36 minute read
Yacht♥Beat
Finding Peace
in Freedom Waters
A SOCIAL WORKER-TURNED-YACHT STEW NOW BRINGS THE JOY OF BOATING TO THOSE IN NEED OF HEALING.
By Dorie Cox
Debra Frenkel was a burned-out social worker in Chicago with a dream to be at sea. It was a dream with a deadline. “I wanted to be on a boat for [the year] 2000,” she said. “And at the end of 1999, I was on a 130-foot yacht as a paid stew in the Caribbean.”
That yachting dream would eventually set Frenkel on a path to combine her love of helping people with her love of boating — a path that would enhance not only her life, but the lives of thousands of others. Eventually landing in Fort Lauderdale, she teamed up with yacht broker John Weller, a fellow cancer survivor, in a plan to share the therapeutic effects of being out on the water with others. They began by inviting children with cancer to experience fun and sun aboard boats.
By 2006, this new direction had coalesced into the nonprofit Freedom Waters Foundation. In the first year, they hosted more than 700 on-the-water experiences in the Fort Lauderdale area. Now headquartered in Naples, the foundation operates in several Florida counties, including Broward and Palm Beach, and continues to grow.
“We estimate that we have impacted 35,000 individuals in the
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FREEDOM WATERS FOUNDATION
CHILDREN AND ADULTS BATTLING ILLNESS, DISABILITIES AND OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES TRADE THEIR CARES FOR SOME FRESH AIR, SUN AND FUN WHEN THEY BOARD A BOAT.
last 15 years,” Frankel said, “and we look forward to serving many more for many years to come.”
The way it works is that boat owners use their vessels to share the healing experience of being outdoors and on the water with people who would never experience it otherwise — children and adults with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, at-risk youth, and struggling veterans and active-duty military members. In 2021, program volunteers provided that opportunity to 2,248 people, including 509 children with special needs, according to Frenkel.
“Imagine a child, wheelchair-bound and on a ventilator, going boating with her entire family. She watches as dolphins play and splash about. Her grin gets bigger and bigger,” she said. “That’s the magic of being on the water.”
Freedom Waters is always in need of knowledgeable helpers, and yacht crew are a great fit, Frenkel said. Options include volunteering on the boats, teaching others to sail, helping kids bait hooks for catch-and-release fishing programs, creating a fundraiser, serving meals, or using photography/videography talents to capture beautiful memories. For captains, it’s an opportunity for a great crew team-building exercise. For yacht owners, it’s a chance to share their love of being on the water by sharing their vessels (all boat sizes are appreciated) for outings, or offering their boat for a sunset cocktail hour — dockside or at sea — to invite others to learn about Freedom Waters and how they can help. ‹ For more information or to volunteer, visit freedomwatersfoundation.org or contact Robin Meagher, director of program and development for the Florida East Coast, in the Fort Lauderdale office at 239-263-2377.
2700 SW 25th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Office: 954-791-0550 www.umcmarina.com
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GET THE TECH EDGE
Up-to-date navigation charts and hi-res data offer well-connected anglers an advantage.
By Erik Speyer
It is no secret that fishermen are, well, secretive — and superstitious. So it should come as no surprise they will go to great lengths to guard their special spots. On a local fishing board, someone asked a captain for his insight into good spots to catch spiny lobster; he insinuated he would rather someone have relations with his wife than give that information away. Obviously, there is no replacement for experience, but beyond that, how can you get the edge on the competition?
The answer, without a doubt, is better data. The easiest way to get better data is by making sure you have updated chips in your plotter, but you can take that a step further by upgrading to chips that have better bathymetric data. Bathymetric charts will provide a high-resolution mapping of the seafloor. Some of the options provide such high detail that you can see the wreck or reef you are fishing down to the foot.
Aside from high-resolution bathymetric charts, anglers in the modern era have access to real-time data to aid in the conquest of fish. A popular option is the Ocean-O data available on the Timzero platform. Heidi Leaman, East Coast sales manager for Nobletec, explained that adding highresolution oceanographic data — such as seawater temperature, dissolved oxygen, multi-layer current, and phytoplankton — not typically found in other sportfishing weather surfaces, in addition to 1km sea surface temperature, altimetry and chlorophyll, “is a real game-changer.”
CONTINUED ›››
››› “The high-resolution oceanographic data available with this service is a key factor in targeted fishing for the optimal performance,” Leaman said. “Subscription to this service also unlocks a new Ocean-O WorkSpace that was designed and optimized to visualize, filter, and combine all the oceanographic data to find the best fishing spots.”
In addition to high-res oceanographic data, most fishermen want the latest weather reports. While cellphones allow you to stay connected when relatively close to shore, what do you do for connectivity when you are on a multi-day offshore trip?
Satellite internet has come a long way, both in terms of cost and the size of the necessary equipment. Christian Cordoba, maritime channel manager for Inmarsat, said that Fleet Xpress can be installed on vessels as small as 60 feet, with antennas capable of reaching speeds up to 16Mbps. That is enough data to download all the Ocean-O data you could possibly need, while leaving enough bandwidth available to stream the big game while waiting for your next bite.
“Our plans have the flexibility that allows users to suspend the service when they are not using the vessel for up to 6 months per year without extending the contract,” Cordoba added. “The customer can upgrade and downgrade speeds without changing the terms of the service.” That means you can increase your bandwidth for a big tournament, and slow things down when back at the dock.
Many fishermen enjoy the feeling of being off the grid, but for the angler who wants to stay connected with all the latest data, consider pairing a service like Ocean-O with the connectivity of FleetXpress. The only wrong way to fish is to stay at home. ‹
ERIK SPEYER IS DIRECTOR OF SALES AT BLUEWATER BOOKS & CHARTS AND PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. HE CAN BE REACHED AT ERIK@BLUEWATERWEB.COM.
U.S. Pelagic Fishing Regulations
Permits and catch reports ››› can be processed online by NOAA Fisheries.
By Capt. Jake DesVergers
NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service, is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce. It has five regional offices, six science centers, and more than 20 laboratories around the United States and U.S. territories. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation’s ocean resources and their habitat.
NOAA Fisheries requires fishermen and dealers to obtain federal permits if they fish for, sell, purchase, or import Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). These species include tuna, billfish, swordfish, and sharks. Permits are also required to import all HMS, and to export bluefin tuna, swordfish, and frozen bigeye tuna.
Recreational fishing for HMS in federal waters and within the waters of Atlantic coastal states for tunas (excluding Maine, Connecticut, and Mississippi), requires vessel owners to have a valid federal fishing permit for their vessel. The type of permit depends on the fish species, fishing gear, and fishing trip. Each permit is issued to a vessel owner for a specific vessel. All passengers on board a vessel with a valid HMS permit may recreationally fish for Atlantic HMS under specified terms and conditions.
To apply for a permit, the process is completed online at: hmspermits.noaa.gov
Once a permit is obtained, it is important to review the types of tackle and equipment that are authorized for use. This will vary depending upon the type of permit and fish species. Specific
COURTESY BINNY BINTU
requirements are assigned to fishing gear, hooks, and techniques.
An angler on an Atlantic HMSpermitted vessel may fish recreationally for Atlantic HMS in federal waters, except in areas closed to fishing. The areas currently closed to fishing are:
›Tortugas Marine Reserves › Madison-Swanson and Steamboat
Lumps Closed Areas › Edges 40 Fathom Contour Closed Area › Gulf of Mexico Bluefin Tuna › South Atlantic Swordfish
An important part of the permit regulations involves reporting your catch. All recreational catch (landings and dead discards) of Atlantic bluefin tuna, as well as landings of swordfish and billfish (white and blue marlin, sailfish, and roundscale spearfish) must be reported. A landing occurs any time these fish are brought back to shore. NOAA Fisheries has developed an online portal and app to complete this process: hmspermits.noaa.gov/catchreports ‹
CAPT. JAKE DESVERGERS IS CHIEF SURVEYOR FOR INTERNATIONAL YACHT BUREAU (IYB), WHICH PROVIDES FLAG STATE INSPECTION SERVICES TO PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL YACHTS ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL FLAG STATE ADMINISTRATIONS.
Tow me tender, tow me sweet, never let me go The risk of loss puts a damper on the yacht-tender relationship. By Dorie Cox
Elvis Presley knew it: No one wants the pain of loss. Especially the loss of the yacht’s tender while under tow. Although rare, lost boats are just one incident that puts a damper on the towing relationship.
Like the day Capt. Tedd Greenwald looked off the stern to check the tender status — and saw only horizon. The trip from Florida to the Bahamas had been smooth until, as often is the case, the weather turned. “The oversized sportfish was an amazing sea boat and we were having no issues until my regular 30-minute check showed no jetboat tender in our wake,” he wrote to Triton. “Just the yellow floating tow line.”
As the yacht slowed, something appeared in the clear Gulfstream waters. It was the tender, which had flipped over, sunk, and now was headed back up, he said. “It accelerated toward the surface and cleared sea level by 10 feet. Then landed with a big splash upside down.”
They towed the swamped boat to the shore, but it was doomed.
Yacht captains and crew love their tenders, and the relationship is usually healthy. The auxiliary vessel is perfect to ferry guests comfortably, ease local provisioning, amp up the water-sport fun, and serve as safety equipment.
But there is always a price — to love and tenders alike. Although captains tow lots of boats throughout their careers they know the risks. Towing is a serious business, agreed Barney Hauf, director of sales at TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale, a boat towing and salvage service.
“At TowBoat, we have six to eight weeks of training before our guy ever tows a boat — and towing is all we do,” Hauf said. “Overall, I think yacht captains do a good job of spec’ing out towing gear and most have the right chafe gear.”
He pointed out a couple of tips: Make sure the tow is in step, at the proper point in the waves, with the yacht not going up while the tender is going down a wave. Use lots of towline, with a section of nylon as a shock absorber. Use extreme caution when the tow is in closer quarters to avoid fouling the line. And mind the hardware.
“The yacht owner may say, ‘Just tow it, use that trailer tow eye, that’s what it’s for,’” Hauf said. “But on a safe tow, most will have fabricated an eye with backing plates. You never want to use bow cleats or a regular towing trailer eye — that stuff will fail.”
“And you need good eyes on watch, both ahead and behind, while in tow. Don’t just count on electronics. You need an alert watch,” he added.
Capt. Brendan Emmons, on the 100-foot (31m) M/Y Freedom, loves the fishing tender he tows. It has all the bells and whistles, and he’s in for the long-term relationship. But years at sea have shown him that towing can limit a trip. “The big boat can handle so much more without it,” Emmons said. “It complicates, say, going up the inside [Intracoastal Waterway] for eight hours. I love the flexibility of having a tender, but that means we have another crew for the tender.”
And there is much that can go wrong with the love of the tow. “I’d say the biggest concern would be trouble in the middle of the ocean,” Emmons said. “If
PHOTOS BY RYAN FLANERY WITH ELEVEN | SEVENTEEN MEDIA & COMPANY
Power load, weather conditions, and size of the mothership are only a few of the factors that must be considered.
By JD Anson
Drag a large tender behind a 164-foot (50m) motor yacht and it is hardly noticed, but pulling it behind a smaller yacht or sportfish creates a whole new world of challenges. Many overwhelm the small bilge pumps usually tasked with keeping the bilges dry, causing the mothership to ride lower in the water and become more susceptible to further swamping. Keeping the vessels smaller yachts and sportfish are designed to cruise at a relatively high speed compared to the typical tri-deck. Adding several tons of drag severely impacts fuel economy, as well as seakeeping ability.
Because of these concerns, many tenders are run on their own bottom for passages. Weather conditions that may be annoying to those comfortably on board a yacht can become downright dangerous when traveling in a small craft. Navigation at night is much more difficult, and tenders simply do not have the range of a large power yacht. Also, manning needs require a minimum number of people on board both vessels, but many yachts do not have qualified spare crew to operate two vessels over long range.
Towing a tender behind smaller boats can create seakeeping issues. Sportfishers especially have very low transoms. In large following seas, the drag of the tender can cause swamping of the cockpit. Though once or twice may be OK, repeated flooding can in sync with the waves — i.e., both vessels on wave peaks at the same time — can help reduce the danger. This requires constant monitoring and trial to find the best solution of speed and hawser length for the tow and sea conditions. Some yachts have shipped the tenders in advance to where they will be cruising. This is inconvenient since the tenders now cannot enter customs as part of the yacht. Transit times for the yacht and the ship are different, thus requiring logistics help on both ends. And it is costly, as a transport cradle usually has to be custom-built and shipping costs are high. The cradle will then need to be stored until its next use. Low-tech polypropylene towing hawsers have given way to ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) commonly known as Spectra and Dyneema. This exceptionally strong line reduces storage room, is lighter, and is highly abrasion-
››› a hose breaks, the tender takes on water — we would have to get a crew onboard. It’s hard enough to set up and break tow inside the turning basin. I can’t imagine doing it with swells.”
But he does know that if the relationship is troubled, he would break up.
“I’m not risking a crew member’s life to save the tender,” Emmons said.
It doesn’t take extreme weather for a towing problem. Freelance Chef Caitlin Ferrell was at the stern when a veteran crew member was injured while feeding the tow line. Although the crewmate’s severed toe and nerves were surgically reattached after a grueling three-hour trip to the Bahamas for a flight out, Ferrell shares the incident as a warning to others.
“People are quick to share horror stories, and well, they weren’t lying — things can be serious,” Ferrell said. “We really can’t let our guard down, especially when moving or lines are out.”
Laura J. Sherrod, director of yacht insurance with Newcoast, said although towing tenders is not a new kink in the yacht insurance relationship, there have been changes in the sector. “It has been a problem in the yacht insurance world for a very long time. But there are fewer insurers in the marketplace, which allows underwriters to be more selective on the risks they are willing to bear.”
And she anticipates losses and claims to exacerbate the situation. “Owners and captains will have pressure put on them about towing restrictions due to the number of towing claims that the industry is having happen on a more
resistant. With a specific gravity of 0.97, it floats on water to help avoid fouling propellers when retrieving the tender. However, it has very high lubricity, which makes for poor knot-holding capabilities. These towlines and bridle lines are best professionally made up with splicing and sewing.
The advent of AIS (automated identification system) transponders now allows real-time location of the tenders should they become detached from their towing hawsers. Each transponder has a unique identifier that is programmed into it and displays vessel name and position, making relocation of lost tenders quicker. Beware a common mistake when commissioning AIS: using the yacht’s identifying number. Each vessel has to have a unique number, easily obtainable through the flag state. Using the yacht’s AIS number with an “a” at the end is acceptable, but only for tenders carried on board – not for towed tenders.
Ensure there is sufficient power available for the lads on the tender. The best solution is a dedicated house battery just for the loads necessary for towing configuration. Coupled with a properly sized solar panel mounted on the hardtop, this will keep the lights on happily over many days. If there is no room for this dedicated battery bank, a switched “tow” circuit can be designed that removes all loads except the necessary ones from the house batteries. This will extend the power life of the batteries to hopefully reach port. Some tenders have included a spreader light that will activate with a high-water alarm to alert those on board the mother ship that there is an issue.
Many panels we have seen are woefully undersized. One must consider not only the load, but factor in cushion for cloudy, rainy days when production is nil. Stated wattage ratings are for perfect conditions and the testing procedures can be a bit dubious. Take all declared specifications with a grain of salt.
Good planning and weather forecasting are essential to getting the tow where it needs to go. ‹
JD ANSON HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A CHIEF ENGINEER ON SUPERYACHTS. HE IS CURRENTLY PROJECT MANAGER AT FINE LINE MARINE ELECTRIC IN FORT LAUDERDALE.
EPA rules for small engines
These days, behind nearly every yacht, we see the latest and greatest tender in tow. They feature an endless inventory of equipment, but it is the engines that first catch one’s interest. What kind are they and how many?
For tenders equipped with engines manufactured outside of the U.S., there are a number of regulations that must be met. These rules are primarily outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40. They are enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has adopted exhaust emission standards for both marine gas and diesel engines installed on a variety of marine vessels. They range in size and application from small recreational vessels to tugboats and large ocean-going ships.
For these engines to be allowed into the U.S., they must be in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Certain exemptions are permitted for older engines, special types, and display models.
For diesel engines manufactured after January 2000 and above 130kW in power, a specific document will be issued by the manufacturer to verify compliance. Known as the Engine International Air Pollution Prevention, or EIAPP, certificate, this document is internationally accepted. It confirms that a specific engine meets the NOx emission limits for diesel engines as set out in MARPOL, Annex VI, Regulation 13. — Capt. Jake DesVergers
regular basis,” she said. Issues that lead to claims include: › Pressures put on crew for managing the towed tender. › Injuries caused in deploying the tow and bringing it back in. › Improper training of crew, or lack of the proper number of crew. › Pressure to go when the weather is not appropriate for a towed tender.
In response to claim increases, some underwriters have very restrictive terms, including these clauses, according to Sherrod: › 50% deductible applies while being towed. › Warranted not to be towed in Force 4 or greater wind speed. (Beaufort Wind
Force Scale 13 kt - 16 mph- 24 km/h) › No towing between sundown and sunrise. › Carriers typically do not want tenders
that exceed 33% of the length of the yacht. So for a 120-foot (39.5m) boat, they do not want anything greater than 39.6 feet (12m). › They also require a tracking system, a custom-made bridle, and full details of the towing plan.
The complicated relationship of yachts with tows will continue, but the yacht industry will benefit by captains making sure they have the best match. ‹
DECKHAND TRISTAN ELDON AND DECK/STEW GIANNA MESI READY FOR THE TENDER, DRIVEN BY MATE SHAWN RIERA OF M/Y FREDDY.
FRESH CATCH 101
Here’s a primer for deckhands on how to best prep fish for a happy chef.
Story and photos by Chef Patricia Clark
FIRST OFFICER GEORGE SCOTT AND BOSUN CHRIS GEMMEL AT M/Y G3
So, your guest just caught a fish and proudly hands it to you. Now what? Guests on boats of all sizes enjoy fishing, but often it is left to the newest deckhand to manage cleaning it up enough to hand off to the chef. These simple steps will ensure a happy chef.
Grab four large heavy-duty garbage bags and lay out three of them on your swim platform. Take the fourth bag, place the fish inside, and vigorously scale the fish in the bag so the scales are mostly collected within. Rinse the fish with the freshwater hose, then lay the fish onto the open bags on the swim platform. With a sharp knife, make a diagonal cut along the flesh side of the gills and remove them. With sharp shears, cut off the fins. Slice along the belly and remove any guts. Give the fish one more rinse with fresh water, then wrap it in one of the open bags, making sure not to drip fish liquid on the teak, and bring the fish to the chef. If it is during a meal service and you want to take it one step further, you can try your hand at filleting the fish. Place one hand flat on the side of the fish and with a sharp knife, make a straight vertical cut where the meat ends and the tail begins. Do not slice through, just slice to the middle bones. Turn your knife flat against the interior flesh and run your knife along the middle bones from tail end to now-empty gill pocket. Flip the fish over and do the exact same on the other side. You now have two fillets which you can cleanly put on a sheet pan and hand like a hero to the chef! Don’t forget to wash down your swim platform with fresh water and a little scrubbing to make sure no scales, blood, or guts remain.
TACKLE FOR AFTER THE CATCH
A sharp boning knife, such as the 6-inch MAC Chef Series BNS-60 with a heavy-duty, washable sheath at macknife.com A durable, oversized, heavy-duty cutting board, such as the NoTrax Sani-Tuff T45 at notrax.justrite.com Washable, cut-resistant, food-grade fishing gloves, such as Swayboo Polyethylene gloves at theperfectbundle.com Antibacterial dish soap and wipes.
Heavy-duty, contractor-style garbage bags.
Here are a few must-have products to impress your guests after the “Big Catch.”
RAW-FISH PREP KIT
Ingredients for a wow factor that’s off the charts.
What can a chef do to impress guests once the catch is in hand? Imagine this: After the fish is prepped by the deckhands, the chef comes down with a knife, a torch, and some great additional flavor. Immediately, the proud guests are handed a taste of their catch! Some guests may be squeamish about eating it “fresh from the ocean” — giving it a quick exterior sear makes a fancy presentation and quells any doubts. Here’s what you need:
High-powered butane torch
The basic, non-flashy, tried-and-true hardware store torches are the best.
Sharp boning knife
Wusthof gourmet 6-inch flexible boning knife at wusthof.com
Sharp kitchen shears (for fins or tough bones)
Wusthof kitchen shears at wusthof.com
Smoked salt
My favorite for fish is applewood, as I find the others too overpowering. Applewood is a nice balance of that smoky flavor with a subtle “minerality” and salty flavor. Alternatively, a little glass of a nice scotch blended with a subtle oil such as grapeseed oil and brushed on can also give you a dash of smoke.
Assorted finishing salts
The citron salt delivers both a hint of acid and great triangular-shaped flakes that melts before your eyes. It’s the perfect fish finishing flavor and great even on ceviche. Falk Salt is my favorite, at falksaltusa.com/shop.
Disposable chopsticks
Hear me out: Fillet your fish on the swim platform, slice off a sliver with your fancy boning knife, give it a splash of yuzu or agrumato, and hand your guest a pair of chopsticks. Let them jump in the water and eat sashimi. Use your torch and offer it tataki-style while they hang out in the water, chopsticks in hand.
Citrus oils, such as from Agrumato
Available at manicaretti. com/producers/ agrumato.
Truffle oil
A variety of options are available at Amazon.com.
Yuzu oil
A nice blend of Yuzu juice and olive oil makes a great condiment for fresh catches. Shimanto Domeki’s yuzu citrus juice is available at umami-insider.store
Knife roll to store everything
This knife roll isn’t for show; it needs to be durable, washable and lightweight. My personal favorite that checks off all the marks is this Everpride chef knife bag at everpridebrand.com.
Keep your kit handy! A raw-fish prep kit needs your constant attention to stay safe from bacteria and food-borne illnesses. Best to keep both antibacterial wipes and a spray bottle of diluted Lysol at hand, as well as disposable gloves and clean kitchen towels. Once you use any of your tools, make sure to clean them thoroughly with soap and antibacterial spray/wipe, then dry everything thoroughly.
POISED FOR THE PRIZE
IMAGES COURTESY OF ROYAL HUISMAN
Project 406 will be the largest sportfishing yacht in the world
Royal Huisman is marking a milestone in sport fishing with Project 406: The 171-foot (52m) newbuild will be next in line to claim the title of largest sportfishing yacht in the world. According to the shipyard, the yacht’s interior and exterior features were meticulously designed by Vripack naval architects to accentuate her mission: high-end sport fishing in a luxurious setting. Six towering decks with a
long, sweeping bow and high bulwarks culminate aft in a low, uncluttered fishing cockpit that lies close to the water for easy access to gear and a clear sight of the catch. A platform immediately above offers sky lounge “theater seating” for a bird’s eye view of the spectacular action unfolding below. The special Alustar aluminum hull offers strength and resilience while achieving the lighter weight necessary for a smooth and efficient passage to the fishing grounds. ‹
Project 406 is expected to be delivered in 2023
Fish on!
‘SMALLFRY’ OR PRO, ANYONE CAN HOLD A FISH WORLD RECORD.
BY DORIE COX
Catch a big one? Offshore, in a freshwater lake, or tucked in a Bahamian cove, that “fish on” could be a world record.
Even Paloma Guerra, in the “Smallfry” category for ages 10 and under, caught a world-record bluefin trevally from a yacht tender in Cebaco Bay, Panama, said Zack Bellapigna of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).
Yacht crew, owners, and guests are perfect candidates to take such honors, he said. Bellapigna certifies records as the angler recognition coordinator with the nonprofit organization. People are often surprised by the diversity of recordholders like Guerra, and although her record was retired (meaning beaten) in 2011, there are plenty more categories. Just this year, three new species have been recognized for records, Bellapigna said.
“For any species that we don’t hold a record, an individual can set that record,” Bellapigna said. Whether in the Caribbean, the Atlantic, the Pacific, or anywhere else, if you don’t see it on the IGFA website, follow the instructions to submit a catch as a world record.
As a scientist, Bellapigna takes the IGFA’s mission of conservation and responsible, ethical angling practices seriously. He processes six to eight applications a day to certify records using scale calibration, line test strength, photograph authenticity, and other factors.
Last year, a yacht captain submitted what he believed to be a record-breaking fish. But the certification process showed the fish’s category was misclassified and it was caught by an electric reel. These reels are not allowed for IGFA records. And there are other requirements.
“You can’t weigh on a boat at sea, you have to stand on earth,” Bellapigna said. “Find someone with a certified scale, then send a photo of the certification sticker or date.”
To submit an entry, upload photos of the angler with the fish, with the rod and reel, the scale, and the scale certification. Also, mail the actual tackle, hook attached to the leader, and 50 feet of main line to be tested. Specific details are listed at igfa.org. ‹
PALOMA GUERRA AND HER WORLD-RECORD BLUEFIN TREVALLY
What danger may lurk in that fresh catch of the day?
By Dorie Cox
The charter guest is thrilled with her catch and insists that the yacht chef prepare fish tacos. But, not so fast. Certain carnivorous reef fish, including barracuda, grouper, amberjack, king mackarel, hogfish, even parrot fish and red snapper, can be a risk for ciguatera fish poisoning.
No matter how the chef prepares that fish, ciguatera toxins are tough. They survive gastric acid, cooking, smoking, freezing, canning, salting, and pickling. And the toxins don’t change the fish’s texture, taste, or smell.
So if diners have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or tingling, they may have this type of food poisoning. Ciguatera symptoms usually develop within 3-6 hours, but can start 30 hours later. Other symptoms can include itching, metallic taste in the mouth, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to hot and cold.
Symptoms usually go away in a few days or weeks, but can last for years. And although they can can be treated, there is no cure.
Ciguatera can accumulate in fish that eat other fish with a microalgae called Gambierdiscus toxicusa, and this moves up the chain to the larger fish. Capt. Jack Mitchell learned about this in the 1980s when he got his start on sportfishing yachts in Florida.
“Don’t eat big fish in warm water,” Mitchell warned. “If you think it’s too big, you are absolutely correct.” ‹
To learn more about Ciguatera poisoning, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Feeding Frenzy
PHOTO BINNY BINTU
A chef finds relief from lockdown doldrums on an offshore fishing trip
By Chef Danny Davies
In the summer of 2020, deep into lockdown restriction, the boss decided he wanted to go offshore oil-rig fishing for tuna. And as we all know in the yachting world, what the boss wants, the boss gets! He asked the first officer if a few of us would like to join him on his 90-foot
Viking. We all jumped at the opportunity to get off the boat and do something different.
There was the chief stewardess, first officer, and myself, plus the boss, his wife, and the two-man crew of the Viking sporty.
The moment we left the dock, I fired up the onboard grill and started making myself at home. With Wagyu steaks, lobster tails, and veggies for dinner, we all ate like kings while we traveled up the Panhandle that night toward a bait fishing ground that the captain was fond of.
FISH TALES
Not being very fond of fishing and having an absolute phobia of snakes, I was made to go out fishing with charter guests. We had pulled out a few good snappers, but then one of the guests pulled out an eel. Obviously, no one wanted to touch it. Me being the junior deckhand, the responsibility fell on me to take the hook out of its mouth. I was utterly terrified, as I was convinced that eels were snakes’ underwater cousins. — Wesley Walton
Spent a day thinking I had caught a swordfish, only to find out from my social media post that it was a gar fish. — Danielle New
Early the next morning, we were drifting by a fueling station with huge container ships sitting at anchor waiting to fuel up. It was the perfect spot for catching bait. We were pulling out fish after fish, which we kept in the live bait tank on the aft deck. Late that night, we docked the boat, sank a few beers, and told our best fishing stories.
In the morning, we fueled the boat and set off for the oil rigs a few miles offshore of Alabama.
Smaller fish gather around the rigs and larger predatory fish come to hunt these smaller fish. We caught amberjacks, barracuda, and a few small tuna. Later, as the sun began to set, the real action started. All of a sudden, a school of yellowtail tuna started attacking a bait ball of fish. The water started boiling all around us, lines were hot with strike after strike, and we were all shouting “fish on!” Reeling in the lines in a frenzy, the boss was laughing hard and our arms were burning with the work. But our success would be short-lived.
Once the sun had completely set, the atmosphere changed. Sharks had arrived. Large tiger sharks were hitting the tuna we had caught right off the lines, biting chunks off our prize fish as we tried to reel them in as fast as we could. Eventually, the captain called it a day, but we stayed on for a while to watch the sharks circling the boat as they slowly disappeared down into the depths. It was a great experience that I’d love to do again. ‹
PHOTO DANNY DAVIES
While crossing the Atlantic, we had our lines out while continuing on with work. One day while scrubbing teak, I all of a sudden heard a sharp snap. Not concentrating on the fishing rods, I immediately accused the new deckie of bumping the paintwork. It took us a little time and a lot of arguing before we realized it was the fishing rods out back. Landed the wahoo and many more afterwards. — Shaun Phillips After not catching any fish our entire Atlantic crossing, we were a day out of Gibraltar when we heard our reels start running fast. We started reeling in with great excitement, only to find out that we had hooked a dead shark. — Marcelle Aucamp Currently on our Atlantic crossing, and after our oneand-only fishing line snapped while underway, along with our fishing hopes, I came across a flying fish on deck. — Bryce Haggard
TROLLING TIPS
Use 60 lb. test monofilament line on a Cuban reel, and 60 lb. test braided line on a Penn Senator open reel. Keep a copy of “The Little Red Fishing Knot Book” handy. Have a gaff ready to hoist the fish aboard. Shurhold makes a gaff attachment that fits their brush handles. Don’t bludgeon the fish to death with a winch handle. Keep a supply of cheap rum or vodka on board and liberally pour it into both sets of gills to stun the fish. Keep your fillet knife very sharp for use with an oversize, white, polyethylene cutting board. Rig a “tail strap” to secure the fish to the boat so it doesn’t slip overboard while you gut it and fillet it. A sail tie is perfect for this job.
By Captain Jeff Werner
Trolling on Passage
Transatlantic magic begins when dinner is on the line.
There is a Zen to passage making under sail. It is a unique combination of wind, waves, and the rhythms of the watch bill. Whether the passage is three days or 30 days, it is the time spent off watch that is most important to crew members. That time off watch, once all maintenance tasks and other shipboard duties are done, is usually the most personally fulfilling while on board.
Fishing in the clear blue water offshore or mid-ocean floats my boat, so to speak. On a sailboat underway, fishing means trolling. And since sailboats average 5 to 7 knots, they sail along in the sweet spot of trolling speeds.
Selecting lures
The essential tool in trolling is the lure. The key then is selecting the proper lure, and no one sailor can agree on what is the best lure. It is a subject of great debate, superstition, strong opinions, and blind faith — and that is part of the joy of fishing. Whatever lures are chosen, bring a box load of them since losing lures is part of the trolling process. Lures are bitten off, slip off due to improper rigging, and may even remain hooked in the mouth of the big one that got away when there was no choice but to cut the line.
Fish on!
The rig can be as simple as a Cuban yoyo reel, or as classic as a saltwater open reel on a deep-sea fishing rod. When a fish strikes and the bungee cord stretches on the yoyo line or the clicking of the drag on an open reel is heard, the adrenaline begins pumping and it’s time to play the fish and reel it in. That can be triumph or heartbreak. Many fish are lost at the very end of the fight.
Why fish?
Over the past 30 years as a yacht captain, I have caught a wide variety of dorado, tuna and kingfish. Up until this past winter, the fish I caught would become a bonus dinner for that evening. Fresh fish, prepared whole, in steaks or filets, easily trumps the planned spaghetti Bolognese. But then, last December, during a 25-day transatlantic passage, an onboard freezer failed and pounds of defrosted steaks, shrimp, chicken, pork chops, and hamburger had to be tossed overboard because of spoilage. Fishing became the only source of protein available. Thankfully, Poseidon favored us, and we caught as many as two dorado (mahi-mahi) per day, just when we needed it the most. ‹
JEFF WERNER HAS BEEN A YACHT CAPTAIN FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. HE IS A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR THE RYA, USCG, AND U.S. SAILING, AND OWNS DIESEL DOCTOR (MYDIESELDOCTOR.COM).
Every record tells a story
One of the oldest fishing clubs in the nation captures the history of anglers and of natural resources.
By Tom Bzura
Founded in 1934, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club is among the oldest and most successful sport fishing clubs anywhere. Many fishing organizations once dotted the
East Coast, from Maine to Texas, but have disappeared over time. The
WPBFC, however, is stronger and more active throughout the community than ever. The club’s close proximity to the
Gulf Stream provides its more than 1,400 members with incredible fishing opportunities.
Throughout its fabled history, the
WPBFC has been home to many renowned anglers and has seen some spectacular catches. Stepping into the historic clubhouse in downtown West
Palm Beach is like stepping back in time.
This little piece of old Florida is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, and at its heart is the All Time
Club Records board. Names like Emil
Rybovich still remain on the board to this day. Several records date back to the 1950s and ’60s for species like kingfish, yellowfin tuna, crevalle jack, snook, and trout.
The records tell a story of the fishery and what was being caught.
Nowadays, you’d be hard-pressed to land a 13-pound, 4-ounce trout from the inshore waters of the Palm Beaches/Lake Worth Lagoon like WPBFC member Bob Newkirk did in 1962. This paints a picture of a resource that was once more conducive to landing trophy fish, as the estuary was lush with seagrass habitat back then.
One of the oldest records on the board is a 173-pound yellowfin tuna caught in 1949 off Palm Beach by club member Ted Basset. Anglers at the time weren’t set up with the rigs and outfits we use to fight fish today, which makes their accomplishments even more impressive. But even though how we fish has changed, the awe of landing a big one still drives anglers to target records.
As with IGFA World Records, submissions for WPBFC records must include a sample of line for electronic testing. The line is wet tested, and a 10% overage of the manufacturer’s stated line test is allowed. For this reason, using “tournament” grade monofilament is crucial for individuals targeting club and world records on a certain line class. Additionally, all submissions have to be weighed on a scale certified by the club or an approved agency, like the IGFA or an area tackle shop, and the weigh-in must be witnessed. ‹
TOM “BUZZ” BZURA IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB.
THE WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB HAS A FABLED HISTORY — AND SO DO SOME OF ITS MEMBERS. TED BASSET’S 173-POUND YELLOWFIN TUNA CAUGHT IN 1949, BELOW, IS STILL THE OLDEST “ALL TIME CLUB RECORD.”
PHOTOS COURTESY WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB
