was flopping around on the bank. I rushed home to
show off my catch, along with hopes of having my
very own catch for dinner. I was only four years old
and already fully addicted for the rest of my life.
THE ADDICTION WORSENS
My malady flared larger through the years, ranging
from canoe fishing, surf fishing, pier fishing, party
boat shares, long-range party boats, panga fishing,
flats fishing – and then finally the hard-core stuff, big
game fishing.
Big game was the end-all for me. I quit my job as
a PGA golf pro, gave up my Porsche Carrera, alligator
shoes and alpaca sweaters in exchange for shorts,
t-shirts and bare feet. And my diet changed to eating
the left-over skipjack baitfish with a bowl of rice, tea
and a beer.
Once the disease was in full bloom it cost me a wife
and son, plus my house and boat. It cost millions of
dollars to support my habit. Sunrise to sunset, the
fire burned within me. I knew that nothing could
quench this out of control blaze. I insisted on catching
the most and the largest – and even then I wasn’t
satisfied; I needed more.
THE FULL STORY
For a detailed, in-depth review of Bart’s outstanding life and angling
achievements, see the 6-page profile inBlueWaterissue 102
(March-April 2014). Back-issues can be purchased from the
BlueWater office – email:[email protected]I’LL NEVER GIVE UP
I was in the sunset of my life, 64-years-old and still
banking considerable tournament winnings when the
crunch came. My health had turned against me. New
body parts were needed to save my life – and thankfully
they did. A new lifestyle was required, but I was in denial
and forged on, risking everything for fishing.
Although broken down time and again, I will not
allow myself to be resigned to a rocking chair while
reliving the grand and still addictive memories of
times gone by. As I write this, silver haired, one-eyed
and ailing, I tell you that I am a fishing addict and that
there is no hope for me. I must fish.
I eat fish, I dream fish, I have all but sold my soul
for fish. My name is Captain Bart Miller and I am and
always will be an addict. 12/15/04Above:Bart front
and centre with the
Reelaxeteam after
winning US$176,530
in the Bisbee’s Black
& Blue tournament
in 2010. Bart was
the team’s mentor
and consultant, and
provided the Black
Bart lure that caught
them the winning
black marlin.
Centre left:
Standing on the
bridge of his famed
charterboatBlack
Bart, Capt Miller
shows his hand-
made lure with
which he caught
a 747.97kg Pacific
blue marlin, the
second-largest of the
species ever officially
weighed.
Left:Extracting the
747.97kg Pacific blue
marlin fromBlack
Bartat Kona, Hawaii
in 1984.“It cost
millions of
dollars to
support
my habit.”
bluewatermag.com.au 69