While Jimmy Johnson is best-known for his accomplishments in football — which include winning two Super Bowls and a collegiate national championship, as well as hosting Fox NFL Sundays — he’s a passionate angler who would rather be chasing blue marlin in the Florida Keys. Here’s the play-by-play.
M: First question: Who’s going win the Super Bowl this year?
(Laughs) Well, the same teams you would expect will be strong again this year. New England looks even better than they did last year. Atlanta, Green Bay and Pittsburgh should all have good seasons.
M: You were born in Port Arthur, Texas, just across the state line from Louisiana. Did you fish growing up?
We did some fishing when we were young; my dad had an old wooden boat, and we were always boating or water skiing.
M: You went to the same high school as Janis Joplin. Did you know her well?
I did. She lived two blocks away. Back then, the drinking age across the river in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was only 18, and it was 21 in Port Arthur, so she used to go over there and sing in the clubs. We had quite a few great times but nothing serious.
M: When did you get into offshore fishing?
I had been on a few charters, but I didn’t really start fishing a lot until I moved to the Keys about 20 years ago — and now it’s all I want to do. I’ve caught five blue marlin fishing alone on my boat.
M: That’s an incredible accomplishment!
Probably 90 percent of the time I fish by myself. It’s my time to get away and enjoy the ocean. I usually run five lines, and it’s a handful to clear everything, fight…
