Indholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2025 i Marlin

You’ve probably noticed by now that I take particular pleasure in shining light on those who are often overlooked in our industry—the ones whose names don’t end up on oversize checks or the leaderboards, but without whom none of this would happen. In this particular case, I’m talking about the tournament directors and their tireless crews. Every year, millions of people experience the joy and thrill of tournament fishing around the world. Whether it’s a small, local fishing-club event or a multimillion-dollar spectacle with hundreds of boats, there’s just something special about fishing a tournament. And more often than not, they are executed seamlessly. As anglers, we simply show up, slap down the credit card, eat and drink our fill, laugh, compete, maybe win some money, and walk away with…

The 2025 Blue Marlin World Cup is officially Tahiti’s cup, and I couldn’t be prouder. Aboard Ultimate Lady, the 90-foot Kiwi-built sport-fisher, we finally captured a win that was 15 years in the making. Our angler and longtime friend, 84-year-old Fred Lewis, boated a 689-pound blue marlin that not only gave us a life-defining victory, but also marked the first-ever Blue Marlin World Cup win for Tahiti and French Polynesia. Fred and his wife, Darryle, have spent the last 27 years exploring the South Pacific aboard Ultimate Lady, chasing fish and collecting memories. Every July 4, we gather the same core crew—Fred, Darryle, local Tahitian fishermen Daniel Siu and Vidal Loux, and me—to review bait concentrations and current conditions across Tahiti’s vast waters. At 5.5 million square kilometers, this marine…

IN THE WORLD OF BLUE MARLIN FISHING, it’s not often that you can say you’re venturing into virtually unexplored waters known to hold giant fish. But in 1998, that was exactly what Dr. Guy Harvey and I set out to do when we traveled to Mindelo on Sao Vicente Island in Cape Verde, Africa. We were joining the renowned mothership crew of Madam and Hooker: Capt. Trevor Cockle and mates-turned-captains Randy Baker and Ronnie Fields. Our goal wasn’t just to catch blue marlin—it was to film them underwater and better understand how these billfish use their bills to feed. At the time, there were many theories on this. Today, thanks in part to expeditions like ours, there are far fewer. There are, however, many questions remaining as to why Cape Verde…

With absolutely zero arm twisting required, I returned to Bermuda this July for the first leg of the three-part series—the Bermuda Billfish Blast. Not long into the taxi ride from the airport to the Hamilton Princess Resort & Marina, my impeccably dressed driver in pink shorts and high socks asked me politely, “Are you here for the tournament, sir?” Why yes, sir, I was. And I wasn’t alone. The who’s who of the big-game tournament scene had moved in for the month of July, and Bermuda was abuzz with marlin fever. Across the three legs and nine days of fishing between the Blast, the Big Game Classic and the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament, the 54-boat fleet released a total of 245 blue marlin and 58 white marlin, along…

Boat owners and crew don’t think about the bottom of the boat often. They can’t see it most of the time and typically only get a look during the purchase survey or while in the yard. However, the water flowing over the bottom of the boat and around the running gear, as well as the flow direction, can have a significant impact on ride quality, efficiency and performance. People who aren’t familiar with hydro-dynamics often think water goes straight backward when flowing under the boat. Instead, the water coming off the keel moves outward toward the sides of the boat at some angle, depending on the deadrise. This flow direction, along with the drag from the running gear, affects efficiency and creates pressure, suction, and air voids or cavitation around…

The Bayliss 75 Big Deal was built with a bold mission: Deliver the range, performance and comfort needed to fish anywhere in the world. Commissioned by a seasoned custom-boat owner, this 75-foot sport-fisher blends rugged utility with luxury-grade craftsmanship. From long-range adventures to leaderboard showings, Big Deal was designed to do it all—and look good doing it. COCKPIT AND BRIDGE The cockpit is tournament-tough and crew-friendly. A Release 11-rod rocket launcher sits forward of a transom fish box, while twin deck hatches lead to the lazarette and heated gear compartments. Utility access is hidden beneath the gunwales, with L-shaped doors housing plugs, hose connections and tuna-tube pressurization. The mezza-nine combines storage and comfort, with chilled drink boxes, tackle drawers, an ice dump and AC vents. A portside ladder leads to…

BOMBOY LLANES From chasing giants to mentoring the next generation, Capt. Bomboy Llanes embodies the spirit of Kona’s legendary big-game culture. A fourth-generation Kona fisherman, Bomboy is about as authentic as they come. A renowned captain, lure-maker, taxidermist, and lifelong hunter and angler, Bomboy is both a fixture in the Kona billfish scene and an industry player—known as much for his contagious personality as he is for his two grander blue marlin. I had the opportunity to fish aboard Terminator with Bomboy during the Kona Kick-Off, where we talked about his proud Hawaiian roots, his mentors, the pursuit of giant marlin, and what comes next. What’s your earliest memory of fishing? I’ve been on boats since before I could walk. My dad and grandfather were both commercial and recreational fishermen,…

The Kona Gyre is a colloquial misnomer for one of the largest eddy systems in the world, created in the lee of the Big Island of Hawaii. Gyres are enormous systems of rotating ocean currents found in fixed positions around the globe. Eddies are much smaller, feature upwellings, can be wind-driven and wandering. The Big Island leeward eddy system is so big, some folks think of it as a gyre, but—not to split hairs—it’s an eddy system. When the enormous North Equatorial Current collides with the Big Island at Cape Kumakahi, it splits into two forks. One fork of the stream squeezes through the Alenuihaha Channel separating Hawaii and Maui islands. The other fork wraps around South Point. To the west, in the lee of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa…

I came to Costa Rica’s southernmost Pacific coast in search of something that I wasn’t sure still existed—a destination that hopefully time had forgotten. As a lifelong angler from Bozeman, Montana, and a fly-fisherman for close to 60 years, my fishing experience for the first half of my life was for mostly freshwater river species in the most remote locations within North America, South America, Canada, New Zealand and more. Once I turned 40, I felt that I needed a new challenge and shifted my focus to target much larger adversaries that inhabited salt water. For years, I pursued tarpon, redfish, snook and bonefish throughout Florida and the Bahamas. I also chased marlin, sailfish and dorado in the popular hotspots of Key West, Hawaii, Cabo and Quepos. Having just turned…

The mystique of just 10 species of fish is responsible for the development of global sport-fishing industries, commercial and artisanal fishing fleets, and cultural and literary works that represent our shared fascination with the ocean. These 10 species comprise two taxonomic families: Istiophoridae (marlin, sailfish and spearfish) and Xiphiidae (swordfish). Together they represent some of the most iconic fish found throughout our oceans. Despite advancements in research and technology, relatively little is known about them. This lack of data amplifies conflicting narratives where tournament release numbers suggest billfish are thriving, while stock assessments reveal a more precarious picture. In what follows, we examine the conservation status of the world’s billfish species and highlight key elements of their biology and management needs. We’ll use scientific terms such as “overfished” and “subject…

Its aura grows larger with each passing season. The coastal extravaganza known as the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, North Carolina, featured 272 teams competing for $6.3 million in prize money in early June. Despite bad conditions to start the week, a record 420 billfish were released, including 238 blues, during the 67th annual edition. Only two qualifying marlin were weighed. On the final day, in the final hours, Big Trouble brought a 517.1-pounder to the scales to claim the top prize of $2,285,125 as the only qualifying blue in the coveted Fabulous Fisherman Division. Capt. Chris Daniels runs the 64-foot Precision. “Our angler, Brandon Creech, came on board for the 2025 season, but he’s been fishing tournaments forever,” Daniels explains. “We were straight out on the…

I’ll be the first to admit that the tariff issue has been confusing. One day, there’s a 20 percent tariff on a particular country. A few days later, it’s up to 100 percent. Add to that a long list of caveats, and you’re left wondering: What exactly is being taxed, and how much? Conceptually, we all understand the goal. Tariffs are meant to bring back jobs, manufacturing and revenue to the U.S. I’m not here to debate whether that’s a good or bad idea. I’m here to explain how tariffs have affected the sport-fishing industry. I reached out to people who manufacture rods, reels, hooks, fishing line and engines to get their take. The feedback was consistent. Take Pete Lindgren of Lindgren-Pitman, for example. Most of his reel components come…

Q: HOW DO YOU STAY HEALTHY WHEN A TRAVEL PROGRAM? CAPT. JOE WEST FREELANCE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA First off, it’s extremely hard to stay healthy when traveling, since you have long hours and 90 percent of the people are on vacation. I focus on being healthy when at home by eating a lot of protein and working out nearly every day. On trips, I try to eat as clean as I can, whether cooking or going out to dinner. I got into weight-lifting about four or five years ago at home and realized I needed another routine when I didn’t have access to a gym. No matter where you are in the world, you can always put on a pair of tennis shoes and go running for a couple of…

When fishing in a location like Palm Beach, Florida, getting bait is as easy as heading to one of the many tackle shops or ship’s stores. For traveling operations, however, that isn’t always the case. Pulling a quality spread of fresh baits means bringing what you need or making arrangements to buy or catch it once you get where you’re going. There are a range of variables at play—logistics, capacity and method of travel. The style of fishing also plays a large role in how much bait you need and how you provision for travel. Here’s some perspective from three who know this game well. JOE BYRUM, SEA WEEZ (MATE) With Capt. Ross Finlayson at the helm, Sea Weez is a veritable globe-trotting sport-fishing operation. The boat is currently in…

The terms legend and GOAT get tossed around so often these days that they’ve lost some of their meaning. But if anyone in our world truly deserves such titles, it’s Tim Choate. Quite simply, Choate is one of the most influential figures in billfishing over the past 50 years—and likely the one who’s had the most fun along the way. From pioneering world-class fisheries in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil and the Galapagos to reshaping how we think about conservation and the global role of recreational fishing, Choate has left an indelible mark on the sport. He’s a larger-than-life character—part entrepreneur, part advocate, part showman—and he’s changed the game at every level. Whether it was launching remote lodges or helping to steer major legislation through Washington, Choate has always been two…

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST BILLFISH CLASSIC Biloxi, Mississippi; June 2–9 TOP RELEASE TEAMS FIRST-PLACE TEAM: Fleur De Lis, Capt. Zach Taylor, 63’ Hatteras, 3,500 points SECOND-PLACE TEAM: Born2Run, Capt. Tyler Maxwell, 54’ Viking, 2,800 points THIRD-PLACE TEAM: It Just Takes Time, Capt. Myles Colley, 72’ Viking, 2,100 points BIGGEST MARLIN FIRST-PLACE TEAM: Breathe Easy, Capt. Patrick Ivey, 65’ Viking, 660.3 pounds SECOND-PLACE TEAM: Mollie, Capt. Jeff Shoults, 66’ G&S, 602.1 pounds THIRD-PLACE TEAM: Black Smith, Capt. Jason Bell, 60’ Hatteras, 500.3 pounds HEAVIEST GAMEFISH TUNA: 188.5 pounds, Mollie TOURNAMENT INFORMATION TOTAL PARTICIPATION: 87 boats CATCH INFORMATION: 64 blue marlin, 11 white marlin, 1 sailfish TOTAL PAYOUT: $1.78 million HATTERAS MARLIN CLUB BLUE MARLIN RELEASE INVITATIONAL Hatteras, North Carolina; June 24–29 TOP RELEASE TEAMS FIRST-PLACE TEAM: Cheryl Ann, Capt. Rob Austin, 65' Rybovich, 1,820 points SECOND-PLACE TEAM: Bill of Fare,…

From Cape Verde to Kona, the Bad Company fleet roams the planet in pursuit of world-class marlin. Supported by motherships, the game boats in this renowned program visit the most remote blue waters on Earth. Needing a boat that could handle longer runs, owner Anthony Hsieh envisioned a bigger, faster platform with more range—without losing performance. Working with Croswait Composites, the concept grew from 48 to 50 feet, thanks to advances in hull efficiency, weight distribution, and the use of carbon fiber above the hull. Meeting strict mothership limits and Hsieh’s specific criteria, they delivered a sleek, versatile express built to perform anywhere. COCKPIT AND BRIDGE Her cockpit offers a clean, versatile platform for various fishing techniques, with a transom livewell/fish box that can be iced or run as a…

I was sitting in Crooked Island in the Bahamas, fishing for wahoo with my longtime friend Rob Desmond, a seasoned Viking owner with boats from 42 to 72 feet. Over a few bourbons, the conversation shifted. With two young kids and a desire to slow down from the tournament grind, Rob was ready for a different kind of boat. The answer was the Valhalla 55. He started a build shortly after that trip and took delivery in late 2024. Since then, we’ve fished a few tournaments and taken countless trips aboard, and I can say this boat checks every box. Powered by quad Mercury V-12 600s, the Valhalla 55 leaps onto plane with ease, even when fully loaded. We cruised the Florida Keys at speed, despite the boat’s nearly 60,000-pound…