When you’re 160 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, the margin for error shrinks and the stakes grow. For the crew aboard the Catillac—an Invincible 46 Catamaran—those stakes turned into a potential Texas state record. What started as a 36-hour round trip in pursuit of blue marlin became the kind of fishing tale legends are made of.
On the second morning, around 9:00 a.m., the tuna hit. David Esslinger, the angler on point, strapped in using “stand-up” gear with the aid of Release Marine’s Battle Saddle. What followed was a five-hour battle of wills between man and fish. By the time the scale read 884 pounds, the team knew they had something special. The bluefin now awaits verification as a pending Atlantic bluefin tuna state record for Texas.
And while the catch itself was massive, so was the feat—especially considering it was pulled off from an outboard-powered center console catamaran. That’s no small statement in the world of big-game fishing.
The Catillac team—Carson Deer, David Esslinger, TC Swetman, Brad Hildebrandt, Jeff Young, and Colby Denbow—leaned on more than just angling skill. According to owner and captain Carson Deer, it was their Invincible 46’ Cat that made the whole mission possible.
“Patience, persistence and preparation can create lifelong memories in the Gulf! This trip would not have been possible without our Invincible 46 Cat,” said Deer. “We’re able to get to these fishing grounds thanks to the 1,000-gallon fuel capacity and efficiency of the boat. We typically have a 650 to 700-mile range, which makes the boat an absolute weapon for offshore fishing in the Gulf. The boat’s 1,500 pounds of ice storage ensured the tuna stayed perfectly preserved. And despite less-than-ideal conditions, the catamaran kept the crew safe, steady, and comfortable both while cruising and fishing. Whenever there’s a questionably rough forecast, one of my crew members will call me and say, ‘This looks like a perfect Invincible cat weather window, let’s go!’ – and my answer is always a resounding yes.”
With this epic catch and a boat built for battle, the Catillac and her crew have secured their place in Texas sport fishing history.