Marlin October 2024

As a kid, I dreaded the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I had no clue. There was no family business to inherit, and the thought of becoming a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer or some other standard career professional had no appeal. That all changed for me as a teenager when I stepped onboard Ticket in Port Canaveral, Florida, at 4 o’clock one summer morning. I loved being outside and grew up fishing lakes, rivers and the occasional golf course pond. I used to watch Big Game Fishing the World with Capt. Norm Isaacs on TV, but that was the closest I had been to a real fishing trip. My friend’s dad had arranged a charter for his business clients, and I was a…

FISHING HEAVEN WITH BUBBA IN VENEZUELA What a coincidence that your “Players” column in the August/September issue was about Bubba Carter, who was also highlighted in your feature “Viva Venezuela.” I’ve known Bubba for quite some time, and there are very few captains I would rather fish with. His knowledge is unmatched, and his demeanor is second to none. I have been lucky enough to fish with him in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico; and Los Sueños, Costa Rica. Both trips were outstanding! However, probably the greatest fishing trip I have ever been on was with Bubba in Venezuela. We were there with my son, who was looking to finish his first IGFA billfish Royal Slam at the age of 10, making him the youngest person to ever accomplish it. Capt. Gene…

SNEAK ATTACK Photographer Kevin Dodge snuck up on this distracted sailfish while kite-fishing with Capt. Christian Sanchez of Miami Fishing Charters. “I saw a sailfish waving its bill in the air, swiping at a bait, and I knew that was my chance to get close without him seeing me. The fish popped his head back in the water once I was close to him. He was clearly surprised to see me, immediately lifting his sail and lighting up neon. Then he was gone in a flash.” LOCATION Key Biscayne, Florida TECH SPECS CAMERA: Nikon D4  LENS: 28mm 1:2.8 D ISO: 400 APERTURE: f/8 SPEED: 1/320 sec…

You may not know Dennis Friel personally, but if you’ve participated in a prominent fishing tournament over the past two decades, there’s a good chance you have a shirt donning his artwork. Since his teens, the proud South Florida native has masterfully captured the energy of sport fishing and the complex beauty of marine environments in a unique style that has been celebrated around the world. Driven by a love of the water and a desire “to do more than just paint,” Friel launched his “Connected by Water” podcast in 2019, a move that catapulted him from a marine artist to an industry influencer. He’s now using his global reach to raise awareness about issues threatening the marine environment and the way of life that he represents. Which came first,…

GAME TIME WINS BIG ROCK WITH DAY ONE BLUE MARLIN  Record-breaking event sees the top three teams each earning over $1.8 million The 66th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament made sport-fishing history with an unprecedented total purse of $7,562,700, attracting a record fleet of 302 boats. For the first time, the top three teams each took home more than $1.8 million. Capt. Ben Brownlee and the brand-new Scarborough 75 Game Time emerged as the overall winner with a 516-pound blue marlin caught on Day One, maintaining the lead throughout the week. The team had to sweat out an excruciating wait in this event, where boats fish four of six days. When the wait was finally over, and the last fish was weighed, the Game Time crew erupted to celebrate…

Q: TEXT, CALL, VHF, SPOT, STARLINK—WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO FOR COMMUNICATIONS ON THE WATER? CAPT. MICHAEL MATTSON  MY THREE SONS QUEPOS, COSTA RICA Starlink has changed the game for communication. Now, boats can access everyday communication channels without breaking the bank. With Starlink, boats can receive live updates on weather and ocean conditions, send quick texts or calls to other boats for reports and comparisons, and contact marine specialists to diagnose and resolve vessel issues—all while on the water. Most importantly, Starlink adds another layer of safety with its communication capabilities. Just remember to install your Starlink system with a UPS backup power supply so you’re covered if the AC power goes out. There is a downside of not being able to fully disconnect from the real world, but that’s what…