Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Salt Water Sportsman

Thanks to advancements in transducers and their digital-processing capabilities, chirp technology vastly improves your ability to mark fish and read bottom features. Yet this technology has also complicated the selection process, especially when it comes to choosing the best frequency band for your particular style of fishing. There’s a wide range of choices. Airmar Technology Corp. — the leading supplier of transducers for fish finders — offers 11 different frequency bands contained within more than 60 chirp-ready transducers, including transom-mount, through-hull, keel-mount and in-hull versions. Some of these transducers offer two frequency bands in one model. Include the many proprietary chirp ’ducers offered by the fish-finder brands themselves, and the number of choices can give you a headache. How do you choose the best bandwidth? Here’s what experts say. In-depth…

WHEN THE TARPON RUN IS ON, ANGLERS FROM ALL AROUND THE GLOBE FLOCK TO FLORIDA TO TANGLE WITH THE INCOMPARABLE S I LVER KING. The best times, locations and strategies vary according to the region, but a group of expert tarpon chasers from both coasts of the Sunshine State shares proven secrets to help shorten your path to success with live bait, lures and flies.…

Rising water temperature drives tarpon out of the Gulf of Mexico and onto Florida’s west coast by March, as early as February in some years. “The magic number for us is 72 degrees,” says Capt. Ken Chambers, who guides the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades National Park out of Goodland, Florida. “We see them first south of Chokoloskee.” In the early part of the season, the fish come out of the Gulf in waves. The bays will fill up, then there will be another wave as they push through in big groups, spreading northward and filtering through the bays and the backcountry. Once the big numbers of fish arrive, they spread out from Lostman’s River all the way up the coast, on the outside. In general, this is the pattern…

The vast estuaries, mangrove coastlines and flats of the Yucatan Peninsula are home to some of the best locations anywhere for small- to medium-size tarpon, offering pristine and productive fisheries on a year-round basis. Most tarpon range from 5 to 20 pounds, with larger trophy-size fish found in a handful of locations. Anyone who says a 20-pound silver king on a 9-weight fly rod or light spinning rod is too small obviously lacks appreciation for great fishing! From remote islands and mangrove coastlines on the northern tip of the peninsula to the well-known bays of the south, including Ascension, Espiritu Santo and Chetumal, tarpon spots in the Yucatan run the gamut. If you’re considering a tarpon trip to Mexico, then the following Yucatan destinations should be on your short list.…

LENGTH: 41'8" BEAM: 12' DRAFT: 30" DEADRISE: 23 degrees FUEL: 500 gal. WEIGHT: 21,000 lb. plus power MAX HP: 1,200 PRICE: Starts at $757,000 SEA FORCE IX: seaforceix.com TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER: Partly cloudy LOCATION: Sarasota, Florida WIND: SW 12 knots SEA STATE: 3- to 4-foot chop TEST LOAD: Three adults, 330 gallons of fuel, 60 gallons of water, 25 gallons of diesel Style and flare reminiscent of yesteryear’s sport-fishers in a contemporary craft loaded with state-of-the-art fishing features, plush-level comforts, and the latest in marine electronics — that’s precisely what Sea Force IX offers in the first model of its new Performance Sport Series, the 41.5. When the boatbuilder’s bread and butter is producing considerably larger, richly appointed sport-fishing yachts, it’s easy to understand the kind of refinement and attention…

The EFPs, which cover the 2018 and 2019 fishing years, allow recreationally caught red snapper to be landed within certain time periods determined by the respective states. Red snapper landings would be monitored by the states, and the respective state seasons would close when the state’s quota is caught or projected to be caught. Development and approval of the Gulf states’ EFPs was facilitated by language from Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., in the FY2017 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill that directed NOAA Fisheries to develop the fishery management pilot program allowing states to manage Gulf red snapper. With the Gulf council’s approval, NOAA is now required to publish the plans and allow for a 30-day comment period. NOAA must then ratify each plan before implementation. “As an organization that…

A number of inshore anglers who target tarpon, redfish, bonefish, permit or striped bass in shallow water would never dream of using anything but a push pole to propel their boats silently while they search for their quarry. Two stealthy ways to stalk fish in skinny water Yet many of them probably never expected the advent of the whisper-quiet, GPS-guided trolling motors. Two seasoned fishing guides explain how each propulsion method works to their advantage. “I have a 23.5-foot Carbon Marine G2LR graphite push pole as well as a remote-controlled Minn Kota Terrova iPilot GPS trolling motor on my Hell's Bay Marquesa. Both serve me well,” says Capt. Buddy Kirkhart of Stuart, Florida. “If I’m in the rivers, searching for laid-up fish along the edges, or I’m fishing flats less…

LENGTH: 32'4" | BEAM: 10'8" | DRAFT: 24" WEIGHT: 9,500 lb. | FUEL: 306 gal. | MAX HP: 700 PRICE: $348,188 w/ twin Yamaha F300s EVERGLADES BOATS: evergladesboats.com Designed with luxury and comfort in mind, on an unsinkable, smooth-riding hull, the new 35-foot center console by Everglades Boats incorporates the best features of the proven 325cc, combining fishability with conveniences and elegant extras to please the entire family. The refined layout allows for improved seating, which includes removable forward-facing backrests at the bow, and larger, more lavish fold-down seating in the stern. The 335cc also boasts a larger console with a hydraulic sliding glass windshield, a fiberglass hardtop with powder-coated aluminum frame, 130-quart built-in cooler, 129- and 82-gallon fish boxes, a pressurized, circular livewell, and a bait-prep area with ample…

Blessed with a diverse tarpon-friendly habitat and multiple access points for anglers, from bays to beaches, rivers to passes, the region stretching from just above the Everglades to below Florida’s Big Bend delivers consistent opportunity to fish a range of styles. FORT MYERS May brings the best action, but Capt. Chris Wittman expects the first of several waves of fish by late March, with action continuing through June. Fish the passes and adjacent beaches or shoals with live threadfin herring, menhaden or crabs. The latter are particularly effective when big moon tides pull crustaceans from inside waters. Casting or trolling lipped plugs along the Sanibel Causeway shadow lines also pays off. BOCA GRANDE This renowned pass between Cayo Costa and Gasparilla Island sees massive aggregations from April until July, with…

It takes a whole village to raise a child, someone once said, but one fisherman can feed an entire village. Missy Alwais recently shared the story of her first — and only — fishing trip, which occurred off the coast of Belize about 15 years ago while on vacation with her boyfriend, Jeremy Robinson. Quick background: Missy grew up a competitive swimmer in San Antonio, the child of a New York dad and Arubaborn mother, neither of whom were the least bit “outdoorsy” to her recollection. Jeremy was raised in suburban Illinois; he wasn’t born into saltwater fishing but discovered his passion for it, in adulthood, after moving to Houston. The two flew south that summer to rest, relax and recharge alongside the clear Caribbean Sea. A mutual goal, but…

Michael Roth released this black drum after a 15-minute fight on a 10-weight fly rod while fishing with Capt. Shane Mayfield in the marshes of Port Sulphur, Louisiana, in December 2017. The fish ate a fly Roth tied himself. YOUR CATCH To send in your catch photo, email us at catches@saltwatersportsman.com. DROP US A LINE Got a piece of good news to share? Want to gripe? Like to see your thoughts on the pages of Salt Water Sportsman? Send your letters, manuscripts and any relevant comments to editor@salt water sports man.com or via U.S. mail: SWS Editor, 460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed but will not be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by an SASE. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts…

When using 60- to 100-pound bite tippets on casting or fly tackle for tarpon, rig the leaders and attach the lures or flies ahead of time. Placed in this stretcher for a day or two, with the hook in the bungee and the leader knot in the slot, they’ll lose their memory and lie straight when you pull them off to fish them. MATERIALS • Two pieces 1-by-4 or equivalent Starboard for end rails. Length is up to you but must be in increments of 3 inches.• Two sections 1-inch dowel, 18 inches long, for spreaders.• 6-inch pieces of ⅛-inch bungee cord, one for each lure slot.• Four 2-inch wood screws for securing spreaders between end rails. ASSEMBLY 1. Mark the top of end rails every 3 inches. Drill a…

LENGTH: 29'6" | BEAM: 9' | DRAFT: 20" WEIGHT: 5,900 lb. | FUEL: 251 gal. | MAX HP: 700 PRICE: $148,700 w/ twin Mercury 250 hp Verados SEAVEE BOATS: seaveeboats.com SeaVee has rolled out an updated version of its popular 29-footer with an impressive list of standard features, including an integrated engine platform with transom door, ample dry storage, massive insulated fish box, 50-gallon livewell, dedicated pad for flush-mounting large transducers, pop-up cleats, hydraulic steering, AGM batteries, trim tabs, and larger fuel tanks for greater fuel capacity and range. The 290B also incorporates many comfort and convenience features, like an integrated forward-console seat and door, retractable cooler, and electrically operated forward lounge-seat backrests. Numerous options, from hardtops to a second helm station, the latest in marine electronics, washdown systems, and…

AS IT HAPPENS EVERY APRIL WHEN WATER TEMPERATURES HIT THE MAGIC 75-DEGREE MARK, THOUSANDS OF TARPON ON BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS OF THE SUNSHINE STATE LEAVE THEIR WINTER HANGOUTS UP COASTAL RIVERS, DEEP INLETS AND PASSES TO JOIN A REMARKABLE PROCESSION THAT AVAILS ANGLERS WITH AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO TANGLE WITH WHAT’S WIDELY CONSIDERED A BIG-GAME SPECIES IN ACCESSIBLE INSHORE WATERS. Grouped in small packs of a dozen fish or fewer, or massive schools of 50, 100 or more, waves of tarpon trace the contour of both Florida coastlines, heading south on the Atlantic side, and east and then south on the Gulf side before turning around sometime in June and cruising back in the opposite direction. Somewhere along the way, the fish go as much as 100 miles…

In tarpon fishing, the Florida Keys and Florida Bay represent the crown jewels, unmatched in abundance and variety. In February, when water temperatures scratch the mid-70s, migrating fish move out of the Gulf and poke their noses into the channels and onto the banks in Florida Bay and into the Marquesas, west of Key West. The same pattern strengthens through March, and by April, they are reliably in the Florida Bay backcountry. At the same time, fish are moving out of Government Cut and Haulover Inlet to the north, and cruising down the east coast, past Elliott Key, Key Largo, then Islamorada and the middle Keys. PRIME TIME “April is my favorite time to fish the migration,” says Capt. Paul Tejera, who has been at this game for more than…

In Northwest Florida and the Panhandle, tarpon are seasonal visitors, appearing late in their migration. Here, June and July are the top months for anglers to intercept them. When the fish move north along the Gulf coast of Florida, they veer seaward as they approach the Big Bend, cutting acrosss open water to the west, then moving back inshore near the Aucilla River and showing up again in Apalachee Bay. From that point westward, anglers hunt tarpon in well-established travel lanes and back bays as they continue migrating along the coast toward the Alabama border. Fly anglers and other sight-casters position themselves in proven haunts and travel paths, and either stake out or anchor in shallow water to intercept the fish, which average 70 to 90 pounds, with a fair…