Upside Down Black Marlin, Anyone?

Striped Marlin and a Sail. His weekly total consisted of 4 Blacks, 1 Blue, 1 Striped Marlin, and some Sails. Bruce & Carol Schorr released 5 Black Marlin. Carolyn Hewitt released a Black over 500 pounds.

The New York Athletic Club Anglers (NYACA) booked the entire lodge. They had 53 Blacks in the baits, but only got lucky with 13. One Black weighed over 500 lbs. Bob Paino managed to break the NYACA club Cubera Snapper record twice with a 31 and a 38.7 pounder. Marlin were everywhere, but the bite was sporadic and challenging. In mid–January, we had 75 Black Marlin raised in a week, but only caught a third.

FEBRUARY:

The short month of February was packed with excitement! Jimmy Stockton’s group took over the lodge for their annual visit. One boat had a Grand Slam Day with a Black, Blue and Sailfish. On 12 boats, 56 Blacks were raised and 18 caught. Richard Masulli caught his first Black and Striped Marlin.

Terri greets famed NY Yankee pitcher
Mariano Rivera and the esteemed Ken
Jester, Under Secretary, Dept. of Commerce

Father and son teams, Robert and Jack Challis, and Clive and Samuel Taylor had a perfect score for their Grand Slams, going 3 for 3 on Blacks, and 1 for 1 on Striped Marlin and Sails. Clifford & Phyllis Wiita, released 4 out of 5 Black Marlin. The Wiitas have released 33 Marlin in seven years at TSL.

Contrasting the Wiitas, Frank Sapsford had found Black Marlin to be a bit elusive, and was very happy to finally add a Black this year to his even rarer Swordfish catch of last year.

Paula Rist, who had never caught a fish in her life, reeled in an 800 pound Black Marlin. David Barclay caught his first Black Marlin, then proceeded to catch his second, all on the same day!

Harry Cohen and Ronald Green had a “boat” Grand Slam with a Black, Blue Marlin and a Sail. Harry donated $500 to the Conamar Foundation: a fishing conservation program dedicated to Conway D. Kittredge. Thank you Harry!

Deep into February the Marlin bite had been consistent for over 16 weeks.

MARCH:

The opportunity to slam–dunk a Grand Slam is always anticipated this month, and many guests realized that dream. March is a “transitional” month when the fishing game changes from day–to–day and this can create a challenge to your fishing skills. March is the month for Swordfish here at TSL.

Sailfish Dancing Away

Our new friend, Willie Newlin, had a Grand Slam week: his first Black and Blue Marlin and some Sails. John and Phyllis Crimmins released 3 out of 4 Black Marlin and 15 for 15 on Sailfish. Bob Schultz, Mel Fite and Norm Levin had a Grand Slam week: a Blue and Striped Marlin and some Sails. Dan Erb and David Pearson had a shot at a dancing Swordfish.

By mid–month, the Sails started to show, and father and son, Jim and Joe Andrews, released 14. Charles Hanline celebrated his 85th birthday with a 57-minute fight of a lifetime and released a 300 lb. Swordfish! His first day out, Fly Fisherman, Shya Kane had an exhilarating fight with a huge Black Marlin on fly! Rick and Yvonne Buckley escaped NY for their third visit this season. They really are TSL family!