About

Howzit

“I am not the best fisherman in the world, but I know them.

They’re my friends.

I was blessed to work side-by-side with many of them.
And was mentored around the globe for ages by some of the industry’s best!”

Captain Dana Boardman, DC has spent decades guiding international sportsfishermen in some of the world’s most productive waters. He has led his clients to many tournament wins, record setting fish, tons of big tuna, and numerous 1,000+ lb. Black and Blue marlin.​

​Although this resume-based Captain has weighed many Granders, he was one of the first individuals in the industry to consciously advocate for the catch and release of Granders and developed very specific techniques and custom equipment to increase the survival of these majestic fish.

His conservation role began in 1992 as a lead Big Game Fishing ecologist and frontline fishing guide executing the initial Billfish Foundation tag and release campaign globally, which influenced many captains, crews and anglers throughout all marlin fisheries, especially in Kona Hawaii. Captain Dana recognizes, and honors, the many key founders and members of the Billfish Foundation, although he mostly got to know Don Tyson while fishing around Australia and Madeira where they shared many meals and late night gatherings talking Big Game Fishing ideals.

In 1995, Capt. Dana invented the “SNOOTER” device with Capt. Roddy Hays for the healthy release of giant Atlantic Blue Marlin in Madeira Portugal, which was featured in Marlin Magazine twice, first in 1998 and then reissued again in 2006.

Dana grew up fishing with his father, brother, and hanai brother in the Channel Islands of So Cal, which is the birthplace of offshore rod and reel Sportfishing and fish conservation practices that began in Avalon on June 1, 1898. At age eleven, his first billfish was a 276 lb. Pacific Broadbill Swordfish caught in the daytime on a pitch bait after years of effort and many late nights scouring through old Zane Grey novels searching for little gems of fishing knowledge with his keen father.

During a short break between undergraduate and graduate college, Dana volunteered as a crew and the cook onboard two classic wooden sailboats – first onboard a 32-foot Herreshoff sailing from La Paz Mexico to Ventura, and then, onboard a 43-foot Kettenburg sailing from Ventura to the Hawaiian Islands. Growing up on sportfishing boats, then sailing 4,000 nautical miles in two back-to-back voyages as his very first sailing experience was par for the course with So Cal groms back in the day.

That brief sailing break turned into a one-and-a-half-decade fishing odyssey.

Upon sailing into Kailua-Kona in late May 1986, the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself when he met Captain Bart Miller during his first day there on the Big Island of Hawaii. This long term mentorship opened many doors into the World’s heavy tackle fishing hotspots and numerous time-honored, industry renowned fishing seasons during the 1980’s and 1990’s throughout Hawaii, Australia, Cape Hatteras, Gloucester, Cape Verde and Madeira, which all continues to be the talk of the industry regarding that epic era and these key destinations for strong Big Game Fishing enthusiasts.

Dana still guides select clients to tight lines and big fish. As president of Granders University he manages one of the most well-appointed sportfishing vacation and mentorship packages on the planet from his base of operations in Kona, Hawaii.

Benefit from a lifetime of Big Game Fishing experience. Fish with the resume-based captain: Captain Dana Boardman, DC.

Lauren Miller, Author
Strike: Reminiscences of Captain Bart Miller


G R A N D E R S
When 130 Class Becomes Light Tackle

 

REEL BIG FISH

Captain Dana Boardman, DC has been guiding anglers to accomplish lifelong goals with his mentorship-based fishing adventures, since 1986.

“I can prove what others can only claim, take a look at my many years of photos” – Captain Dana