'The king of the ocean, I've conquered it': 12-year-old revels in 100kg-plus marlin off Hawke's Bay coast

A 12-year-old angler has written his name into Hawke's Bay's fishing history by reeling in a more than 100kg marlin on Wednesday.

Cole Dallimore is the youngest person to catch a striped marlin in Hawke's Bay Sports Fishing Club history with his 111.6kg catch on his dad's, Scott Dallimore's, boat the Baby Blue, just off the coast of Ocean Beach.

The young fisherman said it was an "awesome thrill" to catch the fish, after three years of fishing for one with his dad Scott.

As a 9-year-old Cole told his dad he wanted to catch the "king of the sea".

"It's been three years of tough times and heartbreak," Scott said.

"Last year we had a couple of good attempts to get it but things never quite went our way.

"Taking so long to do it there is sometimes a few words and tears but it's good to get it ticked off."

Cole Dallimore and his dad Scott Dallimore pose with the 111.6kg marlin. Photo / Paul Taylor

The pair was trolling off the coast of Ocean Beach when Cole spotted the marlin not too far from the boat and managed to get it hooked on.

As part of the rules of game fishing only Cole was able to touch the rod otherwise the catch would not count.

He spent a good couple of hours wrestling with the fish and working to get it close enough to bring it onto the boat.

Cole seeing the crowd as they come up to the wharf. Photo / Paul Taylor

"All that was going through my mind was just trying to get this fish and I've been dreaming about it for three years and had come close to getting it to but to see it come onboard was just unreal," Cole said.

It wasn't all smooth sailing though as the fight with the fish took a lot out of Cole, and he nearly gave up.

A nearby fisherman, Lance Young, had come on board to assist the pair and help motivate Cole on which Scott said gave him a second wind.

"I've caught some big fish over the last few years but like I said to Dad this is the king of the ocean and I've conquered it."

Dozens of people came down to see the young man's prize catch. Photo / Paul Taylor

Cole was all smiles as he showed off his prized catch to the dozens of people who turned out to the wharf at Ahuriri when the pair came in about 4pm on Wednesday to see the trophy fish for themselves.

"We were pretty surprised that there were so many people waiting for us, a lot we didn't even know but had been following our journey and seemed just as pleased as us that we had finally got it," Scott said.

In the end it was a special father and son moment for the pair something Scott had shared with his dad.

"I caught my first marlin with my dad and to do that with my son was great and to be able to spend this time just me and my boy is something that we'll never forget."