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Capt. George S. Parker led a colorful life
The old salt, who helped transform Hawaii's Kona Coast into the blue marlin capital of the world and who was known for his celebrity clientele, died recently at his Kona home at the age of 96.
When I met Capt. George S. Parker, he was 91 and a tad cranky but with a memory as sharp as a newly forged hook.
He recalled the time he took Jimmy Hoffa fishing and received, from the notorious Teamsters chief, instead of a tip, the following counsel:
"When he left the boat he said, 'Remember captain, there's only one way to live in this world. You've got to live by the golden rule. You've got to do unto others before they do unto you.' "
George Stevens Parker, the first angler to catch a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds, died recently at his home overlooking Hawaii's Kona Coast.
He was 96 and departed with many remarkable memories, such as growing up in San Diego during the Great Depression but discovering paradise after driving his Model A onto a ship bound for Oahu.
Parker, whose sons Marlin and Randy are top Kona captains, witnessed Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, propelling the U.S. into World War II.
"We got up and saw the smoke rising from the ships that were being torpedoed and at the same time we heard these planes coming in from the mountainside, right out of the sun," the old salt recounted.
After the war, Parker bought a charter boat and helped transform Kona into the blue marlin capital of the world. In 1954, he landed a 1,002-pound blue marlin after a fight that lasted long into the night.
His clients included Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart and Tennessee Ernie Ford. He helped establish Kona's small boat harbor and bring tournament fishing to Hawaii. In 2005 he was inducted into the International Game Fish Assn.'s Hall of Fame.
Parker's ashes will be spread at sea during a May 3 ceremony and the next day, perhaps, another grander will be caught.
The season's first two granders were landed the week before Parker died; the largest a 1,251-pound blue caught by Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, aboard Integrity with Capt. Rob McGuckin.
McGuckin shared the news with Parker just days before his passing.
The tuna was how big?
Philip Friedman, the voice of the saltwater fishing website 976-tuna.com, is noting signs of spring in several directions: Bonito and some yellowtail at the Coronado Islands, bonito and some barracuda at Catalina.
As he filed this report the Big Game 90, on the first day of a 976-tuna two-day charter, had two yellowtail on board and anglers were watching more yellowtail boil.
Friedman's best bets:
--White seabass: The Phantom had limits for seven anglers (one fish apiece) Friday. The Big Game 90 had four seabass Sunday and the Old No. 7 had two Saturday.
Squid is abundant and this bite, while still sputtering, is showing signs of busting wide open as we move near Sunday's full moon.
--Long-range tuna: The Royal Polaris called in to report a 314-pound yellowfin caught at Hurricane Bank, 980 miles southwest of Point Loma. Wahoo were coming over the rail too. The vessel has moved to Clarion Island and on Monday, anglers were into a thick and voracious school of 170- to 190-pound tuna. Check the website for on-the-water audio reports from Capt. Frank LoPreste.
--Rockfishing: Rockfish remain cooperative just about everywhere. The Torrance High varsity volleyball team participated in a 976-tuna youth fishing program trip Saturday aboard the Southern Cal and loaded up on salmon grouper and other tasty rockfish. Great bottom fishing has been the rule.
He recalled the time he took Jimmy Hoffa fishing and received, from the notorious Teamsters chief, instead of a tip, the following counsel:
George Stevens Parker, the first angler to catch a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds, died recently at his home overlooking Hawaii's Kona Coast.
He was 96 and departed with many remarkable memories, such as growing up in San Diego during the Great Depression but discovering paradise after driving his Model A onto a ship bound for Oahu.
Parker, whose sons Marlin and Randy are top Kona captains, witnessed Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, propelling the U.S. into World War II.
"We got up and saw the smoke rising from the ships that were being torpedoed and at the same time we heard these planes coming in from the mountainside, right out of the sun," the old salt recounted.
After the war, Parker bought a charter boat and helped transform Kona into the blue marlin capital of the world. In 1954, he landed a 1,002-pound blue marlin after a fight that lasted long into the night.
His clients included Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart and Tennessee Ernie Ford. He helped establish Kona's small boat harbor and bring tournament fishing to Hawaii. In 2005 he was inducted into the International Game Fish Assn.'s Hall of Fame.
Parker's ashes will be spread at sea during a May 3 ceremony and the next day, perhaps, another grander will be caught.
The season's first two granders were landed the week before Parker died; the largest a 1,251-pound blue caught by Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, aboard Integrity with Capt. Rob McGuckin.
McGuckin shared the news with Parker just days before his passing.
The tuna was how big?
Philip Friedman, the voice of the saltwater fishing website 976-tuna.com, is noting signs of spring in several directions: Bonito and some yellowtail at the Coronado Islands, bonito and some barracuda at Catalina.
As he filed this report the Big Game 90, on the first day of a 976-tuna two-day charter, had two yellowtail on board and anglers were watching more yellowtail boil.
Friedman's best bets:
--White seabass: The Phantom had limits for seven anglers (one fish apiece) Friday. The Big Game 90 had four seabass Sunday and the Old No. 7 had two Saturday.
Squid is abundant and this bite, while still sputtering, is showing signs of busting wide open as we move near Sunday's full moon.
--Long-range tuna: The Royal Polaris called in to report a 314-pound yellowfin caught at Hurricane Bank, 980 miles southwest of Point Loma. Wahoo were coming over the rail too. The vessel has moved to Clarion Island and on Monday, anglers were into a thick and voracious school of 170- to 190-pound tuna. Check the website for on-the-water audio reports from Capt. Frank LoPreste.
--Rockfishing: Rockfish remain cooperative just about everywhere. The Torrance High varsity volleyball team participated in a 976-tuna youth fishing program trip Saturday aboard the Southern Cal and loaded up on salmon grouper and other tasty rockfish. Great bottom fishing has been the rule.
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