For the Love of the Game

(Originally published January/February 2024)

By Capt. Chris Jobes

I have been an avid reader of Big Game Fishing Journal for as long as I can remember.  It has been a wealth of knowledge with many experts sharing how they have excelled in our game of offshore fishing and graciously offering tips and tricks – many of which we have adapted over the years, adding to the success of our program.

One of the things I love when reading articles is the origin story of the authors. Everyone has their own path into offshore fishing and as I reflect on my beginnings, I feel like I could write a book about it. I will offer the abridged version for now.  

I grew up in South Jersey in the 1970s and ’80s. We spent our time riding bikes miles from home to find a lake or a stream to catch whatever we could on rod and reel, casting Mepps lures or Red Devils.  If rod and reel weren’t working, we would catch critters in a net and lug them back home in a bucket on the handlebars, splashing all the way, to see