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Connie Laurie, 85-Year-Old Great Grandmother, Reels In 850-Pound Marlin

Connie Laurie Marlin

The Huffington Post     First Posted: 11/07/11 01:13 PM ET Updated: 11/08/11 10:13 AM ET

Connie Laurie reeled in 10 pounds for every year of her life.

Last wednesday the 85-year-old Aussie great grandmother had the catch of of her life. According to Cairns.com.au, Laurie pulled in a fish multiple times her own weight while fishing on a charter boat off the coast of northern Australia.

She was able to reel in the 850-pound marlin she captured up to the back of the boat. According to ABC News (abcnews.net.au), Laurie held onto the rod throughout the battle.

The marlin popped out of the water for one incredible second giving the amateur angler an unforgettable view. The charter company grabbed a great shot of the catch, which you can see here.

"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," Laurie told Cairns.

The marlin was later released.

Despite a long amateur fishing career, this catch was certainly her most memorable. "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 told ABC News.

The unforgettable trip almost never even happened as well. It seems the group that had originally booked the charter was forced to cancel because of the Quantas airline grounding, leaving a spot open for the elderly fisherwoman. Laurie jumped at the chance to fish for black marlin.

 
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09:58 PM on 11/09/2011
What do you idiots think god put these fish on earth for? Surely not to just to have fun with them!!
05:31 PM on 11/09/2011
I thought they were on the endangered species list.. well I'm just glad she released it.. that's the sign of a true sport fisherman/woman..
11:28 AM on 11/08/2011
Nice to see that the fish was released. Much better story them the older American who shot baited a bear from distance in his backyard.
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Talk2PassiveActionVital
Stand against fa$ci$m or our children will kneel
11:22 AM on 11/08/2011
Did the fisherwoman and the fishing boat's crew have the compassion and reverence to return this magnificent creature to its ocean sanctuary?

Yes they did.

Other "sport" fishermen and fishing boat operators, please follow their lead.
11:01 AM on 11/08/2011
She was able to reel in the 850-pound marlin she captured up to the back of the boat.. Watch - http://tinyurl.com/c3bgmma
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MindfulOne
11:00 AM on 11/08/2011
F U Grandma! There is no accomplishment killing great creatures.
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Talk2PassiveActionVital
Stand against fa$ci$m or our children will kneel
11:23 AM on 11/08/2011
Read the damn article before you start attacking, King Triton:

The marlin popped out of the water for one incredible second giving the amateur angler an unforgettable view. The charter company grabbed a great shot of the catch, which you can see here.

"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," Laurie told Cairns.

The marlin was later released.
11:26 AM on 11/08/2011
Apparently you missed this part of the article--
The marlin was later released.

the writer even put it in a separate paragraph so people who actually red the articel wouldnt complain or assume the marlin had been killed. Did you read the article?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MindfulOne
06:51 PM on 11/08/2011
Lovely that this magnificent animal was released. Why did it need to be tortured in the first place? If we treated our pets that way we would go to jail.