Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Salt Water Sportsman

Not too long ago, fall was flounder time for Gulf Coast anglers. With a November peak for most fisheries, anglers and southern flounder would convene in the passes as flatfish pushed en masse from the bays and estuaries to mysterious offshore spawning grounds. It was a time of plenty, when freezers filled up with delicious white fillets to carry families through winter. That tradition is dead. The precipitous decline of flounder populations through the 2010s set off alarm bells in the halls of fisheries management from Texas all the way around the horn to North Carolina. Limits were slashed and closures were enacted state-by-state in the Gulf to protect flounder during the fall run. For decades, recreational fishermen had exploited this once vast resource that replenished itself each year. Then,…

BUCKLE UP. We’ll be running about 40 miles into the Gulf before we drop our lines,” says Capt. Clay Shidler of Hang ’Em High Sport Fishing in Crystal River, Florida, an area known poetically in travel and tourism brochures as the Nature Coast. I quickly learned, however, that in a rig like Shidler’s 42-foot Freeman catamaran, powered by quadruple Suzuki 350 dual-prop outboards, a 40-mile run requires only slightly more time than rocking out to the long version of Iron Butterfly’s hippie-era classic “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” Exaggeration? Yes, but just a small one, because this rig can top 70 mph with the throttles firewalled and is capable of cruising comfortably in the 50s through almost any type of weather. In what seemed like no time at all, we were throttling down so…

Perhaps no other fishery commands such passion, dedication, and excitement as the Northeast’s fall striped bass run. Packed into a tight three-month window is the chance to dance with utter mayhem, chasing hundreds of thousands of bass blowing up bait schools in topwater madness up and down the coastline. Urgency is of utmost importance, as the quick striper sprint lasts only from October through December. The thought of missing out on a daily bite is enough to drive a sane man wild, prompting anglers to use up all their vacation days, skip out on family outings, and even miss dinner plans while fishing around the clock to hit it just right. Catching as many as 60 stripers per day is not uncommon. Yet, truly capitalizing on the fall run comes…

Each fall, herds of bison come down off the mountain, Canada geese fly south, and huge schools of fish swim to their winter grounds. Striped bass head for the ocean, mid-Atlantic red drum swim south, the Florida mullet migration erupts, Gulf Coast yellowfin tuna key on shrimp boat refuse, California bluefin are on the move, and experienced anglers know where to meet the migration. Get in on the action now; in a few weeks the fish will be gone. SAND EELS AND STRIPERS “By October, the ocean striped bass run is in full swing,” says Jeff Lomonaco at White Water Outfitters in Montauk, New York. At the height of the run, fish move into the ocean to feed on sand eels and menhaden. Lomonaco likes overcast days with a light…

The all-new Cobia 305 Center Console blends offshore angling capabilities with impressive performance and range, refined comfort and stylish lines. With a length overall of 30 feet 5 inches and a 10-foot-6-inch beam, the 305 CC is rated for up to 800 hp. Built using Cobia’s advanced Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion System (VARIS), the 305 CC offers a lighter, stronger and more fuel-efficient hull than boats with traditional fiberglass construction. It weighs 9,405 pounds with twin Yamaha V-6 outboards, and offers the option for the Seakeeper Ride system, a cutting-edge, dynamic trim and stability system, further enhancing control, safety and comfort on the water. “The 305 CC is a perfect expression of what Cobia is all about—true fishability, family comfort, and performance you can count on,” says Chris Gratz, president of…

Is “beautifunctional” a word? Maybe not, but it’s a great way to describe Albemarle’s new entry into the out-board-powered mid-40-foot-size sport fishing market. The Carolinian 45 Fisharound Express is just as functional as it is beautiful, or is it as beautiful as is it functional? Read on, and you decide. Better yet, arrange a test ride. It’s that kind of boat. Even at rest, the 45 exudes a tough and fast aura. Albemarle is clearly on the fast track, as this is its seventh new model in just eight years. We tested on a hot and very busy late June day with a soupy mix of 4-foot wind-driven rollers mixed with boat wakes coming from every direction. The triple Mercury Verado 600 V-12 outboards churned the water at 55 mph-plus…

Ripping over dunes in a side-by-side, Ryan Morie clutches the grab bar and shouts over the roaring engine, “You drive these things a lot back home?” He must have been impressed—or maybe a little concerned. I was getting at it like The Dukes of Hazzard, and as I whipped the little buggy through a series of S-turns, sand sprayed into the scrub brush along the trail. “No!” I bark and goose the engine to climb the face of a dune. Spinning and spitting sand, the wheels bog down. The ATV slews to a stop. We are stuck—up to the axles. Four of us pile out, and while our young content creator friends—Morie and fellow YouTube phenom Tyler Wald—film themselves “broing” about our predicament, veteran adventurer and photographer Jon Whittle and…

REGARDLESS OF THE SPECIES, being born to a good mother is like winning the lottery of life. During my childhood, mine was a stellar one. Still, despite what she told me, I am obviously a slow learner. During a recent October fishing trip, I did what I always do this time of year: located an area on an internet satellite map where a major bayou drained into an inland coastal bay, most of which are called lakes in south Louisiana. I also scheduled my trip to begin during a falling tide because, as a general rule, I prefer trips that culminate with torn-up hands and filthy boat decks to those whose high points are the beautiful sunrise and passable weather. And in the marshes I fish, there’s simply no scenario more…

Five days after my wife underwent two major breast cancer surgeries, our family and my mom traveled to Islamorada to celebrate our two boys’ birthdays and just get away for a while. We rented a small boat and went fishing. We had no idea we were about to create a memory we’ll talk about forever. ¶ It was just us—no captain, no crew. My 9-year-old spotted birds diving on a weed line, and we turned toward it. My 12-year-old had just learned to rig a ballyhoo from me that morning, and one of the first baits he ever rigged got crushed. A blue marlin burst from the water, then surged across the spread—hitting a second bait. Suddenly, we had a marlin hooked up on two rods. ¶ My 12-year-old grabbed…

We’re not there yet, but someday Florida might have the chance to revive and revise the old Doritos slogan to “Catch all you want, we’ll make more.” In spring, Mote Marine Laboratory released a record-doubling 28,000 juvenile snook into Sarasota County estuaries. Following up on that historic effort, Florida announced $250,000 in funding from the state budget for Mote’s Strategic Snook Stock Enhancement Initiative. ¶ Beyond numbers of fish, the recent release used genetic tagging techniques rather than physical tags. In future studies, genetic samples of captured fish—from fin clippings—will identify snook reared by Mote, and their offspring as well, giving scientists measurable evidence of the program’s long-term effects. SAW IT ON SOCIAL “If a fisherman from 30 years ago woke up today, what would surprise them most in the…

Aquila Power Catamarans has announced the launch of the 36 Molokai, building on the success of Aquila’s 47 Molokai. “We didn’t set out to build just another 36-foot boat,” says Jean Raas, CEO of Aquila USA and chief product officer. “We built a fishing weapon that happens to be 36 feet long. Every design decision was made with serious anglers in mind. The beautiful thing is, it’s also a great boat for entertaining family and friends.” This new cat features a carbon fiber hardtop for the strength and durability to support heavy tower configurations with outriggers, antennas and electronics. The 36 also includes a thoughtfully designed sleeping cabin with a private head for overnight adventures when fishing distant waters. It also provides a welcome retreat for family members who need…

The 291 represents the latest expansion in the Caymas line of high-performance, hard-fishing crossover bay boats, and I believe it will quickly capture a significant share of the hybrid boating sector. Why? Because it flawlessly integrates inshore agility with offshore robustness. Crafted under the masterful guidance of Earl Bentz, it stands as a hallmark of innovation in marine engineering. Bentz’s penchant for building high-performance fishing boats, plus his manufacturing team drawn from the best in the industry, help ensure this brand in general and this model in particular, are both hard to beat. Whether a fervent angler or a family searching for adventure, this versatile boat will surely please. At the heart of the Caymas 291’s exceptional performance is its Michael Peters SVVT twinstep hull, offering remarkable efficiency and precise…