The Angler Video Magazine | July 2023 ICAST Edition

PHOTO CREDIT: AMY KENNELLY IG: @AMYKENNELLY_

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SUZUKI MARINE COMPLETES 940-MILE ECOFUEL RUN TO THE CAPITOL

In promotion of new sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels, a 26-foot center console powered by twin Suzuki DF140s recently made a 940-mile run from Suzuki’s home state of Florida to the nation’s capitol.

The 26-foot Sea Pro, fueled exclusively by new EcoGen90 sustainable marine fuel from VP Racing, arrived in Washington DC in time to be showcased at the 2023 American Boating Congress, where it will demonstrate the viability of new fuels. This is an ongoing initiative of the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA).

“We undertook this voyage in support of NMMA’s initiative to educate and inform the industry, policy makers and the boating public about alternative marine fuels,” said George “Gus” Blakely, Suzuki Marine Executive Vice President Sales & Service. “There are roughly 12 million gasoline powered boats across America today, so these new fuels offer a real opportunity for boaters and the boating industry to make an impact and lessen our environmental footprint. Not only are these fuels formulated with renewable content, but they also produce substantially fewer emissions and even provide boaters with enhanced performance and reliability.”

Piloted by Suzuki Marine endurance test captains, the bold graphics on the Sea Pro 259 made it a floating billboard to promote sustainable fuel. Through a wide range of conditions, the fuel and Suzuki DF140 outboards performed flawlessly with instant starting, strong acceleration across the powerband and great top-end speed. Fuel efficiency was also excellent. The boat burned just a tick under 2 mpg.

The twin DF140s were also equipped with Suzuki’s now-standard Micro Plastic Collecting Device. These devices, which are integrated into the outboards’ cooling systems, were cleaned throughout the journey, and micro plastic pollution was sent to Suzuki in Japan for testing.

Suzuki is a leading manufacturer of 4-stroke outboard motors ranging from the ultra-portable 2.5 horsepower to the flagship DF350 V-6 with contra-rotating dual propellers. Over the years, Suzuki outboards have won nine Innovation Awards from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) for motors as small as 25 horsepower, demonstrating Suzuki’s commitment to making the best technology available to the widest possible audience. Through its CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, regional cleanup and habitat restoration efforts around the world, and company-wide plastic waste reduction efforts, Suzuki has demonstrated a commitment to protecting coastal and marine habitat at home and around the world.

To learn more about Suzuki Marine's CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, or Suzuki Marine’s industry leading line-up of outboard motors from 2.5 to 350 horsepower, contact Suzuki Marine USA headquarters at (813) 687-7200 or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

THREE DESTINATIONS FOR

By CAM Staff

Fspot of the tuna fishing world. They’re bigger and stronger than blackfins, while being far more approachable than giant bluefins. They’re fast and strong, and they school up, sometimes crashing baits on the surface.

There’s so much to like about this tremendous game fish, and it doesn’t hurt that limits are relatively liberal in most places. Did we mention that yellowfins are made of the delicious meat known as ahi in sushi bars?

Here are three of the best destinations where you can test your strength against a few yellowfins. Win the battle, and you’ll eat like a king.

Venice, Louisiana:

One of the most consistent places in the world for catching yellowfins is out of Venice, The “Yellowfin Capital of the World.” Tuna are a year-round possibility here in the Northern Gulf, where the Mississippi River produces rich currents and rip lines that roll out to hundreds of oil rigs and undersea mounts known as lumps.

Summertime brings better weather and calmer seas, when getting offshore more quickly and comfortably can reward anglers with mixed bags of mahi, wahoo, snapper and tuna in the 40 to 80-pound range. However, peak season for giant yellowfins is in winter, and triple-digit fish become the norm when the bite is hot. Fish heavier than 200 pounds are a definite possibility.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:

On Mexico’s Pacific Coast, where the landmass begins to curve east, Puerto Vallarta is positioned within range of some of the most prolific tuna grounds in the world. Outside of Banderas Bay, a series of islands and deep-sea banks draw in tuna like clockwork at certain times of year. These are some of the largest yellowfins in the world.

There is no closed season on yellowfins here, but fishing is best from July through October, with a typical peak season of August and September. With runs of 36 to 125 miles to reach the fishing grounds, anglers must commit to long days on the

water or overnight trips. The rewards can be huge. A lowend average fish weighs 80 pounds out of Puerto Vallarta. Big ones weigh 350 pounds or more.

Outer BankS North Carolina:

The Outer Banks get a lot of attention for giant bluefin tuna that move through in the winter months, but yellowfin tuna are around all year. With the Gulf Stream averaging 30 to 45 miles offshore and all the bottom structure on the Continental Shelf, large schools of yellowfins are frequently encountered along with many other pelagic favorites.

Unpredictable weather makes the deep winter months of January and February a crapshoot, which leaves October through December and March through June as prime time for catching yellowfins. They run a little smaller here, with 25- to 65-pound fish being normal catches, but the action is usually fast once you find them. Charters fill limits quickly, with doubles and triples coming tight when you troll through a school of them.

For more great destination fishing, visit coastalanglermag.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAPARDA REY FISHING CHARTERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF FINSTER FISHING TEAM

THE CENTER OF IT ALL

Yamaha's FSH Series Center Console boats are the epitome of versatility, performance, and reliability. Designed with anglers in mind, every Yamaha FSH boat features a Connext® Control System within its spacious helm layout, dedicated fishing amenities, and ample storage space for gear.

The compact yet powerful 190 FSH Sport seamlessly combines fishing functionality with family fun. With an innovative hull design and a potent Yamaha engine, this boat ensures a smooth and stable ride. Its center console layout and integrated T-top provide plenty of deck space and shelter, making it ideal for solo or small group fishing trips. Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the various casting platforms and 18-gallon livewell, always keeping bait ready.

Building upon its predecessor and boasting all the same features, the 195 FSH Sport offers upgraded performance for a truly enhanced coastal living experience. Its Single Supercharged 4-Cylinder, 4-stroke, Super Vortex High Output Yamaha Marine Engine makes it the perfect vessel to take you from one adventure to the next. The boat's console storage compartment keeps gear organized, while its sporty design and powerful engine tackle any fishing excursion with ease.

Stepping up in size is Yamaha's 22-foot FSH series. This lineup begins with the valueminded 220 FSH Sport powered by twin 1L TR-1 HO (High Output) engines. Moving up the line is the feature-rich 222 FSH Sport, and the premium 222 FSH Sport E being the pinnacle of the series. Offering sleek lines, agile handling, and superb performance, the new Yamaha 220 and 222 center console boats are big, with their twin Yamaha marine engines generating up to 360 horsepower. Understanding that fishing is the heart and

soul of this product line, anglers around the globe have the below features to look forward to when purchasing a Yamaha 22-foot FSH series boat:

22-Foot FSH Series

Fishing Amenities for Anglers

• Storage for eight rods under the gunwales

• Storage for six rods on the side of the console

• Aerated 26-gal stern livewell

• Simrad® multi-function display

• Jet Wash® washdown system

The 252 FSH Sport and 255 FSH Sport E are Yamaha's largest offerings in the FSH lineup, providing unparalleled fishing experiences without sacrificing comfort or performance. Both boats flaunt advanced technology, including a 12’ touchscreen Simrad® system display. While the 252 FSH Sport's twin Yamaha 1.8L high-output engines and jet propulsion system allow for impressive speed and maneuverability, the 255 FSH Sport E's cuttingedge design and combined 500 horsepower prove this unit is built for those who dream big.

Yamaha's FSH Series Center Console boats offer a wide range of options for anglers of all levels. Whether embarking on solo ventures or family-friendly fishing trips, these boats deliver outstanding performance and innovation. Experience the water like never before with any Yamaha FSH Series boat.

For more information on Yamaha's Center Console Boats, visit www.yamahaboats.com

SEAKEEPER RIDE BRINGS MAJOR ATTITUDE TO

MARINE INDUSTRY

When Seakeeper Ride was introduced in August 2022, many wondered how it differed from Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilization systems. Seakeeper, the parent company of Seakeeper Ride has a strong reputation for bringing calmness to a rockin’ and rollin’ sea. But what exactly is Seakeeper Ride and how does it work? Seakeeper Ride is a Vessel Attitude Control System (adapted from the aerospace industry’s Attitude Control Systems) designed to control pitch, roll, and yaw. It can eliminate up to 70% of underway pitch and roll, providing an unparalleled feeling of comfort, control, and confidence. Not to be confused with trim tabs or interceptors which have linear actuators moving solely up and down, the VACS uses a rotary actuator that can move at speeds of 300mm per second to deploy the rotary blade up to one inch. This equates to 100 adjustments made per second to combat wave motions, based on proprietary software and sensors taking 1,000 measurements every second. The incomparable speed counteracts changes to both the running angle and list, immediately. Seakeeper Ride is completely automatic and predicts motion and responds automatically and instantaneously to eliminate them before they’re felt with no manual adjustments needed. The noticeable difference is not only felt by boaters but backed by real results published on the Seakeeper Ride website, based on five main benefits:

1. Pitch and Roll Elimination - Seakeeper Ride eliminates up to 70% of underway pitch and roll motion that often cause uncomfortable pounding or slamming.

2. List/Level Control - Seakeeper Ride never allows vessel list from movement onboard, wind, uneven load while underway, and/or prop torque.

3. Auto Trim - Seakeeper Ride uses a customized Trim Command Curve to automatically adjust the boat to match the optimal running angle at any given speed.

4. Hole Shot Control - Seakeeper Ride is optimized to allow for faster acceleration that gets the boat on plane more quickly which improves fuel economy during the transition to planing. The operator never loses sight of the horizon, increasing safety for all on board.

5. Coordinated Turn - Seakeeper Ride automatically adjusts the heeling angle of your boat during turns for more comfort and better performance.

Originally available as standard equipment on select models from Sportsman Boats, Scout Boats, Chris-Craft Boats, Jupiter Marine, and Dynamic Boats, Seakeeper Ride is now available for aftermarket installations on qualifying boats 19-35 feet through a dealer network.

Visit ride.seakeeper.com for more information or to locate a dealer near you.

FISHING DEEP DROPS AS

Summer is easily the best time to go fishing offshore, no matter where your fishery is. Calmer seas are more frequent, and the pelagics are plentiful.

This time of year, you can usually point your boat offshore and eventually run into the mecca. However, these sought-after pelagic species are moving around through their migrations and finding them isn’t always guaranteed. Sometimes you just get unlucky running and gunning all day, on the hunt for birds, debris and weed lines. Whether you are out there with no signs of life or just can’t seem to get away from schools of undersized fish, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan to save the day and make the fuel bill worth it. Having a deep-drop rig ready to go can save a day of offshore fishing. Swordfishing can be an

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

epic day saver, but it takes quite a bit of time, gear and involvement to have a good chance. There are a lot of opportunities for fishing the bottom between the reef and the sword grounds.

With a set-up that can handle fishing between 500 and 1,000 feet, you will have what you need to quickly pepper in some drops during your day, without spending too much time setting it up and packing it away. There are a variety of edible aliens that can be targeted, or even snagged as bycatch, when fishing in the deep, but pretty much all of them that come up from those cooler waters produce higher quality fillets.

Ensure that you have a few extra weights onboard, in case you get hung on the bottom, or adjustments need to be made due to the current. Having the right weight is important, and it is pretty easy to tell after a drop if you have put on too much or too little. I would recommend having 6-, 8- and 10-pound weights to make your adjustments with. These leads can be extremely pricey, so look into some DIY methods if this is something you plan to get into.

Depending on what you want to target, there are a few variations you will want for your rigs. Utilizing 300-pound mono and sleeve swivels, space out up to five hooks along the leader, making the drop-down leaders short enough that they won’t tangle with each other. Play around with different size hooks and spacing between them. If you aren’t sure what might be living on a newfound bottom spot, drop a rig with varied hook sizes, having the biggest on the bottom. It is also a good idea to affix a 6-inch, 50-pound breakaway leader to the

lead to save the rest of your gear when you inevitably get hung up.

Searching for new bottom spots can be one of the most exciting parts about this type of fishing. You might see ledges full of life on your machine, or you might see nothing at all, and still find fish. You can even look for changes in the waves on the surface that indicate depth fluctuations on the bottom. Mark your spots whenever you get a bite, and start your own collection of offshore honey holes.

Sweet E’nuf Charters’ two-boat fleet specializes in deep-dropping out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Call them at (504) 920-6342 to book your trip this summer. Follow Capt. Quinlyn on social media @captainquinlyn.

fleet

FROM A PRO

TYLER WOOLCOTT

THROW BIG BAITS FOR BIG BASS TIPS

Most of the time the saying is true, bigger baits equal bigger fish! Although elephants eat peanuts, a big bait profile is something big fish sometimes can’t resist whether you’re fishing the open ocean or the Great Lakes. I’ve spent a lot of time in the last couple years experimenting with lures that are larger than what my previous comfort zone was for bass. It is pretty special to see what gets curious to come look at or bite these big baits.

There are many different types of swimbaits on the market, but I’ll break them down into two styles to keep it simple. There are hard, gliding-style swimbaits with treble hooks and there are soft-body swimbaits. Each has a time and a place, and both attract some very big fish.

Depending on where you are in the country and the size of the forage in your lake, a normal meal for a bass is usually much bigger than you would think. Bass have huge mouths to accommodate large prey items. A two- or three-pounder has no problem at all swallowing a 6- to 8-inch bluegill whole. I’ve seen 10-plus-pounders eat gizzard shad up to 14 inches long! Trying to exactly duplicate the larger bait fish in your lake with a natural presentation is the key to drawing attention to your artificial lure.

With hard swimbaits, my first choice is a shad imitation. Most of the places I fish are full of shad, and shad seem to be a favorite food source for bass. Crappie are another forage species people sometimes forget about. Lately, when throwing big baits over deeper water, I’ve caught some big fish with crappie down in their throats.

With soft swimbaits, I usually go to a bluegill imitation. I like soft baits because they are more weedless, and you can creep them through the grass or along the bottom in places where bluegills live.

Big swimbaits can get mighty expensive. If you are just getting started with them, I would suggest sticking with the more affordable baits that get good reviews until you get your confidence up. Then you can dive into some of the larger, more customized lures.

Learning to fish big baits is best done by getting on the water and doing it. Just get out there and experiment with retrieves until you find out what works. Of course, throwing giant lures requires special equipment. I like 13 Fishing’s affordable Defy for a rod. It’s an 8-foot swimbait rod that handles most big lures with ease. I pair this with a 300 sized reel, like the 13 Fishing Concept A3 and some 20- to 25-pound Seaguar Abrazx.

I hope this article sparks someone’s interest to get out there and throw a big bait. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone, I discovered it to be one of the coolest and most fun ways to target big bass all year long. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media if you have questions about these tactics or any others.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

ENTER TO WIN

SEA EAGLE® FISHSKIFF ™ 16 WITH SUZUKI DF4A OUTBOARD

Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine, Suzuki Marine and Sea Eagle have come together to offer readers a shot at this Sea Eagle FishSkiff™ 16 paired with a Suzuki DF4 outboard that’ll take you wherever the fish are. The FishSkiff™ 16 is an inflatable fishing boat that is lightweight, sturdy, stable and extremely packable. It rolls up small enough to fit in the trunk of a car and quickly inflates into a fishing machine. Powered by Suzuki’s four-stroke DF4A, you’ll have to hold on to your hat as you scream over the flats. Designed for efficiency and performance and portability, the DF4A provides all the speed and acceleration you can handle. It’s lightweight and can be attached or removed with ease.

Experience

Watauga River

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River

Watauga Lake

Doe River

PLAN YOUR TRIP AT TOURCARTERCOUNTY.COM

Tennessee’s Mountain Playground

TAXMAN TAKES $3.5 MILLION BITE AT BIG ROCK BLUE MARLIN TOURNEY

Toanglers, sharks are known as “the taxman” because of their penchant for stealing gamefish off the line. The taxman took more than just a snack when it bit off a chunk of a blue marlin during the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament out of Morehead City, N.C. It cost the would-be winning team, Sensation, a more than $3.5-million paycheck.

During the last day of the tournament, after 11 p.m. on Saturday June 17, Sensation brought a big 619.4-pound blue marlin to the docks at Big Rock Landing. In front of a cheering crowd that chanted “weigh that fish,” the emcee of the livestreamed event noticed the shark bite.

IGFA and tournament rules call for disqualification of fish if there is “mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch,

caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh.” Tournament officials decided to deliberate overnight and released their decision Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

“After careful deliberation and discussions between the Big Rock Rules Committee and Board of Directors with biologists from both NC State CMAST and NC Marine Fisheries biologists as well as an IGFA official, it was determined that Sensation’s 619.4lb blue marlin is disqualified due to mutilation caused by a shark or other marine animal. It was deemed that the fish was mutilated before it was landed or boated and therefore it was disqualified,” read a statement.

The reasoning behind the rule is injured fish are easier to fight and land, and it also guards

against teams using their vessels to maim fish to shorten fights. Sensation reportedly fought their big blue for more than six hours.

Team Sushi was next in line with a 484.5-pound blue marlin. Sushi took first place in the 65th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and claimed $2.77 million of the $5.85 million total purse. The tournament drew 271 boats.

The Nags Head team missed out on the Level V Fabulous Fisherman’s Prize of $739,500, which would have been awarded for the first blue marlin heavier than 500 pounds. That prize went unclaimed and will be rolled over, which sets up next year’s tournament for a potential $4-million winner.

Check out the tournament at www.thebigrock.com.

RODS

FISHING CUSTOM RODS JUST GOT EASIER.

FISHING CUSTOM RODS JUST GOT EASIER.

Any angler that spends enough time on the water becomes hyper-sensitive to the performance they get from their gear. The new Find a Rod Builder section at BatsonEnterprises.com has made it easier than ever to get rods made specifically to fish YOUR way.

Batson has combined the industry’s best line up of rod blanks and components with direct access to our network of professional rod builders that make awesome rods happen. Click this ad to visit us online and see why the best fishing rods start here.

RED GROUPER TO CLOSE IN GULF FEDERAL WATERS

NOAA Fisheries has announced that a closure to recreational harvest of red grouper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will begin on July 21 and continue through the rest of 2023.

The closure was spurred by landings information, which indicates the 2023 recreational annual catch target of 1,840,000 pounds gutted weight is projected to be met on July 20.

During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limit are zero for red grouper in or from federal waters of the Gulf. The prohibition on possession of Gulf red grouper also applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish.

If red grouper recreational landings exceed the annual catch limit (ACL) in a given year, the length of that following year’s recreational fishing season will be reduced to ensure the recreational ACT is not exceeded in that following year.

For more information, visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov.

Forty-nine reservoirs stretch across the Tennessee Valley like a string of pearls. And for those who love to fish, those lakes are just as valuable. Whether it’s bass, crappie, walleye, or catfish, whether for sport, food, or just fun, you can find world-class lake fishing only hours away from any spot in the Tennessee Valley. From more than 11,000 miles of shoreline or while floating on more than 700,000 acres of water, residents and visitors will quickly learn why this area is considered one of the best fishing destinations in the U.S. and, some would say, the world.

Find Your Own Fishing Hole

Fishing from the shore can be restful and rewarding—and anyone can do it. All you need is a little intel about how to find a spot where the fish might be biting. Here are a few tips for successful shore fishing from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency:

• Fish are often swimming near the shore in the spring and fall. If you’re fishing from the shore in the heat of summer, do it in the evening or early morning—or even after dark.

• Fish near-unique features such as docks, logs, trees, rocks, or rocky areas; aquatic vegetation; or places where creeks enter the water.

• When fishing in moving water, look at the surface for boils and breaks—this means there is some underwater structure blocking the current, which could be the perfect hiding place for fish.

• Begin fishing (casting) close and parallel to the bank, then work your way outward (fan casting) toward deeper water.

• If you don’t get any bites, try switching baits. If this doesn’t work, move to another hole.

• Wear polarized sunglasses so you’ll be able to see fish as well as submerged objects more clearly. (Your eyes will also be protected from the tackle.)

If you love outdoor sports—boating, hunting, fishing—and the natural world, or if you just like to observe wildlife, build birdhouses, maintain a bird feeder or are just curious about the critters in your backyard, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is here to help enrich your outdoor experience. Visit us at www.tn.gov/twra/

By CAM Staff

On the Gulf side, Florida anglers are looking at a pretty solid red snapper season this year, with summer dates from June 16 through July 31 and additional fall dates to pursue one of the South’s favorite game fish.

It’s a different story over on the East Coast. With the way the federal government has regulated snapper fishing in the Atlantic over the years, anglers have come to count themselves lucky if there’s any Atlantic snapper season at all. This year’s allowance of two days—July 14-15— for recreational snapper harvest in the South Atlantic has anglers looking for ways to make the most of it.

From all reports, there are scads of red

snapper out there. Catching the per-person limit of one fish should not be a problem. The key to a productive day that’s worth the gas is planning. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of the red snapper rally.

Load the Boat: With a limit of one fish per person, it’s time to load the boat with as many people as it will comfortably and safely hold so that you can fill the fish box with as many snapper as you are allowed. This is your two-day opportunity to fill the freezer with delicious fish. So, the more people you bring, the more fish you get to bring home. This is a great time to take kids. Kids love to fish, and they also take up less room in the boat.

Go With a Plan and a Backup Plan: For two days, it’ll seem like everyone with a boat is parked over every wreck and reef in the Atlantic. Get to the ramp early, and plan to be patient, because there will be a bunch of anglers with the same idea. Know where you hope to start the morning, but have several back-ups in case your honey hole doesn’t pan

out. When you get there, if your graph doesn’t light up with life, don’t waste your time. Keep moving until you find bait and fish.

MAKE THE MOST OF ATLANTIC SNAPPER DATES

Fish Big: With a one-fish limit, and no size limit, it pays to target the biggest fish down there. Fish live baits that are big enough to get past the smaller snapper down to 20-pounders. It wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings if a big grouper took the bait, either. This also limits the number of small fish you’ll give a case of barotrauma, which is a good thing.

Remember, use of a dehooking tool is required. There is also a requirement for the use of non-stainless steel hooks. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper grouper species. A descending device is also required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line).

For more tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

MAXIMIZE YOUR OUTPUT

With Dometic’s Mega Jackplate

ENGINEERED TO HANDLE THE STRONGEST OUTBOARD ENGINES ON THE MARKET

Today’s engine manufacturers are building engines that are more powerful and heavier than ever before. Dometic’s new Mega Jackplate has been developed to withstand the power of high performance engines and provide boaters with the ability to maximize the output of their engines while offering more flexibility in shallow water. The Mega Jackplate is rated to 600 HP and is an extension of our existing product line. It will be offered in 6”, 8” and 10” setbacks. There will be 2 versions available, a standard bolt pattern designed to fit engines like Yamaha XTO and a wide bolt pattern designed to fit Merc 500/600.

CENTRAL FLORIDA’S PREMIER FLOATING DOCK SYSTEM

15% ICAST SPECIAL DISCOUNT

LIFE ON WATER

Lasting 2-3 times longer than wooden, concrete, and aluminum docks, our modular floating system is the preferred dock choice for residential, commercial, marina, liesure, and other applications. Customizable and configurable for boat docks, liesure and recreation docks, and drive-on jet ski and personal watercraft!

•High-quality plastic

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CATCHING PEANUTS In the Weeds

As I write this, the largest mass of sargassum ever recorded is making its way to the Florida coast. For months, forecasters have been bemoaning the mess this 5,000-mile-long weed patch will make on our beaches, but I’m looking forward to what it brings.

Prey species live in the seaweed, and predators congregate around these weed lines. There are going to be many different species of fish moving in closer than we usually get. Many anglers will enjoy chasing the larger predators; however, it’s fun to catch what we call peanuts, which are the small er dolphinfish that school up around the weeds.

The most distinguishing feature of dolphinfish is the bright neon green, yellow and blue coloration throughout their entire body. Dolphin have a long slender body, and the peanuts are typically 2 to 3 feet, with weights from 5 to 15 pounds. Dolphin get much larger than this, but the big ones don’t exhibit the same schooling behavior.

An amazing feature about dolphinfish is their dorsal fin, which starts at the skull and continues all the way to the tail. To determine gender, male dolphin will have a more pronounced forehead, which almost becomes vertical with a 90-degree angle. Unlike most species of fish, the males tend to be larger than the females and are known as “bulls.”

Dolphin inhabit subtropical and tropical waters throughout the entire world. They live offshore in the 70- to 300-foot depths. Their spawning season runs from April until August, as long as the water is warm enough. Dolphin broadcast spawn in current to ensure a higher rate of fertilization. Once the young hatch, they take shelter in sargassum patches or floating debris, which also provides a source of food since other juvenile fish will be hiding there also.

Fish in the big schools hanging around sargassum patches will usually be on the smaller side. So, you’ll want to use smaller baits like pilchards or threadfins and free swim them around the weeds. You might see a school of dolphin swarming your bait and fighting over it. Their bright colors and darting movements make them easy to spot.

Another option is to use small bucktail jigs or even 3-inch swimbaits. You can grab their attention by working lures like injured baitfish, and this is a great way to lure them out from under the debris.

While fishing these patches, a great way to target larger fish is to sink a larger bait below the school. Larger dolphin and wahoo often feed on peanut dolphin. It is illegal to use peanut dolphin as bait, but you could use ballyhoo, blue runner or even large threadfins.

The IGFA all-tackle world record dolphin weighed 87 pounds. It was caught by Manuel Salazar in the Papagayo Gulf in 1976.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

By Emily Hanzlik

Realtree Fishing Introduces Pond Wars II Realtree Fishing Introduces Pond Wars II

The Pond Wars bass fishing competition is returning to Realtree 365 in 2023! The event, which was held in March at Live Oak Plantation in Adel, Georgia, paired the world’s best bass anglers with outdoor personalities and influencers in a wild competition of outdoor fun. The show will be airing on Realtree 365 and the Realtree YouTube channel on Monday, July 10th.

Pond Wars takes place each spring on managed trophy bass lakes in the South, where competitors are sure to find incredible fishing action. This year’s event was expanded to include a two-day fishing format coupled with surprise, off-the-water challenges like golf and archery. Pond Wars II was hosted by country music star Jon Langston, and included names recognizable to any outdoor fan. Top professional anglers including Dustin Connell, Casey Ashely, Mark Daniels Jr., Mark Rose, Jacob Wheeler, and Justin Atkins were paired with hunting personalities like Seek One’s Lee Ellis and Drew Carroll, Head Hunters TV’s Nate Hosie, Black Cloud’s Dennis Loosier and Billy Campbell, and Realtree’s Michael Pitts.

Pitts, who scored zero catches in last year’s event, was paired with Wheeler, who is rated as the top professional angler in the world. Tune in to see if they stood a chance against teams like Justin Atkins and Drew Carroll, who were defending their title after being crowned last year’s Pond Wars champions.

Pond Wars II features six of the nation’s top professional anglers paired with popular hunting personalites.

Rules for Pond Wars competitors are simple: follow all DNR laws and be back to the dock on time. The team with the heaviest five-fish limits, combined after the two fishing periods, is crowned champion. Pond Wars is a serious competition, with lots of laughs thrown in the mix. Production crews capture each catch,

and all the missed opportunities, in real time. All competitors can be seen sporting the latest Realtree Fishing hats and apparel, which is available directly at the all-new Realtree.com (fishing shirts will be 30% off July 14-16!).

Learn more at Realtree.com

PROTECTS AGAINST

ICAST 2023 HITS ORLANDO JULY 11-14

Planet’s Largest Sportfishing Show is the Can’t Miss Industry Event

ICAST 2023, the planet’s largest sportfishing trade show, will invade Orlando July 1114, filling the giant exhibit halls of the Orange County Convention Center with more than 600 companies showcasing all the latest and greatest in fishing from all over the world.

Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the 66th annual ICAST promises to be bigger and better than ever. It is the epicenter of the sportfishing world, where each year the trends in fishing tackle, apparel and accessories are launched and countless valuable business connections are made.

“ICAST is the cornerstone of the global

sportfishing industry,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes. “ICAST is where connections are made that create business opportunities for our industry. It’s also where most new products make their debut into the fishing marketplace.”

Each year, this is the one can’t-miss event of the season for everyone in the outdoors industry. From fishing guides to retailers, media and exhibitors of fishing-related products and services, it’s a one stop shop, where your business might find its next big money-maker.

Coastal Angler and The Angler will be at ICAST in force. Look for our logo-emblazoned team members perusing the aisles in search

of the next big thing. Stop and ask us about special ICAST free giveaways and deals on advertising. If you’ve got a message to share, we’ve got the vehicles to spread your story to hundreds of thousands of fishing enthusiasts.

At its heart, ICAST is about the New Product Showcase, where the coming year’s hottest new gear is debuted for the industry. From a field of hundreds of new tools, tackle, lures, electronics, apparel and more, the following pages contain product reviews of some of our favorite industry innovators right now.

For more information, visit www.icastfishing.org

PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN CLAPPER

PRODUCT REVIEWS

OKUMA SALINA SPINNING REEL

Okuma’s new Salina Spinning Reels are lightweight, ready for battle, and designed for your inshore and offshore saltwater needs. These reels are constructed of Okuma’s LITECAST body material which is 15% lighter than diecast aluminum. These reels are built for everything from light inshore to heavy offshore fishing and perfect for high-speed vertical jigging or all-day casting.

Okuma also uses a machined aluminum, screw-in handle arm with a machined aluminum 2-tone anodized ball handle knob for a full custom look. The three larger size reels feature a manual bail trip function.

There are six total models within the Salina Spinning reel lineup. A 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 size reels that all feature high speed 5.8:1 gear ratios and 8,000, 10,000 and 14,000 size reels that all feature standard gear ratios of 5.4:1. All models have an interchangeable screw-in handle system that can be changed from left to right-hand retrieve.

For more information on Salina Spinning reels, please visit your local retailer.

The Salina features a 6HPB +1RB corrosion-resistant stainless-steel ball bearing system with a full grease pack and waterproof seals on key bearings. Salina’s Hybrid Carbonite and Japanese felt Dual force Drag system puts out over 33 pounds of fish-stopping drag. With Okuma’s HDGII: High-Density Main Gear and precision machine cut brass pinion gear you will get a smooth retrieve cast after cast.

SIRIUSXM MARINE FISH MAPPING

Whether you’re competing in a tournament, fishing for fun, or taking clients on a charter trip, SiriusXM Marine’s Fish Mapping can help you locate fish faster – saving time and fuel. Fish Mapping identifies locations in the ocean with the highest likelihood of finding the fish that you’re seeking to catch. The service is satellite-delivered, providing coverage up to 150 NM offshore and is compatible with Garmin, Simrad, Lowrance, Raymarine, and Furuno hardware.

The fishing recommendations feature shows locations oceanographers identify as having the ideal conditions for specific types of game fish – billfish, kingfish, mahi, swordfish, tuna, and wahoo. These are shown as color-coded circular areas on your boat’s display. Fish Mapping displays the locations of weed lines, which are habitats for bait fish and attract game fish. You can also view plankton front strengths and concentration contours which show areas where plankton fronts exist, where murky, nutrient-rich water favorable for

bait fish occurs next to clear, predatorpreferred water. Fish Mapping’s sea surface temperature contour lines, front strength, and 30m sub-surface temperatures, will help you zero in on water temperatures for your target species. Lastly, sea surface height anomalies will show you where ocean fronts and convergence zones create nutrient-rich water that attracts bait fish and game fish, and identifies downwelling locations, which you’ll want to avoid. You can combine any of these features on your display so you can see where you want to fish before you leave the dock and while you’re out on the water.

Fish Mapping includes all of SiriusXM Marine’s weather features like radar, lightning, and wind/wave info, allowing you to know the conditions ahead. Plus, you can add SiriusXM entertainment with over 150 channels of music, news, sports and more to keep you and your passengers entertained.

To learn more and get a 1-month trial, visit siriusxm.com/fishmapping.

BATTLE BORN BATTERIES OFFER DRAGONFLY INTELLIGENCE

Reliable, long-lasting, and powerful, Battle Born Batteries has changed the game in on-the-water fishing with its full line of industry-leading lithiumion batteries. Now, Battle Born Batteries is bringing the same tried and trusted products to the market… now equipped with the smart, safe, and groundbreaking communication technology of Dragonfly IntelLigence.

Battle Born Batteries with Dragonfly IntelLigence deliver smart lithium battery communication technology, designed to give anglers, RVers, and other deep cycle battery users the utmost confidence in their power system by providing unparalleled remote system monitoring, alerts and much more. Featuring wireless mesh network connectivity, these all-new smart lithium-ion batteries have the capability to transmit data and information in real time to the Dragonfly Energy Mobile App, letting users always have confidence in the power that’s keeping them out on the water.

Battle Born Batteries with Dragonfly

IntelLigence are also backed by a 10year warranty and a dedicated team of in-house, USA-based technical sales specialists. Not sure what lithium power option suits your particular boat and needs? Battle Born Batteries is here to help design your setup, as well as get you the necessary components and accessories to ensure your lithium power system runs seamlessly.

Equipped with all the features and tools that are key to easily configuring a power system compliant with the ABYC E-13 Standards for Lithium Batteries, Battle Born Batteries with Dragonfly IntelLigence is the smart power that you can depend on with the safety you need to power your time out on the water.

Humankind has sought protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays for a millennium, using clothing to prevent damage to the skin from prolonged exposure. Today, anglers are more aware than ever of the harmful effects of the sun and UV, and of most concern is the extra sensitive skin of the face, and head. An estimated 67,000 people will be diagnosed this year along with skin cancer on the face, neck, and ears. It’s no wonder that sun protective clothing is now almost everywhere and has technologically evolved to offer an endless selection of options to outdoor enthusiasts.

One option is the SunBandit® by Flying Fisherman®. Most often worn as mask to cover the face, neck and ears, the SunBandit® is a multifunctional bandana made of soft, seamless, microfiber polyester. It’s lightweight at 1.2 ounces, breathable, wicks away moisture, dries quickly and provides UPF30+ protection from harmful UV rays. As a bonus, the versatile garment also functions as a headband, beanie, neck gator, balaclava, hair tie and

more – for a total of twelve ways to wear it. More than 50 SunBandit® designs make up the collection, including two Jr. Angler options, designed to protect kids’ smaller faces. Click the video to see all twelve wearable options and how

The SunBandit® Pro Series was recently added, with the serious angler in mind. Made from an even lighter, polyester/spandex

fabric with four-way stretch, the Pro Series offers increased moisture wicking, and increased UPF 50+ sun protection. Two other very functional features are the vented mouth and nose area that has precision-cut holes to allow better air flow and prevent your sunglasses from fogging up, and a flared bottom for added sun protection coverage for the back of the neck, long enough to be tucked inside a shirt collar. Three SunBandit® Pro Series designs are available. The original SunBandit® series retails for $16, Jr’s for $13, and the Pro Series is $20.

For complete above the shoulder protection, wear your SunBandit® with a hat and Flying Fisherman® polarized sunglasses.

Visit FlyingFisherman.com to see the entire SunBandit® collection or find an authorized retailer near you. If you’re going to ICAST 2023 stop by booth 5130 to pick one up.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Invented and co-developed by Florida charter captain Russ Walker and Greg Steiner, the Hidden T is the first truly new fishing rod component to come along in more than a half century. Capt. Walker grew tired of the inconveniences of digging out and employing traditional fighting belts or rubber stoppers, so he designed a component that is set to become a new standard component for rod building.

HIDDEN T: THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING BUTT

Battling hard-fighting fish with the rod butt jammed in your abdomen causes discomfort over the course of a day. This problem has led to several pressure-dispersing devices over the years, but none function as effectively or efficiently as an all-new rod component known as the Hidden T.

The Hidden T is the ultimate fighting butt rod component. It deploys with an easy snap into a T-shape to disperse pressure during the fight and then snaps back in-line so it can be dropped into the rod holder. There’s no scrambling to find and strap on a belt with a big fish on the line. There’s no installing and removing dirty rubber stoppers every time you hook a fish or use the rod holder. This new component is a game changer for recreational and commercial anglers and will surely become standard equipment as anglers discover the benefits of a built-in fighting butt that folds out of the way when not in use.

The Hidden T is a simple, sturdy component that does the job better, and Capt. Walker honed and tested the design over several years running charters out of Cape Coral, Fla. It pivots easily on the abdomen to move with the fight. It’s awesome for hauling up big offshore grouper, and a gimbal cross also makes it compatible with trolling.

Snap to use it and snap to store. The Hidden

FITEC MAKES HIGH-QUALITY CAST NETS FOR EVERY ANGLER

Trusted for 40 years, Fitec provides the finest cast nets on the market. This has made them the largest manufacturer of cast nets in the country, and quality products combined with the best customer service earns them the No. 1 ranking in the industry year after year.

Good live bait is essential to fishing. Cast nets that perform flawlessly throw after throw and stand up to the abuse that anglers deal out make catching bait easier and more efficient. This is the simple idea that drives Fitec to continue providing well-built nets to a loyal following of anglers who know they are getting a top-quality product at a fair price.

Fitec has a wide range of high-quality nets to suit the needs of every thrower, from first-timers to

professional fishermen. From the Ultra Spreader GS models designed to generate maximum spread and the fastest sink rate for experienced throwers to the EZ Throw series with an EZ Accu-Throw ring to assist beginners in throwing pancakes, Fitec’s innovative product line will help anyone catch bait. Even kayak anglers can get in on the action with the RS series, which are lightweight nets designed for use in shallow water.

FITEC’s mission is to create innovative and quality products that are inspired by a drive and passion for the sport of

fishing. Every detail of their products are created with you in mind.

For more information, go to castnets.com.

T is a rod component that will become an integral piece of your fishing equipment when you realize its advantages.

PROTECT AND CLEAN YOUR BOAT WITH KOENIG SPRAY POLISH

Koenig Spray Polish is specifically designed for all surfaces of your boat or yacht. The formula was developed using only the best ingredients to enhance and extend the life of everything it is used on. Water, pure Carnauba wax, coconut oil and clay bar are the four main ingredients that work together to clean, shine, restore and protect one of your most expensive assets, your boat.

Koenig Spray Polish works by emulsifying and dissolving dirt particles, lifting them from the surface allowing you to simply wipe them away. The dissolved powdered clay bar in Koenig polishes out fine scratches and surface contaminants while at the same time completely prepping the paint or gel coat to receive the carnauba wax. The nanosized carnauba wax particles fill in the microscopic pores in the surface. This technology creates a new surface that is now repellent to water spots, stains and dirt. The carnauba wax will reflect UV rays and protect for 6 to 12 months

THERE’S A LOT GOING ON AT BATSON THIS YEAR!

Years ago, Batson Enterprises established itself in the market as the premier supplier of rod blanks and components, and the 2023-2024 tackle year will mark the largest-ever release of new Rainshadow rod blanks, with more than 75 new or redesigned models across 15 different series.

Fishing applications are constantly evolving, and Rainshadow is dedicated to the development of highperformance rod blanks that deliver results for the industry’s top rod makers and put smiles on the faces of elite anglers the world over.

Alps guides have become the industry benchmark for design, fit and finish, durability, as well as availability. In late 2023 Batson will begin offering Alps factory-packaged guide sets in its most popular freshwater, saltwater and fly

depending on conditions. One can will cover a 30foot boat. Oxidation can be quickly removed with a foam pad buffer.

KOENIG SPRAY POLISH REMOVES

• Oxidation on Gel coat, metal and plastic windows

• Rust and water stains

• Water spots on glass

• Exhaust & oil stains

• Spider and bird poop

• Scuff marks

KOENIG SPRAY POLISH

CLEANS, SHINES AND PROTECTS

• Paint & Gel coat

• All metal

• Rubber and plastic trim

• Glass and plastic windows

• Vinyl seats

series. In addition to improved salability for our dealers, Alps guide set packaging features valuable builder info like matching tip-top models and guide spacing charts for common rod lengths.

Rounding out this year’s new product offering are the new Alps version of the popular AHD aluminum saltwater reel seats, an expanded EVA rear and fore grip selection, new fly reel seat options, and an innovative new Forecast Deep-Flex series of EVA split grips designed to accommodate the actions of modern slow pitch jigging rods. Anglers can browse the entire new product lineup in mid-July at BatsonEnterprises.com

This spring, Batson published a new online space that provides easy access to the high-

end rods Batson customers build. The FIND A ROD BUILDER page at BatsonEnterprises. com features content-packed profiles of the world’s best custom and production fishing rod creators. This new online tool has exceeded expectations and Batson is excited to expand efforts to introduce the angling public to the world’s best fishing rods.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

When it comes to enhancing your boating experience, SeaDek is the brand that stands out from the rest. With its innovative and highquality non-skid marine products, SeaDek has become the go-to choice for boat owners who want to take their vessels to the next level of comfort, safety and style. From precut retail products to customized pads and accessories, SeaDek offers an extensive range of nonskid products that are designed to transform your boat into a luxurious haven on the water.

If you are ready to take your retail offerings to the next level,

and your customers are avid boaters, fishing enthusiasts or water sports lovers, SeaDek is your ultimate solution. Let’s dive in and explore a few of the retail offerings that SeaDek has to offer:

1.Helm Station Pads: SeaDek Helm Pads provide anti-fatigue support, ensuring longer and more comfortable days on the water. These pads offer superior comfort and protection for your boat’s helm, making them the softest and most comfortable option in the market.

2.Cooler Pads: Crafted with high-quality materials and precision engineering, SeaDek Cooler Pads are the perfect addition to your cooler. They provide excellent protection and durability, fitting securely on top of your cooler. The non-slip surface is ideal for standing or sitting.

3. Dash Pockets: Keep your loose items secure with SeaDek Dash Pockets. These pockets prevent sliding when underway and feature robust 3M Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) for a strong bond with your dash. Although designed for boats, they can also be used for various applications such as on a workbench when cleaning reels, guns, and small parts.

Ready to make waves? Become an Authorized SeaDek Retailer today by contacting sales@seadek.com.

SCOTT HAWAII: FLY THOSE FLAGS

Whether you choose your footwear for style or function, Scott Hawaii has you covered. Out on the water, at the docks or around town, their Hanapa’a series of sandals let you fly the flags of your favorite species while sporting the most comfortable and durable flipflops on the market.

In Hawaii, they take the good-old flip-flop pretty seriously. They call it a slippah, and Scott is a more than 90-yearold family business that has been making sandals for generations of loyal customers. Scott slippahs are built to last years, and they are designed to both represent and function in an angler’s lifestyle. Did we mention that the word hanapa’a is the Hawaiian equivalent of “Fish On!” It’s what they shout when they come tight so that everyone else on deck will get busy.

Hanapa’a series sandals are crafted with nylon straps lined with wetsuit-style

neoprene for wet or dry comfort and fit. Scott Hawaii’s innovative

excellent grip. Finally, these are boat shoes. Their signature deck sole features arch support and a heel cup that provide sneaker-level support, and of course the outsoles are non-slip and non-marking, so fish blood is the only thing you’ll be scrubbing off the deck.

Scott Hawaii’s Hanapa’a sandals are serious flip-flops designed specifically for proud anglers. The only question that remains is which flag you will fly. There’s the ono (wahoo), ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahi (dolphinfish) or marlin. Or you could celebrate the catch by flying them all.

Rubalon insole cushions like EVA foam with the support and durability of rubber. Foam memory molds to your foot with wear for a custom fit, and the materials wick moisture away from the foot for

AO COOLERS: HARD-CORE GEAR FOR HIGH-OCTANE SOULS

AO Coolers, the leader in high-performance softsided coolers, is hitting the water this year with new, upgraded fishing products. AO’s fishing team partners told them what they needed, and they delivered!

Products are in stock and ready to ship: The Fishing Cooler Backpack, 2, 4 & 6ft Fish bags, Fillet bags, Boat fenders, EVA Traction pads, Inflatable Docks, ISUPs, and of course, high-performance coolers specifically designed for use on boats, guaranteed not to leak, and to keep ice cold for up to 24 hours.

Thirty years ago, AO was launched to provide active, hard-core people with quality products at a reasonable price. They started selling softsided coolers to the hardcore, go-fast boaters and fishermen in Lake Havasu. They aimed to keep ice in their coolers for up to 24 hours in 120-degree Havasu heat. That

goal was accomplished 30 years ago, and they’re still at it. AO knows its customers; they fish and boat in the summer and ride the dunes or trails in the winter. AO products give high-octane souls greater freedom to embark on and enjoy what’s important to them. Make sure that your gear does not hold you back from doing what you love. AO products are built to handle whatever offshore adventure is coming next. AO is flexibly rugged, seriously fun and honestly real! They’re looking for active, adventurous folks who demand quality and performance from their gear. Share your adventure and send AO your fish story or photo on social media: @aocoolers.

AOCOOLERS.COM

951-582-9798

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US AT BOOTH #3412

Tadvancement in fishing rod handles that is set to redefine the angling experience. Designed for discerning anglers and forwardthinking rod designers, the Tsuka 2 pushes the boundaries of carbon handle technology, offering unprecedented possibilities.

Key Features:

• Blow-molded forged carbon fiber construction delivers unparalleled durability and performance.

• Molded rubber end cap provides added

• Ergonomic trigger handle ensures enhanced comfort and control during extended fishing sessions.

• CCT (Compressed Carbon Technology) hood incorporates state-of-the-art technology for unmatched reliability.

• Forged carbon fiber foregrip with aluminum trim combines a sleek, functional and stylish design to elevate your angling experience.

The Tsuka 2 promises to revolutionize

fishing. FOR

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Mold and mildew have always been a challenge when managing your boat. Mold finds its way into lockers, bilges, underneath center consoles and it ruins life jackets, tackle bags and worst of all the vinyl seats and canvas on your boat. Every boat owner has faced this issue in the past or is facing it right now.

Mostly people will use an aggressive cleaner any time mold appears. That is part of the problem. Mold and mildew are both fungi, and their job is to decay matter. When removed with a harsh chemical repeatedly, it advances the decay instead of stopping it.

To effectively combat mold and mildew, you must create an environment where they don’t want to grow. Xanigo Marine does just that with their prevention system. The system

is centered around their powerful preventer that stops mold and mildew from growing for up to 90 days. That means year-round boaters apply it four times a year. Pretty simple.

If you have a lot of surfaces to cover, Xanigo has a cordless applicator to make it go super fast and easy. Simply spray and let it dry. Xanigo Marine also makes a mold and mildew remover that will blow your mind. Many customers say they’ve tried everything and are amazed by what happens when they spray this remover. Use the remover once and then start preventing it and never let it come back.

The third step is an everyday cleaner and fabric refresher. This waterless wash is a light cleaner designed to enhance and lengthen the performance of the preventer rather than neutralizing it. Xanigo Marine always looks for customer feedback as a measure of a product’s performance. From what they’ve seen, this system changes the game.

fresh and confident throughout their adventures. A commitment to quality and innovation has made Hook & Tackle a trusted choice for outdoor enthusiasts around the world. With its focus on sun protection, the brand prioritizes the well-being of its customers while promoting a culture of responsible and safe outdoor recreation.

Hook & Tackle is a fourth-generation family business that has been at the forefront of the fishing and outdoor apparel industry since its inception in 1989. Continuously innovating and setting new standards, one of the company’s groundbreaking innovations was the introduction of sun protection apparel. Recognizing the need to protect outdoor enthusiasts from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays, Hook & Tackle revolutionized the market by incorporating sun protection features into their garments.

Hook & Tackle now introduces the latest in photo textile technology with cutting-edge innovation that combines advanced fabric engineering with state-of-the-art printing

techniques to produce stunning and vibrant designs while retaining the highest level of UPF 50+ sun protection. Customers can enjoy the best of both worlds, with stylish and visually appealing apparel that keeps them safe from harmful UV radiation.

Hook & Tackle’s apparel also boasts a range of other impressive features. Quick-dry properties ensure that wearers stay comfortable, allowing for a more enjoyable outdoor experience. These garments are odor-resistant, meaning users feel

As the industry continues to evolve, Hook & Tackle remains dedicated to pushing boundaries and setting new benchmarks. By staying at the forefront of technological advancements and incorporating them into their products, the company ensures that customers can enjoy the outdoors with peace of mind, knowing that they are protected by the finest in sun protection apparel.

Whether fishing, boating, or engaging in any outdoor activity, Hook & Tackle is the brand of choice for those who value both style and safety.

GO WHERE THE FISH ARE WITH SEA EAGLE'S FISHSKIFF 16:

Sea Eagle’s bestselling inflatable fishing boat—the FishSkiff 16—is now lighter, stronger and more packable than ever!

With Sea Eagle’s technological advancement in double-layer, high-pressure, all-drop-stitch, fusion technology, the FishSkiff 16’s rigid external inflatable keel weighs only 95 pounds. It’s also incredibly strong due to the fusionwelding process, provides an extra independent safety air chamber, and is much easier to fold and pack up.

The new external inflatable keel with protective keel guard increases performance and handling, provides a smoother softer cushioned ride, provides more bow lift and buoyancy, reduces friction and draft, performs better in rough conditions, provides added protection and rigidity, an additional independent safety air chamber, and increases

Unroll & Go” one, two or three-person inflatable FishSkiff 16 simply rolls up and stows. It fits in a car trunk ready to go! Comprised of entirely high-pressure fusion drop-stitch technology like that of inflatable stand-up paddleboards on steroids, the FSK 16 gives you all the benefits of a rigid hull minus burdens and added costs.

It’s a new and revolutionary approach to fishing. Increase your catch and target hard-toreach fish without the hassles and added costs associated with rigid hulls. This is a superior inflatable craft that requires no trailer and can be fished everywhere.

Completely inflatable, portable, storable, and transportable, the FishSkiff can be stowed in the back of most cars and in relatively small

remote hard-to-reach locations!

The hull design maximizes speed, handling, performance, stability, fuel efficiency and safety. It’s nearly unsinkable and self-bailing with four separate independent large air-filled chambers. The FishSkiff supports an incredible amount of weight yet drafts as little as six inches of water.

CONNECT-EASE TAKES THE HASSLE OUT OF BATTERY CONNECTIONS

Tired of fumbling with the battery connections on your electronics?

So were Burt and Cal. While fishing, hunting and shooting, these two avid outdoorsmen got tired of the hassles of connecting and disconnecting ring-style and other terminal connections for their electronics, so they did something about it.

They developed Connect-Ease trolling motor and starting battery connection kits because they couldn’t find good ones on the market. Connect-Ease is the solution for simple battery connections for deep cycle batteries in boats, ice houses, sump pumps, ATVs, trap machines and just about anything else that needs a quick, easy, corrosion-free connection for outdoor use.

This product suite eliminates all the frustrations of connecting, disconnecting expensive electronics from the storing and charging of expensive deep cycle batteries on all your outdoors sporting equipment from trolling motors to trap machines.

Use the same batteries for any of your

outdoor needs, just a quick snap and your equipment and batteries are connected and ready to go.

Time is valuable to outdoors folks. Wouldn’t you rather spend more time doing what you enjoy than tracking down corrosion and connection issues, cleaning terminals, or replacing bad connections?

Connect-Ease kits are simple and easy to use. This is the foundation of the ingenious and innovative Connect-Ease product suite, which is revolutionizing the way deep cycle batteries and expensive and regular equipment is connected.

Connect-Ease products are trouble and corrosion free. They are approved for fresh and saltwater use. They take the hassle out of connecting and disconnecting for purposes of charging, mobility and theft protection.

Connect-Ease is an American, Minnesotabased company with a passion and mission to develop innovative practical products that allow sportsmen and women to enjoy more time in the great outdoors.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

NEW DAKOTA LITHIUM DL+ 12V: PERFORMANCE, DURABILITY, RELIABILITY

WATCH VIDEO

Introducing the new Dakota Lithium DL+ 12V 135AH Dual Purpose 1000CCA Starter Plus Deep Cycle Battery. This advanced lithium battery is designed to provide dual purpose capabilities, offering 135 amp hours of deep cycle capacity and an impressive 1,000 cold cranking amps of engine starting power. Experience unparalleled performance with its extreme energy density, delivering 5X the usable power of a traditional Group 24 marine battery. The exceptional lifespan of the DL+ 12V 135 is 5X longer than traditional batteries, giving you peace of mind with an industry-leading 11-year warranty. Designed to meet or exceed Mercury Motors Lithium Battery Specs and ABYC requirements for lithium batteries, you can trust the quality and performance of the Dakota Lithium DL+

12V 135 battery. This battery boasts an IP 67 waterproof rating, achieved through advanced robotic liquid welding of the lid. Compatibility with engine alternators up to 200 amps ensures seamless integration with your boat’s electrical system. Stay connected and informed with the innovative Power Gauge technology, allowing for remote monitoring of battery performance via Apple and Android phones. Know your battery’s status at any time, no matter where you are.

Join the ranks of champions! The Dakota Lithium DL+ 12V 135 battery is trusted and used by top athletes like Brock Mosely, Tyler Rivet, and Hank Cherry. As the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster, you can be sure you’re getting a battery that’s proven to excel in the most demanding conditions. Upgrade your boat’s power today with the Dakota Lithium DL+ 12V 135 battery and experience unparalleled performance, durability, and reliability on the water!

TEXAS POWER PADDLE LEADING THE E-KAYAK REVOLUTION

Texas Power Paddle is a next-level kayak propulsion system that will change the way you kayak forever. Born on the rugged Texas coast, the patented Texas Power Paddle© E-propulsion system comes with everything you need to transform your kayaking adventure into an effortless, hassle-free experience. Launching its first product in the summer of 2020, Texas Power Paddle was created from the ideas of revolutionizing technology, like the E-bike. If you’ve ever considered an electric bike or scooter, why not try an electric kayak?

Texas Power Paddle systems are designed with the focus of making the system lightweight, integrated and unobtrusive. The Gen 2 model can be installed on most kayaks, featuring an automatic deploy-and-retract motor, with the ability to operate in under 6 inches of water.

Features include automatic weed cleaning, LCD prompts, audible alerts, on-board USB, all under 12 lbs. with battery included. The main advantage of Texas Power Paddle’s stealthy, one-ofa-kind system is that the possibilities are endless:

kayaking through shallow oyster beds on the Gulf Coast, eco-tours spotting manatees in Central Florida, or even standup paddle boarding on the West Coast. They even have an industry first patented model that mounts in the transducer cavity and retracts when turned off, a favorite for the Hobie Lynx.

Regardless of if you are a weekend kayaker who wants to explore further or an avid fisherman looking to cover more ground and “Get to Where the Fish Are” quicker, get ready to experience the future

OUTDOOR CAP: QUALITY HEADWEAR FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS

Outdoor Cap’s OC771 Ultimate Trucker Cap is a classic and comfortable trucker-style cap that looks great on and off the water and can be dressed up or down for however your customers fish.

The OC771 Ultimate Trucker Cap raises the bar in consistency, fit and finish. Perfect for all clients, the OC771 features unrivaled comfort and fit, a modern trucker shape, comfort wrapped sweatband, and a contrasting construction stitch.

The slate and white trucker with a white contrasting stitch features a hexagonal sublimated patch with on-trend colors and great design.

The heathered gray, black, and old gold cap features a bright lure on these classic colors and a black contrasting stitch on the old gold visor.

Outdoor Cap is your partner in headwear. They aren’t just another accessory in your store. Outdoor Cap prides itself on the quality of their caps and are with you all the way from sourcing to the shelf and beyond. They also love the great outdoors and are officially licensed in many of your favorite brands like Mossy Oak and Realtree.

Outdoor Cap offers a wide variety of fishing essentials, from boonies to visors to classic ball caps. There is a hat for every angler from Outdoor Cap, and they are proud to offer a variety to meet those needs.

MUD HOLE CRB CORE HAND WRAPPER WATCH VIDEO

The CRB Core Hand Wrapper was specifically designed to help anglers build a foundation in rod building. Created from a durable ABS polymer, this hand wrapper features a compact footprint to allow builders with limited space a stable platform to build or repair their rods. The underside features molded rubber feet that maintain solid contact on a variety of surfaces. Whether building in your workshop or on the go, this wrapper keeps you grounded.

The Core Hand Wrapper features a single spool thread carriage with tension rod that allows the builder to craft smooth, clean, tight thread wraps throughout the rod build. The Core also provides rod builders with the option to reverse their wraps without losing tension on the thread.

Finally, just as the base has two adjustable rod support stands, CRB provides a third stand— separate from the base. This helps the builder support the rod as you move down the blank, from guide to guide. Think of it as an extra hand!

By engineering these key features into the Core Hand Wrapper, CRB has created a unique and affordable rod building platform, perfect for new builders and custom builders on-the-go.

The versatile CRB Core Wrapper can be fine-tuned by custom rod builders to match their unique requirements and is highly recommended for all ages, whether you are a beginner or a pro!

800-279-3216

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Since 1958, F.J. Neil Company, Inc. has been providing high-quality fishing gear to U.S. anglers. Under several brand names such as Dolphin, Tide-Rite and Surf-Rite, F.J. Neil tackle and accessories are probably in your tackle box or are your tackle box itself.

F.J. NEIL COVERS ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS

Time-tested and proven, Tide-Rite rigs are hand-tied and designed to target specific saltwater species like striped bass, sea bass, bluefish, blackfish fluke and more. These pre-tied rigs take the hassle out of rigging and get your baits and lures in front of the fish quickly and correctly.

Surf-Rite bags are hardcore tackle storage systems designed specifically for surf anglers to wear all their lures and gear safely and

securely on their person while wading, walking the beach or scrambling over wet rocks. These tackle bags are built to stand up to rough use.

Dolphin Brand lures, terminal tackle and accessories are highquality products offered at affordable prices for anglers more interested in gear that works than flashy packaging. From customtied snelled hooks to lures like spoons and spinners, and pliers, stringers, sinkers, jigheads and

more, F.J. Neil’s Dolphin Brand has just about everything you need to catch fish.

And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg. F.J. Neil has crab traps, bait nets, oyster knives, catfish rigs, aerators, fish baskets, hook extractors, fillet knives. They’ve got everyone and everything covered when it comes to tackle and fishing accessories.

CANDOCK FLOATING DOCKS: REVOLUTIONARY WATERFRONT SOLUTIONS

Candock Floating Docks are a gamechanger. Designed to meet the demands of residential, commercial and recreational applications, Candock offers a cutting-edge modular system that redefines docks.

Candock Floating Docks are remarkably versatile. The modular design allows users to create customized layouts that perfectly suit their needs. Whether it’s a personal dock, a commercial marina, or a floating platform for recreational activities, Candock can be effortlessly configured to match your requirements.

This docking system is built to withstand the harshest environments. Candock Floating Docks are crafted from high-quality, UVresistant polyethylene. This ensures exceptional durability, longevity and resistance to extreme weather, such as freezing temperatures, heavy winds and intense sunlight. The docks remain stable and sturdy, providing a safe and reliable platform for water activities.

They’re also easy to install and maintain.

Setting up a Candock Floating Dock is hassle-free. The modular components are lightweight and easy to assemble, allowing for quick installation without heavy machinery. Maintenance is minimal, thanks to the dock’s non-corrosive materials, which eliminate the need for painting or staining.

Candock also prioritizes safety and environmental consciousness. The dock’s slipresistant surface ensures secure footing, reducing the risk of accidents. The modular design also allows for proper water circulation, preventing stagnation and promoting a healthier ecosystem for marine life.

Candock Floating Docks offer a wide range of accessories to enhance your waterfront experience. Whether you need additional safety features like handrails and bumpers, or want to

incorporate accessories such as boat lifts, kayak launches, or swim platforms, Candock provides endless possibilities to customize your dock.

Whether you own a lakeside cabin, operate a bustling marina, or seek a versatile solution for recreational activities, Candock offers the ideal answer. Say goodbye to traditional fixed docks and embrace the future of floating dock technology.

HILTON’S SAT2NAV BRINGS SATELLITE FISH FORECASTING TO YOUR HELM

For decades, the best anglers in the world have relied on Hilton’s satellite fish forecasting with timely updated charts that display pertinent fish-finding information at a reasonable cost. This year, Hilton’s revolutionized the industry with its SAT2NAV system, which brings these powerful tools directly to your vessels chart plotter screen.

SAT2NAV allows you to surf Hilton’s online mapping portal, select desired charts and then navigate on them—all on the water and all from the multifunction display in your cockpit. Nobody in the industry can do what Hilton’s is doing with SAT2NAV.

SAT2NAV is an external device that connects to the monitors of your Garmin, Raymarine or Furano multifunction displays. It has its own WIFI and GPS antennas and brings access to Hilton’s charts to the monitors at your helm. It is now possible view your vessel’s position relative to temperature breaks, color changes, high-res bathymetry, altimetry, etc. on your multifunction display.

With split-screen, all of this powerful imagery can be displayed alongside sonar, radar or other desired information.

With SAT2NAV, it’s never been easier to identify and navigate to ocean features where bait and gamefish congregate. With Hilton’s

reputation and longevity in the industry rely on the concept that if the information doesn’t help you catch fish, you won’t use it. So, they continually strive to provide the best up-todate imagery, information and technology, and they’ll go above and beyond to make sure you know what you’re looking at and how to use it.

charts clearly visible on your monitor, you can find those good currents, minute temperature changes, sea-surface upwellings, color breaks and navigate to them.

Of course, all of this comes with Hilton’s unrivaled service. Their philosophy,

KNOCKIN TAIL LURES HAVE A BUILT-IN TAIL RATTLE

Knockin Tail Lures®, is a swimbait with a built-in tail rattle. If it is moving, it is rattling, on a steady retrieve and on the fall! This awesome new paddletail features a durable fast-action rattling tail!

We all know sound attracts fish, so this lure is a definite advantage and enhancement to the soft plastic industry. Many call the Knockin Tail “A Game Changer.” Pair them with KTL Heads, made with high-quality and strong Gamakatsu® hooks and you’re set.

Pictured is Knockin Tail’s new Rogue colored 4-inch KTL paired with the company’s new Silver Chrome painted head that will give your jig added flash to grab their attention. Flash and sound! This is everything a fish could ask for.

different that gives them the edge, Knockin Tail Lures®!

Available in 3.25”, 4”, and 5” to cover all your catching needs.

713-530-2267

images of fish and structure up to 500 feet in front of or below the boat—over 200 percent more range than the leading competitor.

With an optimized design for deeper water, the new XR transducer allows anglers to see up to 500 feet in freshwater and 350 feet in saltwater. It includes the Reverse Range feature, allowing them to utilize more of the screen. To see detail closer to the boat, the Compress Range aspect displays a real-time look in sharp

XR SYSTEM: THE BEST OF THE BEST JUST GOT DEEPER

detail up close, while still letting the angler keep an eye on their farther-away target.

The LiveScope XR displays seven different color palettes to view fish and structure in vivid contrast and clarity. The XR’s additional sensors constantly adjust to compensate for boat motion and provide steady imagery in rough waters.

WITH EXTENDED RANGE FOR OPEN WATER

PROTECT YOUR BOAT WITH GTECHNIQ MARINE

Your boat is an investment, and Gtechniq Marine strives to protect and clean all surfaces to maintain a pristine appearance utilizing science and technology to develop top-of-the-line products for antistaining, surface protection and cleaning.

Their Total Marine Protection System was developed with the intention of being the absolute best for keeping your vessel in pristine condition. Gtechniq only sells products that

deliver proven and significant performance gains over existing brands on the market. This means your boat will have the polished protection it needs, and you won’t have to worry about shoddy quality.

You won’t find any generic polymers, waxes or cleaners in their products. They offer a comprehensive product range based on innovative surface technology and up-todate chemical engineering. These products include the best ceramic coating you can buy for your boat and pristine polish and vibrant shine products that will leave your boat looking freshly refurbished, at a fraction of the cost.

Ceramic protection for all GRP and painted surfaces makes treated surfaces highly stain resistant and provides sun protection with a UV filter that prevents premature fading. This treatment comes with a three-year guarantee. External glass and plexiglass is treated

with a hydrophobic coating that is durable and optically clear. This gives you a clear view ahead with reduced water spots and incredible durability.

Fabric is coated with a UV repellent formula that bonds to each fiber, leaving the feel and breathability of the surface unchanged while providing unrivalled protection for all types of fabric against mold, mildew, bacteria, microbes and everyday stains.

855-GTECH-01

FLY FISHING The Flood Tides

FOR REDFISH

By Carter Lyles

PHOTOS BY NICK CARTER

Whether you are headed to Amelia Island north of Jacksonville, Fla. or to Wilmington, N.C. this summer, it is a terrific time to target the flood tide redfish.

A flood tide is basically a larger than normal tide that forces water onto short spartina grass flats that remain dry on normal high tides. On a monthly average, you can expect around 15 of these “flood tides,” depending on moon phases. In order to recognize a flood tide, one must know the average high tide patterns for their area. For

example, in St. Simons, Ga., an average tide is around 7 to 7.5 feet. A flood tide would occur in St. Simons around an 8- to 9.5-foot high tide. The warm water temperatures during the summer months create an ideal habitat for the fiddler crabs, which disappear once the water temperature goes below 65 degrees. Fiddler crabs in great abundance roam this dry area, creating an absolute feeding frenzy for hungry redfish, very similar to the salmon fly hatch out west.

When fly fishing the flood tide, you want to start at the minimum an hour before the high tide. The last hour of incoming and the first

hour of outgoing is when you will experience the best fishing. Once fall arrives, the redfish will continue feeding throughout the entire flood tide. You need to keep an eye out for the “water roads” that provide the redfish access onto the higher flat once the water goes up.

When the fish are on the flats, scan the water around you for tails popping through the surface and waving at you. The redfish are feeding on the fiddler crabs by digging their hard noses into the mud bottom to push up the bait, sending their tails in the air. Also listen very carefully because you can hear the redfish splashing around. My absolute favorite fly for

the flood tide is Ratliff’s Fiddlestick Crab, which you can only custom tie. Other successful patterns include Cathy’s Fleeing Crab, the Kung Fu Crab and the Merkin Fly. The essentials for these flies is having a working weed guard or you will spend most of the time hung up in the grass and some weight to get the fly down in the strike zone fast.

Tapered 16-pound fluorocarbon leaders around 9 to 10 feet long can provide soft presentations and turn the fly over with ease. Although fishing from a skiff is the best way to fish a flood tide because of the stealth and visibility, one can wade as well. If you want to search for flood tide reds on your own, you have to know what to look for.

Short spartina grass around 10 inches tall has hard bottoms. Grass that is 2 to 3 feet tall has very muddy bottoms and you will sink like a boulder if you step into

the muck. You can find these shorter spartina grass flats close to tiny barrier islands, in the middle of the taller spartina grass or on the sides of the larger islands at a higher elevation. Jump on Google Earth and pick out some spots to check, but know that not every flat is the same. Different tides will affect different flats, so be prepared to cover water if you don’t see fish tailing within the first hour on or near one short spartina grass flat. Find a flat that you know is close to a big school of redfish.

When I lived in St. Simons for a while, I found several flats that had perfect hard bottoms, spartina grass, great access, safety from predators and thousands of fiddler crabs but no redfish. Redfish are like hermits, they don’t want to move if they don’t have to.

Good luck with your redfish ventures and keep those lines tight!

Contributed by The Fish Hawk in Atlanta, thefishhawk.com.

FISHING CLUB WINS MUD HOLE CUSTOM ROD CLASS

By completing conservation projects, the Chambers High School fishing team recently earned a private, in-person custom rod building class with Mud Hole Custom Tackle. They were the winning team in FWC’s School Fishing Club Conservation Project Competition and completed six projects including cleaning up and building monofilament recycling bins for their local waterbodies to win the grand prize.

All student anglers participating in the FWC’s 2022-23 School Fishing Club Program were required to complete at least one conservation project to qualify for funding associated with the program. Prizes were offered by Mud Hole, Toadfish and Pure Fishing to encourage teams to complete multiple conservation initiatives. The competition awarded points per club participation in a variety of conservationminded activities aimed at reducing the impacts of plastic pollution.

“Congratulations to these young anglers for their dedication to conservation,” said Tom Graef, FWC’s Freshwater Fisheries director. “They are making a difference by leading the way for the next generation of anglers with these creative conservation projects.”

Punta Gorda Middle School won the second-place prize, and A. Crawford Mosley High School won the third-place prize.

“Supporting youth education is so important to our mission at Mud Hole Custom Tackle,” said Anthony Youmans, Mud Hole’s Education Program Director. “We’re

honored to contribute the grand prize in this year’s competition and are always supportive of FWC’s efforts to lead conservation projects here in Florida, our home state.”

Mud Hole Custom Tackle, based in Oviedo, is the world’s largest supplier of rod building and tackle crafting goods and instruction. From rod building and repairing, to fly tying and lure building, Mud Hole is the leading e-retailer and mail order supplier to hobbyists, small manufacturers and large OEMs, worldwide. Offering a superior shopping experience at mudhole.com, rapid fulfillment, stellar customer service, and world class online content and instruction, Mud Hole Custom Tackle is the trusted source for the rod building and tackle crafting community.

FWC’s School Fishing Club Program welcomed 38 new and 14 returning student

angling clubs in Florida to the program last year, supported by the Division of Marine Fisheries Management, the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, and the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network. The clubs committed to complete the provided FWC curriculum and at least one conservation project. Club mentors provided support and hands-on training in knot tying and fishing gear assembly, as well as assistance with the clubs’ local events to increase student anglers’ confidence in the sport of fishing.

Information about the 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program will be announced later this summer.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/SFC. For more information about Mud Hole’s Education Program, visit mudhole.com/ pages/rod-building-for-education.

Photo Courtesy: fishandhuntwv.com & WV Tourism

Touted as one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the east, the New River offers over 50 miles of fishable waters in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The myriad river access points allow you to wet a line for smallmouth bass, walleye, muskie, and more. Local guide services float these water providing access to sections of the river that are not accessible by land. With plenty of hiking and biking trails, ziplines, paddleboarding tours, whitewater rafting trips and more, there are outdoor opportunities for the whole family.

IN SEARCH OF HAVASU’S WORLD RECORD REDEAR

By Gary Turner

The sun was just cresting the mountains and the moon was low in the west as Capt. Ron Ratlief, of Ron’s Fishing Guide Service, and I began fishing for redear sunfish on Arizona’s Lake Havasu. This trip has been on my bucket list for years. I just never made the time, which is ridiculous considering Havasu is pretty much the Holy Land for bream fishing. Havasu is a large Colorado River reservoir on the Arizona/ Colorado border. In recent years, the lake has produced a series of world-record redear sunfish, with the current mark standing at 6-pounds, 4-ounces.

Havasu’s freakishly large redears are due to a plentiful food source of invasive mussels that have infiltrated the system. The lake also holds some enormous bluegills, which I came to find out over two days fishing with Ron and a third day with my buddy Zac Mickle. You could feel it was going to be a hot one—over 100 degrees— as the cool morning air

evaporated with the sun. After all, Havasu is an oasis in the middle of a desert. We started the morning sight fishing coves. Havasu’s water is as clear as the Keys, and I half expected to see bonefish swimming by. We searched several coves and saw lots of fish, including bluegills, carp, catfish, giant gizzard shad, tilapia, green sunfish and small stripers, just to name a few. We also found some redear sunfish, our target species, but they were small, a pound or less, and we were looking for big ones!

We moved to plan B and headed to deeper water. Havasu has the most man-made fish attractors and brushpiles I’ve ever seen. There might be a bunch in South Carolina’s Santee, but you would never see them. The crystalclear water makes everything visible, and as the sun got higher, we could see even more. We saw structure clearly in 18 feet of water

with large redears on it. I dropped a night crawler on a jig head down, and BAM! I had a good bite! We landed a nice redear heavier than two pounds and continued hitting deeper brush, where we saw some big ones and caught a thick 14-incher that was pushing 3 pounds. After several other fish in the 1 to 1 ½-pound range, Ron suggested we move back to a cove for a few last casts before heading in. In the cove, I got hammered by a good one, which upon landing was about the same size

as the 2-pounder from earlier, but it looked more like a bluegill. I was thinking it might be a hybrid between the two species, which was later confirmed.

If you like bream, you need to check out Havasu. It is a beautiful lake in the desert with some giant redears and bluegills. I might not have caught a world record this year, but I’ve already booked next year’s trip.

Check out Gary Turner’s fishing adventures on his YouTube channel at youtube.com/ @FishingWithGary.

GET UNDER THE SARGASSUM TO GET TO THE FISH

We are seeing a heavy line of sargassum right now. Here’s how to make the best of it.

Along with grass comes fish. We’re having a great dolphin year, with some nice yellowfins and wahoo in the mix. The grass is a wonderful thing if you know how to take advantage of it.

It’s a well-known fact that the surface trolling bite slows as the sun rises to the 10 to 11 a.m. position. This is the reason to get baits down where the fish are, rather than continuing to troll surface baits while the one “meat stick”—the deep planer rod— gets all the bites. Tuna and wahoo don’t wear Maui Jims. When the sun penetrates deeper into the water, they simply go lower in the water column.

And… who says you have to be moving at 6-8 knots to get bites? Why not slow down and put several lines down where the fish are? It can result in steady, sometimes multiple hook ups. There are several ways to

accomplish this. You can use downriggers with release clips, use heavier trolling lures that fall when you occasionally take the boat out of gear, or use planer lures coupled with a slower speed to get baits down.

For example, a beautiful swimming (frozen) squid or ballyhoo on the downrigger is a ringer for the wahoo and tuna bite. An artificial squid with an attached natural bait on a planer jig head or a deep-diving plug will also get bites. In addition these choices, a spread of slowtrolled live baits down deep is the ultimate offering. We have several videos detailing the options listed above on our website.

With all the sargassum grass this year, this may be an especially attractive alternative to the standard 7 knots. When you’re constantly “shaggin’ grass,” you’re not as effective, and it’s not good for moral when deck hands fight more grass than fish. If you slow troll down a nice weed line with beautiful baits down deep in the strike zone,

Tim Barefoot

chances of getting bites are much better than shaggin’ grass at normal speed. Find structure and bait near a weed line and you’ll have the scenario for success. With or without structure or marking bait, the weed line is home to all types of life. We’ve cleaned yellowfin tuna with a double handful of file fish in their stomachs the size of a quarter and smaller, along with small bit of grass.

If the weeds are not too scattered, troll as normal to find the fish. When the sun gets up, slow down and concentrate on the areas you had bites earlier. Remember that the weeds are moving, along with everything that lives and feeds around the mats. Keep an eye out for other items floating in the grass mats to help keep up with your relative location.

For more from Tim Barefoot, go to barefootcatsandtackle.com.

GRADY-WHITE BOATS INTRODUCES INNOVATIVE AND LUXURIOUS 281 COASTAL EXPLORER!

The newest edition to Grady-White Boats’ impressive Coastal Explorer Series, the 281 CE, made its debut at the Miami Boat Show. There, avid anglers got to check out the latest Grady-White innovations that make this boat primed for inshore and offshore fishing. Grady-White hit it out of the park with this unique new boat.

The innovation starts in the cockpit with a portside sport deck that is an electromechanically folding platform with an in-gunnel stowable ladder. An ingenious design at the transom adds to this boat’s versatility, allowing the area to transform from comfortable forward-facing seating, to casting platform, or lounge. Whether you’re riding to the fishing grounds, casting for trout, or spending the day at the sandbar, you have the right setup for the day’s activity. At the bow you’ve got incredible flexibility with a large casting platform that converts to a spacious sun pad with backrests that can be a table too. A lockable console with electric flush marine head and a 10-gallon holding tank adds to the amenities.

Loaded for fishing function, you’ve got two livewells, lots of rod storage, and abundant fish boxes–over 400 quarts! The deluxe lean bar also includes a rigging station, cutting board, and recessed freshwater shower.

From the plush helm seats with flip-up bolsters and footrest, to the full height scratch resistant acrylic windshield integrated into the

T-top, Grady thought of everything. You also get the choice of a single Yamaha 450 or dual 300 engine configuration, both with integrated digital electric steering. Other options include Helm Master EX® full maneuverability with autopilot, trolling motor pre-rigging with a swivel mounting bracket with quick release, a head stabilizer, 36V battery system and a 20-amp battery charger (trolling motor not included) and an outrigger kit.

All built on Grady’s superior SeaV2® hull

with capable wave cutting technology and continuously variable vee design means you get the ultimate ride wherever the fish are biting. But don’t be fooled by its fishability, this boat is equally luxurious, making it as comfortable for long rides to the fishing grounds, as it is for relaxing days at the sandbar with family and friends.

By Brad Barrett

Chandeleur Islands

When we arrived in Biloxi, Miss., I had never heard of the Chandeleur Islands 40 miles off the coast. Now I will never forget them! This string of islands is essentially uninhabited marsh and bayous that form the outer reaches of the Mississippi River Delta.

Our group of five couples boarded a 127foot mothership called The VI, captained by Bobby Lewis, along with two amiable crew members who would be our guides and cooks for the next three days. Great fishing was not the only thing on the agenda. When I saw an extra large Big Green Egg bolted to the deck, I knew great food was coming too.

It’s a four-hour trip to the Chandeleur Islands, and we arrived in darkness, just in time to fire up the Egg and cook some beautiful ribeyes. Early the next morning, we ate and headed off to the skiffs that were ready behind the ship. We were 40 miles off the coast, surrounded by marshes and islands and anchored in 15 feet of water!

WATCH VIDEO

The plan was to fish the flats for speckled trout and redfish, return to the mothership for lunch, and then jump on the center console to head into the gulf for an afternoon of deep dropping around oil rigs. We caught several keeper trout and enjoyed zipping around in the skiff, but we made sure we were not late for lunch. Right after lunch our group boarded the Twin V center console and headed into the gulf. We timed it just right for the opening of red snapper season and caught our limit. Several snapper were over 10 pounds, and I was fortunate enough to land a cobia. With a full cooler and sore shoulders, we ran back to the mothership looking forward to cocktails and a dinner of fresh fish.

The menu was blackened trout and snapper on a half shell on the Big Green Egg. Fresh caught fish, perfectly grilled ended one spectacular day. We had two more days of fishing and made the most of them. As the sun set on our final day, it lit up the water and the oil rigs behind us. We were still fighting snappers and had to finally pull up lines and head back for our last dinner. Three days and nights with no cell service, no light pollution, amazing fishing, beautiful sunsets, great food and drink and superb company makes this a trip of a lifetime, or better yet an annual tradition!

Here’s how to make Capt. Bobby’s Snapper on a Half Shell. Leave the skin on the snapper filets to protect the meat while grilling.

Marinade: Combine robust Italian dressing, fresh lemon juice and a cajun seasoning of your choice and marinate on the half shell for an hour.

Grill: Skin side down, basting occasionally, do not flip. When snapper becomes white and meat separates easily, remove from the grill and serve.

ou don’t need an invitation to have fun in Upcountry South Carolina: Come kayak crys-tal blue lakes, hike to rushing waterfalls, dig into local cuisine, attend family oriented events and breathe fresh mountain air. But when you hold a South Carolina fishing license, it feels like an official ticket to enjoy the great outdoors.

Fish bite year-round in the lakes, rivers and streams of Upcountry South Carolina, which is located in the state’s northwest corner in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Devils Fork State Park in Salem is a great place to access Lake Jocassee, which holds state records for rainbow trout, brown trout, redeye bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and yellow perch. Or try your luck at Lake Hartwell, at Lake Hartwell State Park in Fair Play and Sadlers Creek State Park in Anderson, three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic.

The Chattooga River boasts healthy wild trout populations and is also regularly stocked by Oconee County’s Walhalla State Fish Hatchery. The Whitewater River above Lower White-water Falls is another great option for wild trout. Lake Keowee, at Keowee-Toxaway State Park in Pickens County, swims with largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, yel-low perch, catfish, brown and rainbow trout.

Pick up everything you need—including advice— at local fly shops or book a guided fish-ing trip. Sam Jones, of Jocassee Charters, puts anglers on trophy trout. Buster Green’s Guide Ser-vice reels in stripers, hybrids and bass on Hartwell and Keowee. Chattooga

THE BEST PLACE TO DROP A FISHING LINE

River Fly Shop leads fly fishing trips on the Chattooga and Chauga rivers.

Even if you don’t fish, you can still get on the water. Jocassee Lake Tours offers tours of the lake and of Jocassee Gorges, which National Geographic called a “destination of a Lifetime.” Some amazing spots can only be reached by boat. Several tours are offered, so you can learn from a naturalist while riding on a pontoon or paddle a kayak through coves and under waterfalls.

Prefer to captain your own boat? There are several rental companies, including TriCounty Boat Rental, on Keowee, Jocassee, Hartwell and other lakes.

If you’d rather be under the water, Jocassee is a world-renowned freshwater diving desti-nation that boasts visibility of more than 50 feet at depth. Lake Jocassee Dive Shop offers lessons and guided trips to see “The Wall,” where a section of mountain was blasted to build the dam, or a 40-foot swimthrough wooden sailboat.

From fishing to boating, hiking to camping, biking to bird watching and more, the Up-country’s state parks are a great place to play. Dip into the swimming hole at Oconee State Park. Hike to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains at Table Rock State Park. Explore the 13,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area at Caesars Head State Park. Or create your own adventure at any of the Upcountry’s 13 state parks.

NEW YORK TOURNAMENT ANGLER BREAKS OWN SMALLIE RECORDS

WATCH VIDEO

Bass tournament anglers know that catching a 30-plus-pound five-fish bag of smallmouth bass is an incredible feat. When that sack contains a 9-pound state-record smallie, it’s the stuff of legends.

It’s safe to say that Thomas Russell is now a legend on the Finger Lakes tournament circuit in central New York State. Last year, on June 15 at Cayuga Lake, he and partner Eric Sullivan set a tournament record for the Finger Lakes Open tournament series with a 30.15 five-fish limit of smallies that included Russell’s New York state record that weighed 8.36 pounds.

Well… exactly a year later, on June 15, 2023, Russell and Sullivan did it again. According to a report on Syracuse.com, the duo weighed a 33.075-pound tournament sack from Cayuga that included a 9-pound, .04-ounce smallmouth that would have crushed Russell’s existing state record if he’d had it officially certified with the state. The record holder instead decided to release the fish after weigh-ins. According to Syracuse.com, because of the fish’s markings, Russell thinks it’s the same fish he caught exactly a year ago from the same area of the lake.

In recent years, Cayuga Lake has come to be recognized as one of the best smallmouth bass lakes in the country. It is one of a series of long, deep and skinny finger lakes south of Lake Ontario.

For more information, go to Syracuse.com.

Euro -Nymphing Catch More Trout

By Frank Yaun

“I ain’t neither, it’s a popsicle melting in my pocket.”

That’s one of my favorite Little Johnny jokes, and yes, I digress, but many traditional fly fishermen would rather be splashed with wwwwwurine than catch trout Euro style. I must admit I was hesitant to start learning this style of fly fishing, as I assumed I’d have to wear skinny waders and after a productive day, say (in my Austin Powers voice) “I shagged ’em. I shagged ’em rotten baby!”

All Eurotrash jokes aside, European Style Nymphing (ESN), which is the same as contact nymphing, or tight-line nymphing, is really the most effective to catch trout when they’re

feeding sub surface, which is the overwhelming majority of the time. The trick to getting a trout to eat a nymph is to get it in front of them, where they’re feeding, in a manner that is as natural looking as possible, meaning minimal to no drag, as the natural nymph obviously is not tethered to tippet.

When trout are feeding on nymphs, which is somewhere around 90-plus percent of the time, they’re usually fairly close to the bottom, where the water current is dramatically slower, due to the aggregate (rocks), and the nymphs live in these rocks, so when they become dislodged, they’re floating downstream in this area, which I call the zone. Also, as the current is slower in the zone, the trout burns significantly less energy than they would if they were higher

in the water column. It’s kind of like lying on the couch having cheeseburgers served to you, conserving energy needed to get up and go to the bathroom, well maybe, kinda, sorta.

You’re probably thinking, “Cool story, bro,” but what does this have to do with catching more fish? Let me answer by reiterating that trout will not normally eat a nymph that isn’t drifting completely naturally. Many novice fly fishermen will use a conventional fly fishing set up, which is a floating fly line, a tapered leader with a nymph or two attached to the tippet, usually with an indicator (bobber). Not only is the indicator being pulled by the current, but also the thicker diameter section of the leader is catching the current, adding to the drag. Factor in sag from the fly line, and you have a full-

fledged drag show going on, which is appealing to Tennessee Vol fans, but not trout, and the percentage of strikes declines dramatically.

Couple that with a lag from when the trout eats the fly to the indicator showing said eat, and your percentage of hook ups from strikes is also dramatically lessened. The Euro Nymphing set-up is built to decrease drag, thus increasing strikes and sensitivity to those strikes, resulting in more hook ups. Plainly said, you catch more fish. Let’s dive into the how, as the devil is in the details.

Euro rods are longer and much more sensitive, increasing reach to help keep the leader out of the water, which reduces drag and

increases sensitivity to feel a strike. The line and leader are also quite different, with a much smaller diameter fly line, connecting to a long mono leader, which all results in less line sag and less drag on the fly. The leader is attached to a small diameter (2x-4x), highly visible multi-color mono “indicator,” which has a tiny metal tippet ring attached to the end, where a very small diameter section of light tippet is attached, with the weighted flies attached to the terminal end of the tippet. It sounds confusing, but your local guide or fly shop can show you much easier than I can put into words as to how to set up a rig.

The flies used are basically the same

conventional nymph patterns, with the exception being they’re tied on jig hooks, so they float hook point up, resulting in less rock trout being caught. They also use much heavier tungsten beads, which help them rapidly get down to the zone, where the trout are feeding. It’s been said the difference between a good nympher and so-so nympher is a split shot, meaning it’s critical to quickly get the nymph down to the zone, and the competitive fishing rules do not allow split shot, thus the heavier flies.

Most of the time I fish two flies, with a much lighter (often unweighted) fly being tied on a tag 18 inches or so above the bottom or

point fly. This also helps cover a section of the water column where trout may be feeding on emerging insects. Depending on the velocity of the current and the depth, I will vary the weight of the point fly so it gets to the zone quickly, yet isn’t so heavy that it continuously gets snagged. The lighter the flow, the lighter the point fly.

Fishing this set up is also quite different. In conventional fly fishing, the weight of the fly line is what propels the very light fly through the air to the target area. With a Euro set up, which uses a much lighter line and leader, it’s quite hard to cast as you would with heavier fly line. Instead, casting is accomplished using the weight of the flies to get to the target area. To some degree, it’s more of a lob cast, and honestly, much simpler to teach to those new to fly fishing, versus teaching conventional fly casting. Also, you’re not fishing very far out, especially on pocket water that has a good degree of turbulence, so line management

becomes simplified, and if you’re like me, simpler is better!

Ideally, I’m fishing a seam in pocket water and cast upstream about a 45-degree angle, using a tuck cast, to 10:00/2:00. Upon the nymph hitting the water, I immediately have my rod tip up, sighter/leader out of the water. With my rod tip slightly ahead of where the tippet meets the water, I aim for keeping the sighter leaning downstream at a 30- to 45-degree angle. The trick is to keep ahead of the fly, but not to the point where it’s being drug through the water. I like to have a slight bit of slack in the sighter, as I know it’s free-drifting, plus when the sighter rapidly goes taut, there’s a good chance a trout just ate the fly, and if you’re fishing with a high quality Euro set up, there’s a good chance you felt it as well.

The hook set is simply a slight wrist flick at a 45-degree angle downstream, if the fly is still upstream; if the fly is below you, angle it upstream. That’s a lot of 45-degree references,

maybe

we should re-name it

45-degree nymphing, which sounds better to this hillbilly than “Euro.”

By now, there’s a good chance your eyes have glazed over, and you’re daydreaming of fishing in skinny jeans to trout that speak with a British accent, but maybe that’s just me (no, I do not partake in hallucinogens), but have no fear, it’s not that complicated, even a Georgia Bulldog can figure it out (I’ve seen it happen!), it’s just different.

My advice is to do a lot of YouTube watching on this, or even better, contact your local fly shop and talk to them about this style of nymphing. Shannon Young at Maggie Valley Fly Shop actually teaches a Euro clinic, and most of us guides there can take you on a halfday trip and coach you up on this incredibly effective nymphing technique. We’ll have you catching fish and having a blast doing it. Speaking with a fake Euro accent is optional.

PHOTO BY NICK CARTER

Score From the Shore in Calm Conditions

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

The surf can be bountiful and as easy as fishing can be when the seas are calm.

On a recent trip to the Gulf of Mexico’s calm shores, I was certain I was going to catch them at will. To the naked eye, conditions were as good as it gets, but many fellow anglers fell short of their dreams on this beautiful day. Here are some modifications I made on the fly that allowed me to come out ahead of most others.

This day provided us with glass-calm seas, clear water and bait everywhere, but one key ingredient was missing, substantial tide. What most of us focused on, including myself, were the calm conditions. This is always the draw for trout fishing on the beachfront in Texas, and it is seldom the norm.

I did research the tide, and it was an early

high heading out, which, once again, seems perfect. However, the slope on the graph was a slow outgoing tide, not one that was going to trigger many bites on its own. Once I realized this and watched others leave empty handed, I decided to search for places that would encourage the slow outgoing current to increase in velocity. I sought out guts in the bars perpendicular to the shore. These same guts have the potential to cause dangerous riptides, and they can also be the best place to fish. You typically see these guts by studying the waves, but with no waves I had to use my polarized glasses. Thankfully, the water clarity made this an easy task. I drove along the beach looking for these, and once I spotted them, I stood on the back of my truck to increase my elevation to identify the best ones.

I’d found my pattern. Now the catching could begin! Keep in mind, as slow as the tide

was moving, it did not create a dangerous situation (always be cautious of rip tides on the beach), but it did speed up the current enough to trigger a good bite. I thoroughly worked all edges of these guts, finding most bites on the back side where the tide pulled bait from the shallow gut to the deeper second gut.

When the tide is slow, I like to try and get a reaction strike by throwing something a little different or working my lure erratically. On this day, I was throwing a rattling soft-plastic paddletail. I also picked one with a bright green tail to stand out from the millions of baitfish traveling the first and second guts. All of these tactics combined allowed me to salvage a day when most left with empty stringers.

The beachfront can be a great place to fish, and it’s fun for the kids. My boys enjoy wading beside me, and when the fishing is over it’s time to play at the beach!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures® and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

HEATING UP OFF KETCHIKAN, ALASKA

Alaska fishing season started off with a bang for anglers visiting Ketchikan, Alaska. Halibut fishing charters produced great catches of halibut, pacific cod, lingcod and rockfish. Salmon fishing trips resulted in big king salmon while we awaited the arrival of silver salmon and pink salmon.

Early season typically is more inconsistent than the deep summer months of July, August and September. With that being said, our guests enjoyed better than average fishing to start off the 2023 Alaska fishing summer.

Fishing tours for cruise ship guests and flyin anglers spent the majority of May bottom fishing. These fisheries consist of fishing near and offshore waters for halibut, cod and rockfish. Deep-water jigging for halibut had guests reeling in keeper-sized halibut as well as oversized halibut ranging from 10 pounds to 120 pounds. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hooking into these deep sea dwellers, and the delicious white meat holds up well when frozen and shipped back home to the lower 48.

By Capt. Lukas Brickweg

Halibut weren’t the only species caught during our halibut fishing charters. Pacific cod were a staple while bottom fishing for halibut. Cod were concentrated in large numbers on the sandy flats eating a variety of bottom rigs. Traditional halibut fishing rigs with glow-inthe-dark squid and cut herring caught the majority of Pacific cod. We also found great success jigging for cod with metal jigs and soft plastic swimbaits.

Following up halibut fishing with rockfish and lingcod jigging made for a combination catch that had everyone smiling. We do this in shallower water with light tackle. While catching pelagic rockfish such as yellowtails and duskies, we also caught big lingcod. With such a phenomenal bottom fishing area, you’re never quite sure what will grab the end of the line. Giant lingcod make a trophy catch for anyone visiting Alaskan waters.

King salmon fishing opened June 1. Everyone rejoiced at the opportunity to pursue this iconic fish. Big king salmon catches came in throughout the entire southeast Alaska region. Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world, and it didn’t disappoint. Herring Cove and Mountain Point were the first areas to open up. This resulted in large numbers of anglers trolling for prized king salmon. As we look forward for the entirety of the region to open, these were the first areas where big catches came in.

Over the next couple months, the fishing will continue to heat up! Halibut will continue to show up in larger numbers as the water temperatures increase. In addition, the salmon fishing will see a big burst of silver salmon and pink salmon to combine with the larger king salmon. It’s all happening now!

For more information, visit www.ketchikanfishingtrips.com or call (907) 617-4717.

CONNECT LINE TO LINE WITH THE DOUBLE UNI KNOT

With excellent strength for line-to-line connections, the double uni is a go-to knot for connecting main lines to leaders. It is a quick and easy knot to tie, unlike some of the other line-to-line knots, so it’s a great option for onthe-water applications. Furthermore, it is very good for connecting different line types and diameters securely, which makes it the best knot for mono-tomono or mono-to-fluoro connections.

It’s also a good option to secure braid to fluoro, and while it might not have the strength of the FG knot for this application, the double uni is much easier to tie and will save you some headache in realworld situations.

A disadvantage to the double uni knot is it’s a little bulky. Although it is an inline knot that keeps everything running in the right direction, the bump it creates at the connection and the two tag ends pointing in either direction can interfere with casting performance. The knot can cause some friction going through the guides.

The double uni, however, is perfect for rigs where your leader will remain outside your rod tip. It’s also the right choice when casting distance and accuracy are not primary concerns. In most real-world scenarios, it will not inhibit casting ability enough that you’ll even notice.

For more tips, tricks and knots, visit usangler.com.

ELEVATE USE THIS OLD TRICK TO... YOUR CHUM!

During the old days of chumming, lots of fishermen used glitter in their chum, but we sure didn’t talk about it. Why? It was a serious fish-catching secret, and it works as well now as it ever did.

Of course, back then we hadn’t heard of microplastics. We didn’t equate those tiny flashy flakes with pollution. Traditional glitter is made with aluminum and plastic, which is a really bad thing to be throwing in the water.

Thankfully, today there is biodegradable glitter made of plant cellulose. This more environmentally friendly product enables us to keep using our old tricks without doing harm to the ocean.

When you add biodegradable glitter to your chum, the oils coat every single small piece of glitter. When it hits the water, each piece of glitter becomes fish attractant. As it slowly spreads through the water column, it catches sunlight and reflects it. The oil onboard each small

piece of glitter leaves a trail that only a hungry smart fish would care to follow.

You might ask how do I know that glittering chum works? Well, when you start getting hits and landing fish, open the fish box and take a look. You know how glitter is. It gets everywhere and sticks to everything. Well, your fish box and the fish in it will be coated in glitter. Trust me.

Capt. Judy Helmey runs Miss Judy Charters off the Georgia coast. Check them out at missjudycharters.com.

By Capt. Judy Helmey

RIVER PO PRODUCES ANOTHER RECORD WELS

likely replace the IGFA world length record for the species. The monster wels measured 285 centimeters (9 feet, 4.2 inches) in length and stands to beat out the existing record by just 4 centimeters, or about an inch and a half.

Biancardi is a veteran catfish angler who has targeted wels for more than two decades. He landed his potential new record after a more than 40-minute battle while fishing solo in an aluminum jonboat. The giant fish ate a soft-plastic paddletail fished on a jighead.

“In silence, I approached the first spot and after few casts a powerful bite arrived. The fish stood still some seconds before starting a very

in a blog post. “I calmly managed to fight what I felt to be a prehistoric fish. I followed it for 40 endless minutes. When it surfaced for the first time, I really realized that I hooked a monster. Adrenaline started pumping hard and the fear of losing it almost sent me into a panic. I was alone, facing the biggest catfish I ever seen in 23 years.

“I tried gloving its mouth two or three times, but it was still too strong,” he wrote. “I decided to go in shallow water trying to land it from shore, and after few tries, I managed to land it! I tied the fish to let him recover from the long fight then I suddenly realized that

anchored, and it was going away in the current. I was forced to have a swim to recover it with all my stuff.”

Biancardi then called some friends from a nearby fish camp to come help him get a good measurement on the beast. After taking measurements, the fish was released. Without a weight, it will not be considered for the all-tackle world record, which stands at 297 pounds, 9 ounces for a fish caught from the Po back in 2010.

For more, go to https://madcat-fishing.com.

WATCH VIDEO

smaller chicken dolphins. If lures are your thing I prefer Yozuri Crystal Minnows and honestly color doesn’t matter. Pitch around the weed lines or patches and look deeper down for the bigger Mahi. As for Tuna with all the chumming going on, I like to send down a vertical jig on 60#-80# test at least 100’ below the boat. Working your jig through the water column is a good way to fire up any kind of fish that may be lurking around in the shadows. If you have a large diamond jig I’d put some heavy wire in front of it for a chance at a wahoo. Triple Tail are amazing fish on light tackle and I recommend 15#-20# fluorocarbon and #2 Owner hook. Live

If bottom fishing is your go to joy Vermillion snappers, Groupers, and Rock salmon is my target. For Vermillion snappers I like using a 2-3 hook chicken rig mixed with cut squid and Boston mackerel. Let your weight sit right on the bottom and wait for those 2-3 light bites. Rock salmon and Groupers like to hide out in the rocks and caves, so a slip lead is what I like to use. Heavier leader line for Groupers and larger baits close to the bottom. Feel the bite and start cranking. The first 20’-30’ are the most

When it comes to offshore fishing don’t give up. There’s a lot of trial and error. Figure out what works best for you and as always keep your lines out and keep them tight.