Sport Fishing November/December 2019

“THE BEHAVIOR OF FISH, WHICH DON’T UNDERSTAND POLITICS, LEAVES NO DOUBT OF THE OCEANS’ RISING TEMPERATURES.” Schools of good-size bluefin tuna crashing bait off Washington State. Anglers up there hooking California yellowtail, finding packs feeding around flotsam. Mahi, Sierra mackerel and croakers in the Pacific Northwest too. Hordes of blacktip sharks invading Long Island Sound. On and on it goes, around the world. As Buffalo Springfield sang in the’60s: There’s something happening here. And, the long-haired rock trio added prophetically, what it is ain’t exactly clear. But the point remains: It is happening, and while the ocean has been heating up for decades, the pace of warming has begun accelerating dramatically. The “it” here refers to migrations of fishes worldwide moving toward the poles, expanding their historic ranges, in order…

One thing that all successful anglers have in common: They tie good knots. Many learned the hard way—by losing a big fish or watching the tournament winner swim away—that certain knots don’t hold up under pressure, and not all knots work for every situation. Some knots might be stronger than others; some might be easier and quicker to tie. Knots that fasten a leader to a lure must also allow the bait to swim properly and facilitate an efficient hook-set. Some inshore captains swear by loop knots, which let the lure swing and move unencumbered. But in the off shore world, where big fish slash and tumble bigger plugs, anglers might need a different connection. To sample a few of the options, I asked two captains—one inshore guide in Florida,…

A MEMBER OF CARANGIDAE, THE FAMILY OF JACKS AND TREVALLIES, THE POMPANO IS IN THE SAME GENUS AS PERMIT (AND WHEN SMALL, THE TWO SPECIES CAN BE TOUGH TO TELL APART). ONE COULD ARGUE THAT THEY FIGHT JUST AS HARD AS PERMIT POUND FOR POUND—THE WORLD RECORD IS ONLY 8 POUNDS, 4 OUNCES (TAKEN IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA IN 1999). THESE FISHES OF SURF AND BAY RANGE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST FROM THE NORTHEAST SOUTH TO BRAZIL, INCLUDING THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND ARE ONE OF THE MOST PRIZED JACKS FOR THEIR FABULOUS TASTE. ALIEN CREEP-OUT Q On a recent trip to Fiji, my diving friends found this creature in the water, alive but on its last legs (or fins). Despite some suspicions that it’s an alien from outer space, I…

(And Win Up to 10,800 Yards of Line!) SEND IN YOUR QUESTION and any relevant photos of your mysterious catch or observation for our experts’ ID and feedback. If we publish your question and you have a shipping address within the United States or Canada, you’ll win a 3-pound spool of Berkley Pro Spec ocean blue or fluorescent yellow monofilament (1,000 to 10,800 yards, depending on line strength) or a 1,500-yard spool of Spiderwire Stealth braid up to 100-pound-test! Send questions and images via email to fishfacts@sportfishingmag.com (include your hometown) or via post to Sport Fishing Fish Facts, 460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789. SF FISH FACTS EXPERTS NORTHEAST Mike Fahay, Sandy Hook Marine Lab, New Jersey SOUTHEAST Ray Waldner, Ph.D., Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida…

On a routine schoolie striped bass trip a few years ago, I was releasing a striper during turn-and-burn action when the 25-incher flopped and stuck a dorsal spine in my left palm. Like most longtime saltwater anglers, hooks, knives, teeth, fins and gill plates have bitten, sliced, stabbed, chaffed and scarred my hands. This latest stick hardly hurt, and I thought nothing more of Two days later, my palm was puff y, pink and painful. I was unsure why until I examined it and remembered the spine prick. No big deal. By the third day, lines of red infection had traveled up to my armpit. Time for medical care. The doctor said this was serious, and he wouldn’t release me with just antibiotic pills; instead, he administered a six-hour intravenous…

KEEP CONNECTED Simrad’s new BoatConnect vessel-monitoring system keeps anglers informed of their boat’s location, battery level, trip history and more. The system comprises an easily installed hub unit hard-wired to the battery and a smartphone or tablet app. Establish a virtual perimeter, or geofence, around your vessel and receive alerts if the boat travels outside that area. The hub comes with up to five days of internal backup power if onboard power is lost. The hub costs $99, and the app download is free from the Apple and Google Play app stores. A service subscription costs $19.99 per month. EASY INTERNET Designed for any size boat, Shakespeare’s Stream uses cell-booster technology to amplify weak cell signals in popular boating areas, enabling anglers to use their data plans to create a…