CAPTAIN STORIES

LIVING AN OFFSHORE DREAM WITH CAPTAIN MARK DECABIA

Captain Mark Decabia from shinnecock, new york is no stranger to the winner's circle. he has secured multiple wins, including the Mid Atlantic 500, tristate tournament and white marlin open.

Mark has earned a reputation as one of the more proficient high liners in the northeast from his 52-foot Viking Express helmed the Rebel and spends 250-270 days (about 9 months) a year offshore on average – a fisherman’s dream scenario.

From his youth on commercial fishing docks in New York to traveling through Central America to hosting his own seminars, Captain Mark touts the fact that he doesn’t just play fisherman, he is one – and one that wrangles some of the biggest offshore gamefish.

EIGHT SAILFISH, TWO SWORDFISH, AND ONE SCIENCE DEGREE IN FISHERIES!

Captain Mark DeCabia’s passion for fishing began early, starting around the age of 7 when he would accompany his dad and his friends on tuna trips. Immediately recognizing this as his preferred career path, Mark surrounded himself with commercial fisherman to learn the ins and outs of the trade and landed a job on a commercial boat at the ripe age of 13.

After graduating college with a degree in Business Management and Fisheries Science from the University of Rhode Island, Mark took a full-time job on a boat named the Canyon Runner in New Jersey. On his first day he made a splash landing 8 sailfish and 2 swordfish, but his true test came when the Canyon Runner captain fell ill thrusting Mark into the captain’s seat unexpectedly. While nervous, this baptism by fire provided Mark with the confidence to make critical choices and build a lifelong career at sea.

His career has touched all levels of fishing from just for fun to tournament fishing to the commercial side.

SCOUTING FOR SEA MONSTERS

Scouting a perfect fishing spot is a skill that takes significant time and research. Starting with oceanographic charts, Captain Mark notes the chlorophyll, salinity, and temperature in his targeted areas to locate the most promising fishing grounds.

One of his most trusted strategies involves mapping eddies that break off from the Gulf Stream and tracking them as they approach the canyon edge. Once the eddies hit the canyon wall, that’s when the best fishing starts. However, these eddies are constantly shifting, sometimes several miles a day, which creates a dynamic wherein Captain Mark rarely fishes the same spot on back-to-back days.

Mark notes that “the predators live in warm waters and the convergence of warm and cold water upwelling creates an environment where they thrive, providing the best action.”

STALKING PREY DOWN THE COAST

Captain Mark’s fishing expeditions typically take him 70 to 150 miles offshore, involving 2–3-day trips where he targets a wide range of species. One of his primary bait-fishing techniques for tuna and marlin involves using ballyhoo to attract the large predators, but he also utilizes other bait including baitheads and swimming plugs to name just a few.

Currently, Mark is focused on tuna fishing in Long Island, New York. As the seasons change, he migrates with the fish, moving into sailfishing in Florida during the winter and targeting blue marlin in the Bahamas too. Come early may, he’s back in the northeast. This migratory pattern allows him to take advantage of peak seasons all over.

CAPTAIN'S CHOICE

Captain Mark’s experience has allowed him to try and test a wide range of fishing gear. He has been involved with PENN the past two decades, contributing to the design, demonstration, and testing of products. One of his preferred reels is the International® VIS Two-Speed Conventional, which he claims is “the workhorse of the northeast market.”

In addition, Mark has also spent the past couple of years working with the Fathom Electric reel, a product he believes fills a crucial gap in the existing PENN product line and strongly competes with other similar leading reels on the market today. He continues to appreciate the Fathom Electric for its capability with light to medium bottom fish all the way up to tuna. Mark values this reel for “doing the work, while not being overly built,” providing a reliable middle ground for various fishing needs.