MARINE BIOLOGYDEGREE
Dreamingof a careerin oceanography,Adrianattended
theUniversityof Miamiwhereheearneda bachelor’s
degreein marinebiology.Hethenworkedatseveral
ocean-related jobs, including with Dr Mitch Roffer’s
OceanFishingForecastingService(ROFFS).
There he studied infrared and chlorophyll satellite
imagery of ocean currents to determine where
gamefishweremostlikelyto showupandaggregate.
Theseresultswerefaxedandemailedto thefishermen
subscribing to the service, helping many to win
gamefishingtournaments.
The role gave Adrian in-depth knowledge of the
motion of tides and currents, as well as the factors
thatcausefishto congregateat a particularplaceand
time. It was here thatAdrianalso
became fully immersedin the use
of computer graphics – skills that
turnedoutto beveryimportantfor
hisfuturecareerat theIGFA.PRO CAPTAIN
AND DECKIE
While working at ROFFS, Adrian
earned his captain’s license and
for a brief time also worked as a
pro deckie on charterboats. This
experience taught him things he
could not learn from books or
schools.Duringthistime,hespent
as much time as possible fishing
and always had his camera with
himto recordthefishhecaught.
Adrian’sloveof photographyand
fishing morphed into something
more serious when he bought
an underwater housing for his
cameraand trainedhimselfin the
artof underwater photography. It
becamethemost naturalthingfor
him to jump overboard whenever
aninterestingfishcamenear.ARTINSPIRED BYA SWORDFISH
When Adrian caught a 230kg swordfish after a
12-hourbattle,it finallyappearedonthesurfacelit-up
in brightcolours.Adrianwassoinspiredthatit started
himona newavocation.
Adrian vividly remembers the electrified purple
glow on that swordfish, but was disappointed that
the subsequentphotos failedtocapture its amazingAdrian’s home
waters include the
Florida Keys, where
the famed permit
frequent the sandy
reef flats.This blue
marlin was
captured
by Adrian’s
lens in its
performance
of a defiant
ballet.Adrian adds to his latest work in progress, a dramatic oil painting of
giant Atlantic bluefin tuna feeding on herring. The artwork was inspired
by Adrian’s memorable dive with a school of enormous bluefin on a visit
to Nova Scotia in Canada.66 facebook.com/BlueWatermagazine
Adrian Gray