Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2023 i Salt Water Sportsman

“Sécurité, sécurité, sécurité. This is Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound,” came the call over the VHF radio, tuned to channel 16. “Boaters in the vicinity of Fort Totten should be on lookout for a partially submerged telephone pole posing a hazard to navigation. Use caution when transiting the area.” In my part of the world, these warnings are commonplace after a particularly high tide that dislodges debris from the shoreline. But there’s a new variety of hazard floating on both the near- and offshore grounds: autonomous vessels. These “drone boats” are increasingly being employed to perform research for a number of industries. Such crewless vessels can gather real-time weather and sea-surface-condition data, take high-resolution scans of the bottom to create maps, and provide valuable security info. And they do…

“The more thorough and unbroken the chum trail, the better the odds of a mako picking up the scent and a bait.”-George Poveromo Too many people think chumming is elementary. It might look like you’re pushing the easy button, but in reality, it’s a skill that takes time to perfect. These tricks will help you up your chumming game whenever your water needs sweetening. RAISE YOUR PROFILE A prime example of proper chumming lies with yellowtail snapper. I seek highprofile reefs along tight depth contours. Whether you thaw a frozen concoction of ground fish off the transom or broadcast live pilchards, success hinges on this chum reaching this target. Do it right and fish will rise to the surface in droves. Miss the mark and failure will be apparent. With…

It’s hard to beat the mouth-watering goodness of the real thing, but lures have their own appeal. They play off predators’ other senses, convincing them that a tender morsel is about to escape their grasp—and they better act fast if they want a full belly. And unlike bait, they don’t require livewells or refrigeration to stay fresh. Plus, there’s a certain thrill that comes from a fish absolutely walloping a lure.…

The 400CC is Blackfin’s biggest center-console to date and a dramatic departure from the early, storied days of the brand in more ways than one. First, Blackfin has taken advantage of the new V-10 outboards from Mercury, forgoing the inboard power of the brand’s yesteryears. Blackfin has also departed gloriously in a second way: Abandoning its early reputation for spartan fishability to build a stylish, luxurious and especially lethal offshore center-console. The first step in bringing Blackfin’s design elements together in the 400CC was to make standard the highest tech propulsion, navigation, air-conditioning and house-power systems. This comprehensive list of standard features includes dual navigation displays, a windlass and a bow thruster, as well as Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards. This lets each boat slip down the assembly line efficiently;…

In 40 years of fishing, Capt. John Williams developed a deep understanding of when he can expect fish to show at his fishing grounds off New York and New Jersey. When things change, he notices. “Thresher sharks and mako sharks are usually a June thing,” says Williams, who runs Blue Chip Sportfishing out of Southside Marina in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. “Now they’re showing up in May.” Any experienced saltwater angler knows that fish migrations can vary year to year. And just as unique catches of wayward single fish might not mean much, more than a single captain’s observations are needed to prove a trend. Now, though, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has put scientific proof behind observations that some saltwater species in the Atlantic are migrating from…

Angler Jeff George of Jupiter, Florida, has extensive inshore and off-shore fishing experience. But when he was diagnosed with advanced small-cell lung cancer, he decided to spend a lot more time with his daughter, Ashley. He set out to teach her how to fish, mainly focusing on freshwater fish, but wanted to ratchet up the excitement. “I took her out to fish for large snook in and around Jupiter Inlet,” he says. “We landed a total of six larger female snook, averaging 37 inches. What a fantastic catch for her first inshore outing. I am very proud of her, and it was a fantastic day for us to share together.” Your Catch To send in your catch photo, email us at catches@saltwatersportsman.com. Got a piece of good news to share?…

“Vinyl wraps represent the fastest way to change the look of a boat. The downside? The cost. Wraps can range from $100 to $150 per linear foot.”-Alan Jones Vinyl wraps on fishing boat hulls have grown more popular than ever for one simple reason: They are the fastest way to change the look of a boat. The down-side? The cost. Including installation, wraps can range from $100 to $150 or more per linear foot. And if your boat occasionally rubs against something abrasive, the wrap can tear. Even under optimal conditions, a wrap will probably last only seven years. If you live in the Sunbelt and your boat sits uncovered, the life span might only be two years. Yet despite these drawbacks, it can still be worth considering a wrap…

Photographer Tom Stack was diving off Key Largo on French Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary when he came upon this scene. He’d just set out two underwater strobe lights when two big snook wandered over. “It was my first opportunity to see these fish feeding on large schools of bait,” he says. “I was totally excited and lay on the sandy bottom with my camera, watching patiently for prime photo opportunities as the snook circled the baitball and fed. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”…

IT’S SAFE TO SAY WE’RE IN THE AGE OF THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH. From iPhones to high-end DSLR cameras, nearly everyone has the ability to easily capture an image on the water and almost instantly post it for others to see. In a world where social media has transitioned from a way to share personal stories with friends to a mode of business for guides, lodges, “influencers” and more, we’re suddenly confronted with an increased load of images shoved in our faces daily. There are pros and cons to the digital age and social media. Sure, it’s a great way to stay in touch with friends and connect with fishermen around the world. It’s a place to eyeball destinations and plan future trips. Information is more accessible than ever before, which also…

There is no shortage of good things in the world today. Thanks to the advancement of technology and manufacturing, good is everywhere. Good is the new average. Good is the new standard. Good is the price of admission. There’s nothing inherently bad about good. It’s only that it is so plentiful and, as a consequence, unremarkable. From this day forward, we declare good to be our enemy. If good is the enemy of great, then we will work tirelessly to flush good from our thinking and our rods. Starting now, we no longer accept the terms of good’s offer, no matter how easy, agreeable, practical, cost-effective, or efficient those terms may seem. Good has no guts Good doesn’t want to push the envelope. Good just wants to lick the stamp.…

HighGround Boatworks 32CC Combining traditional building methods with modern materials, the HighGround Boatworks 32CC is designed to be highly customizable for serious offshore fishing adventures and casual cruising. Spray rails run the full length of the hull to provide lift and stability in turns and deflect spray for a dry ride. Seating options aboard this center-console include two forward benches, a transom bench, or single seating aft. The cold-molded deep-V hull is engineered to offer a smooth ride in rough seas. The 32CC is available with twin Suzuki outboards up to 350 hp (standard power), Yamahas up to 300 hp each or twin Mercury outboards up to 400 hp each. The customization process involves more than selecting options. To tailor each build perfectly to the owner’s desires, HighGround interviews each…

In the crowded sea of large center-console boats, there are builders that always bring their A game to the water. SeaVee Boats has been one such builder ever since its inception in 1974, well before the era of big CCs. Over the past half-century, SeaVee has consistently delivered a factory-direct product built to the needs of the owner, with commonsense layout, practical standards, and a host of fitting options for each model that offer the buyer the best of everything. The new 420Z is no exception. It has a graceful sheer, racy looks, solid construction and a proven ride, built using today’s best-practice construction methods. The hull, liner, deck, console and all small parts are fabricated with a vacuum-assisted resin transfer infusion process, with PVC core materials offering a great…

Often called hog snapper, the hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) is actually a species of wrasse. Most anglers and spearfishers call it delicious; the taste of the sweet white meat is right up there with the very best-eating fish. The hogfish can grow to well over 20 pounds, making it the biggest of 45 smaller species in the world. L. maximus inhabits tropical waters of the western Atlantic, where it roots in soft bottom for mollusks and crustaceans. It’s infrequently caught by anglers but a popular target for spears. A recent scientific discovery about hogfish was so unusual that it went viral in mainstream media. It seems that hogs, known for quick color changes, can “see” with their skin. A unique light-sensitive protein in hogfish skin allows them to monitor their environment…