Large Lee Creek Marlin Bill, Makaira purdyii

Picked up last season, this baby is huge! 14.5 in. Even better, it's a dead ringer for Makaira purdyii, the rare marlin species noted in LCIII. Only one was reported as being found in LCIII, but I do know two other guides that have one. Still, a nice find. I did quite a Happy Dance when I found it. Only 3 in. of the tip were showing, and I almost wrote it off as another nondescript whale bone fragment, but figured what the heck... after a few seconds digging, the shape emerged, as did the presence of a few denticles, and...Happy Dance!