SPEARED by a MARLIN

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Published 2009-02-17

Schools of striped marlin attack sardine schools off Baja California, Mexico. Answers the questions about how these marlin use their bills to feed. This footage was taken in the Fall of 2008 while freediving. Original footage available at: www. Oceanfootage.com

All Comments (21)

@zoffinger 11 years ago

It's astonishing that there any sardines left in the sea at all. Oh, and yeah, I was terrified for the camera operator what with all those sharp rapiers flying around. Awesome!
@1tmaas 13 years ago

@Pupixario It was scary, especially when the sardines abandoned the seal and sheltered under me. They swam circles around me like a hula-hoop and the marlin picked them off inches from my body. To escape the school, I had to dive straight down through the sardines to about 30 feet where they abandoned me. Terry
@Davidovar34 10 years ago

For a sec, I thought a sealion might get speared
@1tmaas 14 years ago

The footage is entirely shot from my Sony EX1 in a Gates Housing. The only computer changes are slowing the original footage at certain points so you can see the action. Glad you like it! Terry
@ecuhenry85 10 years ago

Being a sardine is tough lol
@1tmaas 11 years ago

Actually, I observed a combination of predation methods: 1. gobbling, 2, slashing in half, and very occasionally spearing a sardine. And yes, the spearing poses a new problem for the marlin, removing the speared fish. To prevent the seals from getting their meal, they swam away from the group underwater, or placed their bill out of the water and shook loose their prey. All very fascinating.
@GTC1958 11 years ago

For a moment I actually started feeling sorry for the poor sardines but then I too got hungry and broke open a couple of cans of their cousins for dinner.
@CedrickVillasenor 10 years ago

Very well done. Some of the best footage I have ever seen of these amazing creatures. The whale scenes are just unbelievable. My respects.
@biped19 13 years ago

This is better than half of the "documentaries" on television. Outstanding!
@diacaptan 15 years ago

Amazing! Thank you Terry and the team for sharing the video with us.
@clarabellen 11 years ago

I love how the whale comes in like, "Lemme show you fools how to do this!" :o)
@BryBergilicious 10 years ago

Wow!!! Amazing. Were you worried at that a marlin would run into you while filming?
@Choumichel 13 years ago

Look at that sea life together, this is the most beautiful thing ever.
@dumaznbum 10 years ago

I honestly don't think it's that bad. The video is excellent and the narration is clear and concise. Thanks uploader!
@ogboogerdog 10 years ago

This is the perfect example of the kind of videos on YOUTUBE that deserve to have ways to give double thumbs up!! If you did not like this video then you are not an animal or nature lover for sure.
@jasonstatham2966 10 years ago

Aweaome video, great narration, cinematography, editing. I really enoyed it :D good job Terry Maas n company. Keep posting more vids
@G3rain1 11 years ago

The way they were zipping around I thought the camera man was going to get speared.
@goonerdotcom 11 years ago

Brilliant camera work Terry! Thank you.
@CHRIMdog 10 years ago

amazing video, the slow motion is insane..must have been an amazing experience diving and filming all of this wow!
@1tmaas 11 years ago

I shot at 30 frames/second. The slow motion effects were generated by Adobe's After Effects.