Page 100 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2019

OUTDOOR LIVING driven by winning
Determination, concentration, and the will to win led Biloxi businessman and angler Jimmy Taylor to achieve success in billfish competition, becoming a member of the Billfish Royal Grand Slam. To be recognized as a member of the IGFA Royal Grand Slam, an angler must catch all nine required billfish species.
A smiling Taylor said, “In July I caught a swordfish out of Venice, Louisiana, to complete the Royal Grand Slam.” He is one of 160 people to catch a Pacific sailfish, Atlantic sailfish, Pacific blue marlin, Atlantic blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white
marlin, spearfish and swordfish.
Taylor began his
journey in 1976 while
on a State Farm
Insurance business
trip to Acapulco,
Mexico, and hooked
the first of his nine
billfish species. After
43 years, Jimmy got
his swordfish to secure the Royal Grand Slam.
“It’s been a long, special journey and I never knew I would reach this goal,” said Jimmy. “It’s been a passion of mine and I love tournament light tackle release fishing.”
Taylor believes his determination to win started
in high school when he played on the 1969 undefeated Biloxi Indians football team.
“I’ve always been driven by winning and it’s extended into my tournament fishing,” Taylor said. “When I fish, I can really concentrate on doing what I love
and the phone doesn’t ring.”
He belted out a
huge laugh after
that statement, but
got serious when he mentioned his two mentors. “While I have fished with a number
of great teammates, Bill Eason and Hall of Famer Joan Vernon helped me
achieve my goal,” said Taylor. In 2019, Jimmy qualified for his 12th IGFA Offshore World Championship and placed 7th
out of 220 anglers. His team finished 5th out of 45 teams.
Taylor owns two state records and has hooked and released 560 billfish in his distinguished career.
story by A.J. Giardina photos by A.J. Giardina and courtesy of Jimmy Taylor
The 500th Bill sh hooked by Jimmy.
Jimmy Taylor posing with his trophies in his State Farm of ce in Biloxi.
100 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2019
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His certi cate after catching a Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin & Sail sh
in Costa Rico on December 10, 2010.