Marlin October 2019

• As part of the generation that grew up without cellphones or the internet, I’m always bemused by the myriad technical advances that seem to spring up in our society like weeds after a summer rain. We’ve progressed from the days where if you had a phone in your car, you were either a corporate CEO or James Bond, to a time where just about everyone on the planet has a cellphone, harnessing way more computing power in the palms of our hands than we used to put a man on the moon. And fishing is certainly no different. Technology is akin to a never-ending arms race: Something new comes along and suddenly, everyone has to have it. Here’s an example: Although it’s been out for some time now, the…

A PIONEERING LEGEND CROSSES THE BAR Omie Tillett, fishing and boatbuilding patriarch of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, crossed the bar for the last time July 5 at the age of 90. He was a huge influence to me personally and to all who fish and build boats for a living. Omie, his father Sam, and brother Tony pioneered the offshore charter-fishing industry as it began here in Dare County. His boatbuilding skills were legendary and he was a mentor to all of us. Above all else, he was deeply passionate about Jesus, and he made it his mission decades ago to walk in His path and spread the good word. His daily morning prayers on the VHF would bring tears to your eyes. Omie spoke at nearly every boat christening…

BLUE REVIVAL It’s no secret Cape Verde is home to excellent marlin fishing. Fabrizio Macchia released this extra-large blue, estimated to be more than 800 pounds, while fishing with Capt. Steven John Webb. Here, Mandy Monteiro and Sarney Bernardo Costa Neves revive the fish before its release from La Onda Emma, as photographer Hannes Ribbner shoots the action from another boat. LOCATION The blue marlin was caught off the island of Santo Antão in Cape Verde.…

Players KATIE GONSOULIN • Jon Gonsoulin, Capt. Jason Buck and the Done Deal team, fishing aboard Gonsoulin’s Houma, Louisiana-based 70-foot Viking, have been consistent front-runners in the Gulf of Mexico tournament circuit for years. But once Jon’s daughter—22-year-old Katie—joined the team as their dedicated angler in 2017, they reached even higher levels of achievement. With Katie in the chair, the team has won numerous events, including an unprecedented third Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship. Along the way, they’ve caught near-record-size fish and pocketed millions in prize money. We sat down with the personable young woman to learn more about what it takes to join a world-class team.…

How did you get started on the high-stakes billfish tournament circuit? I was with my mom when Done Deal won the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic several years ago. I loved the whole atmosphere and thought, ‘I really want to do that.’ I caught my first billfish when I was about 15 and once I finished high school, my dad let me start competing in tournaments with him. That was in the summer of 2017. What is your most memorable catch? It’s kind of a tie. The 502-pound bluefin tuna we caught a couple of years ago stands out. It was crazy and my dad was so excited. He hadn’t seen one in years, so he was just over the moon. I didn’t realize how special it was until he…

[a] WEST MARINE COASTAL 200 7X50 KEY FEATURE: Waterproof The Coastal 200 series from West Marine is an excellent value, with a lightweight polycarbonate housing filled with dry nitrogen to prevent fogging; light transmission efficiency is 85 percent. MSRP: $199. [b] FRASER OPTICS S250 KEY FEATURE: Full gyro-stabilization An excellent choice for serious offshore work, these binoculars have magnesium fluoride-coated optics and up to 98 percent image motion reduction. Another plus: They are submersible, waterproof and buoyant. The S250 is made in the U.S. with a limited lifetime warranty. MSRP: $3,995. [c] NIKON MONARCH HG 8X42 KEY FEATURE: Extremely durable magnesium-alloy body Best described as the all-terrain vehicle of binoculars, the Monarch HG’s optical system is designed around Nikon’s extra-low dispersion glass and multi-layer lens and prism coatings for brighter,…