DOCTOR Titus Bradley speared a 10-feet-long blue marlin on a dream fishing trip off Ascension Island.

The Weymouth GP, who is based at the Royal Crescent Street Surgery, said it was lifetime achievement as a spear fisherman to catch a marlin.

He believes the 300lb fish was the largest marlin caught by an English spear fisherman and the largest caught by spear off Ascension Island.

Dr Bradley, who lives with wife Lucy and their 18-month-old son Riffe in Portesham, said: “It was about 10 feet in length including the sword.

“They are very intimidating animals, they are very big and aggressive with a big sword. They can do about 50mph in the water.”

Dr Bradley, who is a member of the London International spear fishing club, said: “It was only when I was back in the boat that I realised what I’d done. It’s back to the bass off Portland now.”

Spear fishermen hold their breath instead of using air cylinders.

Dr Bradley, who caught the spear fishing bug as a child, has visited Ascension Island for the past four years in his bid to catch a blue marlin.

He went 15 miles out in water about 3km deep and has spotted just eight over the past four years.

He braved tiger sharks and had to clamber back on board the boat when the predators approached him.

Dr Bradley usually spear fishes for bass and plaice off the coast, particularly Portland, but was attracted by the blue marlin as the ‘biggest and most powerful game fish on earth’.

Dr Bradley is attracted by the environmental aspect of spear fishing. He said: “When practised ethically, spear fishing is the most sustainable method of fishing. There is no waste, no tangling of lines or pollution.

“Spear fishermen need only take one or two fish per day.”

Dr Bradley divided his ‘absolutely delicious’ marlin among islanders as well as friends and family.