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How to Drop Back to Billfish—How Marlin and Sailfish Really Feed

March 17, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

By Peter B. Wright

The family of “true” billfish includes all the species called marlin, all the sailfish (which are split into the Atlantic and Pacific species with the Pacific sailfish also being found in the Indian Ocean) and several species of spearfish. Swordfish are commonly grouped with these billfish of the Istiophoridae family, but they are technically the sole member of the family Xiphiidae.

All of these fish are part of the teleost group, which are known as bony fishes and are closely related. With the sole exception of the swordfish, billfish vary only slightly in how the different species capture and kill their prey. I am about to explain why the common myth that all billfish use their bill as a sword, or a club, to kill their prey is not correct!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, Techniques Tagged With: back drop to billfish, billfishing, Fishing Tips, hooking billfish, live bait fishing, Offshore Fishing

Capt. Bart Miller—His Take on Lure Hook-Up

March 16, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

In early 2018, sportfishing legend Capt. Bart “Black Bart” Miller passed away. Bart left behind a lure company bearing his name and a list of marlin fishing feats that will likely never be duplicated. Miller was a veritable legend in the sportfishing industry and InTheBite is proud to have published some of Miller’s perspective. Here, from the archives, is one such piece.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Tackle, Techniques Tagged With: Bart Miller, Black Bart, hook rig, Tackle Tips, Trolling

Tipping: The Dockmaster’s Viewpoint

March 4, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

By Jan Fogt

A while back we ran a story on “Tipping While Traveling” and interviewed four well-traveled captains to provide their insight on tipping. In response to the article, we had several dock attendants and dockmasters comment on the subject and think it’s fitting to follow up with some of their responses on the subject.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News Tagged With: dock attendant, dock etiquette, dock tipping, dockmasters, Offshore Fishing

A Captain’s Culinary Guide to Pairing and Preparing

March 3, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

chris brennan pouring wine

By Alexandra Stark

Thankfully for you, the boss probably hired you for your ability to put him on fish and not because of your knowledge of fine dining. That said, there will be times when the boss and his family and friends will appreciate the finer touches in the culinary department. While the boss may not can you for serving an overdone, char-grilled hunk of tuna with a warm glass of Cabernet Sauvignon that has been open for a few days…but he’d probably be glad if you didn’t.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, Food + Drink Tagged With: boat recipes, cooking on boat, fresh fish dishes, pairing and preparing, seafood, seafood recipes

Dock Etiquette: Acting Right Around Boats

February 4, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

boats at the dock

By Elliott Stark

“You know, that’s something that’s really, really important. Sometimes, it just doesn’t cross people’s minds,” says Capt. Jimmy Waller of Orange Beach, Alabama. Waller, whose nickname is “PeeWee” runs his 60’ Big Adventure. The topic of fishing etiquette touched off something special for Capt. Jimmy. “We have been cobia fishing, spotted a fish and had people on jet skis pull up to the boat and ask us what we are doing. One time it happened in a tournament. We were working a fish and had a guy and a girl come up to us on a jet ski. They pulled up to us and said, ‘Ahoy!’ You can’t make this stuff up. This will be my 36th year in the charter business. I’ve seen everything from pornos being made in the salon to just about whatever you can imagine.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Boats, Featured Stories, Operations Tagged With: boat rules, boating etiquette, Charter Fishing, dock etiquette, fishing guidelines, sportfishing

Dredge Pulling Tricks from the Pros

January 13, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

angler with dredge

Photo courtesy Pepper Ailor

By Ric Burnley

The first time I saw a marlin dredge I had two thoughts. First: that looks ridiculous. Second: that looks awesome! At first, 40 rigged mullet dangling from a web-work of bars and leader looks like a cluster FUBAR waiting to happen. Put the dredge in the water, and dozens of swirling and flashing baits look like a school of bait on the run. Fish cannot resist.

Many anglers had the same experience when they first saw a dredge. We caught up with five pros to find out how they use dredges now, and how they plan to use them in the future.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, Tackle Tips, Techniques Tagged With: artificial baits, Bayliss, Dredge Baits, Dredging, natural baits, pulling tricks, Trolling

The Fine Art of Live Baiting

December 7, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

man live baiting fish

Captain Wade Richardson’s long time mate Herbie deploys this bite-sized treat. Perfect for a black, a blue, sailfish, dorado, roosterfish or cubera.

By Elliott Stark

Live baiting is founded on a very simple biological concept. Since the very first time two fish swam in the ocean, the big ones have been trying to eat the little ones. In spite of the simplicity of the precept, live bait fishermen represent one of fishing’s most secret of societies. Fine tuning their presentations, crafting marlin bites that are as intimate as they are spectacular, the captains who have perfected the fine art of live baiting have long been viewed as secretive and mysterious.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, Techniques Tagged With: live baiting, live baiting marlin, Offshore Fishing, tuna tubes

Child’s Play: An Expert’s Approach to Fishing with Kids

December 3, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

fin gaddy with his two sons on the qualifier

Fin Gaddy with his twin sons on the Qualifier. Photo courtesy Fin Gaddy

Photos and Story by Scott Kerrigan

For those passionate about fishing, ensuring that your kids enjoy time on the water is a very important—some might say life-altering—consideration. For those who make a living as charter or private boat captains, creating a kid-friendly fishing environment is that much more important. The difference between creating a lifelong angler and a kid that will never fish again can be something as simple as making sure that the tackle and the target species are age-appropriate.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventures, Featured Stories, Fishing Tagged With: Charter Fishing, Fin Gaddy, Fishing with kids, Offshore Fishing, scott kerrigan

The Art of Negotiating a Raise

November 19, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

By Jan Fogt

After talking to owners and captains about the best way to ask for a raise, we came away with this startling conclusion: most captains rely on their boss’s goodwill to provide cost of living and merit raises even though such raises usually are negotiated upfront in the business world.

Considering the majority of big game captains today manage hard assets costing well over a million dollars we think being a licensed sportfishing captain should be considered a professional occupation. Yet few captains and owners see the owner-crew relationship quite that way.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Advice, Careers, Featured Stories Tagged With: boat crew pay, boat owners, captains pay, negotiating a raise, offshorefishing

The Best and Worst Fish of My Life

November 16, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

Captain Ricky Wheeler and mate Stephen Bowen

By Keith Bowen

During the 2017 WMO, I fished with Capt. Ricky Wheeler on the Exile 65 Paul Mann out of The Canyon Club Marina in Cape May, NJ. After a classic crashing teaser bite, a plug was pitched on an 80W standup combo and it was ‘game on’ with a decent sized Blue Marlin. I quickly got in my Smitty Built harness and got ready for a fight. Between fishing in Costa Rica and New Jersey, I had caught about 20 Blue Marlin in the past but after one jump, it was clear this was my biggest to date. Everyone was extremely excited during the controlled chaos as there had not yet been a blue weighed in and we were in the right Calcutta’s.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventures, Crew, Featured Stories, Fishing, People Tagged With: captain ricky wheeler, fishing advice, Offshore Fishing, White Marlin Open

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News

  • Another New Texas State Record Bluefin Tuna Weighing 876 Pounds

    Another New Texas State Record Bluefin Tuna Weighing 876 Pounds

    Friday, April 16, 2021, Thomas J. Hilton, www.HiltonsOffshore.com—A week ago last year in early April 2020, 4 Texas boats with Hilton's subscribers aboard each landed a bluefin tuna weighing between 599 pounds to 820 pounds (new Texas state record). They were landed off of surface structures shown on www.HiltonsOffshore.com. Sea surface water temperature is critical this time of year, with fish... [Read More...]

  • NavNet TZtouch from Furuno

    NavNet TZtouch from Furuno

    If you missed the Palm Beach International Boat Show or didn't make it by the Furuno tent then check out the video below to see what was on display and to learn a little more about the Furuno products. Braden Shoemaker, Furuno SE Regional Manager, breaks down the different NavNet TZtouch systems and what they can offer on your next... [Read More...]

  • Champion's Cup & COTY Updates

    Champion's Cup & COTY Updates

    Champion's Cup With the third leg of the “Quest for the Crest” Sailfish Series wrapped up, the Bar South team is at a total of 11 points for live bait releases within the Champion's Cup Florida Division. Lunatico2 is following behind them with a close 7 points. Bar South was also crowned the 2020 Crest for the Crest Champions this... [Read More...]

  • Youth Fishing Trip Set for June 

    Youth Fishing Trip Set for June 

    West Palm Beach Fishing Club, Wednesday, April 7, 2021—Do you know a young angler who is interested in taking their saltwater fishing skills to the next level? Well, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s (WPBFC) charitable foundation has a program ideally suited for just such a youngster. The S.A.L.T.Y. (Saltwater Angling Lessons & Techniques for Youth) program is designed to... [Read More...]

  • Slant vs. Cupped Head: Action Makes the Difference

    Slant vs. Cupped Head: Action Makes the Difference

    By Capt. Bart Miller In early 2018, sportfishing legend Capt. Bart “Black Bart” Miller passed away. Bart left behind a lure company bearing his name and a list of marlin fishing feats that will likely never be duplicated. Miller was a veritable legend in the sportfishing industry and InTheBite is proud to have published some of Miller’s perspective. Here, from the archives, is one... [Read More...]

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