The Bite

BY FRED GARTH

NEWS, NOTES & GEAR

Teachers in Polk County with GHOF certifi cates.

GHOF Trains Teachers in Polk County

After a successful teacher training session in Polk County, Florida, by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation professional development team, the schools are now utilizing the GHOF Marine Science 101 curriculum within its high school classrooms. Around 25 marine science teachers and 2,500 students are currently accessing the engaging and relevant GHOF resources through its single sign-on.

Th e district’s secondary science curriculum specialist reports that Marine Science 101 provides a real-world context that provides relevancy and, subsequently, student engagement. Additionally, the Marine Science 101 curriculum appeals to diverse learners, as tasks are achieved through multiple modalities.

From analysis of timely GHOF research articles to studies of Dr. Guy Harvey’s brilliant artwork, an understanding of the connectedness of living things, including humans, is manifested. Marine science teachers within the district appreciate the GHOF resources for these reasons but state that the greatest importance of the curriculum is that Marine Science 101 provides the cohesiveness and purpose for learning science: conservation of Earth’s biodiversity. Future goals within the district include aligning the elementary school resources with grade-level learning-map units.

Teachers in Polk County get certifi ed to teach curriculum.

BLUE MARLIN

IN THE BOAT! STORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY DR. GUY HARVEY

Often, I have been asked what was one of the most amazing experiences I have had out on the ocean. Here is one:

In the afternoon of Oct. 21, 2021, I was out fishing for marlin off Grand Cayman on Makaira, my Dusky 33, with Alex Robertson. We had trolled west out of the North Sound and headed past North West Point towards a seamount I call The Pinnacle just three miles west. It is an area where we have raised many marlin over the years on the way to 12 Mile Bank, just five miles further west. Not raising a fish here, we kept going west toward the bank. The water here reaches over 3,000 feet deep. At 3:05 p.m. a blue marlin came up on the left teaser. I saw a big color spot, and the bill out of the water was thick, so I knew this was a decent fish!

I tried to pull the teaser away, but the marlin was fast and grabbed it again as I asked Alex to bring in the right teaser as well. With both teasers in the boat, the marlin should drop back and eat the short rigger lure, left or right, and we expected the bite. But nothing happened for 10 seconds. We both stood there looking back at the spread. Then, the head of the marlin appeared between the twin 300 Suzukis, mouth closed, dorsal fin up, big blue eye looking at us, and as if in slow motion it kept coming ... kept coming ... until half its body was out of the water. The marlin was fat and appeared to be stuck between the two engines as we moved along at 8 knots still on autopilot. How was this possible?

The marlin appeared to be in a trance, stiff, pointing up into the sky, its face level with our heads. In the time that seemed like ages, I took in all the detail of the face, the mouth closed tight, the dorsal up, pectoral fins out and the glowing color; iridescent green and blue on its head and back, bronze and silver face and flanks. It kept getting higher out of the water. I thought it was going to land in the cockpit; then the trouble would begin! Standing in the cockpit; I dared not turn away from the marlin to grab a camera or stop the boat. I kept my eyes on the fish. Alex was also mesmerized. The marlin got through the space between the engines and started to fall down, gravity taking hold. It fell to its left and landed on the transom and covering board, then started to flap hard. It then rolled to its left, landing on the swim platform and went back into the water on the port side as it was kicking its tail — gone!

I quickly took photos of the scales, skin and small amount of blood left on the engines, steering gear, transom and covering board. The marlin had left its scars, but it seemed to be unscathed and certainly had not hit either propeller. Alex and I called friends and family, frantically, to let them know what had just happened. With no photos or video taken, we still had a story to tell of a free-swimming, 300-pound blue marlin chasing the teaser and then swimming up between the engines out of the water before collapsing on top of the transom and port covering board before leaving. I did a series of ink sketches to show what happened. How lucky we were that the marlin did not land in the cockpit.

We continued fishing at 12 Mile Bank, and at 4:45 p.m., we had a double-header blue marlin — Alex catching and releasing his fish at 125 pounds. What an afternoon of excitement!

Chris Gough and Gina Zeitlin

Cayman Islands Angling Club Members Win Big in Panama

BY DR. GUY HARVEY

World famous Tropic Star Lodge at Pinas Bay, Panama, held its Annual Billfi sh Conservation Tournament in November 2021. Prior to the torneo, team members from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation were part of a research group tagging black marlin, blue marlin, sailfi sh and dorado (dolphin fi sh or mahi) at the lodge. Th is is part of a long-term study to better track these ecologically important species of game fi sh in the Eastern Tropical Pacifi c. Sustainable catch-and-release sportfi shing is a major player in the region’s ecotourism sector and is a driving force behind protecting these majestic fi sh.

Ryan Logan, a Ph.D. student at Nova Southeastern University, who has been leading the billfi sh tagging project, brought 32 PATs (Pop-Off Archival Tags) to go on billfi sh and six SPOT tags for silky sharks — SPOT tags send a signal to a satellite each time a fi sh breaks the surface. My daughter Jessica, Steve Roden, Chris Gough and I were all assisting with catching, tagging, data recording and fi lming released fi sh.

Leading the dorado tagging project was Wessley Merten of the Dolphinfi sh Research Project (BeyondOurShoresFoundation.org) in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. Th e program is responsible for tagging more than 30,000 dolphinfi sh in this citizen science-based project with over 4,000 anglers registered in many countries. In Panama, 560 dorado have been tagged with conventional tags, and Wess has tagged 15 with electronic archival tags.

As the research work continued, Jessica remained with the tagging team, and Palm Beach angler Gina Zeitlin joined Chris and me on team Los Bamofos to take part in the torneo. Th ere were three private boats, and 10 TSL vessels fi shing with teams from Canada, the U.S., the Cayman Islands and Panama.

Day one, Sunday, Nov. 21, began with fi shing director Richard White launching a Bimini start out of the bay. Th e boats spread out to the south and west to search for billfi sh. On Miss Scandia with Captain Gavilan and marinero (mate) Ricardo, Gina and I each bagged sailfi sh while fi shing around fl otsam to get points on the board. Several other boats caught sails for 100 points, and three boats hooked big Pacifi c blue marlin for 300 points while trolling lures. Sea Weez, a 75-foot Scarborough captained by legendary Aussie skipper Ross Finlayson, hooked a really big marlin, judging from the amount of spray it kicked up each time it jumped. Th ey fought the marlin on 50-pound line for 80 minutes before getting the leader, calling it 800 pounds, tagging and releasing with a PAT.

In the early afternoon, the Los Bamofos team was checking out big floating logs and trees that usually hold bait fish such as green jacks and bonitos. A pair of billfish came up on the teasers, and I hooked a blue marlin, on 30-pound line, jumping all over the calm ocean. Ricardo had the leader in 20 minutes, gaining 300 points to put our team in second place at the end of the day. Team Against All Odds on Miss Island Star was in first place with 600 points for three sailfish and a blue marlin release.

On the second day, the teams switched boats, putting Gina and me on Miss Tropic Star with Captain Jacob and ace marinero Hermel. Jacob ran south until he found a trash line 18 miles out loaded with big logs, a floating freezer and lots of birds and bait in blue water. Everything looked good, so we fished live bonito baits. At 8:05 a.m., a blue marlin ate the right rigger bait. Gina hooked it, and it started gray-hounding right across the spread, cutting the line off on the stinger! Not the best start for our team when we’re chasing points. The next two bites were both big Pacific sailfish of 110 pounds both caught by Gina.

At 9:15 a.m., a blue marlin crashed the stinger bait, and Gina caught her first blue marlin of 300 pounds, which I tagged with a PAT. Then, Chris pulled the hook on a jumping sailfish, but not to worry, as two minutes later, a blue marlin terrorized the left rigger bait before jumping all over the stinger bait. Chris was up, and Jacob was on the radio screaming, “Marlin on the line, angler No. 31!” This fish was a lot bigger than the one Gina had just caught, doing lolipop jumps around in a wide circle. It was a big fish and heavy, not clearing the surface. I was getting a few jump shots with my camera as the fish came closer to the boat. Hermel had the leader in 30 minutes, and we tried to get a PAT in, but we broke the marlin off. We called it 400 pounds.

In the background of the photo I shot with the jumping marlin was the floating freezer. We had all the bites within a quarter mile of this spot along the trash line. Chris made a joke in Spanish to Jacob, “The marlin are here because the freezer is full of beer — a Marlin bar!” No sooner were the words said than another big marlin crashed the live bonito on the stinger. Gina was up and fought this marlin for nearly an hour. It had done a magnificent series of jumps like a Jet Ski on steroids. Videographer Keishmer Hermoso was on the TSL chase boat filming the action close by and leapt aboard our boat to film the tagging action. Hermel wired a strong fish; I got the PAT firmly in the left shoulder, and the 475-pound marlin was released. I asked Keishmer to stay on board with us, and Jessica’s boat came to give us more PATs.

They had not been gone five minutes when Chris hooked up another blue marlin. This one jumped at an angle across the stern going to port but always coming at the boat, so I was getting some good jump shots. It stopped and shook its head at the surface, foaming up the water all around for a minute, then Hermel had the leader, a five-minute fish. It went ballistic jumping close to the boat and then overtook the boat on the starboard side. No chance to tag this green fish, so Hermel cut it off.

We ended up with four blue marlin and two more sailfish on day two for a total of five blue marlin and four sailfish reaching 1,900 points. Second place boat, the Beatrix, had 900 points. Captain Jacob and Hermel were the top crew. Team Los Bamofos qualified to enter the prestigious Offshore World Championship, which will be held in April 2022 in Costa Rica. This is the fourth time a Cayman Islands team has won this prestigious angling event.

Maybe we will see you at the tournament next year. Viva Panama!

Chris Gough, Captain Jacob, Gina Zeitlin, Mate Hermel and Dr. Guy Harvey holding up five fingers for catching five marlin.

SFC Partners with GHOF

Sustainability and conservation have increasingly become a key part of the narrative at big game fi shing tournaments. Catch and release divisions continue to grow in the billfi sh categories, and the angling community is more dedicated than ever to protecting the fi shery that so many of us enjoy.

Th at’s why there was a natural fi t between the Sport Fishing Championship and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Known for their vital scientifi c research and conservation eff orts with marlin, sailfi sh, shark and other pelagic species, the GHOF is dedicated to a global sustainable fi shery. Much of their billfi sh tagging work in the Eastern Tropical Pacifi c (ETP) along the coastal regions from Baja, Central America and all the way down to the Galapagos, has been published internationally and has helped to infl uence regulations to assure a healthy fi shery. As everyone knows, a strong fi sh population is directly proportional to successful fi shing tournaments!

“We are so thrilled to be the benefi ciary of the Sport Fishing Championship,” said world-renowned artist, conservationist, scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Guy Harvey. “With this funding, we will be able to expand our extensive STEAM curriculum for students and professional development programs for teachers. We are working every day to inspire young ocean ambassadors and provide them with exciting marine and environmental science experiences. Educating our future leaders in marine conservation and ocean sustainability has never been more critical, and the partnership between SFC and CBS Sports will go a long way in generating awareness.”

SHOPPING GUIDE

Whether you are looking for a creative way to say thank you, a holiday gift or just want to treat yourself, visit GuyHarvey.com to shop a full range of Guy Harvey-branded apparel, artwork, souvenirs and more. Shopping is a win-win when every purchase you make benefits the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

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Men’s Bill Flag Performance Flag Performance Hoodie with Gaiter Hoodie with Gaiter

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This super comfortable performance hoodie is perfect for any outdoor hoodie is perfect for any outdoor adventure on land or sea. It provides adventure on land or sea. It provides UPF protection, and the attached UPF protection, and the attached gaiter provides additional sun gaiter provides additional sun protection for your face. protection for your face. $50

YOUR PURCHASE HELPS SAVE OUR SEAS

1. Guy Harvey Yellowfin Dog Collar Nylon dog collar is perfect for any dog out fishing, boating or just enjoying the outdoors. or just enjoying the outdoors. Plastic clip-style buckle for a Plastic clip-style buckle for a secure fit with a metal buckle secure fit with a metal buckle loop. Made in the USA. Sizes: loop. Made in the USA. Sizes: Small, Medium, Large $17

2. Guy Harvey USA leash Nylon dog leash measures 1” wide and 6’ in length. Perfect for an active lifestyle and guaranteed to turn heads. Made in the USA. One size. $20

3. Guy Harvey Grand Slam Belt English leather belt with solid brass buckle and cotton webbing around the waist. Great for summer. Great for any time. Made in the USA. Sizes 28-46. Order at least one size up from pant size. $26.95

4. Stiff Flexible Fillet Knife with SOFGRIP® Handle, 8” Wide This durable 8” wide fillet knife makes filleting and skinning, even tougher fish, easy. The highest quality, stain-free, high-carbon steel blades offer superior sharpness to process your catch. The SofGrip handle combines comfort with excellent slip resistance for efficient production at the fillet table. Proudly made in the USA by America’s leading manufacturer of professional knives since 1818. Edge guard is included. $42

Guy Harvey Blue Escape Dog Bed

Your dog will love this beautiful pillow-top bed, and it will certainly brighten up any room. Printed with 100% biodegradable water-based ink and made from eco-friendly rPet material. Water repellent inner and outer cover. Made in the Americas. Small/Med – 34” x 26”, $99 Large/XL – 42” x 34”, $109

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