A new year trip off Port Stephens nearly turned nasty for some gamefisherman when an angry marlin decided to turn defence into attack and jump onto their boat more than 40km out to sea.

Conor Cogan was working the tag at the fishing spot known as “the car park’’ when he ducked the deadly beak of the 90kg fish.

A video of the extraordinary fishing tale has gone viral, showing Mr Cogan with his mates Ryan and Peter Constable as skipper Rob Constable is heard in the background.

“We had only just hooked up so he was still green and pretty angry,’’ Mr Cogan said.

“He only jumped once and then made this turn, caught the wash and speared straight towards me.’’

As the sharp beak flew over Mr Cogan’s head, the fish spun around and flipped back into the sea.

“He did hit me, on the back of my t-shirt there was a layer of marlin slime but not on a scratch on me.’’

The striped marlin lived to fight another day.