Dan Vendl, your Discovery Bay neighbor, has been up to some fishy business, and he's now ready to open the bait box and fill you in.

Not that it's ever been a secret, because Vendl's love for competitively catching blue marlins off shore has been 18 years in the making.

Just back from his latest adventure down south, where Hurricane Paul gave everyone a run for their money - literally $3.9 million dollars - Vendl's Jungle Love marlin fishing team made a 275-pound catch. As the qualifying weight is 300 pounds, the team released the lucky marlin back into the ocean.

"The most challenging part of competing is not the actual fishing; it's the hours and hours of preparation that take place prior to every tournament," said Vendl, 42, who just returned from the World's Richest Marlin Tournament held in Cabo San Lucas Oct. 25.

"Challenging as far as making sure all your safety gear is in place, new lines on the reels, tensions adjusted, lures and hooks in top condition," he added. "And knowing the rules inside and out."

Photos courtesy of Dan Vendi

www.junglelove1.homestead.com.