The big marlin took a live fish under a balloon. Adam used 50 pound Momoi line fished on a Shimano Tiagra 50W and a custom 800 XH Calstar rod built. The hook was a 7/0 Mustad Seamaster. The fight was a surprisingly short, only 28 minutes.
About the same time this fish was caught, we heard of another anfler getting spooled at the Tubes by a big billfish.