Think your local fishing club is historic? This new book by IGFA historian Mike Rivkin details one that really is. The West Palm Beach Fishing Club - A 75-Year History (Silverfish Press) is an unusually compelling story. Founded in 1934 as a civic antidote to the Depression, the Club went on to pioneer such practices as tag-and-release angling and sailfishing with light tackle. The red release pennant, universally recognized throughout the big-game fishing world today, was a WPBFC innovation. The Club's Silver Sailfish Derby (f. 1935) remains the oldest billfish tournament in the world, and its' classic Fifth & Flagler clubhouse has been a West Palm Beach landmark since 1941. In the day, celebrity anglers such as Kip Farrington, Lynn Bogue Hunt, Lou Marron, and the recently deceased Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. filled its roster. I don't know about your club, but this one has a truly glittering history. Rivkin tells it all in his usual enchanting style. As with his previous books, Rivkin supports the story with hundreds of heretofore unpublished photos and documents. The book's cover is dazzling: a Deco-style sailfish leaping towards the sun with a hint of palm tree in the background. In fact, palm trees were relatively late to arrive in Palm Beach, not turning up in quantity until 1878 when a Spanish bark shipwrecked nearby with a load of coconuts aboard. There's a whole goggle of other things you'll learn from this book about early Florida, angling pioneers, the birth of sailfishing, WWII, and even artificial reefs. It's an easy read, a visual delight, and belongs under your Christmas tree and those of your angling amigos. The West Palm Beach Fishing Club - A 75-Year History has just been released and is available now in a limited first edition of 900 signed-and-numbered copies ($75). All net proceeds benefit the Club's affiliated charitable foundation.

The West Palm Beach Fishing Club: A 75-Year History

History

Mike Rivkin

Americas

Silverfish Press

<p>During the 1930s, big-game fishing emerged from obscurity to become the new passion of American sportsmen. By decade's end, the capture of gigantic fish on the flimsiest of tackle had become the stuff of front page news. Suddenly ... war. This is the fascinating and untold story of how the newly-emerging sport of big-game fishing was plunged headlong into the defining event of the 20th century: World War II. That big-game fishing was severely impacted by the war is no surprise, but the contributions of the angling community to the Allied war effort were equally vast. The story of how each impacted the other is both surprising and compelling, and here it is. Carefully researched and delightfully written, Angling and War includes more than 260 pages and hundreds of heretofore unpublished photos, documents, and illustrations from all over the world. The book begins with the sudden emergence of big-game fishing in the 1930s and concludes with a look at the wartime-related technologies and adventures that sparked a veritable explosion in postwar angling. Incredible stories of both angler/authors and angler/warriors add richness and life to this remarkable tale, including a special foreward by legendary pioneer Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., whose catch of a 1,560 lb black marlin is the largest tackle record of this species for more than 50 years. Note that the deluxe first edition is limited to only 900 signed-and-numbered volumes, so order now!</p>

Angling and War: The Collision of Big-Game Fishing and WWII

Military

<p>CATALINA ISLAND DIVE BUDDIES is a great new resource for the newbie or casual diver about to dive Catalina Island and wanting to know more about what's really down there.  No excruciating taxonomy, no crummy little drawings on plastic cards, CIDB gives you big juicy illustrations along with fun anecdotal copy for the 30-odd species of fish you're most likely to see.  Written by award-winning copywriter Mike Rivkin, tweaked by master diver Jon Council, and illustrated by the talented Nick Mayer, this little book belongs in your dive bag.  Who needs a regulator anyway?  So pony up twenty bucks and get ready to laugh and learn!</p>

Catalina Island Dive Buddies

Sports & Outdoors

Hunting & Fishing

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Books by Mike Rivkin