Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Salt Water Sportsman

NOMINATE A KID SWS recognizes kids who represent sportsmanship, passion and proficiency in saltwater fishing. To nominate an exceptional Salt Water Kid, email us at swkids@saltwatersportsman.com. 1 John David Guillen 9, Georgia Fishing since the age of 2, John loves nothing more than being outdoors with his family. When he’s not fishing, John is either kayaking, hiking or cast-netting bait. His favorite fish are red snapper like the one pictured, his perfect consolation after losing a 15-minute battle with a big cobia. 2 Devin Hennigh 8, South Carolina Living in the coastal town of Beaufort, South Carolina, Devin takes advantage of every opportunity to wet a line. Although he’s happiest when fighting a big shark, Devin loves the thrill of heading offshore to catch different species. He caught this little…

I’m an offshore-trolling enthusiast who understands how to use outriggers to place baits and teasers. Yet I was bewildered when Capt. Kevin Jeffries asked me to swing out my 15-foot riggers aft er anchoring in 10 feet of water. We were sett ing up to fish the shallow patch reefs offnorthern Key Largo for hogfish, snapper and grouper. George Poveromo Increase your coverage when bottomfishing by deploying outriggers. ON THE FLY ONLINE Hit the surf and score big on pompano using these effective tactics. saltwatersportsman.com Outriggers for Bottomfish Jeffries pitched a ballyhoo plug far back and to the right of a section of hard bottom some 50 feet behind us. He placed that outfit in a gunwale holder, attached the line to a release clip and sent it up the…

The size of your livewell and what you haul in it dictate the aeration requirements. Guides, tournament contestants and inshore anglers who depend on lively bait or must bring their catch alive to the weigh-in can’t afford to take chances. For them, modifying a boat’s livewell system to inject more oxygen is a must. But a better understanding of biology and a little customizing let anyone benefit from an upgraded aeration system. Aeration Variations “There are several factors that come into play for an effective livewell system,” says Capt. Mark Benson of Orlando, Florida, who worked for 14 years as an analyst for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, a leading aquaculture supplier, before becoming a guide. “Fish excrete ammonia through their waste, skin and breathing. Different species also use oxygen at different…

Step away from the helm without missing what shows up on your MFD screen. “Check out the fish on this wreck!” I exclaimed as I stared at the fish-finder display in front of me. My buddy, standing aside the center console, squinted at the screen but couldn’t see much detail from his angle. He eventually leaned closer to the helm to bett er see the sonar marks. Today’s multifunction displays (MFDs) are technological marvels, but they’re not always easy to read from a side angle. Color, contrast and detail on some LCD screens start to dissipate once the viewing angle exceeds 120 degrees. Wearing polarized sunglasses tends to exacerbate the issue. New MFDs are changing all this. Technology known as in-plane switching (IPS) has the ability to widen the viewing…

SWS Planner: Northeast black sea bass What: Diamond jigging for black sea bass Where: Southern New England reefs When: Late May through early November Who: The following captains know exactly where to find the sea bass: Buzzards Bay Capt. Ned Kittredge watchoutfish.com Capt. Bob Belekewicz lemkeanncharter Long Island Sound/Block Island Sound Capt. Mike Stepski tartaniifishing.com Capt. Kerry Douton jbsportfishing.com Fast Facts for Success Auto Cull: Using jigs instead of bait keeps most shorts and unwanted species from striking, saving time and effort. Drop Zone: Check charts for contours where depth rises or falls abruptly, then use sonar to identify promising structure. Rod Work: Keep the jig near the bottom, work it with short, swift jerks, then drop the rod tip to let the lure flutter down. HEAVY METAL “GET READY,…

CASTS + BLASTS NEWS LINES Anglers Can Retain Canary Rockfish Again For the first time in more than a decade, California anglers are allowed to retain canary rockfish, a species declared overfished in 2000. Thanks to conservation efforts and restrictive management, the population rebuilt to healthy levels faster than anticipated. “We are pleased to offer new angling opportunities based on the improved stock status of canary rockfish,” said Marci Yaremko, California Department of Fish and Wildlife state/federal fisheries program manager. The California Fish and Game Commission adopted changes to the state’s recreational groundfish fishing regulations that went into effect February 7 and include allowing retention of canary rockfish. The new regulations call for changes in season dates and allowable fishing depths for each of the recreational groundfish management areas: Northern…

1. Eye-splice a 3-inch welded stainless-steel ring to one end of a 50-foot length of 3?8-inch nylon anchor line. Thread the other end of the rope through a crab-trap float and slide the float to within 3 feet of the stainless ring. 2. Make a figure-eight knot a few inches above the float and another just below it to prevent the float from sliding up and down the rope. 3. Crimp a small loop on each end of a 3-foot section of 1?8-inch stainless-steel rope (aka cable) with zinc-plated copper duplex sleeves. 4. Attach a stainless snap to one of the cable loops. Once you’re anchored in a likely shark fishing spot, grab several bonito, barracuda or similar oily fish and insert the free end of the cable through the…

This revamped version of Grady- White’s popular 30-foot center console features many innovations and improvements, like a new T-top with radio box, rod holders, radialmounted riggers, storage netting, spreader lights, and a full-height windshield made from material used in military helicopters. The new 306 console boasts a stand-up enclosure with a head, shower, sink and storage. A multipurpose module aft of the companion seat incorporates a rigging station with a sink, tackle and rod storage, plus a 47-gallon lighted livewell with blue interior and a viewing window. Additional upgrades include increased fuel capacity and an upsized fish box.…

“HERE THEY COME AGAIN,” I said to my partner, and we both delivered soft plastics on cue, well ahead of a wide swath of nervous water inching closer and closer. We let the lures settle on the bottom and, just before the fish swam over them, twitched and bounced them slowly. Then, wham! We both got hit and set the hook in unison. Fishing a redfish tournament in Pine Island Sound, Florida, we were staked out, targeting a school of more than 100 big reds that Mike Laramy and I had discovered during scouting. They were creeping up and down a grass flat bordering a heavily transited channel. The fish were foraging, but with extreme caution, and never straying very far from the edge of the flat — their nearest…

On a steady path to rekindling the widespread passion for the fabled shark-silhouette brand, Mako draws from its 50 years of boatbuilding expertise to meet the demands of offshoreangling devotees, which continue to grow along with the size of today’s center consoles. LENGTH: 41' BEAM: 11'11" DRAFT: 24" FUEL: 566 gal. WATER: 50 gal. DEADRISE: 24 degrees WEIGHT: 16,840 lb. MAX HP: 1,675 PRICE: $479,995 w/ quad Merc 350 Verados MAKO BOATS: mako-boats.com TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER: Overcast LOCATION: Virginia Key, Florida WIND: WSW 21 knots SEA STATE: 3- to 4-foot chop TEST LOAD: Three adults, 188 gallons of fuel While a lot has changed since the 1970s and ’80s when 17- to 25-foot Mako boats were staples of the sport-fishing scene throughout the Southeast, the 334 CC launched a year…

Brandon McGlamery Chef and partner at Luma on Park (lumaonpark.com), Prato (prato-wp) and Luke’s Kitchen & Bar in Orlando, and author of 9 Courses. Gray triggerfish seldom grow large, and while their tough skin resists the fillet knife, the effort yields a tasty pair of fillets. The relatively small, thin fillets benefit from the pistachio coating in more than the complementary flavor: The crushed nuts also lend body and thickness to the fillet, easing preparation and handling in the pan. For video instruction, go to: saltwatersportsman.com/triggerfish Pair Well Wine: A Spanish white albariño such as Pazo das Bruxas Albariño from Bodegas Torres. Beer: A Spanish lager such as Estrella Damm. Recipe Triggerfish • 1⁄4 cup raw pistachio nuts, crushed • 1 egg, beaten • 4 triggerfish fillets, 6 oz. each…

Fashioned after historical day boats, but with modern execution, the latest technological advances and contemporary styling, Viking’s new 37 Billfish is bound to be the envy of big-game anglers everywhere. Its 86-squarefoot cockpit is equipped with a bait freezer, generous tackle storage, large insulated fish boxes, a transom livewell and a transom door with a lift gate. The boat also incorporates a fiberglass hardtop, three-sided Costa Clear enclosure, fly bridge, lower helm station ideal for winter fishing, and an open salon with a comfortable U-shaped dinette and high-low fiberglass table (which converts to a bunk) opposite a cushioned lounge. There’s also a well-appointed head with shower, a fully equipped galley and a private stateroom with a queen bed or crossover berths.…

SWS Planner: Mid-Atlantic tarpon What: Tarpon in backwater marshes and open bays When: Mid- to late summer Where: Virginia’s Eastern Shore and southern Pamlico Sound, North Carolina Who: Stubborn trophy hunters aboard shallowdraft skiffs for the Virginia marsh or midsize center consoles for the open Pamlico Sound. The following charter captains specialize in fishing for tarpon: Virginia Capt. Jack Brady 757-331-2111 540-860-2986 North Carolina Capt. George Beckwith 252-671-3474 pamlicoguide.com Capt. Rick Caton 252-216-6765 customsound charters.com Fast Facts for Success Hot ’n’ Sticky: Slick-calm conditions in the summer are ideal. Late August is prime time, and the bite is best just preceding the arrival of a cold front. Search Party: Motor slowly through deep sloughs, bars, mud-flat drains and channels, looking for rolling fish, then anchor and deploy baits. Waiting Game:…

Fast Facts for Success Scan the Span: Don’t just pick a spot at random. Find fish along a bridge with sonar, then set up within range. Search Pattern: Fan-cast and alter your retrieve often to pinpoint active trout and see how they respond to your efforts. Stick or Move: Don’t waste time. If the fish don’t bite in a few minutes, pick up and move to another spot. SWS Planner: Southeast Louisiana speckled trout What: Speckled trout When: April, May, June and October Where: Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne Who: Trout fishing in southeast Louisiana’s estuarine lakes is well-suited for do-it-yourselfers, but it does require a boat. These charter captains take the guesswork out of the equation: Capt. John Falterman Jr. 985-649-3474 therapycharters.net Capt. Brooks Levy 985-640-4832 offishialcharters W When anglers think…

Advanced age hasn’t changed my outlook on fishing or anything else, at least not yet. I still fish every chance I get, hot or cold, wet or dry, and I still grind through a full day regardless of conditions. Eventually for us all, however, there comes a day when one specific strategy or another must be laid to rest. For me, “never again” status applies now to winter wades across mudbottomed flats. It’s a great way to intercept giant seatrout, but only if you’ve got the thighs of a speed skater and lungs of an elk. I have neither. Last time I trudged mud, it cost me a big chunk of pride and almost more. The call from a fishing buddy nearly half my age, Robert, held great promise. He’d…