Capt. Bart Miller for IGFA Hall of Fame!

[PacoSaca]

The reason for this note is to ask for your help in supporting our good friend Capt. Bart Miller as a 2009 IGFA Hall of Fame inductee.

Capt. Bart Miller: Captain of the "Black Bart" out of Kona, Hawaii. On 03/16/84 boated a 1665-lb blue marlin, the second largest blue marlin in history caught on rod and reel as well as several other grander marlin around the world including one in El Salvador on 2006.

Capt. Bart Miller has also been a great contributor in the development of new techniques for big game fishing and an innovator of tackle and trolling lures. He's credited with the invention of the tuna tubes. Owner and founder of Black Bart Big Game Fishing first established in 1966 and currently living in South Florida where he runs the Black Bart International Big Game Fishing store and still designs his world famous lures. There you can also find him giving uninterested advice to all be it via e-mail, phone or personnaly ...you´ll be greeted by this living legend with his soft voice and the Hawaiian word of love ALOHA.

We all know Bart deserves the honor and I've taken the job to make this possible while he can still go and receive the award himself. I personally have talked with the IGFA's President Rob Kramer and have agreed that he is a strong candidate, Rob have said "Bart Miller will make it into the Hall of Fame sooner or later" ...all I want is to happen while he can still enjoy it.

Henry Chee, this year's Hall of Fame inductee was obviously an excellent pick but sadly he wont be at the induction ceremony next October... too bad because it is always nice to have the recipient go and receive the award.

How can you help? here is how...

Please send an email to Lesley Arico at larico@igfa.org with subject "I support Capt. Bart Miller for induction into the Hall of Fame"

Also, forward this request to all your fishing contacts... make it go around the world to get as much support as possible.

Together we can get Capt. Bart Miller into the IGFA Hall of Fame and show some gratitude for all the contributions he has made to our sport and recognition for his life achievements in sport fishing.

Thanks for your kind attention and support.

Good fishing!!!

Paco Saca
IGFA Rep.#8625
El Salvador

[Finnseeker]

Originally Posted by PacoSaca

The reason for this note is to ask for your help in supporting our good friend Capt. Bart Miller as a 2009 IGFA Hall of Fame inductee.

Capt. Bart Miller: Captain of the "Black Bart" out of Kona, Hawaii. On 03/16/84 boated a 1665-lb blue marlin, the second largest blue marlin in history caught on rod and reel as well as several other grander marlin around the world including one in El Salvador on 2006.

Capt. Bart Miller has also been a great contributor in the development of new techniques for big game fishing and an innovator of tackle and trolling lures. He's credited with the invention of the tuna tubes. Owner and founder of Black Bart Big Game Fishing first established in 1966 and currently living in South Florida where he runs the Black Bart International Big Game Fishing store and still designs his world famous lures. There you can also find him giving uninterested advice to all be it via e-mail, phone or personnaly ...you´ll be greeted by this living legend with his soft voice and the Hawaiian word of love ALOHA.

We all know Bart deserves the honor and I've taken the job to make this possible while he can still go and receive the award himself. I personally have talked with the IGFA's President Rob Kramer and have agreed that he is a strong candidate, Rob have said "Bart Miller will make it into the Hall of Fame sooner or later" ...all I want is to happen while he can still enjoy it.

Henry Chee, this year's Hall of Fame inductee was obviously an excellent pick but sadly he wont be at the induction ceremony next October... too bad because it is always nice to have the recipient go and receive the award.

How can you help? here is how...

Please send an email to Lesley Arico at larico@igfa.org with subject "I support Capt. Bart Miller for induction into the Hall of Fame"

Also, forward this request to all your fishing contacts... make it go around the world to get as much support as possible.

Together we can get Capt. Bart Miller into the IGFA Hall of Fame and show some gratitude for all the contributions he has made to our sport and recognition for his life achievements in sport fishing.

Thanks for your kind attention and support.

Good fishing!!!

Paco Saca
IGFA Rep.#8625
El Salvador

Already done Paco thanks for the e-mail

[Captain Fred Archer]

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. TRULY ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF GREAT ONES, BART'S FIRST MARLIN LURES WERE CARVED OUT OF SOME KIND OF EXTREMELY HARD HAWAIIAN WOOD AND THE SKIRTS WERE MADE FROM THE WEBBING USED IN LAWN CHAIRS. HE IS A MASTER OF THE VERY FIRST ORDER AND HAS TAUGHT ME FAR TOO MANY LESSONS TO EVER LIST.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THIS MAN WITH THE DARK, PIRATICAL NAME...HE IS ONE OF THE BEST, KINDEST, MOST GOOD HEARTED MEN THAT YOU WILL EVER MEET AND GET THE GREAT GIFT SEEING BENEATH THE TOUGH EXTERIOR (AND LET ME ASSURE YOU, HE HAS ONE THAT HE IS FAMOUS FOR!) INTO TO THE PURE, GOOD MAN THAT HE TRULY IS.

JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HIS HUGE GOODNESS AND CONCERN FOR HIS FELLOW MAN. HE AND I HAD NEVER MET FACE-TO-FACE AND STILL HAVEN'T, FOR WHICH I AM VERY SORRY. BUT WE KNEW EACH OTHER WELL OVER THE INTERNET, WHERE AT FIRST WE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL FOR A WHILE, THEN WE TURNED A CORNER OF SOME AND BEGAN TO CALL EACH OTHER "BROTHER"...AND WE MEANT IT.

WHEN I LOST ONE OF THE GREATEST LOVES OF MY LIFE, MY BELOVED BLACK LAB, SHADOW GIRL, I WAS UTTERLY DEVASTATED. I WON'T GO INTO EVERYTHING THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT IT WAS TERRIBLE AND BART KNEW IT, TRIED TO HELP, INCLUDING TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO GET ANOTHER DOG RIGHT AWAY. I ACTUALLY CURSED AT HIM FOR THAT AND TOLD HIM ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ONE WHO LIVES ALONE AND LOSES ONE OF THOSE VERY SPECIAL LABS BLURTS OUT IN SADNESS AND PAIN.

SO UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THE GREAT FISHING CAPTAIN AND DOCK WARRIOR, CAPTAIN BART MILLER, WHO WAS RECOVERING FROM OPEN HEART SURGERY AND WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DRIVE STARTED CALLING LAB BREEDERS ALL OVER SOUTH FLORIDA, GOT INTO HIS CAR AND STARTED GOING TO WHAT HE LATER CALLED "INTERVIEW" LAB PUPS. I KNEW NOTHING OF THIS UNTIL LATER.

ONE DAY HE CALLED ME ON HIS CELL PHONE. I HEARD ALL KINDS OF SIRENS AND STUFF GOING OFF IN THE BACKGROUND. WHEN I ASKED HIM "WHAT'S ALL THAT RUCKUS?" HE SAID, "IT'S RAINING LIKE HELL, THERE'S A BUNCH OF ACCIDENTS, SO WE'RE JUST SITTING HERE, WAITING IT OUT." I SAID, "WHO'S DRIVING YOU BART, YOUR WIFE?" HE REPLIED, "WHY NO, I'M DRIVING." WHEN I EXCITEDLY SAID, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING DRIVING? YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT!", HE REPLIED WITH SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET AND THAT I WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR..."DON'T WORRY, FRED. SHADOW GIRL'S SPIRIT IS HERE WITH ME AND YOU KNOW THAT SHE WOULDN'T LET ANYTHING BAD HAPPEN TO US." BEFORE I COULD SAY ANYTHING, HE SAID "ALOHA" AND HUNG UP.

TWO DAYS LATER, THIS GUY SHOWED UP, DISGUISED AS A BIG BOX OF LURES IN AN ELABORATE PLOT THE GREAT CAPTAIN BLACK BART MILLER SET UP AND HATCHED TO GET ME TO GO DOWN TO THE LOS ANGELES FREIGHT TERMINAL AND PICK ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL GIFTS I HAVE EVER RECEIVED.

HE IS THE ONE I NAMED BLACK BART ARCHER IN HONOR OF THAT OTHER CHAMPION WHO SENT HIM TO ME.

BART MILLER MADE IT INTO MY OWN PERSONAL HALL OF FAME A LONG TIME AGO. PLEASE TAKE A BIT OF TIME AND CAST YOUR VOTE FOR HIM.

A GREAT CAPTAIN, YES, BUT A HUGE HUMAN TOO. HE IS MY BROTHER AND I LOVE HIM.

[alex n]

Great story Fred, Bart Miller is certainly a "hall of famer"

[AhiSlayer]

Aloha

Bart sure deserves to be in. Most guys would make it based on any one of a number of his contributions.

Inovation: Tuna Tubes. His lure material. His incert material. His lure shapes.

Bart's inovatice contribution not only makes live baiting easier but allso provides us with artificial options

Bart has provided numerous stories and articles for publication. Allot of them are written in such a way as to provide a snapshot of the past and still some offer teaching that will endure long after the last marlin.

Bart's huge marlin catches in Kona were front page news providing inspiration and passion to enough folks to make booking a week with him quite difficult by many accounts.

Not only did his huge catches effect his clients but allso helped define a species.

Enough said.

Oh yeh. The first time he met me he asked if I missed the islands. I was like , uh yes. He said screw work and took me to a nice long lunch at a Phillipino place that served great Pacific Island fair.

Such consideration is a rare trait. Bart has it in spades.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Vote cast. I too feel he is worthy of being in the IGFA hall of fame. I have more respect for Capt. Miller than the IGFA. They should consider themselves lucky to have him.
Holwachagot

[PacoSaca]

Please keep your emails going... and on behalf of Capt. Bart Miller; thanks so much for your support!!!

[gradywhite273]

my vote sent. Thanks for bringing this to the forefront.

[Jared D]

Never met Capt Miller, but read his posts on here (in Melton section) and heard about him since I began the off shore jaunts.

Will definately give him a vote. Isnt he the guy with a Peg leg, hook for a hand, and a patch over his eye? You would think so, the way he is fondly endeared around these parts.


PacoSaca, do you have the story page as well as the cover. Absolutely fascinating.

[FirstLight]

I find it interesting that a person such as the OP who has been appointed to the position of an IGFA Representative would recommend Mr. Miller for induction into the IGFA Hall of Fame.

How soon people forget - while I'm sure that others here do not know that Mr. Miller is a former charter boat captain, who is now a marlin lure manufacturer, and there are a lot of lure manufacturers who over the years have contributed more to the fishing industry than Mr. Miller. Frank Johnson of MoldCraft fame comes to mind, as does Berkley Bedell from Berkley fishing Products, and I could go on and on.

But I'm guessing the reason for this proposal is that Mr. Saca is a marlin fisherman who uses Mr. Millers' lures and has had success in catching fish on these lures. Or perhaps it is a result of the hugh 1649 lb blue marlin caught by an Atlanta angler on Mr. Millers boat in Hawaii in 1984, as this was certainly a monumental fishing achievement.

If this big marlin is the reason Mr. Saca has nominated Mr. Miller to the IGFA Hall of Fame, there is in my opinion a major concern with an IGFA Representative making this nomination while having full knowledge of the IGFA rules violations that occurred on Mr. Miller's boat during the fighting of this fish prior to the angler and Mr. Miller submitting a World Record Application to the IGFA.

After landing this hugh marlin, the angler, along with Mr. Miller and other witnesses to the catch filled out, signed, and submitted an IGFA World Record Application for this fish attesting that IGFA Rules were followed during the catch. A subsequent investigation by the IGFA revealed 5 rules violations occurred during the fighting of the fish, such as: mate hooking fish and handing rod to angler, leader was 3 ft 10 inches too long, captain (Miller) assisting angler by grabbing rod during fight, and so on, all flagrant rules violations.

Mr. Miller was aware of these rules violations when he signed the IGFA WR Application, which in my opinion is a serious ethical concern regarding Mr. Miller's character. And of equal concern is the fact that Mr. Saca, an IGFA Representative is also aware of these rules violations occurring prior to Mr. Miller signing and submitting the WR Application. Not long after his World Record Application for this fish was denied, Mr. Miller got out of the charter fishing business, left Hawaii, and moved his lure manufacturing business to Florida.

If anyone is interested, an account of the IGFA's due diligence in processing and investigating the WR Application on this fish can be found in an article in Marlin Magazine, March 2004 issue, page 64.