InTheBite

Elizabeth Arn To Achieve Junior Blue Marlin Record

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Chase Travers, Randy Baker, Scott Murie, Stephen Hall, Elizabeth Arn, and Jonathan Arn posing in front of the marlin.

From left to right, Second Mate Chase Travers, Capt. Randy Baker, Capt. Scott Murie, First Mate Stephen Hall, Elizabeth Arn and Jonathan Arn.

On May 31, 12-year-old Elizabeth Arn reeled in a 624-pound blue marlin off the coast of São Vicente, Cape Verde. Her catch will mark the new pending world record for the Female IGFA Junior Angler category.

Her angling was “outstanding,” says her father, Jonathan Arn. Upon getting a bite from the marlin, Elizabeth pushed the drag up to 25 pounds to ensure it was hooked solid. Then, she backed off the drag and moved the rod and reel into the fighting chair.

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Wave Paver 75’: On the Water

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wave paver

Bayliss Boatworks recently announced the completion of Wave Paver, the latest 75’ custom sportfishing yacht to hit the water. Now that the builder’s work on the project is finished, Bayliss is looking back with pride to just over two years ago when they were approached by her owners to discuss their second build. It is an honor to build each and every hull, but it is an exceptional privilege when customers choose us for a second time. Wave Paver will be joining a long-standing and very successful fishing program on the tournament circuit, with the original Wave Paver 77’. 

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A Refit Case Study: 2008 61’ Spencer, MJ’s

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refit

Purchasing a 2008 boat in need of updates has its advantages. During a 10-month search to find such a boat was exactly what Michael Yocco and his father Joe accomplished.

“Our approach was to find a boat within a certain budget which included the purchase price and any upgrades we wanted. Then ask ourselves if the cost of refitting a boat is worth it based on the value post-refit,” Yocco says.

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Innovating the Marlin Weight Formula

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marlin weight formula

By Dale Wills

Anytime I hear someone ask, “How big was the fish?” I’m often reminded of my father and his classic dad joke. Taking his hands from about 12 inches apart and slowly moving them to almost full arms width apart, he would gaze at you with a serious face and say, “It was about that far from the boat and weighed six pounds.”

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Prep and Safety

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safety

Some vessels were fortunate during Harvey, others less so.

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

Years ago, back in the ‘80s, there was an old captain who used to tell me “it’s all in the preparation.” That is still true today. It took me a while to understand, but I learned there is a lot of wisdom in those words when it comes to our line of work. There are things to be prepared for in every aspect of our job.

I seem to talk a lot about safety, but preparation for the unthinkable is so important. It is not about if you have a life raft, life jacket or survival kit or E.P.I.R.B., it’s about how accessible they are in the event you need them. If your safety gear is stowed in an area that is not immediately accessible, you could be in trouble. When I do a long crossing and there are four of us on the boat, I have four life jackets out, along with safety lights and provisions for everyone onboard. The provisions, such as water and crackers, are stowed in a small cooler sealed with duct tape or a ditch bag. Everything is together for immediate access. I don’t want to be crawling through a hatch or a hole to find them.

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The Art of Tackle Storage

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tackle storage

A pantry has been converted to rod storage on the 68-foot Viking, Whirlwind.

By Dale Wills

Adequate rod and reel tackle storage on a modern sportfishing boat is generally not the highest priority. Naturally, most soon-to-be boat owners look at other attributes such as engines, number of staterooms, salon layout, bridge configuration and cockpit space when deciding if a boat is right for them. But once a boat is delivered and a captain and/or crew is hired then all kinds of stuff begins to get loaded and stowed, including the all-important tackle.

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Dredge Pulling Tricks from the Pros

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angler with dredge

Photo courtesy Pepper Ailor

By Ric Burnley

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

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

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Expert Insight To Blue Marlin Fishing Hook Sets

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blue marlin

Photo: Joe Byrum

By Joe Byrum

When it comes to fishing for blue marlin with lures, the hook set can often be an overlooked part of the equation when things are going right and a heavily scrutinized element when they’re not going so well. Typically, when the latter comes into play a fish has just come off or you had a bite that didn’t translate into a hookup. The deliberation gets even heavier when these things occur in multiple instances during a short period of time. The truth is that some marlin aren’t going to be hooked no matter what we do.

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Continuing a Sportfishing Legacy with Michael Lamb

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Hard work and devotion are keys to success in any venture, and this fisherman credits his mountain roots and rural upbringing to success in business and on the water pursuits. More than 50 years since his father’s Island Rover was given a second chance in Andros, savvy angler, entrepreneur, husband and father Michael Lamb has been diligently working toward keeping his family’s dream alive through his own Island Rover, a 58-foot Merritt with glistening gold leaf lettering adorning the natural teak transom.

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Offshore for All

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fishing with physical impairments

Photo courtesy Pepper Ailor

By Winslow Taylor

There are few pastimes in life that can go from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye. Big game fishing is one of those activities. Saltwater fishing, especially of the offshore variety, requires not only specialized equipment (think boat, rods, tackle, gear, emergency equipment, etc.) but also a degree of coordination, stamina, and focus.

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