Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2021 i Marlin

It’s one of those age-old questions in marlin fishing: Would you rather catch a bunch, or do you want a shot at a really big one? In most of the world’s big-fish destinations, you’re basically fishing for that one bite. And while there’s definitely something to be said for putting up big numbers in places like the Dominican Republic and Central America, if you’re looking for that extra-large marlin of a lifetime, you’re going to have to put in some time and effort to make it happen. Paying your big-fish dues, so to speak. In researching the “Chasing Giants” feature in this issue, it was interesting to note that many of those hotspots have consistently produced good fishing for years, and even decades. Places such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef,…

Growing up on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Charles Perry had it all—surfing, fishing and chasing girls—until Uncle Sam came calling and he was sent to war in Vietnam. Afterward, he visited Australia, a trip that launched one of the most extensive fishing careers in the sport. Along the way, he has wired and/or weighed 28 certified 1,000-pluspound black marlin, and released countless more over the mark in later years, fishing with Capt. Peter B. Wright. Perry was also part of the Chunda team with Stewart Campbell and Capt. Bark Garnsey, traveling the globe in search of world records. He was presented with the IGFA’s Tommy Gifford Award in 2011 as one of the sport’s legendary captains and crews, and currently sits on the board that approves future award recipients. How…

The second leg of the Quest for the Crest series yielded good fishing and tight competition this year, with 193 sailfish released by the 64-boat fleet and a tournament record payout of $255,340. The three-inlet format allowed boats to fish in a wider boundary, which worked well for several teams, including Weez in the Keys. They fished south toward their home waters off Miami and released six sailfish, enough to secure them first place on Day One and take home the dailies for a $62,235 opening payday. The team ultimately finished in second place overall and also won the charity jackpot, which supports ongoing relief efforts in the Bahamas, for a grand total of $130,995. Rounding out the top three was The Edge with eight sailfish releases. The Texasbased team…

The deployment of artificial reefs is often a contentious subject, but in the Gulf of Mexico, these man-made structures are considered ocean oases, supporting a variety of resident marine life and even migratory species such as tuna and marlin. For anglers, these structures are go-to spots and provide an exciting fishing experience. Scientists also recognize the importance of these habitats, and are curious about how the structures might affect the migration and distribution of a variety of fish species. WORLD’S LARGEST ARTIFICIAL-REEF COMPLEX The ninth-largest body of water in the world, the Gulf of Mexico is also home to the largest artificial-reef complex. Offshore oil and gas exploration began in the late 1940s off Louisiana with the installation of the first oil and gas platform, and by 1983, more than…

Staying one step ahead is the primary goal when it comes to keeping a clean engine room. It’s said that you can tell a lot about a captain by the way his engine room is kept, so when your reputation is on the line, remember, there’s always a guy standing on the dock who’s ready to jump on the minute you step off. So, let’s dive in headfirst with tips to not only keep your engine room clean, but your pump room and machinery spaces fresh as well. Instead of going on about the best cleaners on the market or what products to use, I’d also like to introduce some tricks the pros have up their sleeves to leave it not just clean, but sparkling. Mark removers such as 3M’s…

We have many clients who engage us to assist them with the purchase of new, foreign-built boats for use in the United States. There are more boats built overseas than most people realize, and while purchasing a foreign-built vessel can certainly be a viable option, there are several things to consider prior to entering into an agreement and having the vessel delivered to the US. DOMESTIC VERSUS FOREIGN There are substantial building differences between a domestic- and foreign-built boat, especially if the owner plans to use it in the waters of the United States. We commonly see issues arise between the parties after the vessel has already been fully constructed. Thus, clearly identifying the terms of the contract becomes even more critical with any foreign-built vessels. It is important to…

There are many different choices for teaser reels on the market today—from the old red Elec-Tra-Mate and pancakestyle reels to the Miya Epoch brand. I remember the days when an old Penn Senator 6/0 was hanging off many bridge rails. Then a few guys started using the fancy gold reels, such as the Penn Internationals and Shimano Tiagras that they hand-cranked whenever the lines were cleared. For me, the biggest problem came when we started switch-baiting for marlin and sailfish. To tease in the fish, we would hand-line the teaser, stopping to be sure the billfish was still there, and then handlining as fast as we could to keep the marlin or sailfish from getting a good grip on the teaser. It is also one thing to tease small blue…

(a) PAKULA LURES Australian lure-maker Peter Pakula has taken his bestselling lures—the Pakula Sprocket is shown; many others are also available—and added 3D-printed heads with venturi jets as well as realistic fish-printed skirts. Air keeling in the heads means that the lures ride in a lifelike orientation in any sea condition, while the skirts also contain Pakula’s patented UV, Lumo and CAT additives. The lures are available in a number of different baitfish patterns, including tinker mackerel, ballyhoo, skipjack, yellowfin tuna and more. pakula.com (b) IMPERIUM OUTFITTERS Using modern technology to color outside the lines of traditional lure-making, Imperium’s Beluga series is its flagship design. It’s engineered using a 3D-printed head, with a flared face and a single large curved vent, which gives it an incredible cycle of deep diving,…

With a rare grand slam—blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish—the Jichi team put on a clinic of how to win a tournament during the 2021 Jimmy Johnson National Billfish Championship, which was held March 2-6, 2021. Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week features a week of competitive fishing across South Florida, consisting of the National Billfish Championship and the one-day Celebrity Pro-Am. A highlight of the South Florida billfish tournament season, this week of events has something for everyone, as top anglers join together for what is always a good time with guaranteed prize money. With fishing options available from Jupiter to Islamorada, the South Florida fishing community came together for a safe and responsible tournament featuring socially distant events throughout the week and a tournament-record-breaking 751…

NICK BOVELL CREWMAN FOR HIRE TRINIDAD, WEST INDIES Giant marlin always get the blood pumping, and anyone who fishes for them wants a grander; it’s why we do it. I’ve been very lucky to fish some of the best big-fish destinations and learn from, and see, some of the best crewmen in action. My favorite bait for a giant blue or black marlin is a circle-hook-rigged tuna—yellowfin, blackfin or bonito. It’s pretty simple why: Because that’s what they eat! I’m not saying that you can’t catch them on other baits, but I am saying that I haven’t seen too many big marlin turn down a properly presented tuna. JAKE FLYNN CREWMAN FOR HIRE FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA Different fishing styles across the globe naturally call for different baits and lures to…

Whenever we discuss big-marlin gear, we are talking about 130-pound-class tackle. The importance of attention to detail exists in all tackle setups, especially when tournament fishing, but when you are faced with the fish of a lifetime—the one that appears in all your dreams—confidence in your tackle becomes your first concern. Before you even begin to set up your tackle for the season, you need to be sure you are prepared to use the best products available. Clients travel immense distances to have an opportunity to land their grander, and in order to provide that to them, they must stay connected. Although no tackle is completely bulletproof, you need to be sure all the T’s have been crossed, the I’s are dotted, and that everything humanly possible is considered when…

If there’s anything I’ve learned from listening to a lifetime of fish stories, it’s that the best ones are often unbelievable yet totally true. I have also learned that, at times, what we leave behind is often more important than what we take with us. The fish you’re trying to catch really has little do with the amount of enjoyment that comes from its capture. In fact, the physical catch itself often isn’t nearly as important—or as exciting—as the journey that led you to that moment. The finest novelist couldn’t describe most of the greatest moments of a fisherman’s career—not because elegant enough words don’t exist to paint the picture, but because fishing in its purest form is a feeling, one you can’t fake and one that can’t be taken…

When the first European settlers arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada, from Scotland on board the ship Hector in early fall 1773, they were likely amazed at the similarities in the two landscapes. Even though they were an ocean apart by some 2,700 miles, the near-same plateaus plummeted to rocky coastlines as the green rolling hills and tree-covered highlands met them with open arms, as did the residents of Pictou. The waters of the northwest Atlantic Ocean, Northumberland Straights in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Gulf’s sub-basin, St. George’s Bay, were teeming with sea life. Lobsters, mackerel, herring, and ground fish such as cod and haddock were in huge supply, and while these are the fish that supported the residents’ lives, true giants were swimming among them. HISTORICAL…

Building a custom Bayliss is undoubtedly a dream. Delivered in November 2020, Seven is the fourth 62 to slide out of the barn at the facility, and other than sharing a jig, each one is completely different. She also hallmarks the second convertible to be built by a previous Bayliss owner—the first being Hull No. 8, a 68-footer. This owner is hands-on; he knows—and more importantly, trusts—the process. Named for his seven sons, Seven not only has space for the whole family, but it also possesses the ability to chase fish in virtually any big-game destination. When I asked builder John Bayliss what makes Seven so special, he mused: “This boat is like the proverbial snowball you see off in the distance during a long run home, and before you…

With nearly a half-million dollars on the line going into the third and final leg of the 2021 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown, the pressure was on each team to bring their A game. This year, 28 of the 39 participating teams were fishing two tournaments in one: Those teams participated in the 2020 Triple Crown and, since the third leg was canceled due to COVID-19, they were also fishing to determine the top three places for Leg Three as well as the 2020 Series Champion Team, in addition to the winner of Leg Three for 2021 and 2021 Series Champions. The stakes were incredibly high and the tension was palpable in the humid Costa Rican air. Outage had finished the second leg of the 2020 series in the lead…

I have spent most of my life in the southern United States—most of my early years near the ocean. I have also admired the sport-fishing boats and dreamed of being out there. One day, I kept telling myself, one day. I created visions in my mind of lush islands, screaming turbos and hourslong fights with big marlin. Having moved to Tennessee some 37 years ago, those dreams began to further distance themselves in my mind as life’s reality took over. I had tried several times in the past to find some friends and put together a trip somewhere—anywhere—to go offshore for a few days. Unfortunately, there weren’t too many takers. One day came and went, but then in the airport on one of my work trips, I purchased a copy…

SINCE HUMANS first learned to fish, catching the largest of a specific species has been the standard benchmark to measure success. With that simple goal in mind, we embark on a journey to quantify the world’s very best destinations in terms of their potential to produce the largest blue and black marlin. To help accomplish this task, we used several important key indicators. The first is the list of IGFA world records—useful because it points to the largest fish in several categories of line classes, as well as women’s and men’s records. The drawback is that some of the records are quite old and might represent fisheries that are no longer viable. The next was the list of winners of the annual Blue Marlin World Cup, an around-the-world tournament held…

In our sport, no piece of gear is probably scrutinized, inquired about, second-guessed or glorified more than the lure. “What did you catch ’em on?” and “What color?” might be two of the most frequently asked questions in the industry, from firsttime charter guests to seasoned, professional skippers. But even with all the hours spent staring at shelves full of lures (and all the dollars we spend on them), the lure-maker—and the process in which these performance-driven pieces of art are created—is often taken for granted. The path to creating something a fisherman will trust to tantalize a giant blue marlin—should he be fortunate enough to cross paths with one—can be a rocky road. And similar to fighting that fish of a lifetime, the hours of pain and stress involved…

Tim Phillips has owned an enviable string of Spencer Yachts in the past, having built two 60-footers and two 70-footers with the North Carolina boatbuilder. So when it came to designing a new outboard-powered 48, he knew right where to turn. And while the latest Bid Time was planned as a gameboat to accompany a mothership on worldwide fishing adventures, a family tragedy necessitated a change of plans, and Phillips has nothing but praise for the builder: “We talked a lot about what we wanted in this boat, and Paul [Spencer] and his team delivered, just as they have done for us with our other boats. It’s really been a pleasure working with them over the years.” Home-ported in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Bid Time is equally adept trolling for…

Most professional golfers enjoy fishing for pleasure, and professional fisherman golf for pleasure—go figure. Many years ago, I provided asset and liability management for a handful of professional golfers, which led to an interview with ESPN’s golf radio show where we discussed tax issues. Athletes, like boat owners, usually have a group of professionals—lawyers, CPAs and CFOs—who they rely on to provide tax advice, very similar to my firm that handles all of these issues for affluent families. But what about all those golf caddies or the boat captains and mates? They do the vast majority of the work, but who helps them? They don’t have the resources to assemble a team of highly compensated advisers, nor do they necessarily need all of those services, but they do need a…