After graduation in 1956, I went to Butler Univ., Indianapolis, Indiana. I attended most of the classes and stayed almost 2 semesters, guess I thought I was too smart for college - BOY, WAS I WRONG!! Well, NOT with my parents blessings, I dropped out and came back home to pursue my passion of fishing. I got my Captains license at 17, youngest person to get one in Florida ( I was told anyway.). Johnny Gramp had hurt his back and could not run his charter boat the "Condor" and he offered me a job running it until he was better about 6 months. About this time I married JoAnn Graham and ran a charter boat for Richard Pritchard, the "Miss JoAnn". I was later able to buy the "Lucky Lady" and ran both until I realized running 2 boats successfully was too much and sold the "Miss JoAnn".
While fishing a tuna tournament in Bimini (when I thought I was stone broke), Mr. Braman, a Big Texas Oil man approached me to run a fishing boat for his wife. They had 3 fishing boats plus a yacht. I became her private Captain for 2 years and moved on to work for Mr. Braman as his Captain. He loved fishing the flats for bone fish and just being out and trying his luck at shooting flying fish for supper. We fished Texas, Bimini, Cat Key, etc. Everywhere the fishing fleet went, the yacht went so they had their own private quarters. By this time I owned the "Rip Tide IV" and when I was not fishing with the Bramans in Texas or the Islands I would charter my boat out of Hillsboro Inlet.
In 1961 we had a daughter Suzi and in 1963 a son J.C. (Buster).
Danny Beare and I won many of the Pompano Fishing Rodeo tournaments and one period of 4 years in a row. We also introduced Cobia fish to the public, a great mild white fish. Jack McLeier, Fish N Stuff, flew his piper plane and spotted the rays that followed the Cobia and would radio to us and we would head to that area.
I was lucky again to have another oil family member ask me to run his boat for his daughter and son -in-law, Ralph Gilster. We traveled all over and fished many tournaments, set up a fish camp for themselves in Newfoundland, had to cut out the side of a mountain and knock down a couple houses to get 2 large trailers in camp. They brought their own cook, flew in steaks and all food and supplies needed. Not a bad deal, a wonderful job. Only draw back, it took us away from home for weeks/months at a time. We hired a young newfy for $5.00 a day to catch bait and keep the camp clean, he made more than his Dad did in a week, so the family was very grateful. We were there the month of August for 2 years and when we left, they just left the camp as was. Someone got a good home.
While fishing in Australia with Ralph Gilster, he caught a World Record Black Marlin, 1343 lbs, and held that for 5 years when it was broken by only 1 lb. On another day of fishing with the family in Bimini, Ralph and his young son each caught a Bimini record Blue Marlin, Ralph�s 787 lbs, 14' 6" largest and Little Ralph with the smallest for Bimini weighing in at 22 lbs. They held their records several years.
Divorced and in 1975 married my high school sweetheart, Carol Ann Courson. I then went to work for Richard Schubot, 2nd largest stockholder of McDonalds Corp. running his private boat the "Backlash". We traveled the world fishing tournaments and one that lasted one year took us to places like Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Newfoundland, Australia, Venezuela, Cabo San Lucis, Bimini, Cat Key, Cozumel, etc. We had to catch and release one each of: Black, White, Blue and Striped Marlin, Bluefin and Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, Roosterfish, Mako Shark, this was quite a feat, but we did it!! There was no money involved in this tournament but plenty of prestige. He did receive a standup Sailfish lamp but the honor of winning this tournament was "The Best".
We would fish 6 weeks in Cozumel, Mexico and Mr. Schubot would bring the crews families over for a week. We caught an average of 17 sails a day. What a fun place to share with your family.
When we had down time on the "Blacklash" we started longline fishing with 3/4 mile gear, caught fish and each trip added more line and more and ended with 5 miles. Ed Baxter and Chuck Rush came on board many times and helped out. Mike Montella bought all our fish and then Triple M Seafood was formed with Montella, Mott, Merritt and we started buying bigger boats and hiring crews and selling all they needed to get out and catch fish and then bought their catches and sold them. (Guess you could say I was on the ground floor of getting swordfishing started in our area.) Later on, Merritt and I pulled out and did the same things at now Merritts Seafood. I ran the USDA approved fish house for Merritt several years until I retired 1993.
Moved in 1998 to Lorida, Florida on Lake Istokpoga in hopes to do a little R & R and catch a few of those Largemouth bass and crappies. A good fishing spot.
We owned a hunting cabin on Lake of the Woods, in Rainy River, Ontario Canada for 18 years. We went as often as we could and the last few years were able to stay for 3 months until the Bay froze and we could no longer get out fishing or hunting. We had a ball hunting with our Golden Retrievers both for duck, geese and grouse, the dogs loved it as much as us. We did a bit of Walleye, small mouth bass, muskee, and northern pike fishing also. We sold out this past summer since Parkinsons has taken over my life and am no longer able to do all those fun things. But we have many great memories to last us a mighty long time. I can say without hesitation that Life has been awfully good to me/us.
I hope my health will allow me to join you at the reunion, but if not, I will be thinking about all the fun you'll be having reliving the last 50 years. Have a Blast.
Joe Mott