CHASING RECORDS IN CAPE VERDE

Preparation, persistence and a bit of good luck equal success

- GARY CARTER

On May 8, my wife, Sherrell, and I arrived in Mindelo, Cape Verde, with our longtime friend and captain Yoan Alcala. We were there to pursue the men's and women's IGFA 30-pound-test line-class records, which were our primary targets for this trip.

Of note, while we were in Cape Verde in 2022 fishing with Capt. Divan Coetzee and his crew, I had broken the ice fly-fishing for blue marlin, and so Alcala had brought some fixed gaffs with him from Madeira, which are required by the IGFA for fly records. We were also ready for battle with the wand as well.