“This Happened To Me” To Air on Outdoor Life Network
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The often told story of Angler John Whalen of Capistrano Beach, California has finally been filmed in a reenactment that was produced in July 2003 off the coast in Boca Raton, Florida. The reenactment will be aired on October 2, 2003 on Outdoor Life Network from 7:00 – 7:30 pm EST.
 
Capt. Vinnie Donato narrates this intriguing story along with Peter B. Wright of Stuart, Florida. Peter B. Wright actually witnessed the event from another fishing vessel. Peter B. will share firsthand his account of this unbelievable incident.

Pulled overboard by a Big Tuna, John Whalen of Capistrano Beach, California amazingly - lived to tell about his incredible experience. As John tells his account of that day - if it were not for instinct and quick thinking -  this unexpected event would have ended tragically.

Arthur Miller Productions, of ski movie fame had contacted Capt. Vinnie Donato of GameFace Gear® after launching its “This Happened To Me” series to include near death experiences involving hunting and fishing. After being informed of the danger involved in big game fishing Producer Tim Willison decided the angler overboard story of John Whalen was a tale that needed to be told.  He also was quite amazed when he heard that safety was not always practiced in the cockpit during tournament situations and rough conditions, as well as fishing anytime for big fish.

“This Happened To Me” was shot off the coast of Florida in Boca Raton, Florida. Local sportfishing boats to include a 61’ Garlington “Hipkneetized I “ & 44’ Garlington “Hipkneetized II” were utilized to effectively illustrate all perspectives of this amazing story.

Capt. Vinnie Donato was proud to be a part of this segment of “This Happened to Me”. Donato states “Any time I am able to share even a small bit of information regarding safety and the lack thereof in the professional sport of big game fishing – I consider that time well spent. If just one person is more aware that danger can happen in an instant – they may take a precaution that may very well save that person’s life. This is why safety in the cockpit has become my platform. It is always about just that one person.”
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MateSaver® & AnglrSavr™ Safety Harness Puts On Its “GameFace”  
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Four years have passed since the inception of MateSaver® Safety Harness. In the last 8 years, we have lost 3 of our own due to entanglement while leadering. MateSaver® meets the safety needs of mates worldwide. Safety in the cockpit is not only for crew members, but for anglers as well. For this reason the AnglrSavr™ Safety Fishing harness was designed.  The most recent footage of home videos showing anglers being violently pulled into the water is a wake-up call to all of us who are involved with standup fishing and angling from a fighting chair. Feedback from customers and retailers was so positive that Capt. Vinnie Donato, President, A1A Boating Services, Inc. decided to design a line of harnesses that didn’t offer safety, but can be worn in tandem with MateSaver® for safety. The product line currently consists of 6 standup harnesses and an offshore and inshore gimbal pad as well as various accessories.

The phrase “Put your game face on!” is used quite often throughout the sporting world.  When you come face to face with a marlin or bluefin tuna or a mako shark, you better have your game face on.  All professional sports require serious commitment and preparation.  Big game fishing is no exception. Big game fishing has not always been recognized as an extreme sport. Those unaware of the dangers involved in wiring or angling big fish need to be informed by the professionals. Creating a logo to demonstrate a more “extreme” cutting edge approach has allowed Donato to market his entire line under one “umbrella name” - GameFace Gear™. “The Black Belt of Big Game Fishing” slogan came about by accident in a brainstorming session for new ideas. All GameFace Gear™ products are black. And in Karate - the Black Belt is the highest level of achievement. The Black Belt extreme image portrayed in the logo comes across to the customer as it should - a sport to be respected. Donato takes great pride in the quality and workmanship of each harness. His confidence shows in his offering all belts & harnesses with a Lifetime Warranty. His goal is to provide the very best product for an affordable price.

How many more crew members do we need to lose before this sport wakes up and realizes that safety must be a part of every fishing program? Tragedy does not discriminate. Whether you fish on the weekends or cruise the world, GameFace Gear™ is for you. Don’t leave the dock without it.                                                            ###                                                          

Circle Hook Advocate Capt. Ron Hamlin of “Capt. Hook” Endorses MateSaver®  & AnglrSavr™ Safety Fishing Harness 
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"My mate Eddie Barnes weighs 110 lbs. - my leader is 400 lbs. Without the MateSaver®, I'm afraid he'll go over the transom and so is he. But with the MateSaver® he can hold on and I can breathe easier. It's safety first on the Captain Hook." - Captain Ron 

Circle Hook advocate Capt. Ron Hamlin is no stranger to the dangerous sport of big game fishing. He knows firsthand the danger of entanglement and the possibility of going overboard while wiring or angling big fish.

Capt. Ron is known worldwide for his innovative implementation of dead bait circle hook rigs as well as other trend setting techniques for blue water fishing. Because he loves and respects the sport, Capt. Ron gave his word at the 1999 IGFA Auction and Banquet that he will only use circle hooks during catch and release. He is not only concerned with our natural resources, but also with safety in the cockpit.  This veteran of hard core fishing is saddened by the tragic deaths of Tito Santana (1998) and Chris Bowie (1994). Hamlin says, “Accidents happen in the blink of an eye in high seas or low freeboard or with big or small fish.  If only [those] mates had a little more time - just a second or two.  MateSaver®  wasn’t available then. Now that [this] product is available, there is no reason not to wear it.  Crews have safety lines on everything else in the cockpit, why not on an angler or a mate? “

It is the love and respect for the sport as well as his concern for fellow captains and mates in dangerous situations that has led Capt. Hamlin to proudly endorse the MateSaver®  & AnglrSavr™ Safety Harness.  Not only does the crew of “Capt. Hook” wear the harness, but the harnesses also allow Capt. Ron to address safety in the cockpit and bring awareness to the entire fishing industry through national seminars and teaching clinics throughout the year.

Capt. Ron Hamlin on safety: “Safety is a choice, MateSaver® is available. Get it. Wear it. Keep your mind on what you’re doing. You’ll still catch fish. Do you want to be there at the dock to talk about the fight?  Some things change for the better.  The MateSaver® is one of those changes that benefit those who wear it.”
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Marlin Magazine May Issue 2000
by Jan Fogt
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Arguably Stewart Campbell is one of the most experienced big game fishermen in the world. With more than a half dozen big game fishing world records to his credit the Texas fisherman fully understands the limits of his tackle. He also employs three of the best crew in the business.

But accidents happen - even to the best. One moment Stewart Campbell was fighting a fish on 30-pound tackle from the fighting chair; the next all you could see were "the soles of his shoes going over the side."

Fortunately for Campbell, the estimated 900-pound plus fish pulled so hard, the leader stripped the guides, freeing the line to run off the rod. Campbell popped up with two black eyes, a busted finger and gash on his forehead. But not all incidents end so fortunately.

In the past few years, two professional mates have been pulled over the side and presumably drowned while wiring fish. To Capt. Vinnie Donato, those incidents were "a wake up call." As a professional mate and captain with more than 20 years experience, Donato realized, "It could have been me." And as Stewart Campbell demonstrated, anglers can be as vulnerable as mates when handling big fish.

Three years of research and design have gone into Donato's new patent pending MateSaver® and follow up AnglrSavrTM fishing harnesses. Lightweight and comfortable, the harnesses allow for total freedom of movement. Both are constructed from UV resistant 2-inch nylon webbing and 2-inch stainless steel D - rings and Delrin® buckle. Both feature stainless steel D - rings on the back of the harness for attaching a nylon tether (tether and gimbal not included). Each also comes complete with matching black nylon air dry mesh storage bags. "Easy on", "easy off", durable and cool are features that have led experts such as Captains Mike Benitez, Scott Hardeman and VJ Bell to invest in MateSaver® for themselves, and their crew. Built to work with a standup fighting or gimbal belt, AnglrSavrTM doubles as a kidney and shoulder harness with closed cell foam and fiberglass supports and heavily padded shoulder straps to equalize pressure. It also comes with an adaptor strap enabling fly rod or light tackle applications to temporarily rest the rod during the fight. 
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