InTheBite

Johnny Morris – Bass Pro Shops and Initial Supporters Donate $2 Million in Support of the Bahamas

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Anglers for the Bahamas banner

“Anglers for the Bahamas” campaign aligns anglers with worldwide relief leader, Convoy of Hope

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Bass Pro Shops founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris today announced “Anglers for the Bahamas,” a campaign to support the Bahamas in the wake of catastrophic devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian. Together with fishing industry partners, the initial donations are approaching nearly $2 million after a Thursday morning launch event.

Bass Pro Shops is contributing a minimum of $1 million toward relief efforts, including $500,000 worth of donated goods and $500,000 in cash donations to Convoy of Hope, an international humanitarian relief organization. As part of the donation, the outdoor retailer is contributing thousands of essential supplies including family-sized tents, outdoor cooking kits, and protein-rich Jack Links Beef Jerky. Other partners like Tyson Foods are donating 125,000 meals.

Uniting the angling community with Convoy of Hope, a respected worldwide leader in relief efforts

“All of us at Bass Pro Shops are heartbroken by the devastation in the Bahamas, which hold a special place in the hearts of all anglers. We understand anglers and many others may feel the same way and want to help but simply don’t know where to start. This was our inspiration to create Anglers for the Bahamas: Fishin’ for a Mission,” said Johnny Morris. “Beyond our pledge of financial support, we feel we can play a far greater role in supporting the Bahamas and its wonderful people by uniting anglers with an efficient and highly respected relief organization, Convoy of Hope.”

To reinforce this effort, Bass Pro will directly appeal to its database of over 200 million outdoor enthusiasts, vendors and industry partners to make donations through anglersforthebahamas.org, its stores, email database and on social media. Convoy of Hope is a highly regarded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity with emergency responders currently plugged in on the front lines throughout the Bahamas. Based in Bass Pro’s hometown of Springfield, Missouri, the international relief organization has built a reputation over the past 25 years of efficiently and effectively assisting communities impacted by natural disasters, crises and areas of extreme need around the world:

  • Worked on the ground in 48 states and more than 126 countries;
  • Responded to more than 370 disasters;
  • Served more than 100 million people in need;
  • Delivered 15,890 truckloads worth of food, water and relief supplies;
  • Mobilized more than 622,000 volunteers;
  • Earned a “Four Star Charity” rating from Charity Navigator 16 years in a row, ensuring more than 90 percent of every dollar raised goes to support on-the-ground relief.

“The Morris family and Bass Pro Shops have supported us for more than 20 years because of our extensive expertise supporting disaster relief efforts and making a difference where it’s needed most,” said Jeff Nene, national spokesperson for Convoy of Hope. “With the massive effort underway in the Bahamas, everyone who cares about this special place can feel confident their dollars will go where they are needed most.”

Bass Pro Shops customers can round-up their purchases to support relief efforts in impacted areas at all 12 Bass Pro Shops locations in Florida including Dania Beach, Daytona Beach, Destin, Ft. Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Miami, Orlando, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, Tallahassee and Tampa. Customers can also donate through Bass Pro’s web site, emails and on social media channels.

Angling industry partners step up to support the Bahamas

Since initial outreach began just two days ago, several high-profile individuals and business partners have already pledged to donate to Convoy of Hope’s efforts as part of “Anglers for the Bahamas.” Bass Pro’s goal for the campaign is to have a multiplying effect to do good. Preliminary support includes:

  • Tyson Foods — donating 125,000 servings of canned chicken valued at $150,000 in honor of the late Don Tyson, former Chairman of the Board, President & CEO, a world-renowned fisherman, founder of the Billfish Foundation that promotes conservation of marlin and other billfish and a member of the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame
  • Jack Links Beef Jerky — donating 5,000 bags of high-protein jerky and an equivalent matching cash donation of $50,000
  • Textron TRACKER OFF ROAD Vehicles — donating $100,000
  • Alan Williams — donating $100,000
  • Mastercard — donating $200,000 donation to Red Cross and waiving interchange fees through November 15 to several charitable donations in the name of Bahamas relief, as well as providing waivers to help get local businesses back on their feet
  • Pure Fishing (parent company of leading fishing brands including Abu Garcia, Berkley, Johnson and others) — donating $75,000
  • Navico Marine Electronics — donating $50,000
  • True Timber (camouflage and fishing apparel)– donating $25,000
  • Engel Coolers –donating $25,000 in products
  • Country music star and avid angler Luke Bryan — donating $10,000
  • Sunglass Hut — donating $10,000
  • Champion Power Equipment — donating $10,000
  • Tree House Kids, Inc.— donating $10,000
  • Feradyne Outdoors — donating $10,000
  • Local companies near Bass Pro’s hometown of Springfield, Missouri including Springfield Striping, Barrows Excavation, Opie’s Landscaping, Foggy River Realty, Keys Painting and Tom Boyce Excavating collectively donating $30,000.

To donate directly to relief efforts, please visit www.anglersforthebahamas.org.

 

 

 

Captain Chris Sheeder: Fisherman and Philosopher of the Highest Order

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Captain sheeder poses with fish on his boat, the Rum Line.

In Charter Docks, we talk to influential charter captains and share their stories with you. This edition features Captain Chris Sheeder, a man whose humility and selflessness belies the fact that he’s caught over 35,000 billfish and refined many of the most common techniques used in the sport today.

by Elliott Stark

While there are days when you’ll catch a bunch of fish and there are days when you get skunked, as a general rule you should probably not trust anyone who says that he or she does not enjoy fishing with Captain Chris Sheeder. Sheeder is laid back, quick with a joke and more than generous when it comes to sharing his experience and perspective. As for dock credibility, how does a career billfish tally of over 35,000 sound? Never one for bragging or self-promotion, you’d never know that his catch count is top two in history or that many of the modern approaches for bluewater fly fishing were refined in his cockpit.

Growing up in Honolulu, Sheeder’s affinity for the ocean started early. “My dad had a couple of friends who had charter boats. When I was 11, my Dad took me on my first trip offshore out of Kona. I had gotten good grades and it was a job well done kind of thing. It was on Ed Isaac’s boat. Ed, Norm, and Neil introduced me to marlin,” Sheeder recalls. “In the early afternoon a big fish showed up on the short corner – on a lure I had put together. The week before my Dad took me to the tackle shop, and I picked out a head and skirt and put it together. It got some funny looks, but that’s what the fish ate.”

“Three hours into the fight, it broke off. I was devastated,” Chris explains. “The old man came down to console a devastated child. He said, ‘That fish may be gone, but you’ll remember this day forever.’ He was right. In a lot of ways, it seems like I’m still chasing that fish. If I’d have caught it, we might not be talking.”

Chris sheeder with a large marlin

Sheeder up close and personal with a Midway Island monster.

“Ever since the Kona trip, fishing has been a drug, an addiction. It was hard to go to school when your high school overlooked the fishing grounds and you could see the boats hooking up. I started out like everybody – cleaning boats and fish, taking pictures. Then I was a mate and a captain,” Sheeder says. “I worked up through the best outfit in the harbor through my early years, they had three boats and I eventually ran one. It was in Kewalo Basin, home of Choy’s Monster.”

“One day, a fella named Jone Bone with Midway Sportfishing trached me down. He was trying to bring in some guys from Hawaii to fish with him. I was there five year,” Sheeder recalls. “The fishing was great. It was a little bit more seasonal than Hawaii and it had a good mix of inshore and offshore fishing. There were big fish in the summer — most over 500 [pounds]. I wond the first Aftco Tag Flag, the Billfish Foundation’s contest, in 1999 for tagging blues. The best day I ever had offshore was releasing two fish that were probably granders. The biggest fish I ever weighed was 927 — these two were at least as big. There were also lots of [giant trevally]. The place was polluted with them.”

“Fly fishing started for me there. I had a client who was fly fishing for GT and asked if they could catch a blue marlin on fly. I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ I went to Costa Rica a few months before and saw the offshore fly deal, but I’d never thought about blues. That day we raised double blues – 400-500 each. We had a massive bite. It sent shivers down everyone’s back and might have been on for only 22 seconds! It broke off but it didn’t matter – if you’ve ever seen a blue marlin eat a fly you know that nothing else after that really matters. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

“Midway closed to tourists the next summer, and I moved to Costa Rica because of that fish,” Sheeder recalls. “I felt bad for all of the fly fishermen. They’d spend $10,000 and prepare for months – tying knots and making flies. Then, when guys would see them walking down the dock with their fly rods, the crews would say, ‘Shit! We have to fly fish today.’ They’d been looking forward to this for months.”

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“I fished at Crocodile Bay when it first opened in 2000 and was there for the next few years. Fly fishermen kind of flocked to me. I always asked about their skill, their background, whether they’d done this before and where. I’d ask them, ‘How many did you catch there?’ Clients kept saying Guatemala and the numbers they caught were massive.”

“I got a hold of Tim Choate,” Chris says. Choate was opening Fins and Feathers in Guatemala. “I signed on for six months – which turned into 18 plus years in Guatemala. Fins and Feathers shut down in 2006. A client of mine that I’d fished with a bunch and I took care of – I’d arrange a private house for him and his group, etc., asked me what I was going to do next. Then he said, ‘Who’s going to take care of me?’ I said, ‘Buy a boat and I’ll take care of you.’ He picked up a Marlin Magazine, turned to the back and asked me, ‘What do you think of a 37 Merritt?’ I told him, let’s just enjoy your trip and we can talk about it.”

That client’s name was Jim Turner. The 37 Merritt would soon be the Release. “Jim got home on a Monday. He called Tuesday and said, ‘Here’s your ticket, let’s look at the Merritt.’” That was the beginning of Casa Vieja Lodge.

“Turner and I set record for release on fly in day. We set out to do 30 – the record was 27. We caught 57 – he caught 54 of them. At the time that was the record for any gear – fly or conventional,” Sheeder recalls. “I kind of specialized in fly fishing in Guatemala. With Jake Jordan, my first mate Nico Melendrez, we kind of changed many of the fly techniques used. It used to be a lot of long casts and a lot of stripping – you’d lose a lot of fish that way.”

Chris and elisa sheeder

An old fisherman with the catch of his life — Captain Chris and wife Elisa.

Sheeder’s adaptations to the bluewater approach to fly fishing for billfish include cutting down the fly line to the bare essential and cutting down on the running line (for marlin outfits, they got rid of it all together). Each of these modifications are designed to reduce line drag in the water. Sheeder also adopted a single hook rig, “It’s safer for the mates and for the fish and the hook up ratio is just as good, if not a little better,” he says. “We would also tease the fish in closer to the boat. This not only raises the percentage, but makes the process even more cool because you’re hooking fish at your feet. We also changed the tease process. “Instead of the ‘stop and start, wait for the fish to show on the surface before you wind’ approach, we go with the assumption that each fish has a limited number of bites he’ll give up in an attack. Why waste them on teasers? Once the fish shows on a specific teaser, get it to the boat as quick as possible, whether he sinks, fades or stays strong – you’ll end up with a fresher, more aggressive fish to deal with behind the boat in the strike zone instead of farting around with him outside of casting range. This especially holds true with blue marlin. I’ve seen blues that we could tease forever, but once they get a hold of that teaser a few times, it’s over!”

While Sheeder’s career catch numbers (35,000-plus billfish, with more than 1,500 blue marlin), list of tournament wins, and records (he personally holds the 16-pound and 20-pound tippet records for giant trevally on the fly – both fish were just shy of 80-pounds) are impressive, they may in fact be over shadowed by how nice of a guy he is. Known for his sense of humor and keeping it light on the boat, Sheeder’s list of pranks and jokes is great.

“One time in a tournament Jim Turner brought a pig down in a bag. He released it aboard the Intensity. By the time they caught it, it had taken a couple of shits down stairs,” he says with a laugh. “It all started with a guy going back to the lodge and finding a horse in his room.” In retaliation for the pig being loosed on the boat, Sheeder arrived to his boat one morning to find a goat on board. “It was in a tournament. It was me, Jim Turner and Erik Lorentzen on board. We are all big guys, together we are over 1,000 pounds. Instead of returning the goat, we turned the joke around and said ‘Thanks! We’ll eat it for lunch,’ and left. The fellow who owned the goat was a bit upset, but we won that tournament…and yes he got his goat back.”

“We also had a disco ball that we would raise like a flag every time we won a tournament and it got a good work out for many years,” Sheeder says. While many have seen photos of the ball, there is more to the story. “It was an actual working disco ball that came from a local Cat House. I don’t ask too many questions, but you need to be some kind of ninja to complete that mission! I’m not sure how it wound up on the boat but there it was one morning at 5:00am spinning on the center rigger with the Bee Gees playing full throttle! We won that tournament too and from then on it was a Rum Line tradition.”

Chris Sheeder recently left Casa Vieja Lodge. The next step in the captain’s lifetime fishing adventure is yet to play out. Like his approach to fishing and life, Sheeder is philosophical in thinking about his place in the world. “Everything good that’s ever happened in my life happened on my boat – including meeting my wife.” Elisa was working for a sponsor of a tournament and met Chris while fishing on his boat. “I don’t feel like I’m in the sportfishing business, I’m in the dream fulfillment business. It might sound cheesy, but fishing is a great way of enriching other people’s lives. It’s been my avenue to making life time memories. How can you touch other people’s lives? Take them fishing. Lots of people think about a day spent together for a long, long time.”

This statement rings honestly for Captain Chris Sheeder. For a reminder, he just needs to think about a day of fishing when he was 11.

Subscribe to InTheBite to see what Captain we talk to next! Check us out here for more information.

Viking Announces New 38 Open Billfish

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The new 38 Open Billfish blends the sportiness and purpose-built practicality of the Billfish series with the versatile command-deck design of the Viking open express boat. She runs on the same modified V hull as the 38 Billfish, which has received rave reviews for its smooth dry ride and nimble handling at speed and when backing down.

A raised centerline command station gives the captain clear sightlines in all directions and is equipped with a fiberglass (or optional faux teak) help pod, power-assist hydraulic steering with stainless steel wheel and Palm Beach-style controls. The Cummins Inboard Joystick System brings a new level of confidence in close quarters and around the docks. Twin 16-inch multi-function displays anchor a complete Garmin package on hull No. 1.
A starboard-side companionway leads below, where you’re greeted with hand-finished, high-gloss teak and Amtico flooring in a soothing climate-controlled living area. A starboard-side sofa across from the galley seats up to four and can also be used as an additional bunk.
The Private head has a large walk-in shower with satin nickel fixtures and an attractive Corian-topped vanity with sink and storage.
Forward of the head and also on the port side, the galley has everything you need to prepare and serve meals: a Corian countertop, two-burner electric stove, microwave/convection oven, upper and lower cabinet storage with maple interiors and under-counter drawer-style refrigeration with built-in ice maker.Forward, the cabin is appointed with a lower double bunk and an upper single, along with lots of storage capacity — a maple-lined hanging locker as well as drawer and cabinet space.Like all Vikings, the 38 Open Billfish comes backed by our unbeatable customer service and the tremendous ownership benefits of the Viking subsidiaries Atlantic Marine Electronics and Palm Beach Towers that provide custom electronics and tuna tower installations, respectively.Our new 46 Billfish (above), 38 Open Billfish and the Valhalla Boatworks V Series made their debut at our annual Sea Trial Event in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Stay tuned for more photos and video of these exciting new models in future reports.
Viking Yacht Company, Route 9 “On the Bass River”, New Gretna, NJ 08224

The Influencers of Sportfishing

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Influencers of Sportfishing Featured Image

by Rachel Chesnes

Picture this: Your everyday to-do list involves traveling to some of the best fisheries in the world, sharing epic angling stories, working alongside some of the top names and brands in the sportfishing industry, and of course, posting impressive fish content across a number of social media platforms. Sounds like the stuff only fantasies are made of? Think again. This is the reality for some of the top sportfishing influencers on the web. These elite individuals have made a name for themselves, devoted to engaging, educating, and entertaining their followers across the sportfishing landscape. While social media has become an effective tool for branding yourself, reaching this influential status doesn’t come as naturally (or easily) as it may sound.

What does it take to earn the title of “Influencer?” How do you put your follower count on steroids? What are the best practices when it comes to fishing social media? We asked some of the who’s who of sportfishing social media to find out.

Elliot Sudal – @acksharks

Iconic for his niche in shark fishing off the beach, Elliot Sudal has made his passion a career – working with a variety of shark research programs on tagging and releasing sharks. Now as a verified member on his Instagram account of over 118k followers, Elliot’s posting philosophy is to set a good example on how to properly catch, tag, and release these sharks. He also uses his platform for educating people about the different species he’s catching, and the best tackle and approach for landing a shark from shore.  We talked with Elliot about his journey and how he’s become known as the “Shark Wrestler” today.

Q: When did your Instagram account really take off?

A: It’s a funny story actually. I was living in Nantucket during the summer five years ago, and I was surf casting blue fish from the beach when a shark chomped my fish right in half in front of me. At this point, I knew nothing about shark fishing, so I basically threw out a little wire leader and hooked this giant shark. I fought it for an hour and people were showing up to video it, then I landed the shark and grabbed it by the tail, pulled the hook out and let it go. I had no idea what I was doing, knew nothing about shark fishing, but these were the heydays of viral videos and someone posted it on Facebook. The local newspaper reposted it, and three hours later Good Morning America flew a crew out. It was a really cool video and was right before Shark Week, it got like over ten million views in a week.

Q: What factors do you attribute to your main account’s growth and popularity?

A: Viral videos have always been a huge spike in likes and followers. I took the Vice President out, and we caught a 15-foot sawfish that fought for 11 hours, that got all sorts of attention. Then the following year, I caught a 13-foot hammerhead. People Magazine posted this whole “sexy shark wrangler” thing, which got me like 20,000 followers almost overnight. And then just recently, I caught an 1100-pound tiger shark, the biggest shark I’ve ever caught, and that got picked up by News Week. I got Instagram verified and that blue check mark – that’s helped a lot. The biggest thing is doing crazy videos that get reposted a lot. Also, what I do is super unique and you don’t necessarily have to be into fishing to be fascinated by sharks.

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Q: What central message do you hope your audience takes away through following you?

A: I always say the ocean is in a state of change and just being aware of what’s going on in the world of shark research and shark conservation. In the beginning, it was more about the crazy catch and making it look cool. Now, I’ve shifted everything towards shark education, awareness, research and information – it’s the message I want to be promoting.

 

elliot sudan tags a shark

Leo Chapman – @billfish.inc

Though only in his early 20’s, Leo Chapman is the founder of Billfish Inc. A highly recognized offshore fishing page established on Instagram and Facebook, Billfish started out as a small hobby that has grown into a well-respected social media brand. Founded in 2014, Billfish specializes in sharing emerging trends in the fishing and boating industry. Billfish and its activities are guided by a singular mission – providing value in the form of entertainment and sharing information to the offshore fisherman. The company’s latest venture, Billfish Gear, started by selling out on their first run of stickers – and reinvesting every penny earned – in the course of launching a line of performance fishing apparel. Established as one of the premier Instagram accounts on the billfishing landscape, this is just the beginning for Billfish.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started fishing?

A: My grandpa always believed that the best way to keep a family together is to invest in a boat. So that’s where it all started. Growing up, my family owned a 46-foot Bertram known as the Hey Chama. I took my first steps on that boat. I started fishing when I was about ten years old with my dad in his 21-foot Contender and later on a 54-foot Bertram. We ultimately upgraded to the latest Hey Chama, a 64-foot Bayliss. On the Bayliss, we travel around the world and fish from the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica all the way to North Carolina.

Q: What type of posts are your followers most interested in?

A: Our slogan is by fishermen for fishermen. That’s because the people in our community really are out there doing this on a weekly basis. For us, the best piece of content is one that provides information – whether it be in the form of education, inspiration or just debating on a subject. And it’s always fun to talk to our followers in the comments and hear everyone’s opinions and see each other’s points.

Q: What’s the #1 key to a successful post and someone looking to build their influence?

A: A successful post in our eyes is not based on how many likes or comments you get. For us, the most successful posts are the ones that provide the most value to our audience. This value can take the form of entertainment or sharing useful information, but it should not come at the expense of moral boundaries. Lust for growth won’t make us stray away from our content strategy, we’d rather grow more slowly and be respected than share attention grabbing posts that don’t actually have a goal except maybe going viral. What separates us from the rest is that we’re one of the only brands or pages that are run by fishermen who are out there competing and placing in top tournaments like the Triple Crown in Costa Rica.

leo chapman and crewof the Hey Chama pose at the 2019 los suenos triple crown

Photos courtesy of Pepper Ailor/ Los Suenos Resort and Marina 

Captain Nick Stanczyk – @captnickstanczyk

Captain Nick Stanczyk is one of the most recognizable and fastest-growing names in the sportfishing industry. From being central to pioneering daytime swordfishing in the Florida Keys, to having a show on the Weather Channel, and not being afraid to bring bananas on the boat – there’s a lot to like about Capt. Nick. Beyond the consistent swordfish action in his own backyard, Nick also frequently travels the world in search of monster broadbill – fishing in such far-flung destinations as Tasmania. Sharing his impressive catches on social media, with a following of over 99,000 people, Stanczyk has effectively optimized his charter business. Nick also manages the social media accounts for Bud N’ Mary’s Marina (the Islamorada institution that is owned by his family) that have over 80,000 followers on Instagram.

Q: What factors do you attribute to your main account’s growth and popularity?

A: I do fish a lot, so I have a lot of content, pictures and videos. Taking the time to put together a decent shot and composing something that looks really good is important. And then, working with other companies in the same industry, they kind of help promote you as well as you promoting them. So cross promotion helps everyone to grow their sales and accounts.

Q: What has been your biggest or trendiest post?

A: We caught a giant 757-pounder swordfish on March 31st. This got the most traction of any social media posts I’ve done. Probably because it was a huge fish, one of the biggest ever caught by a recreational fisherman in the United States, that post got a lot of attention and engagement. We made a couple YouTube videos from it and quite a few news stations picked it up. It got a lot of views for us, one video had over 500,000 and another 350,000 views.

Q: In some form, every account has critics. What’s your advice for handling criticism?

A: Sometimes you receive some negative comments. For instance, I put up a video once of cleaning a fish and nine out of ten people would say, “WOW, that was really good,” and I thought I did a decent job fileting it. But of course, some people would critique it and comment things like, “Oh, what a waste. You left so much meat on there.” So, people are going to try to pick you a part, but I guess you kind of just have to let it go in one ear and out the other. Even if you have a post with a little bit of backfire, it usually doesn’t last very long. Stay positive, keep doing what you’re doing, and the audience that likes watching your stuff will continue to support you.

nick stanczyk instagram post @captainnickstanczyk

 

Darcie – @_darcizzle_

Darcie Arahill, better known as Darcizzle on her social media accounts, didn’t originally set out to be a woman figure in sportfishing. She initially started out on Instagram, where her account really took off by posting catches from offshore fishing trips with her boyfriend Brian. As her likes and followers began to grow, Darcizzle Offshore was born on Facebook with a page-like count of over 120,000. Darcizzle is recognized most on her YouTube channel, where she posts videos two times a week and has a subscriber count of over 265,000.

Q: What factors do you attribute to your main account’s growth and popularity?

A: Well, number one, being a girl in a predominately man’s sport. Two, I mean it’s hot in Florida so I’m also wearing a bikini which can be a draw of course. But also, I think my passion for fishing really comes through in my videos. My fans tell me this all the time, that I get so enthusiastic and upbeat whether it’s a big fish or a little fish, I’m super excited. People really like the passion I express for fishing. Also, that I’m out there following my dreams, and if I can do it, they can do the same for theirs.

Q: In what single way has social media most changed the sportifshing industry?

A: It’s definitely brought more eyes to the sport. I feel like a lot more people are fishing these days which is amazing. Social media has provided so much more content, whether it be how-to information, tips and techniques. For instance, I have a cast net video that’s gotten a great response. Not only has social media put eyes on the sport, but really giving others advice and the skills for different types of fishing so they can do it, too. It’s bringing positivity to the sport and not just the catches.

Q: What’s the #1 key to a successful post and someone looking to build their influence?

A: Number one, always have original content and post your own photos. Also, you want to post newer photos, you don’t really want to go back in the day with really old photos because social media algorithms pick up on that and they don’t perform as well. It’s also important to try and have people react and comment on your photos. Engagement on your page is highly important, more so than the likes and follows. You want to be interactive with your followers by responding to their comments. It shows you care and not just full of yourself.

Darcie poses with dolphin dorado mahi mahi

Capt. Rick Murphy – @captrickmurphy

A fishing guide for 37 years in the Florida Keys, Everglades and Biscayne Bay, Murphy is the CEO of RM Media, executive producer and host of Sportsman’s Adventures, Florida Insider Fishing Report and Texas Insider Fishing Report. Captain Rick Murphy sets the standard for doing it all in the marine industry. Established across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, each show has its own social media page with a power team of brand ambassadors putting out fresh content daily. Whether it’s through TV or his social media content, Murphy offers fishing tips, techniques, how-to’s for managing your gear, rods, reels and boating maintenance – along with conservation efforts.

Q: In what single way has social media most changed the sportfishing industry?

A: I think the one thing I see about social media, that we didn’t have earlier when I started my career and certainly my fishing career, is the accessibility to touch people. Whether you have only 100 fans or 100,000 fans, you have the ability to put out an idea, message, a new technique or a spot. The key is that you have those people in one click and your message is immediately felt.

Rick Murphy prepares fishing line

Q: Any exciting projects in store for 2019 that your followers should get excited for?

A: We want the younger generation to have somebody affiliated with our company to follow and someone who they can look up to as a role model. So, this year in 2019, we created a YouTube channel called Sportman’s Adventures Reel Life. The YouTube team is made up of young adults in their 20s who are all very good at fishing all different ways. We’re going out and shooting eight- to ten-minute YouTube films of their particular adventures and the way these younger kids talk to each other. They’re covering what’s cool and maybe something to us we forgot about fishing. They’re reinventing it in their own way, which is really cool they’re able to do that.

Q: What makes your pages unique compared to similar accounts?

A: The timeliness of our pages are what makes them so unique. Because we have so many things to do and contractual obligations, with 58 sponsors, we’re busy. Everything we’re putting up on Facebook and Instagram is what’s happening right then and is so relevant because were constantly working at it.

Rick murphy poses with friends

Carey Chen – @careychenart

Marine artist Carey Chen has established an impressive portfolio that merges his love for sportfishing and life at sea. His career as an influencer draws from the perspective he offers through paintings and photographs in some of the world’s most impressive fisheries. With a following of over 68,000 on Instagram, Carey keeps the community on their toes for the next wild photo or video going on across the sportfishing realm.

Q: How did you get started on social media and what do you use your account for?

A: A friend of mine just said to me one day, “Let’s try to get on Instagram.” Before that I’d been on Facebook for a while. I’ve built up a lot of content because I’m always traveling, so I have a lot of photos and stories to tell and Instagram’s really worked out good for me. I do about 40 tournaments a year, and I’m a feature artist for about 60, so I get to travel the islands and see what most people don’t get to see. I enjoy visiting the beautiful Caribbean, beautiful water and getting to fish a lot, so that’s my office.

carey chen half body portrait

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background as an artist?

A: Well I was a fisherman before I was an artist, so that’s how I’ve gotten to see marlins close up and all the colors of these fish. That’s how it sticks in my head. I get my inspiration from fishing, and the unique thing about sportfishing art, marlins and billfish and stuff like that, is that you only have a few seconds to see the fish. You know, there’s a lot of photos and artwork of lions and tigers out there that you can paint from, but you don’t really get to be in the water and see a marlin coming at you.

Q: What have you found to be most rewarding about working in social media?

A: Let me tell you, it is so rewarding when somebody from Africa messages you or someone from New Zealand, or anywhere, and says, “Hey, I want a painting,” or “Can I buy artwork for my t-shirts?” The new thing that I am doing is digital art which is on the computer or an iPad. I paint all these incredible scenes, and I’m able to email them directly to a client all over the world.

carey chen fishing painting

So what does it take to stand out and earn your star as a sportfishing influencer? Like a lot of success stories, it’s a mixture of luck, hard work, actively networking, and being in the right place at the right time — or even better, where the fish are biting!

Bahamas Donation Options– Location Drop Offs and More

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Dear Friends of InTheBite,

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Dorian. The Bahamas are a wonderful place, full of wonderful people. Beyond the general desire to help those in need, the Bahamas have a special place in the hearts of many in the boating and sportfishing communities. The aftermath of the storm leaves many wondering how you can best help the Abacos and the Bahamas. With the abundance of options posted, it’s only natural to try to determine how to most directly benefit those in need.

Hurricane Dorian Airport aftermath damage inthebite

Below are a couple of InTheBite’s recommendations—based on our industry contacts and contacts on the ground. We want to help! To begin, we have been provided with the following relief efforts.

List of Donation Items, as requested by the Government of the Bahamas:

Water. Ice. Non-perishable foods. Hygiene kits (tissue, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towels, sanitary napkins). Cleaning supplies (bleach, mops, brooms, garbage bags, sponges, clothes pins). Disinfectants. Baby formula, bottles and supplies. Jerry cans (plastic water bottles). Beds, cots. Blankets. Portable toilets. Flashlights. Batteries. Mosquito repellent (DEET-free). Cooking utensils.  Temporary housing. Tarpaulins. Plastic sheeting. Plywood. Roof shingles. Generators. Chain saws. Shovels. Disposable plates and eating utensils. Power banks. Solar-powered chargers. Portable radios (battery or crank). Cloth bags or biodegradable bags. First aid kits (bandages, gauze and tape).

If you have information on how to help in the relief effort, please contact us here or send an e-mail to info@inthebite.com 

Hurricane Dorian Airport aftermath damage inthebite

This is going to be a long-term recovery! God Bless all those affected,

Sincerely,

InTheBite Staff

Monetary Donation for Elbow Cay:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/hurricane-relief-for-elbow-cay-amp-marsh-harbour

WPB Supply Drop-off:
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190903/hurricane-dorian-west-palm-disaster-relief-mission-headed-to-bahamas

The Abaco Relief Alliance is composed of sportfishing companies and individuals who are organizing and spearheading relief donations and supplies. They are are a group on Facebook– their page provides a great deal of information on the latest. The group is composed of: Cody Holcomb, Ric Peeples, Ed Dwyer, Bruce Marx, Scott Baxter, SeaHunter Boats, Crook and Crook, Grand Slam Boats LLC, American Custom Yachts, Pipe Welders, and High Seas Electronics. Here is a list of drop off locations throughout South Florida.

Abaco Holdings Co. Ltd.
940 Eller Drive
Ft Lauderdale Fl 33316

Sea Hunter Boats
Manatee Bay Marina on mm 112
99 Morris Avenue, Key Largo
Eddie Leon

Sea Hunter Boats
25545 SW 140th Ave, Homestead, FL, 33032. Contact Eddy Leon @ 1(305)984-3000

Marker One Marina
343 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL, 34698. Contact Caitlin Jewett @ 1(727)687-0924.

Grand Slam Boats
1004 NW 1st Street Bay 1
Ft Lauderdale, Fl. 33311

Plantation Boat Mart & Marina
2359 PGA Blvd #101
Palm Beach Gardens
954-809-5321
Gaby Pacheco 305-978-4126

Plantation Boat Mart & Marina 
90400 Overseas Hwy
Tavernier, FL. 33070
Gaby Pacheco 305-978-4126

Allweather Patio Outdoor & Home Furniture
4940 N.W. 1st Street
Hialeah, FL. 33014
Gaby Pacheco
305-978-4129

Miami Outboard Club
1099 MacArthur Causeway
Miami, FL. 33137
Gaby Pacheco
305-978-4129

Crook & Crook 
2795 S.W. 27th Ave.
Miami, FL. 33133
Lily Crook
305-854-0555

American Custom Yachts
6800 SW Jack James Drive, Stuart, FL, 34997. Contact Cody Holcomb @ 1(772)370-2110

MacGregor Yachts 
2352 PGA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Evolution by MacGregor Yachts 
48 E Blue Heron Blvd
Riviera Beach, FL 33404

Solace Boats 308 S Old County Rd, Edgewater, FL 32132.

Nikki White
O-Sea-D
H.S. White Corp.
1350 South Dixie Hwy East
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
my cell: 954.816.6455

Sportfish Outfitters
261 N ALT A1A Jupiter Fl 33477

Delivery Dudes, the company that brings food from restaurants to your door, is also organizing and facilitating donation drop offs at the following locations:

Delray Beach
Downtowner Office
333 NE 2nd St.
(561) 573-5018
10am-10pm

Fort Lauderdale
The Riverside Market Cafe
608 SW 12th Ave.

(954) 358-8333
8am-12am

Plantation
Riverside Market Plantation
6900 Cypress Rd
(954) 306-6819
9am-10pm

The Riverside Market South
3218 SE 6th Ave
(954) 524-8986
10am-11pm (Sunday until 5pm)

Pompano Beach
Interior Designs by Steven G
2818 Center-port Circle
(954) 592-3332
9am-5pm (Mon- Fri)

Stuart
Hanger 3
1845 SE Airport Rd.
(561) 573-5018
9am-8pm

JL Marine, the makers of Power Pole, are accepting donations at their headquarters.  Donations can be made starting on Wednesday, Sept. 4 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET until Friday, Sept. 6 in the Warranty and Parts Dept. entrance of Power-Pole headquarters located at 9010 Palm River Road in Tampa.

 

 

Something Different: Fly Fishing the Alaskan Bear Trail

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While the Bear Trail Lodge in Alaska is different than the standard bluewater fare featured on InTheBite.com, it provides a unique experience full of angling excitement and natural wonder. Perhaps it may warrant a place on your fishing travel itinerary next year….

Photos and Story By Pete Robbins 

I’ve been to exotic fishing lodges all over the world – from Zambia to Brazil to Mexico, and all over the continental United States. I’ve also fished with legions of bass pros, including numerous Bassmaster Classic champs and Hall of Famers.

But I’d never mixed the two until Texas legend Keith Combs and I visited Bear Trail Lodge in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska this August.

Bear trail lodge, Alaska

It is not an easy task to get a dedicated bass angler away from his preferred quarry, especially when that means taking him out of his comfort zone. You’d think there’d be a “band of anglers” spirit and a certain esprit de corps among those who’ve dedicated their lives to chasing fish, but sometimes the distinctions and cultural differences create more barriers than bonds. Trout fanatics keep a safe distance from the bass guys, who avoid the catfish freaks, who certainly don’t understand the bonefish set. So you could forgive Combs if he entered the lodge and was a bit freaked out by the fully-stocked fly tying table front and center, or the wader room, or the books on entomology.

fly fishing bear trail lodge alaska

The beauty of Bear Trail Lodge, though, was that they meet each angler where he or she resides. If you want to explore difficult two-handed casting techniques or highly-technical approaches, they can do that. If you’ve never held a rod before, you’re still going to catch ridiculous numbers of fish.

King salmon, bear trail lodge alaska

Combs and I fell somewhere between those two extremes. I fish probably 70 days a year. He’s out there a minimum of 200. Nevertheless, between us you could count the number of days we’d spent fly fishing on one hand with fingers left over. We were happy to use conventional gear to land big king, chum and silver salmon, but in the end it was the two fly fishing flyouts to Katmai National Park that were most memorable. Fishing amongst legions of brown bears, we tapped out on all five species of salmon, plus grayling, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden char. While we hadn’t caught most of those species before, our angling experience gave us a leg up in figuring out how to read water, fight the fish and approach the next spot.

Grizzly bears fighting in Alaska

Lodge owner Nanci Morris Lyon has never caught a bass – indeed, Alaska is the only one of the fifty states that has none (although one was reputedly caught and killed in 2018) – and Combs was new to the world of salmonids, but they bonded because they are both at the top of their game. Combs has won the Toyota Texas Bass Classic three times, including in 2014 at Lake Fork, when he set the tour-level record for a three-day, five-fish limit event with 15 bass that weighed 110 pounds. Likewise, Lyon holds multiple IGFA worlds. Even if they didn’t fully understand each other’s worlds, each could respect the level of talent and dedication that it took to reach their mutual pedestals. Over Alaskan Brewing Company Freeride Pale Ale drawn from the tap, a dinner of prehistoric king crab claws, and a dessert built on a base of just-picked berries, they found common ground and regaled each other with (true) fish tales all evening.

greyling bear trail lodge alaska

Here is the elusive greyling– the arctic equivalent of a sailfish?

The beauty of Bear Trail Lodge is that from May to October, the fish are always biting, and with nearly 50 flyout locations, as well as record-class fishing on the Naknek River just out the back door, there are more productive stretches to explore than you could fish in a lifetime. Even if you don’t fish at all, the plentiful gourmet food and unforgettable scenery and wildlife are compelling – but if you go, you’re going to want to fish. There’s no snobbery here, no barriers to entry. If you’ve ever walked into a tackle store or down a marina dock and felt like you were out of place, like a hundred sets of eyes were scrutinizing you asking “What’s he doing here?” then you need to make this easily accessible, yet remarkably exotic trek. You’ll be fully within the borders of the United States, yet it’s every bit as grand and wild as the sights of Africa, Brazil and Costa Rica.

float plane, fly in anglers Bear Trail Lodge Alaska

For more information about Bear Trail Lodge, go to www.beartraillodge.com or call (907) 246-2327.

For more information about Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs, go to www.keithcombsbassfishing.com.

dinner and appetizers at bear trail lodge alaska

Desperado Wins Pirate’s Cove

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Desperado ain’t out riding fences no more. The Manteo-based charter boat, a 56-foot Taylor Harrison run by Capt. Rob Barker, went wire to wire to win the 36th annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament. The team added a confirmed blue marlin and sailfish on Friday to accrue 1,000 points overall, good for a payout of $198,519. Jeff James and Braxton Rigsbee are the mates and the anglers included Mickey Carter, Jeff Craven, Craig Sudbrink, Billy Carter, Andy Gay and Ron Wade.

Desperado was the top boat with seven billfish releases (two confirmed blue marlin and five sailfish). The boat also won additional jackpots for points and the Day 1 billfish daily.

2019 Pirates Cove Winners. Desperado.

“This is the most memorable win for me since the Pirate’s Cove is our local tournament,” Barker said after the awards banquet Friday night. “It really means a lot. My mates and crew did a great job. I’ve been fishing with some of these guys since I was a mate.”

The General, a 55 Buddy Cannady based in Morehead City, NC and run by Capt. Wade Fickling, earned second place boat honors with its last day rally of a verified blue marlin and two sailfish. The General won $104,542.50 by releasing six billfish overall, good for 900 points. Alberto Ramos and Trey Sadler are the mates and the anglers included Brandon Barham, Andrew Farrar, Brad Schendt, Thomas Eller, Adam Johnson and Zack Schuch.

Skirt Chaser, another Buddy Cannady (53 foot) with local Barry Daniels at the helm also earned some serious coin for the week—$136,343–for releasing four billfish. John Elvers, Justin Huntley, Lanier Riddick, Dennis Fitzgerald, and Dillon Jones manned the rods, while mates Billy Dickerson and Gunner Jones worked the ‘pit.

Natural, a 56 Ricky Scarborough (Capt. Carl Beale) was named the fourth place boat with four billfish releases, while Sea Toy, a 59 Spencer Yachts (Capt. Bull Tolson) was fifth with seven releases. Dan Stephano earned the Top Angler Trophy with three sailfish released while fishing on Sea Toy.

Since nearly the entire fleet chose to lay on Day Two, the two-place daily jackpots were split over the three remaining fish days. In addition to Desperado NC and Skirt Chaser, the payouts went to Uno Mas as the top boat for Day 3. Second place prizes ($17,085) went to Fender Bender, Goombay and Pelican. Fin Planner was the top boat in the blue marlin release points, winning $83,300, while Sandra D, Skirt Chaser and Bi-Op-Sea earned money for releasing the first billfish each fishing day.

Owen Maxwell and his team on Ann Warwick, a 76 Paul Mann, are taking home $9,775 for boating the largest tuna in the winner-take-all jackpot. Maxwell’s bigeye tipped the scales at 114.6 pounds. J&B, a 55 Wanchese, scored the largest dolphin of the week, a bull at 45.6 pounds, also worth $9,775, while Triple “S”, a 60 Viking, boated the top wahoo at 54.8 pounds.

Sheree Leach, fishing on Dropped Call, a 61 Viking, was named the Top Lady Angler for releasing one verified blue marlin. Clay Horton, manning the rod on Trophy, a 50 Viking, earned Top Junior Angler honors after releasing a white marlin and sailfish.

A total of 71 boats competed in the 36th annual event, with $702,400 in prize money on the line. A total of 124 billfish were released during the three days of fishing, including 82 sailfish, 31 blue marlin and 11 white marlin. Twenty-eight game fish were brought to the scales.

“It’s been a fun week,” said Tournament Director Heather Maxwell. “Except for some rain, the seas cooperated and it was great to see that many blue ones caught. I’d like to thank all the teams for fishing with us again, my board of directors, all the wonderful sponsors and our hard-working staff and volunteers. I look forward to seeing everyone again next August here on the Outer Banks.”

The 37th Annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament is scheduled for August 10-14, 2020.

Kona Grander– Big Island Marlin Tournament

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By Capt. Mark Johnston

Tournament angler Keith Hilton had an unreal day fishing onboard the Marlin Magic II with Capt. Marlin Parker when he landed a monster 1,035-pound blue marlin on the third and final day of Kona’s Big Island Marlin Tournament! The gigantic blue was the first grander caught off Kona since August 26, 2015, and the kind of fish that has made Kona famous and known as one of the world’s greatest blue marlin fishing destinations.

Grander Marlin 2019 Big Island Marlin Tournament. Marlin Magic II. Captain Marlin Parker

Fishing with the longtime veteran captain, deckhand Ryan Thurner and crewmember Carol Lynne, Hilton jumped on the rod when the gargantuan fish inhaled a Marlin Magic Ruckus Lure. After an epic 20-minute battle with the fish jumping all over the place, whitewater erupting everywhere, the swivel hit the rod tip and Thurner grabbed the leader and wired the fish alongside the boat. Brian Rice threw the first gaff, followed by Parker coming down off the bridge and sinking the second gaff for reassurance.  Ozzy Culhaghil recorded the event for tournament director Jody Bright and Carol Lynne, as always, took great action photos.

Jumping blue marlin. Grander marlin 2019 Big Island Marlin Tournament. Carol Lynne

Jumping tournament grander for the Marlin Magic II with Capt. Marlin Parker. Photo by Carol Lynne.

 

46th Annual White Marlin Open: Final Results

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The 46th White Marlin Open can be considered the most successful tournament yet for a number of reasons: 404 boats fishing for a World Record $6,186,870 in prize money is a good start.  The red hot billfishing set a tournament record for the number of billfish caught and released.  The prize money paid included two anglers that each won over $1,500,000, a blue marlin won $962,165, a tuna that took $935,915, a dolphin that won $74,900, and a shark that won $231,300.

As impressive as the payouts were, equally remarkable was the huge number of marlin caught & released.  By definition nobody saw them at the scales, but the release flags flew all week.  The tournament record was 1,358 whites caught in 2016 but the anglers toped that by over 100 fish.  The final count was 1,459 whites caught with 1,429 released with the top release boat, “Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ breaking a 39-year-old record for most billfish releases by boat. The previous record was 26 white taken by the “Escapade” in 1980.   In addition to the white marlin, the boats took 47 blue marlin with 46 released, and 13 sailfish were released as were the 2 spearfish caught. The total number of all billfish caught in the 46th Open was a staggering 1,521.

In the money divisions, basically, the big fish in most categories on Thursday held their spots after the last day of fishing.  Ocean City, Maryland native Tommy Hinkle weighed a 79.5-pound white marlin on Thursday while fishing aboard the “Fish Whistle  out of Indian River DE.  The fish took 1st  place and netted Tommy $1,504,720.  Hinkle had also won the top white marlin in 2008 making Tommy the first angler in tournament history to win the top white marlin twice!  The “Backlash” out of VA Beach, VA kept their $1,502,450 for the 73.5-pound white caught on Monday by angler Michael Wagner from La Plata, MD.  “Chasing Tails” with angler Nate Walker, both from VA Beach, VA caught their 74-pound white on Monday and earned $135,000 (they were entered in fewer added entry levels than Backlash).

The 465.5-pound blue marlin caught on Tuesday by Craig Dickerson from Pasadena, MD aboard the “Haulin N Ballin” out of Ocean City, MD was the only qualifier in that division and Dickerson won $962,165 for his blue.

The “Crisdel” out of Ocean City, MD weighed in a 201-pound bigeye caught by Russell Garufi from Bishopville, MD on Monday and stayed in first the whole week to kept $935,915.  The

“Seakeeper” from Wilmington, DE weighed a 150.5-pound Allison tuna on Friday.  The angler was Andrew Semprevivo from Mystic Island, NJ who took 2nd place and won $135,432 for his efforts.  Ocean City native Ronnie Fields weighed a 145.5-pound tuna off the “Mjolnir” out of Bay Point, FL on Tuesday and held on to win $128,675.

The 277.5-pound mako shark caught Monday by Greg Robinson aboard the “Polarizer” out of OC, MD was the only shark weighed and held onto $231,300 won from the “Big Fish” pool.

The “Give It Away” out of Jupiter FL took over 1st place in the wahoo division with a monster 91-pound fish caught by Anne Aramandia from New Braufels, TX who won $24,475.  Other winners in the wahoo division were the “The Natural,” who won $23,475, “Keepin It Reel” who won $20,475 and the “Nighthawk” out of Brielle, NJ with angler Jay Monteverdi, also from Brielle who won $20,475.

The big winner in the dolphin division was the “Miss-Tress” out of Brielle, NJ with Randy Drozd also from Brielle.  The “Miss-Tress” was in the small boat dolphin division and the 38-pound dolphin weighed on Friday won $74,900. The 1st place 41-pounder taken off the “Playmate” out of OC, MD won $20,380 while the 2nd place dolphin was caught off the Stewart, FL boat

“Irene”.  Angler Frank Sinito form Jupiter, FL won just $3,000 as the boat was not entered in extra added skill levels.

In the Small Boat Division, it was Tommy Hinkle with the top white which helped his winnings grow to $1,504,720.  The heavy fish was taken by the “Reeldiculous” angler Graham Ward who caught a 121-pound yellowfin good for $108,000.

Top Release Anglers

White Marlin Open Grand Champion

Ed Russo from Carlstadt, NJ

Fishing on “Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ

1,190 points, 17 white marlin released

2nd Place Angler

Robert Wedeking from Princeton, NJ

Fishing on “Override” out of Brielle, NJ

910 points, 13 white marlin released

3rd Place Angler    

Victor Roof, Jr.

Fishing on “Game On” out of Charleston, SC

875 points, 10 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

4th Place Angler     

Nicholas Rodriguez from Dover, DE

Fishing on “Par Five” out of Dover, DE

735 points, 8 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

5th Place Angler  

Dante Rodriguez from Egg Harbor, NJ

Fishing on “MJs” out of Cape May, NJ

735 points, 8 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

Top Release Boats

1st Place Boat      

“Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ

1,960 points, 27 white marlin released*

$84,150

2nd Place Boat    

“Uno Mas” out of Ocean City, MD

1,785 points, 23 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

$31,860

3rd Place Boat  

“Tar Heel” out of Wanchese, NC

1,750 points, 25 white marlin released

$28,800

* Broke a 39-year-old Tournament Record for most release points by a boat.  The previous record was 1,949 billfish pts. by the “Escapade “ in 1980 which consisted of 24 white marlin released and 2 boated.  The “Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ caught and released 27 white marlin to earn the WMO top release boat ever.