Innehållsförteckning för April - May 2015 från Marlin

News of a recent scientific discovery came across my desk a few weeks back. Tim Simpson, editor and general manager of the Australian magazine Blue Water Boats and Sports fishing and a fellow Billfish Foundation board member, forwarded news of an interesting development in his part of the world. Samuel Williams, a research student from the University of Queensland, began collecting fin-clip samples from black marlin tagged and released by anglers in addition to those found in fish markets where recreational fishing did not occur. He worked closely with the Australian sport-fishing community and received funding from the Queensland Game Fishing Association and the Game Fishing Association of Australia’s Research & Development Foundation. Williams sought to determine if genetic differences existed between blacks caught off the east and west coasts…

The Miami International Boat Show will relocate beginning in 2016 to the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The 6,566-seat Marine Stadium once hosted events such as powerboat racing and concerts, but it became largely unused after Hurricane Andrew made landfall in September 1992. During a city commission meeting in early 2015, the city of Miami pledged $16 million to pay for improvements to the 15-acre area outside the waterfront stadium, primarily for the boat show but also for other events. No formal agreement exists between the NMMA, which owns and operates the boat show, and the city of Miami, but the Marine Stadium will host the show at least through 2017. The city has the opportunity to restructure the initial contract…

Q I’m reaching out to you for advice on stand-up trolling rods. I looked at all the popular brands, and the prices keep pushing me away. To spend $800 for a stick is just crazy to me, but it seems I have no choice. I fish in the Gulf of Mexico out of Port Aransas, Texas, and I fish a majority of the offshore tournaments down here. I usually pull dead ballyhoo and sometimes lures to target mainly sails, whites and blues. For baitfishing, I use Shimano TLD 50s rigged with 800 yards of 50-pound Dacron backing, and I use 200 yards of 50-pound monofilament top shot. I keep the drags set at 8 pounds on strike, and I use wind-on leaders and circle hooks 100 percent of the time.…

Most visitors will fly into the Nicaraguan capital city of Managua from U.S. and European destinations. The Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (ACS) serves most destinations within the country. From there, options include taxis, car rentals or hiring a private car with driver. For the most part, the roads in Nicaragua are very good, well above the usual Central American standards. San Juan del Sur is also accessible by road from northern Costa Rica. Puesta del Sol has several boats available for charters, both inshore and offshore, but be sure to book early as the selection of boats is limited. The marina also serves as a port of entry for visiting vessels. They will summon the appropriate customs and immigration officials to meet boats entering Nicaragua, but be sure to…

This past February, on my annual pilgrimage from Orlando, Florida, to Miami to attend the Miami International Boat Show, I managed to squeeze in a little treat for myself. Dan Jacobs, my colleague here at work, had to attend a meeting at the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum with chief operating officer Mike Myatt, and since Jacobs was riding down with me, I got to spend some time wandering around the facility. As an Air Force brat growing up in Germany, I probably visited every museum and church on the continent of Europe. I spent an enormous amount of weekends and holidays heading off with my parents to see a particular chapel or visit a museum or castle filled with dungeons and torture tools. I…

When underwater lights appeared on the sport-fishing market, they were large and had to be installed from the outside in, which required haul outs to install and maintain them, even to change a bulb. They typically had a short life and burned hot, needing water to cool them. These early editions created a lot of additional expense and headaches because they were not inexpensive, leading many folks — including myself — to view them as a gimmick and not an essential piece of gear. Most fishermen liked the idea of using the lights as fish attractors, but the biggest selling point became dock appeal. Folks like a lit-up boat at the dock. Today, that not-so-user-friendly scenario has completely changed: Companies overcame the heat issues by using LED lights, and servicing…

Not all the sights to see lie offshore. Nicaragua is known as the land of lakes and volcanoes, both of which are popular destinations. Lake Nicaragua, the largest body of fresh water in Central America, is home to several species of fish found nowhere else in the world. The historic city of Granada is nearby and is another great side trip for visitors to the country. Surfing is also popular in Nicaragua thanks to a remarkably consistent swell combined with some great beach and rivermouth breaks along the coast. American expat Lance Moss runs Surfari Charters (surfaricharters.com) where guests can fish, surf and sightsee all in one trip; if nothing else, his outgoing personality is guaranteed to be entertaining. The Flor de Caña International Billfish Tournament is scheduled for Aug.…

Amilan-T II IGFA Pre-Test Game Line is the choice of top charter crews the world over for one simple reason: The Amilan-T II “S” formula features line characteristics that tournament fishermen look for, including excellent abrasion resistance, high knot strength and limited stretch for hook-setting power. Proven and tested on big fish the world over, Amilan-T II holds many world records and is pretested to meet IGFA requirements. Visit meltontackle.com to get a spool.…

Few places are magical enough to endure any type of logistics and costs to visit. They must be remote but still within reach of commercial airports, and the fishing has to be world class. Boats, captains, crew and equipment must be the best available, and shots at game fish are plentiful. When traveling, I want to stay in comfort, eat the seafood I catch and have an overall experience I consider to be worthy enough to share my experiences. Bom Bom is just that. Bert Bouchard, an IGFA-certified captain, owns not one, but two of the best built G&S game boats ever to tag a marlin. Bouchard commissioned G&S to completely rebuild his 41-foot Deceiver and 43-foot Hebe G&S sport-fishermen from the tower to the keel before being shipped overseas.…

Arecent email asked, “What kind of connection device should I use between my line and my leader?” I often answer “none at all.” In many kinds of fishing, especially when releasing lively fish, it is advantageous to have a leader that is of lower breaking strain than the line. Leaving a circle hook in a fish’s jaw with only a very short length of leader connected to the hook is far less likely to do major damage to the fish. Handling the fish — especially dragging it on board for photos — greatly increases the probability of a mortal wound, and, after all, we were trying to release a healthy fish with a good chance of long-term survival. This can be easily attained with monofilament leaders of slightly different breaking…

MORE FROM DUTCH THANKS FOR INCLUDING the article on the Rybovich Lifetime Conservation Awards by The Billfish Foundation in your February issue [Blue Water Currents]. Unfortunately, my eyesight prevented my attendance to receive this prestigious award. My talk can be viewed on the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club’s website at nobgfc.com. I remember the Rybovich sport-fisherman the year I fished the Bimini Tuna Tournament — Elwood K. Harry was top angler, many years ago. Memories — Yes, at age 90, that is what we have. So many anglers are no longer here. Good health and happiness to all. Herman “Dutch” Prager, Mandeville, Louisiana PUERTO RICO BOUND I am going to Puerto Rico this April for a family reunion, and I would like to charter a boat or two for…

IN FALL 2012, Superstorm Sandy swept up the entire East Coast with gale winds, flood tides and monstrous seas, and the predictions of a devastating landing in New Jersey came true. Once the storm made its left turn into the barrier islands of uninhabited Little Beach and Holgate on the south end of Long Beach Island, its northern quadrant packed a crushing blow to the lower two-thirds of LBI. It was especially brutal to Holgate and my hometown of Beach Haven. Along with all the destruction to homes, marinas and boats, one of the oldest fishing clubs on the coast suffered a total loss to its facility, which was built in 1962. A group of fishermen who had long fished the area founded the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club…

Jan. 21-24, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica The first leg of the 2015 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown billfish series, held Jan. 21-24, set yet another record when hot fishing combined with the 157 individual anglers and a fleet of 39 boats. After the dust settled following the three days of fishing, the fleet released a total of 2,154 billfish, including 24 marlin and 2,130 sailfish. Missing the mark by 16 releases to surpass the bar set during the inaugural event last year, this year’s event forged a ratio of 55 releases per boat during the tournament. Tuna Bite called in the first sailfish release of the tournament at 8:04 a.m. on the first day. Immediately after, Team Galati radioed in the release of a marlin at 8:05 a.m. By 8:30…

BY AIR TAP Airlines provides flights from Portugal to São Tomé. flytap.com STP Airways offers flights from Portugal to São Tomé and São Tomé to Principe Island. www.stpairways.st Angolan Airlines supplies flights from Luanda to São Tomé. taag.com Charter flights are also available from São Tomé to Principe. PLACES TO STAY Roça Belo Monte Plantation Hotel belomontehotel.com Bom Bom Island Resort bombomprincipe.com NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO In order to travel to São Tome, you must first apply for a travel visa. If you reside in a country that has a São Tome Consulate, you can apply in person for a visitor’s visa. Alternatively, you can apply online at www.smf.st/virtualvisa, and the site has a seven-day response time. However, I advise that you apply well in advance of that…