InTheBite

Captain Sam Crutchfield—Singer, Songwriter, Angler

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By Dale Wills

Singer, songwriter, newspaper columnist, book author, duck hunter and longtime captain, Sam Crutchfield can catch most anything that swims in fresh or salt water. Were that not enough, Capt. Sam is also proficient in Morse code and was bitten by an alligator while wade fishing for bass in a Florida lake. Captain Sam Crutchfield is an outdoorsman in every sense of the word. When speaking with Sam you could hear about most anything—a play by play story of a big blue off Walker’s Cay or about any number of adventures in Florida or the Caribbean. Today you can still find Capt. Sam at his local boat ramp fishing in the Indian River Lagoon and along the Treasure Coast beaches almost every morning. “You can never get a missed day of fishing back,” he says gently.

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Taking Tuna from Hookup to Plate

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By Ric Burnley

As soon as tuna reports leak onto the Internet, people go crazy. The day after a hot bite, every charter boat is booked and the launch ramp is backed up a mile. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in California, Florida, the Outer Banks, Costa Rica or Panama, as the madness has many causes. Tuna live in beautiful places. They promise an explosive strike followed by a bull-dog fight. But most of all, tuna are delicious. From the hook to the dinner table, tuna are one of the most valuable fish in the ocean. The following is a best practice for making the most of your next tuna. 

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The Best Learning Techniques for Captains and Mates

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By ITB Staff

Like a career in business or entertainment, as a sportfishing professional you must stay relevant. Lawyers, doctors, counselors, and real estate agents must all attend something called continuing education credits to keep their licenses current. While there is nothing like this in fishing, that doesn’t mean that getting a fulltime job on a boat is an excuse to stop learning.

Staying informed of the latest and greatest evolutions in fishing and learning from your mistakes are two central ways of doing this. The following provides a few of the best options to expand your fishing horizons – and build a well-rounded resume – even while working full time.

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Targeting Marlin and Pelagics from a Center Console

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As seen on this Invincible 36, King Size, the walk-around design of large center consoles provide plenty of options when fighting big fish. Photo courtesy Steve Dougherty

By Capt. Adam Peeples

Here in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, we are fortunate to have an excellent marlin fishery. Whether live baiting blue marlin, pulling an all-around spread for pelagics, or targeting white marlin during the late summer with naked ballyhoo, there are plenty of options to get connected with a feisty billfish.

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“Don’t Be That Guy!” – Captain’s Edition

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By Winslow Taylor

The relationships dynamics involving captain, crew, angler, charterer and owner combine to create complex sportfishing personality web. Combining the fact that all personalities have their quirks and the long hours (and weeks and months) spent living and working together on a boat and you have a recipe for interesting situations—of the good and bad varieties. Some folks do things that they think are “normal” but to another person these things could be strange or make them look like a total jerk. Simply stated a bit of consideration goes a long way.

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It’s never too late—or too early—to shop for Dad! With our latest June issue getting ready to hit docks, we’re offering our Father’s Day Special: buy a one-year subscription and get one-year free. Tell your Dad thank you with our 2-for-1 limited-time subscription*. Happy Father’s Day from InTheBite.

*offer ends Tuesday, June 22, 2021

https://www.inthebite.com/2021/06/54637/

Double Zero: The Importance of Hiring a Crew

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50th International Billfish Tournament, San Juan, Puerto Rico

By Capt. Scott “Fraz” Murie

Double zero is the term we have used in this business for as long as I can remember. It stands for owner/operator, or boats with no crews. Having a boat without a dedicated crew doesn’t make sense. The owners of these boats may think they are saving money by hiring a wash down and wax crew to keep their boats shiny two days a month. Some owner/operators think that’s all there is to it!

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Swinging the Steel: Time to Take the Shot

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big marlin stuck with gaff in Australia

Capt. Corey Hard and the Mauna Lea pictured with a brute of a fish jumping boat side after being struck with the flying gaff. This fish escaped capture. Even for experienced crews with all of the right equipment, the end game on a big fish is far from certain. Photo courtesy Dean Butler

By Jarad “Dingo” Boshammer

Even for the most experienced crew, taking a big fish is a challenge. For those lacking experience this is a daunting situation. More fish are lost boat side due to lack of experience than anywhere else. Losing fish can result from tackle failure, lack of preparation, buck fever, poor communication or bad driving. As it can be difficult to gain the experience needed to secure a giant fish boat side without practice, the following is an account of the approach, techniques and materials needed to harvest a large marlin.

 

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The Evolution of the Captain of the Year—The Championship of Sportfishing

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The InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup is the championship of sportfishing. The Cup is the world’s only quantifiable way to recognize the tournament success of professional sportfishermen. Comprised of 90-sanctioned events that span the world, there is nothing else like it. Winning an InTheBite Captain of the Year Award is a major achievement. From the winners to the Cup’s origin, it is an interesting tale.

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