Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2023 i Salt Water Sportsman

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…

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…

Selecting the right propeller is part guesswork and part science. To home in the science side, we asked three of the top experts in the marine industry for their best tips on choosing the right prop for your boat-and-motor combination. Our panel included Gary T. Diehl (GD), Mercury Marine’s senior category manager for props and gauges; David Meeler (DM), Yamaha Marine’s product introduction and information manager; and David Greenwood (DG), Suzuki Marine’s general manager for the Marine Technical Center USA. Here is what they had to say. DIALING IN PITCH AND DIAMETER DM: Each inch of the pitch will affect engine speed by 150 to 200 rpm. As the pitch goes up, rpm goes down. When the diameter goes down, rpm rises. Each one-quarter inch in diameter has the same…

The dual-console design of the Sailfish 226 DC serves as a great fishing machine, but also pleases friends and family who just want to spend a great day on the water. The 226 DC rides on Sailfish’s sixth-generation Variable-Degree Stepped (VDS) hull, which features a 24-degree entry angle to slice through waves. The second surface is 23 degrees, enabling air to flow under the hull to reduce friction and improve fuel efficiency. The third and outermost surface is 22 degrees, enhancing stability at rest. A full windshield protects the consoles, and back-to-back seating accommodates a full crew. The helm has room for an optional Garmin 7-inch display. The port console houses a private head compartment with a standard portable marine toilet. The 226 DC features a 21-gallon livewell, insulated bow…

Nomad Design’s Madmacs 200 and 240 sizes represent the hottest lures to date when speed-trolling for Pacific bluefin tuna. They get bit, but the stock single hooks have tiny, almost nonexistent barbs. As a result, anglers suffer an exasperatingly high percentage of pulled hooks. As a workaround, anglers change out the back hook of the Madmacs with an Owner 4X-strong treble hook—4/0 size for the 200 and 5/0 size for the 240. Some anglers also replace the belly hook, and the plug seems to troll fine either way. To change the hooks, use heavy-duty split-ring pliers and work cautiously to avoid impaling your fingers and hands with the super-sharp hooks.…

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…

Sharrow Marine offers boaters a revolutionary new propeller design that is quieter, gives greater control at all speeds, has better acceleration and reduced vibration, and is more fuel-efficient. Instead of traditional blades, Sharrow props use a looped blade (known as toroidal) that eliminates the vortex maelstrom conventional prop-blade tips create. So, how do you choose one? You don’t. Because of its unique design, prospective buyers answer a detailed questionnaire about the boat model, engine, typical usage, performance goals and existing pain points. Then Sharrow asks you to conduct a detailed performance test with your existing prop configuration. Next, Sharrow engineers calculate the best design to meet your specific needs. If for some reason their choice doesn’t meet your expectations, the company offers a 30-day refund or exchange window. So, is…

PACIFIC BLUEFINS off the coast of Southern California often prove elusive, even when big schools are boiling and jumping around the boat, driving anglers to distraction as they frantically try everything they know to get a bite. The pursuit has often led to scaling back on tackle, line, lures and baits to finesse a bluefin into eating, many times to no avail. But last summer, some angler—no one’s absolutely sure who or where it happened (see sidebar)—discovered something completely different: speed-trolling a lipless diving plug. It worked. Previously disinterested bluefins ranging from 40 to 250 pounds found the fast-moving, vibrating lures irresistible. And as word got out, it triggered a buying frenzy of big lipless trolling plugs, most notably the Nomad Design Madmacs. Anglers feverishly combed through tackle stores and online…

Sharp anglers know there are limited periods each day when the largest shares of fish are caught. Finding these productive time slots—commonly referred to as windows—takes dedication. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the investment because they can be real game-changers, increasing the total number and size of the fish you catch. One of my most effective windows is what I call “running slack.” Running slack is the short time around the tide switch when tidal water moves in opposition to local current created by depth and structure. To visualize this, picture a spot where current is moving left to right on a dropping tide. When the tide bottoms out, switches and begins to rise, many anglers assume the current will also switch immediately and move in the opposite…

The field of 40-something center-console offshore fishing boats has boomed in the past few years. While an outboard-powered 40-foot center-console proved nearly unthinkable a decade earlier, more than a dozen major boat brands now compete fiercely in this size category. Forty feet represents a magic size, one that can traverse the gnarliest inlets, continue fishing when sea conditions have chased lesser boats to port, and reach distant angling destinations such as the Bahamas, Northeast Canyons or West Coast seamounts, with console interiors big enough for overnighting. Thanks to equipment such as joystick systems and thrusters, they handle and dock easily in crowded marinas and tight slips. Jupiter Marine’s 40 stands out as not only one of the latest entries, but also one of the category’s most impressive. This new 40…

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…

In terms of pure excitement, it’s hard to beat a topwater. I find there’s nothing more thrilling than watching a fish rocket up from the depths and smash a lure dragged along the surface. Fortunately, you can find a surface lure designed to catch just about any species these days, from inshore favorites like snook to offshore bruisers like bluefins. And depending on their action, these plugs can be fished at a near standstill up to speeds that only a wahoo could handle. Shimano’s Pop-Orca has the stereotypical look we’ve come to expect from a modern popper. But the open-mouth design, which Shimano calls a bubble chamber, shoots water out the top of the lure to create a surface commotion that poppers of the past never produced. The giant concave…

One of the latest brands to join the ranks of the 40-something center-console league is California-based custom builder Mag Bay Yachts with its 43 CC featuring a patented Cross Step hull design. The 43 CC reflects Mag Bay’s signature styling, which includes an intricately contoured tumblehome in the stern quarters, a sweeping sheer that dips ever so slightly at the forepeak, and a healthy bow flare. Fishing features include a 75-gallon transom livewell and 525 gallons of in-sole fish-locker capacity. Two rows of helm chairs offer posh seating for six, and the console interior features a berth and an enclosed head with a shower. Available power includes twin or triple Mercury Verado 600 hp V-12s or quad 400 hp V-10s. The hardtop boasts a polished stainless-steel frame and incorporates an…

I remember when a run to the offshore fishing grounds went something like this: Get to the boat the night before to load up gear, bait and tackle. Once we cleared the breakwater, we’d settle in for a long, slow chug through the inky darkness. If there was any weather, the inability to see approaching waves meant slowing down even more. After eight or 10 hours of creeping along and taking turns at the helm, a faint horizon would materialize along the hem of the purple-gray sky, and our fishing day would officially begin. Today a new breed of high-speed fishing boats has created a new paradigm for serious offshore anglers coast to coast. Owners of these powerful fishing machines are likely to hop on board in the morning, fire…

The newest model in Pursuit’s lineup serves as a refreshing change of pace from the trend toward supersize, high-dollar, multi-outboard center-consoles. The moderate price tag of the S 248 means it is relatively affordable for many anglers. But this doesn’t subtract from the center-console’s superb seakeeping, spirited performance, fishing range, and abundant fishing features. The S 248 has an LOA of 25 feet, 8 inches—16 inches longer than it predecessor, the C 238, increasing room in the cockpit and at the helm. A thoughtfully designed stern bench seat converts from a combing pad to a comfortable perch for taking a load off between fishing spots. Pursuit has transformed the swim platform into a wholly usable area, thanks to a few innovations. Pursuit rigs this model with only Yamaha F300 DES…