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Marlin Darlin Best in Custom Shootout

A cornerstone of Bahamas sport fishing reemerges
A sport-fishing boat on the water.
A blue marlin takes to the air for the Marlin Darlin team during the 2021 Custom Shootout. Courtesy Custom Shootout/Debra Todd

The popular Custom Shootout triumphantly returned to the beautifully rebuilt and fully remodeled Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina May 12-15, 2021, with 51 registered custom boats and a perfect weather forecast for the participants.

Watch: Learn to rig a swimming mackerel here.

On Day One, the 61-foot B&D Turn It Blue released two blue marlin and a sailfish to tally 1,300 points and the clubhouse lead, although the 64-foot Jarrett Bay Builder’s Choice was right behind them with one blue marlin and one ­sailfish release and 700 points. The fleet released eight blue marlin, eight white marlin and 14 sailfish for the day.

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Day Two belonged to Jr. Davis’ Wave Paver, a 77-foot Bayliss. They scored one blue marlin, three white marlin and a sailfish, earning additional points for the grand slam—enough to move into first place. Bobby Jacobsen’s Marlin Darlin, a 66-foot Spencer, released a blue and two whites for 900 points, and Kickin’ Tires also slammed out as the fishing seemed to improve.]

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For the third and final day, El ­Cazador, an 85-foot Scarborough, released two blue marlin to take home the daily, while Marlin Darlin had a grand slam, enough to move them into first place for the tournament with a total of 2,200 points in a come-from-behind victory. For their efforts, the team won $192,630; Capt. Chris Kaulen was named Top Captain. El Cazador won $189,550 for second place overall, and Wave Paver earned $67,150 for placing third, including the Day One daily. The top angler of the tournament was Frank Villasante on Temptress, who released two blue marlin, one white and one sailfish.

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This article was originally published in the August/September issue of Marlin.

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