By Krystle J Bailey
Mark Barbera of Egg Harbor Township recently became the 181st member of a prestigious club of fishermen after catching his ninth billfish off the coast of Miami. A CPA by trade, Barbera caught his first billfish, an Atlantic Blue Marlin, in August 1996. The dedicated family man spent the next 26 years growing his CPA business and raising his three sons, all while using vacation time to dabble in sport fishing.
In 2007, Barbera went on to catch a White Marlin, followed by a Black Marlin in the same year while traveling in Mexico. As he continued to catch and release, checking one billfish after another off his list, the EHT local decided that he would pursue the IGFA Royal Billfish Slam Club. This highly regarded club of international anglers (those who fish with a rod and line) has less than 200 members worldwide, including Mark Barbera.
The International Game Fish Association, founded in 1939, is a non-profit organization that recognizes the outstanding achievements of anglers while promoting responsible, ethical angling practices and the conservation of game fish.
The IGFA maintains the World Records for all species of game fish. Members of the association can join these ranks and be recognized as an IGFA World Record holder by following a specific set of rules laid out by the association. These rules are in place to ensure ethical angling and conservation of sea life. The very specific guidelines include action steps that must be taken before, during, and after the catch.
Some of these guidelines include not touching the fish while it is on the line, photographic evidence, witness accounts, manual reeling of the fish, and several others. In accordance with these rules, Barbera spent over an hour reeling in the 60-pound swordfish that would ultimately solidify his ranks in the IGFA Billfish Royal Slam Club. From 1,700 feet deep and fighting the currents, Barbera explains that not losing the fish on the way up was the biggest challenge.
From the first Atlantic Blue Marlin to the final Swordfish caught in 2022, Barbera has traveled to Mexico, Miami, Hawaii, and Costa Rica in pursuit of rest, relaxation, and billfish. Covid put a different spin on things, as certain fish can only be found in specific areas of the world. The spearfish that Barbera caught in 2021, for example, congregate in areas such as the Florida Keys, Hawaii, Japan, and Bali. So, when Mark’s trip to Cona, Hawaii, was delayed due to Covid, the road to the Slam Club was postponed as well.
Ultimately, after 26 years since his first catch, Barbera was officially inducted into the IGFA Billfish Royal Slam Club in December 2022.
Looking forward, Barbera is anticipating his plans for early retirement, complete with travel, more fishing, and time with his family. He continues to offer CPA services out of his practice, Barbera and Company CPAs, LLC, and recently launched a blog at www.markbarbera.com.
The blog chronicles his traveling journeys while also providing tips and information about taxes, financial planning, and early retirement. Mark encourages anyone interested in game fishing to give it a shot. Local ports in Cape May and Wildwood Crest offer offshore fishing to ease into the ocean.
“You don’t have to be a professional,” shares Mark Barbera. “It’s a great thing to add to your bucket list, and maybe you’ll fall in love with it.”
Keep up with Mark’s journey on Instagram @markandjosette.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
