1st Gulf Marlin Weighed at Grand Isle

            In correspondence with Dutch Prager, considered the Father of Marlin fishing in the Gulf, and a most helpful
hand in the start-up of PBGFC, he writes: "Who would have thought this fishing would take off as it did. Our club (NOBGFC) did not have one sportfishing boat back then. The first one was a 41' trunk cabin Hatteras, owned by Jim and Melou Meriweather of Shreveport, named the MELOU. Jim was the one who caught the big blue at the Grand Isle Rodeo in 1958, 463-1/2#.
I was fishing small fish with a friend, Dale Thompson out of his 32' lapstrake Chriscraft, open runabout.We watched them unload the fish, tied across the transom, and watched the weigh-in. They strung the fish up by his tail and bill, sideways, with Dale and I looking on.
That's what got my interest in Marlin fishing. And you know, Jim caught the fish anchored on the Midnight Lump, fishing for snappers. Now everyone fishes the Lump for tuna. Wonder how many know that's where the first recorded Marlin was caught?-------"

So there you have it, Marlin fishing and other game fish has come a long way since then, resulting in a tournament just about every week, somewhere in the gulf. It's nice to have been a part of the story and to see our club grow and continue to be a major player in this great sport, and also play a major role in the conservation and preservation of the species. Keep tagging 'em. Best regards, and tight lines, Ralph Fuller,
a founding father.

*******************************************************

Club Logos

Prior to 1978                                  1978 to present

Before the International it was the Open