The Katie C. Sawyer Podcast

In this episode of the Katie C. Sawyer podcast, Captain John Galvin shares his journey from growing up in a fishing family in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to becoming the captain of the El Diablo. He discusses the importance of crew dynamics, communication, and mutual respect in the fishing industry. John also highlights the rich history of Nantucket as a fishing hub and the diverse species targeted in the Northeast. The conversation delves into the Skillie project, aimed at understanding white marlin populations and their migratory patterns, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and conservation efforts. In this conversation, John Galvin discusses the Skillie Project, which aims to tag white marlin to better understand their migratory patterns and conservation needs. He emphasizes the socioeconomic impact of recreational fishing on coastal communities and the importance of collaboration with local stakeholders. The discussion also touches on the emotional connection many have with fishing, the origins of the Skillie Project, and the data collection from satellite tags. Additionally, the conversation addresses the debate surrounding kill tournaments and the role of recreational fishermen in conservation efforts. https://www.theskillieproject.com/ Follow the Skillie Project on Instagram Here Follow Capt. John Galvin on Instagram Here

In this episode of the Katie C. Sawyer podcast, host Katie welcomes back Chloe Mikles, a marine biologist and PhD candidate, to discuss her research on bluefin tuna and black marlin. They explore Chloe's recent adventures at Tropic Star Lodge, the importance of conservation efforts in fishing communities, and the innovative tagging programs that help scientists understand these species better. The conversation also delves into the economic impacts of fisheries management and the role of citizen science in marine research, particularly through the Great Marlin Race. In this conversation, Chloe and Katie delve into the dynamics of fishing tournaments, particularly the Great Marlin Race, and the importance of citizen science in engaging anglers. They discuss Chloe's collaboration with renowned marine artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey, her experiences fishing with experts, and the techniques used in tagging Black Marlin. The conversation also explores the physiological differences between Black and Blue Marlin, their behaviors, and the ongoing research in billfish conservation. In this conversation, Chloe and Katie delve into the complexities of billfish species, particularly focusing on black marlin. They discuss the challenges of understanding migration patterns and spawning locations, the innovative tagging and tracking methods being developed, and the importance of community involvement in marine research. Chloe shares insights from her research project, highlighting the need for collaboration and funding to support conservation efforts. The conversation emphasizes the excitement of exploration in marine biology and the significance of engaging the fishing community in scientific endeavors. https://www.tagagiant.org/ Email Chloe: csmikles@stanford.edu Instagram: @Coastal_chloe   takeaways Chloe is a PhD candidate studying bluefin tuna and black marlin. Tropic Star Lodge is a premier location for fishing and research. Conservation efforts are supported by local fishing communities. Tagging programs provide crucial data on fish migration patterns. Bluefin tuna research has been extensive due to their economic importance. Pacific bluefin tuna populations have shown signs of recovery. The Great Marlin Race engages anglers in scientific research. Citizen science is vital for gathering data on billfish. Fishermen's observations contribute to scientific understanding. Effective fisheries management is essential for sustainable fishing. The Great Maryland Race involves tournaments where the furthest fish wins. Citizen science enhances angler engagement and investment in fish conservation. Collaboration with experts like Guy Harvey enriches research efforts. Fishing with seasoned professionals provides invaluable learning experiences. Tagging efforts require collaboration among the fishing community. Understanding fish physiology is crucial for successful releases. Black Marlin exhibit different behaviors compared to Blue Marlin. The fight dynamics of Black Marlin can vary significantly. Research on billfish phylogeny is constantly evolving with new data. Effective conservation strategies depend on angler participation and education. Billfish species have complex migration patterns and spawning locations. Black marlin are primarily found in the Indo-Pacific, with limited known spawning sites. Tagging technology is evolving to better track billfish movements. Community involvement is crucial for marine research and conservation efforts. Understanding climate impacts, like El Nino, is vital for fish populations. Innovative tagging methods are being tested to improve data collection. Collaboration among scientists is essential for advancing marine research. The fishing community plays a significant role in supporting conservation initiatives. Research on billfish can lead to better management practices for fisheries. Engaging the public in marine science can foster greater awareness and support for conservation.  

In this engaging conversation, Katie C. Sawyer interviews Dwight Hwang, a master of Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing. Dwight shares the history and techniques of Gyotaku, its cultural variations, and his personal journey as an artist. He discusses the challenges he faced in pursuing his passion for art, the influence of his family, and the importance of storytelling in his work. The conversation highlights the deep connection between art, nature, and personal memories, making Gyotaku a unique and meaningful form of artistic expression. In this segment of the conversation, Dwight Hwang shares his journey from filmmaking to the art of Gyotaku, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in art and the energy that fresh fish brings to his prints. He discusses the challenges he faced during his transition, the pivotal moments that led him to embrace fish printing, and the collaborative efforts with his family in this unique art form. The conversation delves into the technical aspects of preparing fish for printing, the significance of Sumi ink and Washi paper, and the intricate techniques involved in capturing the essence of different fish species, including rare specimens like the anglerfish. In this conversation, Dwight Hwang shares his journey as an artist specializing in fish printing and human portraits. He discusses the intricate process of creating dynamic prints, the challenges of working with different subjects, and the emotional connections formed through art. Dwight also highlights the importance of family in his creative process and how his work has evolved to include powerful human stories, particularly in the context of social issues. The discussion emphasizes the therapeutic nature of art and the deep connections it fosters between the artist and the subjects. Find Dwight's Website Here See Dwight on Instagram Here  

Find Jen:  @Jenjofoto  @jenjonesweddings  @thefotobus.co Summary In this engaging conversation, Katie and Jen explore the multifaceted world of photography, entrepreneurship, and the thrilling experiences of freediving. Jen shares her journey as a successful entrepreneur in the wedding photography industry, her life in Baja, and the dynamics of her relationship with her husband, Wiley, who works in the filming business. They reminisce about their serendipitous meeting in Panama and the exhilarating adventures they’ve had in the ocean, including the challenges and safety concerns of freediving. The discussion delves into the role of ego in pushing personal boundaries and the importance of listening to one's body in extreme sports. In this engaging conversation, Katie and Jen discuss their experiences with freediving and spearfishing, emphasizing the importance of safety, the mental aspects of diving, and the primal connection to the ocean. They share personal stories, highlight the significance of dive buddies, and delve into the physiological effects of hypoxia and blackouts. The discussion also touches on the meditative state achieved during dives and the thrill of hunting in blue water, creating a rich narrative about the underwater adventure. In this conversation, Jen shares her journey into free diving certification, the challenges she faced, and the importance of stepping outside one's comfort zone. She discusses her entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing the significance of pursuing passions and the growth that comes from overcoming obstacles. The dialogue highlights the connection between personal experiences in diving and the broader themes of self-discovery and resilience in entrepreneurship.   Keywords photography, entrepreneurship, freediving, ocean, collaboration, women in business, work-life balance, Baja, spearfishing, adventure, freediving, spearfishing, safety, hypoxia, dive buddies, mental health, ocean, underwater, fishing, adventure, free diving, certification, comfort zone, entrepreneurship, personal growth, underwater photography, self-discovery, risk-taking, passion, adventure

In this conversation, Katie and Hannah discuss their shared experiences in the fishing industry, focusing on Hannah's journey from recreational fishing to becoming a mate on a sport fishing boat in Tahiti. They explore the challenges faced by women in the industry, the importance of mentorship, and the transition to professional fishing. Hannah shares her early experiences, the obstacles she overcame, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career, including her move to Hawaii and the lessons learned along the way. In this conversation, Hannah Drake shares her experiences of moving from the East Coast to Hawaii, detailing the challenges she faced in finding stable housing and transportation. She discusses the steep learning curve of adapting to a new fishing culture, particularly the transition from light tackle to heavy tackle fishing. The conversation also delves into the gender dynamics within the fishing industry, highlighting the scrutiny women often face and the importance of building professional relationships. Hannah reflects on her journey with the Sea Weas, a private boat, and the various experiences that shaped her career in sport fishing. In this conversation, Hannah and Katie share their memorable experiences while boating and fishing in various locations, including the Darien Rainforest, Panama, the Azores, and Madeira. They discuss cultural encounters with indigenous tribes, the challenges of navigating rough waters, and the joys of fishing in beautiful locations. The conversation highlights the unique wildlife experiences and the camaraderie developed during their adventures, as well as the local regulations they encountered while fishing. In this conversation, Hannah Drake shares her experiences traveling through the Azores and the Mediterranean while working on a fishing boat. She discusses the challenges faced during their journey, including weather delays, boat repairs, and visa issues. Hannah emphasizes the importance of having a good agent when traveling internationally and offers advice for those pursuing their passions. The conversation also delves into the thrill of marlin fishing and the logistics involved in being a mate on a fishing boat, as well as the dynamics of working alongside a spouse in such a unique environment.   Keywords fishing, Tahiti, mentorship, career transition, sport fishing, women in fishing, boat life, Hawaii, fishing community, personal journey, Hawaii, fishing culture, gender dynamics, sport fishing, relationships, challenges, transition, respect, Sea Weas, fishing industry, boating, fishing, cultural experiences, Darien Rainforest, Azores, Madeira, challenges, adventures, Azores, Mediterranean, fishing, travel, boat repairs, visa issues, marlin fishing, working with spouse, adventure, ocean

Email Opt In : https://katiecsawyer.myflodesk.com/signmeup GZ Tackle :  https://gzlures.com?sca_ref=6571672.xDzpJx3JXx Summary In this episode, Katie reflects on her adventures in 2024, including her podcast launch, partnerships with GZ Tackle, and her experiences elk hunting in Idaho and fishing in Australia. She shares her excitement for upcoming projects in 2025, including women's bill fishing clinics and a scholarship program, while emphasizing her commitment to wildlife and nature conservation.   Keywords   fishing, podcast, elk hunting, Australia, women's clinics, GZ Tackle, micro courses, wildlife, nature, outdoor adventures

Jesse Griffiths, chef and co-owner of Dai Due in Austin, discusses his passion for sourcing food locally and sustainably. He emphasizes the importance of connecting with the food source and understanding the seasonality of ingredients. Griffiths shares his unique approach to food, which includes hunting, fishing, and foraging. He also talks about the New School of Traditional Cookery, his restaurant's butcher shop, and the Texas wine industry. Griffiths highlights the need for stewardship of resources and the importance of private landowners in facilitating hunting opportunities. The conversation explores the topic of hunting and the importance of introducing new hunters to the experience. It delves into the issue of feral hogs in Texas and the need for their eradication. The conversation also addresses the misconception that pigs are not good to eat and highlights the deliciousness of wild hog meat. The care and butchering of pigs are discussed, emphasizing the importance of keeping the meat cold and dry. In this part of the conversation, Jesse Griffiths and Katie discuss the misconceptions and best practices for handling and cooling wild game, specifically deer and hogs. They talk about the importance of not directly putting the meat on ice and instead using a cooler to allow for proper cooling and moisture removal. Jesse emphasizes the difference between bleeding an animal and removing moisture from the muscles. They also touch on the topic of brining and how it can improve flavor and texture. The conversation then shifts to potential diseases in wild game and the importance of wearing gloves during the skinning and gutting process. Jesse explains that freezing the meat for an extended period of time and cooking it to a high temperature can help eliminate any potential risks. They conclude the conversation by discussing some of Jesse's favorite recipes from his hog and turkey books.   Links: Afield The Hog Book The Turkey Book Dai Due & NSTC   Takeaways   Sourcing food locally and sustainably allows for a deeper connection with the food source and a better understanding of seasonality. Hunting, fishing, and foraging are important aspects of Griffiths' approach to food and allow for a diverse range of ingredients. The New School of Traditional Cookery and the butcher shop at Dai Due provide opportunities for people to learn about and engage with the food they consume. The Texas wine industry is growing and offers a unique opportunity to pair local wines with local food. Private landowners play a crucial role in facilitating hunting opportunities and promoting stewardship of resources. Introducing new hunters to the experience of hunting is important for dispelling misconceptions and fostering appreciation for resources. Feral hogs are an invasive species in Texas and their population needs to be controlled through hunting and eradication efforts. Pigs are delicious and can be prepared in various ways depending on their size and characteristics. Proper care and butchering techniques, such as keeping the meat cold and dry, are essential for preserving the quality of wild hog meat. Proper cooling and moisture removal are important for handling wild game. Bleeding an animal is different from removing moisture from the muscles. Brining can improve flavor and texture in wild game. Wearing gloves during the skinning and gutting process can help prevent potential diseases. Freezing the meat for an extended period of time and cooking it to a high temperature can eliminate risks. Jesse Griffiths has a hog book and a turkey book with a wide array of recipes.   Keywords   sourcing food, farm-to-table, sustainable, local, hunting, fishing, foraging, traditional cookery, butcher shop, Texas wine, private land, stewardship, hunting, feral hogs, Texas, eradication, wild hog meat, care, butchering, cold, dry, wild game, handling, cooling, misconceptions, bleeding, moisture removal, brining, diseases, gloves, freezing, cooking, recipes

Summary In this conversation, Katie interviews Paulo Afonso, an Azorian freediver and member of the Rife International Spear Fishing Team. They discuss Paulo's background, his upbringing in Pico Island, and his passion for spearfishing and free diving. Paulo shares his experiences and techniques for blue water spearfishing, including how he selects and shoots fish, and the risks involved. He also talks about the importance of preparation, staying calm in high-intensity situations, and the thrill of the pursuit. Paulo emphasizes the need for safety protocols and the impact of having children on his approach to diving. In this part of the conversation, Paulo discusses the importance of having a dive buddy and the role they play in ensuring safety during a dive. He emphasizes the rule of one diver down and one diver up, and how a dive buddy can help in case of emergencies such as a shark approaching or a blackout. Paulo also shares his experience with blackouts and how to react in such situations. The conversation then shifts to the safety protocols for boat captains when divers are in the water, including the importance of staying vigilant and knowing the exact location of the divers. Paulo also talks about the equipment he uses, such as dive computers and fish finders, and how he takes care of his equipment after a dive. The chapter ends with a discussion on reef diving, including the importance of knowing the dive spots, waiting for the fish to come in, and the role of communication between dive buddies. In this final part of the conversation, Paulo discusses his most memorable moment in the ocean, the role of emotions in spearfishing, and his content creation process. He also shares tips for diving with sharks and dealing with challenging situations while spearfishing. Paulo talks about the different species of amberjack and his favorite ways to prepare and eat fish. He provides information on where to find his content on social media. Instagram and YouTube:  @pauloafonso9268  Takeaways Paulo grew up in Pico Island, surrounded by the ocean and a family of spearfishers. He developed a passion for spearfishing and free diving from a young age and has honed his skills over the years. Paulo's approach to blue water spearfishing involves chasing bait balls and using birds and dolphins as indicators. He remains calm and focused in high-intensity situations, relying on his instincts and experience. Safety is a priority for Paulo, and he takes precautions to mitigate risks and ensure a safe diving experience. Having a dive buddy is crucial for safety during a dive, as they can help in case of emergencies and provide support. Boat captains should always stay vigilant and know the exact location of the divers to prevent any accidents or loss of divers. Proper equipment, such as dive computers and fish finders, can enhance the diving experience and improve safety. Reef diving requires patience and waiting for the fish to come in, and communication between dive buddies is important for success. Taking care of equipment, including rinsing with fresh water and drying in the shade, is essential for its longevity. Emotions play a key role in spearfishing, as animals can sense your intentions and energy. When diving with sharks, it's important to keep your eyes on them at all times and be aware of their behavior. In challenging situations while spearfishing, it's crucial to stay calm and assess the problems before taking action. There are different species of amberjack, and the ones in the Azores are highly prized for their taste and quality. Paulo's favorite way to prepare fish is grilling, as it brings out the flavors and juiciness. Paulo shares his content on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube under the name @pauloafonso . Keywords: freediving, spearfishing, Pico Island, Azores, blue water diving, safety protocols, dive buddy, safety, blackout, boat captain, equipment, reef diving, communication, ocean, memorable moment, emotions, spearfishing, sharks, challenging situations, amberjack, fish preparation, content creation, social media

For more information email me at: Katie@katiecsawyer.com   Summary   In this episode of the Katie C. Sawyer Podcast, host Katie sits down with Jamie Melvin, a fly fisherman and guide specializing in billfish. They discuss Jamie's journey from fishing in Kenya to guiding in the Galapagos, the unique fishing opportunities available there, and the importance of conservation. The conversation delves into the techniques of fly fishing for billfish, the dynamics of fishing as a team sport, and the incredible biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands. Jamie shares insights on what to expect when booking a fishing trip, the role of a guide, and the overall experience of fishing in such a magical location.   The Galapagos is an opportunity you don’t want to miss! Email Katie today to learn how you can partake.  Dates in 2024 still available!   Takeaways   Jamie Melvin specializes in fly fishing for billfish. Kenya offers a unique fishing experience with multiple species. The Galapagos is known for its incredible striped marlin fishery. Teasing techniques are crucial for successful billfish fishing. Fishing in the Galapagos combines adventure with conservation efforts. Guided trips provide opportunities for learning and skill development. Fishing is a team sport that requires coordination and communication. The Galapagos Islands are a biodiversity hotspot. Guests can expect a full-service fishing experience in the Galapagos. Fishing connects individuals to nature and promotes environmental awareness.

Sit down with Katie and Kelly as they discuss the incredible fishery off the Great Barrier Reef. With nearly 30 years of professional fishing experience between these two women, it's a conversation filled with offshore information that even the most seasoned fisherman can enjoy. Kelly Photography: https://www.kelldallfall.com/marlin-photography/ In this episode of the Katie C. Sawyer podcast, host Katie interviews Kelly Dalling Fallonn, a seasoned charter operator and photographer with over two decades of experience fishing the Great Barrier Reef. They discuss the unique aspects of the Australian fishery, particularly for black marlin, and delve into fishing techniques, daily routines, seasonal patterns, and the importance of the fishing vessel KEKOA. Kelly shares her insights on chair fishing, tackle strategies, and the role of the tower in enhancing the fishing experience. In this conversation, Kelly shares her extensive experience in the fishing industry, particularly focusing on the unique challenges and regulations of fishing in Australia. She discusses the different charter options available, the importance of teamwork and crew dynamics, and the evolving role of women in sport fishing. The conversation also delves into practical fishing techniques, the significance of seasonal fishing patterns, and advice for aspiring crew members looking to work on the Great Barrier Reef.   Takeaways   Kelly has been fishing on the Great Barrier Reef for over 20 years. The Great Barrier Reef offers a unique fishing experience with large black marlin. Fishing techniques vary based on the time of day and conditions. Daily routines include fishing, snorkeling, and socializing on the reef. The fishing season for black marlin typically runs from September to December. Using circle hooks enhances the fishing experience and success rate. The Kikoa is a specially designed fishing vessel for the reef. Chair fishing requires specific techniques for optimal performance. The tower provides a significant advantage in spotting fish and managing baits. Fishing is not just about catching fish, but also about the overall experience. Australia has strict regulations for charter boats. Fishing requires teamwork and effective communication. Women are increasingly taking on roles in sport fishing. Daily routines are crucial during the short fishing season. Crew dynamics can make or break a fishing trip. Wiring fish requires specific techniques for success. Juvenile black marlin fishing is a unique experience. Networking is essential for finding crew opportunities. Planning ahead is vital for booking fishing charters. Fishing is about passion and dedication, not just money.  

As a wilderness videographer and photographer capturing the story of big game hunting, Luke Dusenbury has found himself in many challenging situations. In this conversation, Katie interviews Luke Dusenbury, a videographer and photographer specializing in wilderness content. They discuss Luke's background in photography and filmography, his experiences working on the Sport Fishing Championship Series, and his portfolio of hunting and fishing adventures. They specifically dive into Luke's experience filming a caribou hunt in the Alaskan tundra, highlighting the challenges of extreme weather conditions, power management, and water purification in remote locations. In this part of the conversation, Luke Dusenbury shares advice on preparing for a public lands elk hunt and the challenges of being a camera guy while hunting. He emphasizes the importance of having duplicates of essential items and being mindful of scent control. Luke also discusses the role of thermals in elk hunting and the need to understand wind patterns. He highlights the physical and mental challenges of hunting in high elevation and rugged terrain. Luke provides insights on packing for a day hunt and the essential items to have in a kill kit. He also discusses the importance of safety precautions and recommends wilderness training courses. Finally, Luke shares lessons he has learned from hunting with experienced hunters and the value of being a student of the game. Luke Dusenbury shares a hunting story where he and his team had to hike for miles in the snow to retrieve their backpacks, which they had left behind. They learned the importance of never leaving their backpacks in the mountains and the need to be prepared with enough food and supplies. Luke also discusses the management of predators like cougars and bears, highlighting the importance of proper predator management for the conservation of ungulate species. He emphasizes the need for balance and science-based biology in managing predator populations.   Battery charger/solar panel/charging banks:  Power Bank: https://amzn.to/46qsJVG Solar Panel:  https://amzn.to/4fegL5t Kill Bag Trekking Poles Luke’s Website: https://lukedusenburyphotography.com/   Mountain Lion Book: Beast in the Garden   Insta: https://www.instagram.com/luke.dusenbury?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==   Handle: @Luke.dusenbury 

Summary In this episode, Katie sits down with Peter Chaibongsai and TJ Morrell from the Billfish Foundation. They discuss the organization's mission and the importance of research, advocacy, and education in preserving offshore fish populations and supporting the communities that depend on them. They highlight the various programs and resources available to the community, such as membership, newsletters, and youth programs. Peter and TJ also explain their role in representing the recreational fishing community in regulatory matters and their efforts to connect scientists and fishermen to gather valuable data. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the foundation's commitment to preserving the marine environment and passing on the love of fishing to future generations. The conversation covers the technical difficulties experienced during the recording, the importance of The Billfish Foundation's (TBF) regulatory advocacy, the tagging and release program, data collection and socioeconomic information, the importance of recreational fishing, online reporting and incentive programs, the tagging program competition, and the recognition of crew and lifetime achievement awards. The conversation covers the recognition of outstanding individuals in the fishing community, the upcoming awards and gala, membership services and subscriptions, engaging the youth through magazines, the importance of tagging data, international tagging operations, streamlining commercial data collection, and supporting the Billfish Foundation.  Takeaways The Billfish Foundation focuses on research, advocacy, and education to preserve offshore fish populations and support the communities that depend on them. Membership, newsletters, and youth programs are some of the resources available to the community. The foundation plays a crucial role in representing the recreational fishing community in regulatory matters and connecting scientists and fishermen to gather valuable data. The ultimate goal is to preserve the marine environment and pass on the love of fishing to future generations. The Billfish Foundation plays a crucial role in advocating for regulations that protect billfish and the recreational fishing community. The tagging and release program is a cornerstone of TBF's work, providing valuable data for research and conservation efforts. Data collected through the program helps researchers understand migration patterns, population sizes, and other important information about billfish. TBF's advocacy efforts ensure that the recreational fishing community has a voice in policy decisions that affect their interests. The Billfish Foundation recognizes individuals who have made a difference in the fishing community. The annual gala is a fundraising event that brings the community together and celebrates the achievements of individuals in the industry. Membership services and subscriptions, such as magazines for youth anglers, provide educational resources and promote marine science. Tagging data is crucial for understanding fish populations and making informed management decisions. The Billfish Foundation is involved in international tagging operations and offers grants for tagging supplies. Streamlining commercial data collection can provide valuable information for conservation efforts. Supporting the Billfish Foundation through membership, donations, or sponsorship helps further their mission of conserving billfish populations. Membership signup : https://billfish.org/become-a-member/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwzIK1BhAuEiwAHQmU3ikMzYodcBAKi7VgwCd7r7qFaIDCq9UPYOxdKGmvaABsbnNCtSpgshoCngAQAvD_BwE Tag and Release Competition: https://billfish.org/competition/ Tag and Release Kits : https://shop.billfish.org/collections/tbf-tagging-equipment/products/taggingkits Newsletter Signup : https://billfish.org/newsletter/ TBF Merch: https://shop.billfish.org/ Gala tickets: https://event.auctria.com/32fef710-de8c-42f3-9619-69c87b19b44a/09480e501ee611eaa945bb9e2ddcf87f Subscription for youth magazines Billfish: https://billfish.org/magazines/#tab-id-1 Sailfish: https://billfish.org/magazines/#tab-id-2 Spearfish: https://billfish.org/magazines/#tab-id-3 Bluewater: https://billfish.org/magazines/#tab-id-4

This conversation covers the history, growth, and impact of the White Marlin Open tournament. It explores the involvement of the tournament directors and their dedication to the event. The chapters also discuss the progression of the tournament, the introduction of Calcutta's and prize money, and the point structure for catch and release. The conversation highlights the economic impact of the tournament on the local community and the creation of Marlin Fest as a companion event. It also touches on the conservation efforts and the role of the tournament in preventing the white marlin from being listed as endangered. The chapters conclude with a discussion of the directors' roles and responsibilities in organizing the tournament. The conversation with Madelyne Duffy, the Tournament Director of the White Marlin Open, covered various topics related to running the event and the challenges faced in the fishing industry. The chapters include discussions on running the event as a family, sticking to ethics and integrity, challenges of working with family, the threat of offshore wind, crowded fishing grounds and speed restrictions, dealing with drama and controversy, memorable moments of the White Marlin Open, the impact of sonar technology, the small boat category, the importance of the white marlin category, female involvement in the tournament, and the appeal of the ocean.   Takeaways   The White Marlin Open is the world's largest and richest billfish tournament, with a significant economic impact on the local community. The tournament has grown organically over the years, with the addition of Calcutta's and the establishment of Sunset Marina as a game changer. Conservation efforts, such as the use of circle hooks and length minimums, have been implemented to protect the fishery. Marlin Fest provides an opportunity for spectators to experience the tournament and support local businesses. The tournament directors are involved in all aspects of the event, from rule changes to trash collection.

Summary Curtis De Silva, a professional fisherman, shares his experience fishing in Madeira and the Southern Caribbean. He recently caught a grander blue marlin in Madeira and discusses the fishing techniques and spread used. Curtis also talks about his father, Captain Frothy, and their fishing background. He compares the fishing conditions and challenges in Madeira and the Southern Caribbean, including dealing with seaweed in the Caribbean and paperwork in Madeira. Curtis also mentions the differences in migratory patterns and water temperatures that contribute to the size of fish in each region. The conversation with Curtis De Silva focuses on his experiences fishing in Madeira and the Azores. The marine life in these areas is spectacular, with abundant bait, birds, and various sea creatures. The conversation covers topics such as the underwater banks and seamounts in the Azores, the impact of sea surface temperatures on fishing, the decision to pull boats out of the water during the off-season, the challenges of fishing in rough swells, the boatyard in Madeira, and the international fleet in Madeira. Curtis also shares his favorite fishing memories with his father and his passion for billfish. Fish with Curtis: search @madierasportfishing on facebook or instagram   Takeaways Curtis De Silva caught a grander blue marlin in Madeira, weighing 1048 pounds. Fishing in Madeira is characterized by calm waters and a close proximity to the shore. The fishing season in Madeira is from June to September/October. The Southern Caribbean has tournaments for sailfish and smaller blue marlin. Challenges in the Southern Caribbean include dealing with seaweed and rough weather. Fishing in Madeira is relatively easy, with the main challenge being locating blue marlin. Madeira has a large average size of blue marlin compared to other fishing locations. Paperwork and documentation are meticulous in Madeira. The migratory patterns and water temperatures contribute to the size of fish in each region. The marine life in Madeira and the Azores is spectacular, with abundant bait, birds, and various sea creatures. The Azores have underwater banks and seamounts that attract fish, including blue marlin. Sea surface temperatures can impact fishing, with extreme high temperatures affecting the Azores and Madeira. Boats are pulled out of the water during the off-season in Madeira and the Azores due to the slowing down of the marlin migration and the risk of damage from rough swells. The boatyard in Madeira is situated under the airport runway and provides services for boats. Madeira has an international fleet with charter boats operated by local and foreign captains. Curtis De Silva has a passion for billfish and targets big blue marlin in Madeira. Fishing with his father and catching his first blue marlin are some of Curtis' most cherished fishing memories. Releasing fish is a common practice in billfishing, and recreational fishermen play a role in understanding fish migration patterns. Curtis De Silva also runs charters in the Southern Caribbean, specifically in Grenada. Keywords: fishing, Madeira, Southern Caribbean, blue marlin, grander, Captain Frothy, techniques, spread, challenges, seaweed, paperwork, migratory patterns, water temperature, fishing, Madeira, Azores, marine life, sea surface temperatures, underwater banks, seamounts, boatyard, fleet, billfish Transcript: Katie (00:00.43) Today's guest is my friend Curtis De Silva from Trinidad and Tobago. Curtis has spent his entire professional career fishing between the Southern Caribbean and the island of Madeira. In fact, he has fished the last 15 seasons on the island of Madeira and a few weeks ago, weighed the first and as of July 2nd only grander of the 2024 Blue Marlin season. In this episode, we're gonna dive into the story about that fish, as well as what it takes to fish the Eastern Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, how they compare to the fishery of the Southern Caribbean, and looking into a little bit on the relationship between Curtis and his father, legendary Captain Frothy from the Pesca Grossa, as well as why fishing is so important to him. It's always a pleasure to sit down and talk to Curtis and it's another great episode in the books. You're not going to want to miss it. Katie (01:06.734) Welcome to the Katie C. Sawyer podcast. Today I'm sitting with my good friend, Curtis De Silva. Curtis, where are you tuning in from? Hello. How are you going, Katie? Good. I'm tuning in from sunny Calheta, Madeira. That's right. Madeira. You guys, Madeira is an autonomous island owned by Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Curtis and I met a couple of years ago while we were fishing there with the On Location. Now, Curtis, you I want to get into your background. I want to get into your story. But first, I can't skip these important details. You had a really good fishing day just recently, just a few days ago. You want to tell us about it? Yeah. Yeah. Well, you could jump right into that story if you'd like. Yeah, it's a pretty good one. So I think it was Monday this week. We went out on My dad's fishing boat is called the Pesca Grossa. And we had some clients that flew in from the States. They were on their honeymoon. They were keen to go one day blue marlin fishing. So we were fishing on board, you know, the 30 foot, just a little 30 foot sport fishing boat out here in Madeira And yeah, maybe about four o 'clock or so we hooked up onto a good fish, you know. it was actually a really interesting play. One of the better ones I've seen in my life. so one, one fish came up on the teaser on our right teaser, really short to the boat, maybe 10 or 15 feet from the back of the, the, the boat. And I threw the pitch out and it did not switch on to the pitch, you know, so it faded off onto our left long. What were you pitching? Just a mackerel, about a two pound Spanish mackerel, chin weighted, with a 10 o' circle hook. Yeah, so that fish faded off, you know, and hit the left lure and left long. Missed it completely. And about maybe a moment later, maybe five or 10 seconds, another fish came up and just crashed, but the short, the right short, you know? Katie (03:33.326) Teal off a bunch of line. We got the lady angler in the chair, you know, it may be about a 40 minute fight or so. We had the fish, three sides of the boat. When it was there, we just, we decided to take it. We decided to take it on board. Cause it was, it was a pretty big fish. When I larger ones we've seen both side in a long time. So we decided to take him. Yeah. Pretty big fish. A grander. How much did that fish weigh? Yes, it was 1048, 170 some kilos. I can't remember exactly in kilos, but it was 1048 pounds. It was really amazing to see that there was actually two of them. The first fish that showed up, how big was that one? Average Madeira size when I was there for the one season was somewhere between five and 700 pounds. A good size fish is 800. We were looking for the grander ourselves. We never found it. We never, well, Drake saw it. We've talked about that before, but we never found it. So how big was that first fish that showed up? So the first fish was probably very similar in size, you know? Stop. Yeah. So two big girls crashing on your baits. So what is your spread like? I mean, you have short teasers. You said you you're doing a like a macro pitch with teasers close to the boat. So those don't have hooks in them. And then you have or I don't know what you call them because then you called it the short lure. The right short is where you caught that second fish on. So you have a J hook in that one, right? That's right. So we fish a pretty simple spread over here. You know, we fish one 30s and we would have four four four lures with hooks in them. Any water at all times, you know? So left short, left, left and right short and left and right long would all have, you know, 10 OJ hooks in them. That's how we target them with 550 pound mono leader. And then you're also pulling teasers? Yeah. So we pull two teasers right up close to the boat. Yeah, that's basically all Madeira spread. That's awesome. What lures did these fish show up on? Katie (05:55.134) well, they actually showed up on my dad's lure. My dad makes these lovely lures. Now, I'm not sure what the name of this particular one was, but it was one of the Captain Frothy series lures. That's so special. That is so special. Okay, so Curtis, congratulations on your grander. Was that your first grander? I mean... Thank you. That was the first one I weighed on a scale. I believe I caught a couple before. But we released them, but this is the first one that we scale, Peroni scale and wait. That's amazing. Congratulations. And for your group to be on their honeymoon, like, my gosh, you said they had one day of fishing and it was at 4 PM. I'm assuming that you go into the dock at five. Like that is some good luck for those anglers and to have such a good crew. Now you said you were fishing aboard Pesca Grossa. You guys might've heard of this boat because of The legendary captain Frothy. Now Frothy is Curtis's dad. Curtis, you want to give us a little bit of background on Frothy as well as yourself, where you guys come from, what your history is, your professional history in the sport of billfishing? Sure, absolutely. I could give you a little background. I'm starting with my dad. So my dad has been a Harvard fisherman since he was a young, since he was a boy. He always was very passionate about it. He ran a very successful charter operation in Trinidad and Tobago for most of the 80s and 90s and early 2000s having about three or so boats going out quite regularly on a daily basis. He came here, he was fortunate, he came here in the 90s, he fished here in the 90s a bit and he caught, he was well caught on his first day here fishing. thousand pound blue marlin and brought it to the scale and weighted as well in the 90s. Yeah on his first trip here. So he g

Summary: In this conversation, Fly Navarro shares his passion for fishing and media. He discusses his background growing up in Palm Beach County and his experiences fishing in the Caribbean and Hawaii. Fly also talks about his transition to freelancing and creating content, as well as his involvement with the Blue Marlin World Cup. This part of the conversation focuses on the Blue Marlin World Cup and the logistics of the tournament. It also discusses the cost of entry, the minimum weight requirement, and the use of certified scales for weighing the fish. The conversation then delves into the emotional moments and the perspective of fishing. The story of the Apex boat is shared, highlighting the power of stories in the fishing community. The importance of people and the connections made through fishing are emphasized. In this conversation, Fly Navarro shares his passion for fishing and the joy he finds in sharing the sport with others. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying the moment and releasing the death grip on the fishing rod. Fly Navarro also discusses the satisfaction he derives from bringing new anglers into the sport and helping them achieve their fishing goals. He encourages young listeners to pursue their passions and not be afraid to take risks. Overall, Fly Navarro's love for fishing and his desire to promote the sport shine through in this conversation.   Takeaways   Fly Navarro is a passionate angler and media creator, constantly seeking new fishing experiences and opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of staying connected through Wi-Fi and using social media to share his fishing adventures and promote the sport. Fly's background includes fishing in the Caribbean and running a boat in Hawaii, where he gained valuable experience and knowledge. He is dedicated to introducing fishing to new people and opening doors for others to enjoy the sport. Enjoy the moment and release the death grip on the fishing rod. Share the joy of fishing with others and help them achieve their fishing goals. Encourage more women and families to participate in fishing. Don't be afraid to pursue your passions and take risks. Transcript: Katie (00:00.206) Next week is the fourth of July, not only a very important holiday in the United States, but also the day of the Blue Marlin World Cup, the only international blue marlin tournament of its kind where for one day only the biggest fish weighed in any of the oceans around the world takes the win. Today, I'm sitting down with Robert Fly Navarro, the tournament director of the Blue Marlin World Cup. As we discuss the ins and outs of this tournament, what makes it so unique? his career and the various endeavors and experiences that make Fly who he is. Katie (00:42.99) Hey, what's up you guys? Welcome to the Katie C Sawyer podcast. I'm your host Katie. And today I'm sitting with the man behind much of the sport fishing media and what we know, Robert Fly Navarro. Fly, thank you so much for being here today. 100 % my pleasure. And thank you so much for your patience while we had all our technical difficulties. And you know, it is what it is. We're here, the content's being produced and that's all that really. matters because I really like now touch on this because you have some a slogan that you live by and that's why we're both here today. What is it? I got a lot of slogans. Which one? There's a lot of slogans I live by. I only get one. I only get one ticket for this ride, so I make sure I'm having the best fucking time of my life. There you go. Well, my personal favorite, if we're going to go that far, is the one where If you can expose one person efficient every single day, then then you're living your life. Right. that. Listen, that's that is my that's my business slogan. I wake up every day and my goal is to introduce fishing to one new person every single day. So that, yes, that is my goal. I absolutely love that. And I find it extremely admirable. But before we get into a lot of different things that I'm excited to be talking to you about coming into this big tournament season. Tell us a little bit about your background. First, where are you tuning in from today? Where did you grow up? You have two parents that are Cuban and I want to hear about Childhood Fly. Okay, so there's certain things about Childhood Fly that I'll share and there's certain things I won't. But yes, I'm the... And this is something I repeat over and over and over. I am the son of two immigrants from a communist country. And it's one of the reasons why I am such a big fan of America. I do a lot of work with our military. I'm on the board of directors for a nonprofit that gets active and retired veterans out fishing and hunting. So I am a huge pro -America guy. And anybody that's spent time with me understands that. Katie (03:04.398) But it mainly it comes from my parents and my grandparents because of the fact that I heard how bad communism and socialism is. And unfortunately, I also got a chance to see what socialism does because I was in Venezuela when Hugo Chavez got voted in and I saw a wonderful country literally get destroyed in less than 20 years. So yeah, I'm a big America first kind of guy, a big freedom of speech kind of guy. A lot of people have died for our freedom. So I do a lot of stuff to make sure they know how much I appreciate what they've done and they being both men and women, cause we got a lot of ladies out on the front line making sure we can sleep at night. So where did you grow up? I grew up right here where I'm at right now. I grew up in Palm beach County. I still live in Palm beach County. I've fallen, it's a weird thing. If you look at statistics, they say something like 60 % of Americans still live within 10 miles of where they grew up. And that's me. My high school is less than 10 miles away. My first job is less than 10 miles away from where I live. But I spend like 250 days on the road. I travel all over the world. I average about 200 ,000 miles a year. Freaking flyer mom. Yeah. No. Yeah. You've got all the perks. Yeah. I definitely do. It's pretty bad when I go into the airport and they all know me. My girlfriend thinks it's the funniest thing. I've traveled with some of her friends. We all go and Mr. Navarro, how are you? What's going on? She's like, really? I'm like, yeah. And now it's gotten to the point. I was just flying back from Doha in Qatar. That's a cool airport. I've never seen anything like it. There's playgrounds everywhere, little like museums. So great. Any of those airports in the Middle East are phenomenal. But I got on my plane as I'm sitting on my seat. The flight attendant walk up to me. She goes, you were on my flight a few weeks ago, weren't you? I'm like, yeah, I know exactly who you are. So that's how much I'm on the planes. I know the flight attendants. That's why I try to be so nice to them. Katie (05:30.318) because if you're not, they'll remember you on the ride back. Actually, I just try to be nice to everybody. I want people to treat me nice, so I treat them nice. Yeah, I mean, 100%. And that's part of being a part of this community is scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Everyone's out there. We're all fishing. We're all looking for a good time and especially in the sport fishing space in the recreational angler space, you know, like everyone's got a boat owner. Everyone's working hard to make sure that they do a good job and sharing information out there is so pivotal. How do you feel about that? Did you grow up? Wait, hold up. You're distracting me. Did you grow up fishing the Caribbean? So I didn't start fishing the Caribbean until I took this profession, this road down a profession. I was in college, I was 18 years old, I was making a whopping $4 an hour and a friend of mine, his dad was a boat captain and he's like, what are you doing this summer? And I said, well, I gotta work, I gotta make some money to pay for college and when I'm not working, I'm gonna go fishing. That's what I did every summer. And he's like, well, I want you to go with me to Mexico. And I'm like, okay. I go, but I don't know anything about working on big boats. He goes, I'll teach you. But I need somebody that's bilingual. And English is my second language. So once I went down to Mexico and people figured out that I spoke two languages, I was gone. Yeah. I was, I mean, literally, I was gone. They grabbed me and I ended up going through the canal for the first time, going fishing Panama and Penas Bay, went up to Costa Rica. my gosh, chills. That's exactly what happened. Yeah. So and then shortly thereafter, I moved to Venezuela and I started fishing out of there for four, I lived in Venezuela for four years. And yeah, it was great. I mean, I absolutely loved it and spent 20 years of my career fishing out of central South America, St. Thomas. I know you told me to stop before, because we were starting to talk about St. Thomas. No, now's the time. Bye. And then I got an opportunity to run a boat out in Hawaii. So I flew out to Hawaii and I ran a boat for two years. Katie (07:45.134) And after that, I came home and I went into business for myself. Question. I have a handful of questions. The first one is, did you ever finish your university degree? I got a two year degree to be a teacher. I wanted to be, what I really wanted to be was a high school guidance counselor. I have this thing and most people know I don't have children, but I have a thing that I want to open doors for as many people as possible, especially our youth. And I know a few years ago I started a program and we're looking to relaunch it called Kids in the Fly Zone where we give kids the opportunity to learn how to fish, learn how to go hunting, meet other people that like to do it because sometimes your parents don't enjoy it. Maybe your parents don't like to fish and hunt. Or just aren't exposed in that scene. There's plenty of people that didn't grow up in it. Yeah, they just didn't gro

Summary Jeremy Higgs, assistant director at the Center for Fisheries and Research Development at the University of Southern Mississippi, discusses his work in fisheries research. He talks about his background and how he fell in love with the research opportunities in the Gulf Coast. Jeremy explains his role at the Research Center and the various projects he manages, including larval shrimp studies, offshore billfish work, bull shark life history study, and oyster reef work. He also discusses the importance of oyster reefs for the ecosystem and the sport fish species that rely on them. The conversation explores the different species of fish studied in fisheries research, including swordfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, wahoo, and more. The researchers discuss the unique characteristics and behaviors of these fish, such as their feeding habits, visual adaptations, and growth rates. They also touch on the importance of studying these rare event species and the collaborative efforts between scientists and anglers. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the handling and donation of fish samples after they are brought back to the dock. Keywords fisheries research, Gulf Coast, larval shrimp, billfish, bull shark, oyster reef, ecosystem, fisheries research, swordfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, wahoo, feeding habits, visual adaptations, growth rates, rare event species, collaborative efforts, handling fish samples, donation Takeaways The Gulf Coast offers a wealth of research opportunities in fisheries, both inshore and offshore. Oyster reefs play a crucial role in the ecosystem, providing habitat and food sources for sport fish species. Jeremy Higgs manages various research projects, including larval shrimp studies, billfish work, bull shark life history study, and oyster reef work. Collaboration with fishermen, scientists, and other institutions is essential in gathering data and understanding fish species. Sampling and analyzing fish specimens at fishing tournaments provide valuable insights into reproductive biology, age determination, and diet composition. Different species of fish, such as swordfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, and wahoo, are studied in fisheries research. These fish have unique characteristics and behaviors, including feeding habits, visual adaptations, and growth rates. Studying rare event species is important for their long-term management and conservation. Collaboration between scientists and anglers is crucial in gathering data and samples for research. After sampling, the fish are handled and donated to organizations for various purposes, such as rehabilitation and feeding birds of prey. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:26 Research Opportunities in the Gulf Coast 04:19 The Importance of Oyster Reefs 08:13 Managing Research Projects 15:12 Collaboration in the Scientific Community 32:12 Exploring the Diversity of Fish in Fisheries Research 34:08 Understanding the Feeding Habits and Adaptations of Pelagic Fish 37:57 The Significance of Studying Rare Event Species 41:44 Collaboration between Scientists and Anglers in Fisheries Research 56:38 Handling and Donation of Fish Samples in Fisheries Research   USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development   Transcript: Katie (00:00.206) What's up, you guys? Today's podcast is a special treat. Today I have Jeremy Higgs, the assistant director at the Center for Fisheries and Research Development at the University of Southern Mississippi. I met Jeremy on site at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic last year as he was taking all of these incredible samples from these massive blue marlin coming to the dock. Stay posted. You're not going to want to miss it. Katie (00:33.134) Welcome to the KDC Sawyer podcast. I'm your host Katie. And today I have the pleasure of sitting down with Jeremy Higgs. Jeremy, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for the opportunity to be on the show today. I really appreciate it. Now, Jeremy, you're the assistant director over at the research center. How long have you been at USM? I've been with USM about 14 years. Different roles in my time here as research technician up to where I'm at now as assistant director of fisheries. That's awesome. Where did you come from before USM? I did my undergraduate work at Southwestern College in a little town in Kansas. We had to do a summer field session at a marine lab. There was a flyer in our lobby and it was for the Gulf Coast Research Lab and it was a first SHERC class. I came down here on a fluke and absolutely fell in love, did a summer of coursework here, and then did an internship and then came back to do graduate school. and then start working in fisheries. That's awesome. Now, did you use the word fluke as a pun or was that just... That was coincidental. Is it that... For the listener, a fluke is a flat fish. Am I right? It is. And the whale tail, the tails of marine mammals. how cool. I didn't know that. That's awesome. Well, that's all she wrote. That's really cool. So what made you fall in love with USM? So the campus here is absolutely gorgeous. The Gulf Coast is amazing. And after being here for the summer, I realized there's a lot of research opportunities in this area, not only inshore but offshore. And the folks that we got to work with, like Jim, who's, you know, he really is a big figure here on the coast and the work he's done. So it was easy to get excited and to see passion from other people. And it really just kind of drew me into the entire environment down here. That's so cool. I got the opportunity to visit you guys on campus last year and I was blown away by how beautiful it is there and what a special thing you guys have going on. Your whole team seems really into the process, the research and being out on the water as well as in the lab. It shows that you guys are passionate about it. We have an absolutely phenomenal team working with us in CFRD as well as other colleagues here at GCRL and along the coast. It's a truly unique place to work and Katie (02:55.566) a great opportunity to delve into this field. Beautiful. So Jeremy, tell me a little bit about what you do at the Research Center and some of your day -to -day life, but as well as some of your projects. So things have changed a bit over the years. I don't go in the field as much as I used to, but when I do there for fun projects, a lot of my day -to -day now is managing other programs that are going on, so different grants for the research that we are being... that we are conducting. These range from larval shrimp studies to help inform about the opening of shrimp season every year, all the way up to larger offshore projects such as the billfish work that we do in the Gulf as well as elsewhere around the world. So currently I'm working on a bull shark project, a life history study. We also have... some of our long -term monitoring projects that we're looking at some of the data, look at abundancies and distribution of different species. And so just a little bit of everything, even some oyster reef work from time to time. those oyster reefs, they're super important. You know, a lot of people don't realize how important they are for the ecosystem. They're a very diverse community and you wouldn't think about it on a reef, but there's so much space in between the oysters and in the sediment around that that is a There's just a huge community that exists there that not only keeps the reef reef healthy, but also provides a lot of food sources for important sport fish. So we have a lot of small crabs and shrimp that are on the reef that the trout and red drum love to munch on. So like it's a really, really important community. How does that end up affecting the sport? Like the offshore is that does that affect the offshore fishery at all? Not not so much. Our reefs are pretty inshore. As the salinity increases, you lose the viability of the oysters once you get too far south of the islands here. All of our reefs are inside the Mississippi Sound, so it's really just for inshore sport fish species, I would say it's the most benefit out of it. That's cool. Oysters also serve a huge purpose in terms of filtering the water, keeping the water pH levels. Katie (05:18.221) as they should be? Absolutely. Oyster reefs are wonderful filters of a natural environment. So a healthy reef has a lot of good water quality around it. Even though in our area, everything is very murky, so you would never tell, but when the reefs are very viable, they're continuously filtering. That's how they feed. And so they pull a lot of the nutrients and sediments back out of the water. Now, I love that you said that the water is so murky there, because I learned something in your lab last year that just kind of blew my mind and also made so much sense. Now I'm from a small town on the Texas Gulf Coast and we have an incredible inshore fishery as well. I'm not a very good inshore fisherman, but I do like to do it in my pastime and in my free time. And what I learned about was the size of the ear bones. Now we're going to get into otoliths a little bit later, but the size of the ear bones, which are otoliths, of the red drum and why with that murky water. Do you want to share that a little bit? Yeah. So. The ear bones in fish or the otoliths help with a lot of different things. Fish can listen for sounds to hunt or whatever it may be. If you're in murky water, you have to rely on your hearing a lot more than your visual senses. Your ear bones generally get larger in that case so you can have better sound reception as well as if it's a species that makes noise. The drums... with their name, they drum, and so it helps up with that sound perception. And then if... That's so cool. Yeah. If you move offshore where it's clear, beautiful water and even a huge fish, they like a marlin, the otoliths are very tiny, microscopic almost, because they don't need them. They're visual hunters, so they don't need that sense as much. That is so

Jeremy Cox, Captain of the Lolita fishing team and co-founder of the Mongo Offshore Challenge, shares his fishing journey and the success of their recent fishing trip. The conversation covers topics such as Jeremy's fishing background, the Mongo Offshore Challenge, and their recent catch of a 704-pound blue marlin. They discuss the tournament format, the significance of the catch, and the importance of preserving and studying these fish. Jeremy also talks about the excitement of lure fishing and the thrill of anticipation. The conversation highlights the joy of fishing and the special moments shared with family and friends. The conversation revolves around the experience of catching marlin in the Gulf of Mexico and the importance of sustainable fishing practices. The guests discuss their recent catch of a 700-pound marlin and the challenges they faced during the fishing trip. They also touch on the significance of donating the meat from the catch to charities and zoos. The conversation highlights the love and passion marlin fishermen have for the species and their efforts to protect and conserve them. The guests also discuss the science and research that can be conducted using these rare event species. Additionally, they talk about the process of catching live bait in the Gulf of Mexico and the strategies they use to keep the bait fresh and alive. In this conversation, Jeremy from the Lolita Fishing Team discusses the evolution of live baiting in offshore fishing. He explains how the use of live bait tubes has become a common practice and how it has improved the ability to keep bait alive for longer periods. Jeremy also talks about the importance of fresh and frisky bait in attracting fish and shares tips on handling and caring for bait to keep it in optimal condition. He emphasizes the significance of structure, such as oil rigs, in creating fish aggregating devices (FADs) and attracting a variety of fish species. Jeremy also mentions the potential for future expansion of the Mongo Offshore Tournament to the East Coast and internationally.   Mongo Offshore Challenge East Coast Registration https://www.reeltimeapps.com/live/tournaments/2024-mongo-offshore-east-coast/register   Mongo App: Iphone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mongo-offshore-challenge/id1516755470 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reeltimeapps.mongo&pcampaignid=web_share   Keywords   fishing, blue marlin, tournament, Mongo Offshore Challenge, Gulf of Mexico, Lolita fishing team, catch, celebration, preservation, marlin, Gulf of Mexico, sustainable fishing, catch and release, fishing tournaments, conservation, live bait, tuna tubes, live baiting, offshore fishing, bait tubes, fresh bait, frisky bait, handling bait, oil rigs, fish aggregating devices, FADs, structure, Mongo Offshore Tournament   Takeaways   Jeremy Cox shares his fishing journey and the success of their recent fishing trip The Mongo Offshore Challenge is a season-long tournament that awards the biggest fish caught in various categories The Lolita fishing team caught a 704-pound blue marlin during the Hurricane Open tournament The catch was celebrated with family and friends, and the fish was donated to science for research purposes Lure fishing provides a unique thrill and anticipation for anglers Preserving and studying these fish is important for understanding their reproduction and population Marlin fishermen are passionate about the species and work towards their conservation and sustainability. Donating the meat from caught marlin to charities and zoos is a way to reduce waste and benefit the community. Catching live bait in the Gulf of Mexico can be challenging, especially during the day when the bait goes deep. Tuna tubes are used to keep live bait fresh and alive during fishing trips. The conversation highlights the importance of responsible fishing practices and the role of fishermen in scientific research and data collection. Live baiting has evolved over the years, with the use of live bait tubes becoming a common practice in offshore fishing. Fresh and frisky bait is essential in attracting fish, and there are techniques to handle and care for bait to keep it in optimal condition. Oil rigs serve as fish aggregating devices (FADs) by providing structure and attracting a variety of fish species. The Mongo Offshore Tournament is a popular fishing tournament that focuses on the Gulf of Mexico, but there are plans to expand to the East Coast and potentially internationally. Transcript: Katie (00:00.206) In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Captain Jeremy Cox as we dive into the Gulf of Mexico blue marlin fishery with big fish stories, tips on how to handle and maximize the health of your bait and why the oil rigs play such a valuable role in the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Katie (00:27.886) Welcome to the KDC Sawyer podcast. I'm your host Katie. And today I'm sitting with the captain of the Lolita fishing team. He's also the co -founder of the Mongo Offshore Challenge. Jeremy Cox, thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me today. No problem. Thank you so much for having us. It's my pleasure. Well, we've been talking about doing this for a long time and I'm really glad it worked out the way it did because you guys just had a heck of a fishing trip out of Grand Isle, Louisiana last week, which I really want to get into you guys. Spoiler alert. They caught a 704 pound blue Marlin, but Jeremy, tell us a little bit about you. Where are you from? What's your fishing experience and how did you get to where you are today? so, let's see. I'm, I was born in Maryland. Actually, my, my family's from Maryland. move my. family moved us to Pensacola, Florida back in the early 80s. And so I grew up in Florida. I was raised in Florida. I think I was two years old when we moved to Florida, Pensacola. And man, first fishing memory is like four years old. My brother, JD, which is also co -founder of the Mongo, he's my older brother by seven years. He took me fishing in a lake behind, you know, in our neighborhood behind our lake. caught a bass like the first trip and I was hooked. I was like man this is the thing now I probably pestered him every day after that can we go fishing can we go fishing you know we're going fishing and so that progressed into an addiction of fishing and my mom took me on a fishing charter when I was 10 years old out of Ocean City Maryland and I saw the mate you know back there with us and you know this guy driving the boat which was you know I learned was a captain and and we caught some tuna and I was like, these guys do this for a living? And my mom's like, yeah, this is what they do, you know? And I was like, man, I want to do that when I grow up. So my brother had a baseball scholarship. He went off to college and played baseball and moved to Birmingham, Alabama. And me and him always talked about owning our charter boat. So I got into the fishing industry. Like my first job was first fishing related jobs working at a place called Boaters World. They're out of business now, but. Katie (02:50.766) very like West Marine, it was around for years and it was a big box store for marine supplies and marine sales. So I worked there and figured that'd be a good opportunity to meet other fishermen. So long story short, met other captains and landed a mate job and started mating and me and my brother, that's what we were gonna pursue is our own charter boat career. And you know, I'm skipping a lot of stuff, but Hurricane Ivan hit in 2004 and sort of... hit us back to reality. It's like, man, we saw all these charter boats lose their whole livelihood with their boats getting wrecked and the whole season sort of thrown out the door, at least in our little town. And we're like, maybe that's not the smartest idea for us. We didn't have a lot of money anyway. We wanted to get in those charter boat things. I mean, so I had a lot of friends in the private industry. And we were charter fishing. We were mating and captain. By that time, JD moved down to Pensacola. And we were both mating on different boats. And I did some captain work. started in the private sector. So I was like, man, that's probably the better route, more secure, you know, and then it's, you know, you got somebody else paying for everything and you get paid to go fishing, paid to kick, you know, a lot more waxing and toilet fixing than fishing, but yeah, it's all part of the, all part of it. Yeah. So, but it's awesome. So, you know, that's, that's how I got into the captain, you know, and in that whole time, you know, I was doing sales, you know, I worked for a Long time I worked for a distributor. We sold fish and tackle to tackle stores. And then I was a tackle sales rep for a while. We represented a dial and play Jake and other other brands. And I did that for collectively for about 12 years while I was doing captain work on the side in the private world. I had an orange beach, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, Destin, Florida. But now currently I run the Lolita to 72 foot Viking out of Destin, Florida. and been working for this family for this is the ninth summer. Great family. They're awesome. Yeah, we're like fam. They treat me to treat us like family and just a great, great time. And yeah, this weekend. So we, we called the art person. Yeah. no, no, no. I haven't interrupted you. Sorry guys. We're not there yet. We're not there yet. No, that's so cool. So are you out of Orange Beach now? Are you based out of Orange Beach now? I'm. Katie (05:15.47) We keep the boat Lolita, we keep it behind Bo Shamps and Destin. That's where we keep the boat year round. That's right, you just said that. No, yeah, we come to Orange Beach a lot. We're sort of a traveling boat in the summertime, so we're rarely home during the summer, but the wintertime's fall through spring, we're parked behind Bo Shamps. We spend a good amount of time in Grand Isle, Louisiana. The owners have a camp there

In this Episode, host Katie C. Sawyer interviews Captain Chris Donato, a big Marlin fisherman in Kona, Hawaii. Chris shares his fascinating background, which includes fishing in various locations around the world. He discusses the Kona fishery, known for its lure fishing, and the deep marlin culture in the area. Our Favorite Lures Lure Making 101/102: The Kona Fishing Chronicles - Book Fishing Hawaii Style - Volume 3 - Book Fishing Hawaii Style - Book   The conversation also delves into the logistics of shipping boats to the Southern Pacific and the different types of lures used in Kona. In this part of the conversation, Chris Donato discusses the different types of lures and their characteristics, including plungers, tube lures, scoop face lures, and bullets. He also shares the historical origins of lure fishing in Kona and the transition from live bait fishing. Chris explains how to choose lures for the spread based on their aggressiveness and loudness. He also discusses the feeding behavior of marlin and the factors that affect lure performance. Finally, he provides tips on adjusting lures for optimal performance. In this conversation, Chris Donato discusses various aspects of lure fishing. He explains how the orientation of a lure can affect its swimming behavior and the importance of adjusting lure position based on wave conditions. He also compares vinyl skirts to rubber skirts and shares his preference for rubber skirts. He discusses the benefits of teasing fish and the challenges of heavy tackle bait and switch fishing. Finally, he introduces GZ Lures and GZ Tackle Co. as platforms for providing the best fishing equipment and educational content.   Takeaways   Kona, Hawaii is known for its rich marlin fishing culture and lure fishery. Shipping boats to the Southern Pacific can be a challenging and stressful process. The Kona fishery offers opportunities to catch big blue marlin, with the best months being July and August. The marlin culture in Kona is characterized by a deep history, ego, and a focus on big fish. Lure fishing in Kona is a popular and effective method, with a variety of lure types used. There are different types of lures, including plungers, tube lures, scoop face lures, and bullets, each with its own characteristics and performance. Lure fishing in Kona transitioned from live bait fishing, and lures became more popular due to their effectiveness. When choosing lures for the spread, it is important to consider their aggressiveness and loudness, with the most aggressive lures placed closest to the boat. The feeding behavior of marlin can vary, with some periods of aggressive feeding and others of territorial behavior. Factors such as water conditions, lure design, and rigging can affect the performance of lures, and adjustments may be necessary to optimize their performance. The orientation of a lure can affect its swimming behavior, and adjusting the position of the lure can optimize its performance. Rubber skirts are preferred by some anglers due to their durability and color variations. Teasing fish can lead to proper bites and better hookups, but it requires skill and technique. GZ Lures and GZ Tackle Co. aim to provide the best fishing equipment and educational content for anglers. Transcript Katie (00:00.238) Today's podcast guest is proficient in the art of big blue marlin fishing. We're gonna sit down with Captain Chris Donato and go through different types of lures, what they're used for, how you can make them work the way you want them to, and what to look for in the spread. Stay tuned, it's a chat you're not gonna wanna miss. Katie (00:27.662) What's up, you guys. Welcome to the Katie C Sawyer podcast. I'm your host, Katie. And today we have big Marlin fisherman, Chris Donato, joining us on the scene. Chris, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with us today. Yeah. Thanks for having me. So you are checking in from Kona, is that right? Yep. Yep. We're here in Kona. I love that. So I personally have never been to Hawaii. I've never fished the Kona scene, not even close. I just have heard a lot about it. I'm really excited to have you here. You have an extremely fascinating background that I think might be a conversation for another time. You've done some incredible things. I want you to go over that a little bit with us. Then I really want to dive into the world of lure fishing, which correct me if I'm wrong, but Kona is known for its lure fishery. Yes. Everybody that's - what everybody's pretty much doing. Unless they're just fishing for ahis or something with live baits, it's pretty much all lure fishery. The conditions just make it easy for us. We're like in a swimming pool and the way the fish feed here and everything. I mean, it's kind of like the birthplace of like modern lure fishing for the most part. And yeah, that's it's it's the spot to do it. That's for sure. I'm particularly excited because it's it's not like you've spent your entire life fishing Kona. You've spent, I mean, you're originally from New Jersey and fished the East Coast, grew up sometime in Florida, correct? Spent time in Florida. Yeah, South Florida. Yep. And then you ran several charter operations in the Southern Pacific in Samoa and... Yeah, Samoa and then Vanuatu. Vanuatu. Man, that's amazing. So give us a little bit of like a rundown. I want to know... what your age range was, what you were doing. We're going to dive in in a separate episode of what makes Chris Chris, but give us just a professional rundown of your experiences. Yes, I won't draw it out too much because it's a whole thing we could go down. I pretty much just grew up pretty much fascinated with the - Katie (02:44.462) South Pacific and fishing and surfing to surfing was probably what brought me more so into that area. Um, you know, I, I went to Costa Rica a bit and did that, but then I, I did a trip down to, uh, French Polynesia. I actually was the first time and actually wasn't fishing. I was actually working on a sailboat. So it's kind of embarrassing to say, but I was pretty young. I was like 17 or 16 or something. I was pretty young and I just wanted, I had an, I had an to do it and I was like, I want to check this out. This is great. No, come on. What a way to get exposed to it. That's amazing. Yeah, so it was like sailing and surfing and checking that part of the world out. I was like, wow, this is insane. I always love fishing. I obviously thought, obviously, there's a lot of fish here. It took a little while for me to end up getting back down to that part of the world. fishing wise, I went and surfed a lot, but I would just go surf and come back or whatever. And then I was fishing in Florida and long story short, I ended up being involved in a surfing resort with, with a buddy of mine in Samoa. And so we started building it up and we have a little skips. We go out to all the reefs to surf. And so I was one year like, okay, I'm going to bring down all my Florida stuff. Cause the seasons were a little bit different. Like, um, and I would go down there when I wasn't fishing in Florida, I would take time and go down or whatever. So I was like, I'm going to bring down a bunch of stuff and just go fish with our little like panga style boats and check it out. What's the time of the year and how old are you at this point in time? Um, at that point I was probably 19. Yeah. Somewhere around that. I think I was pretty young. Um, cause I was, yeah, I was in college. Yeah. Yeah. I was about 19, I think. Maybe, maybe just turning that, but, um, I don't, to be honest, you know, someone was a little bit like here in terms of like seasons. I mean, you can fish there year round. Uh, it just gets really rough in our summer, which is their winter. Um, and then, um, you know, I get that it just kind of gets kind of choppy and rough and windy and trade winds blow. And, you know, I caught my grander there in November. So I kind of say that that was the season, you know, but I, you can fish there year round really. Katie (05:08.845) Congratulations. Yeah, thanks. That was a big monkey to get off my back for sure. Anyways, yeah, so I just went down there and just like brought some stuff and just I got my ass handed to me. I mean, I thought I knew what I was, you know, I thought I knew Bill Fish and stuff and I had like, I think my biggest was like a 50. And I'm on a panga by myself cruising around doing what I probably shouldn't be doing. After your experience, what were you doing in South Florida? Sail fishing and sword fishing? Sail fishing and sword fishing. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Maybe in white Marlin or something. Yeah. So it was, yeah. And I had done some, I'd done offshore stuff, but like, I just wasn't to that extent. And so, yeah. So at that point it was like, okay, this is the place. It took some time and just things just evolved. And next thing you know, I'm down there. I'm running a 43 foot Cabo there and then, um, ran a boat in Vanuatu. And then we cruised around the islands and it just turned into a pretty much what I did up until 2016, um, was just down in the South Pacific for the most part. You know, I come back forth, but yeah, that was it. So just loved it down there. How old were you? In 2016, what's the time frame there? How many years were you doing that? Gosh, I think maybe 15 years. I was in Samoa. That's amazing. Yeah. I'm not the best with IDA. But yeah, so I'm 41 now, and I moved out here in 2016. So throughout your late teens, your 20s, and into your 30s. Let me get my calculator. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I'm a knucklehead when it comes to that type like timeframes and stuff that some are really not the best with it. But but I was down there for a while. And then I had the 37 Meriden I had someone that came in and was Joe who actually was my crew for a long time. He works on the series now. And he really he was in like the film industry for a while like working as like, I forget what the word I like. Katie (07:

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN:    https://www.boatingunited.org/take-action/congress-protect-boaters-speed-restrictions/?   Summary   In this conversation, Katie C. Sawyer and John DePersenaire discuss the proposed rule for the North Atlantic right whale situation and its implications for boaters and seaboard communities. They highlight the importance of speed for recreational fishermen and the economic impact of the proposed rule. They also emphasize the need for collaboration and the use of technology to address the issue. The regulatory process and timeline are also discussed. The conversation discusses the dual path process of rulemaking, with an interagency review and a public side. The role of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is explained, along with the challenges of the public not being aware of any changes made to the rule. The formation and work of the Whale and Vessel Safety Task Force is highlighted. The current stage of the rule being in OIRA's hands is discussed, along with the strategy for the ongoing public comment period. The involvement of the Small Business Administration and the importance of a comprehensive approach are emphasized. The potential of recreational anglers as an untapped resource is mentioned, and a call to action is made to reach out to local congressmen and participate in the Boating United action alert.   Takeaways   The proposed rule for the North Atlantic right whale situation has significant implications for fishermen, including economic impact and access to fisheries. Speed is essential for fishermen to reach fishing grounds and maximize their trips, and the proposed rule would greatly restrict their ability to do so. Collaboration and the use of technology, such as artificial intelligence and marine electronics, can help reduce the risk of vessel strikes on whales. The regulatory process for the proposed rule involves public comments and review by various agencies, with the final decision taking into account economic impacts and other factors. The rulemaking process involves both an interagency review and a public side, with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) playing a key role. The public is not made aware of any changes made to the rule during the interagency review, creating uncertainty. The Whale and Vessel Safety Task Force is working on a comprehensive approach to reduce vessel strike risk and protect North Atlantic right whales. The current stage of the rule is in OIRA's hands, and there is an ongoing public comment period.a The involvement of the Small Business Administration and the need for a balanced approach that considers both industry needs and whale protection are important. Recreational anglers have the potential to contribute valuable information and technology to mitigate the risk of vessel strikes.   Transcript   Katie (01:42.718) What's up, you guys? Welcome to the Katie C. Sawyer podcast. I'm sitting down with John DePerson here today. John, tell us a little bit about yourself and who you are. John DePersenaire (02:26.149) Yeah, sure. Thank you, Katie. And thanks for having me on. So my name is John DePersonere and I'm the Director of Government Affairs. So that's a really broad title and it really encompasses a lot of different aspects of my portfolio of work. So obviously things like regulatory issues, government affairs issues, things that have to do with either regulatory or legislation that impacts us as a manufacturer in the marine industry, but also how our customers use the boats. So like fisheries management, that's all really important part of that. as well, but also then on the sustainability side, looking at things like efficiency, looking at our energy use, looking at our waste stream, all those sort of things, supporting efforts to support fish habitat and some other projects that we're doing. So it's a really broad scope of work and it's really, really interesting. Katie (03:23.458) That's awesome. That's a huge responsibility on your end. And like you said, broad. Before I started fishing, I was working, not even close, but I was working as director of environmental health and safety for an oil and gas company. And it's just like there's like this entire channel of products that you're supposed to manage. And you're like, I like this is so, so broad. But that's amazing. I'm really, really honored to be sitting with you here today. Thank you so much for giving your time. I really want to jump into what's going on. on right now with the North Atlantic right whale situation and the proposed rule that was set forth in August of 2022 and how that's affected us and what we can see moving forward. So can you just give us a little bit of a status on what's going on with the right whales and what the what rule was proposed as a reaction of that? John DePersenaire (04:17.536) Yeah, so, you know, this is an issue the industry has really been following carefully for the past year and a half now. And as you said, you know, this proposed rule came out in August of 2022, and it was driven by NOAA. So NOAA has a an office within it's called the Office of Protective Resources. And their job is to carry out and implement. the mandates of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. So with North Atlantic right whales, they are, there's no question that they are in pretty serious, dire concern in terms of a population size. And just, you know, recognizing the history of that species, it really was one of the targeted, most targeted species in commercial whaling for centuries, which really- drove down the population, but also imposed some sort of ecological constraints, which just made it much harder to rebuild when commercial whaling stops. So like when you fish a, or not even fish, but when you hunt a population down that low, you start to have genetic issues. And we see that like with, you know, upland hunting and things like that, you try to manage for a strong gene stock. And so that was one of the constraints. So that like, you know, if you look at reproductive output for North Atlantic right whales, it has been trailing off. And so it just makes it that much harder to rebuild. So they know the two main sources of mortality for North Atlantic right whales are entanglement with fishing gear, mostly lobster pots up in Massachusetts and North and also up in Canada where they spend their summers and vessel strikes. And so NOAA has been trying to... up with management measures that addressed those two sources of mortality. And so the rule that came out in August, that was directed towards the latter, that was directed towards reducing risk of vessel strikes. And what that did was it expanded upon an existing rule that was in place starting in 2008. And what it did was it dropped the size class of vessel that would be subject to vessel speed rules. It expanded the areas that would be subject to the seasonal management areas. John DePersenaire (06:39.036) And it also expanded the vessels. So it dropped it down from 65 and above down to 35 feet and above. And so what that really did was originally the 2008 rule was really focused more on the ocean-going vessels, so like the container ships, the tankers, some of those really high displacement, high tonnage boats. It also captured some of the recreational fleet as well. but the intent was really the bigger ocean growing vessels. And so this step now starts to bring in a massively different segment of the fleet now. And you're starting to bring in center consoles and a whole bunch of boats that have probably never even seen a North Atlantic right whale. And so this is all about reducing risk. And this is what is somewhat different than what we typically deal with fisheries management. Katie, I know you're really versed on highly migratory species, you know, and so a lot of times we're dealing with, you know, quota setting and, you know, really specific percent reductions, trying to get to a sustainable biomass and things like that. So we can tailor regulations based on that percent reduction we have to achieve. This is a little bit more nebulous in the sense that we don't actually have that number that we need to reduce risk by. And so that's a really challenging thing. for us to look at. And so we're just not versed in trying to figure out how we come up with a solution to that. And so when we first saw the rule, we're like, oh my God, this is gonna impact a vast number of boats. For a lot of people, it's gonna go into effect November 1st and last through the end of May. So those are really, really important times of year for up and down the coast now. I mean, as you know, like we have some of the best tuna fishing off of... New York and New Jersey now in November and December, which is crazy to think, but I mean, it's just, those are no longer months when people have their boat out of the water and up on the hard for the winter. It's, you know, we're fishing all the way through January. And so that becomes a real, real big impact. Also guys that move their boats from say our area down to South Florida in the fall, you know, they're gonna be subject to this. And so what, you know, typically is a... John DePersenaire (09:02.128) know, two, three day trip now becomes something massively different when you're going 10 knots. And so there's all sort of implications that we have to think about in terms of impacts of this. But one of our biggest criticisms was obviously, you know, a recreational boat hitting a North Atlantic right whale is an extremely rare instance. In fact, we have some third party analysis that really shows that it is like that one in a million chance. I mean, that really is numbers of boats and the numbers of strikes that are attributed to those boats under 65 feet. But the other thing that we were we were sort of upset about was that there was really no alternative in there that took into consideration technology, right? And

Join TBF Today!!  https://billfish.org/become-a-member/   Be a part of TBF’s tagging program! https://billfish.org/research/tag-and-release/   Episode Summary   In this mini episode of the Katie C. Sawyer podcast, Katie follows up on her previous chat about sail fishing in southern Florida with Mike Calabrese. She brings on Peter Chaibongsai and TJ Morrell from The Billfish Foundation to discuss the tagging program and what it has revealed about sailfish populations and their migrations. They talk about the movement of sailfish from southern Florida to the Yucatan and other areas, as well as the use of satellite tags to track their movements. The conversation highlights the importance of data collection and the involvement of recreational fishermen in contributing to scientific research.   Keywords   sail fishing, southern Florida, kite fishing, trolling, Bill Fish Foundation, tagging program, sailfish populations, migrations, satellite tags, data collection, recreational fishermen   Takeaways   Kite fishing is a predominant style of fishing in southern Florida. Sailfish populations in southern Florida are known to travel quite a bit, with historical records showing them going all along the coast and even as far as the Caribbean. The Billfish Foundation conducts a tagging program to collect data on sailfish and other billfish species. Satellite tagging provides valuable information on the migration patterns and behavior of sailfish. The majority of data collected by The Billfish Foundation comes from recreational fishermen.   If you have a question you would like to receive data for, email TBF at tag@billfish.org along with a description of the data you would like and what it will be used for. A new website is coming soon that will make this process easier!