Regional Report: New Jersey,
Brothers' Act

By Jeff Merrill
Like a first kiss, all anglers remember their first billfish. No matter what species it might be, each is special in its own way. Bill Schroeder of Cave Creek, Arizona, a small town outside Scottsdale, spends his work days running a successful computer software business. When time allows, he enjoys traveling with his family and fishing. An accomplished angler, he has caught several species of Pacific billfish including blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish as well as tuna and dorado while vacationing in Mexico and off southern California, but he had yet to release his first billfish from the Atlantic side. That all would change during a business trip to New Jersey when Bill decided to spend a few days during his trip east to visit with his brother, Alfie.

The week of Bill's visit coincided with the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 marlin and tuna tournament in Cape May, and thanks to an invitation by brother Alfie's friend Bill Gallo, owner of the Joanna, a 56-foot Viking, Bill set out to add an Atlantic billfish to his resume. The day dawned sunny and the calm water and conditions were ideal. A tuna bite here, and a dolphin bite there aboard the Joanna kept the crew focused, but the billfish seemed to avoid the crew. As dark clouds formed over head and a summer downpour began, the call of 'Right flat! Right flat!' came down from the bridge as a white marlin inhaled the skipping ballyhoo. Ignoring the rain and seeing his chance at hand, Bill grabbed the rod as line peeled off the reel and the billfish took to the air in a tail-walking, acrobatic aerial display. Moments later, Bill's brother Alfie grabbed the leader and released Bill's first white marlin, which ended up being slightly more gratifying than the traditional dunk in the water he'd give his brother at the dock that night!

Jeff Merrill