Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i Salt Water Sportsman

Last summer, NOAA Fisheries issued an exempted fisheries permit (EFP) to allow pelagic longline fishing in the East Florida Coast (EFC) Pelagic Longline (PLL) Closed Area. This closure was established in 2000 primarily to protect juvenile swordfish as part of a rebuilding program, which has been one of NOAA Fisheries more successful rebuilding efforts. By 2009, the depleted swordfish population had been rebuilt by keeping indiscriminate longlines out of the area where juveniles are concentrated. Hmm, let the juveniles grow up and reproduce. Makes sense to me. So, why would they ever want to mess with success? This EFP request, submitted through Nova Southeastern University, ostensibly wanted to measure the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) inside and outside the closed area. While its research may have had valid questions,…

+ Chirp Advantage An acronym derived from radar systems, chirp is short for compressed high-intensity radar pulse. Essentially, this technology transmits a broad band of frequencies (such as 150 to 250 kHz, for example) simultaneously. Microprocessors then interpret the subtle differences in the returning signals, letting you see underwater targets with greater definition on the screen than with most of the traditional systems. Every boating angler who’s shopping for a new down- looking fish finder today will face this question: Should I switch to chirp or stick with conventional fish-finder technology? Fish finders that operate on single-frequency bands — usually 50 and/or 200 kHz — were considered state-ofthe- art when I bought my first saltwater fishing boat 30 years ago. Today, these systems still help boating anglers find lots of…

ASK A HARDCORE ANGLER IF HE’D RATHER CATCH A DOZEN FISH BLINDCASTING OR A COUPLE SIGHT-FISHING AND YOU’LL PROBABLY HEAR A CONSISTENT CHORUS SINGING THE PRAISES OF THAT SKILL-MEETS-PATIENCE- MEETS-FOCUS THRILL FEST WE CALL SIGHT-FISHING. Geographic distribution makes redfish the most commonly sight-fished species; however, bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon and sharks offer a similar cat-and-mouse challenge. Whatever your target, consistency demands a mastery of the three P’s: position, posture and presentation. Notice that we did not include perfection. That’s because there’s no perfect formula for sight-fishing. Every scenario, every fish — often every hour — is different. Bracing your effort with awareness and adaptation yields consistency. Worth noting: Bull redfish that no longer fear sharks, dolphins and ospreys usually require less finessing than slotsize reds. Also, fisheries throughout the Mississippi…

LENGTH: 34'11" BEAM: 10'9" DRAFT: 22" FUEL: 310 gal. DEADRISE: 22 degrees WATER: 23 gal. MAX HP: 1,050 WEIGHT: 9,800 lb. plus power PRICE: $394,882 w/ triple Yamaha F300s SCOUT BOATS: scoutboats.com; TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER: Clear and sunny LOCATION: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina WIND: NNE 10 knots SEA STATE: 2- to 3-foot chop TEST LOAD: Two adults, 82 gallons of fuel, 23 gallons of water In boatbuilding innovation, Scout has steadily made its way to the front of the pack. And the 355 LXF, the latest addition to its luxury fishing series, exhibits a number of innovative features, along with awealth of creature comforts and fishing necessities that have become synonymous with the brand. To begin with, the new 35-footer has an integrated, forward-facing fisheye camera on the bow that…

Introduced on November 16, 2017, H.R. 4419, a bill that would authorize construction of new dams and expand existing ones on rivers, such as California’s Sacramento River, could gravely impact tenuous salmon populations. On November 30, the House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans convened in Washington, D.C., to discuss the bill and consider whether to send it on to the whole chamber. During the hearing, American Sport fishing Association’s Government Affairs Vice President Scott Gudies testified on behalf of salmon fisheries conservation, emphasizing the negative impacts of existing dams, which have contributed to the destruction of 90 percent of Pacific salmon spawning habitat. Gudies underscored the economic importance of healthy sustainable Chinook salmon runs that, prior to the two-year fishery shutdown in 2008 and 2009, had generated…

LENGTH: 32' | BEAM: 10'3" | DRAFT: 23" WEIGHT: 7,324 lb. | FUEL: 275 gal. | MAX HP: 700 PRICE: $205,455 w/ twin Yamaha F300s COBIA BOATS: cobiaboats.com Cobia Boats recently added a new model to its family of center consoles, the 320 CC, designed to deliver style, comfort, and an array of fishing amenities bound to make even tournament anglers happy. Features include a spacious, unobstructed cockpit, a bait-prep and tackle storage station, twin 35-gallon pressurized livewells, two 55-gallon in-deck fish boxes with macerator, undergunwale rod racks, and an integrated hardtop designed to accept a second helm. For convenience, there are numerous cup holders and USB ports throughout, and a table that rises electronically at the bow. Inside the console, a step-down compartment with over 6 feet of headroom…

An angler casting a swimbait under a busy New York highway bridge; another dangling a chunk of crab in the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel 400 miles south; a troller pulling plugs down a low-slung span in Miami; a guy on a skiff working a topwater along the gleam of streetlights on a Gulf Coast bridge: They all know the bounties that lie hidden at nearby bridges. METRO BASS Crazy Alberto Knie, who got his nickname by fishing the gnarliest locations in the worst conditions, believes the end justifies the means, especially when it comes to catching the biggest striped bass. To find monster stripers, he waits until nighttime and anchors under a bridge. He says the light falling from the street creates a shadow on the water,…

LENGTH: 24'8" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 14" FUEL: 90 gal. WATER: 12 gal. WEIGHT: 3,300 lb. MAX HP: 350 PRICE: $113,433 w/ Mercury 225 Verado BOSTON WHALER: bostonwhaler.com TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER: Partly cloudy LOCATION: Sarasota, Florida WIND: NE 8 knots SEA STATE: 1-foot chop TEST LOAD: Two adults, 62 gallons of fuel The soft ride, roominess, comfort, and customizable layout made Boston Whaler’s 24-foot Dauntless the darling of folks who value the freedom to just hop aboard and embark on a range of adventures. Equipped with top angling features, a brand-new version — the 240 Dauntless Pro — now turns the versatile family pleaser into a complete fishing machine. Leading the transformation is the Pro Angler’s tower with a dedicated portside ladder and state-of-the-art upper helm. Rod storage is another significant…

The U.S. Global Change Research Program’s Climate Science Special Report (CSSR), which describes current trends in the climate globally and in the U.S., and projects trends in temperature, precipitation, sea-level rise and Arctic sea ice for the remainder of this century, was released recently. The federally mandated report, prepared by top scientists every four years for the president, Congress and the public, concludes that “based on extensive evidence, it is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the warming observed since the mid-20th century.” Hundreds of scientists from 13 federal agencies assessed more than 1,500 studies and reports to produce the paper, which was also peer-reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences, before the release of the report that also asserts global…

Cool Gills Stay cool and protected in even the harshest heat with the Air gill Camo Fade long-sleeved woven shirt from Columbia. Besides featuring the brand’s signature Omni-Wick and Omni-Shade with UPF 30 sun protection, the shirt has venting “gills” that allow for extra airflow. Available in four colour combinations. $90; columbia.com Surf’s Up Designed for serious surf casters, the ultegra XTD Surf reels provide consistent long casting performance and super slow OScillation (14000) and Slow Oscilliation (5600) for precision line lay. Available in 5.3:1 and 4.3:1 ratio with max drags of 33 and 44 pounds, respectively. $189.99 to $209.99; fish.shimano.com Hot ’n’ Cold Keep your coffee hot for hours with the new Rambler 14-ounce mug from Yeti. Made from 18/8 stainless steel, the mug is designed to keep the…

This modern take on the French classic, skate in brown butter, brings in cauliflower and passion fruit, creating a complex range of flavors and textures to complement the buttery richness of the skate. This preparation uses whole, skinned skate wings with the bones in. Larger wings may be cut to portion size by following the lines of the ribs. The sturdy, rich flesh of the skate prepares easily and resists overcooking. Ingredients • 4, 10-ounce skate wings, skinned, on the bone• Wondra, or similar finegrained flour, for dusting• 4 tablespoons butter• 1 cup cauliflower, cut in 1⁄2-inch pieces two stern lines • 4 tablespoons capers• 2 whole passion fruit, pulp and seeds (mango may be substituted)• 2 tablespoons parsley Recipe 1. Lightly salt the skate wings and dust both sides…

LENGTH: 41'8" | BEAM: 12' | DRAFT: 30" WEIGHT: 21,000 lb. | FUEL: 500 gal. | MAX HP: 1,150 PRICE: Starting at $757,000 SEA FORCE IX: seaforceix.com Sea Force IX, builder of top-notch cored-fiberglass sport-fishers, just launched an outboard-powered 41-footer designed and equipped for the discriminating offshore angler. Features include a plethora of rod-storage options, from classic teak rocket launchers to gunwale racks and flush-mounted holders; twin 100-gallon macerated fish boxes; bait-rigging station with sink and faucet; tackle drawers and drink cooler; raw- and freshwater washdowns; 360-degree coaming pads, ice-maker; triple helm seating with armrests, flip-up bolsters and footrests; recessed stern seating; dual transom doors; 50-gallon pressurized livewell; and a richly appointed cabin complete with a galley, head and shower compartment, sleeping amenities for two, and much more.…

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF ANY FISHING TRIP IS COMING HOME WITH GREAT PHOTOS TO SHOW. WHETHER YOU SHOOT WITH TOP-OF-THE-LINE GEAR OR A 5-YEAR-OLD IPHONE, A HANDFUL OF GENERAL GUIDELINES WILL IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL RESULTS. If you’re interested in consistently capturing pro-caliber images or s imply looking to take a handful of fishing snapshots during an outing, here are a few essential things to keep in mind. BE READY It costs nothing to fire away and shoot anything and everything. Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” which applies to photography just as much as it applies to hockey. The more you shoot, the more you learn, and over time, you’ll capture some great images. A camera at the ready is…

MANY ANGLERS LIVE AND DIE WITH LURES, BUT IT’S A FACT THAT LIVE BAITS GENERALLY DELIVER MORE BITES INSHORE AND OFF. Along the Gulf Coast, all the sought-after species, from speckled trout and redfish to kingfish, cobia and tuna, zero in on liveys. CRUSTACEAN SENSATION In Gulf of Mexico waters, everything eats shrimp. You definitely don’t want to come back as one, if there is such a thing as reincarnation. While shrimp certainly appeal to inshore species, they’re also effective on larger game well away from shore. I’ve used big shrimp to catch red snapper, amberjack, dorado, tarpon, kings and cobia. Free-lining is one of the most effective ways to fish live shrimp, especially around jetties. The trick is in the rigging. Tie on a No. 2 treble hook, run…

Sometimes, thankfully not often, fishing involves geometry. Wells and Davis have fished together regularly since high school, where neither of them excelled at math. Each of them, after brief attempts at college, landed deliberately in careers that didn’t require extreme number smarts and did afford them liberal amounts of free time — for more fishing. Both men, 30-something years past school, are still crazy about snook and tarpon, as most Florida anglers are. Both men are also fans of live bait and prefer to start a day with at least 100 bitesize fish in the well. After an on-the-job shoulder injury, Wells had to put down the mesh years ago. Davis is too old now to sling one of those circus-tent-size nets, but he’s a wizard with an 8-footer. That’s…