In September 2024, a German tourist caught the largest blue marlin ever recorded in Dominican waters: 412 pounds. **The story:** Klaus Mueller, 67 years old, fought 3 hours and 45 minutes with the giant fish. **Economic impact:** His photo went viral and increased fishing bookings by 300%. **Scientific fact:** Biologists confirmed the marlin was over 15 years old. **Winning technique:** Live bait (bonito) at 80 meters depth. **Conservation:** Klaus released the fish after the photo, setting a new standard for responsible fishing. **Previous record:** 387 pounds in 2019. **Best time:** September-November for large marlins. **Lesson:** Patience and technique beat brute force.