Salt Water Sportsman covers the world of saltwater fishing. The magazine offers loads of how-to information, advice for those who travel within the greater U.S. and surrounding waters, and reviews of new boats, tackle and electronics.
Last June, I got to run a boat during the South Shore Invitational Charity Fishing Tournament to help raise money for a local hospital here on Long Island, New York. The shotgun start was at 6 a.m. out of the Robert Moses Marina, targeting stripers, bluefish, weakfish, fluke (summer flounder) and tuna. Plan A for the tournament was to run outside. We were driving a brand-new Sailfish 312 CC and wanted to put it through its paces. But the tuna were slow, so we stayed in the bay instead, targeting weakfish first to get the tail end of a good dawn bite that was setting up along a channel behind Fire Island. I fish these waters a bunch, but most regularly in my kayak. This was the first time I’d…
In May, the 12th annual Cheeky Schoolie Tournament presented by Simms took place on Cape Cod. A pair of anglers combined to catch, photograph and release 119.5 inches of striped bass to clinch the title, but the big winner was conservation. A check for $30,756 went to the conservation groups Keep Fish Wet, Stripers Forever and the American Saltwater Guide Association at the completion of the event. ¶ Before the start of the tournament, I fished with Capt. Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing. Joining us were two members of the Costa team, Hannah Trotter and Joe Gugino, along with Dr. Andy J. Danylchuk, a professor of fish conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. ¶ Much of Danylchuk’s research focuses on recreational fisheries. One of his graduate students, Olivia…
Disaster struck the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig, located 41 miles off the Louisiana coast, exploded, tragically taking 11 lives. For nearly five months, the well spewed an estimated 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day into the Gulf. A government scientific panel later estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil were vented during the prolonged spill, creating a slick of 57,500 square miles that impacted 1,100 miles of shoreline in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Subsequent trials and court settlements from the well’s owners and operators resulted in billions of dollars in fines to mitigate the environmental damage. ¶ Now more than a decade later, a project funded with that money is complete. With a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf…
Slow-pitch jigging is taking the world by storm because you can land large fish on light gear. Any type of jigging is most effective when the angler maintains a tight, vertical line angle. The more scope, the less action the jig has. Secondly, a huge bow in the line reduces jig sensitivity. So, head offshore with the proper gear to be successful. ¶ When jigging, you want to use the thinnest line diameter you can get away with because this creates less drag through the water, offers greater sensitivity, and ultimately results in a vertical line angle. Choose anywhere from 15- to 40-pound braid (or PE line ratings of 0.8 to 2.5). For deeper jigging, use thinner diameter line for less drag and increased line capacity. When fishing depths less…
Let’s look at six common things that can wreck four-stroke outboards. ¶ 1) Corrosion. Regularly replace the sacrificial zincs as they wear away, flush the engine cooling system with fresh water, and keep the lower unit(s) tilted clear of the water while docked. ¶ 2) Busted skegs. Be careful at the launch. Pay close attention to the position of the outboard before pulling up at the ramp. ¶ 3) Freeze damage. Pooled water expands and can crack the outboard powerhead or gear case. To prevent this, pull the boat before winter and store it with the outboard(s) trimmed down completely. ¶ 4) Excessive wear. Four-stroke outboards provide thousands of hours of service, but only if properly maintained. Change the engine oil, oil filter and gear lube at the manufacturer’s recommended…
You better be ready for a fight when fishing out of Tropic Star Lodge in Piñas Bay, Panama. Anglers Jeff Karlovec (not pictured) and Alan Zang both hooked up to sailfish aboard Miss America. Karlovec’s fish was not ready to give up the fight and high-jumped into the cockpit. Greg Petro had to pull Zang back from the thrashing billfish, but Zang was able to eventually catch and release his own sailfish. All anglers were visiting from Greater Cleveland, Ohio. 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…
