Emmett "Mutt" Coble Jr.

North Carolina native Emmett Coble Jr.-- known as "Mutt"--became a big game fishing pioneer after attending Wake Forest, playing semi-pro baseball, and surviving two sinkings while serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II.

As a deck hand on sport fishing boats, Coble had a reputation as the best wireman in the business during the era of heavy leaders made of single-strand, tinned piano wire.  He wired many world records from Australia to St. Thomas, including numerous black marlin over 1,000 pounds.

In addition to his vast knowledge and experience, Coble was athletic-- with the necessary upper-body strength and all-important finesse that all top-notch wiremen have.  He seemed to see everything first, and even with a bad back – from years spent on game fishing boats – he wouldn’t let go of the wire.

His 1991 video “Her Majesty … The Australian Black Marlin” is his legacy, and a sport fishing classic.