By Okuma® Staff

Every summer, anglers wait for that short window when the white marlin push into the Nantucket Shoals, hoping to get their shot at these legendary fish. Known around the island as “Skillies,” they aren’t just another billfish; they’re something special. Bigger than most of the white marlin you’ll find across the Atlantic, they’re also more unpredictable. Some years they show up strong, and other years they’re barely around. Nobody really knows why.

That’s where The Skillie Project comes in. Run by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) with the University of Maine’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab, the project has been putting satellite tags in these fish to get a better idea of where they go, how they live, why they hang out in this part of the world, and what it’ll take to keep them around for the long haul.

This year, Okuma Fishing Tackle jumped in to back the effort. They signed on as an official sponsor and even got involved during “Skillie Brand Week,” where captains, crews, and the Nantucket community teamed up for tagging trips, dockside events, and fundraisers to spread the word.

What makes the Skillie Project stand out is how grassroots it feels. This isn’t just scientists in white coats, but it’s captains running their own boats, families pitching in, and anglers giving their time and resources because these fish matter to them. During Brand Week, you could see it firsthand: science happening on the water, kids learning about marlin on the docks, and a whole community rallying around a fish that has shaped their summers for generations.

So far, seven satellite tags have been deployed between last year and this year. It might not sound like a lot, but every tag tells a story and adds to the big picture of how white marlin travel and survive. That information will help shape smarter management decisions for one of the most prized fish we chase in the Atlantic.

Okuma’s involvement isn’t about logos on a banner. It’s about standing shoulder to shoulder with the anglers and communities who care about the resource. As their marketing director, Michelle Gandola, put it, the Skillie Project ties directly into what the brand values: conservation, community, and the love of fishing. But Okuma also brings something unique to the table: the gear that makes this style of fishing possible. When the conditions line up on the Shoals, captains are spotting Skillies from the tower and sight casting to them with spinning gear. Okuma’s Tesoro Spinning reel is built for exactly that moment. With a 12HPB + 1RB corrosion-resistant stainless steel bearing drive and a carbonite high-output DFD drag system packed with Cal’s drag grease, it puts out over 55 pounds of fish-stopping drag. Sight casting white marlin demands a reel that can launch a bait where it needs to be and then turn a powerful fish before it runs deep. The Tesoro does just that. It helps bring these fish to the boat quickly so they can be tagged and released strong.

Backing up the science are some of the best captains and crews you’ll ever find, donating their time, boats, and knowledge to tag just a handful of fish each season. These are the right people to run this project shoulder to shoulder with the scientists and men who know the waters, have spent years on the tournament circuit, and can put a bait in front of a white marlin when the window opens. At the center of it all is Captain John Galvin, who runs the Viking 72 El Diablo. He’s been a driving force since the beginning, using his influence to rally some of the most respected names in the sport. Among them: Tom Ripley and Capt. Jacques Paul-Hus of Riptide, Capt. Rob Goodwin on the Viking Scup Slayer, and Capt. Martin Scanlan at the helm of Whiskey. And while he doesn’t carry a captain’s license, Peter Chaibongsai from The Billfish Foundation has logged as much time on the water as anyone, bringing both his experience and his passion as a true waterman to the effort. Together, this mix of tournament-hardened captains and dedicated conservationists makes the Skillie Project more than research. It’s a mission fueled by the people who know and love these fish the most.

For those of us who live for the run of a white marlin across the spread, the hope is simple: that future anglers get the same shot we did at chasing these Skillies. And thanks to projects like this, we’re a little closer to making that happen.

Learn more at www.theskillieproject.com or check out Okuma at www.okumafishingusa.com. 

**Photo Credit: Reel Atlantic Media**