InTheBite

Cooking at Keoni’s Point of View, Kona, Hawaii

By

InTheBite received a cooking-101 at Keoni’s Point of View in Kona, Hawaii and the restaurant delivered. The seafood hotspot, which sits on the west side of the island, is well-known for its fresh fish dishes—from Hawaiian-style poke to smoked marlin dip—that come out of the busy kitchen.

Owners and husband and wife team, Keoni and Kalina Llanes, have built the restaurant from the ground up making it a current favorite among locals and visitors alike. And the restaurant has also become a way to honor Keoni’s uncle, Capt. Randy Llanes, whose life was cut short when he was impaled by the bill of a swordfish while spearfishing. According to Keoni, his uncle dreamed about one day opening up a restaurant of his own.

Today, that dream has taken root on Honokohau Harbor. InTheBite brought a mahi-mahi that was cooked up at the restaurant and prepared for a meal that did not disappoint.

Final Results for the 2020 Pelagic Rockstar Offshore Tournament

By

Photo courtesy Pelagic.

Final Results for the 2020 Pelagic Rockstar Offshore Tournament

Billfish Release

Base Entry

1 Top Fly 3600
2 Rum Runner 3100
3 Game Plan 2800

Tuna Gamefish Division

Base Entry

Rank Team Day 1 Day 2 Points
1 Sea Hag 118.8 70.6 189.4
2 La Otra Vida 128.6 59.4 188
3 Fire Fly 98.8 98.8

 

Dorado Gamefish Division

Base Entry

Rank Team Day 1 Day 2 Points
1 Full Nelson 26.4 32.6 59
2 Mainline 24 31.2 55.2
3 Adios 28.1 26.2 54.3

Small Boat Billfish Release

Base Entry

Rank Team Points
1 Amys Dream 2100
2 Kelly Dawn 2000
3 Swordfish on Moon Walker 1600

Small Boat Tuna Gamefish Division

Base Entry

Rank Team Day 1 Day 2 Points
1 Cairns Australia on Big Eye II 164.8 164.8
2 Amys Dream 76 76
3 Gamefisher II 65.6 65.6

Small Boat Dorado Gamefish Division

Base Entry

Rank Team Day 1 Day 2 Points
1 Merman Magic fishing on Wetass II 27.6 46.2 73.8
2 Hooked Tifarno on Good Day 20.4 26.8 47.2
3 Gamefisher II 29.6 29.6

Top Angler

Large Boat Billfish Only

Rank Angler Points
1 Kurt Forsberg 1700
2 Christian Rojas 1600
3 Diego Porras 1400

Top Female Angler

Billfish Only

Rank Angler Points
1 Joni Smith 1400
2 Beth Kawaja 800
3 Nancy Llacuna 500

Meet the Owners: Patrick Durso of BoatMat Corporation

By

Photo courtesy BoatMat Corporation.

InTheBite chats with Patrick Durso, of BoatMat Corporation, Melbourne, Florida. 

Patrick Durso is the president of BoatMat Corporation, an endeavor he spearheaded in 1999, kicking off with the company’s first yachting product: the BoardingMat. Since that time, Durso and his team have been providing boaters around the world with top-of-the-line products, designed for their specific needs while out on the water. And listening to what customers want for their boats is a key part of what Durso does. Because for him, it’s those customer-owner relationships that makes being a part of this company that much better.

What’s new with your business?

The newest thing related to InTheBite customers would be the 60-inch model boarding mat that we’ve never offered before. We were asked by our customers if there was a larger size available so we put it into our product mix. It’s made for sportfishers and it gives really great protection on boats. We just started offering this the past year, we never offered this size before, and now it’s a standard size and pretty low cost for what it does for protecting the covering boards.

Photo courtesy BoatMat Corporation.

How was the business started?

I grew up boating and fishing in South Florida in Pompano Beach and I was sewing as a 15 year old. The business started 20 years ago in the late 90s when a friend of mine at the time approached me and asked me to make a cover for them to put on their boat. There was an opportunity to put another product in our mix and like any other product, it took some time to develop and market it and see if there was a demand. So we ended up making one then we went to some of the catalog houses and it was a hit. It just exploded. We already sold products for the fishing industry and then we started making mats for boats.

Patrick Durso. Photo courtesy BoatMat Corporation.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Being with my family. My daughter is a volleyball player so supporting her and being with her and my son. And I’m an avid boater. I enjoy the Florida Keys. I like the water, the chill, laid-back lifestyle, it’s just a relaxed vibe there. I’ll be headed to the Keys next month.

Photo courtesy BoatMat Corporation.

What do you like about the industry you’re in?

The close friendships and the relationship I’ve made over the years. The relationships I’ve cultivated over the years, that is the most important thing to me. It’s a tight-knit community.

Editor’s note: This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

The Future is Here: Making Your Old Boat New

By

By Steve Katz

Have you toured a new boat at a boat show or in your marina? Did all the bells and whistles make your current boat feel dated? It can happen fast. Technology moves so quickly these days that it can seem like your systems are outdated as soon as you take delivery of your new boat. Just as technology is moving rapidly, so is the ability to refit and refine your boat.

System upgrades are increasingly available in the form of refit packages that can make your current boat feel like the latest splash in the marina. There are plenty of boat yards and builders that will be glad to book you for a refit. I spent time at a few East Coast boat yards and there seems to be no shortage of major refits underway, mezzanines, paint, hardtops, towers, Seakeepers, electronics, water systems, re-power, etc.

As anyone with even a passing interest in boats knows, major refits are a timely and costly process. What if you do not have the time or budget for a complete refit? What upgrades can be made that are budget friendly and take
weeks instead of months? What upgrades are available to give you the best bang for the buck and make your boat feel new again?

I’m glad you asked. Here is a breakdown of a handful of trending upgrades that can bring your old boat new, without breaking the bank or keeping you on the hard during tournament season.

Potential system monitoring inputs that would cover the boat from top to bottom.

Digital Switching

Digital switching describes the use of a touch screen or similar device to replace (or augment) the manual switch for electric accessories such as lighting and pumps. Common systems include the Carling Technologies’ OctoPlex® monitoring and control system, popular on larger boats, and CZone control and monitoring system often found on smaller boats. While systems like this were once only available on new high-end boats, these systems are now available for retrofit.

The CZone, in fact, is easily available in a modular system. A newly introduced line from OctoPlex®, OctoLite® is a distributed power control and monitoring system that can be easily complement a boat’s existing standard electrical system. The OctoLite® System is flexible-to-configure and includes devices such as multi-function touchscreen display, configurable keypad, multiplex switch module, solid-state power controller, bypass module, and AC distributed power module.

Digital switching systems are composed of a digital electrical junction module installed near the device to be controlled with a small data cable run to the helm or other location where data is to be displayed. The CZone can often save the time and expense of running wires where access is limited. Additionally, both of these systems integrate with multifunction displays (MFD) at the helm, allowing you to go to a digital switching page on the MFD and operate accessories without adding new switches at the helm or elsewhere. Th is functionality also travels through the MFD network, allowing control from most any networked MFD. With the system you can then switch control from the tower, cockpit, salon – wherever a MDF is installed.

OctoPlex control and monitoring now available on a Garmin OneHelm MFD display.

One place where a CZone module can be particularly useful is when installing new underwater lights. While many of the modern lights are LED, systems are getting so bright they use a lot of power. Getting large wires from a power source to the lights and back to a switch can be difficult. This is especially true when you have limited access or when your wire chases are jam packed. A CZone module can be installed near the transom, with all the lights and power connected into the module with just a small data wire run to the NMEA2000 backbone – instead of running numerous heavy-duty wires.

These systems can also monitor and report problems with on-board electrical systems. They can, for instance, monitor the voltage and amperage to a particular circuit and signal an alarm if the electrical power is out of a pre-programmed range. This is also useful in letting you know when you have a navigation light out (the circuit is drawing too little power) or a bad fixture drawing too much power.

Maretron’s N2KView® software displays vessel information on computer screen or on a Garmin OneHelm MFD using the Maretron MBB300C.

System Monitoring: Multiple System Data in One Place Without Spending a Fortune

Modern sportfishers and yachts often have a large computer screen reporting the status of many shipboard systems – fuel, water, electricity, temperatures, engine data, etc. While the installation of complex proprietary system
may be out of the question for an older boat, using your existing MFD and off-the-shelf sensors can create a single monitoring source for many of your boat’s systems. The Maretron Company (partly owned by Carling Technologies) offers an array of sensors and devices that can be installed individually or combined for a whole boat system. Maretron products include user interface products, NMEA2000 gateways and bridges, tank  monitoring, engine monitoring, power monitoring and control, general system monitoring and recording, navigation equipment, sensors and a myriad of NMEA2000 cabling and hardware products.

On a recent project, a customer added Maretron fuel tank level sensors to the aft tanks while installing a new mezzanine. This system complements the traditional sight gauges in the engine room (or the good old stick
in the tank method). These sensors monitor the fuel tank level ultrasonically, similar to a depth sounder, and report the fuel level to the NMEA2000 network. In this case, the system then displayed the fuel level gauges on
the Garmin MFD screens on the helm. Since there are no moving parts (or sticks), these fuel tank level sensors are reliable and provide an easy way to confirm tank level while underway or transferring fuel.

While many engine manufacturers offer fuel flow data, it is often a calculated value based on engine load, RPM, temperate, etc. Maretron also offers a positive displacement fuel flow system that measures fuel flow in and out of the tank – a very accurate way to measure fuel burn. Combining the fuel flow sensors and tank level monitoring, you can be confident of the fuel burn rate and available range.

The fuel example is an easily relatable use of digital system monitoring. Applications to other boat systems are just as easy and simple. They can provide an added level of confidence and make seeing system data quite a bit easier.

Even if you were in the Audio/Video Club, much has changed since you were in high school…

Entertainment: Creating a Smart, Flexible, and Easy to Use Video and Sound System

Someone who spends down time rigging hundreds of ballyhoo might accidentally forget about the needs and desires of owners and guests. When not fishing, many boats become a hotel. As one captain recently old me, “He runs an Airbnb that fishes, too.” Many sportfish boats that follow the fish also follow nice weather. Consequently, owners, friends and relatives may request to stay on-board and enjoy the amenities while not fishing.

One interior upgrade that is sure to please all is the audio/video system. The variety of audio/video content available is as varied as the guests. Updating your audio/video system to a modern flexible system that can stream content from the internet, connect to the guests’ smart devices and also connect to on-board satellite TV systems can help provide an enjoyable experience onboard for all. As not all of us were in the A/V club in school, the audio/video system needs to be simple but inclusive.

Besides, if the system upgrades are not simple and user friendly, the captain and crew will have to add “tech support” to their job descriptions. I have noticed a trend towards individual audio/video systems in each stateroom and main areas in lieu of a complex ship wide system. This provides simple total control for each area of the boat. Residential style audio video receivers can be used in the salon. These units have many desirable, modern features.

These home theater style receivers can switch between multiple HDMI, or even analog, sources. They often include front mounted inputs that permit easy connection of devices to the TV, without having to access the back of
the TV. The newest home theater receivers can connect to multiple sources of entertainment, including streaming content from the internet and also provide Bluetooth and or Apple Airplay connections. This allows your guests to use their own smart device for entertainment.

Replacing existing TVs with Smart TVs is a popular upgrade. The cost of high-end TVs has come down and the features they include have gone up. A Smart TV is a modern flat screen television that has built in applications (apps) and the ability to connect to the internet. This allows the TV stream content from popular services such as Netflix, Amazon, Spotify and dozens more. In order for these TVs to stream content, they need an internet connection from a wireless access point or a wired network.

Pro Tip – Outside Spaces: When it comes to areas exposed to the weather, residential audio/video equipment should not be used. As it is not designed for the outdoor marine environment, residential hardware won’t last very
long. Using a marine rated stereo, amplifier and speakers is the best way to ensure lasting outdoor performance. The newest marine stereos are very similar to home audio systems. They have many independent output channels (zones) and have many different input sources, including Bluetooth SiriusXM, and Apple Airplay. TV Tech Note 1: DirecTV is expected to make system changes in 2019 that will require subscribers to use the newest HD receivers.

This may render older KVH TV antenna systems (such as M1, M1DX, M3, M3DX, G4, G6, G8, 4, 6) incompatible – requiring antenna updates. Additionally, subscribers with late model hardware may find some changes in the channel lineup, since DirecTV is planning to eliminate SD (standard definition) transmission broadcasts from 101W and 119W satellites and only broadcast HD programing.

TV Tech Note 2: Modern TVs and audio/video receivers pass information in both directions through a single HDMI cable. Be sure you have cables that meet the latest standards to ensure proper operation. ARC (audio return channel) is a popular feature with modern
HDMI communications. ARC allows sound from the TV to pass back to the receiver/amplifier using a single cable to produce amplified sound from the system speakers in lieu of just the TV speakers – useful when using
Smart TV apps.

A network of engine room cameras can provide peace of mind between checks.

Security and Video: Keeping Track of the Boat (and its Systems)

Keeping the boat safe and secure is one thing everyone can agree on. After all, captains are responsible for the boats they command 24/7. Owners are interested in protecting their assets. Crew and guests like to be notified as quickly as possible if there is an issue out of the ordinary. Automated remote monitoring systems are the best way to provide all interested parties real time information on the boat and its systems. Not only are these systems great, but competition in this market segment has resulted in a variety of reasonably priced systems to choose from.

GOST is one of the most popular and all-encompassing systems. GOST offers many modules and components, allowing you to build a system that meets your needs. Besides security and monitoring, GOST offers a camera system with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and streaming remote access. With the streaming access you can use your smartphone to connect to the on-board cameras to see live or recorded video anywhere you have an internet connection.

These video system can also be used to capture fishing action, especially since the cameras are recording 24/7. This is a great feature, since you’ll no longer need to remember to turn on the camera or charge
the batteries. If you don’t have a full DVR video system, a simple engine room camera system should be on the top of everyone’s list. This is often configured with multiple small cameras that send live image to monitors on the helm.

This is a great way for the crew to monitor the engine room in between routine checks. Some crew also like to have a unobtrusive camera in the salon. A salon cam is perfect way for the captain to ensure that guests are seated safely before getting underway. A salon cam is also a great way for watching for a guest or crew to signal the captain to slow down while they need to move around the cabin.

A salon cam is a great way to ensue that nobody is eating sausages on the couch before you throttle her up!

These systems are reasonably priced. Running the wires is often the most complex part of the system. Other companies, such as BoatCommand, Siren Marine and Yacht Protector offer security and monitoring systems. These systems are not just for tracking stolen boats or to act as a burglar alarm.

They provide remote access to the status of critical boat systems (such as battery voltage, shore power, temperature, bilge pump activity and high water to name a few). A monitoring system, for example, can notify the captain about the loss of shore power within seconds. Receiving a text message or push notification on a smart phone is a much better way to learn of lost shore power than what could be the alternative.

Maybe the shore power circuit breaker tripped, maybe the power cord pulled out of the receptacle. Either way, an unnoticed loss of shore power can lead to thawed bait, dead batteries, interior temperature rise, live well pumps shutting down and bilge pumps losing power. Tech Note – Wired vs Wireless Cameras: While wireless cameras are available, they often need a power source – therefore requiring some wires.

Since a wired system is more reliable on a boat, I currently recommend a wired camera system. There are some new battery powered residential camera systems that are fully wireless. These may prove to be acceptable on a boat, though many require an internet connection to operate.

What Does it All Mean?

Even if your boat is only a few years old, there may be new technology that can be easily tied into existing systems. Digital switching, system monitoring, entertainment and security/video upgrades can provide a satisfying upgrade for an older boat. These upgrades can often be completed within a reasonable budget and schedule.

Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Marine Service Inc in Ocean City, Maryland. He is the Vice President of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and holds ABYC Master Technician certification, NMEA AMEI, NMEA2000 certificates along with factory training from many manufacturers. To contact Steve, email info@inthebite.com.

 

Results: Pelican Yacht Club Invitational & 2020 Silver Sailfish Derby

By

Photo courtesy Leonard Bryant Photography.

Pelican Yacht Club Invitational

Overall Standings

First Place – Wrapped Up, Capt. Patrick Price, 1900.

Second Place –  Intents, Capt. Rhett Bailey, 1900.

Third Place –  Showtime!, Capt. Jon Meade, 1400.

Final Results for 2020 Silver Sailfish Derby

Overall Team Sailfish Releases

First Place –  Old, No. 7, with 17 releases.

Second Place –  Native Son, with 14 releases.

Third Place –  Day Sea, with 13 releases.

Final Results for 2020 Pelagic Rockstar Offshore Tournament

Overall Team Results

First Place –  Top Fly, with 3600 points.

Second Place –  Rum Runner, with 3100 points.

Third Place –  Game Plan, with 2800 points.

 

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

By

Captain of the Year

The InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup, presented by Hatteras, 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.

Tranquilo crew COTY pic. Photo courtesy Pepper Ailor

Origins of the Cup

InTheBite Magazine started in 2003. Since its conception, the magazine has focused on providing useful, entertaining content for professional sportfishing crews. Over the course of covering the sportfishing landscape in the magazine’s formative years, InTheBite’s publisher and founder, Dale Wills, began to notice that something was missing.

“We began realizing that each year as we covered the magazine that certain teams would get on winning streaks. There was no award for them at the time and we wanted to recognize guys for doing well, so we created the Captain of the Year,” Wills, the son of a captain, recalls. “There was nothing for crews that consistently placed in tournaments. The owners would get checks, but we wanted to do more. We wanted to recognize the crews and the success of our readership.”

The first ever InTheBite Captain of the Year was VJ Bell in 2003. It was Bell’s dominance that spurred the decision to act. “That year we watched VJ Bell cleaning everyone’s clock and we wanted to recognize him.”

Scoring

In 2014, The Captain of the Year Cup took on its current multidivisional format. From 2003-2013, a single captain won the award based on voting by past winners. In 2014, to recognize the regional variations in the sportfishing landscape, the Captain of the Year Cup expanded to five divisions: East Coast Division, the Contender Florida Division, Gulf, Hawaii and the IGY Marinas International Division. Beyond the five divisions, InTheBite recognizes a winner of the World Wide Rankings, the captain who accrues the highest point total in the race each year. Each division is comprised of sanctioned tournaments, the results of which produce points for the COTY scoring.

Sanctioned events must meet a 12-boat minimum. Scoring is accumulated in the catch and release divisions of billfish tournaments: 500-points for first place, 300-points for second, 100-points for third place. For tournaments that include a heaviest marlin division, there is an additional 500-points awarded to the winning captain. The heaviest marlin points are in addition to and separate from the points awarded for the release divisions.

Ronnie Fields party.

In this way, a captain could theoretically win 1,000 points in the same tournament by weighing the heaviest marlin and winning the release division. And in tournaments that award top boat prizes through combined weighed fish and released fish, Captain of the Year points are awarded to the winner of the release division. An additional 250-points is awarded to captains who win series crowns in tournament circuits (Gulf Coast Triple Crown, the Los Sueños Triple Crown, etc.).

The point tallies follow the captain, rather than the boat. It is common for charter captains, especially in the Florida Division, to tally points on two or sometimes three boats in the course of the year. Not only do some captains score on multiple boats, some captains tally points in different divisions through the year. Multi divisional tallies were the key to the top two finishers in 2016’s World Wide Rankings—Captains Jon Duffie and Tommy Lynskey (each of whom scored in both the international and east coast divisions).

What Does it Mean to Win Captain of the Year?

Winning an ITB Captain of the Year Award is a big deal. From the early days of the award, when a single winner was chosen to the point-based divisional system of today, to win requires skill, consistency and dedication (nobody will turn down a little luck, either). Winning a Captain of the Year award requires a sizeable investment in tournament fishing by boat owners, skill and proficiency of mates, and anglers who are consistently ready when the bite happens. While all of these things must be present, it is the captain whose decision making keeps winning boats on the fish.

“It was awesome. I think it’s a pretty cool idea. With all of the new categories and areas, it has changed quite a bit since I won it,” says Captain Travis Butters the 2008 Captain of the Year. “The award was a great idea for the industry. It gives everyone something to strive for aside from just winning tournaments.”

When describing his winning year of 2008, Butters recalls, “First we won something in Key West. Then we won the Custom Boat Shootout and won a couple in Bermuda, and the Triple Crown. It was just one of those years when everything went your way.” Captain Devin Potts is the 2016 Gulf Division Captain of the Year. Potts, who runs the Sea Mixer, a 66-foot Spencer, says “There are a lot of good, good fishermen here. Winning this is a huge career milestone for me. It has been a humbling experience.”

Captain Victor Julio Lopez runs the Tranquilo, a 57-foot Spencer. Lopez was the first Costa Rican born captain to win the award, winning the 2016 International Division. “The success of my efforts may be attributed to the blessing of God and the effort of our team and our anglers. My mate Daniel Arrieta has been here giving his best to keep us in this position. My wife Tania is by my side and has always been my good luck charm,” says Lopez describing his success. “It’s taken a great effort day to day to be in the position and it is a great honor to the first Costa Rican captain to be named Captain of the Year.”

Glenn Cameron party.

So Now You’ve Won Captain of the Year… Now What?

It is standard practice that Captains of the Year host a party along with the presentation of the award. Just as there have been many different personalities who have won, the parties in the past have ranged far and wide. Captain Wink Doerzbacher won the 2013 Captain of the Year and the Florida Division Award in 2014. He celebrated in style with a reception at the Sailfish Point Clubhouse in Stuart, Florida. Captain John Dudas’ 2009 celebration was a catered affair at the legendary Miami Beach Rod and Gun Club.

When Captain Ronnie Fields won it in 2010, the party was an epic affair hosted by Big Oh owner Gray Ingram at his home. The reception for Captain Victor Julio Lopez included a friends and family affair on the cockpit of the Tranquilo after day 1 of a Los Sueños tournament and a formal presentation at the tournament’s award ceremony. Captain Russell Sinclair’s reception was held at the Ocean Club Marina in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Some parties include pig roasts with guest chefs—like Captain Travis Butters (master of the pig roast), and some are a bit more low key. Compare this the bright lights and cocktail hours of some captains with the approach of back-to-back Hawaii Division Captain of the Year Kerwin Masunaga. Captain Kerwin prefers to live bait during tournaments and keep his head down. He lets his fishing do the talking for him. And all of the diversity of approach is part of what makes the Cup so interesting.

Glenn Cameron and mate.

The Sanctioned Events

The Cup consists of 90-sanctioned events. The largest division by number is the IGY International Division with 23-tournaments. The Hawaii Division consists of 11. Sanctioned events are billfish tournaments that contain a minimum of 12-boats. While the award is meant to recognize the achievement of captains, the setup of the structure benefits a wide variety of those with an interest in sportfishing. Tournaments are chief among them.
Randy Bright is the Tournament Director of the Houston Big Game Club’s Lone Star Shootout.

“We’ve been part of it since it started. I think it’s a great program. Captains love to compete and to compare themselves with other guys that they’re fishing with,” says the industry veteran. “It’s a great benefit to the professional tournament captains. Anything we can do to create a tie between tournament and tournament is a good thing. Captains really like the idea of being part of it. It also helps the tournament because it encourages captains to encourage their owners to fish multiple events.”

Pig Roast.

Amy Dukes is the Tournament Director for the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series and the five events that comprise the series—this year marks the 50 th anniversary of the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament— are pivotal to the East Coast Division race.

“It’s an honor to have captains that fish the South Carolina Governor’s Cup to be included in such a prestigious award,” says Duke. “The last couple of years we’ve had a great representation in the Captain of the Year standings. Captain Harvey Shiflet, the 2016 East Coast Captain of the Year, won two of our events last year. Before that, Captain Gary Richardson on the Reel Passion, turned success in the Governor’s Cup into a Captain of the Year Award in 2015. Captain Bobby Garmany on the Sportin’ Life placed well, too.”

Rob Moore party.

The Cup Now

InTheBite.com is the source for current standings and the latest cup news. In the fourth year of its divisional format, the InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup, presented by Hatteras, is coming into its own. As the races heat up, the phone lines at the office ring with anticipation. “Who is winning?” “How am I doing?” “Do I need to fish any more events to keep my lead safe?” This is what makes tournament fishing fun and we’re honored to be able to recognize those who consistently produce.

Two Minute Warning: Build and They Will Come

By

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

There are many similarities between farming and fishing. A farmer has to plow his field and plant his crop. Then, after a while, it’s harvest time. In the fishing business, if you’re willing to do the work, it’s a lot like farming. This is especially true when it comes to creating and deploying artificial reefs.

Reef building is rewarding but requires much red tape. All of the permitting and inspections can be very frustrating. In our area of the Northern Gulf, the spring season brings the migration of cobia in large numbers. By making your own fishing spots you can significantly increase your chances of catching these fish. We use FADS, or fish-attracting-devices (which are simply underwater kites), to congregate the fish as they pass through.

We place them just under the surface in a safe zone where no boats can hit them. They attract and hold large amounts of bait. This in turn, attracts larger fish. The FADS also work well in deep water (several hundred fathoms) for the purposes of catching wahoo, marlin, dolphin and live bait. We are in the process now of building some large reefs, which will be homes for grouper, snapper and amberjack.

We’re building them out of concrete drums and commercial grade chicken coops. It’s a ton of work but the harvest is worth it. Unfortunately, it’s not all fun and games. The hurricanes have
destroyed, buried, and moved our artificial reefs in the shallow water, forcing us to start all over again. Another frustrating situation is when you see a boat sitting right on top of your reef,
catching the fish that you worked so hard to harvest.

After all, you hauled the reef out there and you bore all the expenses. But in reality, it’s all fair game and there’s nothing you can do about it. With today’s electronics, you can’t let other boats get too close to a reef you’re fishing, or they can what we call, “zap you,” when they use their electronics to get your exact coordinates. Even still, all the work and frustration are worth knowing where you’re going instead of hoping and poking.

The reward of building your own reefs is a great harvest from the sea. So, get out there, plow the field, plant the seed and get ready for the harvest.

– That’s my two-minute warning. Fraz

Ascension

By

Photos courtesy Bryan Toney

By Mark Johnston

While Ascension Island doesn’t have high end luxury resorts or even a marina, statistics show it may be the best place in the Atlantic to catch a giant blue marlin. Three of the six largest blue marlin ever caught in the Atlantic were caught in the virgin waters surrounding Ascension. This statistic is all the more amazing considering how little fishing activity occurs around the island. While Ascension may lack certain amenities, it does provide access to a professional boat with a veteran crew who thrive on catching big blue marlin.

The Ascension Season

During the October 2016 through January 2017 season, Captain Bryan Toney experienced incredible blue marlin fishing off Ascension. Fishing the 36-foot Rampage Harmattan, with Olaf Grimkowski, Divan Coetzee and Matt Brown, Toney went 47 for 80 on blue marlin. This included 23 blues over 500 pounds, in fewer than 70 days of fishing. The biggest fish were in the 900-pound range.

Toney describes an additional six fish over the 1,000-pound mark that pulled the hooks. He also experienced a few days of catching three nice blues. Toney’s most recent season follows a 2015 campaign in which he produced a women’s world record 1,305-pound blue marlin in Ascension. The captain believes there are still bigger fish to be caught.

When not fishing the Atlantic, Toney captains the Marlin Magic out of Kona. The Hawaii native is no stranger to big blue marlin. He plans to return to Ascension in 2017 from October to January 2018.

“If you want the best odds at catching not only a big marlin but also a giant marlin, then Ascension is hands down the best spot on the planet. The odds end up being about 1 in 10 fish that you see are 900-plus,” Toney explains.

If interested in fishing or learning more about Ascension Island, contact Bryan at konagrander.com.

Meet the Owners: Bill Wallace of Willy Vac

By

Photo courtesy Bill Wallace

InTheBite chats with Bill Wallace, of Wallace Marine and creator of the Willy Vac. 

Bill Wallace is the founder of Willy Vac. An ingenious product that today is found in the engine rooms of all manner of sportfisher, Wallace provides some background on the Willy Vac. He was nice enough to take a bit of time to describe his inspiration for the Willy Vac and all that is happening with the company today. With testimonials from some top of the line captains and an ever-expanding list of satisfied customers, Wallace’s brain child is keeping bilges clean and dry around the world.

More than all of that, however, Bill Wallace is an awfully nice guy.

What’s new with your business?

“I’m spending my efforts and time making the [Willy Vac] machines as small as possible and as easy to service as possible,” Wallace relates. When the intended of home a piece of equipment is the engine room, size matters. “Real estate in the engine room of a boat is hard to come by so the smaller you can make something the easier it is to get into the engine room and to work around it once it’s in there. Owners that buy a boat want as much equipment as they can get into the boat and most of the time that equipment goes in the engine room.”

Bill Wallace. Photo courtesy Bill Wallace

How was the business started?

“I grew up in the auto industry with a family that owned a business. After I graduated from that, I moved to smaller boats and from those to heavy equipment. Then I opened my own marine repair business in ’98.”

Before long, Wallace’s marine repair business was working with new boats. At one point, some 90 percent of the business consisted of working with boats one year old or newer. This customer base led Wallace to the idea for the Willy Vac.

“I spent a lot of time in engine rooms that were perfectly clean. Keeping them perfectly clean was how this machine was developed,” Wallace explains. “I figured out that something is constantly breaking in a boat. There’s so much water that runs through that equipment. Most of the time, this water ends up in bilge. If you are constantly managing the bilge and keeping it perfectly clean (as Wallace found himself doing), you get a pretty good eyeball on everything in the engine room. If the bilge stays clean there’s not going to be too many problems going on with the boat.”

It took three years to perfect that first bilge machine.

“If you can make it big, it’s not difficult,” Wallace says of designing a machine capable of sucking water out of a dirty bilge. “The problem was making it small and finding a pump that would overcome the vacuuming when the machine was running.” Since that initial Willy Vac model, Wallace has continued to modify the pump to be even more efficient. Today’s Willy Vacs are not only efficient enough to do the job, but they are small and compact.  Not only that, they are nice to look at.

Willy Vac. Photo courtesy Bill Wallace

What do you like to do outside of work?

“I would say boating would be my biggest hobby. My wife and I do a lot of boating when we can. “

Wallace and his wife live near a wildlife refuge in South Carolina. They can be found out on the boat for the day, heading north or south, enjoying the barrier islands and beaches. It doesn’t hurt that the waterways around them are usually devoid of too much boat traffic. Of course, he still has a passion for motor sports and his love for the spirit of competition still burns strong.

What do you like about the sportfishing industry?

“I deal with captains more than boat owners. The coolest thing for me is that most of the captains are extremely particular people,” Wallace says, describing how meticulous they are in caring for their boats. “Many captains are highly competitive people with sportfishing boats who enjoy competing in tournaments. I think the thing I enjoy most is following the people that have my machines on their boats and watching them do well and succeed at what they do.”

Photo courtesy Bill Wallace

What do you enjoy about InTheBite?

“The personal attention I get from everybody at InTheBite.”

A Classic 49-Year-Old Ribside Whaler is Given New Life

By

By Captain Stephen Rhodes

Having myself owned a classic 13-foot Boston Whaler as a teenager, since becoming a father it has been my dream to restore a Whaler for my own sons (ages 12 and 13) as they enter their teenage years. Our offshore boat is a custom 35 Henriques Express, Legacy. Like many other offshore fishermen, I wanted an inshore boat for flats fishing, tubing, water skiing and other adventures that are not feasible on a twin diesel sportfisherman. Beyond the fishing and boating applications, I knew from experience the many lessons that restoring a boat can impart to the boys.

I bought my own Whaler back in the early 1980s. The boat was paid for from hard work on clam boats and laboring long hours on open and charter boats. Starting at the age of 13, I earned money working as a mate on my father’s charter boat and my uncle’s 65-foot party fishing boat to pay for my 13 Whaler. In part from the amount of spray coming over the rails, we named the boat the Soak N Wet. I fully expected my sons to work on restoring the Whaler to “earn” the boat and learn all about its systems and electronics as we installed them. And that chore is a heck of a lot easier than culling clams in the middle of winter in the Northeast.

You know it’s a serious refit when the backhoe makes an appearance.

The Right Hull

I debated the appropriate-sized Whaler before landing on the original 21-foot Outrage hull. This hull was produced from 1970–1982 and features two versions. The original, and more-rare, model features ribbed hull sides with a teak center console, teak anchor hatch, mahogany casting platform and mahogany interior side rails. Boston Whaler built this hull in 1970 and 1971 and only 722 “ribsides” were sold. With the custom wood accents featured on this model, many captains and mates that work on Paul Spencers, Jim Smiths and other custom boats have mentioned that my ribside looks like it was customized down south by Rybovich or Merritt. I share their sentiments.

Whaler produced the “smooth-side” hull that lacked the custom teak and mahogany components of the rib side from 1972-1982. I decided that I would purchase the ribside version and then kept an eye out for a ribside that was a candidate for a restoration that had most or all of the original wooden parts for over a year. These hulls are often referred to as the “banana hulls” and have a wide following online. Finding a used one in decent condition proved to be more of challenge than I would have expected.

Assembling the Crew

Following a ton of research and checking out several boats that were far-beyond restoring, I found my ribside. I assembled a crew of boat-savvy veterans (mostly relatives) to help in the restoration. My father is a retired Marine Engineer from the NY Fire Department. A former charter boat owner, my father helped with all the wiring, steering, engine mounting, and fiberglass repairs.

My father-in-law is a retired US Navy and NYPD veteran. He used his backhoe to remove the old, seized 140 outboard off the Whaler and installed the year 2000 Honda 130 hp outboard that is the “new” power plant. My uncle is a retired Port Authority mechanic and former party boat captain. During the refit, he was the master of all trades in restoring the fiberglass, removing the console and all wood components. He also supplied most of the new fittings that made their way onto the Whaler. My next-door-neighbor is a retired NY Union Carpenter and gladly volunteered to restore all the teak and mahogany on the boat. The entire boat was taken apart and all new wiring, fuel lines, steering lines and other critical systems were replaced with new.

A 21’ Boston Whaler, especially a classic brought back to life, is a great platform for teenage brothers… just ask the Rhodes boys. John is 13 and Hunter is 12.

My sons applied elbow grease wherever needed to help restore the fiberglass. During the process they also saw just how much work goes into restoring a classic. I personally sanded and faired every square inch below the waterline. A coat of epoxy paint to prevent blistering came after the fairing, before the two final coats of bottom paint. Keeping updates and tweaks to a minimum, I made it a point to try to keep the boat as true to the vision of the original Whaler designers Dick Fisher and Bob Dougherty as possible.

We removed the fuel tanks and drained them of old gas, sucking out all of the residue before reinstallation. My goal was to keep the boat as original as possible. We sourced a new OEM seat cushion and a new OEM center console windscreen from the original canvas shop that supplied all the canvas work for Whalers in the early 1970s. We sourced remaining components, such as a used OEM bimini top, OEM bollard, GPS/Fish finder, radio, rod holders, and other assorted items from eBay and Craigslist. I never would have predicted how much time and effort it would take to outfit the Whaler.

The Final Phase

My sons told me several times that they thought I was opening up a boat building company with the amount of packages arriving in the mail. Fortunately, the original rails were in good shape, however, all the chrome over brass rail support bases were in need of a re-chroming. We sent all of these support bases to a custom shop in Georgia that specializes in marine metal restoration. The shop was recommended by a fellow ribside owner. We replaced the teak bases for the reversible pilot seat and gas tanks with more durable starboard. We also added four new stainless-steel supports to the bow casting platform.

This platform, after all, will see a ton of use by my sons casting to striped bass and bluefish as well as dropping the anchor to catch tautog and sea bass. My sons and I have used the boat for three full seasons. The founders of Whaler would be proud to see Outrage hull number 285 looking great and performing even better. The boat has exceeded our expectations from a handling and fishability perspective. We have caught a wide variety of inshore species on the Whaler ranging from 30-pound striped bass to eight-pound tog and 7-pound summer flounder.

My sons and their friends have gone tubing more times than I can remember. We have explored shallow water locales where I would never dare take our 35 Henriques Express. At 49 years old, the Whaler has a new lease on life. Our family hopes to keep the boat for decades to come. It’s our hope to see another generation enjoying the Still Soak N Wet.