Caught by the catch: Huge Black Marlin takes the bait, drags away fisherman off Andhra coast; rescue efforts continue

VISAKHAPATNAM: A 28-year-old fisherman went missing in the sea after a large fish, suspected to be a black marlin, pulled him into the deep waters, about 20 nautical miles off north Andhra coast.

The missing fisherman has been identified as Chodapalli Yerayya, a native of Pudimadaka coastal village under Atchutapuram mandal in Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh.

This is the second attack by a marlin fish in Anakapalle district in the last three years. In Feb 2022, a marlin pierced its long beak into the body of a fisherman, impaling him to death on the spot.Marlins are huge fish species often weighing more than a ton and can move at speeds of 109 kmph in short bursts.

They are known for their long and sharp beak, and can be quite aggressive and fatal due to their spear-like snout.Police said Yerayya went fishing along with three others from Pudimadaka coast in a motorised boat on Wednesday morning. After sprawling the bait (line fishing method), he was pulling it. However, a large marlin (locally known as 'Kommu Konam') fish took the bait and Yerayya was unprepared for the force of the fish pulling on the line, resulting in him getting pulled him into the waters.

The other three fishermen raised an alarm and alerted other fishermen fishing nearby.

However, Yerayya could not be found anywhere, raising fears that he may have been pulled deep into the sea and drowned.Coastal security police along with other fisherfolk are engaged in the search for the missing Yerayya. The search will continue on Friday as well, said Atchutapuram SI N Ganesh. This is not the first time that such an incident has been reported off AP coast. In Feb 2022, fisherman Molli Joganna was impaled by a huge black marlin fish while he was fishing near Anakapalle coast. A group of five fishermen on a traditional boat had ventured into the deep sea on the evening of Feb 1. The next morning, about 60 nautical miles from the shore, the fishermen observed that the net was quite heavy. As they struggled to pull it, Joganna suspected the net may have got stuck somewhere and ventured into the waters to check.

The marlin, which weighed around 100 kg, escaped from the net and pierced Joganna's stomach with its sharp snout. Rescue efforts by the others failed and they brought Joganna's body ashore.Anakapalle district fisheries officer G Vijaya said it is normally not possible for a large fish to pull a fisherman into the sea. But when a powerful fish like marlin takes the bait, there is a chance of fisherman getting pulled in, she recalled.