Innehållsförteckning för November/December 2022 från Marlin

There have been two memorable successes in pelagic fisheries management in recent memory. The first is the recovery of swordfish stocks in the Florida Straits, the Gulf of Mexico and northward along the East Coast. Longline closures and some sound management decisions led the way there. The second has been the resurgence of yellowfin tuna along Central America’s Pacific coast, most notably in Costa Rica. After three years of political wrangling, a recently passed tuna reform law in that country will help continue efforts to rebuild a fishery that was nearly wiped out. There are two parts to the law that are of specific interest to the recreational sector. The first is pushing the tuna purse seiners farther offshore. Previous laws allowed them to fish within just 12 miles of…

• As a self-described boatbuilding groupie who came to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to work for Buddy Davis in 1991, Heather Maxwell has become as much of a fixture on the local fishing scene as the famous breakfast biscuits she serves each morning during the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament. Maxwell built—and then later rebuilt—the tournament into one of the most popular in the industry. She also became a voice for the rich tradition of fishing and boatbuilding in the region. While she now spends most of her time on her small farm outside Rocky Mount, North Carolina, riding and competing with her horses, there’s no doubt that the juniper and salt still runs deep in her veins. How did you end up on the Outer Banks? I grew up in…

• For the second year in a row, the last white marlin weighed during the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland, has netted a winning team a world-record purse. In 2021, Sushi had the last white marlin on the board and pocketed a cool $3.2 million. That record lasted for approximately 10 months, until Mercenaria landed a 572.6-pound blue marlin during North Carolina’s Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, earning $3,489,813. In the days leading up to this year’s White Marlin Open, the fishing had taken a definite turn for the worse; the actual fishing days produced just 155 whites for the fleet of 400-plus boats. On the fourth day, Cabana weighed a 511-pound blue, the first and only qualifier in that division, to win just over $1.2 million. All…

• To complete my Masters of Professional Science degree at the University of Miami, I participated in the IGFA Conservation Internship Program under the direction of Dr. Bruce Pohlot. The program had me focus on the scientific analysis of sail-fish size and distribution. The analysis used available size data from regional fishery-management organizations and nongovernmental organizations to compare size frequencies and asymptotic length of sailfish around the globe. By noting the size contrasts between individuals in the Atlantic and the Pacific, as well as comparing them with other ocean basins to determine what environmental and oceanographic factors could lead to differences in sailfish size, the analyzed data of more than 104,000 individual sailfish indeed showed a significant size difference. The data also provided some great insight into the relationship large…

Unless you’ve dabbled in crime, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about fingerprints. When you see those signature rings on a lens, screen, or section of varnished teak, you’ll likely wipe them away without a second thought. On the other hand, some fingerprints—those that aren’t so literal—cannot be removed with just a swipe of a rag. They last forever. Even though you can’t see them, boatbuilders’ fingerprints are etched into every inch of the hull, right alongside the blood, sweat and even the tears of those very same craftsmen. Hundreds of hands are responsible for building a sport-fishing boat from conception to realization. If you do the math, you can easily expect around a thousand years’ worth of experience, talent and artistry behind every new boat. For successful boatbuilding…

Visitors will fly into Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport located just outside the capital of Funchal, a city of just over 100,000 people, situated on the island’s southeastern coast. Most of the fishing activity centers on Calheta, about 45 minutes by taxi from the airport. The charming town has about 12,000 year-round residents; agriculture and commercial fishing are the primary sources of income, with the production and cultivation of banana, wine, flowers, and sugar cane as the main exports. Crime is virtually nonexistent. Be sure to exchange dollars for euros for the taxis and any other purchases prior to your arrival in Funchal; don’t forget a type-C power adapter for European-style outlets as well. ¶ The most convenient hotel is the Savoy Saccharum Resort and Spa, which is a comfortable 10-minute…

• While boating and fishing are often seen as a way to escape the connectivity of everyday life, sometimes we also want to enjoy our everyday favorites on the boat just as we would at home, such as video streaming, internet browsing, social media, answering email, and more. When it comes to internet offshore, to put it simply, nothing is the same as we are used to on land. There are no wired options because, in most cases, we just can’t stretch a long Ethernet cable and plug it into a router on the boat. With that in mind, here’s a look at the best wireless-internet options. Wi-Fi: This links you to the closest Wi-Fi hotspot for your internet. These are the least expensive—most of the time they are free.…

• We frequently draft and review construction agreements at our firm. As expected, the most commonly negotiated terms are the purchase price and delivery date, which are important components of any type of contract. Buyers often push for a firm delivery date, but the factors surrounding the timing of delivery are not always in the builder’s control, especially the past couple of years. We counsel all of our clients, including the builders, not to rush the last stages of a build project, even if it means delaying the delivery date by a few more weeks. FINAL TOUCHES The parties to a new-construction agreement, especially the buyer, tend to become impatient as the end of construction nears. However, the buyer should allow the builder to thoroughly check all systems, perform trials,…

COSTA RICA SAILFISH AND BLUE MARLIN As the rainy season gives way to drier weather, expect good fishing for blue marlin, with ever-increasing numbers of sailfish moving into the region. SOUTH FLORIDA AND FLORIDA KEYS SAILFISH Suspend live baits from kites or pitch ballyhoo to sails in the shallows as they shower inside the reef, in what can be a fast and furious fishery. PANAMA BLACK MARLIN Slow-trolled live baits will produce some spectacular bites from black marlin, and big yellowfin tuna are always a bonus. SEYCHELLES GRAND SLAM It’s a mixed bag of blue and black marlin on the reefs and drop-offs outside the main island of Mahé, with sailfish found in tight. PAPUA NEW GUINEA GRAND SLAM Troll artificial lures and big natural baits for blue and black…

• Capt. Charles Foreman used his years of local knowledge as a charter captain to rally his Country Girl team to the lead in the final minutes of the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament this year. A single sailfish release was enough to put them on top of the leaderboard, claiming the largest payout among the 274 anglers on 86 boats that were competing for more than $1 million in prize money this year. With two blue marlin and four sailfish, the team on the 57-foot Buddy Cannady earned $370,438 as the top boat and daily winner for Day Four. “It was just an awesome day, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said first-time blue marlin angler Wayne Camden before the awards ceremony. “My dad fished with me all my life, and he’s not…

PAT HEALEY PRESIDENT AND CEO VIKING YACHT COMPANY Our philosophy comes from my father, Bill Healey, and that is: “The customer is always right.” So naturally, we would never think about firing a customer—it’s not in our company’s DNA. Sometimes we must advise customers when they come to us with an idea that might not be feasible, but it’s also our obligation as a builder to make certain that the owner receives the boat he expects. For this to happen, we all must be on the same page, and communication is critical. We have been, and always will be, committed to this philosophy. Just like we are committed to building a better boat every day, we must remain true to that business model to succeed. MICHAEL RYBOVICH PRESIDENT MICHAEL RYBOVICH…

• Catching a giant marlin is the ultimate test of almost everything that’s included in the pages of this magazine. Bringing all the elements together to land a fish of this magnitude takes a ton of skill—and a little luck. Those who’ve experienced the largest of marlin know that some are almost uncatchable, so using every tool at your disposal and coercing the fish into making a mistake is often the only way to get it within reach of the leader. Drag management is one of the most critical aspects of the catch process. Drag is all about timing; adding or reducing pressure at the right times can be the difference between winning and losing the battle. It basically comes down to working smarter, not harder. But before you push…

In this day and age, there is no shortage of amazing boats out there. Sportboats of all shapes, sizes, makes and models make their way around the globe to do just what they were built to do. Or do they? Not all boats were built to do the same thing, and just looking at one on the water doesn’t tell the whole story. Beneath that shiny paint and rich varnish hides years of planning, multiple drafts of drawings, hours of handiwork, and decades of knowledge and experience. This beautiful exterior is also wrapped around dozens of challenges, compromises and tough decisions that ultimately result in a finished product that we all admire from afar. A product that will carry the name of the builder—the one who poured his heart and…

Marlin magazine recognizes the huge efforts made by crews steaming across the Atlantic to participate in our Bermuda Big Game Classic. The banks off Bermuda provide the most consistent large blue marlin fishery in the world with the visiting and Bermuda-based crews fishing the event representing some of the most competitive teams running some of the top boats built by the world’s best manufacturers. This year visiting team Sea Toy, a 59-foot Spencer Yacht with Capt. Bull Tolson, released five blues earning 2,500 points to win the Marlin Magazine Manufacturer’s Cup award and claim first-place team honors in our Bermuda Big Game Classic. Our sincere congratulations, thanks and admiration go to Spencer Yachts and the Sea Toy crew. BermudaTripleCrown.com…

• It should be no surprise to anyone reading this article that a boat’s engine package is the largest single expense. The power contained within is the heart of the vessel that, if exercised often and maintained properly, will run and perform nearly flawlessly for lifetime of the vessel, or longer. But that’s a big if. More often than not, most boat owners would place engine maintenance at the bottom of their list of the joys of boat ownership. Maintenance is, however, a vital part of preserving a dependable vessel that will hold its value over time. And when your engines are no longer performing at their peak, it might be time to consider the options: rebuilding the existing engines or repowering with new ones. REBUILD Rebuilding can offer many…

• Well, it’s officially boat-show season, and you just might find yourself looking at a new—or at least new-to-you—ride this year or early next. The boating industry as a whole has never been stronger, and values have held unlike any time in the past. I purchased a boat 10 years ago and recently had a broker send me an offer that was exactly what I paid for it. Boats are typically considered depreciating assets, but not today. Something else that is unprecedented is finding a boat to buy. I was with John Bayliss of Bayliss Boatworks a few months ago, and he is booked out for years. Between new-boat orders and service work, it’s hard to hire enough employees to keep up with the current demand, so if you want…

• While 97 boats fished the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series this year, only one of them nearly swept the whole thing, and that itself is unusual. Longtime participants would agree that it’s rare to see one boat dominate the field throughout the entire series. Over Memorial Day weekend, the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament hosted a near-record-breaking number of boats, with 70 teams fishing. In recent years, the winner of the Georgetown tournament has gone on to take the title for the entire series, and so the competition was understandably fierce. To meet the conservation mission of the series, rules require that any landed blue marlin measure at least 105 inches; of the 18 blue marlin caught during the Georgetown tournament, three of them were big enough to return…

• With mounting excitement and expectations of fun, education and relaxation, I was finally packing my bag to embark on my first Marlin University adventure. The months leading up to this bucket-list trip were filled with the hectic pace of day-to-day to-do lists, and I was looking forward to finally arriving at LAX for the flight that would whisk me off to a week away from it all—unplugged—to enjoy the serenity of being out on the deep-blue sea and hoping to catch a few billfish with others who enjoy the same passion. My spot at the Ladies-Only Marlin University in Guatemala set the stage for an adventure to meet a group of ladies from all ages and walks of life who’ve embraced the opportunity to learn the art of the…

From fishy, innovative 40-foot dayboats and walkarounds to 90-foot super-sport-fishermen capable of amazing range, amenities and comfort, the next generation of boats is almost beyond imagination. And yet, they all share a technological edge in the design, construction techniques, propulsion, electronics, and optional equipment that was almost unheard of just a handful of years ago. Those advancements continue to push the boundaries of reality in the world of sport fishing from a group of incredibly talented builders. VALHALLA 55 The Valhalla 55 is poised to become the industry’s leading center-console over 50 feet, delivering unbeatable performance, range and engineering. The V-55 combines the speed, maneuverability, and 360-degree on-deck access and versatility of an out board powered center-console with the engineering, luxurious living space, and conveniences of a Viking convertible. And…

MADEIRA. I’d heard stories of this place for years. Big blue marlin. Calm seas. Perfect weather and friendly locals. Oh, and some really, really big blue marlin. It’s quality rather than quantity in this fishery. If you want a shot at a fish that makes heavy tackle seem, well, not so heavy after all, then it’s certainly worth a closer look. Officially known as the Autonomous Region of Madeira, this island archipelago is situated in the North Atlantic about 250 miles north of the Canary Islands and 325 miles west of Morocco. The geography and scenery are simply incredible; the island juts abruptly skyward amid the cool, deep, impossibly blue waters that swirl around it. Nearly everyone who has ever wet a line here has come away with the same…

Boatbuilder John Bayliss and owner Jr. Davis have collaborated once again to create another world-class tournament-fishing battlewagon. When Davis planned to build another boat with the capability of fishing multiple destinations around the globe, his decision was quite easy. Having built a 77-footer more than five years ago, Davis knew exactly what was needed to accommodate—citing quietness, stability, ride and comfort to “extending my years of fishing.” And the Bayliss team is driven to produce that very thing, because Bayliss runs a competitive fishing program himself, adding a mindfulness that effectively translates into decades of experience for this new 75-footer called Wave Paver. COCKPIT AND MEZZANINE The 75’s cockpit is laid out for a variety of billfishing: The transom fish box can host tuna tubes that drop into an inner…

FUDO Super Ocean Kona Cut Needle Eye FUDO Kona Cut Needle Eye Hooks utilize extra heavy gauge Japanese stainless steel, featuring a moderate bend, flat inside barb and outside cutting edge. Made in Japan. Sizes 7/0-12/0. fudofishing.com Carbon Elite Series Spinning Reels Advanced materials combined with ergonomic designs and engineering, for the ultimate in fishing performance. A perfect balance of lightweight features and powerful, durable components to last a lifetime. toadfish.com Minature Fish Mounts $69 Freshwater and Saltwater species available. Cast in resin and individually hand painted. Measures 13 to 19 inches. kingsailfishmounts.com/miniature-mounts Any Fish, Any Water Book by Jason Arnold Any Fish, Any Water features 219 pages of vivid underwater photography showcasing vibrant portraits of fish, marine life, and fishing landscapes. Additionally, the book presents stories and conservation endeavors…

• When I was first invited to be an angler in the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown many years ago, we would always go pre-fishing for a couple of days before each tournament started. Many other boats were out there doing the same thing. The idea was to give the anglers some time to burn their thumbs and practice hooking these fish while also giving the captains a chance to find the mother lode. We would try a few different areas over the two or three days, but we would throw out the same teasers and dredges each day. I wanted to try some new stuff that I had brought with me, but the owner didn’t want to change anything from their usual spread. I never could figure that out…