Breathtaking — Giant Black Marlin Take Flight

Fallon says, "It's truly amazing to see these big fish get their entire bodies out of the water." That seems particularly true when one consider that upwards of 1,000 pounds are going ariborne.

Strong winds, rugged seas and big fish make this a serious game. The soaked hand, bottom right, belong to angler Jason Hassett. Location: Number 8 Ribbon Reef.

Note how much of this 90-footer with an amazing 33-foot beam is lost in the wave trough. Fallon cites this renowned Vanuatu-based game fisher with having incredible sonar "capable of marking fish from more than 200 yards away!"

Capt. Corey Hand on Askari was one of many game boats on fire in 2014, Fallon says.

In September (just before the real giant-marlin season kicks in), anglers can hook many juvenile marlin inside the reef.

This estimated 900-pound black was brought to Kekoa by angler Alex Kaiko during the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic where it received a satellite tag. "The tag popped off the fish after six months, by which time she had traveled a modest 881 nautical miles to the Solomon Island," says Fallon.

Teams have gathered for the 2014 Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic briefing, only that year's event was held out of Cooktown, with Lizard Island undergoing renovations courtesy of Cyclone Ita.

Acrobatics at the end of the leader demand the greatest concentration from a wireman.

Angler Jada Van Mols is steered in the chair by her father, legendary Kona skipper, Chip, in October. Fallon calls the sea condition typical for that time of year. "It was eventually released in healthy condition but not before everyone on deck got a good and thorough drenching!"

The photographer says this is one her faves. "A slower shutter speed captured the moment almost like a painting," she adds.

Even fish of "average" size offer a tough fight and often-fabulous aerial displays.

Plenty of aggressivel "little" males patrol the same waters as the giant ladies. "These smaller males are notorious for trying to eat baits too big for them, getting all wrapped up in the process," says Fallon.

Low leaps across the water make wiring a big fish that much trickier.

Another perspective of the excitement is offered from the flying bridge.

This famed spot draws in both big marlin and big game boats looking for them, both visible here.

A huge black barrels toward the horizon at high speed in the late afternoon.

Typically, late in the big-marlin season, Fallon says, "As the weather calms for longer stretches, the fleet heads wide to big blacks on the tuna aggregations, and blues as well." This particular fishery hasn't fired up significantly in recent years but could reignite any time.

This small spot can be quite productive; boats fishing here often take turns trolling over the hot spot.

Often, Fallon says, the crew of the Kekoa will give anglers the chance to tussle with a giant trevally, throwing poppers on shallower reefs.

Marlin off the Great Barrier Reef register some astounding jumps.