Marlin March 2022

And from those humble beginnings, a multi-gazillion-dollar worldwide industry of offshore fishing tournaments sprung forth. These days there seems to be one every weekend, with prizes awarded anywhere from a simple plaque or trophy to cash prizes ranging well into the six or even seven figures. Tournament fishing certainly isn’t for everyone—there are many who avoid the competitiveness and would rather fish strictly for fun with their family and friends. I know several boat owners who say that they save their competitiveness for the business world, and that they fish to relax and escape from all of it for a few hours or days. I get it. Tournaments have a way of bringing out those not-so-good sides of us sometimes too. But on the other hand, it’s incredible to experience…

editor@marlinmag.com BLUE MARLIN IN THE BOAT I’ve often been asked about some of my most memorable experiences on the water, and this is definitely one of them. On the afternoon of October 21, 2021, I was out fishing for marlin off Grand Cayman on my Dusky 33, Makaira, with Alex Robertson. We had trolled west out of the North Sound, and headed past Northwest Point toward a seamount I call the Pinnacle, just 3 miles west. It is an area that we have raised many marlin over the years on the way to the 12-Mile Bank, which is only 5 miles farther west. Not raising a fish, we kept going toward the bank, where the water is over 3,000 feet deep. At 3:05 p.m. a blue marlin came up on…

ON THE HUNT According to photographer Pat Ford, the only thing more exciting than catching striped marlin is swimming alongside them as they feed in the wild. “We were 30 miles west of Magdalena Bay in a panga looking for frigate birds when we found the bait,” he says. “It’s tough if the sardines are running hard, but if not, they will try to use us for cover. This marlin was only a few feet away from my camera.” LOCATION Ford was diving along the Pacific coast of Mexico’s southern Baja Peninsula. TECH SPECS CAMERA: Canon 5D Mk 4 LENS: Canon 8-15mm with 1.4 extender ISO: 800 APERTURE: f/7.1 SPEED: 1/500 sec…

Fisherman, hunter, diver, treasure hunter, philanthropist: Carl Allen’s passions are as varied as the life he leads. Born in Rochester, New York, he grew up in Chicago and says that he was instantly addicted to salt water the first time he laid eyes on the Atlantic Ocean at the age of 12, when his stepfather took him fishing in a rented center-console out of Florida’s St. Lucie Inlet. Soon, he was venturing farther east, where the islands of the Bahamas captured his imagination. He met his wife, Anne—known as Gigi—while in high school; they have three sons, one daughter and three grandchildren. What are your first memories of Walker’s Cay? My stepfather had a home in Stuart, Florida. One day we were out fishing at the Kingfish Hole; I looked…

IN MARCH, Florida’s east coast sees good numbers of sailfish. From Stuart to Key West, these light-tackle gamesters take center stage. Target sails using live bait suspended by kites, or troll a simple spread of four small circle-hooked ballyhoo behind dredges and teasers. Twenty-pound-test and light fluorocarbon leaders are standard, although many live-bait aficionados will lighten up to 12-pound-test when conditions warrant.…

The Silver Sailfish Derby was established by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club in January 1935, and while it’s structured a bit differently today, it’s the oldest sailfish tournament in the world, missing only a brief two-year period during World War II. Today, the venerable West Palm Beach Fishing Club continues to host the Derby, which represents an important part of the club’s identity, as well as that of the local sport-fishing community. This year’s event celebrated its 85th year in early January with a sold-out fleet of 50 boats. It’s apparent that this crown jewel of the sport not only remains special, but that it also seems to be improving with age. The nostalgia surrounding the event continues to captivate some of the finest anglers, captains and crews; as…