Billfish

Perhaps the most elite species in the world is the billfish, which includes the blue marlin, white marlin, and black marlin. My first big-game fishing experiences were with my dad, who was a member of the Big Game Fishing Club, based in Port Eads, Louisiana. A few years later, at the age of fifteen, I landed my first professional job as a deckhand on an offshore fishing boat out of Port Eads.

In vivid detail, I still can recall the moment I was “hooked.”

I remember watching a giant blue marlin hit a split-tailed mullet on the port flat line. It was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen. I knew at that moment that offshore fishing would be part of my life.

One of my dreams came true several years ago when I caught a blue marlin that was just over 136 inches long. I released the fish without weighing it, but I’m guessing it  was between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds. This is what billfish aficionados refer to as a “grander.” It’s a feat not many have accomplished.

There are many aspects of this type of fishing that separate it from all other kinds of angling, particularly the team aspect, with many variables involved. Everything has to go just right. First, you have to be in the right kind of boat, with everything in perfect working order. Second, you have to be in the right place at the right time. So yes, there is a degree of luck involved, but I believe you can create luck.

It’s been said that luck is when preparation meets opportunity, and when you get a big billfish into the spread of baits, you’ve won half the battle. Next, though, you have to make these allusive and finicky creatures eat the bait. Once you’ve done this, everyone on board has to perform his or her task, such as clearing lines and putting belts and back braces on the angler. The captain, angler, and crew have to communicate effectively. This is where experience comes into play.

Preparation is another key factor. The best equipment and tackle, lines, leaders, and knots have to be used. And if one little thing in the entire chain fails, the battle’s lost.