In Pursuit of Giants: One Man's Global Search for the Last of the Great Fish

magellan301 · 04-18-2008, 01:34 PM

I am looking for an experienced New England charter captain who goes out to the canyons for overnight trips and strongly encourages catch-and-release. I've identified and have talked to a few captains, but I'm still looking. I am interested in going after swordfish, yellowfin, and marlin as part of research for a book I am doing.

The book is called "In Pursuit of Giants: One Man's Global Search for the Last of the Great Fish" and will tell the story of the decline of the great offshore sport fish species (tuna, the billfish, and swordfish) as a result of poor fisheries management and industrial scale overfishing. The book will be published by Viking/Penguin about two years from now.

I have lived in New England all my life and have fished southern Maine for about 25 years. I started researching the project a year ago after reading the National Geographic series of articles in the April 2007 issue which featured "The Ocean Crisis" on the cover. I realized after reading that NG series that the vast majority of people have no idea about the offshore world or about the incredible animals that live out there. The whole point of the book is to make people aware of the state of fisheries now, both in the US (which has done some things right) as well as around the world, where in many cases there is very little regulation. The idea is to engage readers in a grand adventure to places around the world, to expose them to these animals and to make the argument that there is a lot to be lost of we don't do a better job of sustainably managing fisheries. I'll be traveling to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, and other locations where the history of sportfishing was made, and where the future of fishing is being played out.

My position is that fisheries need to be sustainably managed for the long-term. In other words, there ought to be strong, healthy populations of fish and there ought to be multiple uses allowed, within reason. Seems simple enough, right? Within reason means that we don't allow any one influence to threaten whether a type of fish is going to be around or not in the future. The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) makes sense to me. Multiple use of fisheries by commercial fishers and sportfishers also seems appropriate. As far as MPAs go, I'll give you an example: scientists estimate that where I fish off of Goose Rocks Beach in southern Maine has lost 98% of its total biomass since 1850. That means there is only 2% of life left in the inshore waters compared to what used to be there. I don't know about you, but that's completely unacceptable and I'll be damned if that's what I'm going to leave to my kid.

It's my belief that if properly managed, fisheries can be maintained indefinitely. If the New England sworfishery had been properly maintained, there'd still be swordfishermen making their livelihood in the small coastal communities of mid-coast Maine. They wouldn't be longlining, they'd probably be harpooning. Imagine what a viable catch-and-release sportfishery in swordfish would do for the economy of coastal Maine. If the Grand Banks cod fishery had been properly maintained, there'd still be a living to be made from that resource--the very resource that the New England colonies were built upon.

Anyway, thought I'd put the word out about the book and see if anyone has any recommendations about captains who have a solid record of productive canyon trips for the species mentioned. Any comments or questions about the project are also welcome.

On The Edge · 04-18-2008, 04:24 PM

Capt. Damon Saco on the Castifari.
Is the name that first comes to mind..

fightingcouch · 04-19-2008, 06:30 PM

Canyon runner In NJ will be the boat to get on for double digit fish.

demonfish · 04-19-2008, 07:18 PM

Sounds fishy to me. I'd check with the publisher first.

demonfish · 04-19-2008, 07:59 PM

Actually I think its great that anyone can mention any boat, manufacturer or custom builder without fear . Thats whats wrong with the other sites. Psycho moderators and owners out to make money and push their own agendas. This is no bull tell us what you like and how you like it fishing talk.

:No BS:

:fart :

04-18-2008, 01:34 PM	#1
magellan301 NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1	In Pursuit of Giants: One Man's Global Search for the Last of the Great Fish I am looking for an experienced New England charter captain who goes out to the canyons for overnight trips and strongly encourages catch-and-release. I've identified and have talked to a few captains, but I'm still looking. I am interested in going after swordfish, yellowfin, and marlin as part of research for a book I am doing. The book is called "In Pursuit of Giants: One Man's Global Search for the Last of the Great Fish" and will tell the story of the decline of the great offshore sport fish species (tuna, the billfish, and swordfish) as a result of poor fisheries management and industrial scale overfishing. The book will be published by Viking/Penguin about two years from now. I have lived in New England all my life and have fished southern Maine for about 25 years. I started researching the project a year ago after reading the National Geographic series of articles in the April 2007 issue which featured "The Ocean Crisis" on the cover. I realized after reading that NG series that the vast majority of people have no idea about the offshore world or about the incredible animals that live out there. The whole point of the book is to make people aware of the state of fisheries now, both in the US (which has done some things right) as well as around the world, where in many cases there is very little regulation. The idea is to engage readers in a grand adventure to places around the world, to expose them to these animals and to make the argument that there is a lot to be lost of we don't do a better job of sustainably managing fisheries. I'll be traveling to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, and other locations where the history of sportfishing was made, and where the future of fishing is being played out. My position is that fisheries need to be sustainably managed for the long-term. In other words, there ought to be strong, healthy populations of fish and there ought to be multiple uses allowed, within reason. Seems simple enough, right? Within reason means that we don't allow any one influence to threaten whether a type of fish is going to be around or not in the future. The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) makes sense to me. Multiple use of fisheries by commercial fishers and sportfishers also seems appropriate. As far as MPAs go, I'll give you an example: scientists estimate that where I fish off of Goose Rocks Beach in southern Maine has lost 98% of its total biomass since 1850. That means there is only 2% of life left in the inshore waters compared to what used to be there. I don't know about you, but that's completely unacceptable and I'll be damned if that's what I'm going to leave to my kid. It's my belief that if properly managed, fisheries can be maintained indefinitely. If the New England sworfishery had been properly maintained, there'd still be swordfishermen making their livelihood in the small coastal communities of mid-coast Maine. They wouldn't be longlining, they'd probably be harpooning. Imagine what a viable catch-and-release sportfishery in swordfish would do for the economy of coastal Maine. If the Grand Banks cod fishery had been properly maintained, there'd still be a living to be made from that resource--the very resource that the New England colonies were built upon. Anyway, thought I'd put the word out about the book and see if anyone has any recommendations about captains who have a solid record of productive canyon trips for the species mentioned. Any comments or questions about the project are also welcome.

04-18-2008, 04:24 PM	#2
On The Edge NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: douglas MA Posts: 300	Capt. Damon Saco on the Castifari. Is the name that first comes to mind.. __________________ Catch um up 1999 proline 2202 wa 1999 200 merc

04-19-2008, 06:30 PM	#3
fightingcouch NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Branford,CT Posts: 413	Canyon runner In NJ will be the boat to get on for double digit fish. __________________ Blake Conlin tight linzzzzzzzzzzzz F-troop Ch.68/19 http://www.lennysnow.com/history.htm

04-19-2008, 07:18 PM	#4
demonfish NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mattituck, NY Posts: 233	Sounds fishy to me. I'd check with the publisher first. __________________ Behind the obstensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and aknowledging no responsibilty to the people. Teddy Roosevelt

04-19-2008, 07:59 PM	#5
demonfish NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mattituck, NY Posts: 233	Actually I think its great that anyone can mention any boat, manufacturer or custom builder without fear . Thats whats wrong with the other sites. Psycho moderators and owners out to make money and push their own agendas. This is no bull tell us what you like and how you like it fishing talk.:No BS::fart : __________________ Behind the obstensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and aknowledging no responsibilty to the people. Teddy Roosevelt

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