I love the sport of fishing. I’ve made it my career and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I so appreciate the incredible people I’ve met along the way, and it’s been nothing but awesome. They have helped me to succeed in this sport. My first job with legendary Capt. H. F. “Chubby” Destin began in April 1973. Wow! Next year, I’ll have been at it 50 years. I caught my first marlin with Capt. Bruce Marler in 1976. Bruce was the first captain to ever catch a marlin out of Destin, Florida. He was also the captain who got me my first private boat job. That was after years on the deck with Capt. Harold Staples, who taught me as a mate, a work ethic hardly seen today, and always held me accountable.
It’s rewarding being able to participate in a hobby of the elite and to get paid for it. I have always loved to go to work. I’ve had opportunities to fish around, and with, the best in the business. I’ve also been lucky enough to explore faraway places. It has been an incredible journey. I’ve learned that if you’re not afraid to ask questions, most of the time, crews and captains are willing to help.
I remember Capt. Dave Noling showing me the ropes in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, and then later, he straightened me out on how to fish Venezuela. Years ago, Capt. Bubba Carter helped me in Costa Rica along with Capt. John LaGrange before the days of Los Sueños. Capt. Randy Baker, whom I consider the best of the best, and who has been a part of so many fishing world records, has helped me in so many ways. Everything from rigging a brand-new sport fish boat from the ground up, to some of the most epic days of fishing in my career. Too many to count. When or if you get the opportunity to fish with people like Capt. Randy Baker, Capt. Bubba Carter, Capt. John LaGrone, Capt. Dave Noling, Capt. Terry Robertson or so many other great fishermen, it’s truly a privilege. Take advantage of that privilege if you can.
Most recently, I was with Capt. Randy Baker on a trip to Cape Verde in pursuit of a female junior angler world record blue marlin. We went with a client both Randy and I had worked with in the past, Jonathan Arn, who himself had caught hundreds of marlin. His daughter, Elizabeth Arn, whom he’s taught the art and technique of angling, has made her passion for the sport amazing.
We went on to catch the pending world record female junior angler blue marlin weighing 624 pounds with Randy at the helm and his top-notch crew. That included mate Stephen Hall, who, by the way, has wired and weighed more granders than most fishermen have seen in a lifetime. We should nickname him the Beast! Also, Mate Chase Travers, who threw the perfect gaff shot and subdued the fish. This guy is fast as lightning! Chase Travers also holds the record Pacific Sailfish catch for a single day: a whopping 164 sails. That’s crazy. I did get to put the second gaff in the fish, but the truth is, it probably didn’t need it. I was just so thankful to be aboard and to watch how true pros do it.
Sometimes I hear a lot of whining from crews about the owner this or the owner that, or I don’t make enough money, or he makes more money than me or I wanna go home. Maybe this isn’t the right job for you. You might want to go find another hobby. That’s my two-minute warning
