Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i Salt Water Sportsman

The standard magazine production process is travel, fish, write, shoot, edit, design, edit, ship, repeat. Over the course of a year, it’s easy to lose sight of how much you’ve traveled, fished, written, shot, edited, designed, edited, shipped, repeated. But as we began work on the editorial calendar for 2026, it was not lost on us that we are, once again, marking a major milestone. With this issue, Salt Water Sportsman enters its 87th year in publication. There was “the voice of the coastal sport fisherman” before there was the Jeep. Imagine what it must have been like in that original office that looked down on High Street in Boston, a short stroll from where the tea went into the harbor. The office was so small that the layouts had…

Spring triggers major gatherings of spawning-class mutton snapper around the offshore wrecks, reefs and structures of South Florida, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas, with April and May representing the peak of the run. However, spring is also the curtain call for a spectacular showing of shallow-water muttons, with fish upwards of 15 pounds caught along patch reefs in waters less than 25 feet, within creeks and even on the flats – and it’s a highly overlooked fishery. NO FOOD, NO FISH From October through June, impressive numbers of muttons frequent these shallow environments to gorge on baitfish like pilchards, ballyhoo and even mullet. The migration periods of baitfish and mutton coincide. That is, pilchards run heaviest during fall, winter and into spring. Florida Keys ballyhoo abound during fall through…

Specifications LENGTH 41'1" BEAM 12'0" DRAFT 2'8" (hull only) FUEL 500 gal. WEIGHT 21,650 lb. MAX HP 1,350 PRICE $965,180 pursuitboats.com The new S 388 Sport fromPursuit boasts both functional and aesthetic innovation with a mix of features that render it a fishing machine that will please the most ardent saltwater anglers, while at the same time satisfy all who value amenities for cruising, overnighting and sandbar entertaining. The Pursuit S 388 supplants the vaunted S 378 model, offering more storage and features developed with assistance of customer feedback. I applaud Pursuit’s design team for balancing appearance with function. From trolling offshore to docking at a waterside eatery—it will capture admiring stares. The sheer line provides an aggressive stance, yet there’s plenty of freeboard to provide security while fishing in…

We’ve all been hooked into a big fish with line screaming, rod bent and heart racing. And then, in an instant, there’s nothing. Therod straightens, line goes slack, and the trophy’s gone. A likely culprit is a broken, bent or dull fishhook. Hook makers are working hard to prevent heart-break with stronger, sharper and more effective hooks, and when it comes to fishhooks, small details make a big difference. From raw material to design, forging and finishing, the latest hooks are optimized for performance. WIRE A good hook starts with the raw material. High-carbon steel both holds a point and flexes under pressure. Developing the perfect balance between hardness and softness is the objective of Owner’s new Zo-Wire, Owner sales manager Chinh Nguyen points out. “A hard point will snap,…

Dometic’s new CSX Series system-known as the "Cold Machine"-can convert virtually any insulated compartment, such as fishbox, into an energy-smart refrigerator/freezer compartment This self-contained system is perfect for keeping perishables, beverages and your catch of the day icy cold and fresh aboard your boat. ¶ Engineered to accommodate storage volumes from 63 up to 422 quarts, CSX Series Cold Machines feature fully integrated designs that combine high-efficiency compressors, fan-cooled evaporators, and digital temperature controls. The CSX Cold Machine system won an Innovation Award at the recent IBEX boatbuilder trade show in Tampa, Florida. ¶ The compact size makes these ideal for use in the space-restricted galleys, boxes, and storage areas commonly found on todays boats. Boating anglers can simply drop it in, connect 12/24VDC power and enjoy a space-saving refrigerator…

• Narrow the field before you start your in-person search. Do research on brands and focus on boats that match your lifestyle and are within your budget. • Take notes and use a scoring system to quantify the evaluation and minimize emotion. • Shoot lots of photos. If you are seeing a lot of boats in one day—like at a boat show—make the first shot of each one a close-up of the boat’s manufacturer and model to keep them straight. • Bring a tape measure to find out how much headroom there is in areas such as the center console and cabin. Measure the walkway space on the side of the center console. Use it to determine the square footage of the fishing cockpit. Check the height of the gunwales.…

Specifications LENGTH 28'9" BEAM 9'9" DRAFT 2'0" FUEL 188 gal. MAX HP 600 PRICE Starting at $302,452 (includes standard twin Mercury 225 outboards and Seakeeper Ride system) scoutboats.com Liken the all-new Scout 288 LXF to a hardworking fisherman who knows how to dress for a party. Scout established its stellar reputation by building the most seaworthy vessels possible with incomparable style and luxury, while maintaining traditional lines with wave-taming Carolina flare and serious fishing amenities. The 288 LXF carries all of that DNA and more. It comes loaded with premium standard features that set it apart from competitors, including a windlass, premium audio equipment, digital switching and more. An integrated carbon-fiber hardtop with a glass windshield streamlines the styling while adding the high-tech look of carbon fiber. But it extends…

It’s like déjà vu all over again.” This quote attributed to New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra could easily apply to US management of red snapper for recreational anglers. Back in 2017, anglers in the then Gulf of Mexico were flummoxed when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a recreational red snapper season that was cut to just three days. It was baffling. From the dark days of near population collapse in the 1990s, through decades of closures and stingy regulations, NOAA’s own data finally indicated red snapper were recovering much faster than anyone expected. Anecdotally, the Gulf red snapper population was booming. Charter captains and private anglers throughout the Gulf reported an inability to get baited hooks through clouds of red snapper to target other fish on…

Philosopher Sir Francis Bacon in 1597 famously opined, “Knowledge itself is power.” For anglers, this truism carries intense meaning when pursuing pelagic fish like billfish, mahi, tuna and wahoo. Offshore fishermen are constantly seeking information, poring over internet reports, calling tackle shops, and networking with core groups—all to find out where fish might bite tomorrow. Today, however, there’s even more insight available, thanks to two advanced fish-forecasting technology services, including Simrad’s new Fish Cast powered by Roffs and Fish Mapping from SiriusXM Marine. Let’s look at these two systems to see what kind of power they can give you. FISH CAST FishCast powered by Roffs is a new system that integrates with C-Map electronic charts to create an overlay on select Simrad MFDs. FishCast was developed for Simrad by Fathom…

CALIFORNIA’S Channel Islands have long been ground zero for the most dedicated white seabass anglers. From the squid spawning grounds off Santa Rosa Island to the kelp forests of Santa Cruz Island, these islands offer some of the best year-round access to these big chrome-sided croakers. Every season, anglers chase these elusive gamefish, which can reach weights of 60 pounds or more. They appear and disappear like ghosts, one day thick in the shallows, the next nowhere to be found. But in recent years, a new tactic has emerged among those most entrenched in a fishery which traditionally calls for fishing live squid on dropper loops. Capt. Pat O’Brien, who’s spent countless days pursuing these fish as captain of the party boat Aloha Spirit, as well as on private boats,…