To become a top offshore angler, one must possess a certain skill set and knowledge base that come from years of actively pursuing game fish. Nowhere does it say you have to be a man to do it.
Sure you catch a few fish. And your cockpit team does the job as well as any you’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s time to put your boat up against the best in the world on the fishing tournament circuit. See how to do it here.
When the legendary John Rybovich put together the first International Masters Angling Tournament in 1963 (AKA The Masters) the fishing world had no idea what it was in for. These days though, the tournament is known as perhaps the preeminent fishing competition in the world, for good reason. Read more about it here.
Got a cause that’s close to your heart? Art DellaSalla shares insight on how you can use your boat to support it.
Fishing the White Marlin Open isn’t the only way to have fun in Ocean City, Maryland.
Mountains to the Sea: Ten Years After 9/11, The BTB Mako Rodeo Keeps Alive The Memory Of One Victim.
You heard it from HamlinWe Chat Up This Conservation-Minded Angling Pioneer.In the world of big-game fishing, Capt. Ron Hamlin needs no introduction. Indeed, it would take pages upon pages to list this angler’s many achievements and contributions to the sport. Chief among them? Hamlin has been one of
Chasing SnaggletoothThe South Jersey Shark Tournament gives anglers an introduction to biggame competition and impressive paydays too.Photos Courtesy of South Jersey Shark TournamentThe acrobatic mako is the superstar at this tournament.Most boat owners don’t start by
Bluefin BluesThe world’s biggest tuna is less than half the fish it used to be.I stood on the dock in Bimini, Bahamas, surrounded by the carcasses of a dozen or more giant bluefin tuna, the result of the day’s weigh-in of the local tuna tournament. A few locals descended on the dock with large knives to cut off steaks for dinner. The
Back In The DayPolar bear-size bluefin once prowled near-shore Northeast waters and launched decades of epic tournament fishing.Photo Courtesy of Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna ClubIn the early part of the 20th century, East Coast commercial fishermen were dismayed that bluefin tuna weighing 500-plus
Fishing with TechnologyBlending electronics know-how with natural angling instinct can give your team a leg up on tournament day.The old saying in fishing is “you can’t catch what’s not there.” And when people ask me for one piece of angling advice regarding fishfinding, my response is “fish where the fish are.” When heading offshore, one of the most difficult
Grander CountryThe waters off the mid-Atlantic are the new 1,000-pound marlin hotspot.Over the last three years, record-setting blue marlin of more than 1,000 pounds have been brought to tournament scales in the mid-Atlantic region three times. The White Marlin Open (WMO) in Ocean City, Maryland, hoisted two in consecutive years (1,062 pounds in 2009 and 1,010.5
The Screamin’ DragI’ll never forget the first time I heard the song that changed everything.It was 1980, and my family was taking a vacation to the Sunshine State. I had just finished the school year and was excited to go on my first airplane ride. The flight was very cool, but even more awesome was when my dad, my brother, Chip, and myself
{ MARCH }March 11-13Key West Fishing Tournament Kickoff 2011Location: Key West & Lower Keys, FLContact: Doris Harris, Box 2514,Key West, FL 33045Phone: 305-295-6601Web site:
He Said, He SaidTwo anglers go head-to-head at the Bertram-Hatteras Shootout and offer the final tally as they see it.Capt. Bill Pike (with camera) onboard Screamin Eagle.Triumph of the Geezer
Technology has put major fish-stopping power in midsize reels.Thanks to enhancements in technology, such as extra-strong braided lines that have a thinner diameter than traditional monofilament but the same strength as conventional mono, we’ve entered a new era in reel design. New models have been downsized as line capacity has increased and now feature specially machined gears
A South Carolina-based crew goes toe-to-toe with its first grander.Photo courtesy of White Marlin OpenThousands gathered to see this once-in-a lifetime fish.“Tom, do you have the binoculars?” I asked as the 58-foot Viking No Problem calmly cruised into Ocean
Ten must-do events for serious big-game anglers.Throughout their lives, most anglers will spend a majority of their time fishing tournaments in their local waters.But one of the great appeals of heading off to blue water is the unknown. So perhaps it's time to spread your tournament wings and try trolling those baits across some new fathom lines. Here, in no particular
An epic billfish bite (and great food) dominated the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament.The weather could’ve been better (damn hurricane), but the Virignia Beach Billfish Tournament saw one of its best billfish bites ever as the barometer dipped.The fish flags this rain-soaked crew is flying tell the story.Last
Cover photo by Patrick FordAre you ready to wet a line? Is your crew prepared to compete against the best? If the answer is yes, then we have a tournament here for your team. Actually, we have about 50 events to choose from. Everywhere from the marlin-rich waters of Cabo San Lucas to the Mid-Atlantic's tuna-filled canyons, we
Dredge for SuccessTrolling your own school of fish can pay big dividends when targeting marlin.For many years, top billfish crews had a white marlin-raising, tournament-success secret: They used dredges. As many of you know, a dredge involves hanging dozens of hookless baits off multi-arm umbrella-shape rigs and trolling them. The secret’s out now, but, even so,
Sorry CharlieWhy is the biggest tuna in the sea on the brink of collapse?Illustration by Scott PollackAtlantic bluefin tuna are arguably the most valuable commodity in the sea. A single fish can sell for thousands of dollars, and sometimes, tens of thousands. For that reason, you would assume stocks
A "Memorable" SeasonPhoto by: Kary Ann NixonIt all started last June when my brother Chip showed up to the boat as we departed for our first tournament of the year in a sling. "What happened?" I asked. "Work," he replied. "I'll be alright, I took some Advil." We left for four days and Chip did his best, sling and
Even a bad transmission couldn't keep this team from taking first place.Sometimes a picture is worth a million dollars. Eight-year-old Emily Hudgens drew an image of a big whitemarlin on some paper and gave it to her daddy, Capt. Justin Hudgens, as he was preparing to run the 77-foot Hatteras, Orion, in this year's