ILWACO — A fisherman aboard an Ilwaco charter boat pulled in a rare, likely state-record striped marlin Saturday approximately 40 miles west of the Long Beach Peninsula, a catch that has drawn attention from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Possible new state record: 151-pound marlin
Tim Durheim of Prineville, Oregon, was fishing for albacore tuna aboard the charter Four Sea’sons when the marlin struck. The fish measured about 8.5 feet and weighed an estimated 151 pounds, which would exceed the current Washington record of 134 pounds set in 2005.
The marlin was transported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Montesano field office for confirmation by a marine biologist and weighing on an official scale. WDFW staff will examine the specimen to verify species, measurements and weight before any record can be declared.
Why a striped marlin is unusual in Washington waters
Striped marlin are not common in Washington’s typically cold North Pacific waters. They are generally considered warm-water vagrants — species that appear outside their normal range when ocean temperatures and currents shift.
Historical appearances of striped marlin in the region have often coincided with years when El Niño conditions altered oceanic patterns, bringing warmer water and prey species northward. The first recorded marlin catch in Washington was a 104-pound striped marlin taken off Grays Harbor in 1997, another noted El Niño year.
- Location: about 40 miles west of Ilwaco
- Angler: Tim Durheim (Prineville, Oregon)
- Vessel: charter boat Four Sea’sons
- Reported size: ~8.5 feet; weight: ~151 pounds
- Current official state record: 134 pounds (2005)
Next steps: verification and scientific interest
Before the catch can be entered into the state records, WDFW biologists will confirm the species and obtain an official weight. That process typically includes photographing, measuring and weighing the fish on calibrated equipment. Only after those steps are complete would the agency recognize a new state mark.
Beyond the record implications, the appearance of a large striped marlin draws interest from marine researchers and fisheries managers because such events can signal broader shifts in ocean conditions and species distribution. Agency staff often record these occurrences to track how warming events and changing currents affect marine life along the Washington coast.
Local reaction and context
Charter captains and recreational anglers on the lower Columbia and outer coast have reported unusual species periodically, but a marlin of this size is exceptional for Washington waters. The catch is likely to prompt conversations among commercial and recreational fishing communities about the frequency and implications of warm-water visitors.
WDFW and local media outlets said they will publish additional details after the agency completes its verification.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reported weight | 151 lbs |
| Reported length | 8.5 ft |
| Existing state record | 134 lbs (2005) |
| First recorded WA marlin | 104 lbs (1997) |
For anglers, the episode is a reminder that ocean conditions can produce unexpected opportunities — and unusual regulatory or scientific follow-up. Anyone who catches an uncommon or large marine species in Washington waters is asked to contact WDFW so biologists can document the event and, when appropriate, arrange for sampling or measurement.
WE NEWS will monitor updates from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and local charter operators as the agency completes its review and either confirms or rules out a new state record.
