Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2022 i Salt Water Sportsman

Kings of the Pier No boat needed—cousins Rocky Cross, 12, and Noah Phillips, 15, caught a doubleheader of solid king mackerel on the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cross and Phillips were fishing with live blue runners as bait. The pair are part of the Skyway Misfits Fishing Group. 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, 555 Winderley Pl., Suite 300, Maitland, FL 32751. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed but will not be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by an SASE. We are not responsible…

HOMEWORK Study current edges, surface-temperature breaks and bathymetric charts. PATIENCE Don’t run away from a spot if it doesn’t produce hookups immediately. SUCCESS Experimenting with trolling speeds and sizes of lures and baits can make all the difference. “Speedy center-consoles have created a lot of impatient offshore anglers.” Trolling is a puzzle. Put the pieces together to be successful. The action certainly wasn’t fast, but Andy Newman, Michael Ferrari and I had trolled up two schoolie mahi, plenty of meat for dinner. The scattered weeds, flying-fish showers, solid current and strong plankton front near Islamorada’s 409 Hump convinced me to stay despite the urge to start running-and-gunning. Watching boats troll for a bit and leave, and others never slowing at all on their race toward the horizon, I still believed…

Contender 26Bay Contender’s new 26Bay is based on the proven double-step, resin-infused hull construction of its predecessor, the 25Bay. It offers 6 inches of extra length and a host of refinements for greater convenience, comfort, range and fishability. In addition to expansive forward and aft casting decks, the resin-infused interior features a new center-console design with improved ergonomics for easier on-deck maneuverability, an oversize dash for bigger electronics displays, an integrated helm pod, a built-in glove box, and improved side-mounting surfaces for stereo speaker placement. The 26Bay also offers wider aft jump seats (with backrests), more spacious forward seating, 40 more gallons of forward dry storage, 25 extra gallons in the insulated forward fish locker, easier access to the bilge area, and improved forward rod-locker access. An integrated transom bustle…

Diamond jigs and their metal cousins are among the simplest yet most effective lures ever created. With reflective chrome plating over a lead core, diamonds are fast-sinking, durable, and easy to fish with a familiar baitfish profile. And unlike plugs covered in menacing treble hooks, the body of a jig provides a safe and sturdy handle with which to lift and unhook feisty fish. Diamonds can plummet in the strongest current or flutter downward like wounded prey, yet they wobble irresistibly like a fleeing baitfish when retrieved. During hot action, jigs have a speedy turnaround time. As soon as you can wrestle a diamond’s hook from the maw of a scrappy game-fish, you can quickly dump it overboard again. But sometimes the shiny hunks of metal aren’t enough to seal…

The “land cut” waterway, which connects the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre, can best be described as remote. The cut is roughly 25 miles long and located in the middle of nowhere, but it has some of the best fishing along the lower Texas coast. Laguna Madre is really two bays divided by miles of mud and sand flats. The northern bay, about 40 miles long, is known as the Upper Laguna Madre, and the area south is the Lower Laguna Madre. Upon completion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in 1949, the upper and lower portions were permanently joined by what is known today as the land cut. In addition to serving as a navigable channel for boat and barge traffic, the area is fantastic for redfish and speckled trout.…

TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER Sunny LOCATION Fort Pierce, Florida WIND Calm SEA STATE Calm TEST LOAD Three adults, 22 gallons of fuel THE TRADITIONAL HARD-CORE BAY BOAT WITH FLUSH DECKS FORE AND AFT, AN ABBREVIATED MIDCOCKPIT AND LIMITED SEATING HAS TODAY EVOLVED INTO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS, INCLUDING ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE: THE NEW PATHFINDER 2400 TRS. Pathfinder Boats ranks as one of angling’s most iconic brands, a company that 30 years ago pioneered the development of bay boats and essentially defined the category. Over the years, many other boat companies have followed suit with their own versions. Yet Pathfinder continues to play a dominant role in this market, thanks in large measure to the addition of versatile variations of the bay boat. A case in point: the redesigned 2400 TRS.…

The biggest fish I’ve caught so far was a 10-foot hammerhead shark. This was from the beach just south of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and we estimated the fish in the 600-pound range. It was, without question, the most grueling fish fight I ever experienced. But as hammerheads go, it wasn’t really all that big. My pain was peanuts compared to what angler Pete Quartuccio recently felt aboard the boat of Capt. Chip Michalove, of Outcast Charters, when he went toe-to-toe with a 14-foot hammerhead. It was estimated to weigh 400 pounds more than the current South Carolina state record and possibly more than the current world record. A Release Is Worth More This battle took place on July 13 off-shore Hilton Head, South Carolina, Michalove’s home port. Quartuccio, a…

More Coverage Glare is great at sneaking around sunglasses frames. Preventing light from getting around the bottom and sides of your glasses makes it easier to spot fish and structure and helps reduce eye fatigue and strain. Experts recommend dark-colored frames that contour around your face. The technical term is an “eight base” frame (the higher the number, the more severe the curve), but the common name is “wraparound.” Tall, wide temples and sun shields are also helpful for keeping sunlight at bay. “A performance frame with an eight-base curve is going to be your best bet to manage light.”—JOHN SANCHEZ, Vice President of Product Strategy at Costa “A performance frame with an eight-base curve is going to be your best bet to manage light,” says John Sanchez, vice president…

Consider this a shoutout to the worldwide baitfish that glides as well as birds along the ocean’s surface. The flying fish doesn’t actually fly, but it does utilize a burst of speed to rocket from the water and cruise above the waves with help from its oversize pectoral fins. The motion of flying fish escaping toward the skies looks similar to trolling spreads—and appears tantalizing to apex predators below. Flying fish (family Exocoetidae) are found in the majority of tropical, subtropical, and even temperate waters. If you check FishBase online, its database tallies nearly 70 species—eight of those in the Gulf of Mexico alone. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing off California, Barbados, Cape Verde, Spain, Japan or Australia; if there’s warm water nearby, flying fish aren’t far behind. The…

Lithium represents the future of deep-cycle technology. Marine batteries aboard today’s saltwater fishing boats are more critical than ever before. They are relied upon to power an ever-growing number of onboard systems, including marine electronics, pumps, lights, electric trolling motors, air conditioning, electric reels, microwaves, gyrostabilizers, windlasses, thrusters and more. And then there’s the basic, albeit crucial, function of cranking over the main engines. While marine batteries have morphed into a wide range of types, sizes and applications, most still rely on the same lead-acid chemistry invented more than 160 years ago. Today, however, a new battery technology based on lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry is poised to revolutionize electrical power delivery aboard saltwater fishing machines. Marine lithium batteries offer amazing advantages over conventional lead-acid batteries, but there are also major caveats…

There are three basic options to attach a main line to a diamond-jig leader. The first utilizes a line-to-line knot, which allows you to reel a long leader through the rod guides and even down onto the reel. The second involves a large barrel swivel, which is tied on the main line with a Palomar knot. To detach the jig for storage or transportation, just snip the leader at the swivel, coil the leader, and clinch it back on next time. The third uses a Palomar knot to attach the main line to a cross-lock snap swivel. A loop knot is tied in the leader, which allows it to clip to the snap. This method is handy for changing out different jig weights depending on the conditions. Stiff leader is…

TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER Sunny and warm LOCATION Sarasota, Florida WIND 8 to 12 mph steady SEA STATE Light chop TEST LOAD Two adults, 130 gallons of fuel THE BLACKFIN BRAND HAS BEEN LURING ANGLERS FOR 50 YEARS THANKS TO ITS SPACIOUS, WELL-EQUIPPED COCKPITS, AMPLE LIVEWELLS, STRONG PERFORMANCE, SEAKEEPING ABILITIES AND COMFORT. WAIT, COMFORT? FISHING BOATS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL BUSINESS, NO FRILLS, RIGHT? Wrong. The industry has looked at anglers and their motivations to buy and found fishing is like the circus barker at the door of the tent. Sure thing, fishing is the draw, but the deal closer is family fun, and that’s where comfort comes into play. The Blackfin 302 DC meets all of these requirements, and then some. Anglers want livewells that can keep bait healthy,…

Over the last few years, there have been consistent reports in the media about certain ocean species in peril. The biggest one, or at least the one that has the biggest subjects, has to do with northern right whales. These magnificent creatures are disappearing right before our eyes. Will efforts to save them be successful? I cannot answer that, and I feel even current scientists and regulators would have a hard time answering it. My feeling is that most folks in the recreational fishing community are genuinely interested in doing their small part to support the survival of this endangered species. Previous regulations have focused on minimizing vertical lines for lobster and net fisheries. Others created slow-speed areas for larger commercial shipping, vessels 65 feet and above, to minimize ship…

Offshore anglers should be prepared for major changes to the federal regulations governing dolphin catches along the East Coast. That’s the word from Chris Burrows, chairman of the Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel for the South Atlantic Marine Fishery Council. Burrows has served on the federal council’s dolphin advisory panel for over a decade, and a meeting he attended in Charleston was eye-opening on the impacts Carolina dolphin anglers and others may face in the future. He said two important proposed changes are on tap. One is that the 20-inch minimum size for dolphin could be extended south of the border of North and South Carolina, perhaps expanding to the entire East Coast of the Atlantic, including Maine, where some fish are caught these days. The second change the federal council…

Minimize headaches later on by following these simple steps. ETHANOL CHECKLIST 1. Long-term boat storage calls for steps to prevent damage-inducing phase separation in the fuel tank when using ethanol-laced gasoline. 2. When ethanol in the gas absorbs too much moisture (from tank condensation, for example), it separates into a corrosive, noncombustible layer at the tank’s bottom, as illustrated here. 3. To prevent phase separation during storage, fill the tank to7 ∕8 full (to minimize condensation) using non-ethanol fuel where available. 4. With or without ethanol-laced gas, treat the fuel with a butanol-based stabilizer for long-term storage. Next spring’s fishing plans can quickly turn to frustration if you leave your boat poorly winterized. Months of disuse during freezing winters can corrode or crack fittings and hoses and render outboards and pumps…

Message Confirmed Two popular ResQLink personal locator beacons from ACR Electronics now include Return Link Service, which provides a confirmation message that the international satellite system, Cospas-Sarsat, has received the distress message and GPS location. The ResQLink View RLS confirms via its digital display screen, while the ResQLink 410 RLS has a confirmation light. $449.95 and $429.95, respectively; acrartex.com Finders Keepers Garmin’s new EchoMap UHD2 chart plotters have new hardware and features, such as 500-watt scanning sonar, cartography content, a sunlight-readable display, and physical buttons for easy operation. The 5- and 7-inch plotters offer built-in Wi-Fi for sharing sonar and data between two EchoMap UHD2 units. When bundled with the GT20-TM transducer, the UHD2 includes sonar. $399.99 to $649.99; garmin.com Line Protection The 60-amp inline circuit breaker from Pro…

SWS TACKLE BOX RODS: 61 ∕2-to 7-foot Shimano Teramar, St. Croix Mojo spinning rods LURES:1 ∕2-to 3-ounce Spro or Andrus bucktails; Berkley Gulp! 3-to 6-inch Swimming Mullet, Shrimp and Jerk Shad LINE: 15- to 30-pound Power Pro braid, 25-to 40-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader REELS: Shimano Stradic 5000 When you grow up in Jersey, you don't think of flatfish as a southern target. But I spent a stint in Florida as managing editor of this magazine. Feeling a wreck-fishing whimsy, I put in a call to Capt. Glyn Austin of Going Coastal Charters to fish a secret spot off Cape Canaveral. We were searching for cobia or snapper, but I had a sneaking suspicion there might be other fare sticking to the bottom structure. Using my fluke instincts from the North,…

Three kinds of people fish offshore: boat owners, people who are helpful on board, and everyone else who finds a ride. And because they don’t know as much as the first two groups, “everyone else” eventually falls victim to a prank. As a friend and business associate of Paul, Stan was thrilled at the invitation to join Paul on his 63-foot beauty of a boat for a day over deep water. With Marco at the wheel and a deckhand prepping baits, they pulled away from the dock just before dawn. On the ride, Paul shared video from a few recent trips. The boat was fishy, always had been, Paul explained. There’d been many a big fish fought from that chair, and Stan would be next to get that experience. “One…