Marlin magazine is an international billfishing magazine that gives you updates on the world's hottest billfishing destinations, insider tips on live-baiting and trolling, glimpses of people influencing the sport and reviews on the latest equipment.
Hospitality and good times are often synonymous with our billfishing world, and there aren’t many who wouldn’t welcome you on board for a cold drink or a bite to eat. That kind of generosity often spreads when we are on the water — good deeds happen frequently if a fellow boater is in need. We’ve all provided a tow at one time or another, or maybe we’ve even been on the other end. Offer someone money for their trouble and you’ll hear, “Pass it forward the next time.” But you don’t often hear about these kinds of acts during tournaments, especially during a multiday event with a cash pot of nearly a million dollars. And while a tow wasn’t required in this particular case, an “atta boy” is still well-deserved.…
editor@marlinmag.com WORLD-RECORD SAILFISH I would like this note to be forwarded to the IGFA. It concerns a sailfish my wife caught off Cancun, [Mexico] on June 9, 1979, using 12-pound-test line. Having been a world record-holder for 37 years, in my mind, this is noteworthy to say the least. It weighed 112 pounds, and I was the captain. My only mate was a young man from Stuart, Florida, and it was the only time, in my memory, that it took two of us to boat an Atlantic sailfish. I am sure IGFA could send you a picture of the fish. Capt. Nelson Applegate Bradenton, Florida Thanks, Nelson. IGFA sent us over a photo of the long-standing record catch (left). — Ed. OVERLOOKED TOURNAMENTS The article “Can’t-Miss Tournaments” in Marlin magazine’s…
FLIP-FLOP Tom Paul’s acrobatic sailfish was one of 19 he caught aboard Rum Line. Capt. Chris Sheeder captured the lucky shot and says, “The sail was doing that flip-flop, greyhound thing they like to do!” LOCATION “This year was the most consistent redhot bite from start to finish we’ve had in Guatemala — even topping the 2006 season. It was the perfect storm! We fished huge, densely populated areas for days, even weeks,” reflects Sheeder. TECH SPECS CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark III LENS: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM ISO: 1000 APERTURE: f/7.1 SPEED: 1/8000 sec…
Born and raised in Miami, Capt. David Salazar grew up on the water. He learned to fish from his father, chasing sails from South Beach to Islamorada. Along the way, Salazar earned his captain’s license and ran charter boats in South Florida, where his quick smile and outgoing personality earned him a following of loyal clients. Fast-forward through the years and many different fishy destinations, and you’ll find Salazar currently operating Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala with his wife, Kristen, and 9-monthold daughter, Ava. How did you first get down to Guatemala? I met Tim Choate through John Phillips — Tim needed boats for his Fins ’n Feathers Lodge, so in 1998, I took my boat down. After it closed, I ran my own place there until a client bought…
A YETI Add a little ice and the Field Tan Hopper 30 will keep food or drinks cold for hours, even in the tropical sun. It can also pull double duty as a carry-on bag. yeticoolers.com B SHIMANO A good reel bag is critical: The Bhaltair has hard-sided construction with plenty of padding. Removable interior dividers mean a custom fit. fish.shimano.com C AFTCO Fishing stand-up? Reach for the MaxForce harness combined with the Socorro fighting belt. Designed for 30- to 80-pound tackle, the combo distributes the load below the hips for comfort and maximum leverage, even under heavy drag settings. aftco.com D WEST MARINE A good pair of binoculars is always a great idea offshore. The Antigua series is compact, waterproof and packed with features, like an internal compass and…
MAY 18 - 22, ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA The first leg of the 2016 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship Series set the stage for the highly anticipated Gulf of Mexico blue marlin season. Live-baiting again proved to be the tournament-winning tactic and paid big dividends for the Louisiana-based Share-E team in the form of a 651.2-pound blue, netting them over $97,000 and the win. A fleet of 31 teams participated in the 18th annual Orange Beach Billfish Classic, held at The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama. The team of owner Matt McDonald, Capt. Patrick Ivey and angler Douglas Fletcher on Breathe Easy weighed the first blue marlin of the tournament during the first day, setting the mark to beat at a very respectable 574 pounds. The following day, the crew…
