Fly Fishing
One of Mark’s first childhood memories is of worm fishing for catfish with his grandfather in Idaho. He started fly fishing for rainbow and eastern brook trout in a local Idaho mountain lake at the age of seven, emulating what he saw his father do. Eventually, he took formal casting lessons and learned to tie flies. After moving to New York, he began fishing in the “salt” for striped bass, bluefish, and false albacore and upstate for steelhead and salmon. Over time things have escalated into a full-blown obsession for which the only cure is fly fishing all over the globe.
Watch Mark on Season 5 of Silver Kings:
Mark in FlyLords Magazine:
EXPERIENCE & ACCOLADES
TARPON FLY FISHING
48th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament, June 5-10, 2022: Grand Champion
Herman Lucerne Tarpon Cup, April 25-27, 2022: Grand Champion
46th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament, June 2-6, 2020: Grand Champion
Herman Lucerne Tarpon Cup, April 29-May 1, 2019: 2nd Place
44th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament, June 4-8, 2018: Winner, Best New Angler
Other Tournament Fishing
21st Tokyo Bay Seabass Fly Fishing Tournament, May 24, 2009: Grand Champion and Big Fish Prize (largest fish in the history of the tournament at the time)
@l_mark_weeks Ready for landing #釣り #fishing #flyfishing #floridakeys #tarpon ♬ original sound – L Mark Weeks
@l_mark_weeks Ready for landing #釣り #fishing #flyfishing #floridakeys #tarpon ♬ original sound – L Mark Weeks
Experience & Accolades
Other Fly Fishing
World Records:
Gorean Snapper: All Tackle Record (caught on fly); 16 lbs 0 oz
Green Humphead Parrotfish: All Tackle Record (caught on fly); 102 lbs 3 oz; fish released
Longtail tuna: Fly Fishing Record on 8kg tippet; 40 lbs 1 oz
Siberian Taimen: Fly Fishing Record on 8kg tippet; 37 lbs 11 oz; fish released
Siberian Taimen: Fly Fishing Record on 8kg tippet (broke my own record); 60 lbs 2 oz; fish released
Japan Country Record:
Chum salmon: 3kg tippet
FISHERIES-RELATED COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES
Conservation
Contributor, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Member, Board of Directors, Ocean Outcomes / “O2”
Mark also does pro bono legal work for O2, which focuses on supporting the development of sustainable commercial fisheries.
Member, Board of Directors, The Taimen Fund / TTF
Mark also does pro bono legal work for TTF, which focuses on preventing Taimen poaching and promoting catch and release fly fishing for Taimen in Mongolia.
Pro Bono Legal Counsel, Wild Salmon Center
Advised on Sarufutsu river project to protect Sakhalin Taimen in Japan; participated in exploratory trips in October 2015 and 2016 to the Russian Far East to develop a sustainable catch and release fly fishery for giant Siberian Taimen threatened by poaching.
Pro Bono Legal Counsel, Fish for Change
General outside counsel for Fish for Change.
Pro Bono Legal Counsel, American Saltwater Guides Association
General outside counsel for American Saltwater Guides Association.
GET SOCIAL
Connect with L. Mark Weeks on social media!
