Massachusetts fishermen catch 1,260-pound blue marlin

A charter fishing team off the coast of Massachusetts has landed a 1,260-pound Atlantic blue marlin, a catch believed to be the largest ever recorded on the United States East Coast.

On August 19, 2026, Captain Damon Sacco and his client, Walter Chapman, hooked the massive fish in the Atlantis Canyon, approximately 100 miles offshore. The struggle lasted three hours and resulted in several dents to the boat, the Castafari, caused by the fish's bill. The marlin, which measures over 11 feet in length, was brought to the Falmouth docks for weighing.

Marine scientists, including Walt Golet from the University of Maine, noted that such a large specimen is rare for the New England region due to seasonal water temperature requirements. Researchers plan to examine the fish to determine its age, with preliminary estimates suggesting it is between 25 and 30 years old. The catch is noted as being only 142 pounds shy of the all-tackle world record set in 1992.