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Customer relations are important to me, and although my Marlin Expeditions clients start as just that, anyone who’s ever spent a day on the water with a stranger knows the result is often a lifelong friendship bound by shared experiences. In this issue’s column, I recognize two clients who deserve a shoutout, not only in thanks but in praise. One of them is Ken Crockett. After some 20 Marlin University/Expeditions sessions, Ken is someone who is hyperfocused on his personal best, especially on the flat line, and has been setting goals for himself ever since I first fished with him about six years ago. The other is Mark Stewart, a two-time Marlin Expeditions graduate whom I first met in Panama, who has just cemented his place on the long list of South Carolina big-fish tournament winners.
Ken Crockett, Texas
Ken, who consistently introduces himself as Crockett, is a man who has the outdoors coursing through his veins. His adventurous spirit for travel, hunting and fishing is obvious as he recounts stories of his trips to Argentina, Portugal and Ibiza. Ken’s Native American bloodline is clearly defined by his small but sturdy stature, dark skin, and long, pitch-black hair slicked back in a ponytail that peeks out under a signature Western-style hat which rarely leaves his head. Quiet but opinionated, this Texan is what I would call a man’s man, with a soft side.
Living on his South Texas ranch full of deer, hogs, gators and every other wild animal the Lone Star State harbors, Ken is an avid hunter. He informs me that he needs to cull a significant portion of the deer population on his property soon as he shows me pictures on his iPad. However, the videos of does with their fawns (and his voice that whispers to them) tell me there’s something beneath that hard exterior, something that only someone who bothers to listen will notice: a gentle soul who loves the outdoors, the ocean and all of God’s creatures.
I was lucky enough to spend time with Ken recently when he invited me to fish at Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. While I learned a lot about him outside the confines of my “regular job,” I also became privy to exactly why Ken still, after all these years, through multiple directors and versions of the Marlin University/Expeditions program, chooses to travel with us.
Ken falls into a unique category of clients. He still frequents the program as a learning opportunity, but at the same time, he tells me (and others) that Marlin Expeditions is “the best value in sport fishing,” especially as a single traveler. While I wouldn’t exactly call it a “travel club,” I would say that as an angler looking to maximize a fishing trip, you can be sure that rather than being paired with casual anglers on a shared charter, this program ensures you are paired with others who share your passion, and with those who are genuinely there to try their hardest. Fishing with our professional staff is just the icing on the cake. Because, after all, if you think you’ve learned all there is to know about big-game fishing, you haven’t.
Ken is well on his way to catching 200 Pacific sailfish this year, and with less than 20 to go, I can safely say he’ll surpass that goal. And as Ken’s biggest cheerleader and most grateful service provider, I hope I’m there to see it happen.
Mark Stewart, South Carolina
Setting goals for yourself as an angler reinforces the drive for success, and success is what another one of my clients experienced when fishing on DayMaker during the 2024 South Carolina Blue Marlin Invitational.
A Marlin Expeditions two-time grad, Mark Stewart—a quiet and focused man who fishes in South Carolina with his wife, Jenn Armon, another Marlin Expeditions client—was fishing with his local team when they took home the first-place win in this year’s tournament out of Toler’s Cove in Mount Pleasant. It was a family affair, with Mark’s friend and fishing buddy Joe Gorin landing the largest blue marlin of the contest, ultimately cementing the win for DayMaker and netting the team $252,560 in prize money.
This particular tournament is a 39-day contest that allows each team to fish three days at their discretion. DayMaker’s second fishing day occurred on May 22—and proved to be a good one. With a waxing moon and several practice days under their belts, the fishing started slow. After a few bites that didn’t stick, the team still had not seen a fish worthy of bringing to the scale.
Then, at around 12:45 p.m., a nice blue marlin was raised on the left teaser. The fish continued to “shred the teaser,” Mark says, as it was brought in, finally fading back to Joe’s left long and crushing it. After getting a good look at the fish, the team decided it was worth measuring. Joe was making good progress until the fish sounded an hour into the fight. Finally, the blue was inched up; it measured 113 inches—well above the 105-inch minimum—and ultimately was gaffed.
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Once the fish was in the boat, the hugs and high-fives ensued. Back at Toler’s Cove, DayMaker’s fish weighed 533.6 pounds, beating out Pipe Down’s 507.4-pound blue that was weighed just days earlier.
When I sent Mark a congratulatory email, he responded with one of the most fulfilling replies I’ve ever received: “My tournament partner Joe was on the rod for the big one, but I know my Marlin Expeditions experience contributed to our success as a team, along with the amazing preparation and experience of our crew. I hope to get back out there with you all sooner rather than later. Thanks, again!”
I’m always so proud of my clients when they put what they’ve learned with us to work in real-world tournament scenarios. We’ve had so many good fishermen come out of this program, and I’m excited to hear about the next one who manages to achieve their personal best or makes it on the big stage.
