Tail Walking Adventures - Part 1 & 2

Part 1: The Solo Mission

Where did the drive to catch a marlin from my boat, the SLAMMIN SALMON, come from? I purchased my first rigid inflatable boat from my buddy Jake when he was leaving the island, and I have been hooked on this style of boat ever since. I no longer have that boat. It was falling apart, so I purchased a brand-new 2019 Zodiac Cadet ALU 390 PVC boat in California and shipped it to Hawai‘i. With a 2016 20-hp Yamaha outboard, the SLAMMIN SALMON handles very well in rough conditions. On a calm day, I can easily travel 50 miles with 6 gallons of gas. However, I named the 12’11” boat for a reason: I’m going to take a little punishment if I “send” it.

The idea of catching a marlin came when I landed my first ono (31 lbs) while spearfishing two and a half years ago. That will go down as one of the most exciting days for me. The fish dragged me through the water, but really showed me what was possible. I will always cherish that catch. After that amazing catch, I started to ask myself, “What’s next?” ‘Ahi and marlin immediately came to mind as my next big dream.

But my drive didn’t start there. That goes all the way back to my childhood in Washington state to the day I caught my first fish by myself at five years old.

I didn’t grow up around motorized boats. My father and I would try to catch salmon and flounder from an 8’ dingy with oars. This was where the small-craft big-fish dream really came alive.

When I was 19, I decided to combine boogie boarding with fishing because I was tired of fishing from shore, not catching anything, and seeing boats come in with massive lingcod and rockfish. I did the unthinkable at the time: I swam out to the zone in 57°F water by myself with a rod in my mouth. I sat on top of my board, balancing myself with fins, and started jigging. I eventually landed my first black rockfish, and I was all in for boogieboard fishing. A couple of years later, I landed my