Captain & Owner's Guide

SEPTEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 19, EDITION 6 | $6.99 VOLUME 19, SEPTEMBER 2020 |

Second Annual CAPTAIN & OWNER’S GUIDE

FOREVER A SPORTFISH WITH A VIEW LIKE NO OTHER

BERTRAM 61 CONVERTIBLE The sharp lines and crisp styling will feel familiar to Bertram enthusiasts, but the stunning interior is unlike anything the marine industry has ever experienced.

Bertram1905_BERTRAM_full.indd July 2020 Print Ad_In 84 The Bite v2.indd 1 6/8/206/3/20 12:40 2:26 PM PM FOREVER A SPORTFISH WITH A VIEW LIKE NO OTHER

BERTRAM 61 CONVERTIBLE The sharp lines and crisp styling will feel familiar to Bertram enthusiasts, but the stunning interior is unlike anything the marine industry has ever experienced.

Bertram1905_BERTRAM_full.indd July 2020 Print Ad_In 84 The Bite v2.indd 1 6/8/206/3/20 12:40 2:26 PM PM 1906_YETI_full.indd 68 7/9/20 3:05 PM SEPTEMBER 2020 {Volume 19, Edition 6}

Get Social With Us!

PUBLISHER Dale Wills

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Steve Dougherty

DIGITAL EDITOR 14 30 Nichole Osinski PRODUCTION MANAGER Amy Foderaro

ART DIRECTOR Ron Romano

MARKETING DIRECTOR Don Urschalitz

ADVERTISING 36 42 [email protected] 14 HELP WANTED CONTRIBUTORS Captain Capt. Kevin Deerman Navigating Today’s Complex Captain’s Job Description Capt. Scott “Fraz” Murie Elliott Stark Joe Byrum & Owner’s Steve Katz 20 MARKET ANALYSIS Dave Ferrell Guide The Great Brokerage Breakdown Elliott Stark Dale Wills SUBSCRIPTIONS For a one-year subscription (eight 26 SPORTFISH STATUTES issues), send check or money order The Definitive Guide to Being a Great Boat Guest for $24 to: InTheBite, 342 Toney Penna Dr., Suite #5 Departments Staff Report Jupiter, Florida 33458 30 STATE OF THE MATE 561.529.3940 8 Editor’s Letter InTheBite Magazine is published eight times a 10 Two-Minute Warning The Evolution & Function of the Modern Deckhand year (Jan/Feb, March, April/May, June, July/Aug, Sept, Oct/Nov, Dec), with an 12 On The Docks Joe Byrum annual subscription rate of $24.00 by InTheBite, 342 Toney Penna Drive, Suite 64 The Winner’s Circle 36 TECH TOYS 2020 #5, Jupiter, Florida 33458. 66 Marine Service Directory Leading-Edge Sportfishing Trends & Innovations InTheBite.com is not responsible for any injury or 69 Classifieds damage received as a result of any technical information Steve Katz or advice given herein. The contents presented herein do not necessarily represent the views of InTheBite.com 74 Bitter End and Unplugged magazine LLC. Any reproduction of the 42 ON YOUR OWN BOTTOM materials published herein without written permission from InTheBite.com LLC is prohibited. 10 Dream Destinations to Add to Your Cruising Itinerary Copyright 2019© Dave Ferrell 48 CATCHING COMMAS Our Mission InTheBite, founded in 2002, is the Million-Dollar Tournament Showcase source for substance and authentic Elliott Stark content for the serious offshore sport- ON THE COVER fishing community. We are the curator of 52 HIT LIST industry trends, boatbuilding, ownership, Performing admirably in any lifestyle, crew, employment, tournaments sea condition, self-sufficient Regional Experts Reveal Top Terminal Tackle Strategies and more. We provide access to the sportfish yachts with modern Elliott Stark highest level of sportfishing insight amenities are designed to across a variety of media channels–print 60 GRADUATING CLASS magazine, website, video and social travel swiftly and fishin style. New Build Report media platforms. If you like sportfishing, Photo © Steve Dougherty you’ll love InTheBite—we guarantee it. Dale Wills

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1906_GCYG_full.indd 68 7/9/20 3:00 PM e d i t o r ’s l e t t e r A Dream Job remember the trip in vivid detail. It was June I18, 2006, a week off the full moon, and I was on the bridge of Abigail III with Capt. Red Bailey at the helm. I just watched my best friend catch a 450-pound blue, with my late father helping steer the chair. When the action settled, the legendary captain posed a question that I’d heard many times, though this answer would be different than any response before. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Not knowing the consequences of my career choice, I quickly blurted out that it would be cool to work at a fishing magazine so I could get paid to travel the world and fish. Living the dream, so I thought. That fantasy emainedr dormant for a bit, though as a resourceful college student I got my feet wet in the industry selling underwater photos for beer money. Fast-forward a few years, dozens of passport stamps, a hand- ful of tournament wins and a 78-issue stint at Florida Sport Fishing, and I am honored to be entrusted with furthering the mission of InTheBite. If someone would have told my teenage self in St. Thomas that my dream would come to fruition and I’d be the editor-in-chief of the most reputable fishing publication one day, I’m not sure I would have believed them. I hope you enjoy this issue, which touches on everything from boat brokerage and the challenges of maintaining crew, to the newest tech toys For weekend warriors and serious and a standardization of expected behavior for untutored boat guests. anglers focused on the catch, we It is the most comprehensive sportfishing resource ever produced and I know the ocean is more than a believe that there is something for everyone. Looking forward, my vision for InTheBite is to continue publishing destination — it’s your passion. striking insider content that’s informative and entertaining, supported by a magazine redesign that is sharper, clearer, more alive and inspiring— Today’s modern diesel engines from MTU and while not altering the foundation of the brand. InTheBite will forever Volvo Penta do more than just get you there, they be the definitive source for industry trends and insight for professional keep you going. With power solutions from 12 hp captains, boat owners, crew and anglers. to 2,635 hp, these world class engines supply I wish I could report that COVID-19 is in our prop wash, but as we con- premium performance, reliability, and durability. tinue into the madness this has spawned it’s clearer than ever that a lot of us depend on the water to keep our mental sanity. It turns out the sportfishing Whether it’s an engine for a new build, a repower lifestyle we cherish is somewhat of an infectious disease itself. The critically to breathe new life into your current battlewagon, afflicted chase the bite across the globe, spreading their contagious passion or service and maintenance to keep you on the and growing more infected with each strike. They arrive at the next distant water, we have all of your engine needs covered. locale mingling with old friends and creating new relationships, knowing and hoping there is no cure. But hell, the treatment sure is enjoyable! The recent merger of our organizations creates What I’ve learned about this industry is that you have to take care of one of the largest sales & service networks on the the people around you. This is a fundamental takeaway from our Captain East coast. With locations in New Jersey, Maryland, & Owner’s Guide. Whether corporate executive or charter crew, you are Virginia, and North & South Carolina, Johnson & only as good as the people you surround yourself with. To these means, Towers and Western Branch Diesel are there for you. we extend a sincere thank you to our contributors who delivered amid the unsettling global landscape. We also thank our advertisers, who stuck with Learn more at johnsontowers.com and wbdiesel.com us for this issue amid such turbulent times. I hope these pages provide some much-needed reprieve and trust you will continue to join us as we embark on the next evolution of InTheBite. Hope to see you on the water soon.

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Boat Sales are Booming Amid Global Pandemic

’ve talked with many dealers and salesmen Irecently because I’ve been in the market for a boat. I just wanted a 25- to 28-foot outboard platform but come to find out there isn’t much to choose from. I had no interest in a boat until all my summer plans came screeching to a stop By Captain because of the pandemic. We were set to take Scott “Fraz” Murie a 30-day trip out west to visit a few national parks and do some fishing in Montana. This summer I’ve found out the entire nation was in the same situation as I was. What I’ve learned is that boat sales are at record numbers. Some companies are reporting their best sales ever in April, May and June! From personal watercraft to luxury cruisers, center consoles WORLD-CLASS PRODUCTS. to sportfish yachts, sales are up and in some cases more than 75 CAROLINA FLARE. percent. Companies are telling me that their inventories are slim and that they are having trouble getting new units because manufacturers have been forced to shut down. It’s not just sales that are up, but services are at record breaking numbers also. And it all makes sense. When summer camps, play- grounds, state parks, water parks, amusement parks and even rest stops on the highway were closed, people across the nation took to the water. The money that was allocated for vacation was put into boats. People like me that weren’t even interested in owning a boat are now proud owners. I actually never bought a boat for myself but a good friend of mine did and I’ve enjoyed using his! There really isn’t a better way to spend time with family and friends than being out on the water fishing, teaching your kids to ski or just throwing the hook and soaking up the sun while having a cold drink. Every boat company that I’ve spoken to tells me the same thing—they have never seen sales like this before. A lot of these companies make it easy to buy a boat, too. Offerings like no money down, no payments for six months and financing for decades are certainly attractive. It’s a little scary really. My thought is when this pandemic is over there will be some killer boat deals out there. JARRETTBAY.COM So, if you’re going stir crazy being cooped up in the house then maybe buying a boat is not such a bad idea. Or you can do like me and use your friend’s. – That’s my two-minute warning. 10 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM JBBW_halfpage.indd 1 7/20/2020 2:56:33 PM 1906_JARRETT BAY_1-2v.indd 1 7/23/20 6:55 PM Go on a power trip with

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1906_FURUNO_full.indd 68 7/23/20 5:39 PM V9-GetPaid-InTheBite.indd 1 7/2/20 10:32 AM o n t h e d o c k s Fostering a Prosperous Captain-Owner Relationship ’m certain the glaring reason return possible. Shiny boats are also proven to 5. Safe operation can never be overlooked. Ithat many of us chose this catch more fish. Don’t push too hard in rough conditions, espe- profession was for the oppor- 2. When dealing with boatyards, outside cially when you have guests down below as it tunity to fish and travel to contractors and vendors, it’s important to is a much different ride for them than it is on new and different locations. limit unnecessary expenses through care- the bridge. Discuss weather and sea conditions By Captain Though we must always be ful planning and management of refits and with the owner beforehand and remember that Kevin Deerman ready to deal with unexpected repairs. Our job as captain is to minimize the it’s one thing to get caught in a squall; it’s an- obstacles, fishing and traveling should be the cost of ownership whenever possible and should other to ignore advisories altogether. easiest and most welcomed qualities of the job. be kept in mind for all negotiations, with any 6. Maintain orderly and accurate records. What’s not so glamorous is the list of tasks that proceeds from those efforts going back to the Daily maintenance logs, work logs, fish logs and must be accomplished to keep any operation owner. Don’t kill the goose! cruising logs help to keep everything organized running smoothly in between fishing exploits. 3. Use common sense and courtesy regard- for the owner if something happens down the Amid the management and maintenance duties ing all actions or perceptions of your crew to line. Cataloged records that are available on re- captains must perform on a daily basis, it’s also maintain a strong work ethic. With a high quest are also invaluable when negotiating with imperative we look out for our owner’s best in- degree of professionalism, the best captains and a potential buyer in advance of a sale. terests knowing that a happy owner will continue crew work hard even when the owner isn’t pres- 7. Ultimately, the owner and guests are on to invest in the industry. To foster trusted and ent, reflecting a desire to succeed and overall the boat to have a good time but the expe- long-lasting relationships, and loyal friendships, respect for the trade. riences they desire can be drastically differ- it’s highly recommended that captains adhere to 4. An open line of communication is para- ent. Understanding the realities of any owner’s the following list of common courtesies. mount and it’s necessary to have continued sportfishing dreams requires the setting of 1. Make it a priority to keep the boat main- discussions on expenses, maintenance, travel proper expectations from both parties. Wheth- tained to the highest industry standards. Lav- plans, fishing strategies, yard work, family er tournament fishing or cruising and creating ish sportfish yachts and modern center consoles life, etc. When everyone is on the same page family memories, the captain-owner relation- represent a huge investment and when it’s time things run smoother and if any problems arise ship largely dictates the overall prosperity and to list with a broker in anticipation of an up- there are far fewer surprises or unexpected longevity of the entire program. grade you want the owner to receive the greatest events to deal with. – That’s the report from Texas! The Quickie Captains Meeting November 30, 2020 Fish Dates December 1 & 2, 2020 Dead Bait Hook & Hand

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121906_FISHSEPTEMBER HEADS_1-2h.indd 2020 1 7/25/20 INTHEBITE.COM 12:59 PM 1905_SIRIUS XM_full.indd 84 6/10/20 12:42 PM Focused and driven to acquire the resources necessary to purchase a sportfish yacht and fund its worldly undertakings, you are justifiably unfamiliar with everything required to ensure the reliable operation and preservation of its value. Besides, you’ve spent your life working and this boat is supposed to be something fun. Speaking with a few fishing buddies, and maybe the broker who negotiated your deal, you’ve decided to hire a captain. This sounds like a simple and straightforward proposition. After all, the credentialed individual should certainly have the knowledge and experience to keep your boat running and in pristine condition, right? Once you’re sold on the idea of a full-time captain, you begin to research job descriptions. After a few failed queries, it’s clear that even in the year 2020 the sportfishing industry does not yet have anything that amounts to a universal sportfishing captain’s job description. That is until now. HELP WANTED Navigating Today's Complex Captain's Job Description By Elliott Stark s much as we'd like to take credit for a great idea, long- “A captain’s license takes about as much time time subscriber and boat owner Mr. Saeed Almaktoum and effort as getting a CDL to become a gar- A bage truck driver. Are you a captain or are you a provided the inspiration for this article. Saeed sent us a note bus driver? Some of the things I see from today’s suggesting such an editorial regarding role ambiguity after captains really surprise me.” Just as defining a clear job description would reading the 2019 Captain & Owner's Guide. benefit owners, it would also help the professional captains of the world. After all, not only “I have a background in the aviation busi- “When it comes to boating, these days even are owners regularly burned by paper captains, ness. If I leave one company to go to another, my kids can drive a boat or dock it with the joy- so too are experienced helmsmen who strive to the standard operating procedures are the stick. Similarly, any worker—be them carpen- make the job a career through hard work and same—even from one country to the next. ters, butchers or janitors—can call themselves devotion to the craft. The expectations and the job description are captains if they have a piece of paper,” Almak- The issue has more layers than one might as- almost identical. We have standard operating toum elaborates. sume. When an owner’s desire to keep a boat procedures and guidelines for every employee Finding a qualified, professional captain who is chewed up from dealing with a multitude of to know what is expected of them,” he says. is capable of and committed to keeping problems and expenses caused by a neglected or “Strangely, when it comes to boating, a a sportfish performing optimally can poorly maintained boat, professional captains multimillion-dollar business, I could be as difficult as it is important. are harmed twice. Not only did the underquali- not find a guide that defined the InTheBite’sresident expert on all fied and/or underperforming captain swindle expectations that a boat things captain seconds this a valuable position upon initial hiring, when owner should have of notion. Capt. Scott “Fraz” the owner disgustedly sells the boat his captain.” Murie is as passionate he is effectively eliminating about the subject as any future opportunity. he is direct. This not only frac-

14 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM Photo courtesy Simrad

#INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 15 tures what could have been a long-term ca- of the occupants. It is the same when you hire AC & Refrigeration: With the exception reer but ruins what should have been years of a boat captain,” Almaktoum describes. of adding freon or checking for freon leaks, air enjoyment for the owner as well. Generally speaking, a captain’s many mana- conditioning and refrigeration systems should gerial duties involve protecting and preserv- be serviced by crew. Integral tasks include the What exactly is a sportfishing ing the vessel. A good captain, in spite of the cleaning of filters, drains and sea strainers, acid captain's job? sizable salary he or she commands, saves the flushing and raw water pump exchanges. If you surveyed a random sample of people owner money. Cheaping out of captain and Ice Maker: Crew should be able to descale as to the most important part of a captain’s crew may save an owner a couple of bucks in the unit and maintain clean water lines and job, the most common response likely in- the short term, but it costs significantly more clear filter intakes. volves catching fish. Were you to pose the in the long run. A captain-maintained boat Watermaker: Turning seawater into potable same question to a group of boat owners, holds its value much longer with significantly water is invaluable. The crew should handle the answer nearly universally entails protect- less depreciation than one that has largely been membrane cleaning, filter replacement and ing their investment. Every sportfish owner neglected. It is also quite a bit more fulfilling to routinely check for leaks or corrosion. Any elec- wants to catch fish on his or her boat, but spend your money funding the annual salary trical issues require a call to the professionals. none would do so at the expense of their of a dedicated captain than it is to prematurely Generators: Sea strainer cleaning, oil and vessel’s well-being or value. After all, were it rebuild your main engines because they weren’t filter changes, along with zincs, raw water im- just about catching fish the boat owner could cared for correctly. pellers and pump exchanges, should be tasks hop on a plane and rack up big numbers There are a multitude of systems on a accomplished in-house. with one of many reputable charter opera- modern sportfisher. Each has hundreds or Plumbing: Aside from seacock repairs that tions in Costa Rica or Guatemala. thousands of working components that re- require haul out, most plumbing issues stem- quire skillful attention and meticulous main- ming from the galley sink, garbage disposal or Asset Management tenance schedules. And we can’t forget about head should be resolved by the crew. First and foremost, the responsibilities of a caring for the many parts of the boat that Exterior: It’s a no-brainer, but the crew captain center on asset management. “When don’t move. What follows is a breakdown of should address all waxing and washing of you hire a captain, they are legally responsible boat systems with maintenance and service metalwork and gelcoat. Exterior teak must be for the boat. Do you know what the four items. Capt. Scott Murie details which jobs routinely cleaned and sanded. Touching up stripes on an airline captain’s shoulder stand can reasonably be expected to be performed scratched or dinged varnished is rather simple for? It’s all my fault. When I am flying an air- by captain and crew and those that should be but a tradesman should handle the total strip- plane, I am responsible for the aircraft and all farmed out to professional technicians. ping of varnish and its re-application.

16 1905_TRIBUTE_1-2h.inddSEPTEMBER 2020 1 INTHEBITE.COM6/10/20 1:07 PM The cleanliness of a boat’s engine room is a direct reflection of the captain and crew’s attention to detail. Outriggers: A minimum of once a year, Gears & Transmission: Oil and filter or her guests to be scolded for missing a sail- crews should drop, clean and wax outrigger changes, along with acid flushing raw water fish and it’s always awkward when the cap- poles, and replace cables and bushings as neces- coolers, are duties that can be accomplished tain and mate are yelling at each other. Keep- sary. Hydraulic problems should be resolved by by the crew. ing a clean boat and happy, upbeat attitude a pro but observed by the crew so they can at- sure goes a long way in this endeavor. This is tempt repair should an issue arise off the dock. Experience Management particularly true when the bite is off, or the Main Engines: The changing of oil and A crucial part of the captain’s job is to owner wants to go snapper fishing when the fuel filters should be performed by the crew, make sure that the boat is enjoyable. While blue marlin are chewing. Never make anyone as should the cleaning of sea strainers and ex- what exactly constitutes fun is subjective, on the deck uncomfortable. change of impellers. there are a few universals. Nobody wants his One of the common attributes exhibited

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#INTHEBITE1906_HATTERAS OFFSHORE_1-2h.indd 1 SEPTEMBER7/3/20 2020 2:11 PM17 by captains who have successfully made this life a career is the ability to be personable with a variety of people. This extends to not only making guests comfortable but also recruiting individuals who possess the required traits for the job. Once they find a quality mate, great captains also ensure that their work is enrich- ing—helping mates acquire the necessary skills, attributes and competencies before ultimately moving up to the bridge themselves. When it comes to having fun, there are as many versions of a good time as there are boat owners. What is acceptable behavior on one boat might be taboo on another. Captain and owner should be on the same page in understanding the parameters of the experience. Fishing Another dimension of a captain’s job is to make sure that the boat provides the type of fishing experience that is best for the owner and guests. As with many other aspects of the With a running list of needed maintenance and repairs, captains can significantly minimize downtime. occupation, this involves the unbiased assess- ment and realization of the owner’s honest tween the expectations and perspectives of observation. Whether it’s due to business con- desires and abilities. different owners. The inherent flexibility and cerns or just not wanting the world to know A great captain will be able to quickly grasp type of experience they wish to gain from their every move, the degree to which a boat’s the many variables that relate to the fishing ownership dictates much of what a captain’s operation should be shared publicly is subject experience of boat ownership. These include job entails. While some owners are demand- to the owner’s requests. but are certainly not limited to family in- ing, others are less so. Here are a few addi- Whether it be posting to social media or volvement, budget, extent of travel and level tional considerations that are wise to be in- discussing what happens on the boat, there of tournament participation desired. Once cluded when coming to an understanding of is a comfort level associated with most every these variables are initially considered, the a prospective captain’s position. operation. The privacy consideration of boat captain can then tailor a program that suits Budget: There are fewer ways to burn out ownership is made that much more evident his or her owner’s wishes. a new owner faster than by melting his credit when considering how intimate the space on Therange of activities captains must carry card with unnecessary items and charges. a boat may be. While traveling, crews may out or fulfill are quite diverse. If you have a Does this mean that every captain should live aboard the boat. During this time, they good mate it can be very enjoyable. If you do cheap out and only buy the bare essentials for will not only coexist with the owner and his not, then it can be very taxing. Responsibili- the boat? No. In many cases, the number on guests but also may see or witness any num- ties quite often change, or new ones may be the expense account matters much less than ber of things that would normally remain very assigned at any time. These can vary from us- the perception of how it is being spent. No private. This includes family interactions being the boat for sunset booze cruises, with the boat owner in the world wants to lose the blue tween the owner and his spouse and kids, pri- occasional snorkel trip thrown in, to a hard- marlin of a lifetime because captain and crew vate business dealings that are conducted on charging international operation entering a tried to save a couple of dollars purchasing the boat, and other “intimate relations” that tournament at the last minute. fishing line from the discount bin. may not be suitable for dock gossip. While there is no right or wrong use for a For some owners, it is important to continu- boat—how they are used is a function of what ously purchase and use the latest and greatest The Final Word the owner and his guests would like to do—it in fishing gear. Others are more price-con- If you are looking for a 9 to 5 work life, is important that the captain and owner are scious, even if they have billions in the bank, then you might consider an alternate line on the same page from the start. A seasoned and prefer to be conservative in their boat’s of employment. While there are a number vet who has a passion for traveling and wining purchasing habits. There is no right or wrong of things that can be said to fall within the tournaments will likely not be satisfied running approach when it comes to boat budgets and scope of a qualified captain’s duties, the fin- a boat that’s at the dock nine months out of what is appropriate to buy. Standards do not er touches of a job running a modern sport- the year. Likewise, a captain who wishes to stay apply here. A well-suited captain and owner fisher are likely best defined as they relate close to home would be foolish to sign on for relationship will refine the appropriate level of to a boat’s particular use and the owner’s a globetrotting mothership operation that cel- spending through time. It is wise to discuss this specific circumstances. There’s no definitive ebrates life at sea. going into it rather than leave things to chance. formula for achieving a prosperous captain- Privacy: Another concern that Almaktoum owner relationship, but hopefully this pro- Other Considerations referenced is that of privacy. Many boat own- vides the best practices and recommended One of the difficulties in defining a one- ers are high net worth individuals whose ac- architecture for building arrangements of size-fits-all captain’s job is the variability be- tivities and actions are subject to scrutiny and trust and respect. 18 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM Visit our updated website www.krazykoshersaltandbaitbrine.com

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1902_Krazy1905_KRAZY Salts_full.indd SALTS_full.indd 84 84 2/12/206/8/20 12:13 1:58 PM MARKET ANALYSIS The Great Brokerage Breakdown By Dale Wills

he purchase of a new or used sportfish or center console in the motoryacht and cruising segments, can be quite the complex process. Lacking industry intel- and those who have experience with the cus- T tom build process. These experts have a deep ligence and boat buying experience, soon-to-be owners can be understanding of each manufacturer’s his- easily led astray. Take it from those who have learned the hard tory, successes of different models, and their developments throughout the years, which way—the right broker is well worth the sales commission. And ultimately gives them the ability to make ac- with an extensive network of clients, accomplished brokers can curate valuations and provide sound advice also expedite the sale or trade-in of an existing vessel. To learn to their clients. about the emerging and enduring sales trends of the recreational Does Bluewater have a specialty? boating industry and how to choose a brokerage that aligns with Our roots are in the sportfishing industry, but we proudly serve customers in all areas your goals, we interviewed four industry-leading experts who re- of boating, fishing and cruising. We execute main at the forefront of the ever-changing market. business across the country and even inter- nationally, but we mostly focus on the East Bluewater Yacht Sales Coast between Maryland and Florida. While Blake Tice – Marketing Manager What is your brokerage’s point of difference? we did get our start on the sportfishing side Founded in 1968, Bluewater Yacht Sales is We pride ourselves on our ability to guide of the business, we have specialists who have one of the East Coast’s largest yacht broker- customers through every stage of their boat- gravitated toward all segments of the industry, age companies, comprising nine waterfront ing life—from buying a new boat, to get- so we are well equipped to represent buyers office locations from Maryland to Florida. ting service and maintenance, and finally to and sellers with any of their boating needs. Currently owned and operated by its found- marketing and selling their current boats. ing partners, Bluewater proudly represents We have a passionate team of brokers that What characteristics should prospective the finest sportfish, motoryacht and center naturally tend to focus on the vessel types buyers look for in a broker? console brands in the world, including Vi- that they love and enjoy the most. We have Thebest brokers are passionate about boat- king, Jarrett Bay, Princess, Regulator, Val- those who know the sportfishing boats and ing and have dedicated their time to learning halla, Jupiter, Sabre and Back Cove. brands inside and out, those who specialize and enjoying the business. Look for a broker 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM outside service work. In 2019, our customer satisfaction index score for our service team averaged 99.6 percent. Our commitment to our customers goes beyond just service though, as all 175 Galati team members are empowered to do whatever it takes to consis- tently exceed industry expectations.

Does Galati have a specialty? Most of our clients are on their second or third boat. They are very familiar with the type of boat they are looking for and the activities they want to enjoy while onboard. However, 2020 has brought some first-time Bluewater’s long-tenured sales professionals are keenly aware of both product and market trends. buyers to us as these new clients see boating as a way to practice social distancing while who is honest, hard-working and dialed in is to take care of your boat from the start. enjoying time with family and close friends. to the latest industry trends. On our website Spend some time with a professional captain there’s a bio for every broker, and it’s always or an experienced broker to get familiar with What characteristics should prospective fun to read about their background in the the boat, learn the systems, and figure out the buyers look for in a broker? business, and more importantly the testimo- best way to keep the boat in great condition. Brokers should know the product they are nials they have received from customers. Our Taking the initiative now will help to protect selling and be factual about every aspect of team lives and breathes boating and we could your investment and keep you on the water it—the good and the bad. They should be not be prouder of the staff that we have rep- for years to come. honest, hard-working, efficient and open to resenting our company. help others even when there is no reward. Our Galati Yacht Sales brokers exhibit all of these qualities and even What is an interesting fact about your Steve Lassley – Broker more desirable traits. We pride ourselves in brokerage that someone might not know? Celebrating 50 years in the business, Gala- the quality of our sales force. Most have been We are fortunate to have built a brand that ti Yacht Sales is a family owned and operated boating their entire lives, many were once cap- most boaters are familiar with, whether it be dealership and brokerage firm with locations tains or crew, so they have a unique under- through our sales organization, our service in Florida, Alabama, Texas, Mexico and standing of the industry and environment and yards, or even the yachting center in Virginia. Costa Rica. Having grown significantly from are able to pass along a wealth of knowledge What many people don’t know about is our its humble beginnings on Ana Maria Island, and expertise to their clients. connection to Jarrett Bay Boatworks, and how Galati is now the largest dealer of Viking that has helped shape our company. Bluewater Yachts, but also sells a large number of new What is an interesting fact about your bro- is actually the result of a merger between Vir- and pre-owned boats from Valhalla, Princess, kerage that someone might not know? ginia-based Bluewater Yacht Sales and North Prestige, Maritimo, Tiara and many more. Galati is the largest five-star certified dealer Carolina-based Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales. The in the marine industry and sells nearly 500 current company is still affiliated with Jarrett What is your brokerage’s point of difference? boats a year. Bay, which gives our team an inside look at Our point of difference is definitely our the custom build process and a deep under- service department, with our four service Where do you see the future of the market standing of the custom boat market. yards exclusively reserved for Galati clients. going? Whether it’s for repair or routine mainte- One of the trends that I’m seeing is that Where do you see the future of the market? nance, we want customers who purchased a the center console market has really taken off. As we entered the COVID-19 pandemic, boat through us to get back on the water as Viking’s new Valhalla line has models ideally we really had no idea what to expect for the quickly as possible, so we do not perform any suited to serve as standalone fishing platforms boating industry, but fortunately sales have or tenders for mothership operations. Many been as strong, if not stronger than before. sportfish owners now desire having both types From a product standpoint we are seeing of boats for more intimate excursions. technology advance at an unbelievable pace, with electronics, stabilization, remote sys- What is the best advice you can give an as- tems and navigational equipment becom- piring sportfish owner? ing more important to our customers. Every Surround yourself with the right people. time you think that the market has gone to If you are hiring a crew, double-check their an extreme with technology, you are amazed references and be certain they are respected when it goes to the next level. by past owners and peers. Also, search out the best-maintained boat your budget allows What is the best advice you can give to a and then keep it that way. What’s left is to go prospective sportfish owner? Before joining Galati, Steve Lassley was the fleet enjoy the many adventures and great memo- The single most important piece of advice captain for the Bad Company operation. ries ahead of you. #INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 21 Despite continued uncertainty regarding the global pandemic, brokerage activity has been very strong for the MacGregor team. MacGregor Yachts Jamie MacGregor – President was much more interesting. Consequently, What is an interesting fact about your bro- Enjoying 21 years at their Palm Beach we’ve focused on being a master of the cus- kerage that someone might not know? Gardens location, Florida-based MacGregor tom market. Unlike a production boat, each Even though we are a custom sportfish Yachts comprises a team of expert captains, custom vessel is its own one-of-kind cre- brokerage, we sell quite a few motoryachts yacht brokers, marine finance specialists and ation. Each custom boat builder has their as well. We’ve sold 85- to 203-foot yachts boat builders. The accommodating staff is fo- own story, style and way to perfect their art. with transactions negotiated throughout Asia cused on putting their customer’s needs first, This leads to more man hours to achieve per- and Europe. The recent launch of Evolution fostering long-term relationships with each fection. Knowing the product, we can point by MacGregor Yachts strives to provide the client through their acquisition of the finest our clients in the direction of which boats to same quality buying and selling services for pedigree of custom sportfish yachts. snatch up and which to steer away from. high-end center consoles.

What is your brokerage’s point of difference? What characteristics should prospective Where do you see the future of the market We’re a boutique-style, family owned and buyers look for in a broker? going? operated company specializing in custom Brokers should be passionate about what It’s interesting to see the difference in how sportfish yachts. Our dedicated team works they are selling and enjoy sharing these pas- younger brokers and older brokers handle very close together and we are constantly col- sions with their clients. Listening to a client’s the marketing aspects of the industry. Us laborating and communicating on the current wants and needs is very important. A broker “seasoned vets” love meeting face-to-face market trends. We all have deep ties to the should never push a buyer into a boat that with buyers to discuss all aspects in per- boating community in very unique, special- doesn’t meet their prerequisites. They should son. The new generation of salesmen take ized areas. Every member of the team brings slow the selling process down until the cli- a much more virtual approach and utilize something to the table, and we all work to- ent is educated and ready to make a suitable the tech tools available. Digital marketing gether to excel in meeting the needs of our cli- purchasing decision that’s right for them. is the future and the importance of video ents. We don’t compete with each other, rather Reputation is all we have in this industry. walkthroughs and conferencing really came we encourage and unite to become stronger, Honesty and genuine interest in your client’s to light during the pandemic. We are seeing more knowledgeable and more efficient. needs are two characteristics you should buyers and sellers conducting their research look for when selecting the right broker. An online before coming to showings and know- Does MacGregor have a specialty? educated buyer pulling away from the dock ing quite a bit about the boats. This requires Our firm has always been focused on in the right vessel with a big smile on their us to be on our game more than ever. There’s the custom sportfish market and we’ve fol- face is what we strive for. Seeing families and also a huge trend in “influencers” shaping lowed this business model for over 25 years. friends traveling, fishing and making memo- buying decisions. Not only do we need to Through our experiences, we came to the re- ries on the water is our favorite part of the be targeting the individual buyers, but we alization that having a specific niche to target entire process. also have to appease their captains, mates, or whoever they consider to be the “experts” in the field.

What is the best advice you can give an as- piring sportfish owner? Trust your broker! If they check all of the boxes in the credibility, honesty and knowledge departments, then enjoy the hunt and have fun during the buying process. Once you’ve purchased your dream boat, use and enjoy it for a bit. Don’t rush into updates and upgrades. Take your time and enjoy the project. Perhaps most important is picking Purchasing or selling a yacht requires tremendous market knowledge. It’s best to have an experienced the right crew. We’ve seen too many owners professional guide you through the transaction. leave the industry because of crew drama. 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM FULL SERVICE AT FULL THROTTLE

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1905_VIKING SERVICE CENTER_full.indd 84 6/8/20 3:51 PM ships with our customers that help us to ticipate in sportfishing tournaments world- understand what they truly need. We lead wide, source captains from across the globe, in our industry with customer service and facilitate trans-Atlantic yacht transportation, knowledge of the products. experience motoryacht getaways in multiple markets, and attend boat shows along the Does Riggs have a specialty? East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. These experi- Each member of our team brings their own ences have allowed them to create a notewor- unique set of skills. We were involved in thy network of contacts and competencies. building the 90-foot Jaruco, one of the largest and most advanced sportfishing boats Where do you see the future of the market ever built. We also have experience with mo- going? toryachts, production boats, center consoles The use of carbon fiber and other lightweight With happy clients, Riggs has a high referral rate. and semi-custom builds. building components is rapidly expanding. Proprietary weaves of carbon fiber were used in Riggs Yacht Sales What characteristics should prospective the Jaruco to produce the fastest 90-foot sport- John D. Riggs – Owner buyers look for in a broker? fish in existence. These materials caught the at- Whether you are looking to buy, sell or We are in the business of building long- tention of the market and have since become build a boat, Riggs Yacht Sales has experi- lasting client relationships. It is essential that an important building innovation. We also see enced professionals ready to create memorable the broker takes their time and finds the boat production companies becoming increasingly customer experiences. A full-service yacht that is right for their client, rather than the responsive to the needs of the consumer. brokerage led by North Carolina native John more convenient or profitable option. We’re D. Riggs, the Wrightsville Beach-based firm in it for the long haul! Once a client experi- What is the best advice you can give an as- is proud to be an exclusive dealer of Hatteras ences our level of service, we know we have piring sportfish owner? sportfishing and motoryachts, as well as the their business for life. Surround yourself with a team of experi- recently revived CABO brand. enced professionals that will listen to your What is an interesting fact about your bro- needs. There are many important choices to What is your brokerage’s point of difference? kerage that someone might not know? consider including vessel size, equipment, elec- Build. Create. Lead. These are the core Our brokers are engaged in the marine tronics and ultimately the hiring of a qualified values of our team. We build long-term trust industry in ways that help them truly un- captain. The right sales professional can help with our clients. We create personal relation- derstand what motivates clients. They par- guide you through all of those decisions.

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1906_FS BOATWORKS_full.indd 68 7/29/20 11:35 AM A red-hot bite can quickly turn into the perfect storm. Out of respect, many captains and crew are too polite to establish clear expectations regarding on board behavior. Safety briefings are imperative but it’s also important to introduce the following professional recommendations and common courtesies. If you're lucky enough to catch a ride on a Weaver, it helps to know the rules!

SPORTFISH STATUTES The Definitive Guide to Being a Great Boat Guest

Title I: General Provisions • Treat every boat, even if it’s a longliner • You can be late to work. You can be late for • Don’t slam the drink box door, or any hatch built in the 1940s, like the Queen Mary II. dinner. You can be late for church. But you can’t for that matter. Respect the barefoot rule and ask for permis- be late for fishing, ever! • Make sure that cabinets, the refrigerator and sion before stepping aboard. Once on board, • If you disappear as soon as the boat hits the the freezer are locked in place when you close address the crew with the utmost respect. dock, then it’s probably going to be your last the doors. Listen before expressing your viewpoint and trip. The best way to get invited back and feel • Always booze in moderation. try not to disrupt an efficient program. like part of the team is to become familiar with • Complement the attitude and outlook of • Don’t assume anything. The same tasks a wash mitt and chamois. the company on the boat. If you’re joining a are accomplished very differently on different • All boat crews have their own particular group of easygoing people, then leave captain boats. You can’t go wrong asking the captain ways of doing things and they don’t want to serious at the dock. If everyone is dialed in and and crew how you can help contribute. In hear about how you’ve done it somewhere else. focused on the next fish, they probably don’t some cases, like when docking or anchoring, • There is a difference between asking for the want to hear you dancing. crews prefer less help than more. purpose of learning and asking for the purpose • When you’re fishing on someone else’s boat, of questioning someone. Get this wrong and Title II: Limitations ask what you can bring. If they say they have it you will soon be fishing off the local pier. • Inform the captain and crew of any pre- covered, then leave your lucky rod at home. • Unless requested, nobody wants to see existing medical conditions well before you are • Traveling to a game boat in a remote des- charts and satellite imagery downloaded on 50 miles offshore. If you have any prescribed tination? Volunteer to pack any must-have your phone. An even worse infraction is medication or a situation could potentially items for the crew. With an operation based when unsolicited information is paired with arise (heart problems, diabetes, asthma, etc.), in an inconvenient and isolated location, the question, “Why aren’t we fishing here?” let someone on the boat know so that they may it’s a lot easier for you to pick up some chin • When docking or while a fish is hooked up, be prepared. Certain medications can react with weights than it is for them to be sourced. don’t sit or stand in a place that obscures the dehydration from seasickness and compound to And don’t forget the latest issue of InTheBite! captain’s view of the line. create much greater problems. 26 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM • Make any food allergies well known. barrassed. Go outside and put your face in the • Clean up after yourself and never throw With a history of severe reactions, it’s im- wind. The rule is any side but inside. any trash overboard. portant you bring an EpiPen and inform the • Be careful of new or old shoes. Fresh crew of its location if needed. Title IV: Crimes kicks can bleed when wet. Old shoes tend • Do not show up to the dock like Keith • Spray on sunscreen can make a real to mark the deck and track dirt. Black soled Richards after a four-day bender. Please be mess—some will discolor upholstery and even shoes are never acceptable. respectful to sportfishing professionals and stain gelcoat. If you insist, apply outside in a • No wet shoes or boots inside. Also, if have the courtesy not to arrive half in the bag. location where the overspray is directed away you are soaked to the bone ask for a towel from the boat. Never spray in the salon. before attempting to sit on the couch. Title III: Public Health • Avoid pants or shorts with zippered seat • Everybody gets excited when a fish is • If there’s a lady on board, you can’t go pockets that may easily and unknowingly hooked up, but there’s no need to be more wrong by peeing inside. That said, keep it off tear upholstery. vocal than the captain. the floors and the wall. To quote Capt. Jen • Steer clear of sandals with bottle openers • Even though sportfishing vessels are Copeland, “If it’s rough, would it be beneath on the sole. These can scratch gelcoat, teak durable machines, it’s a fragile landscape. you to sit down?!” and tower legs. Beware of belt buckles, metal buttons and • Heavy lifting in the head deserves a cour- • Unless you have spoken about it previ- watch bands that might scratch varnish or tesy flush. Some boats can flush toilet paper, ously, assume the boat is a non-smoking envi- mar the surface of aluminum pipework. some cannot. In either case, don’t put any ronment. And leave the medical marijuana at • Newspaper ink bleeds when wet and can foreign objects in the toilet. If you have a home, Cheech. be especially damaging to cushions. question, ask the mate. It’s also a good idea to • Unless you own the boat, don’t ever eat make sure you know how to operate the flush in the staterooms. mechanism before you deposit a bowl full. • Fried chicken will leave spots on a teak • If you’re going to be sick, don’t be em- deck. If you spill crumbs, hose them off.

#INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 27 Untitled-4 1 4/28/17 11:39 AM Mix business with pleasure. Head to sea with the ultimate Internet, phone & entertainment package, taking a true home & office experience along with you, wherever you cruise!

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Untitled-4 1 4/28/17 11:39 AM20_V7HTS.UHD7_BusinesswithPleasure_Tower_AME_Dockwalk.indd1905_AME_full.indd 84 1 6/16/203/13/20 5:39 PM 12:33 PM State of the Mate

The Evolution & Function of the Modern Deckhand

EXPERT PANEL Capt. Dale Britt Morehead City, North Carolina Capt. Fin Gaddy Oregon Inlet, North Carolina By Joe Byrum Capt. Kenny Sexton ike almost every industry, the current sportfishing land- Oregon Inlet, North Carolina Lscape looks completely different than it did 40 years ago. Capt. Jason ªTinyº Walcott While time changes everything all of the time, in the last five South Florida years alone advances in technology and equipment have in- spired the development of outcome-driven techniques, alter- Capt. Jon Brooks Florida/New Jersey ing the state of the mate in a particularly impactful way. With the widespread adoption of innovation, the individu- Capt. Tom Buckner als involved in our sport have changed as well, be it Port Aransas, Texas for better or for worse. Capt. Chase Lake Destin, Florida We all know the importance of having a teemed captains around the competent crew. The vast majority of sportfish- country for a deeper under- Capt. Bryan Sears ing operations employ a captain and at least one standing regarding workforce mate to even leave and return to the slip safely, training, leadership develop- Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts not to mention rig baits and tackle, clean the ment, crew longevity and how Capt. John Galvin boat and accommodate the day's fishing group things have changed over the years. among many other integral tasks. When it comes to the dependence on Cape Cod, Massachusetts To further address the mate profession technology, work ethic and perseverance through anecdotal accounts, I interviewed es- of millennials, everyone loves to speculate. 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM tent talking point among conversations. “I feel that the assigned duties and job requirements have greatly increased for mates these days,” Capt. Tiny Walcott says. “Boats are more advanced and require more upkeep. Fishing techniques and bait and tackle preparation have evolved to a point where having two full-time mates is almost mandatory, especially when competing in high-stakes tournaments.” Capt. Tom Buckner also referenced how the requirements of the job have altered over the years. “The daily grind of an old school charter boat was all about repetition. Deckhands were expected to do exactly as instructed by captains since they were usu- to their phones. Excessive screen time not ally kids with zero experience when they only leaves them distracted from the job itself, got the job. Mates were required to show leading to missed bites and lost opportuni- up early and stay late to wash the boat at ties, but also makes them too concerned with the end of the day, often while I was mak- getting their latest catch on the newest media ing repairs. They were expected to be polite channels. “With the evolution of social media, to the guests, care for the tackle and make there is a lot of doing it for the ‘gram. It seems the baits run straight.” like most millennials fish for online recogni- While many of these attributes are still tion and accolades,” Capt. Jon Brooks says. applicable, Buckner also affirmed how the Echoing similar thoughts, Capt. Chase job requirements have evolved as the busi- Lake explains that he’s found a lot of the ness moved to the gleaming new boats of Our expert panel has decades of experience in younger mates had a hard time detaching today. “A greater degree of skill is needed the captain’s chair and there is perhaps not a from their phones and were often too eager for the care of the vessel as well as the time better assembly in the world to provide accu- to share the day’s catch on social media. “It to maintain it. The TD Mop, chamois and rate insight with regard to the state of the mate. seems like today everybody wants to be the blade have become the most important wireman, but no one wants to put in the tools of the trade. The owners and guests What trends have you seen in work that it takes to be the mate,” Lake says. have become the people to please. Mates the progression of mates? While captains once tried to keep catches a are expected to have more personal skills, It may seem evident that things must bit of a secret in the name of competition, constantly monitor the spread, and teach evolve, but the source of this change might these days it’s more like a race to get your lat- guests how to fish when needed. They re- be a bit surprising. Two interesting changes est bite online as fast as possible. ally need to conform to the social situations rise to the surface: the materialization of ad- Capt. Fin Gaddy believes that social media’s more than the less sophisticated kid on the vanced skillsets and those associated with influence was not for the better of the charter deck of that battered charter boat.” technology. The type of work that’s involved industry. He reflected back to a quote from with different techniques and tactics required Teddy Roosevelt stating that, “Comparison is Finding & Keeping Good Crew to stay on the bite has certainly transformed the thief of joy,” which relates the culture of so- Another factor that seemed to be almost over the years. Complex tools like dredges cial media to the charter industry. Gaddy viv- universal was the difficulty in locating and and fishing kites have taken the offshore idly recalls a day when he and his guests caught retaining a good mate. “I definitely think it’s community by storm, greatly increasing the a blue and four whites. Rather than being harder to find a reliable mate nowadays. So workload to maintain a proper spread. elated by an excellent day, when they hit the many young people just don’t want to work One of the most constant topics of con- ‘gram they were envious over a boat in Costa hard, or they want you to cater to them. I’m versation was a piece of technology that Rica that released 23 blue marlin. This unfair not saying that about everyone by any means, we are all saddled to these days—our comparison between two dissimilar fisheries but back when I was starting out there was a smartphones. With social media being on different ends of the spectrum can dilute lot of competition to be able to prove yourself an ever-present part of our lives, the feeling of what should be considered a very and land that dream job. Every morning there both as a personal and profes- special day by any East Coast standard. While used to be guys sitting up on the porch at the sional tool, a lot of guys I our sport is certainly competitive, social media Oregon Inlet Fishing Center in hopes of some talked to spoke about often invites feelings of false equivalence across mate not showing up. Not so anymore,” Capt. the new generation of unrelated environments. With fear of missing Kenny Sexton says. mates being glued out they revel in their successes without know- Capt. Bryan Sears agrees, recognizing that ing the story of their failures. “The local com- it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find petition at the dock in places like Oregon Inlet someone with the necessary passion and drive creates enough healthy rivalry among crews as to withstand the exhausting pace. “Consis- it is,” Gaddy says. tency, willingness to grind and a high level of The workload for mates was another consis- awareness are sometimes not as prevalent with #INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 31 the younger generation of fishermen. While I do know several very good up-and-coming mates throughout my area, I think attention to detail is lacking with some of the newer generation of mates and deckhands. Trying to instill that characteristic can be difficult. I think a lot of that has to do with passion and belief in the inherent value of work, which cannot be taught. Sometimes you get lucky though—keep those people close.” It’s also important to think of ways to help motivate your crew and keep them stimulated. Capt. Gaddy once offered to take his mate to Cape Verde or Venezuela if they won or placed in a tournament. This way, the crew has some skin the game. Even if he’s stuck paying for a trip to one of these exotic destinations, he and his crew come back with useful skills and experience from fishing in unfamiliar waters. Thatincentive paid off for Fin’s mate when they ended up winning a tournament and go- tips, higher tournament shares and even things ing to both Cape Verde and Venezuela that like insurance, gas cards or company vehicles for year. He says that the skills they acquired successful mates that remain loyal to their cap- by fishing in two of the world’s best billfish tain and owner. hotspots served them well with their program back home in the Carolinas. Others talked Cream Rises to the Top about similar approaches for both private and Even with a transformation in this workforce, charter operations including bonuses, extra cash the constant seems to be that the guys who love

321906_EAGLESEPTEMBER CLAW_1-2h.indd 2020 1 8/12/20 INTHEBITE.COM 12:02 PM the sport and continue to work to improve will stand out and stick around. Opinions varied a bit about whether today’s mates were trying to work their way up the ladder too quickly, but most said that if that was the case, the fresh captains usually either adapted to excel on the fly or quickly found themselves back in the cockpit. “I remember before the 2008 recession it seemed like anybody who pushed a chamois be- came a captain. When the jobs disappeared so did the less qualified crews. The industry eventually rebounded, and we started seeing another influx of unqualified mates. Fortunately, that just makes the cream rise to the top, and the good guys really shine,” Capt. Brooks says. From one boat to the next, the nature of a professional mate’s work differs greatly. This was another theme that esonatedr with the captains in all areas of the country. While guidance prior to doing so. As a result, I went mates. My previous mate was with me for nine the pool of qualified mates may indeed be back to the pit on my next job and it paid great years and our present mate is in his fourth year. smaller than it has been in the past, the best of dividends for me where I am now.” All my mates have had great work ethic, abil- the best will continue to thrive. Enjoying excellent continuity with his mates ity and personality. Four out of the five have Capt. John Galvin relates this to his own over the last 20 years, Capt. Dale Britt has a gone on to the bridge of different boats.” experience. “I think that mates have probably unique story to tell. “My experience, in our been trying to move up the ladder too quickly area, is that good choices have been made for What does it take to excel? long before millennials forged their path into the most part regarding the timing of leaving In talking to our expert panel, a lot of what adulthood. Learning under someone more ex- the cockpit and becoming a full-time captain. they discussed rang back to common sense perienced for any period of time rarely leads to I’ve personally not seen many mistakes made and the tried and true standards that the job poor results. When I first took over the helm, I and have been very blessed with mates over the of being a mate on a professional game boat certainly could have used some more time and years. Since 2000, I have only had five different has always required. Showing up on time, be-

#INTHEBITE1905_ACE MARINE_1-2h.indd 1 SEPTEMBER6/19/20 2020 12:40 PM33 Current State of Affairs As a mate myself, I’ve seen the game change over the years. I got my start on headboats, trying to gain knowledge and respect while fantasizing of one day pulling the leader on big blue marlin like the guys I saw backing into the weigh station at the Big Rock each year. While there may be fewer fishermen today with that dream than there were 20 years ago, they are still out there and it’s our respon- sibility to invest time in the next generation to ensure that our sport continues in the right direction. Hopefully, these insights will help the next wave of guys and girls contribute to The best mates are determined to rise to the top and recognize that every new situation is a learning opportunity. our industry. If nothing else, I hope they remember to pay attention to the job and stop ing receptive to listening and learning, adapt- particularly important when it comes to fish- looking at their damn phone! ing to changing conditions, paying attention ing. Given that we are often on the water to- to detail and keeping the captain, owner and gether for many hours at a time—and in the fishing party happy are necessary fundamen- case of traveling operations many days, weeks or Capt. Joe Byrum grew up in Eastern North tals that cannot be overlooked. Lack of pas- months at a time—it is important to be cheer- Carolina fishing primarily out of Morehead sion for the sport quickly weeds out those ful and helpful. Successful crews also keep their City, NC. Since 2016 he has been based out of who aren’t up for the continuous hustle that composure no matter the situation. It’s gravely Kona, Hawaii working as a mate with Capt. comes along with being an integral part of a important that teams can shake off a missed bite Chris Donato and Grander Marlin Sportfishing busy operation. and move on to the next fish without letting the aboard the 37’ Merritt Benchmark. Joe is also Having the right attitude may have been wasted opportunity get the best of their nerves. a world-class sportfishing photographer and his the quality that was talked about most fre- A bad attitude spreads like wildfire and good work can be seen at jayblesphotography.com or quently. While true for any profession, it is things come to those who think positively. Instagram and Facebook @jayblesphoto.

Committed to the Craft. Quality service, integrity, and hard work. That’s the way Saunders has been doing business since 1959, and it’s how we continue to serve the marine community today. Whether you’re preparing for your next adventure, in need of a major repair, or seeking the security of professional maintenance, you can count on Saunders Yachtworks. Committed to excellence. Committed to our customers. Committed to the craft.

Gulf Shores, Ala. | SaundersYacht.com | ( ) –

341802_SAUNDERS_1-2h.inddSEPTEMBER 2020 1 1/20/19 INTHEBITE.COM 11:59 AM 52

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#INTHEBITE1902_Whites Tackle_Talica_1-2h .indd 1 SEPTEMBER1/22/20 2020 4:46 PM35 The reach of technological innovation continues to influence the sportfishing industry in ways once unimaginable. Any advantage a captain can achieve toward his quest and target game fish should not be overlooked. And if that edge also ensures a clear sense of safety, then so be it no matter the price tag or difficulty in acquisition. Being up to date with the latest technology also means being on the bite. TECH TOYS 2020 Leading-Edge Sportfishing Trends & Innovations By Steve Katz

mid the many innovations propelling offshore anglers The best part is that it works not only in any to truly impressive feats, sleek sportfish yachts are likely sea condition, but also at any speed. The de- A vice comprises a computer-controlled flywheel the single greatest influence enabling anglers to scour distant that spins at high speeds with remarkable pre- waters previously unrealizable. And you’d be hard pressed to cision. The flywheel rests in a self-contained find a new build without plans for a gyro stabilizer. Seakeeper’s vacuum, delivering optimal results and requir- ing minimal power. A positive side effect to (seakeeper.com) anti-roll gyros exemplify state-of-the-art tech- this popular option is that many production nology, gauging sea conditions and reacting immediately. For builders have been forced to redesign their vessel’s structural characteristics to accommo- once, a gyro stabilizer puts an end to the balancing act we have date the market’s widespread desire to cruise grown accustomed to over the years. and fish in comfort. This means strengthening 36 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM key areas in the hull and deck. Builders have also enlarged deck hatches to improve access for routine maintenance or refit. Electric fishing reels have been around for a long time. Keen inventors originally modi- fied traditional fishing reels with aftermarket motors to help improve efficiency through increased retrieval speeds. They were archaic but effective. Fortunately, there are now several respected manufacturers dedicated to the development of electric reels that can serve many purposes. These modern marvels have evolved from basic single speed units to infi- nitely variable speed capabilities, all without sacrificing load capacity. Lindgren-Pitman’s new SV series reels available in 12- and 24- volt (lindgren-pitman.com) provide enhanced pulling power with variable speed adjust- ability and a level wind with line counter. LP has continuously refined what very well could be the best electric fishing reel, judged by its popularity in the cockpit of game boats around the world. Enabling anglers to multitask like never before, electric kite reels truly are a difference maker. While these compact workhorses are fully capable of light duty deep dropping, they strategically enhance kite fishing efforts by allowing anglers to retrieve kites faster than ever. In this venue, Hooker Electric (hookerelectric. com) stands alone with the fastest electric reels on the market. Their Shimano Tiagra 30 model is capable of retrieving at speeds of 1,000-feet per min applying 40 pounds of drag. Be careful or you might fold the kite spars! Electrics are also popular for use as dedicated teaser reels, often located over the captain’s head allowing the lines to be threaded to the outriggers with relative ease. No longer a TECH TOYS 2020 re- purposed reel, these are specific for teaser operation as demonstrated by products such as the Elec-Tra-Mate (elec-tra-mate.com) or Miya Epoch (store.technotren.com) overhead systems for managing both surface teasers and dredges. The watermaker market has become heav- ily saturated with products and therefore allowed for more competition and innovation that ultimately benefits all owners of these systems. The newest modular systems are smaller, faster, often automatic and produce cleaner water than ever before. The real gem in this segment is the freshwater reverse For kite fishing enthusiasts, there’s no tool more beneficial than a Hooker Electric reel. osmosis (RO) watermakers, popularized by the Dometic (spotzerowater.com) Spot Zero 100 parts per million (PPM) of total dis- als such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, brand. This is a system that has brought solved solids (TDS). EPA drinking water sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulfates. nearly perfect water onboard our vessels for standards allow a maximum of 500 PPM The new SeaXchange + Spot Zero XZ is a washing, bathing and drinking without the and often RO seawater measures in the combination series for boaters in need of a worry of possible contamination. 100 PPM range. City dock water typically compact, integrated system for creating truly Whether you are using dock water or RO scores in the 200 PPM range and the solids spot-free water anywhere in the world. Such water, it could very well be impure with over in TDS are often naturally occurring miner- a powerful system can process chlorinated #INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 37 water, something a traditional watermaker cannot do, and remove about 98 percent of the minerals, resulting in clean water with less than 20 PPM of TDS. If you’ve never used a Spot Zero, then you may be wondering why this is such a big deal. Most sportfish boats install these systems to assist in keeping the exterior finish in pristine condition. When water evaporates it leaves behind minerals that stick to the finish— commonly known as water spots. Without minerals in the water, or very few, evaporation doesn’t leave spots and the tedious chamois drying of exterior surfaces is greatly reduced. Many crews have found other benefits in the interior, such as cleaner shower heads and fau- cets, better ice from ice makers, and easier to clean glass in the bathrooms.

Photo courtesy Dometic

A compact unit comprising watermaker and freshwater purifier, the XZ Series is incredibly convenient.

It would be hard to skip over the technol- The resulting sound energy transmitted and ogy benefits of NMEA 2000. This commu- then reflected to the boat is significantly en- nications standard was originally designed as hanced. High CHIRP has a narrow beam- a way to share critical navigation data among width and comprises 80 to 210 kHz. Low same or different brands of electronics. This CHIRP encompasses frequencies from 28 to protocol has developed into so much more 60 kHz and is ideal for use in deep water. Me- than just serving navigational needs and dium CHIRP registers from 80 to 130 kHz there are now many NMEA 2000 prod- and is the most overlooked frequency range, ucts that can connect and interface with though it offers many situational benefits our traditional navigation suites, refocusing and advantages including deeper sounding them as a whole boat monitoring and con- and a wider beam angle than high frequency. trol system. Over the years, manufacturers It also produces greater target resolution than have developed NMEA 2000 networkable low frequency. Regardless if you favor Gar- products such as lights, stereos, bilge and min, Furuno, Simrad, Raymarine or Low- livewell pumps, tank levels sensors, VHF rance, achieving superior performance with radios, depth and temperature transducers, any sonar system starts with transducer selec- monitoring systems and more using the in- tion. AIRMAR (airmar.com) leads the way in creasingly popular digital switching. One transducer technology, offering nearly 30 op- great benefit is that there is limited user in- tions of in-hull, thru-hull, tilted element and tervention needed to operate a NMEA 2000 transom-mount transducer units. network and new devices can be integrated When it comes to sonar, the type with a re- without complicated programming, allowing tractable in-hull transducer, Furuno’s (furun- boat owners and crew to easily add or remove ousa.com) omni sonar and Koden’s (koden- devices to their suite of electronics. electronics.com) broadband searchlight sonar Over the course of the last decade, the are incredibly advantageous. While not ex- term CHIRP has been widely exploited to actly new, it seems that all-seeing sonar with describe the technology used to improved so- real-time ability is the latest must-have for nar range and resolution. Before CHIRP was tournament teams looking to gain an edge introduced, most sportfish boats were out- over their competition. This could be just a fitted with a 50kHz or 200kHz transducer, blip in the pent-up demand for such systems sometimes both. One was specific to deep or possibly a trend that will see many boat- water and the other for shallower water. In builders incorporating sonar tube options in Photo courtesy Furuno contrast, CHIRP emits a continuous sweep all boats and new systems introduced at all Furuno’s CSH8LMK2 leaves little to be desired. of many frequencies within a long pulse. price points. 38 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM 80 LIFE IN THE CONVERTIBLE FAST LANE

Made in America with Experience & Pride 609.296.6000 • vikingyachts.com

1906_VIKING_full.indd 68 7/23/20 2:59 PM in handheld and fixed mount systems with pan/tilt and active gyro-stabilization, these devices allow users to view navigation haz- ards, landmarks and vessels more clearly and from farther away than ever before, even under moonless skies. These innovative op- tics take the guesswork out of navigating at night with state-of-the-art thermal imaging networked through your multifunction dis- play. Nite Track (gonitetrack.com) is another option, but rather than thermal imaging it relies on the latest in charged coupled device technology and also incorporates an infra- red illuminator to improve sensitivity. Even with modern technology, becoming a successful fisherman requires much more than sophisticated equipment. The funda- mentals are still essential and knowing how to adapt to constantly changing environments is something that no tech toy can replace. While these innovations may be debated, re- ordered and argued, we are fortunate that the manufacturers and inventors within our industry continue to provide us with the best tools to enhance The all-new GX100NX antenna takes full advantage of our fishing and boating exploits. Hats off and Inmarsat’s high-speed satellite constellation. Photo courtesy Intellian a big thank you to all who manufacture, sell, install and service the marine industry. Need to stay connected with family, friends motion, battery voltage, bilge status, tem- and emergency services when venturing be- perature and vessel location and much more. Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Ma- yond cell phone range? Communication is The ability to remotely trigger an alarm or rine Service Inc in Ocean City, Maryland. He undoubtedly a cornerstone of modern global control cabin and cockpit lights, air condi- is the Vice Chairman of Board of Directors for society and it plays a particularly important tioning and battery switches from a smart- National Marine Electronics Association and role in the maritime world. With a number of phone or computer provides peace of mind holds ABYC Master Technician certification, powerful satellite communication systems now that’s simply unmatched. NMEA AMEI and NMEA2000 certificates. available for traveling anglers, there’s no reason Without sufficient light, everything ap- This is in addition to extensive factory training not to call home and check in. I’m particularly pears different at night. One of the best ways from many manufacturers. To contact Steve, fond of the Garmin (garmin.com) inReach to enhance nighttime awareness is with a email [email protected] mini. For a small monthly fee and a reason- FLIR thermal camera (flir.com). Available ably priced handheld device, you can have texting coverage around the world with no roaming charges or hidden fees. Once reserved for commercial maritime interests, advanced communication equipment has become standard on sportfish yachts and super-sized center consoles. In November of 2019, Inmarsat (inmarsat.com), a leader in global, mobile satellite communications launched the fifth and newest satellite in the Global Xpress fleet, delivering high-speed broadband services to mariners around the world. If you are the owner of a center console in South Florida, then you already know about satellite theft tracking—you can’t get insurance on a boat with multiple outboards without one of these systems. GOST (gostglobal. com) is a leader in remote vessel monitoring and tracking and has raised the bar for all other ventures in this marketplace with real- Photo courtesy FLIR time updates including unauthorized entry/ Thermal and night vision optical devices ensure safe navigation after dark. 40 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM The Quickie Captains Meeting November 30, 2020 Fish Dates December 1 &SAPELO 2, 2020 86’ SPORTFISH Dead Bait Hook & Hand

772.220.6008 ...on the grounds of Sailﬁ sh Marina 3585 SEJIM Saint SMITH Lucie TOURNAMENT Blvd. • Stuart, BOATS Fl 34997 CUSTOM BUILT SINCE 1965 Email4396 us S.E. at: Commerce ﬁ [email protected] Ave., Stuart, FL 34997 | Tel: (772) 286 1172 | WWW.JIMSMITHBOATS.COM

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#INTHEBITE1808_ELECTRO SEA_1-2h.indd 1 SEPTEMBER10/8/19 2020 1:43 PM41 Owning a brilliantly engineered sportfishing yacht comes with a comprehensive suite of luxuries. Along with complete galleys, multiple staterooms, sparkling white engine rooms, massive cockpits and many more modern accoutrements, perhaps the most desirable attribute is the ability to head off for parts known, and unknown, on your own time and schedule. Much like owning a private plane, a traveling game boat can take you almost anywhere in the world—it just takes a little bit more planning and time to get there. Whether you chase good fishing or just good times, the following unforgettable escapes boast outstanding fisheries amid exquisite settings, accommodating both tournament teams and families that fish together. Let’s face it, we could all use a vacation! ON YOUR OWN BOTTOM 10 Dream Destinations to Add to Your Cruising Itinerary

By Dave Ferrell any domestic destinations offer world-class angling opportunities relatively close to home, Mbut traveling to remote and exotic locales has become significantly safer and simpler over the last few decades. Nowadays, it’s rather commonplace to visit fisheries and coastlines that were once uncharted and unwelcoming. Regardless of your desired level of adventure, diligent planning is essential in the optimization of safe and efficient travel at sea.

Ocean City, Maryland marlin making an appearance at the offshore When the world’s richest marlin tourna- canyons has been staggering. Anglers heading ment and largest dock party got together for north toward the Wilmington Canyon, south a night of debauchery, Ocean City was born. to the Washington Canyon and east to the Not to be confused with the beach boardwalk Baltimore Canyon are often overwhelmed by town of the same name in New Jersey, Ocean the incredible numbers of billfish and game City, Maryland is a quintessential eastern shore fish. Double-digit days on whites are not un- community and iconic summer destination common and there are also some mighty big on the Delmarva Peninsula. Each August, this blue marlin shadowing those tuna schools. tiny seaside community swells to over double Ocean City’s greatest attraction may very its size as anglers from around the world gath- well be the White Marlin Open, but if some er for a shot at the multimillion-dollar purse of your guests aren’t hip on running 60-plus at the White Marlin Open (whitemarlinopen. miles offshore, inshore opportunities abound com). Last year, a 79.5-pound white marlin with bluefish, striped bass and flounder. Ad- caught by Tommy Hinkle earned Fish Whistle ditionally, the partyboat fleet, boardwalk, ar- a $1,504,720 payday. This year, coronavirus cades, shopping and clean beaches make cer- or not, tournament organizers expect record- tain there’s something to keep everyone happy. breaking participation. Drinking an orange crush at the Reel Inn The last few seasons the number of white dock bar is a rite of passage, but most visitors Cautious and sneaky, whites are prized targets. 42 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM ited the number of houses and condos, but grew the project very meticulously. The Outer Banks are a beautiful and special place, and while it can be busy, it is not built up. There’s a reason the area is home to many of the finest boat builders in the country, and it’s because there’s always something to catch.” Pirate’s Cove Marina is approximately eight miles inside and north of Oregon Inlet, accessible via a deep and well-marked channel. The full-service marina with 195 slips provides rea- sonable dockage rates, with numerous on-site amenities catering to traveling fishermen. Destin, Florida Coined the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Vil- lage,” Destin is certainly one of the most pictur- esque. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast between Panama City and Pensacola, Destin sits smack dab in the middle of the Emerald Coast and the area’s green, gin clear waters certainly live up to that name. “It’s the prettiest inlet on the Gulf Coast,” says Capt. Pat Dineen, who has lived in the area all his life. “On the incoming tide, it’s hard to beat the water clarity and variety of col- ors. You’d swear you were in the Bahamas.” Destin is blessed with more than just a pretty face, with the continental shelf making a big swing toward the coast allowing offshore anglers a shorter run to fertile blue water. “The 100-fathom curve pushes in at 30 nautical miles near the Nipple, and the Desoto Canyon and the Spur are just 30 miles farther offshore. The rewards can be plentiful with the real possibility of catching marlin, sailfish and swordfish in a single day, with tuna, wahoo and dolphin adding to the excitement. There are also floating rigs about 100 nautical miles out. We have live bait boats in the inlet every morning and fireworks shows every Thursday night from Memorial Day until the end of August.” Aside from the intriguing offshore fisheries, inshore anglers fishing the tributaries and backwaters of Choctawhatchee Bay find consistent action with seatrout, redfish, black drum and sheepshead. Just inside East Pass, During the summer, the world’s best fishermen gather in Ocean City as an epic bite gets underway. HarborWalk Marina (harborwalkmarina.net) provides transient boaters a complete village choose short-term docking at Sunset Marina that would eventually shape the tight-knit of yacht facilities, stores, restaurants, live en- (sunsetmarinaoc.com). Just a quarter mile from community. Heather Maxwell is the long- tertainment and much more. the Atlantic Ocean, this full-service marina of- standing director of the Pirate’s Cove Billfish fers numerous amenities including two pools, Tournament and has seen the small fishing The Florida Keys a fitness center and laundry facilities. village come together and embrace the idea If you’ve never been to the Florida Keys, of a residential and marina project centered then you are in for a real treat. This narrow Pirate’s Cove, North Carolina around the offshore fishing lifestyle. outcropping of coral islands extending from Conveniently located on the Outer Banks “Our first tournament out of Pirate’s Cove the mainland separates the inshore paradise of of North Carolina, Pirate’s Cove Marina was in 1983. At that time the marina was Florida Bay, with its access to Flamingo and (fishpiratescove.com) emerged from a Manteo complete, but there were only about 10 or 15 the Everglades, from the prolific coral reefs cow pasture over 30 years ago when Allan houses and just a few condos. Luckily, when and deep Atlantic waters brimming with sail- “Big Al” Foreman began cutting the canals Glenn Futrell came into the picture, he lim- fish, tuna, wahoo and many other pelagic spe- #INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 43 cies. In short, the Florida Keys are collectively one the fishiest destinations in the world. From Key Largo to Key West you’ll find dozens of marinas and lodges brimming with charter boats of every conceivable size and purpose. Some, like Bud N’ Mary’s Marina (budnmarys.com) in Islamorada, have incredible history and lore with numerous world- class catches coming to the docks every year. Though short-term slips are limited, Bud N’ Mary’s offers direct ocean access for vessels with a maximum 4 ½ foot draft. If variety is the spice of life, then the Florida Transient slips are scarce in Islamorada, but there is perhaps no better access to the Atlantic Ocean. Key’s fishery is the whole dang cabinet. You can choose to target daytime swordfish in blocks from historic Duval Street. Fishing the sic and Bermuda Triple Crown Tournament 1,600 feet of water or head to the Everglades color changes and current rips approximately Series (bermudatriplecrown.com), has seen some for snook, tarpon or maybe even a prehistoric 10 miles west of Key West, near Cosgrove amazing fishing over the last 20-plus years. sawfish. From the backcountry to blue water, Shoal Light, will put you in prime position to “Bermuda’s main billfish season extends the islands that make up the Florida Keys not only encounter sailfish, but nearly every from June to August, with July being the most yield access to some of the most productive pelagic predator that calls these waters home. consistent. But you can encounter a blue or fisheries in world. And if someone in your white marlin from May through October. party would rather be in the water than on Bermuda Bermuda also has one of the best wahoo fish- it, the Conch Republic offers incredible div- A hook-shaped island approximately 650 eries in the spring and fall, with lots of tuna in ing and watersports activities. There’s simply miles east of Cape Hatteras, Bermuda truly is the mix,” says Jacobs. Bermuda’s blue marlin no better place to bring your boat and family the land of giants. Grander blue marlin swing record is 1,325 pounds and the two biggest for a short or long-term getaway. If you make through these waters every summer and those fish ever caught in the winner-take-all Blue it all the way to Key West be sure to make willing to make the long transit have a good Marlin World Cup were captured in Ber- a reservation at A&B Marina (aandbmarina. chance of catching that fish of a lifetime every muda—a 1,195-pound behemoth caught by com), offering competitive dockage rates at a day they are on the water. Dan Jacobs, tourna- Capt. Alan Card and 1,189-pounder caught 45-foot minimum pricing schedule just two ment director for the Bermuda Big Game Clas- by Capt. Andrew Dias.

441802_ISLANDSEPTEMBER MARINE 2020 SERVICES_1-2h.indd 1 1/20/19 INTHEBITE.COM 12:09 PM “With today’s modern vessels and satellite- based weather services the crossing has never been safer,” continued Jacobs. “We see boats make the trip as early as May, with the bulk of the fleet arriving in June to prepare for the Triple Crown, which is held during the first three weeks in July. Morehead City, North Carolina and Marsh Harbour in the Baha- mas are the two main launching points,” he says. After clearing at St. George’s, most visiting boats head to Hamilton and the Princess Marina (thehamiltonprincess.com) or Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (rbyc.bm). Chub Cay, Bahamas Just 125 miles from South Florida, Chub Cay Resort & Marina (chubcay.com) lies at the southernmost tip of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, just 35 miles northwest of Nas- sau. Bordered by Morgan’s Bluff at the north- Southeast winds turn on the bite and push fish deep into the sheltered water of the Pocket. east tip of Andros and the Northwest Chan- nel Light on the eastern edge of the Great ings. Like many high-class resorts in the Ba- slip marina can accommodate vessels up to Bahama Bank, the Pocket is home to aggres- hamas, Chub went through a painful period 190 feet. The centerpiece of the marina, and sive bottom topography with near vertical of economic downfall, but new ownership symbol of the island’s history as an angler’s edges and lights up from February through has the island back better than ever with a paradise, is an 18-foot, 3,000-pound bronze May when swarms of hungry blues, whites full-service hotel, villas, restaurant, indoor sculpture of a blue marlin by Kent Ullberg. and sails visit these fertile waters. and outdoor bars and an infinity pool over- Tony Huerta, owner of the 58-foot Paul With a fabled history of iconic catches, looking the beach. The grounds are im- Mann, LoQueSea, got his first taste of Chub’s the operation was forced to shut down in the maculate, and the state-of-the-art concrete great fishing this past March before taking summer of 2005 after a series of tropical lash- floating docks with newly renovated 109 home Top Release Boat in the Big Rock. “The

#INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 45 lied a blue and four or five sails. What’s special us that one of the great things about the Do- about Chub is that it can be blowing 20 knots, minican Republic is that it’s easily accessible but there will only be two-foot seas in the from the states. “It’s not on the other side of Pocket. It’s a little pricey, about $350 a night the world. You can get there in 2 ½ hours for a 58-footer, but the personnel and dock- from Miami, so it’s only a half day spent trav- master were all very friendly. The fact that you eling. It’s also not a bad trip by boat—about set out your spread as soon as you clear the 900 miles from Palm Beach,” he says. marina goes a long way for me,” Huerta says. “There’s also really consistent FAD fishing for blue marlin off Casa de Campo from Feb- The Dominican Republic ruary through April. You only have to run Over the last 10 years or so, the Dominican about 20 miles to the FADs and we typically Republic has made quite a splash in the big see anywhere from four to ten blues a day.” game fishing pool. Most of us started to get Home to one of the most prestigious ma- a whiff of the great fishing there after hearing rinas in the entire Caribbean, three Pete Dye from the Puerto Rican boats and crews that golf courses, seven outstanding restaurants, would make the hop across the Mona Passage an equestrian center, shooting course, shop- to vacation and fish in the beautiful, prolific ping and white sand beaches, it’s no surprise waters. Capt. Tim Richardson on Tradition Casa De Campo (casadecampo.com.do) is a was so impressed with the fishing that he favorite luxury destination for discerning moved part of his world-ranging charter oper- travelers and celebrities the world over. ation to the DR over eight years ago. “I spend five or six months a year in the Dominican St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and this year we are planning on going back Before the record-breaking seasons in Cape for the September-December marlin bite off Verde or the FAD fishery was developed off Cap Cana if coronavirus cooperates.” Costa Rica, St. Thomas stood alone as the Just 10 minutes from the Punta Cana In- best place in the world to catch a blue mar- Sailfish complete a grand slam in the DR. ternational Airport, Marina Cap Cana (mari- lin. The famed North Drop, a massive trench nacapcana.com) is part of an exclusive gated that stretches from Puerto Rico to the British fishing was awesome for us. We were coming community surrounded by an enchanting Virgin Islands and beyond, creates a massive in with six or seven flags each day,” he says. village with gourmet restaurants and elegant upwelling that fuels a spectacular bite every “One day we had a slam, with three whites boutique hotels. The protected marina pro- summer. I often tell people that if they really a blue and sail. Another day we caught two vides more than 130 slips, with complete ser- want to catch a blue marlin, fish the four days blues and five sails, and several days we tal- vices for captains and crew. Richardson tells before the full moon from June-October. Blue marlin aside, St. Thomas is steeped in sport fishing history and tradition. Most, if not all of the past marlin greats spent at least one season at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook and the boats and crews on the famed A-dock represented some of the finest blue marlin fishermen to ever walk the planet…guys like Capt. Mike Lemon, Capt. Red Bailey and Capt. Randy Jendersee that really pioneered the sport. “St. Thomas is still my favorite. I started coming down here in 1986 and I’ve been here over 20 seasons. What’s unique is that the fish are very aggressive here. I’ve had them peel off 200 yards, spit the hook and come back to eat again. Anyone who’s fished here knows what it’s all about,” says Jendersee. Today, St. Thomas is definitely overlooked in favor of more trendy and exotic destinations and many captains and owners have since almost forgotten about the long run to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Big fish still show up every summer and those in the know continue to make the pilgrimage to American Yacht PhPhoto courtesy Casa De Campo Harbor (igymarinas.com/marinas/american- Marina Casa de Campo is certainly one of the most prestigious in the Caribbean, located within a lavish yacht-harbor) for frenzied billfish encounters 7,000-acre complex where the Chavón River meets the Caribbean Sea. along the famed North Drop. 46 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM Quepos, Costa Rica The sport fishing world got its first glimpse of the incredible fishing Costa Rica had to offer from charter operations in Flamin- go and Tamarindo. Then Los Sueños burst onto the scene in the late 90s and most other destinations along the rich Costa Rican coastline were relegated to the back burner. Quepos, however, stepped up to the forefront with the completion of Marina Pez Vela (marinapezvela.com) in 2007. The sheltered basin features 194 slips and can accommodate vessels from 35 to 200 feet. There’s even a first-rate yacht yard complete with 200-ton marine lift for easy haul outs. Scott Cutter, sales director at Marina Pez Vela, says that boaters can expect top-notch amenities as well as complete security during their stay. “We have concrete floating docks with fiber optic cables available at each slip. You can access cable TV, internet and much more. There are also high-speed fuel capabilities. We take SIMPLE OPERATION the well-being of our boats and clients very seriously, but still of- MORE FISHING, LESS HASSLE fer a pretty laid-back vibe. You get all the high-end services, but there’s more Pura Vida in the atmosphere here. A leader in adventure and eco-tourism, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse destinations on the planet. Not only is it accessible, beautiful and safe, but more than a quarter of the country’s land has been protected to ensure the preservation of the nation’s abun- dant natural resources. And if you hadn’t heard yet, calm seas and numerous sailfish, marlin and tuna make Costa Rica one of the best destinations for traveling anglers with unlimited flexibility. Piñas Bay, Panama Any boat that’s made the journey to Costa Rica and the Pa- cific Ocean through the Panama Canal should make it a point to visit Piñas Bay, Panama. It has been attracting anglers since Zane Grey visited under sail power in the 1920s. Home to the iconic Tropic Star Lodge (tropicstar.com), it’s arguable that Pi- ñas Bay represents an angler’s best chance of catching a black marlin in the Northern Hemisphere. The dense Darien jungle stretches down to the rocky shore creating breathtaking, pri- mordial scenery amid such legendary waters. But billfish aren’t the only attraction and visiting anglers revel in the excellent op- EXPRESS XT portunities with unique inshore targets like roosterfish, cubera snapper and bluefin trevally. Fully automatic with capacities up to Former owner Terri Andrews, now an ambassador of Tropic Star 33 gallons per hour. Designed to fit into Lodge, says that when the operation was smaller it was difficult tight spaces, the Express XT watermaker to host visiting game boats due to space restrictions in the dining is perfect for small and mid-sized yachts. room and bar. “We had to cap it at a dozen people at any one time, because we had to still be able to accommodate all of our lodge guests. We would have to do a barbecue outside for the visiting A FULL LINE OF WATERMAKERS boats. Now, we have plenty of room. There’s a bar on the water’s FROM 200 TO 3,400 GPD edge and the new owners have expanded the dining room and given the old bar its own entrance. The pool bar is still a favorite and the new premium villas excite the most discerning clientele.” Among the notable improvements to the lodge infrastructure and fleet of Bertrams, there’s a new program in the works allowing registered private boats to reserve and purchase fuel, meals and accommodation at the lodge. For vessels that desire to stay longer than seven days, Tropic Star can also source provisions from Panama City. While there’s no bad time to fish in Piñas Bay, the lodge is closed from October through mid-November BLUEWATERDESALINATION.COM for maintenance in preparation of the upcoming black marlin 1 (855) 553-3725 / 1 (310) 684-1467 season that typically peaks around the January full moon. 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By Elliott Stark

he dredge pulling, dink T bait revolution has hit all corners of the United States. We’ve polled top captains from around the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast to see how terminal tackle setups compare between regions. Considering all the intricacies of the modern spread, four dink baits, two dredges and two squid chains can actually take on quite a few iterations.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND which he prefers for their powerful drag curve Capt. Austin Ensor, Primary Search and versatility. With a lightweight machined Reels ❱ Shimano Talica 25 spool and high-grade greaseless ball bearings, Rods ❱ Crafty One Customs the Talica free spools with zero resistance. Capt. Austin Ensor is an up-and-coming Like many Mid-Atlantic captains, Ensor young charter captain who is on the water and brings out the big guns when searching for in the meat quite frequently. When chasing blue marlin. He uses a 130-pound main- white marlin, Ensor uses an 80-pound mono line connected to a 20-foot wind-on leader header attached to a 60-pound fluorocarbon composed of 400-pound monofilament. The leader. His connection between header and mono is connected to a 400-pound fluoro- leader is a 60-pound Diamond snap swivel. carbon leader with a 500-pound barrel swiv- The ballyhoo on the business end are connect- el. For pitch baits, Ensor prefers Owner circle ed to 6/0 or 7/0 Owner circle hooks. In this en- hooks that range from 9/0 to 12/0 depend- deavor, Ensor deploys Shimano Talica 25 reels, ing on the size of the bait. 52 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM Ensor and company have gotten away from snap swivels entirely while tuna fishing, with the exception of pulling tuna bars. Instead, Primary Search uses SPRO wind-on swivels, 130-pound most commonly, with 240-pound swivels selected when specifically targeting bigeye. Their normal trolling spread for tuna em- ploys a 130-pound leader connected via wind- on swivel to a 100-pound fluorocarbon leader. When targeting bigeye, this turns into 150- to 180-pound leader and fluorocarbon. If conditions call for chunking during the day, Ensor scales all the way down to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. “The circle hook keeps the leader out of the fish’s mouth for the most part,” he says. “Some guys up here are using 20-pound fluorocarbon leaders while chunking during the day, but we won’t go down that low.”

MANTEO, NORTH CAROLINA When fishing baits and lures, precision rigging is fundamental to catching more marlin and tuna. Capt. Joey Belton, Haphazard Reels ❱ Shimano Talica 20 BFC circle hooks. In August, when there are lots year—sometimes different spreads in the same Rods ❱ Nick’s Custom Rods of sails around, he’ll scale down to a 7/0. “A day,” Joey explains. As an example of his typi- Capt. Joey Belton runs the Haphazard, a 61- ton of guys here use a 7/0 Mustad across the cal approach, Belton describes marlin fishing foot Billy Holton, out of Pirate’s Cove Marina. board,” Capt. Joey explains. Belton and crew in August and September. A combo private/charter operation, Belton rig their ballyhoo with quarter-ounce egg sink- “We’ll pull one mullet dredge with dark fishes quite a bit. He not only has his spread ers for most situations. “Maybe 70 percent of Ilanders on every other bait and one squid or finely tuned, but is well aware of the general the guys here use O-rings for their ballyhoo.” ballyhoo dredge. If it’s ballyhoo, we’ll gener- practices employed by Outer Banks captains. he explains. ally add some flash. I’ll pull two squid chains “The two-speed 20TLDs are very common Tournament blue marlin fishing in North from the bridge,” Belton explains. “The mate here. Now, you’re seeing a slow transition to Carolina means heavy tackle. Belton’s Big will pull two flat line dink baits. In the short the Talica 20 BFC from Shimano. I like them, Rock-type arsenal features four 130s pulling rigger, we’ll put an 80-wide rigged with a they are very fast,” Belton explains. “Our rods lures rigged with 10/0 J-hooks. “Jobus are mackerel and 10/0. For the right long rigger, are made by Nick’s Custom Rods, he’s build- good,” he says. For pitch baits, he prefers 18/0 if there’s a lot of blues around, we’ll put a Penn ing lots of rods for people up here. We use a or 20/0 Eagle Claw circle hooks rigged to 70 with 300-pound leader, horse ballyhoo and seven-foot rod for white marlin, sails and gaffer mackerel with a swivel or an O-ring through Jr. Ilander. We’ll put another dink bait in the dolphin. I prefer the Aftco butts. As for main its head. When it comes to pulling baits for right long if there aren’t a lot of blues around. line, everybody uses 20- to 30-pound Sufix hi- blue marlin while charter fishing, Belton de- I’ll also generally shotgun a dink way back.” vis or Berkeley Big Game, the orange stuff. I ploys 25 feet of 400-pound Momoi attached prefer 25-pound Big Game for its durability.” to an Ilander and a 10/0 hook. His bait of JUPITER, FLORIDA When targeting sails and whites, Belton choice is a horse ballyhoo. Capt. Rhett Bailey, InTents uses a 60-pound clear Ande header attached “The thing about fishing here is that you Reels ❱ Shimano Tyrnos 30, Talica 20 BFC via small ball bearing snap swivel to a 50- or have to be ready to catch anything, so it’s hard Rods ❱ Rods by Dru 60-pound clear Ande fluorocarbon leader. For to say that we have one set spread. We’ll have Capt. Rhett Bailey’s approach to fishing is hooks, he prefers the older 8/0 Eagle Claw different spreads for different times of the defined by a simple, proven concept that has resulted in success through time. “I started dredge fishing in the late 90s in Venezuela on the NuCo2. The system behind the boat doesn’t change—just the leaders and the line size. We’d use heavier leader in Venezuela and lighter leader in Stuart. We use two dredges, two bridge teasers and four hook baits whether in Ocean City or Casa de Campo,” Bailey says. About the only deviation from his system occurs for six days each year. “We put the 130s in the short rigger for the White Marlin Open,” Bailey says. For wind-on leaders, Bailey’s particulars depend on region and tackle. He uses fluoro- The Haphazard’s dink bait (left) and horse ballyhoo rigs (right) cover all the bases. carbon bait leaders that are six feet in length #INTHEBITE SEPTEMBER 2020 53 and wind-ons that are 23 feet long. When using line classes above 20 pounds, the breakdown is as follows. “Up north it’s 80 for the wind-on and 60 for the bait leader. In the DR that switches to 100 and 80. In Florida, it’s 50-pound wind-ons and 40-pound fluoro for the bait leader,” he explains. “That changes to 13-foot wind-ons and six-foot bait leaders with 20 pound and under.” For his choice in circle hooks, Bailey prefers Mustad. He uses 7/0 or 8/0 up north, 5/0 or 6/0 in Florida, and 8/0 or 9/0 in the DR. “In the Dominican we like medium to large ballyhoo with a Mold Craft chugger, but in Florida most of our baits are naked,” Capt. Rhett explains. “As for reels, we use Shimano Tyrnos 20 two-speeds in the DR. We’ve found them to be very reliable with very few failures,” Bailey explains. “We use the Shimano Talica 20 BFC for sailfish in Florida. They are great reels, but we’ve made a couple modifications to ours. The adjustment from strike to full is only a couple of pounds on these reels. We couldn’t break fish off. Last fall we had Bill Buckland fashion new cams for the reels. This improved them a lot. It also took out the clunk at the bottoms at free spool.”

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541804_BOSHAMPS_1-2h.inddSEPTEMBER 2020 1 INTHEBITE.COM4/22/19 9:54 PM SOMERS POINT, NEW JERSEY Capt. Anthony Pennella, Quick Raise Reels ❱ Shimano Talica 20 BFC Rods ❱ Bill Buckland, Fisherman’s Center “Our white marlin spread is the same as anywhere. We run four dink baits on Talica 20 BFCs. These reels are the best there is. We also run two squid chains and two dredges— one mullet and one ballyhoo,” says Capt. An- thony. Pennella’s hook of choice is the Mustad 39938NP Demon circle hook. He uses 7-foot leaders of 60-pound Momoi fluorocarbon and 22 ½- to 23-foot wind-on leaders composed of 80-pound Jinkai mono. He prefers the Albright to Bimini connection to attach the double line to the wind-on. Focused on blue marlin, the Quick Raise will adapt their spread by deploying a plug or two in the short riggers. When tuna fishing, Pennella goes with 30 feet of 80-pound fluorocarbon direct to his baits. The leader is connected to the main line with a small SPRO swivel that can be cranked through the guides. When trolling he deploys baits rigged on 9/0 hooks with various colored sea witches—with the occasional tuna bar or two making its way into the wash. Designed for sailfish and white marlin tournament enthusiasts, the BFC features a 6.7:1 gear ratio.

#INTHEBITE1903_BLUEWATER YACHT YARDS_1-2h.indd 1 SEPTEMBER3/10/20 2020 12:35 PM55 FREEPORT, TEXAS Capt. Troy Day, Decarb Reels ❱ Shimano Tiagra, Talica Rods ❱ Seeker Capt. Troy Day runs the 52-foot Viking Decarb out of Freeport, Texas. Day is firmly in tune with the Texas offshore circuit. Lone Star State boats, like those in other areas of the Gulf, have embraced fishing lighter leaders even when live baiting for blue marlin. “The trend here is light leader. Sometimes boats are using 130- to 150-pound fluorocarbon when live baiting for blue marlin. We’re down to 180-pound. We were using 180 when we killed that bluefin,” says Day, referring to the pending Texas junior record 633-pound tuna they caught in April. “We don’t fish many of the tournaments. And when we do, we usually don’t enter the kill division. We generally want to grab the leader, take a couple of wraps and pop them off, so there is no consequence to going light for us,” Day’s blue marlin lure spread runs smaller than other Gulf captains. Doxey Lures are his favorite. Day explains. “In our program, we kind of do it all. We do lots of live baiting, but we also pull circle hook from Mustad. He prefers the 12/0 plastics for blues, Day prefers smaller lures lures. In late July, we move south toward Port to 14/0 sizes, depending on the bait he’s using. and hooks than many others around Texas. Aransas and pull dredges and baits.” His leader comprises 27 feet of 180-pound “I like the Quick Rig Pa’a hook in 7/0 or 8/0. When live baiting for blue marlin, Day’s fa- Seaguar fluorocarbon connected to the main We fish smaller lures and hooks than a lot of vorite hook is the 39950NP Demon wide gap line via 350-pound corkscrew swivel. Pulling other guys and I’ll only run three hooks—

561803_WEAVER_1-2h.inddSEPTEMBER 2020 1 INTHEBITE.COM2/27/19 1:29 PM Team Decarb with a 633-pound bluefin captured out of Freeport, Texas. two small lures on the riggers and one in the shotgun. We pitch to everything short.” Day’s white marlin and sailfish spread consists of two dredges—one mud flap and one made of soft plastic Chewy-Hoos—two daisy chains from the bridge and four small ballyhoo out the riggers. A dink and horse ballyhoo are ready to be pitched. For smaller billfish, Day relies on 80-pound wind-ons and 60-pound fluorocarbon bait leaders. He largely prefers the Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp L2004EL light wire hook in size 7/0. These hooks are a common choice down Texas way.

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61’ // Soul Candy // Twin MTU M96L 10V 1600 hp Notes: 2021 schedule includes 82’ Special 78’ // Blue View // Twin MTU M96L 16V 2600 hp Situation and 58’ Dona Lucy. 62’ // Salty Tiger // Twin MTU M96L 12V 1920 hp (2) 27’ CC // t/t Blank Check // Twin Yamaha 200 hp 54’ // Snafu // Twin Caterpillar C18 1150 hp Gamefisherman Notes: Currently building a 62’ (Seven) that 40’ CC // TBA // Triple Outboard 50’ WA // Plum Krazy // Quad Yamaha 425 hp will be the owner’s second Bayliss hull, 72’ (Old Notes: In production with a 40’ powered 46’ WA // JNJ II // Quad Suzuki 350 hp Reliable) and a 75’ to be delivered in 2021. by triple outboards. 45’ WA // TBA // Triple Mercury 400 hp 60 SEPTEMBER 2020 INTHEBITE.COM Garlington Landeweer Merritt Boat & Engine Works SeaVee Boats 45’ // TBA // Quad Mercury 450 hp

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68 1704_AtlanticAME4.27.18alSEPTEMBER Marine ae. 2020 Electronics_1-2h.indd 1 1 427218 INTHEBITE.COM5/2/18 1:56:51 7:21 PM PM INTHEBITE CLASSIFIEDS BOATS

Lindell’s 46’ Tournament – The Lindell 42 2018 Weaver Boatworks 43 – Fully 1997 48 Ocean – 3/2 layout with MAN 800 2018 73’ Rybovich No Agenda – Mezza- 1984 Scarborough 41 Flybridge – This is an aggressive fishing machine. It has the loaded power by 6.7 Cummings power. Recent rebuilds - 28kts @1800rpm nine w/ an extra 2’ of cockpit, 4 Staterooms boat has had great care over the years. Since ultimate tournament cockpit featuring the 550hp, cruise 26kts. A must-see with economy. Many updates and ready to 4 Heads, C32 Acert CAT 1925 H.P. (366hrs) 2x late 2018: new motors, generator, electron- latest design and technology. Max speed boat. Contact [email protected] be sold. Ask $219,900, call Thomas R Wynne Cummins Onan 29kW Generators, 3200 gals ics, teak interior updated, exterior updated is 46 mph, with an easy cruising speed of or 561-301-3841. 843-729-5808. fuel, Garmin/Furuno package w/ 2 radars. with new paint, new teak cockpit on & on. 30 mph, fuel consumption an impressive Dometic Chiller AC, Redundant Pumps, 2 FCI The Cummins provide nice speed with econ- 1.29 mpg under load. The Volvo IPS drives Water Makers and the list goes on. $5.7M. omy. Own an updated Scarborough built 41 allow for easy & seamless maneuverability. Contact John Blumenthal: 772-215-2571, with traditional class. Super buy at $475K. $1,350,000.00 Contact: frank@lindelly- [email protected]. Call Thomas R Wynne @ 843-729-5808. achts.com, 253-225-0202.

53’ Monterey Sportfish – 27 knot cruise @ 2002 44 Garlington – 715 hp twin 2006 2007 64 Viking Convertible BB – One 55’ Caison Yachts 2006 – C-18s, Mezza- The Ultimate Mothership – Fish anywhere 42 gph 33 knots WOT, 620 hp Cummins QSM inboard diesel’s, Cummins QSM 11’s. of the best equipped of its kind in the market! nine, recent exterior paint and new teak decks in the world you desire. Pacific HQ 1999, 11’s, only 3000 hours, recently had 2000-hour A true custom boat! $779.5k. Contact Powered with MTU M91 16V2000s and offers and covering boards. $1,445,000. Contact 2012/18-Updates. 95’ Mothership, 26,000 gal- service, complete paint job. Garmin electronics, Craig @ 561-310-3715. Captcbald- many upgrades from Viking such as Palm Riggs Yacht Sales, riggs@riggsyachtsales. lons fuel, yacht finish. Contact John Blumen- teak covering boards, Costa enclosure, all new [email protected] Beach Tower, a second generator, a premium com, (910)-742-9625. thal: 772-215-2571, [email protected]. in 2016. $419,000, Call Don 609-780-6287 or interior package and much more. Contact [email protected]. Riggs Yacht Sales [email protected], (910)-742-9625. ENGINES BOAT PARTS

Preowned 2018 KVH V3 IP Sat System – Unit was new & installed March 2018. Complete with antenna, cables & mounting equipment. Boat owner upgraded system & willing to sell this half price. We repacked the 2018 model in 2019’s packaging, located in Texas. Serious Pair of CAT C-32 Acerts 1925HP – Both in great condi- inquiries please. $6500 plus ship- tion. 1000-hour service Dec ’18. Aftercoolers cleaned ping. Contact [email protected] Tuna Tower, Platform and Hardtop – Pair of Rupp Tournament Outriggers April ‘19. Recent oil samples & coolant samples avail- or 561-301-3841. Tuna tower with molded standing plat- Excellent condition. Lift out bases (2in able on request. Warranty is transferable & can add form and hardtop (86” w x 106” l) 6 rod O.D.; 8 ft in length with collapsible back more hours. ZF 3055A gears 2:1 ratio, controls not holders and 60” control box. $12,000. bars) with 21 ft single spreader riggers. included. $100,000 OBO each. Call Zoe, 252-473-9797. (came off a 42’ walkaround). Contact Asking $2000 OBO. Contact 8knotsllc@ [email protected] or 561-301-3841. gmail.com or 561-301-3841.

Fiberglass Standing Platform/Con- USCG Approved Throw Overboard Liferaft – New 20kw Northern Lights Generator – 12BTD Westerbeke with 1691 Hours – Mahogany Salon Table – Mahogany trol Box take off from 82 Viking – 8 Passenger Revere Liferaft, CO2 Inflatable, Brand new in the box with sound shield and New valves and seats, new piston rings table with teak base. Table swivels Taken off a 82’ Viking Includes control SOLAS-A. New in Feb 2020. $3000 new. full warranty. $19,000. Can ship worldwide. and rod bearings. Runs like new. Can ship and is a fixed height. Asking $1500. box and standing platform. They are in Never used. Hard case, steel cradle included. Call Brian at Ace Marine Diesel for more info, if needed. $7,900. Call Brian at Ace Marine Contact [email protected] or good shape just need a little cleaning Located in Stuart, FL. Weighs approximately 772-473-5938. Diesel for more info, 772-473-5938 561-301-3841. up. $1500 for both. Contact 8knotsllc@ 180 lbs. Shipping costs not included. $1900. gmail.com or 561-301-3841. Contact 502-424-5087 for more info.

Bluewater Fighting Chair with 4 Rod Miscellaneous Items – New, never used: Headhunter Eskimo 600, 230 Volt Ice Machine – 800 GPD Watermaker – UltroClear DF 2012 Marquipt TL II 1500 Davit – Used davit Rocket Launcher – Good condition, comes Mach 5 fresh water pump, Prop Smith Prop Puller, Bal- Completely overhauled, new Auger Bear- Water Softener, spot-free rinse for your boat, with hydraulic rotation option, 126" boom reach. with a 4 Rod Rocket Launcher by Scopin- lyhoop ballyhoo net, MTU spare injector fuel lines. Ten- ings, Auger resurfaced, machine powder unit capacity 800 GPD of ultra-pure deminer- 220 Volts AC. 180-degree rotation. Includes davit, ich (with drawer), extra pedestal, ladder der Tow Rope: 150 feet, Tylaska Shackles, Dyneema coated white, new oil & auger seals, chiller alized water. High efficiency, fully automatic hydraulic power supply, wired remote, davit tie back rest for fighting chair, fighting chair Tag line, Hubble Power Cord splitter, Headhunter spare completely overhauled. Like-new condi- operation, 115 or 230 Volt. Made for sport down kit, manual. Does not include: standpipe, with pedestal & cushions for both rocket toilet parts, MTU Serpintine Belts, Alutecnos Fighting tion. $6,000 OBO, 561.727.9091, marine- fishing 40-100 ft $3,000 OBO 561.727.9091, standpipe base, trim ring, fassion plate. $8,000, launcher & fighting chair. $1100. Contact Jacket, Eskimo Pressure switch and O Rings. Contact [email protected]. [email protected]. located in St. Petersburg, FL. Contact hectora@ [email protected] or 561-301-3841. Keith, 772-486-2510, [email protected]. escardomarine.com for more info.

INTHEBITE.COM SEPTEMBER 2020 69 INTHEBITE CLASSIFIEDS PROPELLERS CAPTAIN FOR HIRE

32 x 48 Veem Wheels – They are Veem Props off a 52 Viking – 33 x 49.7, Volvo Duoprop T6 Wheels – One set is Pair of Veem Sportfish-HC 5 blade from a 60 Spencer. Would prefer to 3” bore with Prop Scan. Intercep- brand new and one set is lightly used. Used propellers – 34” Diameter, 53” sell as a pair. Located in Charleston, tor white and orange strips. Asking with Volvo IPS 600’s. These are the Duo- Pitch, 3” bore, prop report available. SC. $8,000. Contact 843-200-5363. $10,000 OBO. Please contact 772- props - front is 3 blade and back is 4 blade. $11,500.00/pair. Contact 8knotsllc@ 475-8900 for more info. Would like to get $2000 per set. Contact gmail.com or 561-301-3841. [email protected] or 561-301-3841.

TACKLE

Capt. Geoff Haramis – 200 Ton US Master/500 Ton international, 20+ years’ Record Fishing Gaff Set – This is an 6 Vintage Fin Nor 12/O Reels – At- (2) 12v Precision Auto Kite Fishing PointMaker Hook Sharpener – Hook honer experience, TWIC holder, CPR/ first aid excellent set of gaffs for record fishing tention collectors! We have 6 vin- Reels and Custom Rods – Great condi- (120VAC or 12VDC) for the ultimate sharp certified. Ability to travel extensively. Tour- or big tournaments. (L to R) 12-inch flyer, tage Fin Nor 12/0 reels with rods. tion. $900 firm. Contact 8knotsllc@ hooks. For 30 years one of those “not so secret” nament, recreational, sport, billfish, bot- custom straight gaff with swivel handle The tackle is in excellent condition. gmail.com or 561-301-3841. secrets that’s accounted for untold trophies and tom fish, etc. fishing skills. Non-smoker, and 16-inch flyer. All gaffs are in excellent $7000. Contact [email protected] millions in tournament winnings. NOTHING serious person with ability to schedule condition. Asking $3000 for the set. Contact or 561-301-3841. else comes close, the microscope proves it. all servicing yardwork, works well with [email protected] or 561-301-3841. $149.00 shipped US. TexasTackle.com. customers/clients/ owners. For more info, email [email protected]. HELP WANTED

To apply to these recent job postings, check out our captain and crew job board at www.inthebite.com/job-board Ocean Surfari Charters in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands – We are looking for a motivated, experienced charter captain to fill a position running one of our 37' inboard diesel Calypso center console charter fishing boats. We are looking for an experienced fisherman and licensed captain (OUPV Near Coastal license is necessary but preference is given to 50 ton Master Near Coastal) who wants to make a full time move to the Virgin Islands.

Seeking Inshore & Nearshore Charter Captain in the Outer Banks – Seeking experienced inshore fishing charter captain to run half day and full day trips inshore or near shore out of Manteo through early Fall. Seasonal position for a licensed master (100 ton) operating a center console, 6-passenger boat out of Manteo.

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July/August Winner “Some apes, it seems, are more equal than others.” - @stevegoesfishing Runners Up: Abbagoochie – @lukethedrifter87 Take it outside. If we see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of good fishing. – Mike Leech Fishing with Cornelius. – Neil Ireland Where’s the brown paper bags to go with the pickle dish? – @msandsfla Hutch Party! – @john.mead.16906 And the award for best COVID mask goes to... – @nwappleby Finally got the big one. It was hairy at times but Pelosi finally met her match. – Alan Hill One more squeeze and Mr. Peanut should fall out. – @johngambino4 Shutchquash – @tu_tico_rico Where are we? The first person to correctly identify the location of our Marlin Jeff knew his aloha apparel would win the Hawaiian shirt contest. Frank hated giving up the trophy. – Evan Cooper Monkey will receive a free one-year subscription. Look-alike contest winners. – @ijustfishin The asshole award at the Shootout. – Jim McKee Is that McCotter’s doppelganger? Last issue’s – Timothy Scalise monkey winner! Quadruplets – @itsbenbtch Congratulations to Thomas Comber for Chupacabra strikes again. – @_miss_michelle_fishing_ recognizing our plush primate at the Rialto Reel cannibal award – @aquavitsportfishing Bridge in Venice, Italy. She’s a beauty, ain’t she! – @jack.markley What happens at the captain’s meeting stays at the captain’s meeting. – @mhallen1870

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