It wasn't the fish they were looking for when they headed out off Bar Beach in inner-city Newcastle but a group of fisherman quickly accepted the challenge of landing a two-metre, 100-kilogram marlin when it presented itself.

Ryan Baker said he and two friends battled with the marlin for an hour about a kilometre offshore, after spearfishing for kingfish and jewfish through the morning.

Ryan Baker, left, who speared the 100kg fish, with his friends Matthew Smith and Will Bredenbac who helped get it to the boat. Credit:Darren Pateman

"I thought it was a shark at first when it charged at me and when I realised it was a marlin, I dove after it and got one shot in."

It took two more shots and a few scratches on his father's boat before Ryan landed the fish.