Monte Burke is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Saban: The Making of a Coach, a biography of Alabama head coach, Nick Saban. He is also the author of 4TH And Goal: One Man’s Quest to Recapture His Dream, which won an Axiom Award and has been optioned for a feature film, and Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass, which was named one of the best books of the year by Sports Illustrated and Amazon, and was chosen for Barnes & Noble’s “Discover Great New Writers” program.

His latest book, Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession and the Hunt for the World-Record Tarpon, was described by the Wall Street Journal as “wonderful…a lush, panoramic book.”

Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession and the Hunt for the World-Record Tarpon

From the bestselling author of Saban, 4th and Goal, and Sowbelly comes the thrilling, untold story of the quest for the world record tarpon on a fly rod—a tale that reveals as much about Man as it does about the fish.
“Funny, wistful, and wonderful.”
—Carl Hiaasen
“You will love this book.”
—Michael Keaton
“What Susan Orlean accomplished for the strange, hermetic world of orchid hunting in her 1998 classic, ‘The Orchid Thief,’ Monte Burke does for another strange, hermetic world in his wonderful ‘Lords of the Fly’…a lush, panoramic book.”
–The Wall Street Journal
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Selected Stories by Monte Burke


Six Immigrant Stories That Will Make You Believes in the American Dream Again

Immigrants are taking a beating on television, at political rallies, even on capitol hill. But on the Forbes 400, it’s a love story. We’ve never had more members–over 10%–born outside this country. That’s a healthy thing for American entrepreneurship and job growth.

» Read It on Forbes

Other Publications

The Everglades’ Wild Hope

The fate of the South’s last frontier teeters on the brink—after decades of losing ground to environmental devastation, the endangered Florida habitat and its legions of supporters may finally be turning the tide.

» Read It on Garden & Gun

The Pursuit of Nick Saban: Alabama vs. Texas

A behind-the-scenes look at Nick Saban’s reported interest in taking over the Texas program after winning the national title at Alabama in the 2012 season.

» Read It on The New York Times

When Salmon Return to the Margaree, It’s All Fly Rods and Autumn Glory

The river is public, and can get crowded, but anglers here on Cape Breton Island know it’s something special.

» Read It on The New York Times