Innehållsförteckning för April/May 2019 från Marlin

Fisheries management, especially for pelagic species that roam the vast oceans of the world without regard for territorial and geopolitical boundaries, has always been a contentious issue, especially among those nations with skin in the game. And it’s not getting any better. During this year’s meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, better known simply as ICCAT, the chief U.S. negotiator as well as the recreational fishing representative had strong messages calling for the international reduction in Atlantic blue marlin landings — which are measured in tons, not pounds. Even the Europeans called for a 250-metric-ton reduction. Our representatives also called for action on bigeye tuna, a species which is reaching the precipice of being overfished. Unfortunately, no consensus was reached on either issue. The deeply…

At the 2018 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in Dubrovnik, Croatia, a consensus could not be reached by the contracting parties to address the management of the bigeye tuna stock. The scientific body of ICCAT conducted a bigeye tuna stock assessment in 2018 and concluded that the stock is overfished, and that overfishing is currently occurring. The ICCAT bigeye total allowable catch for major harvesting nations has been reduced from 85,000 metric tons in 2012 to 65,000 metric tons in 2015 with a proposed reduction of 55,000 metric tons that was not implemented. The TAC has been exceeded by approximately 20 percent since 2016. The United States is not considered a major harvesting nation of tuna, having a threshold of 1,550 metric tons that has never been…

A series of hydrometeorological and biological events must have occurred off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, during the 39th annual Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament in January, when a total of 969 sailfish were released in just four days — 712 of them on Day Two — breaking records by the handful. Capt. David Grubbs’s 73-fish tournament broke Capt. Scott Fawcett’s 2012 record of 57. Grubbs and the commercial kingfish fleet were credited for locating the biomass. This is the story of that incredible event. Capt. David Grubbs, Grand Slam First Place — 73 releases We had been to Fort Pierce a few days prior to the tournament to pre-fish, but it was slow. My boss had some guests in, so we took the boat back up to…

Perched on a narrow strip of rugged Pacific coast, snugged between the mountains and the sea, Quepos, Costa Rica, has always produced great fishing, not to mention generations of top-flight Costa Rican captains and mates. And with the world-class Marina Pez Vela fully online, Quepos is poised to take its rightful place among the world’s top destinations. I got the call from Brent Brauner, the global brand manager for Columbia Sportswear’s PFG line of performance fishing gear. He wanted to field-test some new warm-weather clothing and capture some blue marlin action on camera. The only catch was that the trip had to take place before the end of 2018. Over the next few weeks we narrowed down the choices, finally deciding on Costa Rica. With the seamounts producing the most…

You have just spent a lot of money on a new boat and it still has that new-penny shine, you’re a captain responsible for keeping the boat looking perfect or maybe your boat just got detailed. No matter the situation, you have a perfect surface and you need to protect it in order to keep it that way for as long as possible. When paint or gelcoat loses its luster, it’s time to hire a professional. BE A REALIST There are basically three options on the marine market to help you achieve that mirrorlike finish we all strive for: Traditional carnauba wax products; acrylic polymer sealants; or the newest buzz — ceramic coatings. It is important to remember that all of these products are designed to protect against UV rays,…

I recently fished a tournament in Quepos, Costa Rica, where The Hooker is now home-ported. A very good team beat us, and many other teams placed ahead of us as well. I knew from past experiences that tournament fishing can be a humbling experience, and this one was no different. Our charter wanted to know what we could have done better to improve our standings. They only fish with us once a year, so I guess that might be one of the problems, along with a few others. I explained to them that we all fish with four to six ballyhoo in our spread, using non-offset circle hooks attached to 50-pound-test fluorocarbon or monofilament leaders, with most boats fishing 25- to 30-pound-test line on their reels. That is the easy…

RELEASE! The 2018 black marlin season off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was one of the strongest in recent memory, with many extra-large blacks taken and scores more released to fight another day. Kelly Dalling Fallon captured the exact moment this black marlin gained its freedom after a brief but intense battle. LOCATION Fallon was fishing off the Middle Ribbons aboard the 56-foot O’Brien, Kekoa, with her husband, Capt. Luke Fallon. TECH SPECS CAMERA: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II LENS: EF100-400mm ISO: 200 APERTURE: f/4.5 SPEED: 1/2,000 sec…

The first Ladies Only Tournament was held at Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Playa Herradura, Costa Rica, with a total of 17 teams and 49 lady anglers to kick off the sixth annual Signature Triple Crown Series. In a one-day shootout, it seemed that the battle between D.A. Sea and Family and Friends would be fought to the end, because the two teams were tied in points and on time. But just a half-hour before lines out, the team of Laura Jessen and Michelle Keeney, fishing aboard Fish Tank, hooked the marlin that ultimately won them the tournament, finishing with eight sailfish and one marlin for a total of 1,300 points. D.A. Sea ended up placing second with a total of 1,100 points for their six sails and one…

RICK ALVAREZ INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENTS Based on the current rules and structure of a number of major billfish tournaments set up in such a way where anglers can win very large purses, it is highly unlikely that they would transition to an all-release format any time soon. The incentives to kill are just too high for organizers and their participants. Tournament success is based on huge participation, not only by large numbers of competing boats but also by attracting the general public to the weigh-ins. Making a show out of the events translates into some very nice sponsorships as well as revenue for the local area and more exposure to the fishery. RICK WEBER MIDATLANTIC TOURNAMENT It is unlikely the U.S. will see every one of its billfish tournaments switch…

Being a freelance captain and mate has given me the opportunity to learn numerous rigs and covert tactics in the last 12-plus years, including this one I mastered fishing on the 70-foot American Custom Yacht, Que Mas, with Capt. Robert Helms. When prepared and rigged properly, this bait has incredibly authentic action. It can be deployed to any position in the spread, but I think it runs best in the clean-water, flat-line position, especially if the marlin you are raising are focused on a teaser with a mackerel chase bait. Sometimes all they want is that mackerel, and this rig will give it to them. You will need 6 feet of 70-pound-test wax floss, a 2- to 3-ounce egg sinker — preferably elongated — scissors, and a closed-eye mortician’s needle.…

A bright-eyed child admiring a perfectly crafted new reel. Grandpa patiently teaching the kids knots. Learning to steer from Dad’s lap while his rugged hands guide the wheel. These are some of the special memories that can shape a youngster. History shows that if we splash enough salt and scales on our kids over the years, they’re likely to grow into avid fishermen. Stick with it long enough, and maybe they’ll even become world-class anglers, captains or mates. We recently caught up with three accomplished marlin fishing families — the Richardsons, the Huddles and the Ingrams — to see what makes them tick and how their fishing legacies have evolved. Even these most accomplished families started out humbly. “My dad, Jack Huddle, was from West Virginia and had never fished…

My dad went 17 years of owning his first sport-fisher without filing an insurance claim, but his luck changed on his next boat. Within the first four months, another vessel ran into his boat and soon after, a lightning strike ruined most of his electronics. He was fortunate to have solid insurance coverage. IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME Buying a boat is an exciting process and insurance oftentimes isn’t at the top of a buyer’s list. Unfortunately, you never know when an incident causing damage or personal injury can occur on the water. It could be an hour after you close on a new boat, 20 years later or hopefully never. Insurance on a new boat should always be bound prior to closing so that coverage is effective when ownership —…

Despite having released more than 35,000 billfish in his lengthy career — more than any other sport-fishing captain, past or present — Capt. Brad Philipps is just as excited about the next bite as any neophyte angler. He has received The Billfish Foundation’s Top Overall Release Captain award 16 times, with an equal number of Top Pacific Sailfish Captain honors. His best days include: 91 sailfish releases on conventional tackle; 73 releases for an individual angler; 51 releases for a single angler on fly; and 3,671 billfish releases in one season. He operates Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures with his wife Cindy, kids Darren and Lyndsey and a Staffordshire bull terrier named Rigby at his side. Philipps is just as comfortable at the helm of his 40-foot Gamefisherman, Decisive, in the vast…

On his first day fishing aboard Hot Shot in October, 2018, veteran charter captain Craig “Sparra” Denham and Capt. Robert “Fly” Navarro were trolling out of the pass between No. 9 and No. 10 Ribbon Reefs. Out of nowhere, Denham looked at Navarro and said, “Mate, this place is just like being in Jurassic Park: There are some true sea monsters out here and they can show up at any time.” Navarro had no clue how true those words would be. This is his recap of the season. My first week on the Great Barrier Reef coincided with the 32nd annual Iron Jack Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic, with 13 boats participating in the historic six-day event. The tournament teams were able to tag and release 94 black marlin; nine…

Just a short decade ago, only a small cadre of anglers knew the secrets to consistently catching broadbill swordfish after sunrise. Sure, occasional sunning fish were caught on the surface, and the seeds of daytime swordfish deep-drops were sewn off Venezuela in the 1990s, but it wasn’t until 2009, when Capt. R.J. Boyle brought me offshore for Marlin’s first article on daytime swordfishing that this technique began to take hold. “My first catches were almost accidental,” he says about his earliest days dropping baits down 1,700 feet in 4 knots of current off Hillsboro Inlet, Florida. “I didn’t even know what a swordfish bite looked like. At first, I thought something was pecking at my bait. Then I jumped a few off, so I knew they were swords.” After many…

Love them or not, tuna towers offer a terrific view. Ancient mariners stationed a crewman with sharp eyes at the highest point on the ship’s mast — the crow’s nest — to spot land masses and approaching vessels long before anyone else. The modern version means unobstructed vision in any direction, but especially into the deep. From aloft, it’s a frigate bird’s-eye view of the spread, and an early warning of any marauding billfish suddenly appearing behind a bait or lure. Just don’t get too excited up there — it’s a long way down.…

For 60 years, the Hatteras brand has been wowing the boating public. I attended the unveiling of this beast at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2018, and by the turnout, you could tell there was no shortage of people — fishing people — who continue to love all things Hatteras. The crowd anticipated the introduction of the new-and-improved Hatteras GT59. The collective gasps only reiterated the brand’s placement: Hatteras is here to stay. If you’re looking for a fresh, out-of-the-box tournament competitor, this is it. While your choices of layout vary, everything about the new GT59 has your competitive interests at heart. And for a production boatbuilding company that has no doubt been an assembly-line model for many other builders, Hatteras must be doing something right. Boasting…