Innehållsförteckning för November/December 2023 från Marlin

● The National Marine Manufacturers Association recently announced the results of a 2023 study on the economic impact of the recreational boating industry in the United States. Incredibly—and yet somehow, not surprisingly—recreational boating grew by 36 percent in annual economic activity in the past five years, from $170 billion in 2018 to $230 billion in 2023. There was also a 14 percent spike in industry-related employment, from 691,000 jobs in 2018 to 812,000 in 2023. This increase was obviously fueled by record growth during the pandemic years from 2020 through 2022, when Americans found themselves prioritizing outdoor recreation while spending quality time with family and friends. There is some additional good news, though: The economic momentum is expected to remain steady heading into 2024, with sales of both new and…

● Growing up on the Bahia Mar docks in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Capt. Frank “Skip” Smith was baiting hooks on his father Capt. Frank Smith’s drift boat at the age of 5, spending every weekend and summer vacation working aboard that vessel until he turned 18. He moved up to charter fishing, caught a white marlin on his first day as a mate, and was hooked on bill-fishing. He later began swordfishing commercially until a longlining injury sidelined him in 1979. Smith then went to work for Jerry Dunaway aboard The Hooker, where they went on to set a memorable string of world records together, rewriting sport-fishing history along the way. You set so many IGFA records during your career at the helm. Which ones stand out the most? We…

● Fifty years of competition. Four hundred boats in 2023. A record purse of $10.5 million, with $6.2 million for the winning team. Those are just a few of the statistical highlights of this year’s White Marlin Open, held in August each year in Ocean City, Maryland. Of the 605 billfish caught in this year’s event, 602 were released. For the first four fishing days, tuna ruled the scales and the prize money. That changed on the final day when Ocean City’s Floor Reel made the 6 p.m. bridge and headed for the scales with a fish they knew would qualify, the third billfish brought to the scales Friday. The first was from Skirt Chaser out of Manteo, North Carolina, a 67.5-pound white marlin that made the 70-inch minimum but…

● During the 65th-annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in North Carolina this past June, a surprising controversy took place: the disqualification of the tournament-winning marlin. The crew aboard Sensation landed a 619.4-pound blue marlin, easily the largest caught throughout the event, and the crew expected to win more than $3.5 million. Upon closer inspection, however, tournament weighmasters noticed that the marlin had several bite marks near its tail, indicating that it had been mutilated during the fight by a shark or other oceanic predator. According to the tournament rules, the bite(s) led to the disqualification. While Sensation’s encounter might appear to be a rare occurrence to the non-angling community, it sheds light on a burgeoning problem in our oceans—a growing number of shark encounters and shark depredation. I serve…

WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, it seems that boats just keep getting better. Faster, thanks to improvements in propulsion technology as well as slicker hull designs and the widespread use of wake-adapted running gear. Lighter, by way of composite cores and engines with greater horsepower-to-weight ratios. Stronger, from the use of exotic materials plus advanced construction techniques that are often borrowed from the aerospace and space-exploration industries. No matter if you prefer a small, nimble dayboat for some hardcore light-tackle action or a mega-sport-fisherman capable of long-range passagemaking and the ultimate in liveaboard luxury, there’s something for you among this new breed of vessels hitting the water soon. RELEASE BOATWORKS 55 The first of the company’s new Gameboat line, the Release 55 is designed to be everything you would expect from…

At the end of three long, hot days of tournament fishing in March, the VHF radio came to life one last time. Tournament director Ashley Bretecher’s pleasant feminine voice rang out clearly: “Lines out, lines out. This concludes Leg Three of the 2023 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown. Congratulations to the winners. Have a safe trip back to the dock.” And with those words, the celebration began aboard the 64-foot Viking Team Galati—with eight marlin and 25 sailfish releases, they had not only won the third and final leg, but they had achieved the overall series championship victory as well, the team’s third since 2020. At the helm, Capt. Tony Carrizosa also achieved a personal milestone as the winningest captain in the 20-year history of the prestigious and highly competitive…

● If you enjoy clubby nightlife, working your way through a sea of unfamiliar faces to get to the bar or stuffy formal galas, don’t go to Scrub Island. This laid-back slice of paradise in the British Virgin Islands—home of the two-tournament Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Tournament Series—is pretty much the opposite of all that. This year it felt more like a breath of fresh salt air while also providing proof of the phrase “quality over quantity.” What sets this tournament series apart is its exclusive nature, tailored for teams seeking competition amid a tranquil, secluded haven, which also fosters tightknit camaraderie. ¶ While there are many tropical amusements on the island, one thing is clear: These teams are here to fish. Based on angler input this year, the tournament…

● While we typically highlight the action in exotic fishing destinations, it’s also pretty cool to see some outstanding catches made in places you might not think. So, when Capt. Norm Bekoff reached out to us via Instagram with a report from South Florida on June 26, it got our attention. Bekoff, a charter captain fishing out of Fort Lauderdale, had noticed that each year, usually later in the summer, boats in the area would report seeing blue marlin. Many times, these were incidental encounters. Often, while anglers were bailing small mahi, a blue would show up unexpectedly, smash up a few of them, and then disappear just as quickly, or maybe someone would even hook one on a dink rig. Unfortunately, few of those encounters ended in a legitimate…

The old cliche that photographs freeze a moment in time is unquestionably true. The images splashed across these pages have made fleeting moments with billfish available to anglers everywhere, entangling us in the fish stories of the 21st century. And yet an important narrative—one that centers on the photographer—has gone largely untold. To unveil those stories, we’re thawing the freeze and going behind the camera of some of the past decade’s most interesting billfish shots. HANNES RIBBNER On an overcast January morning, the father-and-son team of Kelly and Grant Brashear would see why Hannes Ribbner prefers shooting on cloudy days: Those conditions can help even out the light and yield stunning results. The Brashears had never caught a black marlin before, nor had they ever been to Tropic Star Lodge,…

● Marine environments are no joke when it comes to maintaining boats. It’s a battle we face every day, but with proper inspection, care and maintenance, corrosion can be kept at bay, if not avoided altogether. While corrosion control is not the most interesting maintenance topic, it is for this very reason that it often gets overlooked. But overlooking the importance of staying on top of corrosion is a major mistake, because corrosion can, and will, destroy a vessel if left unchecked. Whether it’s the harsh salt-water environment corroding your metals above the waterline or galvanic corrosion eating away at your running gear, you can be assured that real detrimental scenarios are afoot here, and it doesn’t take long to cause irreparable damage. WHAT IS CORROSION? Scientifically speaking, corrosion is…

● SeaVee Boats has been a custom builder since its inception in 1974; over the past 25 to 30 years, it has delivered a high-quality, factory-direct product built to the owners’ needs, with practical layouts, a host of standard equipment, and a thorough list of options for each model that offers the buyer the best of everything. The new 420Z is no exception, with its solid construction and proven ride. The hull, liner, deck, console, and all small parts are made using a vacuum-assisted resin-transfer infusion process, with PVC core material for weight savings, strength, and manufacturing consistency. The SeaVee running surface has multiple lifting strakes and trademarked “speed rails,” along with carefully engineered weight distribution, offering a consistent running angle producing optimal lift for steady take-off with little bow…

● In 1997—back in what I call my previous life—I ran boats for several years. I was between jobs in the asset-management business and living in South Florida. My boss at the time was kind enough to provide me with a condominium at Ocean Reef and a second one in Ocean City, Maryland. I was part of a good program, but I knew that ultimately, I would have to settle down, plant some roots, and move back into asset management. RENT VS. PURCHASE Eventually, I ended up buying my first house in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. At the time, the going rent for the place I eventually purchased was $1,200 a month. Instead of renting, I took out a Federal Housing Administration loan and purchased the property. For many first-time…

● The island nation of Puerto Rico has long had a love affair with offshore fishing. Naturally, this history led to the creation of the International Billfish Tournament of San Juan, which is now the longest consecutively held big-game fishing tournament in the world. In August, the event celebrated its platinum anniversary, with 70 years of history, competition and camaraderie. And from the shotgun start and flag ceremony to the closing awards celebration, it’s a sport-fishing spectacle like no other. Club Náutico de San Juan has championed Puerto Rico’s nautical lifestyle for more than 90 years. The historic club was founded in 1933 overlooking San Antonio Channel, a location where it remains today. The IBT was among the first to establish minimum qualifying lengths for blue marlin, and then went…

● Is there anything more exciting than to hook a marlin while he’s eating out of the tailpipe—practically hand-feeding it with a live bait? I doubt it. As we were cruising around the sea-mount, it didn’t take long to raise a hefty blue on one of the teasers. We quickly fed out a live bait as the boat slowed down to reduce the wash. With nowhere to hide, the nervous bait started sending out the “eat me” vibes, attracting a swift attack. The angler immediately felt the bite and the circle hook found its mark, creating an instant reaction. Spray flew in all directions as the fish exploded from the water, just feet from the transom. This unbelievable, in-your-face action is what big-game fishermen crave, and it’s what makes switch-baiting…

On April 1, 2024, the Viking Yacht Company will celebrate its 60th year in boatbuilding. From humble beginnings on the banks of the Bass River in New Gretna, New Jersey, Viking has become the largest manufacturer of luxury fiberglass sport-fishing yachts in the world, with more than 5,500 boats delivered. Armed with a constant influx of new models that define the company mantra of building a better boat every day, Viking shows no signs of slowing down heading into its seventh decade. But the story of this family-owned and -operated company actually began well before its opening on April 1, 1964. THE EARLY DAYS In 1961, the Healey brothers—Bill, an ironworker at his father’s steel company, and Bob, an attorney with real estate expertise—built a marina on the Bass River.…

Any crew knows that it’s not if it will break but when. It is on this saying that builder Jon Duffie operates. Duffie, a competitive sportboat captain himself, aims to eliminate downtime with some of the highest standards in the industry while still providing generous space and plenty of options. So, when Tommy Hancock—a boatbuilder himself—was ready to build his next custom boat, he went directly to his tournament rival. I caught up with Capt. Reid Bost and the Dem Boys team in Charleston, South Carolina, this past summer to get an inside look at the boat that’s taking the industry by storm. And it’s impressive, to say the least. COCKPIT AND FLYBRIDGE Tied up at the local marina in Mount Pleasant, Hull No. 3 was easy to spot among…

● Purchasing a boat through a partnership is often discouraged, but some of my clients prefer it over solitary ownership. I regularly come across multimember-ownership structures while dealing with vessel transactions, and I have assisted with partnerships consisting of two, three, and even four individuals who share usage of a boat. The primary advantage of a partnership is the ability to split the costs of ownership and operation, but this benefit alone does not mean that it is the best option for everyone. There are many factors the individual partners should consider before making a final decision as to whether a partnership is right for them. UNDERSTAND THE COSTS All individual members of a partnership need to have a clear and full understanding of the costs of vessel ownership before…

● Capt. Peter B. Wright sure loved his tuna towers. In fact, he loved riding in the tower and writing about towers—most of the time about what was missing in terms of comfort and accessibility. But Wright backed it up by driving his boat from the tower as much as possible, as most all captains do in Australia. They fish from the tower for a lot of reasons, from looking for tailers to guessing the size of a marlin in the spread to navigating around the Great Barrier Reef and trying to avoid the many coral heads in the shallow water. On the reef, a good tower is more of a necessity than an accessory. The first purpose-built tuna towers were designed for chasing the giant bluefins off Cat Cay…