A Captain's Role in a Blue-Marlin Catch

EDITOR'S NOTE: Recently, I took part in a phenomenal fishing expedition on the "Baby Grand" out of the Grand Casino in Gulfport, Mississippi. We left the casino at 6 a.m. After a 3-1/2-hour-boat ride, we set up our equipment about 90 miles from shore at the mouth of the Mississippi River, also known as South Pass. That afternoon in 350-foot water, we caught two blue marlin. Captain Jack Simmons, the captain of the "Baby Grand," talks today about our catch and gives you tips on how you, too, can have a successful blue-marlin trip.

QUESTION: As the boat captain, how do you use the boat to assist in the catch?

ANSWER: I keep the boat in gear and drag the marlin, which makes the fight easier on both the fish and the mate when he tries to wire the fish. What you don't want is a dead boat. When you drag a marlin, it's more apt to follow the direction in which the leader is going. With a boat that's still and dead in the water, the marlin has a bigger advantage because then the fish can go in any direction he wants, and there's no pressure on the marlin to follow the leader.

QUESTION: What was your role in today's two blue marlin catches?

ANSWER: As the captain, my job was to communicate with the first mate. Today, I had to speed up a bit to keep tension in the line so both fish would come towards the boat. I think if the boat operator isn't diligent in his operation of the boat, he can lose the marlin by the hook's being thrown, slack coming in the line or numerous other mistakes. I always try to see what a marlin is doing and work the boat accordingly.

Of course, safety is obviously of the utmost importance. You don't ever want to hurt anybody on the boat, and we really want to release every marlin we can, in as good shape as possible.

QUESTION: What kind of communication goes on between you and the deckhand?

ANSWER: Well, we look for marlin in the water and determine what we need to do to get a fish on the line. Once a marlin has taken the bait, the mate makes the calls because he's next to the fish and has a better idea as to what the fish and the angler are doing. The mate will let me know what I need to do with the boat to keep the fish. Then, the mate tells me on which side of the boat he wants to try and take the fish. As the captain, I try to position the stern or the right corner of the boat with the line to give the mate an easier job of working the fish. Once the first mate gets the leader, then he tries to grab the fish and tag it.

QUESTION: Why are marlin tagged?

ANSWER: We tag marlin for research purposes. Scientists don't know that much about blue marlin or other billfish. So, if a tagged fish is ever recaptured, scientists can determine how much that marlin has grown and where it's traveled. Tagging gives scientists some information they need to determine the health and reproductive cycles of the species.

QUESTION: How does your crew release the marlin once they've tagged the fish?

ANSWER: We try and make sure the marlin is as healthy as possible before we release it. We do that by holding the marlin's mouth in the water and allowing the water to flow over its gills to keep the fish oxygenated. When the mate feels the fish is well-oxygenated, the mate will let the marlin swim alongside the boat, before releasing the fish.

QUESTION: What type of experience do you strive to provide the anglers on the "Baby Grand"?

ANSWER: As a captain, I want to make the angler's job as easy as I can. However, I don't want to take the thrill out of catching the fish away from the angler. I don't want to charge and reverse and let the angler wind the marlin up in five minutes. But I also don't want to wear the angler out by making him or her do unnecessary work. As the captain, I use the boat to fight the fish with the angler, by putting pressure on the fish, dragging it and keeping the line tight.

For more information on fishing for blue marlin aboard the "Baby Grand" out of the Grand Casino in Gulfport, Mississippi, contact Matt Reed at (800) WIN-7777, extension 1989. To learn more about fishing at Mississippi's Gulf of Mexico, call (800) WARMEST.