Pioneering angler Tim Choate was hooked on fishing from boyhood. Following a very brief career as a lawyer, his wanderlust took him to where the big fish roamed, including five seasons on the Great Barrier Reef. In 1982, he and Capt. Peter B. Wright boated the largest black marlin of the season. It weighed more than 1,200 pounds.
In the 1980’s, when Venezuela was not a well-known hot spot, Choate helped put it on the map. He was part of the Hank and Gretchen Manley team that caught the first double super grand slam: a sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin, and swordfish. Choate was also present during the Manleys’ quest to catch 1,000 billfish in a calendar year. They finished the 1983 season with 1,108.
Choate eventually built a small charter fleet in Costa Rica, before moving on to help explore Guatemala’s big-game fishery with his famous Fins & Feathers Resort. He has also developed charter-fishing operations in Brazil and the Galapagos Islands.
A strong conservationist, Choate helped create, and was the first director of, The Billfish Foundation. He has also worked with political leaders in Central and South America to protect billfish and encourage catch-and-release fishing.
Today, the Choate name is still synonymous with conservation and the love for Billfish. An IGFA Hall of Famer for his contributions, Choate has been recognized for his work in Guatemala and takes home some powerful awards.
Today, the Choate name is still synonymous with conservation and the love for Billfish. An IGFA Hall of Famer for his contributions, Choate has been recognized for his work in Guatemala and takes home some powerful awards.
