Well we finally got to put some fishing time aboard Badger....

We departed Point Loma Wed. around noon after meeting with the engineers from Penn reels. I brought my son David, 9, and Pete brought his son Alex, 13. We were able to get Kingsmill to go with us as well. We headed for the bottom end of the 9 mile bank and almost immediatly found some Porpoise schools. We made a few passes through them and caught a half a dozen or so Tuna to 30#'s. Pretty fun. The Fish Trap was the hot bait. We only gave it a little more than an hour, we were looking for Marlin and Mackerel. We worked up the South side of the ledge for nothing. Deciding to go look for Macks while we had some sun left. We had pretty good Mack fishing off Mission Bay in several areas and slid in and spent the night.

Started the following day South West of the 182, several schools of animals with nothing on 'em. A couple kelps with a few Dorado and Yellows. The boys were having a blast. Billy called us and said he was catching Albacore 12 miles from us. We headed that way and got there just in time to shut off the bite. I think we got 3. All our Sardines were dying and we had several days to go. We head up the ridge towards Pyramid for nothing. We get part way up the Island and just as I bring down my Bino's I see this big Hole under the Port rigger. I yell at Jimmy "What the heck was that "He puts down his goggles "I dunno" . Looks like a whale to both of us. I stop the boat and this Marlin comes tailing down our wake. Jimmy scrambles to the bow and flips it a Greenie. He gets bit instantly. Alex does a great job on a really nice striper. The fish puts on this spectacular aerial display. We are after this fish pretty hard and just about to release it when we get tip wrapped. Pete grabs the rod and shakes it off...Whew...a few minutes later we let it go. Probably 175# plus.

Then I find a Sword off Fish Hook. It makes 2 turns and goes down. Lance whacks him the next day.

Friday morning we head towards the 181, heard of a few feeders there the day before. We grind it up for about an hour for nothing. I head to an area that holds Marlin off the ridge. Jimmy and I have been burning in the glasses for 2 full days for nothing. Pete comes up from the cockpit and finds a sleeper in less 5 minutes. Go figure. It's just scratching. Jimmy tosses it a bait and we're on. I go wake up David and tell him he has a Marlin on, poor kid.....9 years old. David is looking pretty tiny in that huge cockpit. Water pouring over the transom.  He battles the big Sriper for about 20 min. we almost get the leader it's about a foot from the tip and it takes off screamin'. Alex takes over for a few minutes and gives David back the rod. About 15 minutes later we get it to the boat and the fish and David are about done. The fish looks like it won't make it and we pull it aboard. Dead as charity. 175# at Rosies pier. Alex catches a 19 pound Dorado and David gets a yellow. Then we find a kelp that has a hundred of those little Dorados and we let the boys release a bunch of those. We take them to the pier with Jimmy and drop them off in Avalon to take the ferry to Dana. Way too soon. First time David didn't want to leave the boat. Alex didn't want to leave either. Uh oh.

EPYC event was awesome. Maybe one of the best times I have ever had. It was unbelievable sitting on the back deck of this ship, in pyramid ,with a full moon and being served insane meals. The crew was spectacular, taking care of every detail. All I can say is, if you have a chance to get on this thing do it.

This story could go on way too long. I'll try to shorten it up.

Next day found 16 Marlin, just when we started getting it figured out it was time to head back. 42 miles, 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Sunday we caught 13 year old Madison Lampe her first Marlin. Spent the night at Hen Rock tied up to EPYC again. Man is that Jacuzzi nice. Great meal.

Following morning we invite som new found friends along fishing with us on the way up to Cat Harbor. They were from the boat the "MARLINEER"   John, Linda, Natalie and Mac, Cody had to stay with his boat and was going to pick them up at 2 o'clock at 2 Harbors.

We no sooner turned the corner than Linda spotted the first Marlin. I spotted a few more and we wound up 0 for 2 on the bites. Mac had one eat him right on the corner but it spit him out before he could come tight. Gardella swung on a circle hook and missed his. Old school guy.

Nice night on EPYC. Meet a lot of new friends. JACUZZI. Several people heard our story and wanted to go out the following day.

Brad, 16 year old Lauren and 13 year old JP from the "PROMARK" along with Tim Hyde, an East Coast guy aboard a sportcruiser.

We leave at the crack of 9:30. Chad is still setting the pattern out....Jig strike. Falls off, imagine that. Tim starts screaming from the tower he has one. Tower, who is this guy? Sportcruiser Captain? Anthony finds a tailer a couple minutes later and heaves a bait at it. Instant bite he's on. Hands the rod to Lauren she makes short work of her first Marlin and lets it go in 15 minutes. Awesome show with several jumps right at the boat. Anthony finds another one. Runs to the bow. Casts another bait. Got em on. He is making me look good. About a half hour later JP lets go his first Marlin. Same as Lauren, great show jumping all over the place. Brad is a proud Dad tonight. Gardella spots one and we can't quite get it to eat. I climb up in the tower to drive with Tim. Pretty fishy guy. He sees good underwater, talks the talk, who is this guy? We head back for lunch and tie up at 1 pm. At 3:30 head out to try it again with no luck.

Turns out Tim Hyde is pretty much a legend on the East Coast, quiet, no bravado, had to drag stuff out of him. He was one of the pioneers in Madeira, Venezuela and some other destinations. Cool dude. Family. We had several common friends, just never crossed paths.

5 Marlin in 5 days for kids 16 and under. 3 of those were their first Marlin, ever. EPYC. Spending time with our kids and friends. WHAT A BLAST!
Don't miss it next year. I think next year each day we are going to draw a kids name from a hat and try to get them a Marlin. That was better than winning a tournament.