Boat sinks reeling in giant fish

The crew on a sport-fishing boat off the coast of Panama had no idea what they were up against when they reeled in a large black marlin fish last week.

Images snapped from a nearby boat show the fish spinning in the air as it writhed and resisted being caught.

The ship soon began to sink into the water and it appeared the heavy fish was the cause.

But the fish did not cause the boat to sink – at least not directly.

The captain reportedly put the boat into reverse to reel in the fish – a common practice known as "backing down" – but lost his balance when a wave hit the boat and accidentally reversed at speed, the Florida Sportsman reports.

The sudden movement caused the boat to take on water and eventually sink.

All the people on board were rescued and the marlin – a fish renowned for being quick-moving and difficult to catch – escaped to live another day.

Source: Marlin magazine, Florida Sportsman, Huffington Post, BBC