Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2025 i Marlin

I’m not a pumpkin spice guy, but I love the fall. I always have. Maybe it’s because I was born in November. Or perhaps it’s because I live in between the swamps and sugar cane fields of South Florida, where summer seems to never sleep. Regardless of the reason, as the summer doldrums stretch to a close, I look for subtle changes with great anticipation. For me, it’s the sky I notice first. Most profound on the water, the late-afternoon sky takes on a unique dim as the days begin to grow noticeably shorter. Next it’s the clouds. Scanning the horizon, the patterns evolve from the usual summer thunderheads to wispy, high-level cirrus, driven by the cyclical cold fronts that make time outdoors (and walking in and out of buildings…

After looking at the weather, I decided we needed to get the boat to Ocean City a few days earlier than expected. My 8-year-old daughter, Avery, was sitting next to me on the couch when I was checking conditions. That’s when the wheels started spinning in my head. “Hey Avery, you want to catch a white marlin?” I could tell she didn’t know what to think. Although I fish a lot, my kids have not been too involved in my adventures. I couldn’t help but think about how amazing it would be to share my other love with my true loves. After getting the blessing from my boss, it was time to talk to the family about it. I asked my wife, Kristen, what she thought. Not only did she…

Many consider Florida the hub of modern-day sport fishing, with its two coasts and a bevy of inshore and offshore species to pursue. However, it is perhaps a lesser-known fact that most of the big-game tackle innovations and techniques popular today were invented and perfected in early fishing competitions in California, dating back over 125 years. On June 15, 1898, Charles Frederick Holder founded the Avalon Tuna Club on Catalina Island, 22 miles off Southern California. Early members included notable figures such as Zane Grey, Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Hal Roach, Cecil B. DeMille, Herbert Humphrey and Gen. George S. Patton, who skillfully fished with linen lines of various strand counts to establish line classes and compete for club prestige. This spirited competition spurred tackle innovations that shaped…

WORTH THE WAIT This game is not always palm trees and piña coladas. And for the biggame devotee, the season never really ends—it just migrates from one horizon to the next. In these cooler environments, where the wind bites, the water is dark, and the seasons are short, there are no such things as “runts” or “rats.” Only the true trophies with enough size to withstand the extremes lurk here. And that, precisely, is why we go. So, bundle up; we’re gonna be here awhile.…

Have you ever thought about putting a skiff on the bow of your sport-fisherman? Notice I didn’t say RIB or hard-bottom inflatable. While they have their place in the yachting world, they’re not worthy fishing platforms. As a sport-fishing captain, inshore guide and skiff builder, here are a few of my recommendations for setting up a skiff on the bow to expand your fishing and boating opportunities. BENEFITS OF A SKIFF There are plenty of reasons to carry a skiff. For me, it opens up a wider range of fishing opportunities, especially when traveling. It’s always nice to take advantage of world-class flats loaded with bonefish, tarpon and permit in the Bahamas and Caribbean. Often, offshore conditions aren’t favorable for the big boat, or a great tide window presents itself.…

CRAZY TRAIN Where does one draw the line between thrill-seeking pleasure and sheer lunacy? From an outsider’s perspective, one look at this masterful shot from Kelly Dalling Fallon, and this poor deckie would be headed straight to the Cairns’ nuthouse to join his friends and maybe a few wayward bull riders. But for those practiced in the art form of controlling these creatures of undescribable force, this is what they live for. Rare moments and interactions like these are the justification for the long, painful hours of rigging, running and fixing that come with a life made in the cockpit.…

The big-game fishing community recently lost two towering figures whose influence will endure for generations. William “Bill” J. Healey, co-founder of Viking Yachts, and Dr. Harry Shufflebarger, renowned surgeon and pioneering angler, each shaped the sport in profound ways. From transforming boatbuilding into a global powerhouse to championing the camaraderie and competition of tournament fishing, Healey and Shufflebarger represented the heart of the offshore lifestyle. Though they came from different paths—one from the factory floor, the other from the operating room—both shared a passion for bluewater adventure that forever enriched the sport we love. WILLIAM “BILL” J. HEALEY William “Bill” J. Healey, co-founder of Viking Yachts, passed away on August 14, 2025, at the age of 97. His legacy as a visionary boatbuilder and passionate supporter of the sport will…

When we look at our terminal tackle, we once again have technology to thank for improving our rigging and catch rates. From the days of linen line in the 1940s and ’50s, we’ve come a long way with the advent of space-age products like monofilament, hollow-core Dacron, and today’s plethora of solid and hollow-core braids. These materials let us increase line capacity with backing, swap fresh top shots without respooling an entire reel, and create wind-on leaders that make rigging and shorthanded fish handling far easier—straight to the gaff or tag stick without needing a wireman. The DuPont Company played the largest role in these developments. Monofilament was created in 1939 but wasn’t widely adopted until after World War II, when industrial demand eased and costs dropped. As the name…

IF YOU WERE PLANNING A TRIP to Australia to go marlin fishing, where would you head? If you prefer heavy tackle and want to catch a giant black marlin, the obvious choice would be the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns and Lizard Island in north Queensland. If you’re looking for adventure and an untouched, off-the-grid destination, the remote town of Exmouth in Western Australia would be for you. However, if you want to catch lots of black, blue and striped marlin in a location that offers many modern amenities, it would be best to head to Port Stephens in New South Wales (NSW). The other billfish hotspots in Australia that offer such billfish diversity are difficult to get to. Meanwhile, travel to Port Stephens is a breeze thanks to its…

The British Virgin Islands delivered once again this September as the 2025 Scrub Island Billfish Series unfolded in two thrilling legs that combined world-class fishing with the island luxury and tropical energy that define Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina. From kickoff parties under a full moon to lines out on the legendary North Drop, the series showcased why this boutique event is quickly becoming a marquee stop on the Caribbean billfish calendar. The series opened September 4 with a festive kickoff celebration sponsored by BVI Tourism. Anglers, crews and guests gathered by the docks, savoring local cuisine, cocktails and island rhythms against the glow of a late-summer moon. That perfect blend of hospitality and adventure is what makes Scrub Island so distinctive—and the fishing proved equally impressive. Over three…

For more than a decade now, I’ve found myself driving that familiar dusty lane in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to the Michael Rybovich & Sons boatyard. Over the years, I’ve reviewed several of its builds, but whenever I ask Michael or Dusty Rybovich what’s next, Michael’s answer has often been the same: “I want to go back to simple, just build a fishing boat.” Hull No. 9, Da Bait, is exactly that. SPECS LOA: 70' BEAM: 19'6" DRAFT: 5'7" DISPL.: 99,000 LB. FUEL: 2,050 GAL. WATER: 350 GAL. POWER: TWIN CAT C32B 2,000 HP GENERATORS: TWIN CUMMINS ONAN 29 KW PROPELLERS: CJR 5-BLADE CLIMATE CONTROL: TERMODINAMICA COCKPIT AND BRIDGE Simple doesn’t mean stripped down—it means back to the basics, with every system refined for reliability. The cockpit is tournament-ready, outfitted…

Players CAREY He’s one of those rare figures who seems to exist everywhere at once, fishing the circuit, creating beautiful art in exotic locales, and always at the center of the action. For more than three decades, Carey Chen’s work has brought the sport to life through the strokes of his brush, earning him a reputation as both a respected marine artist and global ambassador for big-game fishing. Known for his larger-than-life personality, globe-trotting adventures and quick wit, I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Chen to learn more about his incredible story. Tell me about your childhood. Who was Carey Chen as a boy? I was born in Los Angeles, but my family pulled me back to Jamaica when I was a toddler. That’s where I grew…

The IGFA’s 26th annual Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium brought together some of the most influential figures in sport fishing. This year’s class was particularly noteworthy because six individuals whose contributions have profoundly shaped big-game angling were formally honored. “Tonight, we’re here to celebrate six luminaries in the world of recreational angling,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “Each one of them mastered their corner of the sport, achieved greatness over time, and more importantly, gave back through innovation, mentorship and conservation.” GARY AND SHERRELL CARTER The evening opened with Gary and Sherrell Carter, a husband-and-wife team synonymous with lighttackle mastery. From their famed Silver-Rod-O, the Carters set 45 IGFA world records. Gary’s 806-pound Atlantic blue marlin on 20-pound line…

When it comes to recreation and lifestyle, there is perhaps no pastime in the world better than offshore sport fishing. Sure, the fish and the places have quite a bit to do with it. But those boats… Nothing in the world—not golf, not tennis, not bass fishing—compares to the modern offshore sport-fisher. High-performance fishing machines equipped with more technology than the firstgeneration space station. Luxury, range, fishability—all with propulsion systems that make 40-knot cruise commonplace. Production, custom, inboard, outboard—the modern boating landscape is full of options. What follows are the boats of 2026. It represents the work of a composite of builders from around the world. These boats are in the yard now; next year, they’ll splash to be released upon the world’s great bluewater fisheries. Read about their builds…

Few places in the world carry the same weight in the big-game fishing community as Kona, Hawaii. The island’s waters are steeped in history, filled with stories of giant marlin, legendary personalities and a distinctly unique fishing culture. And in 2025, that legacy grew even stronger. This season marked the beginning of a new era as The Marlin Group officially acquired the Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series (HMTS) from founder Capt. Jody Bright, ushering in fresh resources and global visibility while honoring the tradition that makes Kona unique. Participation throughout the entire 2025 series was up across the board, payouts climbed, and each event featured lively kickoff parties, awards ceremonies filled with camaraderie, and team shirts that quickly became collector’s items thanks to the artistry of Conch Republic, whose custom apparel…

There’s no disputing that skill and teamwork win tournaments. But timing and luck are determining factors too. Both came into play during this year’s White Marlin Open, a weeklong extravaganza held in Ocean City, Maryland, every August for the past 51 years. By the time it wrapped after an extension forced by Hurricane Erin offshore, there were two significant winners. Billfisher earned nearly $4 million in prize money with a 72-pound white marlin, while Barbara B settled for a seven-figure consolation prize for its 929.5-pound blue. With their fish weighed earlier in the week, both teams were left counting the hours, minutes and seconds until fishing finally concluded at the start of the following week. “Monday was among the top five worst offshore conditions ever. We got skunked that first…