To find the beginnings of Nobska Sport fishing you have to go back the early 80’s and turn to a country radio station. The times they were a changing as the new rock tinged country was making its way onto the airwaves and traditional country was hanging on by the skin of it’s teeth. Caught up in this metamorphosis was Tim Goodman, future owner and operator of Nobska Sportfishing.Tim had spent seventeen years slugging it out in the music biz. For a studio musician, recording artist, song writer, and producer, things looked pretty good except for the fact that life on the water was always calling. Time off was always spent on, near, or in the water, and when the opportunity presented itself Tim took a year off to recoup and get closer to his other passion. Signing on as a mate on the Schooner Spike Africa out of Newport Beach Ca. offered the change Tim was looking for.
Upon getting his Coast Guard Masters License, life on the Spike became something he would take more seriously, and the bright lights of Nashville and LA soon faded. The Channel Islands, Catalina Island, and the Southern California coast were the new frontier.
Nine years on the Spike led to new adventures including experiencing the prolific fishing right off the Southern California coast. Days off from Spike started with a predawn cup of coffee with Bob Bisbbee, proprietor at the Texaco dock in Newport Beach. Armed with Bob’s daily words of wisdom Tim would head out in his small center console to fish for the elusive striped marlin. Southern California in the summer provided the perfect local for chasing the exotics. Tuna, Mahi, Yellow tail, and marlin can all be taken between Newport and Catalina.
A boat delivery to Cab San Lucas shook things up as the warmer water and teaming life of those southern high spots lead to a new awakening. Uncle Sam, the Bumps, the Ridge, the Thetis, Mag Bay, the Fingers, and Cabo itself were calling in a big way.
Tim contacted Val Radovcich, a Southern California boat builder and asked for help in finding a used Sport Fisher. Not long after, the name “Nobska” was placed on the transom of a 35’ Radovcich that Tim redesigned and rebuilt in Val’s yard in Long Beach. Bait tanks, work stations, C Fab tuna tower, genset, riggers, and electronics all came together to complete the new Nobska. A summer of chartering in So Cal waters got boat and crew ready for the big adventure. So around midnight on a cool September night in 1990, Nobska left San Diego in her wake and headed south for a new beginning.
In 1990 the streets of Cabo were still dirt, traffic was nonexistent and cell phones and satellite TV had not yet arrived. Names like Grimes and Dickerson were still making there mark in sport fishing with sons along the way to carry on the tradition. Moorings were giving way to the New Marina and fuel was a buck a gallon. 1990 was a good year to arrive in Cabo.
Tim soon befriended Bob and Minerva Smith, proprietors of Minerva’s Baja Tackle, the center of the universe for all Baja fishermen. In order to charter in Mexican waters you had to have a Mexican partner and a Mexican corporation. Minerva became that partner giving Nobska Sport fishing its start in Cabo. Placing well in the fall tournaments and chartering almost everyday Nobska soon became part of the fabric of Cabo.
Many clients will remember Claudia Cohen, a striking Canadian gal who for many years decked on the Nobska. The 1st female mate in Cabo, Claudia made her mark with her expert fishing ability, boat handling skills, hot lunches, and a demeanor that always made for a fun day off Cabo and the Baja.
Over the next ten years Nobska would fish its way to Mazitlan, Puerta Valarta, and as far South as Ziwateneo and back. Three day trips from Cabo to La Paz became a favorite charter, fishing many of the hotspots in the Sea of Cortez. One off day in Cabo Tim grabbed an old acquaintance whom he had never had the chance to fish with and upon leaving the dock at the leisurely hour of 9:00 am they proceeded to score a Grand Slam, a striped marlin, a blue marlin, and a sword fish, and were back at the dock long before happy hour. There’s an account of that amazing day by Tony Wayne on the Nobska web site.
By 1998, the time when only five or so American boats would stay for the hot summer the bite had passed. More boats passed on returning to Southern California for the summer and instead remained in Cabo for one of the best locals in the world to catch Blue Marlin. High rise hotels began to take up the outer beach along with the golf courses. The streets were paved and the traffic became a new experience. With cell phones, Satellite TV, Cabo Wabo, and McDonalds, Cabo was no longer just a quiet little town, the land sharks had arrived in mass.
Nobska Sport fishing advertised in Saltwater Sportsman Magazine, and for years had a great relationship with the magazine. So one day down on the dock in Cabo walks one of the editors, Spider Andreson and his lovely wife Sarah. A few dinners and a few margaritas later a valued friendship was struck up. The following spring decisions were made to haul Nobska for the summer in Cabo for repairs. Tim called Spider looking for an east coast experience to fill the void and next thing he knew he was on his way to Martha’s Vineyard. Mating for Spider that summer, Tim reconnected with his childhood stomping grounds and experienced the great fishing out of the Vineyard and Nantucket. Back in the good old USA, great boat, great Capt., the summer flew by and it was back to Cabo for the fall season with Nobska ready to go.
But the wheels were turning. Ten years in Cabo had brought lots of changes, the bite slowing down from the commercial long lining. The town changing from the old Cabo to a town more reminiscent of a mini Acapulco at California prices. The heyday was over and time to look ahead after years in the warm climate of Southern California and Mexico the crazed thought of relocating back to New England became a reality and the move was made. Nobska was sold to some die hards in San Diego and the chapter was closed.
Tim made himself available as a Capt. for hire around the Cape and Islands but after a few years the itch was back to run his own program again. Another Radovcich was found, oddly enough in Long Island, and Tim scooped it up. But after a season of offshore fishing New England style thoughts began to wander in the direction of something bigger. The Radovcich sold and headed back to California and after a long year on the road searching Tim found the current Nobska. A 47′ Cabo Fly Bridge sitting in Tampa, FL. The deal done, and a not so in a hurry delivery through the keys new Nobska headed for New England and another new beginning.
So twenty five years has passed since Tim stepped on the Spike. Southern California and Mexico have long since faded in Nobska’s wake. Blue water fishing is still a desire but the inland waters of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have so much to offer. Now many families and friends experience what the Elizabeth Islands, the Cape and islands have to offer, and the current Nobska is always ready to go. So many adventures to remember and yet many new ones lie ahead, the story continues…….