From Jersey Shore Stripers to SFC Blue Marlin: The Rise of Captain John Bowen and the Rhode Island Breakers

Captain John Bowen came up chasing stripers and bluefin off the Jersey Shore and spent years marlin fishing in the Bahamas before landing the wheel of the El Bendido for the Rhode Island Breakers. At SFC Media Days, he sat down with host Mark Farag to talk about the moments that built him — and what he's after this season.

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Watch the full conversation with Captain John Bowen right here. The episode is also available on our podcast page, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

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Growing Up on the Jersey Shore

Before Bluewater, before marlin, before the SFC — John Bowen was a kid haunting the marinas of the Jersey Shore. "I didn't even have my license yet," he told Mark Farag. He grew up fishing his dad's 26-footer, couldn't stay off it, and worked his way through stripers, fluke, offshore wrecks, and eventually the New England tuna grounds. He helped out on charter boats whenever someone needed an extra hand. "Just bouncing around, whoever needed a guy."

The tuna fishing came first. He's been at it roughly 15 years and describes the moment he first went south as the one that locked in the direction of his life. "Once you go south the first time, you know this is just what you wanted to do forever."

Chubb, Crooked Island, and a Fish That Couldn't Be Landed

The moment that really changed Bowen happened during five seasons spent fishing around Chubb in the Bahamas. He bounced between Chubb and Crooked Island, working on some of the craziest fisheries he's ever seen. "You can catch anything over there." But one encounter stands out above everything else.

A blue marlin came up near the boat while they had only 20s in the water. She didn't eat. She just appeared. "She was dancing, chasing some tuna around right next to the boat." He estimates the fish at 1,100 to 1,200 pounds — a potential grander, and by his own account one of the largest blue marlin he has ever seen. "She aired out right next to the boat. I didn't think I'd ever see anything like that. It was once-in-a-lifetime." Even if she had eaten, he's not sure they would have landed her with the tackle they had out.

He did land a grander bluefin off Nantucket — killed it, fought it to exhaustion. "Fish kicked my butt." But there's a difference between the species that every offshore captain understands. Blue marlin is where his heart is. "If I'm going to go fishing, that's where I'm at. That's my thanks."

Two Years on the El Bendido, Now with the Rhode Island Breakers

Bowen has been running the El Bendido for going on two seasons. The boat winters in Fort Lauderdale, with some early-season Bahamas trips keeping the crew sharp before the tournament circuit kicks in. He joined owner Paul and the Rhode Island Breakers for the SFC, their first full season in the league — new venues, new competition, new decisions on tournament strategy every week.

When asked about Key West and whether the team would chase sailfish or marlin, Bowen gave the answer that separates good captains from great ones: "We've been talking about it every day. We'll make a game-time decision when we get there." He confirmed the crew knows how to kite fish and feels prepared for whatever the conditions call for. "We got good guys in the pit. Everybody's done a little bit of everything."

What He's Most Excited About

Walkers Cay came up immediately when Mark asked about the tournament Bowen is most looking forward to. He's never fished it. "That's why I'm super excited. It'll be my first time over there." Charleston came up next — another new venue, hyped by everyone in the field. For a captain who built his career moving from ground to ground, chasing fish wherever they are, the SFC schedule reads like a bucket list.

"Competing against these guys in the league — it's going to be a lot of fun."

Key Takeaways

• Captain John Bowen grew up on the Jersey Shore and cut his teeth on stripers, fluke, and New England tuna before discovering bluewater marlin fishing in the Bahamas.
• A potential 1,100–1,200-pound blue marlin sighted off Chubb — chasing tuna boat-side with no marlin tackle out — is the most unforgettable moment of his career so far.
• He landed a grander bluefin off Nantucket, but blue marlin remains his first love as a captain.
• The Rhode Island Breakers and El Bendido are in their first full SFC season; Bowen is especially excited for Walkers Cay and Charleston, both new venues for him.
• Game-time tournament decisions — sail vs. marlin, inshore vs. canyon — are part of how this crew operates. Flexibility is the game plan.

Watch the Full Episode

Captain John Bowen talks about the fish that got away in the Bahamas, what it took to land a grander, and what he's chasing in his first full season with the Rhode Island Breakers. Watch on YouTube or visit our podcast page.