Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Salt Water Sportsman

Hayden Stirrup 8, Virginia A two-time recipient of the Virginia Junior Angler Award over his fouryear fishing career, Hayden is a regular on Chesapeake Bay, but he caught this spadefish off Foley Beach, South Carolina, vacationing with this family. Van Lackey 10, North Carolina With Spanish mackerel, spot, croaker and blacktip sharks to his credit in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Van added this flounder to his fastgrowing list of species while fishing at Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Dylan Krystopa 9, Pennsylvania Although he cut his teeth fishing on the Delaware River, Dylan has proven a natural in the salt. During a recent trip to Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his dad, he landed this cobia and several Spanish mackerel. NOMINATE A KID: SWS recognizes kids who represent sportsmanship, passion and proficiency in…

Following the launch of its heralded 345, Solace has introduced a larger model, the 41CS, with a twin-step ventilated hull with tracking chine rails for high performance, a comfortable, dry ride, and a host of design elements and features that elevate navigation and fishability to the next level. The smart layout provides ample room for seating and lounging, as well as countless conveniences for entertaining and serious fishing. The luxurious, air-conditioned cabin affords everything required for overnighting in comfort. Fishing-specific amenities include a cockpit fighting chair with rocket launcher, a pair of 50-gallon pressurized livewells with aquarium window fed by a sea chest with dual high-speed pickups, twin 8-foot fish boxes with overboard discharge, 50-gallon transom fish box with stainless-steel bait trays and cutting board, abundant rod and tackle storage,…

TAKE the time to get used to your new kayak; practice getting in and out efficiently. WAIT to buy accessories until you figure out what you really need. BUY a proper life jacket made for fishing inshore waters. AND WHILE KAYAKS, like all boats, require at least some effort and cost to outfit, launch and clean, the level of difficulty and expense drops significantly when compared with an outboard-powered fishing boat. Praises and Caveats “I like the simplicity and the ability to go on a moment’s notice,” says Chris Vecsey, an Old Town pro angler who works at Sam’s Bait and Tackle in Orange Beach, Alabama. “When you have narrow windows of time to get on the water, a kayak is the perfect craft for accessibility. It gives you range and…

Success in any worthwhile endeavor always begins with a solid foundation. The same applies to both inshore and coastal fishing, where correctly reading and understanding the bottom provides essential details that’ll guide your positioning, bait choices and timing, ultimately leading to more productive and consistent results. Hard Facts Serving as forage-gathering centers, current breaks, space heaters and sunning stations, solid structures and hard-bottom composition that punctuates barren or muddy expanses are definite fish magnets. In the Mississippi Delta, Capt. Anthony Randazzo notes that hard sand flats, oyster bars or shell reefs over a mud-bottom bay draw baitfish and attract more speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Likewise, a rock pile on a muddy coastal stretch congregates fish that would typically avoid the area. The same principle applies to eroded roseau-cane points…

chuck Uzzle has guided where Texas and Louisiana meet the Gulf of Mexico for the better part of two decades, and thought he’d seen it all until he saw what happened one recent summer day. A somewhat typical crew of three met him at the dock early for a trip on Louisiana’s Lake Calcasieu, which locals mostly call Big Lake. As is also typical of three fishing buddies, one of them was a prankster—the guy who can’t go five minutes without telling a story or pulling a fast one in hopes of getting a laugh. Around midday, Uzzle, with a few fish already in the box but eager to add a few more, announced a move to where a big school of trout had been feeding its way through a…

In 2017, current Florida Senate president Wilton Simpson voted for a reservoir meant to redirect water south of Lake Okeechobee and stop tainted water discharges into major waterways. But he now claims the man-made lagoon is a “mistake.” Previous Senate president Joe Negron pushed for the project after Okeechobee water discharges into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers caused major algae blooms and serious environmental problems in estuaries on both Florida coasts, resulting in uproar from the fishing and boating communities, conservation groups, and residents and business owners in affected areas. A Negron-backed bill, signed into law in May 2017 by then-Gov. Rick Scott, allows Florida to issue up to $800 million in bonds for the reservoir. The bill capped annual state funding for the project at $64 million and…

1 Safe ’n’ Stylish The waterproof 6-inch Deviation Deck Boot from Grundéns features a shock-stopping insole; nonmarking, nonslip, lugged razor-siped outsole; and antimicrobial, cooling liner for all-day comfort on and off the boat. Men’s sizes 8 to 14 come in two colors: Refraction Camo Stone or Anchor. $129.99; grundens.com 2 Weekend Companion With separate places for wet and dry items, the Pelican 14QT Personal Cooler holds up to six standard beverage cans, as well as two Pelican ice packs. A dry-box section in the lid provides stowage for electronics and phones. An integrated bottle opener and removable inner tray expand versatility. $99.95; pelican.com 3 Realistic Hybrid Jerky J Swims combine the best actions and fish-attracting features of a jerkbait and a swimbait, in a boottail design that thumps effectively on…

Insetta Boatworks introduces the 35IFC, a 35-foot catamaran that, aside from the typical advantages of a multihull, features a three-part internal hydrofoil system between its sponsons for increased lift, greater acceleration, better handling and stability, a drier and smoother ride in a chop, and up to 40 percent better fuel efficiency. Built with the hardcore offshore fisherman in mind, the new cat features an open deck layout with tackle storage to port and starboard, a 625-quart insulated coffin box, twin 30-gallon livewells in the transom and optional 70-gallon well under mezzanine seating (all supplied by a sea chest), plus a fiberglass leaning post with aft-facing seats and 165-quart cooler, fold-down bait-prep station with tackle stowage, 10 transom rocket launchers and six more between the aft supports of the carbon-fiber/fiberglass hardtop,…

LENGTH: 54' BEAM: 15' DRAFT: 28" FUEL: 900 gal. WATER: 100 gal MAX HP: 3,000 PRICE: Upon request YELLOWFIN YACHTS: yellowfin.com YELLOWFIN YACHTS HAS ADDED ANOTHER THOROUGHBRED TO ITS STABLE, A BIG 54-FOOTER THAT’S FAST, GRACED WITH GOOD LOOKS, AND VERY FISHING-FRIENDLY. THE SIZE AND LAYOUT ENSURE THERE’S NO CROWDING ANYWHERE ON BOARD, AND THE PERFORMANCE IS TRULY IMPRESSIVE. we tested the boat rigged with four Yamaha 425 XTOs, ample muscle even for a boat this size. The Yellowfin got on plane and accelerated quickly and evenly, and I never lost sight of the horizon. We reached cruising speed in no time at all, and hit an honest 60.8 mph at wide-open throttle, burning 152 gph while turning 6,000 rpm. The motors were propped for carrying a full load of…

ON DECEMBER 10, WITH OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, the US House of Representatives passed the Drift-Net Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (S. 906) to phase out large-scale drift-net fishing in federal waters off California. Authored in the House by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and in the Senate by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the bill aligns commercial swordfishing in California with other swordfish fisheries by ending the use of mile-long, large-mesh drift gill nets. Phasing out this indiscriminate gear and replacing it with a more sustainable fishing practice will result in increased economic benefits and less bycatch, including marine mammals, sea turtles and many important fish species. Although California law established a program to financially help the state’s drift gill-net permit holders transition…

YOUR CATCH To send in your catch photo, email us at catches@saltwatersportsman.com. 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@saltwatersportsman.com or via U.S. mail: SWS Editor, 480 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 236, Winter Park, FL32789. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed but will not be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by an SASE. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: saltwatersportsman.com/cs or 800-759-2127. Outside the United States: 800-979-6828; Back Issues: 800-464-2819; Bulk Reprints: 877-652-5295, ext. 117.…

Channel Navigation: When returning to land from seaward, keep red markers and buoys on your right (starboard) side. When heading offshore, keep red markers on your left (port) side. Crossing Situation: Passing behind another vessel, rather than in front of it, generally proves to be the safest choice, allowing both captains to avoid a close call. Overtaking Situation: When one vessel passes another in a channel, the passing boat should come around the port (left) side, if possible. The boat being passed should maintain course and speed.…

FLEE APPEAL The most successful live-bait fishermen make that livey a partner in the enterprise. When bottomfishing, the sliding sinker or fish-finder rig is a time-honored favorite because it allows predators to seize the bait and carry it off without feeling immediate resistance from the line. The same characteristic allows a lively bait to move about freely. Hooked near the bottom of the tail, the bait will swim up toward the surface, where it wants to be. This creates the most lifelike presentation, and vibrations from the struggle alert nearby predators that lunch is served. TIGHT ’N’ RIGHT Consistent, strong knots are more than a matter of luck and percentage. When tying any knot in monofilament or fluorocarbon, form it carefully before pulling to tighten it. Pre-forming ensures the knot…

THE LATEST CROP OF MARINE ELECTRONICS INCLUDES NUMEROUS IMPROVEMENTS, NEW CAPABILITIES, AND A WEALTH OF USERFRIENDLY FEATURES. Here’s what to look for in 2021. 5. Fusion Signature Series Amplifier The Signature Series six-channel amplifier from Fusion Entertainment delivers optimum audio aboard boats operating on a 24-volt system. This Class D hi-fimarine amplifier boosts efficiency to listen to music longer without worrying about battery drain. Plug-and-play setup makes for easy installation and eliminates an additional power adapter. Designed for optimum compatibility with Fusion’s Signature Series 3, XS Series and FM Series speakers and subwoofers, it boasts Fusion’s True-Marine design for years of reliability. $649.99; fusionentertainment.com 6. Humminbird Solix G3 The third-generation Humminbird Solix MFDs feature dual-core processors for faster response, and touchscreen or keypad operation. Available with 10.1-, 12.1- or 15.4-inch…

LENGTH: 27'0" BEAM: 9'4" DRAFT: 17" FUEL: 95 gal. (126 gal. optional) WEIGHT: 4,934 lb. w/425 XTO WATER: 12 gal. MAX HP: 425 PRICE: $114,594 w/Yamaha F300 PATHFINDER: pathfinderboats.com PATHFINDER, A LONGTIME LEADER IN THE BAY-BOAT MARKET, HAS ADDED THE NINTH AND LARGEST MODEL TO ITS LINEUP, THE 2700 OPEN. IT FEATURES A NEW TWIN-STEP, V-HULL DESIGN WITH VARIS (VACUUMASSISTED RESIN-INFUSION SYSTEM) CONSTRUCTION, A PROCESS THAT ENSURES THE IDEAL RESIN-TO-FABRIC RATIO FOR SUPERB STRENGTH WITHOUT ANY UNNECESSARY EXTRA WEIGHT. at first glance, the 2700 Open shows its slightly higher freeboard and V-bottom, hints of its prowess in a chop and open water crossings, which we confirmed during our test on the Indian River in Fort Pierce, Florida, during a windy afternoon. Although this Pathfinder’s maximum power rating is 425 horses,…