most. Besides being part of the crew for the past nine years on the Marlin Magic 2, the Kona charter boat of legendary skipper Marlin Parker, Lynne is an avid free diver, an accomplished marine artist and — as is clearly evident in this gallery — a photographer. She’s traveled much of the Pacific, even working one season as a commercial crabber. But since then she’s settled in Kona where she lives with Marlin, her partner. Courtesy Carol Lynne

Carol Lynne’s Distinctive Tribal Fish Art

Tribal Marlin

Carol Lynne’s fish art clearly shows its origins — in the art of indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest, where she spent years before coming to Kona. This Tribal Marlin III was drawn with colored pencils. Carol Lynne

Mahi II

Lynne’s “Mahi II” is a mixed-media work of watercolors and pen-and-ink; the original measures 18 x 24 inches. The artist’s comments note that enlargement will show “a world of fish” within the intricate patterns on the mahi. Carol Lynne

More: blue marlin fishing, Fishing Travel, marlin fishing, Oceania, photos

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