By Linda Cherones
Eugenie Marron was a wife, painter, philanthropist, and a damn good angler. She still holds the world record for catching a 772-pound swordfish on 80-pound test in 1954. In the foreword to her autobiography, “Albacora: The Search for the Giant Broadbill,” she writes:
“The sport of big-game fishing holds a dangerous fascination that has only one parallel elsewhere in life. Getting involved in it is like falling into the clutches of a jealous lover. From the day the involvement starts, your time, your thoughts, your energy, and your money must all be dedicated to a single consuming cause.”
When I first read Eugenie’s words, I thought, “Boy, she really nailed it.” She had the unique opportunity to fish all over the world alongside her husband, Lou. Fishing was a passion that consumed them both. In her book, she penned the details of their fishing expedition out of Iquique, Chile, in 1953. She shared countless stories about boating striped marlin, black marlin and swordfish, 78 in total. In addition, they collected countless crates of fishbones to further the research of the billfish fishery. Amazing!
I am not ashamed to say that I have read her book about 15 times. Each time I do, I pick up on subtle nuances that are near and dear to my heart.
