Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament

[WAHOONBOX]

Box................not looking for a fight where there doesn't have to a fight

1. Post was written from the perspective of a paying customer (Angler). I have fished the WMO many years and was on the Waterdog in 1998 winning with 840lb Blue marlin, which by the way, was hooked by the mate. Fishing PC this year as well as in years past on a CHARTER BOAT, not private.

2. Seperates men from boys. I'm talking about anglers, not charter crews. Haven't you ever wondered at the White Marlin Open when they hand out the "Master Angler" Rings (in the years before obsevers) how many of those guys hooked their own fish?..having fished OC many years I have a real good idea......How many times have you heard that the heaviest fish winner was the first white marlin the man ever caught?......you tell me the true skill in white marlin fishing......I'll give you mine in order of importance
A. Top Crew, meaning captain and mate. Can't catch a damn thing if the man turning the wheel doesn't put you over the fish. Still can't catch a damn thing if the mate's baits don't swim right and he can't keep them in the water on a hot bite. And by way, does the skipper know how to circle a fish up and stay in the game for multiples?...........when you see a rigger with 10 flags, I'd say there were at least 3 multiples that day.........GIVE CAPTAIN AND MATE FULL CREDIT. I almost forgot, somebody stayed up all night rigging two double dredges with fresh baits.


B. Anglers.......In White Marlin fishing, hooking your own fish is the game. If everyone could do it consistently, it wouldn't be an acquired skill. I have the utmost respect for mates and learned how to hook fish from some of the best, particularly Dave Warren. Once the crew get's you on the fish, it's up to the angler to convert. Here is where the MEN get seperated from the boys. I'm much more interested in a pile of laundry on the rigger than catchin 1 fish.

c. I don't write the rules. I hear you loud and clear on the one year rule. I think the intenetion is to cover the guy who is truly a professional crew member one minute then a "ringer" the next.


I have fished a lot of tourneys, for fun, and internationally over many years with many top crews, all of them charter. If you knew me as some others on this board do (Squidnation Bill for example) you would know that my post was not a bash at the charter business. Simply a statement that FOR ANGLERS, the Pirates Cove Tournament raises the bar, nothing more. As for my business, i own it and work my ass off to pay for all these fun and games.

FIGHT? HELL.....I AIN'T LOOKING FOR A FIGHT DUDE... AS YOU SAY

I WAS MERELY RESPONDING TO A SENTENCE YOU WROTE THAT MAY OFFEND FUTURE AND CURRENT CHARTER CLIENTS...NOTHING MORE ...NOTHING LESS..............MOST OF MY TOURNAMENTS INVOLVE PEOPLE WHO CHARTER ME......AND IF THE RULES SAY I CAN HOOK & PASS...THEN SOBEIT......BUT SAYING THIS SEPARATES THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.....WELL.... COME ON DUDE....SOME OF US ARE STILL IN THE CHARTER GAME HERE....NOPE....NEVER MENTIONED I WAS LOOKING FOR A FIGHT....BUT MERELY STANDING UP FOR MY LIVLIHOOD

THE WMO MARLIN OPEN IS DESIGNED TO FLY "IN GOD WE TRUST".......AND YES FLYING RAGS IS ALL COOL TO ME AS WELL.....BUT I LIKE TO GET A CHECK EVERY NOW AND THEN AND THE WMO SURE KNOWS HOW TO HAND ONE OUT


SKILL LEVELS YOU SAY?
FIRST....
LETS DO AWAY WITH LORAN AND GPS....
LETS DO AWAY WITH SAT SHOTS....
LETS DO AWAY WITH DREDGES...
LETS DO AWAY WITH FAST BOATS....
LET'S DO AWAY WITH SAT PHONES....
LET'S DO AWAY WITH HI GEAR RATIOS
LETS DO AWAY WITH CHEMICALLY SHARPEN HOOKS
LET'S DO AWAY WITH TOWERS

DO AWAY WITH THE ABOVE AND THEN ONE CAN SHOW ME SOME REEL SKILL

HMMMM....NOWWWWW........NOW MAYBE WE CAN DO SOME SEPARATIN' HERE.............


WHY DO GUYS TAKE ME SO SERIOUS? I GUESS THE CAPS LOCK GETS TO THEM....

[knot for shore]

i'm thinkin' 'bout doin' the wmo in a yak next year.............

[ejfra]

Hey.................a payday is a cool thing............we won $228k in 1998 for that Blue One (it was a hook and pass fish)..............throw out all of the technology, let's just go fishing.......whatever the rules are, that's what they are.........i just took it a little personally that an angry mob was going to come up to 221 Cockeysville Road, Cockeysville Md and set fire to my building...........especially if the mob contained some of my freinds! ............

[knot for shore]

you know what they say, everything in life always comes full circle....

maybe someone should come up with a "like in the old days" tournament of champions. clear the boats of all the goodies, get back to the basics and try your hands at catching fish like in the days of yesteryear....

hhhhhmmmmmmm......

[Squidnation]

I guess I am "new fashioned" in Disagreeing completely with the "lets do away with" attitude that comes straight out of a Barta Column in the back of Sportfishing Magazine. I think the truly skilled understand that technology, like it or not is a big part of this game. Instead of trying to get rid of it, I say embrace it, learn how to master it and enjoy the success that you have acheived because of it.

Now I am sure someone will shoot back with a comment about needing the right wallet to do this. Well that may be true but understanding every part of your aresnal including electronics, communications, temp charts and personal network will make you a better fisherman.

[budwiller]

and take it from me, just because one has the temperature charts, radar, gear, navnet....etc...doesn't mean they can find fish. One has to be able to read all of the information and put it together to give them the best idea of where those fish "might" be and THEN, they have to figure out how to get them to bite and THEN, they have to have rigged properly to not lose the said fish and THEN know how to run the dam boat correctly to get the blood on the deck or flag flying. It ain't all about dollars and cents, it's dollars and SENSE.