Marlin June/July 2023

There is just no other way to say it: We love boats. Having a reliable vessel beneath your feet is the crucial first step to success when you’re chasing fish over that distant blue horizon, especially when the weather takes a turn for the nautical. A marlin fisherman without a boat is like a cowboy without a horse—good luck wrangling those steers on foot. And just as horses are beautiful in their own right, so are boats. That flared bow, sweeping sheerline, shapely house, spacious cockpit, and curvy tumblehome—composed of the sum of its parts, the end result can be downright sexy. It’s been a crazy evolution though, from the Bertram 31s and 35s that many of us grew up with to the 53-foot Hatteras that was a workhorse for…

editor@marlinmag.com IN MEMORIAM: RANDY O. BRIGHT My brother, Randy Bright, passed away on February 20. Friends joined the Bright family on April 1 in Victoria, Texas, for what some called a “final sendoff.” Truth be told however, there is no final sendoff with Randy. He continues to pop up everywhere, or at least his legacy does. Many times since February 20 I have grabbed my cellphone saying: “Randy would know. Let’s ask him,” only to pocket the phone, pretend to see something important on the horizon, and squint. For years I have texted Randy the dry, witty one-liners Fran O’Brien easily ad-libs each morning as we greet the tournament teams. During the recent Lazy Marlin Hunt, I fumbled for my phone daily as Fran cracked us up again and again,…

PEZ VELA ON FLY Guatemala is home to one of the world’s finest fisheries for big Pacific sails, and it is also one of the top destinations to catch them on fly. Capt. Fin Gaddy joined Capt. Mike Sheeder aboard his 37-foot Gamefisherman, Intensity, for a memorable trip, releasing numerous sails along with two blue marlin and one black marlin, all using the long rod. LOCATION Photographer and angler Lacey Hagler captured this image fishing out of Puerto San Jose, located on the Pacific coast. TECH SPECS CAMERA: CANON EOS 7D MK II LENS: Canon 70-200mm ISO: 400 APERTURE: f/4.5 SPEED: 1/1600 sec…

Players CAPT. KARL ANDERSON Born in Beach Haven, New Jersey, Capt. Karl Anderson was racing around the lagoon behind his parent’s home in an outboard-powered dinghy by the age of 5. By 16, he was running trips to the distant canyons of the Northeast, and loving every minute of his time offshore. Anderson graduated with a degree in telecommunications from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, focusing on television production; from there, he became involved in the media side of the sport-fishing industry thanks to his numerous contacts. A busy career followed, as he captained and managed multiple sport-fishing operations while also becoming an accomplished journalist, photographer, and videographer. He has been a Marlin contributor for more than 20 years. M You were recently selected as one of the IGFA’s Tommy Gifford…

WHERE JUNE AND JULY kick off the summer season in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Head to Bermuda or Cape Verde for blues in both size and numbers. Hit the production platforms in the Gulf, where the combination of sonar and live-baiting has been a game-changer. Or explore a unique fishery in New Guinea—the choices are limited only by your imagination and budget. + BITE TRACKER Stay current with the best bites from the top billfish destinations around the globe at marlinmag.com/travel.…

BREITLING SUPEROCEAN AUTOMATIC 46 Designed as the ultimate dive watch, the Superocean series retraces Breitling’s aquatic legacy with its clean lines, chunky luminescent indexes, squared-off hands and high-contrast dial ring. It is water-resistant to 1,000 feet, and is also shock-, sand-, and corrosion-resistant. Two strap options offer microadjustments to wear over a wetsuit, and the ceramic-inlaid bezel will never wear or fade. bluemarlinjewelry.com ISLAND FISHHOOK BRACELET This handcrafted sterling-silver and leather bracelet from David Wirth Gallery is a true original. The hook symbolizes the Hawaiian lifestyle of family, friendship and fishing that’s been passed down from generations through the ages. davidwirth.com GRAND SLAM RING Inshore or offshore, choose up to three of your favorite fish species and add custom details such as precious stones, flying fish, frigate birds and more…