Retired fisherman catches 99

'It takes an experienced fisherman to catch 99'. These words, written on Kenneth Darmand's T-shirt, references his longevity as a fisher and his skill on the seas.

The Goodwill, St James resident turns 99 years old this Friday. He said the keys to his long life include the fear of the Lord and embracing a healthy lifestyle.

"I am no rum drinker and smoker. That is why, maybe, mi live so long," Darmand told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"I think I am the oldest fisherman right now in Montego Bay, because I don't pass my place with people and mi live a clean life," he said.

As for his birthday celebration, Darmand, a father of 12, is ecstatic about attending his church, Glendevon Seventh-day Adventist.

"I sure know I am going to enjoy my birthday coming up because God is going to be with me, and I will be there with him. I go get everything I want for this birthday; my daughter is promising me everything that she can afford on the table. Anything mi see there mi want, just about anything, mi can get fi eat," Darmand said.

Born in Meagre Bay, Montego Bay, St James, Darmand is the only surviving offspring of his parent's three children. He became a fisherman during his teenage years and spent more than 60 years earning his living from the deep, blue sea.

"I discovered from when I was a little boy that fishing was the love of my life. Anytime I go fishing I would control the fish," Darmand said.

The retired fisherman said he was quite lucky in his days, as his catches were quite remarkable.

"God give me some special luck when I go out a sea. It look like my luck is different from other men. Dem say is boasy mi boasy, but is not that, mi just born with a special luck. ... Nuh care how me go out, or the situation is rough out there, I catch a lot of fish. A guy named Charlie Brooks, he gave me a lot of luck too, because, to be honest, the net was his after mi stop working with mine," Darmand said.

Doreen Darmand, the retired fisherman's only daughter, said that on many occasions when her father and his sidekick returned from sea, he had to get help to unload his catch.

"Them would say it is [obeah] oil he uses, because they would be out there all night and can't catch anything; but when he goes, is a different thing," Doreen joked.

"When him go out to catch fish, the customers would wait until he gets back. They would not go to any other fisherman because my dad would catch a lot of fish, and he would give his customers extra," she added.

The elder Darmand said that one of his more remarkable catches was the capture of a massive shark, which he said was spotted on the water close to the old hospital. Darmand said that despite the likelihood of the 200-pounder getting aggressive when he went in pursuit, he had no fear of going after it in the water.

"I wasn't afraid of the shark, the shark was afraid of me," he jovially said.

"It was out by the old hospital, when I swam deep and saw him in the cave. He was afraid because I used the spare gun on him. I used herring and mackerel as bait to catch him. A tourist was bathing near the area and she was afraid, so I had to catch him," Darmand said.