|
GRAND SLAM PRINCESS - 9-year-old Records an Atlantic Grand Slam
By Jennifer Daniel
| | (Click to View) |
Every year 2 million visitors explore the U.S. Virgin
Islands, making tourism the primary economy of the
islands. A large number of vacationers undoubtedly
choose this destination because it’s home to some of the best
fishing in the Caribbean. The islands have even been called the
“Blue Marlin Capital of the World” in the summer months. The
fishing in general – from the dolphin and wahoo in the spring to
the sailfish in the fall – is excellent year round.
While so many people come to visit, only a handful call the
U.S. Virgin Islands home. Nine-year-old Brianna Olive of Saint
Thomas believes that it’s a great place to grow up. “I think it’s
really fun down here,” she says. Of course, it’s not everywhere
a girl can become one of the youngest anglers in the world to
release a personal Atlantic Grand Slam (a blue marlin, white
marlin and a sailfish in a single day of fishing) in their own
backyard.
Brianna moved to Saint Thomas from Philadelphia when
she was three-months old. She is the daughter of professional
sportfishing captain Rob Olive, so it is not surprising that she
has been learning to fish since she can remember. Today, when
Brianna is not busy being a typical fourth grader – sailing,
swimming or playing soccer and tennis – she is with her father
taking full advantage of the fertile fishing grounds that surround
her home.
Brianna’s father moved to Saint Thomas in the 1970s when
his father brought one of the first charter fishing boats to the
area. He grew up immersed in the sportfishing world, so it was
natural for him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a
captain himself. Captain Olive, who is 34-years old, has been
a captain for nine years. After working as a charter captain, he
became the captain of a private sportfisher, the Producer, a 52-
foot Viking.
Olive has led his crew in numerous tournaments around the
Caribbean, South America, Texas and the Bahamas. One of his
most rewarding tournament moments came early in his career.
In 1997 he led the Lady Carol, a 45-foot Ocean, to victory in the
U.S. Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club July Open. Olive was
named Top Captain, and his team also took the Top Boat and Top
Crew honors.
While Olive has fished extensively throughout the
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the fertile waters of Saint
Thomas remain his favorite fishing destination. After all, it was
in these waters where he experienced one of his most rewarding
days of fishing as father and a captain.
On Oct. 24, 2005, Brianna was with him aboard the
Producer. Early in the day they raised a white marlin while
fishing the North Drop off Saint Thomas. Once he saw it was a
marlin, he put Brianna on it so she could have her first marlin.
Having successfully tagged and released one’s first marlin would
have been enough to make any angler’s day memorable, but
Brianna was not done yet. Before long she was hooked up to
a sailfish. As fish No. 2 was released and swam away, visions
of a grand slam were dancing in everyone’s heads. The crew
immediately decided they would fish until 8 p.m. in hopes
of Brianna catching a blue marlin that would make history.
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait too long. It was Brianna’s
day, and she was able to wrap up her slam with a blue marlin that
was estimated to be 300-pounds.
Despite the fact that Captain Olive has never had a personal
grand slam, he has seen several caught aboard his boat. Tom
Capaccio caught his first grand slam while fishing with Olive in
Venezuela aboard the Lady Carol nearly 10 years ago. Capaccio,
37, a resident of Saint Thomas, has worked with Olive for
several years and currently works as a full-time mate onboard the
Producer. Capaccio was aboard to assist Brianna with her slam.
Olive says having him there made Brianna’s slam that much
more special.
Olive is very proud of his daughter’s recent
accomplishment. He credits her overall success as an angler to
her willingness to listen and learn from her crew. “Young kids
and women can make the best anglers; they are good listeners
and are willing to follow directions,” Olive said.
Not only has Olive taught Brianna the basics of fishing, but
he has also taught her about being a responsible angler. He says
it is important for anglers to “release their [bill]fish so future
generations can do what Brianna has done.” Brianna concurs
with her father, saying, “I don’t like killing them.”
With her grand slam, Brianna has accomplished what
countless anglers many times her age have struggled to
do. We can only wait to see what the future holds for this
upcoming young angler. She has already demonstrated a strong
conservation ethic that others can look up to.
|
;)
