Recently back from the annual ICAST tackle trade show in Vegas, then even more recently packing up rods/reels for a trip to fish northern Gulf in a couple days - jigging, throwing big topwaters, some trolling - those waters often do have it all. Those two events reminded me just how significant braided line has become.

by Charlie Levine
Marlin Senior Editor

Dave Ferrell is fishing in Cabo right now with a group of Marlin University students, so I was asked to step in and write this week's online blog. A lot of big blue marlin showed up for this year's Fourth of July World Cup Blue Marlin Tournament and as always, the crews in Kona, Hawaii, and Bermuda were neck and neck. But in the end, my friend McGrew Rice, captain of the Ihu Nui in Kona, brought in the winning fish.

On its face, the state of Florida's plans to buy the assets of U.S. Sugar Corp. - including 187,000 acres of sugar land - seems like a great first step for continued Everglades restoration. But I'm beginning to worry that these efforts will come with a price: more development.

Just back from a couple days waaaay out on the northern Gulf of Mexico and I thought I'd share a few interesting moments and observations. Of course, you'll read and see more in a Sport Fishing feature next year, but in the meantime....

We left Destin about dark on Capt. Gary Jarvis' Back Down 2 and traveled southwest until about 9 a.m. That put us somewhere off Alabama, I guessed, and in about 400 feet. (Yes, much of the Gulf is indeed a pretty shallow body of water.) Our first objective was to do some deep dropping and there, in 400 feet, we did.

The next issue of Marlin (August/September 2008), will be a very special one; we plan to put out what we like to call the “Marlin 100,”  which will highlight 100 people, places and things deemed essential to the sport of blue-water fishing. From the lowly rubber band to “A” Dock in St. Thomas USVI, the Marlin 100 hopes to ignite your fishing passion by celebrating both the miniscule and grand aspects of sport fishing.

As I write this piece – my first Fly Fishing in Salt Waters blog – the economy is once again getting battered, the news is littered with trashy stories, and yet I still can’t get my mind off fly-fishing!

I know you can’t either.

I just arrived back home after a great first session of Marlin University in beautiful Guanamar, Costa Rica. The fish showed up in sufficient numbers to get everyone at least a couple of shots, and everyone caught a billfish on the trip.