Virginia Beach man gets 12 grand slams in 3 days

It is a fishing feat more coveted than most any other accomplishment.

The Gland Slam.

Offshore has its version - a blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish... all caught in one day.

Inshore's version consists of a tarpon, bonefish and permit... all in one day.

Anglers who experience these incredible outings are held in high esteem by their peers.

So if you see Nick Durney with his head held a little higher or his chest stuck out a little more, it's with good reason. The lifelong Virginia Beach resident just returned from Key West, where he fished with former Beach resident and Keys guide Pat Bracher.

And while Durney has had a few grand slam days throughout the years, he did something this time that was nothing shy of amazing.

In three days, Durney recorded 12 grand slams. He was one bonefish shy of 13.

"It kind of blows your mind," said Durney, 62. "I've been fishing down there since 1974, and you hear about grand slams. To get one is pretty rare because of how everything has to come together to make it happen.

"But 12? In three days? Wow."

One of the most critical elements of joining the Grand Slam Club is having the right guide. There are few - some will argue none - better than Bracher.

A 1980 graduate of First Colonial High School and 1985 graduate of ODU, Bracher has been working as a Keys fishing guide since 1987.

In those 23 years, he has helped his clients catch 667 grand slams - most of them in the past 12 years.

Durney had three slams on the first day of his most recent trip - missing a fourth by one fish.

"That was a great day," Bracher said. "I've had four slams in a day four times so far this year. I thought we were going to have another one there.

"But things were all working out right for him to do it again."

That came on the second day, when Durney recorded five. Bracher remembered the chaotic pace and how things came together.

"We started off with two big tarpon," he said. "Then we got three bonefish, then five permit. So we went back to where we caught the bonefish and got two more. So we needed three more tarpon to give him five slams.

"We went back to where we started with tarpon and got the three we needed. Absolutely amazing how it all came together."

The third day, Durney got four for his grand total.

"How about this captain I'm fishing with?" Durney said. "Is he not the most amazing guy ever? There ain't none better, especially if this is what you want to do."

Bracher has filled out International Game Fish Association paperwork for Durney in the past in an attempt to have his slams listed in the organization's Grand Slam Club.

Durney has never mailed them.

Of his 12 recent slams, seven qualified for IGFA recognition because he was the only person to ever touch the rod. On the others, Bracher hooked at least one of the fish and handed the rod to Durney for the fight.

"I don't think he's the kind who cares about the recognition," said Bracher, who added that he's fished with Durney since the 1970s. "So he probably won't send these in either."

So, despite the fact that he's done something amazing, you probably won't hear Durney bragging about it.