Bewildered Barry is game for a whopper - 05.06.2009

WHEN Barry Allsop decided to liven up his holiday with a spot of big-game fishing, he could never have envisaged the adventure that lay ahead.

And neither could Eugene McQuillan, the Irishman who took him out for the day on his fishing boat, Serenity, from San Miguel Marina, off Amarilla Golf.

A few hours later and both were shaking their heads in astonishment after Barry had landed a whopping, three-metre, black marlin, weighing some 175 kilograms – only the third such fish landed in Tenerife all year, and the first ever to be brought back to the marina.

Barry’s partner, Emily Eve, stayed ashore because, as she told him: “What on earth would I want to sit around watching you catch a few tiddlers?”

The 53-year-old circulation manager for the Daily Mail in London, was almost dumbfounded when the marlin, having taken his lure, leapt several feet in the air and then ripped off more than 100 metres of line as it headed for the deep.

Barry, a Mancunian, had never experienced big-game fishing before, and it was also his first time in Tenerife.

“I just fancied having a go,” he said. “I never thought I’d get anything decent, but it was the most incredible sight, watching the fish literally charge out of the sea after being hooked.

“My line just screamed, but the guys in charge knew exactly what to do and we had it on board in about 25 minutes.

“It was the most marvellous sensation; especially as I was told that marlin were something of a rarity in these waters. It really hasn’t sunk in yet, and I expect it’s going to take some time.”

The fish was caught some five miles out from Los Cristianos and amazingly, as the boat headed back to the marina, another marlin was hooked, by Martin, a 14-year-old Czech boy in the party.

 This time, however, it was the one that got away. But for Eugene, the entire episode was more than a dream come true.

Despite fierce competition between numerous big-game fishing companies, he decided to set up in business over here just four months ago.

But he could never have expected success so early. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime catch for Barry, and that may well apply to me as well,” he said.

“And would you believe it, it was caught with a green lure – that’s the luck of Irish for you!”

He added: “I know that a lot of fishermen and boat-owners spend years and years striving to catch a marlin and never succeed.

“It has long been my ambition to catch a marlin, but to have one landed on my boat so quickly is just as pleasing. I cannot believe it has happened so quickly.

The 50-year-old Dubliner and his partner, Imelda Curley, did a fair bit of research into the sport before taking the plunge and moving out here in February.

“I spent ages going on trips with lots of companies in Tenerife,” he said. “I realised that I would have to give great value for money if my company, Big Game Fishing, were to succeed.

“I’ve got a great little team in Imelda, who makes sure our customers are kept well fed and watered, and skipper Jim Quinn, who has tons of experience.

“My job is to set up the rods with the right lures and make sure everyone is happy. We are out every day and I’m enjoying every minute – I’ve always loved fishing, but this was an unbelievable experience.”

The happy-go-lucky Irishman added: “I know we cannot promise that our customers will catch big fish every time, but we guarantee the craic will always be great on board, and that they will have a good time.”

For more information about Big Game Fishing, telephone 922 737 361 (mobile: 627 700 932) or check out their website www.biggamefishingtenerife.com

Who knows? With Eugene’s genuine luck of the Irish, it could be fish and chips for supper every night for months!