Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i Marlin

Shortly before the 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in late October, the marine industry buzzed with the news that Marlin’s parent company, Bonnier LLC, had divested a large portion of its marine media properties. However, Marlin would remain part of the Bonnier portfolio. The short reason: the brand is simply too valuable to part with, and we are bullish on its growth potential in both the near and long term for many reasons. First among those is the brand’s strong position in the marketplace. For more than 40 years, Marlin has maintained a singular focus as well as an unwavering commitment to producing the best in offshore-fishing content and, to that end, is the undisputed global leader. There is no more effective or efficient way of reaching this highly…

When you think about custom sportboats and the builders, you’re most likely to conjure images of North Carolina’s Outer Banks or the east coast of Florida. Not often does a small community named Bear, Delaware, come to mind. Enter the Floyd family—they’ve been building boats under the F&S Boatworks banner there since 1996, starting with Jim Floyd at the helm. When it was time for Jim to wind down and tap a successor, he looked no further than his nephew, John Floyd. At the time, John was fresh out of the University of Delaware with undergraduate and master’s degrees in finance, but he did return to his true calling: boatbuilding.…

The final fishing day of the 32nd annual MidAtlantic tournament saw only 11 boats head offshore into a stiff southerly breeze and sporty sea conditions. By early afternoon the sun began to peek through high clouds, though the gusty wind made for a bumpy afternoon and a rough ride home. With nearly the entire 181-boat field having wrapped up their eligible days of fishing as of Thursday evening, little change in the standings was expected, so when the scales at the Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey, and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland, closed officially at 9 p.m., the leaderboard remained unchanged. It was time to celebrate as more than $5.79 million was handed out to nearly three dozen different winners, with varying amounts based on…

Q YOU HAVE AN UNLIMITED BUDGET. WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING? + FOUR TOP INTERNATIONAL ANGLERS TALK DREAM BOATS BYRON FIELDS AUSTIN, TEXAS I definitely would have to go with a 70-foot Spencer. It’s large enough for the crew to travel comfortably for long distances while still maintaining good speed and maneuverability. In today’s big-boat world, it’s also very fuel-efficient, and there are fewer things to break, which keeps you out of the boatyard and fishing more. Another consideration would be accessibility to smaller marinas. Seventyish feet is probably around the maximum size for marinas such as Honokohau Harbor in Kona, Hawaii, and having to eliminate some of the best destinations due to a few extra feet of boat isn’t a good trade-off for any traveling program. AUDREY KOOCHER ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA…

The South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023 with four unique tournaments: the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament, the 55th annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, the Carolina Billfish Classic and the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament. Although weather conditions off the coast of South Carolina proved to be challenging throughout the summer fishing season, the quality of fishing that the competitors experienced helped make up for those frustrations. It was a season marked by record-breaking catches and close finishes, making it a real nail-biter. Participants broke several series records throughout the competitive summer, starting with a red-hot blue marlin bite in early May. Of the 80 billfish released by the fleet of 33 boats fishing the Bohicket tournament, 52 were blue marlin, setting a new record…

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVENTURE is a huge part of the allure every time we toss the dock lines and head offshore—those eye-opening and sometimes jaw-dropping moments of pure adrenaline that keep us coming back for more. It could be something as idyllic as the most gorgeous sunrise you’ve ever seen, the colors straight out of a Gauguin watercolor, or that “gotcha” moment when a blue marlin suddenly appears behind the teaser you’ve been staring at for an hour and you involuntarily flinch at the startling shock of the sight. The more time you spend on the water, the more likely you are to witness those unforgettable moments that seem forever frozen in time, those “Remember that one?” memories you share with friends for years after the fact. NIGHT MOVES Overnight…

There are many people in the fishing industry who continue to impress me with their knowledge, drive and passion. However, something that is less common in this everyday life is the realization of how children are naturally drawn to fishing. Perhaps it’s the wonder of the environment and being somewhere that is unfamiliar. Maybe it’s the excitement of seeing a fish in real life and not just from a picture book. But to me, I think it’s the sheer joy that children bring to us. They light up our lives, and even in the darkest of nights, a child’s giggle awakens the human soul. As adults, particularly those who are professionally engaged in the fishing lifestyle itself, we can get somewhat jaded by it. We see it—and live it—every day,…

Big-game sport fishing is a lifestyle just as much as it is a hobby or a weekend activity, even for those of us who do it professionally. And once you’ve found a taste for it, the desire to fish in new and remote destinations dwells in us all. Few places offer an experience as unique or as remote as our latest destination—Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It’s a place that almost any fisherman would call a bucket-list experience, one that offers not only breathtaking scenery above and below the surface, but a legitimate opportunity to encounter some of the world’s largest and most powerful apex predators—the giant black marlin. In late 2023, we headed Down Under with a group of six well-traveled, experienced anglers and three professional instructors hailing from all…

When I retired from running The Madam and The Hooker for the Dunaways, I was suddenly sought after to speak at many fishing clubs. The attendees were always interested in hearing everything from angling and being a deckhand to the captain’s job, and especially how we managed to catch all those billfish on light tackle. Where most of us cut our teeth on charter boats, it is usually the captain’s responsibility to teach the crew how to teach the anglers. With the present demand for experienced mates, some charter deckhands do not last as long as they used to before they jump to private jobs. I am still amazed at what these crews all do every day as the boats just keep getting bigger. In the Bahamas during our tournaments,…

M How did you go from a career in banking right into building boats? I always knew this was what I wanted to do, but I also knew growing up around boatbuilding, that it wasn’t very well organized. Some of these boats were being built in a pole barn behind a guy’s house. It would be unrecognizable to people today who are used to going to our yards and seeing these welloiled operations that we have. I wanted to learn how to run a business, I wanted to learn the ins and outs of finance, and I didn’t want to come into a situation where I was surprised by things. I just feel so much better prepared to negotiate these large contracts and figure out pricing schedules. These are multiyear…

In the late 1950s, a spectator watching giant blue marlin and yellowfin tuna being weighed from a palm tree on the lawn of the historic Kona Inn led to the founding of one of the sport’s most enduring events: the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. That spectator was the Kona Inn’s manager at the time, Peter Fithian, and he was truly amazed by the sight of these impressive gamefish. With his experience organizing the Masters golf tournaments back on the mainland, he wondered if something could be created to showcase not just the great fishing but the sport’s legendary captains and anglers as well. After talking to a few of the local fishermen—including Henry Chee, who was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in 2008—the idea of a fishing…

Photographer Kevin Dodge is a third-generation Miami native who has spent the last 20 years covering the world of high fashion and other elegant subject matter. As an avid freediver and lifelong watersports enthusiast, Dodge has turned his lens to capture the beautiful—and, at times, dangerous—underwater world, which belongs to a vast collection of sea creatures. Dodge’s work invites the viewer to pause and take a moment to celebrate the silent oceanic marvels that few are privileged to witness. His work has been featured in numerous international magazines and media, including Marlin. Check out his website for more: dodgeocean.com. —Capt. Jen Copeland FEBRUARY 2015 On one picturesque day, a departure from the routine led to a remarkable encounter that would leave an indelible mark in my mind. Having spent the…

As my offshore-fishing career advances over time, I find myself looking for new ways to bring the spark back to the sport that has dominated my career and my life. I love going fishing, but as an adrenaline junkie—or ex-junkie, as it were—I’m always looking to re-create that feeling. There’s nothing like it, and I’m sure anyone reading this can agree. After decades in this business and hundreds of billfish, I still have some bucket-list fishing trips to pursue: baby black marlin on the flats of Hervey Bay in Australia, Mag Bay stripeys, and yes, believe it or not, a clown knifefish is also on my list. What was not on my list, however, was my first sailfish on fly. Keep in mind, I may have thrown a fly at…

Have you ever met someone and instantly knew you’d like them right from the start? Captains and brothers Jimbo and Rick Thomas are the kind of guys who definitely fall into that category. They’ve been a fixture in the South Florida charter fishing and tournament scene for more than four decades, running their yellow 1977 42-foot Post aptly named Thomas Flyer. Like other famous sibling combinations over the years—Peyton and Eli Manning, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, Kyle and Kurt Busch—these two have continued to live their passions every day as they keep putting smiles on the faces of their clients, just as they have done for more than 40 years now. A LOVE OF THE GAME As with nearly every other charter dock in the world, a typical day…

The 25th anniversary running of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament showcased a historic striped marlin bite. Over three exhilarating days, the tournament record for billfish releases was shattered as 42 teams released a staggering total of 583 striped marlin, seven blue marlin and three sailfish. This number nearly quadrupled the previous tournament release record of 150 in 2018. ¶ The record-setting performance came as developing Hurricane Norma took aim at the Los Cabos region, and despite permitting challenges that threatened to disrupt the scheduled kickoff of the tournament. However, thanks to an upwelling of local support in the weeks before kickoff, and to the resilience of the Los Cabos fishing teams, the tournament went off without a hitch and delivered an epic bite that served as a strong reminder of…

If there’s one thing about technology, it never takes a break. Much like in our everyday lives, we are the fortunate beneficiaries of so much technology in almost every aspect of boating and fishing today. From engine systems and boatbuilding composites to tackle and components, we are in an ever-evolving sphere of new products and information. Things move so quickly. It seems that once you adapt to one level of tech, before you can fully appreciate the benefits, the next level is looming on the market. At times I wonder if we have reached the plateau of enough information at our fingertips—when does it become too much? I guess when it keeps us from being aware of our surroundings and working safely in the environment, then it truly becomes information…

+ BITE TRACKER Stay current with the best bites from the top billfish destinations around the globe at marlinmag.com/travel. WHERE FEBRUARY really gets the blood flowing when you can take your pick of the billfish species that are biting around the world. You could almost call it a grand-slam month, with schooling sails, swordfish and all species of marlin available if you’re down for some travel.…

“Bogey incoming, 125 feet down,” sounded like a dogfight straight out of Top Gun. But then, the fish came flying up from the depths and inhaled one of our ballyhoos. I strapped myself into the harness and began the fight, praying he would stay pinned. The importance of billfish and what they mean to the oceans has always fascinated me, even as a young kid. Their strength, resilience, and prowess among other gamefish lured me into an obsession, just as it had with all others who love to fish. Even if someone had no way of catching one, the marlin was almost always seen as a pinnacle goal, and worthy of protection. LANDLOCKED, NOT LOCKED OUT Even though I’ve lived my entire life far from the ocean in Atlanta, I…

For six years, Anthony Hsieh of Bad Company fame has produced a phenomenal fishing tournament to benefit those who have experienced the hardship of combat on behalf of our country. However, War Heroes on Water is much more than a fishing tournament—it’s a tangible gesture of appreciation from grateful Americans. It’s the heart behind the tournament that makes it noteworthy. For their charitable partner, Hsieh chose Freedom Alliance, an organization founded in 1990 that honors and encourages military service through a wide variety of programs, including outdoor experiences and retreats to college scholarships for the children of those who have lost life or limb fighting our nation’s wars. The 2023 event hosted 100 veterans to participate on 40 yachts for a life-changing competition. Some tournaments boast large checks for the…

We all know that finishing first in high-profile billfish tournaments requires lots of skill, time, money and luck. The trophies that are awarded aren’t the pivotal reason boats turn out to compete, but it does feel right when the quality of the trophy matches the caliber of the competition. To create awards that hold up to such standards, artists must wield the same intensity and passion that tournament teams bring to their sport. Before competitive anglers can even begin to battle billfish, trophy artists have already contended with their own. Chris Costello, Hanes Hoffman and Maru Panameño are just a few who coax billfish from wood, metal and plaster, harnessing the life buried within the medium. Bringing those fish to the surface is no easy task. It’s a grueling process,…

Now in its 24th year of continual operation, the Offshore World Championship represents sport fishing’s most prestigious global competition—a championship of champions, where each participating team must earn the right to receive an invitation by first winning a qualifying tournament. It features a fair and level playing field, with each team rotating among some of the sport’s top charter boats, and it’s set amid one of the world’s best fisheries for marlin and sailfish on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. A truly global field of anglers representing scores of nations. A shot at winning the ultra-prestigious title of Offshore World Champion, as well as the gold championship rings, trophies and prizes associated with a high-profile win. A lush and luxurious tropical setting back ashore. Marlin’s highly professional and experienced…

Emerging victorious as the Series Champions for 2023 was the team aboard Double Shot, a 68-foot Viking out of Rockport, Texas. The team of Capt. David Noling, David McGonagill, Byron Burris, Casey Salbert, Jacob Dawson, Luis "Speedy" Larez, Alberto Sanchez and Jeremy Sanders released 13 blue marlin during six full days of competition, tallying 6,500 points, which earned them first-place honors in the overall series, as well as first place in Leg Two. They were awarded the cobalt crystal trophy cup, the cobalt crystal bowl for Leg Two, $63,700 in total prize money, and an invitation to the 2024 Costa Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica, among other prizes. "This was a great way to christen the boat," Noling says. "This is the first time we've fished a tournament officially…

Rebelette is the latest custom convertible to be launched by Beaufort, North Carolina’s Jarrett Bay Boatworks. At 64 feet and painted in a red, white and blue color scheme, she is the epitome of Americana. While the colors might say classic, or even old-fashioned, that is where the statement ends. Rest assured, she’s built with all the modern features and conveniences, including a first-class interior and all the tournament-ready accoutrements. But she’s also graced with expeditious speed, and this beauty is sure to have all the heads turning wherever she goes. I approached Hull No. 65 at the builder’s complex to review the fifth Jarrett Bay to be built by this family over a span of three generations. They are experienced with the building process and what features they desire,…