Marlin are a rarity in the southern waters but commercial fishermen have reported seeing them off South Westland in recent months, due to the warmer sea temperatures this summer.
Mr Mawdsley had an 80-minute fight on his hands before landing his prize aboard his Stabicraft 1450 boat.
"I had the fish on for an hour 20 but because I was solo in the boat I wanted to tire it out first. I had a 35kg breaking strand on my line and didn't want the fish green at the boat, as being on my own with the rod and a gaff would have been a bit of a challenge."
He was 35km off Jackson Bay at the time, and had just caught some bluefin tuna.
"I believe the striped marlin haven't been caught in South Westland waters before — they catch them in Greymouth but not South Westland. With the warmer water temperature they are starting to turn up. They probably have always been there but seem now to be following the warmer water."
He organised a tractor to meet him on shore to help lift his 70kg big fish.
"The tractor lifted the fish and it was put in the chiller overnight and we filleted yesterday. The fillets were put in brine in the chiller and will then go into the smoker to be cold smoked using manuka." — Greymouth Star
By Paul McBride
