Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2015 i Salt Water Sportsman

“STATE FISHERIES MANAGERS THREATENED TO SET THEIR OWN SEASONS AND LIMITS TO GIVE ANGLERS BETTER ACCESS TO THE FISHERY.” As the New Year got underway, I was looking around the country at federal fisheries actions. What I saw in several areas makes me wonder about the long-term viability of our federal fisheries system. Yes, it has its warts, but it allows for substantial public input and is better than any other system around the world. However, as this has developed over the last 40 years, there have been consistent efforts to do end arounds on any regulatory action that is considered to be too onerous. Some of this is to be expected, but carried to an extreme, it undermines the reason to use this process at all. First, we are…

01 MAKESHIFT FIGHTING BELT Rather than find yourself literally in a pinch when the gimbal digs into your gut because you forgot your fighting belt, head to a hardware store before you go fishing and purchase two or three 1.5-inch PVC T-joints and stow them in your gear bag. Fasten a T-joint to your waist using either a rope or your belt for a useful and affordable “in a pinch” fighting belt. When finished, pass the belt along to your boat captain for the next fisherman who might have also forgotten his fighting belt to save his belly from the gimbal. Dave Ige Aiea, Hawaii 02 TEATIME FOR TAUTOG Pinpoint your chum deployment for tautog (aka blackfish), or any other bottomfish by attaching an inexpensive and compact stainless-steel tea ball…

From the keel up, the Regulator 23, is built to meet a range of angling demands, whether it’s cruising the inshore grounds or running of shore for bigger game. Twin 160-quart fish boxes under the forward seats do double duty as extra dry storage; a 350-quart in-deck fish box and a 120-quart transom fish box provide plenty of ice-down capacity. The cockpit holds a 23-gallon livewell, a rigging station and freshwater washdown, plus locking rod storage and plenty of rod holders. Available options include a head, a 55-quart cooler that fits under the leaning post, fiberglass T-top and much more. Powered by a single Yamaha F300. regulatormarine.com…

FAST FACTS FOR SUCCESS POPULAR SETUPS A 3⁄8-ounce body with a No. 3 Colorado blade is the most versatile, but a ½- or ¾-ounce lure body excels in deep water and in a strong current. LOW-VIS OPTION A larger Colorado blade, typically No. 4, produces more f ash and vibration, making it easier for the fish to detect the lure in muddy or stained water. FOOL WARY REDS In clear water or when the redfish are skittish, opt for a realistic swimbait or soft-plastic lure body and scale down the size of the hardware. “Wake at 9 o’clock, going left!” announced my tournament partner, Mike Laramy, from the poling platform. I quickly turned and sent my spinnerbait sailing toward a spot some 8 feet ahead of the cruising fish. The…

TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER: CLEAR LOCATION: FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA WIND: NNW AT 16 MPH SEA STATE: 1- TO 2-FOOT CHOP TEST LOAD: TWO ADULTS, 18 GALLONS OF FUEL The folks at Maverick, the boat maker that coined the term “technical poling skiff,” are not the kind to rest on their laurels. They are constantly finding ways to make their boats more functional. Case in point: The latest version of Maverick’s popular Mirage line, the 18 HPX-V, is bound to satisfy the most demanding shallow-water angler. With help from light-tackle guide Capt. Christian Yergens, I put the 18-footer through its paces in the Indian River, in Fort Pierce, Florida, where a stiff breeze blowing against an incoming tide kicked up a 1- to 2-foot chop reminiscent of what flats anglers often encounter…

Airport bars are great places to hear stories, some of which make you smile. On the way back from snowboarding outside Denver a couple of winters ago, a father and son — both of drinking age — saddled up next to me in a mainterminal watering hole. The younger man was wearing a shirt with marlin art across the back. A mile above sea level, that caught my attention. Turns out, the duo were a good-humored dentist and his engineer son from Alabama who liked fishing more than skiing, but their wives held opposite viewpoints. A tumbler or two into blue-water conversation, the son said, “Remember when we messed with that guide in Florida?” Here’s how I recall the rest: As a dentist, Dad had all sorts of false teeth…

SWS recognizes kids who represent sportsmanship, passion and proficiency in saltwater fishing. To learn more about these and other exceptional Salt Water Kids, or to nominate one of your own, log onto saltwater sportsman.com/swkids. YOUNG INSTRUCTOR JACK MILLS, 11 Jack has been an avid saltwater angler since he was 5 years old. Now 11, he puts his wealth of f shing knowledge toward teaching other kids — and even some adults — how to catch redfish and seatrout on the Georgia coast. Milton, Georgia BASS MASTER RYAN HALLMAN, 10 Ryan caught this 30-pound striped bass while fishing with his dad and grandfather of Long Beach Island. He first cast a line at the age of 4, and he hopes to become a scientist when he grows up to help people…

This past fall, I found myself standing on a beach in Islamorada, Florida, with a couple dozen other aspiring fly-fishermen, attempting to accomplish what really seems like a simple task: casting a fly rod in a manner that looks at least halfway competent. I know, how hard can it be, right? But as the other casters and I gazed with intense concentration at the fly lines of various colors zipping through our rod guides, it suddenly seemed overwhelmingly difficult. My visit to the beach with the other casters came during a session of the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School, considered by many the pre-eminent fly-fishing school in the country. Sandy Moret, ace fly-caster and owner of the Keys’ top fly-fishing store, Florida Keys Outfitters, created the school 25 years ago.…

Boston Whaler’s new 420 Outrage incorporates everything serious anglers require, in addition to a generous helping of creature comforts. With expansive bow area, innovative seating, convertible helm and cockpit areas and a fully equipped cabin, it’s equally adept at entertaining and pleasure cruising, close to home or long range. Mercury Joystick Piloting provides precision handling and maneuvering in close quarters. Mercury’s integrated SmartCraft VesselView display, power steering and digital throttle and shift combine on the 420 to deliver seamless control. Automatically adjusting trim tabs enhance ride quality effortlessly. bostonwhaler.com…

I fish inshore for redfish, seatrout, snapper and snook, but sometimes I venture of shore for a variety of fish, including gag grouper. To reach productive fishing grounds, I have to navigate an area punctuated by rocks and ledges, oyster bars and other dangers. I needed a big water skiff that could also go shallow, rigged with a tower for sight fishing and for spotting hazards. After researching a number of boats, I ordered East Cape Skiffs’ Vantage with an 8-foot Power-Pole, custom flats tower, jack plate, 24-volt i-Pilot trolling motor, Garmin 741, Armstrong boarding ladder and stereo. I also shielded the keel with Line-X for extra protection. After a year of operation, I wouldn’t change a thing. SHOW OFF YOUR BOAT! From initial setup to modifications, show us how…

BARNEGAT BAY GRAND SLAM PLANNER WHAT: Striped bass, weakfish, fluke, bluefish WHEN: Spring through summer, best May through September. WHERE: Barnegat Bay, New Jersey WHO: The following guides can help you in your quest for a Barnegat slam: Capt. Dave DeGennaro 732-330-5674 hiflier.com Capt. Brett Taylor 609-290-7709 reelreactioncharters.com Capt. Steve Purul 609-290-1217 reelfantaseafishing.com We were borderline late for a lunch meeting, so I made my last cast of the day to the edge of the shoal. Capt. Dave DeGennaro aboard Hi-Flier had already helped me put a weakfish, a striper and a fluke on the charts. Now only one target remained to complete my Barnegat Slam: a bluefish, the easiest of all, had managed to eluded me all morning. The popper hit the water, and I chugged it back over…

TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER: CLEAR AND SUNNY LOCATION: MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA WIND: NNE 6 MPH SEA STATE: 1-TO 2-FOOT SWELLS TEST LOAD: THREE ADULTS, 200 GALLONS OF FUEL, 75 GALLONS OF WATER I’d be lying if I said my brain conjures up images of a 43-footer when I think of a center console, but an increasing number of manufacturers are pushing the boundaries and building impressive crafts that rival traditional game boats in size and offer the versatility center consoles are famous for. The Everglades 435CC, the newest addition to the Florida boatbuilder’s lineup and the largest it has ever built, is a great example of the new generation of jumbo center consoles. Upon coming aboard, the superb ft and finish were obvious everywhere. So was the ergonomic design, which takes…

The benefits of a double line include enhanced shock absorption at the most critical point in your tackle: where you connect your line to either a leader, or a hook or a lure. I recommended tying a Bimini twist as your double-line knot for years, but Capt. Robert “RT” Trosset of Key West, Florida, convinced me of the efficacy of the alternative double-line knot: the spider hitch. The spider hitch creates a double line quickly, and it works well with braid and mono. It’s easier to tie than the Bimini, too. The only tricky part comes when you pull the double line and the coils through the loop. Double a length of line and form a loop, then grasp the loop between your thumb and forefinger. Wrap the double line…

In shallow inshore depths where noise and pressure waves alert wary fish, the ability to quietly hold a boat in position is paramount. Dropping a conventional anchor overboard is impractical, time-consuming and loud. A push pole or manual stake-of pin is difficult to use if the bottom is shell, hard sand or rock. Hydraulic or electric/mechanical shallow-water anchor systems are a viable alternative. With rapid remote-control deployment, plus multiple size and mounting options, these systems have quickly become standard equipment for inshore enthusiasts. “THESE SYSTEMS HAVE BECOME STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR INSHORE ENTHUSIASTS.” We asked two professional guides to share the ways they use theirs while running charters. GUMBO COUNTRY “Power-Poles have definitely allowed my clients to catch more fish,” says Capt. Theophile Bourgeois of Lafitte, Louisiana. Bourgeois uses twin 8-foot…

In its purest form, shallow-water fi shing is a visual sport, with movement the most obvious way to zero in on the target. Tails or fi ns breaking the surface, fl ashes, rolls, wakes and bait being chased are glaring signs. But other, more subtle hints also tip of the presence or likelihood of fi sh. I spoke to three veteran guides about what they look for on the fl ats based on decades of experience in their home waters. SOUTH FLORIDA and the KEYS// TELLTALE SIGNS “Read the surface; look for wakes, nervous water, pushes or humps. Anything that breaks up the normal water pattern pinpoints the presence of fish. And don’t be afraid to look too close or too far. If the visibility is good, it is possible…

Locked behind a wall of repressive and often brutal dictatorship and isolated by global politics for 50 years lies not only an engaging history, culture and people, but a look into the past — and hope for the future. Equally engaging, fishing in Cuba offers an opportunity to rediscover a long-inaccessible piece of our own heritage and legacy as anglers. CHECKING IN: Communications are undergoing rapid change in Cuba, but satellite phones were forbidden. Cellphone service is available, but it isn’t always reliable in remote locations. The DeLorme inReach SE, a satellite text messenger, provided a dependable solution for checking in at home. Bonefish tailed in the shallows on all sides as we poled among the islets. Once our guide had us in position, my partner Bo Jackson took the…

SPECIES 1st CHOICE 2nd CHOICE COMMENTS Panama Ecuador Pacific Blue Marlin: Trolling live tuna or bonito is the ticket to blue marlin in Panama, where Pacific blues should be abundant. In Ecuador, look for big blues prowling offshore from Salinas to Manta. This stretch of coastline is most likely to offer real tackle busters this month: Fish over 600 pounds are caught with some regularity. Dominican Republic Bahamas Atlantic Blue Marlin: The fertile offshore grounds from Punta Cana to La Romana can yield half a dozen shots at blues this time of year, and the season is just starting. Most fish range from 200 to 300 pounds, but 500-pounders are not out of the question. In the Bahamas, blue marlin become more prevalent but not yet widespread. The northern islands…