Sport: Marlin Fever

The water off Panama's San José Islands in Panama Bay was rough, but the Schmidt boys, Louis Jr., 32, and John, 35, knew their business and were ready for anything—especially marlin. Said Louis, Sailfish are just one, two, three compared to marlin. Marlin are big, scarce, make spectacular leaps clear out of water —and they're good to eat."

At 2:20 p.m., over 35 fathoms, the battle began. Said Louis, "I saw him coming to take bait and yelled 'marlin,' and before he snapped the line off the outrigger I was in the chair." Hooked on...

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