@Vinceras, you've prolly gotten people saying this to you before so I hope I'm not being annoyingly repetitive! >< But I agree that the first 20 episodes were pretty forgettable, in fact almost all the AMVs/ASMVs on the net also ignore these early villains like they never existed!

I guess it can't be helped? Manga creators, early into their manga wouldn't attempt to make long and deep backstories without the certainty that their manga would last. But I think it started to stabilize and Oda probably got more confidence to churn out better content.
Anyway bullcrap aside, to me the Arlong arc had real sadness and purpose and a story of triumph, unfortunately starting 11 episodes from where you stopped. But to watch a condensed version of the arc, with better animation, 16:9 rather than 4:3, better music and less silly filler and humour quips (this could be good or bad depending on the individual), may I recommend the
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? It could practically count as a standalone movie, no need to have watched prior episodes and no need to continue after it ends.
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I hope you don't mind me being out of place and kinda in your face! >< Just that I've had a few friends myself who couldn't get interested by watching the lower standard early episodes (compared to the other crazy animes out there today), so I've had to adjust my approach when recommending the manga!