Marlin October 2020

• Train wreck. Dumpster fire. Slag heap. Whatever your preferred phrase to describe 2020, it’s probably accurate. But it’s not all doom and gloom—there are a few shiny spots as we head into fall. Boat sales—new and used—continue to trend upward, and in some markets, sales are even approaching record numbers. More people are boating and fishing, spending quality time on the water with their families and close friends in a way that’s not only safe but fun. The fresh air and warm sun, even the possibility of catching a fish from time to time, are all good reasons to get out there. With a few exceptions, boatbuilders are busier than ever. The only damper on the horizon could be a shortage of available inventory and raw materials, but as they…

editor@marlinmag.com MORE WOMEN ON THE WATER Reading the letters about worldclass female anglers (Feedback, June/July) reminded me of two couples from Long Island, New York, who shared a passion for fishing as well as rivalries between their spouses. Francis Low caught some spectacular fish during his career, including a 998-pound white shark. He was the first president of the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club, as well as a member, along with Kip Farrington, of the famous Southside Sportsman Club in Oakdale, New York. In 1933, Low caught a 705-pound bluefin tuna off New York. Not to be outdone, in 1936 his wife, Faith, landed a 749-pound women’s world-record bluefin. Farrington’s fishing successes included a world-record 1,135-pound black marlin caught off Cabo Blanco, Peru. Kip’s wife, Chisie, held 11 world records and was…

LOOKING AT YOU This blue marlin appears to be eyeballing wireman Tyler Valles just prior to its release during the firstannual Scrub Island Billfish Invitational. Photographer Richard Gibson captured the moment while fishing aboard Chad Damron’s 75-foot Weaver, Sodium, captained by Randy Jendersee. Damron pitched a mackerel to the fired-up blue marlin on 50-poundclass tackle. LOCATION Gibson and company were fishing off Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. TECH SPECS CAMERA: Canon EOS 1D X Mark II LENS: Canon EF 100-400mm ISO: 3200 APERTURE: f/6.3 SPEED: 1/8000 sec…

As chairman of the American Fishing Tackle Company—better known as AFTCO—Bill Shedd not only has his finger on the pulse of the sport-fishing industry, but he is also a driving force for conservation efforts around the world. Two of his sons run the day-to-day operations for the company: Casey Shedd is president and Cody Shedd is vice president of finance, with Bill’s daughter, Christie, supporting both positions. With a third generation of Shedds poised to continue the family’s strong work ethic and passion for fishing, Bill can now turn his efforts to other critically important issues, such as protecting anglers’ rights and the growth of aquaculture in the United States.…

Your father co-founded SeaWorld. What effect did that have on you growing up? It opened my eyes to the wonders of the ocean and also created some interesting experiences. I was in high school when we received a weekend phone call at home for my dad that a dolphin was stranded on the beach in Newport. He was out fishing, so I took mom’s station wagon and gathered up a bunch of people on the beach to use their towels to carry the dolphin, which weighed a few hundred pounds, up to the car. Then I grabbed a couple of buckets that some kids were playing with, filled them with salt water, and asked the best-looking girl on the beach to hop in the back of the car and keep the…

SPYDERCO PACIFIC SALT 2 Built specifically for whose who spend their time on and in the water, the Pacific Salt 2 has an updated FRN handle with bidirectional texture and a four-position pocket clip. Made of corrosion-resistant H1 steel, the 3.75-inch blade is satin-finished, with a drop-point design and hollow grind. This is billed as the ultimate rustproof marine knife. PENN INTERNATIONAL VIS 2020 LIMITEDEDITION REEL Let freedom ring with this limited-edition 50W from Penn International. Details include the custom American flag-wrapped spool and side plate engraved with “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” and a custom hinged wood display box, in addition to Penn’s stainless-steel main and pinion gears and Quick-Shift II two-speed system. This reel is limited to 1,000 pieces, and it’s made in the US of domestic and imported…