by Tred Barta
I have had the opportunity to watch the old masters as well as the young bucks move in and out of our sport. I’ve witnessed a pro team win five major blue marlin tournaments in a row winning millions of dollars in cash only to see the same team with the same crew, and the same budget never place again for 10 years. I also have seen on many occasions a rank beginner in a center console out fish the greatest billfishermen in the world over a three-day event— all that being said though I share with you the 10 greatest mistakes from my point of view—keep in mind, however, the 10 great mistakes are also the 10 greatest tips, depending on how you look at it.
As all of you know, I seek the endorsement of no man. This is the way I see it.
Mistake #1: The right place at the right time dilemma.
When I was younger I believed if I’m trolling and you’re not then I have a 100 percent more chance of catching something then you. I also believed if I fished harder than another and even go earlier, and stay late,r I wouldl be much more successful. If you fish when it’s rough, ugly, and downright nasty, and others are grilling at the dock, obviously they don’t stand a chance. This quite simply has been the signature of my success, but today looking back over the year’s and the preponderance of grey hairs and wrinkles earned on the 100 fathom line, I realize 95 percent of what I have accomplished is being in the right place at the right time. Having the ability to recognize when good water temperature, proper water clarity, bait, current and the presence of life are present—it is not necessarily how hard you fish, but it’s where and when you fish.
Great fishermen all have the same traits in common—they fish hard, they fish long, and they don’t give up. The true greats spend the least amount of time in unproductive water and the most time in the most productive areas. So what’s the first greatest mistake of our sport? Don’t be in a rush to put the lines in. Review water temperature and water clarity charts and locate life in the form of sea turtles, jellyfish, porpoises, whales, bait, half-beaks, birds, sharks, etc. Where life can be found, the food chain is in full swing, and over the last four decades I’ve determined for myself that this is where I want to be. On many tournaments I’ll often put lines in the water hours after fishing starts often under great criticism, especially when tournament boats are calling in fish left and right. But when I find my spot I often spend 90 percent of my time in a two square mile area. I often win; I often do very well— but I’m usually always in the right place at the right time. Using this technique can also put you in last place before you even get to your spot—if you ever find it! Strangely enough, if you’re not willing to lose, you can’t win. It’s far more important where you fish than how much you fish. Quality time in the right place is more valuable than more time in unproductive water. If you’re on top of the fish longer, smarter, never giving up, never saying never, have a world-class crew, a fast sport fish boat, then you’re dangerous and can win anyplace at anytime. By the way, you can also get your ass kicked by a plumber who’s making payments on his Visa card for his 25-foot Mako. Use your head—slow down to speed up. Putting your line in the water doesn’t happen when the tournament chairman says lines over the VHF. They go in when you the captain says they go in—and you should have some real good reasons to do so!
As all of you know, I seek the endorsement of no man. This is the way I see it.
Mistake #1: The right place at the right time dilemma.
When I was younger I believed if I’m trolling and you’re not then I have a 100 percent more chance of catching something then you. I also believed if I fished harder than another and even go earlier, and stay late,r I wouldl be much more successful. If you fish when it’s rough, ugly, and downright nasty, and others are grilling at the dock, obviously they don’t stand a chance. This quite simply has been the signature of my success, but today looking back over the year’s and the preponderance of grey hairs and wrinkles earned on the 100 fathom line, I realize 95 percent of what I have accomplished is being in the right place at the right time. Having the ability to recognize when good water temperature, proper water clarity, bait, current and the presence of life are present—it is not necessarily how hard you fish, but it’s where and when you fish.
Great fishermen all have the same traits in common—they fish hard, they fish long, and they don’t give up. The true greats spend the least amount of time in unproductive water and the most time in the most productive areas. So what’s the first greatest mistake of our sport? Don’t be in a rush to put the lines in. Review water temperature and water clarity charts and locate life in the form of sea turtles, jellyfish, porpoises, whales, bait, half-beaks, birds, sharks, etc. Where life can be found, the food chain is in full swing, and over the last four decades I’ve determined for myself that this is where I want to be. On many tournaments I’ll often put lines in the water hours after fishing starts often under great criticism, especially when tournament boats are calling in fish left and right. But when I find my spot I often spend 90 percent of my time in a two square mile area. I often win; I often do very well— but I’m usually always in the right place at the right time. Using this technique can also put you in last place before you even get to your spot—if you ever find it! Strangely enough, if you’re not willing to lose, you can’t win. It’s far more important where you fish than how much you fish. Quality time in the right place is more valuable than more time in unproductive water. If you’re on top of the fish longer, smarter, never giving up, never saying never, have a world-class crew, a fast sport fish boat, then you’re dangerous and can win anyplace at anytime. By the way, you can also get your ass kicked by a plumber who’s making payments on his Visa card for his 25-foot Mako. Use your head—slow down to speed up. Putting your line in the water doesn’t happen when the tournament chairman says lines over the VHF. They go in when you the captain says they go in—and you should have some real good reasons to do so!
