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Inside Sportfishing Pro Staff - David Brackmann
Operator/Captain, "Caliente" - Huntington Beach, CA/Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
With 32 years of fishing experience, David is a well known writer, seminar speaker, radio guest, and private boat skipper / expert on offshore fishing for marlin, tuna and sharks. He has worked as a professional marlin fishing deckhand at Lizard Island - Australia, The Bay of Islands - New Zealand, Cabo San Lucas - Mexico on multi-day sport boats out of San Diego as well as tournament boats out of Alabama and South Carolina. David has also fished as an angler in many of the top billfish spots in the world including Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize, The Bahamas, U.S.V.I., South Africa and Thailand..
He currently spends most of his time fishing aboard his 38-foot custom sport fisher CALIENTE out of Huntington Harbour, CA and his 33-foot Tiara CALIENTE out of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In Mexico he targets striped, blue, and black marlin and big yellowfin tuna from Cabo to Magdalena Bay. Locally he fishes the offshore banks and islands from Santa Cruz Island to San Martin Island out to 150 miles offshore pursuing yellowtail, tuna, marlin and sharks.
He is consistently ranked as one of the top tagging captains for the N.M.F.S. Billfish Tagging program in Baja, Mexico and is an active tagger in The Billfish Foundation and California D.F.G. Shark tagging programs. In 2000 he was selected and acted as an observer for the U.S.V.I. – St. Thomas Boy Scout Tournament. In 2001 he has become actively involved with the N.M.F.S. in gathering DNA samples of billfish. Also in 2001, he was appointed Chairman of the West Coast Advisory Council for The Billfish Foundation.
Fishing Work Experience
HUNTINGTON HARBOUR, CA: 2/95 - current, run the private 38' custom Tolleycraft / Radovivch sport fisher "CALIENTE" - targeting So. Cal. local island, offshore and fishing South to 500 miles in Mexican waters, including Guadalupe Island and San Martin Island. Commercially fish rockcod in the winter.
CABO SAN LUCAS, B.C., MX.: 12/89 - current, run the private 33' Tiara "CALIENTE" – targeting billfish and tuna. - Have experience fishing North of Cabo to Magdelena Bay and South to Islas Revillagigedos. - Have competed in the Bisbee Tournament and Whitey's Tournament as captain and or deck position over the last 11 years.
JOHN'S ISLAND, SO. CAROLINA: 6/93 – 6/94, Deck position on 38' Luhrs charter boat "BETTY BO" - charter work plus two (2) annual summer Blue Marlin Tournaments per year.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO - 11/85 - 9/88 - ran private sport fisher - "UNREEL" - fishing billfish and tuna.
BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND: 1/88 - 6/88 - Charter boat 1st deck position on the 46' custom sport fisher "LADY LOLA" - blue / striped marlin, broadbill, tuna and yellowtail.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: 12/87 - 1/88 - Private boat deck hand for club gamefish tournaments.
LIZARD ISLAND, AUSTRALIA: 8/87 - 12/87 - Charter boat- 2nd deck position on the 40' custom sport fisher "KAMARI" - fishing black marlin on the Ribbon Reef - 67 Black Marlin, 3 over 1,000 lbs. with largest 1,245 lbs.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA: 6/85 - 10/87 - ran family's private 41' Viking "FELICITY" - 50 days year local areas and South to San Martin Island - billfish / tuna / shark.
ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA: 6/84 to 9/84 – 2nd deck position on private 42' Bertram for one summer of Blue Marlin Tournaments - East to Florida and South to Mexico.
SAN DIEGO, CA: 6/83 to 9/83 - Deck position on "CHAMP" and "TRADITION" - 1 to 5 day trips - local and South to Guadalupe Island.
LONG BEACH / SAN DIEGO, CA: 3/76 - 8/83 - ran family's private 25' Apollo "SENSATION", local to 75 miles - all species.
Publications / Appearances / Seminars
/ Retail Experiences
THE BIG GAME FISHING JOURNAL MAGAZINE: 8 Articles Published - Fall 1994 lead article "Caliente - Tactics for Striped Marlin", Summer 1995 article "So. California's Offshore High Spots", Spring 1997 lead article “Proven Trolling Patterns for So. California & Mexico Tuna”, Winter 1998 article “Locating Sharks in Southern California Waters”, Winter 1999 article “Guided Tour of So. California Offshore Hot Spots”, Summer 1999 article “Calcutta Baits “Bully Hoo” - The Ultimate Ballyhoo!!”, August 2000 part one article “100% Pure Bait-And-Switch Striped Marlin”, September / October, 2000 part two article “100% Pure Bait-And-Switch Striped Marlin”.
FOX SPORTS TELEVISION - INSIDE SPORTFISHING: Was featured with friend Keith Poe on a show on fishing for mako sharks in Santa Monica Bay, CA. Aired Sunday, July 29, 2001 at 11:00 A.M..
SALTWATER SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE: September, 1999, “The Teaser Revolution” quoted on my methods, March, 2000 - quoted on tuna fishing techniques.
SALTWATER SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE SEMINAR, LONG BEACH, CA: January, 1999 National Seminar Series Faculty Speaker. Lectured on four - 45 minute segments on the following topics - Shark Fishing Techniques, Tuna Fishing Tactics, Marlin Fishing Basics, and Fishing Techniques of Downriggers and Planner Boards.
LET’S TALK HOOK-UP RADIO SHOW, SAN DIEGO, CA: Guest speaker as “private boat expert” for four shows in 1998 and 1999.
SANTA BARBARA TUNA CLUB, SANTA BARBARA, CA: March, 1998 - Guest speaker with topic “Inshore Fishing Techniques”.
HUNTINGTON HARBOUR ROD & REEL CLUB, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA: 1997 Education Chairman. Also seminar speaker for the club for three seminar events covering tuna, swordfish and offshore island fishing spots.
FRED HALL TACKLE SHOW, LONG BEACH, CA: March 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 - tackle representative for Braid Products and Pacific Blue Water International.
PACIFIC BLUE WATER INTERNATIONAL, DANA POINT, CA: 5/94 to present - Pro staff and seminar instructor for Big Game Fishing topics at Dana Point, San Diego, Huntington Beach and Irvine seminars and to various fishing clubs in Southern California.
WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS "GREAT JUNE JAMBOREE": June 17 & 18, 1995 - Guest Speaker - "How To Get Started In Long Range Fishing".
MIAMI FISHING & BOAT SHOW, MIAMI, FL: 2/95 - staff representative for Pacific Blue Water International.
BOB'S FISHING TACKLE, NORWALK, CA: 1983 - salesman in retail tackle store.
Awards
- 1999 THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION / AFTCO TAG AWARD – Angler award for most bluefin tuna tagged in the Pacific.
- 1998 THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION / AFTCO TAG AWARD – as captain, our angler, Mark Brackmann took first place in most blue marlin tagged in Pacific for 1998 calendar year aboard the Caliente in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
- 1998 HUNTINGTON HARBOUR ROD AND REEL CLUB AWARD - Largest albacore - 22.2 lbs. on 4 kg monofilament line.
- 1997 HUNTINGTON HARBOUR ROD AND REEL CLUB AWARD - Largest tuna (Bluefin) 34 lbs. on 4 kg monofilament line.
- 1997 SOUTHWEST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER - 4th place Baja California, Mexico captain with the number of NOAA tagged marlin in Baja California.
- 1996 SOUTHWEST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER - 1st place Baja California, Mexico captain with the number of NOAA tagged marlin in Baja California.
- 1995 HUNTINGTON HARBOUR ROD AND REEL BAY BASS TOURNAMENT - 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finish.
- 1995 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PELAGIC SHARK TAGGING PROGRAM - 4th highest number of sharks tagged in program.
- 1994 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PELAGIC SHARK TAGGING PROGRAM - 4th highest number of sharks tagged in program.
- 1993 MAKO MY DAY TOURNAMENT, DANA POINT, CA - First Place High Roller Division / Third place overall - $ 13,865.00
- 1993 INTERNATIONAL GAME FISH ASSOCIATION ANNUAL FISHING CONTEST - First place winner for largest thresher shark caught worldwide in 1993 (411 lbs.).
- INTERNATIONAL GAME FISH ASSOCIATION - 1993, 10 to 1 Club for 411 lb. thresher shark on 40 lb. line.
- BAY OF ISLANDS SWORDFISH CLUB - 1988, Set club record for catch of a swordfish, striped marlin and spearfish all caught in one 24 hour period. Unfortunately, lost a blue marlin same day that would have made the ultimate grand slam.
- BAY OF ISLANDS SWORDFISH CLUB - 1988 Crew Award for Highest number of kingfish (yellowtail) released for season plus 1st and 2nd place for largest kingfish.
- BAY OF ISLANDS SWORDFISH CLUB - 1988 Crew Award for Second highest number of Billfish caught for the season.
- LIZARD ISLAND GAME FISH CLUB - 1987 Crew Award - 2nd largest Black Marlin caught for season on the reef - 1,245 lbs.. Japanese record for the largest billfish ever caught by a Japanese angler. The mounted marlin is on display at the Tokyo Natural History Museum.
- 1986 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PELAGIC SHARK TAGGING PROGRAM – award for most number of sharks tagged in Southern California Waters.
- 1985 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PELAGIC SHARK TAGGING PROGRAM – award for most number of sharks tagged in Southern California Waters.
Memberships
- HARBOUR ROD & REEL CLUB, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
- THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION – CHAIRMAN, WEST COAST ADVISORY COUNCIL
- UNITED ANGLERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- RECREATIONAL FISHING ALLIANCE
- INTERNATIONAL GAME FISH ASSOCIATION
- OSO LAKE SPORTSMAN'S ASSOCIATION
- NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION
Fishing Locations Fished / Species Caught
UNITED STATES
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - salt and freshwater / all species
- KONA, HAWAII - blue marlin / tuna
- ST. THOMAS, U.S.V.I. – blue marlin
- SITKA, ALASKA - salmon / halibut / lingcod
- TIKCHICK NARROWS, ALASKA - salmon / trout
- GALVESTON, TEXAS - king mackerel / speckled trout / tarpon
- JOHN'S ISLAND, SO. CAROLINA - blue marlin / sailfish / wahoo / dolphin / tuna
- ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA - blue & white marlin / tuna
- PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - sailfish
- ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA - tarpon / snook / speckled trout / permit
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
- CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - black marlin
- BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND – all billfish / tuna / shark / yellowtail
- LAKE TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND - trout
- NASSAU, NEW PROVIDENCE - dolphin / wahoo
- GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR, ELEUTHERA – sailfish
- GUAYMAS, MEXICO - sailfish / dolphin
- PUERTA VALLARTA, MEXICO – sailfish /dolphin
- CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO - all billfish / tuna / wahoo / dolphin / roosterfish
- ISLAS REVILLAGIGEDO, MEXICO - tuna / marlin / wahoo
- IZTAPA, GUATEMALA – sailfish / dolphin
- LAKE ARENAL, COSTA RICA - guapote
- FLAMINGO BAY, COSTA RICA - sailfish
- WEST AND EAST COAST OF PANAMA - sailfish / marlin / tuna
- CARACAS, VENEZUELA - swordfish / white marlin / sailfish / blue marlin
- GURI LAKE, VENEZUELA - peacock bass
- TURNEFFE ISLAND, BELIZE - bonefish / blue marlin
- PHUKET, THAILAND – sailfish / tuna
- NUSA DUA, BALI - sailfish / tuna
- THOUSAND ISLANDS, JAVA INDONESIA - tuna
- PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - tuna
- CORAL BEACH, SRI LANKA - tuna / wahoo
- DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - king mackerel / grouper
- OKAVANGO SWAMP, BOTSWANA - tiger fish
- VANCOUVER, CANADA - salmon
- WELLINGTON, ENGLAND - trout
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