Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2024 i Marlin

I am admittedly a technophobe. I’m not proud of it, just self-aware. I don’t drive an electric truck, I cook on a charcoal grill, and I have a deep appreciation for time spent on the water or in the woods, away from the noise. Call it being an old soul, old-fashioned or just plain ignorant; the bottom line is I have to keep my technophobia in check, or I end up missing out on some of the great benefits modern technology can provide. I was reminded of that earlier this year while fishing Skip Smith’s The Shootout: Production vs. Custom in the Bahamas. "From my personal experience as an angler, having omni technology on board did nothing but enhance the overall fishing experience. My longtime fishing friends had just installed…

PORTABLE TEAK TABLE Elevate your dock and onboard dining game with this space-efficient custom folding table. When expanded, it offers a 24-by-48-by-3-inch tabletop at a comfortable 17-inch height. It can then fold to a compact 24 by 24 by 6 inches for easy stowing. The table is offered in teak, sapele, holly and black walnut, and can be finished in gloss, semi-gloss or satin varnish. For inquiries, email Erik Schiffelbian at eriks1@mindspring.com OONI PIZZA OVEN Ooni has exploded onto the market in recent years, bringing an authentic pizza-oven cooking experience to your kitchen. Fueled by either pellets or propane and offered in avariety of sizes, Ooni pizza ovens reach up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit and expertly cook pizzas, steaks, seafood, vegetables and more. Looking to turn heads on the dock…

Ricardo “Rick” Benitez is no stranger to the world of big-game angling. For nearly half a century the avid angler has traveled the world over in search of billfish, tuna and other bluewater predators. For the past decade, the Spanish island of Mallorca has become a favorite destination of Benitez’s; he is drawn to the area by its calm seas, ease of accessibility, amazing onshore amenities and abundance of Mediterranean spearfish. Fishing annually with his now friend Capt. Vince Riera on Mad Max, a 46-foot Tiara based out of Port Alcudia, the pair had a week booked in late July. However, their standard trip took an unexpected turn when Massimo Brogna, a passionate angler and marine conservationist from Italy, asked to join the charter to deploy satellite tags on Mediterranean…

Whether painting a sandy shoreline in splashes of turquoise or connoting the plaintive croons of a musician, shades of blue tinge the spectrum of our lives. The Dominican Republic seems to have been built upon the color, with its navy-accented flag, nearly neon Caribbean coastline and Larimar—a gemstone found nowhere else in the world. And yet these signature hues still pale in comparison to the best blues the country has to offer: its marlin. The DR is part of the Caribbean’s Greater Antilles and shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Known for producing stellar blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish numbers depending on the moon, time of year and location, the country boasts some of the best bluewater fishing in the world. It also offers luxurious and safe marinas…

Custom boat builders are known to be a bit rigid and set in their ways. They each have their own little nuances that identify the boats as theirs. Certainly, customers also look for those nuances to suit their tastes. However, every once in a while, custom builders are pushed by their clients to step outside the box and incorporate the owner’s tastes, desires and personal inputs to create their dream boat. This is how we got flying bridges, tuna towers, full galleys, painted engine rooms, mezzanines —the whole lot. Roy Merritt and his team have had the opportunity over the years to stretch their comfort zone, developing now commonplace things such as the mezzanine, which initially came about at the request of a client looking for better seating. While building…

Whenever I see a photo of a big marlin online or read a story about a great day of fishing, I want to know what the fish was caught on. Did it fall to a lure, dead bait or live bait? I am lucky enough to get to watch all the release videos in my tournaments that I run in the Bahamas each May, and while my main priority is certifying the catch for the tournament, I’m also always looking one layer deeper at the methods used to catch that fish. Quite a few of the blue marlin caught in the tournament are small, and we also get plenty of white marlin, sailfish and a few spearfish, so it’s no surprise that many of the fish are caught on swimming…

Hailed as the “world’s largest and richest billfish tournament,” the 51st White Marlin Open lived up to its reputation, featuring a fleet of 318 boats and a total prize pool of $8.59 million. Day One saw 200 boats head out, with the fleet collectively releasing 111 white marlin, 15 blue marlin, one sailfish and one spear-fish. The day’s top performer was Riptide, captained by Jacques Paul-Hus, who released three blue marlin for a total of 525 points. On Day Two, the 210-boat fleet continued to fish well, releasing 97 white marlin, 14 blue marlin and four sailfish. However, excitement grew when reports came in of boated fish. Waste Knot arrived first with a 77.5-pound white marlin, temporarily securing first place and a potential payout nearing $4 million. Stone Cutter weighed…

North Atlantic right whales are an endangered species of baleen whales in the North Atlantic. Hunted to near extinction by the late 19th century, their population remains critically low. Since 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reported an Unusual Mortality Event among North Atlantic right whales, since over 20 percent of the population has suffered death or serious injury, mainly due to entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. In response, NOAA proposed new legislation in 2023 that, among other things, would significantly increase existing speed restrictions, requiring boats 35 feet and longer to limit their speed to 10 knots between November and April/May from Florida to Massachusetts up to 90 miles offshore. Understandably, this proposal has faced strong opposition from the fishing and boating communities. According to…

• How many times have you set out a spread with natural baits swimming perfectly, only to have a fish zero in on a teaser and not switch over to your natural pitch bait? It’s a frustrating situation and no doubt one that most who spend time offshore can relate to. Over the years I’ve added a few refinements to the standard natural pitch-bait options, including the use of artificial lures, to help switch over those finicky fish. Let’s start with ballyhoo. Although used by captains and crews the world over, there are still slight nuances to keep in mind when using ballyhoo as a pitch bait. In calm conditions, a standard skipping ballyhoo can work like a charm. But as conditions deteriorate and become rougher, adding a lead to…

The world of secret blue marlin fishing spots gets smaller each year. I recall the rush over the years to fish Madeira, then Cape Verde, then Guiana, and then the Azores. Now it’s St. Helena and Ascension. Each destination seems to be a little more remote than the previous, adding even more mystique to the equation. While each of these hotspots surely deserves to be considered a bucket list location, they have one thing in common: They are all in the Atlantic. Having spent the past 40 years working, fishing, diving, filming and exploring the Pacific Ocean, it is here that truly the most remote island groups and virgin blue marlin waters in the world still exist. The majority are located in French Polynesia, such as the Tuamotus, the Australs,…

New products are the mainstay of any business. Engineers and product specialists working for marine industry companies live in the hamster wheel of churning out revised versions, full updates and completely new products for consumers to incorporate into their next build. This is good news for end users, but a tall task for those in the wheel who are always pursuing the next level and pushing to introduce the next big thing. Some recent advancements by recreationalnavigation and fishing-technology companies have come from the commercial business units of these corporations, while others have trickled down from military uses. Walking on the bridge of a modern sportfishing boat awakens the senses to a vast array of technologies to see ahead and around the boat with radar, under and around the boat…

A longtime customer came to the table with an idea for a smaller, faster, walkaroundstyle sport-fisher. Bayliss turned that idea into reality with Sequentis, the latest from the venerable builder that is anything but ordinary. A collaboration among a knowledgeable owner, world-renowned live-bait experts and a builder with a team of master craftsmen, this 60-foot walkaround express that runs up to 48 knots is capable of catching anything, especially second looks. COCKPIT/MEZZANINE/WALK-AROUND At first glance, the cockpit looks quite ordinary, until you discover the details. This team specializes in live-bait fishing, so multiple live-bait stations are available, utilizing the 360-degree fishing platform. The oversize fighting chair plate with a Release Marine rocket launcher first caught my eye. The plate is designed with water inlets and outlets capable of providing a…

“The American dream” describes a belief made popular during the Great Depression that anyone can attain success when presented with the opportunity. Russ Garufi is the embodiment of the American dream. An avid boater and angler since his teenage years on the Chesapeake, Russ spent decades honing his talents in the commercial housing industry before applying that skillset to boatbuilding. Starting from a chicken coop in 1999, Russ has built Titan Yachts into one of the premier builders in today’s sport-fishing market. M Tell me about your childhood. Where did you grow up, and what was your introduction to fishing and boating? I grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and got my first boat when I was 14. It was a 14-footer that I bought from Montgomery Ward. Then,…

The Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, established in 1983, has grown into a week-long event featuring three tournaments that attract top teams and raise substantial funds for charitable causes. Tournament Week began on August 10 at Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo, North Carolina, with the 35th annual Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Tournament (AKL). This one-day event honoring Alice Kelly, a dedicated Outer Banks angler and volunteer, supports the Inter-Faith Community Outreach program, aiding families undergoing cancer treatment. This year, an incredible 155 teams and over 900 competitors participated in the AKL, releasing 16 blue marlin, 70 sailfish and two white marlin. Fender Bender, a 62-foot Spencer captained by Colin Oxnard, won first place and $49,450. The largest prize of the tournament went to Taylor Thomas on Epic, who caught a…

The 33rd MidAtlantic Tournament, held August 18-24 at Cape May, New Jersey, and Ocean City, Maryland, ended with an exhilarating final day as 198 boats competed for a $5.7 million purse. Day One saw Pachanga take the daily out of the 88 boats, releasing two blue marlin and four white marlin. Max Bet followed with seven white marlin releases. Mike Bradley on Leslie Ann weighed a 74-pound white marlin, and Stephen Pilipauskis on Reel Tight weighed a 180-pound bigeye tuna. Day Two featured cooler and breezier conditions, with 62 boats fishing. FFMD released four white marlin to take the daily, and Kaarmaa weighed a 77-pound white marlin to take the lead in that category. Angler Mary Naylor aboard Lil’ Crum weighed in the tournament’s first wahoo, a quality 76-pounder that…

When a grander is caught in Kailua-Kona, traffic slows and the cell towers heat up as a crowd forms at Honoko-hau Harbor, erupting with cheers and applause when her weight is read out. The fish feeds many families as it is passed among friends throughout the region. It is a treasured moment and memory enjoyed by many. A tropical storm savaged the Big Island this August, churning the offshore waters and forcing the fleet to shelter. So there was no fresh news about where the fish were gathering as Bwana left the harbor for Bob Holding’s Gamefisherman Shootout on August 27. Capt. Teddy Hoogs, Bwana’s accomplished captain, headed south with the other tournament boats with proper esprit de corps. After fishing down to Kealakekua with his gut telling him he…

New-boat articles oftentimes feature quick hits with high-level specs of what new builds are coming down the pipeline. Then, several months later, we see the boat test and learn how the boat actually performed. But rarely do we get a glimpse into the countless hours of brainstorming and discussions—from an owner and/or a captain and the design teams—that create the why behind many aspects within a new build. I sat down with a handful of individuals who have builds splashing in the fall of 2024 and beyond to get their perspectives into the custom features within each of their builds. While each customization suits a certain preference, perhaps some of their thoughtful insights will give you some must-haves for your own build sheet, or even provide you with ideas for…

You have two options to fish in the Marquesas. First, you can enjoy a land-based option where you stay in one of a few hotels near the edge of the bay and fish daily trips with Francis aboard Seawolf out of Nuku Hiva. Second, you can book a multiday, multi-island fishing excursion to the outer islands of the north and south. Trips can be tailored to your taste of fishing, which could include inshore species and tuna as well. Hotel accommodations can be made at www.seawolfexpeditions.com. You would have to search the world over to find two more uniquely engineered fishing platforms than Ultimate Lady and Seawolf. Both are of Kiwi heritage, and the innovations, designs and quality of construction clearly show how well the New Zealand LOMOcean boatyard can…

• The Marlin Lady Angler Team has a mission that goes beyond winning; to elevate the profile of female anglers and inspire women of all experience levels to join the sport. With its second season in the books, the Marlin Lady Angler Team is quickly becoming a powerful presence in the world of offshore tournament fishing. ¶ The team is composed of six accomplished women, each bringing unique skills and passion to the sport. Philanthropist Dusty Adinolfe fishes aboard her Viking, Surf Bum. Kelly Young, a YouTube star and world-record spearfisher, adds her adventurous spirit. Shelby Callison, an award-winning angler, and Maddy Hazlett, founder of the Sailfish Sweethearts Ladies Tournament, bring competitive zeal. Amber Marchant, a seasoned Pelagic pro-staffer, and team manager Lacey Hagler, a US Coast Guard veteran and…

In the challenging world of marine operations, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your vessels is paramount. Wind, salt, UV radiation, abrasion from fenders, microorganisms, and a guest or crew member with the wrong shoes all place your boat under a relentless attack of potentially damaging conditions. Paints and coatings offer the best and most effective way to protect your marine assets from the myriad of threats they face on a daily basis. But not all paints and coatings are the same. From engines, running gear, interiors and exteriors to the antifouling on the bottom, unique coatings exist for every area of your boat with specific attributes for each purpose and application. EXTERIOR In today’s marine paint world, compounds such as epoxy, polyurethanes, alkyds and acrylics represent the new standard.…