I must say the below BM was one for the memory books. Caught on pinkie with my man Bill Pino during the White Marlin Open. We had a tough year together on the tourney front, but Bill and I have some fond and not so fond memories that made us better of friends.
K
This is a story I tell very few people, for the main reason it is so close to my heart. It is a story about determination, adversity, and a realization what the hell the world is really about.
I was running a 52 Viking, I had been working for this particular owner for about 4 years. Like most private sportfish jobs, the end was near. The Bossman was acting very strange and I could tell it was just a matter of time the boat was being sold.
While sitting at the dock at our Homeport in Ma., a gentleman came walking down the dock. He was talking to my mate and asked if we chartered. I caught wind and walked over and explained we were a private vessel, and did not ussually charter. After talking with this gentleman for a little while longer he mentioned, he was looking to find a charter for a tournament. Upon hearing this I perked up a little and remembered my boss mentioning in passing if I had ever come across a high end charter to let him know. So I told the gentleman I would ask my boss, and let him know.
So I called the Bossman, told him the details. He threw out a price, and said nothing less. So I called the man up and told him the price for the week. He said he'll take it. Both my mate and I were pretty excited because we had pretty much sat around all summer. It was on!!!!!!
Two days before the tournament the gentleman and his son came down to the boat. The kids eyes bugged out of him head. A brand new 52' Viking rigged to the T's, teak deck, full tower, light blue hull, underwater lights, etc. He could not believe they were going to fish on a boat like this. I asked the man how many people were coming I had to limit it to 4 guests, he said it was only going to be his son and him.
The day before the tournament, we're getting geared up to head down to the tournament. The guy grabs me and pulls me aside and say he has to talk about something. I was wondering whats going on?????? He mentions he is sick, I am like sick? He tells me has a rare form of cancer and is going on a experimental drug it two week and does not what his reaction will be or how much loger he has. Also he mentions the medication he was currently taking makes him drowsy at times and wanted to make sure this would not be a problem.
As we continue to talk I tell him it is no problem. He says to me the reason he wanted this boat was because he said it was the nicest boat in the harbor and wanted to take him and his son alone on an unforgettable trip, that his son would always remember for the rest of his life no matter what happens to him, money was no object.
This blew me away talk about pressure. So we get back to what we were doing and head down to the tournament. I did not mention this to my mate just went on our way.
Long story short, this was a 4 day canyon tournament all species, and you could stay two nights, basically two back to back overnighters. Anyway, we leave the dock at 3AM on day one, run out to the canypons pick our spot, start fishing tight right away yellowfins and albacore. We were close to alone I found a nice edge away from the usual spots. It was unbelievable fishing non stop action day and night we were crushing every thing, these guy were in total amazement (so was I for that matter). We could do no wrong and these guy were not exactly seasoned anglers. We caught fish day and night for 4 days. We caught a mako on 150lb. mono with a skirted ballyhoo. Whites, whites and more whites. Given the tournament rules you were allowed to weight your biggest fish per species, per day (1 yellowfin, 1 albacore, 2 dolphin, one release per Blue and white marlin per day) We had a boat full of big yellowfin and albacore, had caught at least on white per day. No blues and no wahoo (Wahoo were triple points per pound) So I put out my Bahamas Billfish Campionship spread, and crossed my fingers. The only tuna lure I had out was on the WTFB rod. We crossed into the deepest blue water I have ever seen in the NE Canyons. I was lit up as as any fish. I knew we were in pretty good shape given the reports I was hearing. But a Blue or a big wahoo would put us over the top. Next thing you know the flat line goes off (Buckwheat- my all time favorite blue marlin lure) I'm thinking this has to be him. Next the WTFB rig goes of with this stupid feather on it I'm thinking to my self just my luck. We end up pulling the hook on Buckweat. I am like "Shit" we lost him. So we continue to fight the WTFB rig coming in steady. Next thing you know next to the boat I like that ain't no tuna!!!!!!!!! Get the Gaff!!!!!!!! Get the Gaff!!!!!!!!!. Stick him with the Gaff. 80lb Wahoo on deck TRIPLE POINTS!!!!!!!!!! It is 10:30 AM on the Last day 6 hours from lines out. We has caught everything but a Blue MArlin.
I decide to go home how much more could I ask from the ocean. I new we did it as soon as the wahoo his the deck. I had slept about 5 hours in four days, it was time to go.
Back at the weigh station we get in early weigh our fish and wait foir the rest of the boats to get in. It was all over befer it started we won by over 1200 points!!!!! I was besides my self. We laughed, and celibrated all night long.
We get back to our home port the guys get off the boat, they grab all thier gear. Still smiling ear to ear. I go to shake the gentlemans hand to say good bye. He grabs me and gives me a huge Bear-Hug, with a tear coming down his face.
This was not about winning or losing, it was about doing what we had set out to do, have an unforgetable experience. I have had quite a few people to me die from cancer, their memories ran through my head the entire week. I never felt so good in my entire life from fishing, than the day they walked off the boat. It was then I realized what the hell this world is all about. Big sporties, egos, bosses deceptions, "dream jobs" or faimly, friends, laughs, tears, lost love ones, good memories, fun fishing, etc.
Four days later boss calls tells me the boat is sold, 4.5 yrs. of work, and the short-end of a severence. This was my last full time job on a boat, never to return. 30 years old, no regrets, no worries. I discovered what really counts, my faimly and friends, and my new found love in what I started at on the first boat I worked on when I was 12, my love for fishing and the ocean and enjoy everyday and make it count.
Now I have settled down, started my own Yacht Management Business in Ft. Lauderdale, and parntnering up with POONMAN to make some of the finest offshore tackle made. Never looking back only forward.
Acting on a Good Idea is Better Than Just Having a Good Idea!!!!!!
Great stories, all of them.
Special thanks to Innovator for sharing his father & son tournament story. Very touching.
SeaBiscuit
Originally Posted by DROPBACK
Best Dropback line of the tournament season. Last day of the MA500 and we went 5 for 6 on whites. karl looks at me pissed off as I have ever seen him. HE says to me "have you ever in your life caught 5 white marlin off ocean city and been pissed about your day". I just shook my head and laughed. Jimmy Fields had caught 21 that day and we watched him catch about 19 of them right next to us. But I have to say This season was a blast Karl, Syvlain and our crew - even Capt Happy.
The last two years have brought some incredible memories. Especially with members of the sf.com community. But I think one of the best memories had to have been from a trip to Venezuela this past october. I invited what will probably be our tournament crew for the club tournaments and the wmo this year. Everyone could make it but Ernie. Jake took ernies place and we had a blast. My goal was to learn how to work with circle hooks for blues and white. Another goal of ours was to get our buddy Eric his first Marlin. Eric has fished with me for about 4 years. He has probably wired more marlin on my boat then anyone. He has missed a few and watch the rest of us catch a bunch. Luck has never been on his side. that and a couple of elbows he has caught from me while approaching a rod. Well it looked like it was gonna happen again in Venezuela when his missed the first opportunity and I caught the first white marlin of the trip. But then something happened that we have never witnessed before. ERIC HOOKED HIS FIRST WHITE MARLIN. THEN HIS FIRST BLUE MARLIN, THEN ANOTHER WHITE MARLIN AND ANOTHER. and finally with about 5 minutes left in an incredible first day HE GOT HIS SAILFISH. PERSONAL GRAND SLAM PLUS TWO WHITES. We were all pulling for him when those two lines went off as it was getting dark just hoping they were sailfish. They were and we finished the day with a double grandslam and a four extra whites. Heres a few shots of Eric and his Grand Slam.
Man that story was truly amazing. i mean it really brings it home and in perspective.Thanks for sharing this....
1st time i headed out fishing , i knew i was caught
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when we took a portuguese frd and we put a bucket on his 80 twice on the same day rofl
i never though someone would come up with so many names and theories for marlin lol
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its tuna season and we head out on a frds cc at 4 am to get some meat. south wind was blowing so the water was a bit rough and we got wet
we get to the fishing spot, there is tunas all over the place, so we start chasing them. The biggest talker is now in front of the boat changing his clothes to some dry ones. Just when he looks back and starts making fun of us that were wet, a big wave comes from the front and gets him all wet. rofl , this may not sound funny but when ur 20 years old and theres 5 of u in boat its total chaos
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skipering a spearfishing boat and suddenly see my 4 diver frds literally flying inside cuzz they saw a great white.
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50lb yft on a penn 12lt caught on his tail
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spending a day with my gf on a lonely island with the clearest/calmest water i have seen (think everything was perfect that day)
Last edited by babalaza; 01-04-2007 at 11:46 PM.
I'll share the story of my first white marlin, and my first ever blue sighting.
We were trolling just inside the tip of the wilmington. It was my father, brother, fishing buddy Mitch, and I on our 30' Albemarle. Early august 2003 i would say. We had put a 50 lb. YFT in the box earlier in the day, but the action had considerably slowed. Trolling nothing but plastics, I watched the lures in the midday sun. A GM daisy chain with a weighted GM not too far behind. one spreader bar, blue white islander and cedar plug off the corners and another non-weighted GM for good measure. Not exactly your greatest trolling spread but i have learned alot since then. It was "that" hour. 12pm. When seemingly nothing happens for ya. You all know about it, that midday time when the fish seem to take a siesta, or at least it always happens that way for us! I glanced around for any sign of life. As we chugged along it grew more promising. Turtles, then bait, then some weeds. Finally, i heard my father say we "have a break" The water shot up two degrees in that many seconds. I knew there was fish here, had to be. Out of the corner of my eye i caught bait spraying across the surface. It was glassy calm at that time so EVERYTHING could be seen.
Just then, the right corner with the cedar plug on it went off. I picked up the rod, it was small. I saw the pale yellow flash in the water, it was a small mahi. I passed the rod off. Boat still in motion, rod number 2 went off. I picked that up, small again. This time a tiny little YFT came to the boat. These fish were so small we didn't have to even stop the boat. I grabbed the leader and pulled them over the gunwale. The YFT was sent back to where he came from and the mahi in the box. Just then, i heard that sound... Anyone who has trolled offshore for any good amount of time in their life knows that sound. The rigger clip popping. Its hard to believe but the minute you hear that sound, you turn, even before the line starts to peel off the reel.
This fish had a bit more size. I figured tuna since we had just released one. It didn't jump, nothing. We played it for a bit, it came to within 50 yards of the boat and exploded out of the water...i didn't know what to say. My fishing buddy mitch did it for me..."Marlin!!!" I knew right away, by the size it was a white. I passed the rod off to mitch as i knew that no one onboard had even the slightest clue how to handle a billfish boatside. Who was i kidding, i had not a damn clue either...other than watching fishing shows on ESPN2 in the morning!!He continued to play the fish. Keep in mind this is the FIRST marlin i have ever seen in real life. Then something unreal happened.
Off the starboard rigger dangled a GM. It bobbed in the water barely, maybe just below the surface. Left there when we cleared the lines. The boat was motionless, no forward motion at all. For some reason i decided to look over that side of the boat at that particular moment...why i don't know. Out from underneath the boat swims another marlin. This was no white...she had to be close to 10-12' long and had the biggest set of shoulders i have ever seen on a fish. All i could do was point, the words could not come to my mouth. She lollygagged along, made a turn and mouthed the green machine. My heart stopped, the green machine was completely in her mouth. I waited as she swam off thinking she had a free meal. I waited, and waited some more. Then i threw the reel into strike and hammered her as best i knew. The line came tight in the rigger clip, then popped. She didn't like that at all. Taking off with such fury she showered me in seawater from her wake. The GM came out of her mouth...she was gone.
Mitch played the white a bit more. Came to the boat in no time at all. 50w unfortunately, didn't plan on meeting mr. whitey that day. That moment is something i'll never forget. its still clear as day, my hand reaching down and grabbing the bill. She resisted a bit, then settled down. We shared some high fives. I removed the hook. The camera was ready so we hoisted her up in our arms, snapped a quick picture, then laid her back to her home. I spent a few minutes reviving her. She was ready to go home. I released my grip and off she went, swimming intently back into the blue.
We actually caught and released another white that same day. I have never spotted another blue though since that day. I am still waiting patiently for my next chance.
Need I say anything else?
KEY-LIME-PIE
OFFSHORE CHARTERS
SPECIALIZING IN
CATCHING YOUR DREAMS!
OCEAN CITY, MD
410-404-8399
CAPTAIN TOM PEZZA
THERE IS NO BETTER LOVE THAN FISHING WITH YOUR CHILDREN!
The story that I have to tell begins like most fishing trips - an invitation from a buddy to go out for a boat ride. A family friend of ours recently purchased a new boat and offered to take my father-in-law and me out for an afternoon of fishing. We were not Big-Game fishing, just a few guys heading out to the Fenwick Shoal to pick up some bluefish or maybe a few spanish mackerel. The wind was light and the seas were calm as we cleared the inlet with ease and headed past the Ocean City sea buoy.
The details of that day seem forever etched in my memory. After arriving at the shoal, we set out a simple spread with Clark spoons behind planers. A dive boat was anchored in the area, so we kept our distance as we trolled the spoons. As always the bluefish were more than willing to take a snap at our spoons and we quickly put a couple in the cooler.
I could see that Tom was enjoying himself. Although he had to pace himself, he was eager to pick up a rod as soon as the reel started to make that sweet singing sound that we all love to hear. The bluefish were not the big fish that run off the coast of Ocean City in the spring, but the few that Tom caught were wearing him out. The thing that I remember most about Tom was his eyes as he looked out over the trailing propwash waiting for the next boil, splash or sign of a fish. I'm sure you have seen it before, the way someone looks as if they are not seeing anything but really see everything, if that makes sense. We knew that the trip would be short which made me soak up every second that we were out there. I think that we both knew that this would be his last trip. I enjoyed every moment that I was ever on a boat with Tom and this trip was no different.
The oxygen tank and air supply tubing were frustrating Tom, so I made every effort to make sure that he had a clear path while moving around the boat. Unfortunately it was necessary to bring the tank and at this stage in his illness he was using the oxygen 24 hours a day. He stayed in what shade that the T-Top provided since too much heat made breathing difficult.
Tom was suffering from a condition known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Basically scar tissue was forming in his lungs and the doctors at Hopkins had no idea why. His lung capacity had diminished and the slightest exertion would cause him to lose his breath. This day however, Tom was a fisherman again not a patient. He would not be denied the simple pleasure of spending time on a boat with friends and reeling in some fish to throw in the box.
Tom fished in many places chasing fish of all species. The Keys, Mexico, Guatamala, and the Gulf of Mexico. It didn't matter if he was putting out a spread for white marlin or catching white perch in the Chesapeake Bay. Fishing was in his blood and he enjoyed every minute that he had a rod in his hand. Today would be the last time that he would catch a fish. I wish it could have been a white marlin, which he so loved to catch, especially off Ocean City, MD. But his health would prevent any sort of offshore trip like that. Still you could not tell that he was only reeling in some bluefish. I think it meant the world to him that he was able to make it out for this trip.
We certainly did not set the fishing world on fire that day, but it is my best fishing trip. Tom never boarded another boat nor did he make it back to Ocean City before he died. I hope to some day become the fisherman that he was. I thank God that he passed the love of the ocean on to me. There is not a day that goes by where I don't think about him and I know deep down in my soul he is with me on every trip that I make out to the bluewater. I feel him in the wind and see him in the reflections of the water as I make my way out to chase the fish that he chased. I know its crazy but everytime I come back from an offshore trip I thank him as we pass the O.C. sea bouy. And I joke with my son, Jake and tell him that Grand-dad said hello whenever I see a turtle offshore. I think it his way of checking on me and making sure everything is ok. I feel the calming presence of him when I'm running the boat and though I can't see him I know he is with me on every trip. Tight Lines Capt. Tom.
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