Sport Fishing November/December 2017

Suddenly, this country’s recreational fishermen seem to matter. That’s sure been a long time coming. Of course, we know we’ve mattered — certainly economically (to the tune of billions of dollars annually) — for many years. But lately, recognition of the importance for angler access to fish and fishing is on the upswing. The proof of that can be seen on several fronts, including: • An expanded, far more generous federal season for anglers to catch red snapper this year in Gulf of Mexico federal waters; • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries rejecting a petition by several environmental groups to list Pacific bluefin tuna as an endangered species, thereby preserving recreational fishermen’s access off California; • Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross agreeing with New Jersey (and against the Atlantic…

A lure that swims flawlessly prevents tackle tangles and skittish game fish, illustrating that proper presentations are the most important factor when retrieving lures. Lures spinning in the water erroneously because of sloppy rigs, incorrect hook modifications or improper retrieval speeds can create line twist and fishless days. Thankfully, a quick test next to the boat can tell you if a lure is swimming correctly. Anglers should take the next step and match the retrieval speed based on the conditions. Most lures require unique presentations based on different types of retrieves — not every soft plastic needs a steady retrieve back to the boat, and not every hard bait demands spastic action. We asked expert captains and fishing professionals how different speeds affect their lure presentations. Is it better to…

1 Try not to stop reeling after a miss. The sudden halt can turn fish off the chase almost immediately. Conversely, don’t get so excited that you rip the lure away from them. 2 Fish the plug right to the boat. Fish often follow a bait, especially after missing it a couple of times during the retrieve. 3 If you see a fish strike your topwater, set the hook only when you feel the weight of the fish tight to your line. Setting the lure too early often pulls the bait from the fish, even with treble hooks. 4 When you come tight to the fish, give it one or two quick sets. Don’t swing for the fences or do 30 hook-sets. 5 Use a slightly heavier leader when popping,…

(Paralichthys albigutta) HE NOSE IT’S AN EMPEROR My wife and I were fishing a reef off Taha’a in French Polynesia and caught this fish on a white bucktail in about 20 feet of water. Our guide, a local, knew the name in Polynesian (which I can’t remember) but not in English. Can you help me identify it? Tim Huyck Amherst, New Hampshire Hi, Tim. The English name for that fish is longnose emperor (Lethrinus olivaceus). This species is occasionally encountered by anglers fishing on coral reefs throughout the Indo-West Pacific region. Also known as longface emperor, it’s the largest member of the family Lethrinidae, growing to more than 40 inches long and weighing up to 30 pounds or so. The IGFA all-tackle record is 22 pounds, 13 ounces, caught off…

I know I’m not the only angler who grew up fishing spinning reels, mostly ignoring baitcasters. Not because I had disdain for them, but because no one in my fishing circle used them. That all changed in the past decade. A heavy mix of topwater-plug fishing, Gulf Coast inshore fishing and freshwater bass fishing brought to light the versatility and enjoyment of the revolving-spool, star-drag reels. Now, I consider myself a late adopter, and I’ve learned some things along the way. Baitcasters necessitate touch and feel that’s simply not required with spinning reels. Get past that small snag and you’ll notice levelwind baitcasters excel in lure-casting distance, accuracy with lighter offerings and even lure retrieves that require jerking actions. Compact baitcasting reels feature key differentiating characteristics from spinners, such as…

A most unusual fly-rod catch, a 16-pound, 15-ounce snoek [A], is pending as the alltackle record for that species. The large snake mackerel is found in cool waters of the Southern Hemisphere, this one caught off Chile in March by Bruce Jackson, of Oxford, Pennsylvania. If approved, it will defeat a 14-pound, 3-ounce snoek caught off South Africa in 2015. Fishing a live bait in Ambrose Channel, New York, in June, Jesse L. Wynn, of Brooklyn, landed a 47-pound, 11-ounce striped bass [B] on 8-pound line after a 25-minute battle. If approved, it defeats the 45-pound, 5-ounce men’s 8-pound record caught near New York in 2004. Closely related to another wrasse, the California sheephead, Asian sheephead grow a good bit larger. This 37-pound, 8-ounce kobudai [C], as the species is…