FISH THE AMAZING U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Anglers from around the world come to the U.S. Virgin Islands to fish our incredible turquoise waters for trophy blue marlin, blackfin tuna, wahoo and mahimahi. And with no passport required for U.S. citizens, it’s easy to plan your next fishing trip. Whether you want to set off on a crewed charter complete with a professional captain or prefer to simply cast a line from one of our scenic whitesand beaches, get ready to reel in the big one. Plus, many outfitters can customize your trip to include thrilling underwater activities like snorkeling.
Off the island of St. Croix choose your own adventure, whether you’re looking to fish offshore for mahi-mahi, wahoo, kingfish, tuna and blue marlin, or nearshore for tarpon, snapper, mackerel, rainbow runner and jacks. Seasoned crews who have been fishing the waters of USVI for decades will take you on customizable charters in search of catching your trophy fish of a lifetime. Some outfitters offer
complimentary fish cleaning services, so all you have to do is throw your coveted catch on the grill or in the pan!
From St. John, troll for big game fish — blue marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo — on an offshore charter. Opt for a nearshore charter to catch bonito, barracuda, rainbow runner, snapper and sharks. Or join an inshore bottom fishing trip to cruise the USVI’s deep-water reefs. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a novice needing some guidance, you’ll find an outfitter equipped with all the top-of-the-line fishing gear you’ll need for a successful day at sea.
island’s famous North and South Drops. A mix of trolling and live baiting makes for mega catches, with yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and blue marlin the most common catches of the day.
About 20 miles north of St. Thomas is the North Drop, an area unparalleled for its big game fish. Book a deep-sea fishing charter and sail over to this corner of the Caribbean that boasts more blue marlin bites per boat than any other place in the world. Half-day to 10hour offshore bait fishing charters are ideal for adventurous anglers eager to experience the
Surrounded by pristine blue waters, it’s no surprise that fresh seafood is a delicious part of nature’s bounty in USVI. You’ll find plenty of seafood-focused restaurants, from elegant fine dining to laid-back waterfront eateries. Some outfitters even offer a stop at a seaside restaurant as part of their fishing excursions.
Late Summer Sails
By Will Schmidt
If you think summer sails are all about back-to-school savings, you might also think sailfish fishing off the southeast coast of Florida only happens in the winter months. The reality is there’s plenty around through the mid and late summer and early fall months off Port St Lucie. So, when Capt. George mentioned that’s what we’d be chasing I was thrilled to be heading out on a warm, slick calm day vs the high seas and nippy temps that are often associated with winter South Florida sails.
This trip was special for a few reasons. First, we had rising country star Ben Gallaher (IG: @ Ben_Gallaher) with us. Ben is an avid outdoorsman, but he had never caught a saltwater fish. If we could put him on a sail, he’d be hooked. I was also excited to fish with some new friends Capt. Geoge Gozdz of “Unfathomed” (IG: @ captgeorgegozdz) and Chris Bishop VP of marketing at Yo-Zuri (IG: @ Yozuri_Lures).
After just a short run, we set our spread, and I could sense any strikes would likely be dramatic. The water was crystal clear and glass flat giving us a great view of any action. The first fish in, came crashing into the spread chasing and slashing at a bait with its bill. Unfortunately, as aggressively as it came in, it turned and retreated without eating.
As we reset the spread anticipation grew to find Ben’s first saltwater adversary. Fortunately, another sail came in a smashed the right rigger. However, it ran right at us, and we were never
able to get tight. Undaunted, we set up again. Soon all the baits were nervously darting on the surface. The left flatline erupted as the sail slashed, splashed and devoured the bait. Ben was on, and this fish leapt and twirled with all the acrobatics of a Cirque du Soleil show. There was still another to eat and moments later we doubled up. Both fish cooperated with plenty of arial antics and after a good fight we had both fish to the boat. To say Ben was pumped to land his first billfish is an understatement. Amped up with adrenaline and ready for more he could only beam with an ear-to-ear grin and say, “Let’s go!”
Warm water can equal a hot bite and with a little effort a late summer grocery trip could easily start with a hot sail bite. It’s not difficult; we were simply bump trolling large, bridled threadfins. Our tackle was medium Penn Carnage rods with Authority reels lined with Yo-Zuri Super Braid topped with Yo-Zuri’s Disappearing Pink Fluorocarbon leader. These setups gave us the sensitivity to feel the eat and the stealthiness to fool even the most cautious of fish in these clear conditions. On your next trip don’t rush past these exciting sails, stop for some fun acrobatic action.
Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades. Follow Will on Instagram @saltynstrong.
FURUNO’S DRS-NXT RADAR SERIES: TheNXTChapterinRadarTechnology
Furuno’s NXT Radars are solid-state radars utilizing Doppler technology to ensure the safest navigation. The NXT series features Target Analyzer™, Fast Target Tracking™ and Auto Target Acquire function to offer optimal detection and sensitivity of hazardous objects. Combined with RezBoost™ technology, the NXT Radars have no equal in spotting and tracking targets moving around your vessel efficiently with a high resolution.
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SPOTS HAZARDOUS TARGETS INSTANTLY!
The NXT series are the first Radars in the world to use FURUNO’s exclusive Target Analyzer™ function. Targets that are approaching your vessel automatically change color to help you identify potentially dangerous targets. Green echoes are targets that stay stationary, or are moving away from you, while red echoes are hazardous targets that are moving towards your vessel. Echoes dynamically change colors as targets approach, or get farther away from your vessel. Target Analyzer™ improves situational awareness and can increase safety by showing you which targets to look out for.
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KEY FEATURES:
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Revolutionary Target AnalyzerTM function instantly identifies hazardous targets in red
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Simple installation, single power/network cable connection
GO RED IN OCTOBER
October has traditionally been one of my favorite months of the year for a number of species, but especially for grouper. I’ve always said that Christmas week is the apex of grouper fishing…and it is. I’ve also said that there is a mental hierarchy in grouper, with gags being at the top and reds being at the bottom. I could catch a red grouper on a wooden dowel rod with menhaden oil on it and a hook attached…and that is not an exaggeration.
I hate to be repetitive, but a live pinfish on a Squid Decoy Jig is a dead ringer for red grouper (and all grouper for that matter). If you have the ability to keep a pinfish trap in the water, I would strongly suggest securing several dozen pinfish to take bottom fishing. Everything out there eats them, not to mention they are very hardy and will live all day in the livewell. Red grouper, gags and scamps all view pinfish the same as sailor’s choice and other small snappers as egg eaters. If for no other reason, they will eat them just to kill them, so they don’t eat their eggs. Frozen cigar minnows and sardines have caught more grouper (historically)
than all the other baits combined. That’s what they eat!
On a commercial fishing trip (many years ago), if you ran out of any one of these four things, it would send you back to the Hill: bait, ice, fuel or weather.
We always had hundreds of pounds of (frozen) cigs and sardines, so let’s not get too carried away with the bait selection. Frozen cigs get the job done, but now that I’m fishing the super stealth decoy jig/bait combination, I do love a live pinfish or other live baits.
With that all being said, don’t ever pass up the opportunity to jig up live cigs and sardines for the ULTIMATE combo! The life expectancy of a live cig or sardine on a Decoy Jig is under 10 seconds. Nothing down there can resist it. Period.
As I always say, “Find the bait, find the fish.” Yes, I like to fish structure like ledges, wrecks or live bottom, but the main ingredient is food. If you mark big stacks of cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc., it’s always a good idea to fish below that, and keep the light line out on the surface or
near the surface for all the pelagics. We have vast areas of sand bottom with no structure whatsoever. We just fished big stacks of bait and caught them GOOD! Red grouper can be caught in most depths of water. From as shallow as 15 feet on the Atlantic side to 400 feet and beyond. The only problem with fishing this style of jig and minnow combination is that you are definitely gonna catch gags, scamps, blacks—and those “endangered” American red snapper.
Please take a descending device and familiarize yourself with how to use it.
I guess that’s why I’m writing this article featuring red grouper this month; because that’s about all we have to fish for this time of year. So get out there with some pinfish and frozen minnows and harvest the red grouper and scamps.
Take your kids fishing, too, and make plenty of videos and photos that’ll last a lifetime.
Learn more from Tim Barefoot on his YouTube channel and at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
Tim Barefoot WATCH VIDEO
FOUR CLUBS. TWO DAYS. ONE CHAMPION.
THE 2025 SFC ZANE GREY CHAMPIONSHIP CROWNS THE LEAGUE’S CHAMPION.
SFC’s Zane Grey Championship Playoffs is a four-boat tournament in Cabo San Lucas taking place Oct. 19-20.
The top two angling clubs from the Atlantic and Gulf Division standings earned playoff berths after a 12-tournament regular season. A season which saw the Atlantic Division crisscross the Eastern Seaboard, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Walker’s Cay, Bahamas to as far north as Oak Bluffs and Cape Cod. Meanwhile, the Gulf division competed in every single state bordering the Gulf coast.
The winning club will be crowned league champions and take home $250,000, capping off a season that has awarded more than $2 million in prize money.
Nestled along the pristine shores of Medano Beach, Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa will host the 2025 Zane Grey Championship Playoffs. This luxurious beachfront property boasts breathtaking views of the iconic Cabo Arch and offers an unparalleled five-star experience. Guests will find themselves just a short stroll from the vibrant Cabo San Lucas Marina, brimming with an array of shops and restaurants.
SFC’s championship trophy is named after Zane Grey, the fishing icon who held numerous world records — including catching the first marlin to weigh more than 1,000 pounds. In 1998, Grey was inducted into the inaugural class of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.
One of the most highly regarded venues for sportfishing globally, Cabo San Lucas is an incredibly diverse fishery, commonly known as the marlin capital of the world. The October months are prime for Blue and Black Marlin, with Pacific sailfish and striped marlin available year round.
Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the four playoffbound angling clubs on sportfishingchampionship.com and on SFC’s social media channels as they prepare for the showdown in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
SFC’s Zane Grey Trophy
TRADE DESK’S UNEXPECTED CATCH YIELDS STATE RECORD SWORDFISH
By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
When Trade Desk, a 60-foot Hatteras, left Orange Beach for three days of catch-and-release billfishing, hooking a swordfish was just an afterthought, one that would stress all their resources as well as enter the Alabama Saltwater Record Book.
Robert Fritze, his dad (Ron) and four buddies (Harold Wells, Jamie Boyd, Wes Hagler, Robert Parks) had scheduled the trip a while back for August 14-16 with the main goal of finding marlin and sailfish.
jigging for tuna and put several blackfins in the tuna tubes for possible use as bait the next morning.
Because the offshore boat is not manned by a professional crew, the Fritzes and team took turns getting a little sleep.
“I took the first shift,” Robert said. “My dad came up to relieve me about one. I set a
good profile of the fish, and my buddy, Harold, said, ‘That’s a tank.’”
The fish went down and came back to the surface two more times before it sounded.
THEN HE CAME BACK UP, AND I SAW THE BILL COMING OUT OF THE WATER, AND IT JUST KEPT COMING.
“We saw where people were having success catching blues, whites and sails,” said Fritze, who hails from Birmingham. “We headed out southwest and thought about deepdropping, but that wasn’t the main goal, so we just decided to push on.”
The crew was near the Delta House oil and gas production platform in 4,500 feet of water when they discovered a rip (where two currents meet with distinctive color changes) that was not productive. They headed farther south and picked up a few dolphin (mahi mahi), a wahoo and several barracuda. They had a blue marlin follow one of the barracudas back to the boat, but it spooked and disappeared.
When the sun went down, they started
swordfish bait out, a regular nighttime setup with squid and a light.”
The bait soaked for quite a while before the big swordfish swallowed the squid.
“I grabbed the rod and got in the chair,” Robert said. “He was down about 300 feet when he bit. It took about 30 minutes until we saw the fish the first time. He was right at the edge of the spreaders. The bite was nothing special at that point. I could feel the weight, but it wasn’t like ‘Oh, my gosh.’
“Then he came back up, and I saw the bill coming out of the water, and it just kept coming. He got his head out of the water, but it wasn’t like he totally jumped. We got a pretty
~ Robert Fritze
“He peeled drag off for a good bit, and then it was a slow, steady going away,” Fritze said. “The drag was a tick, tick, ticking as he was going away. He was headed in the other direction, and there was no stopping him. We were looking at each other, and I was holding myself in the chair, and we were wondering if he was ever going to stop.”
As the line slowly stripped off the reel, the crew could tell the fish had descended to around 800 feet because of a marker on the braided line at that depth.
“Finally, he stopped, and I started getting a little ground on him,” Fritze said. “Then he would take it right back. At first, all I could do was get one full revolution on the handle. Finally, I started to get two or three revolutions, and he started coming to the boat. About halfway, he took a little run, but I slowly worked him back up.”
His buddies started to give Fritze a hard time during the fight, as good friends will often do.
“My friends were giving me great encouragement about how they could do a
better job,” he said. “My buddy was taking a video, talking about being one hour in and then four hours in. They got fans out of the engine room to blow on me. They kept telling me that if I got the fish in before daylight that would be great.”
Fritze said they usually bring a large fish bag on offshore trips but had left it at their slip because the tuna bite had been slow, and they weren’t planning to bring any fish back to the dock. Wells, who fortuitously brought his swordfish rod along, had even asked if he should throw the bag on the boat.
“I told him, nah,” Fritze said. “If we leave it here, we’ll probably catch something decent.”
When the big swordfish finally succumbed to the 4.5-hour fight, the action turned into pure chaos.
“We had no flying gaffs, nothing to handle a fish of that caliber,” Fritze said. “We did have enough time to get ropes tied to one of the gaffs to give us a little bit of hope. But we were not necessarily set up to land a big fish like that. He came up 50 feet from the port, and you could see that everybody got ready for all hell to break loose. Dad backed up on him. He got to the corner of the boat and rolled over. I was raising my hands. I was glad it was over.”
With the gaffs on hand, the crew was able to secure the fish and get it ready for the difficult task of getting it onboard.
“I got out of the chair and fell down immediately,” Fritze said. “I didn’t realize my legs were worn out as much as they were. Everybody came down off the bridge, and Dad held the (tuna) door open. We didn’t even have any bigger ropes on the boat. We had to use rod leashes to wrap around his tail to get some leverage on him. Everybody was trying to pull him in, but his pec and dorsal fins were sticking out, so we were moving him around to get him in the door.
“We finally got him in, and we were dumbfounded by the fact we actually got him in the boat.”
Then it dawned on the crew they had to figure out what came next, especially without a big fish bag that would allow the crew to ice the swordfish down.
“We decided we didn’t have a choice; we’d have to go back and clean it,” Fritze said. “It wasn’t going to fit in the box. It didn’t even look real. We headed back. It was supposed to take four hours to get back, but there was a storm between us and Orange Beach that we had to get around.”
Word spread quickly that the boat was coming in with a big fish. A crowd soon gathered at Orange Beach Marina to watch the fish being offloaded and weighed.
Fritze said none of the crew expected the fish to weigh as much as it did. Wells thought it might push the state record, which was set in 2006 at 448 pounds.
“The entire time, it was never in my mind about beating a state record,” he said. “I was just
ecstatic to weigh something that big with Dad and my buddies.”
The fish was hoisted onto the boom to be weighed at the marina when dockmaster Jimmy Beason announced, “550.3 pounds.”
“I remember the fight and ride back in, but once he said that it all went blurry,” Fritze said. “I tackled my dad, immediately thinking, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.’ This was all kind of a crazy deal.”
After the celebration, they decided it would be better to preserve the fish prior to inspection by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division as part of the state record application process. Fortunately, J&M Tackle had enough freezer space to accommodate the monster swordfish.
Instead of sitting around and reliving the eventful outing, the anglers refueled the boat and headed back into the Gulf. They caught barrel fish, tilefish and ended up with another six or so dolphin.
“Then the reel went off, and Jamie got in the chair and caught his first sailfish,” Fritze said. “That was the cherry on the top. Then somebody said, ‘We do have to go home eventually.’”
As for the state record swordfish, Fritze never expected to be in the fighting chair for 4.5 hours and ending up with a fish that big.
“It was the fish of many lifetimes,” he said. “Doing it with my dad meant a lot. He bought his first saltwater boat when I was 5. We’ve never sat on the beach. All we’ve ever done is fish.”
DISCOVER THE THRILLS OF FISHING AT ZEKE’S LANDING MARINA IN ORANGE BEACH, AL
Nestled along the stunning Gulf Coast, Zeke’s Landing Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama, stands out as a premier destination for fishing enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Known for its picturesque views and vibrant marine life, this marina offers an array of fishing charters that cater to both novice anglers and seasoned veterans.
A Fisherman’s Paradise - Zeke’s Landing Marina is strategically located near some of the most productive fishing grounds in the Gulf of America. The warm, nutrient-rich waters are teeming with diverse species, making it an ideal spot for a successful day of fishing. Whether you’re after trophy-sized redfish, snapper, or the elusive marlin, the experienced charter captains at Zeke’s can guide you to the best spots.
Variety of Charters Available - From half-day trips to extended deep-sea adventures, there’s something for everyone. Families can
enjoy relaxed inshore fishing trips, while adrenaline junkies might opt for overnight excursions targeting bigger game fish. Each charter is designed to provide a unique experience, tailored to the group’s preferences and skill levels.
Experienced Captains - You’ll find a team of knowledgeable and friendly captains who are passionate about fishing and committed to making your trip enjoyable. With years of local experience, they not only know the waters like the back of their hand but also share valuable tips and insights about fishing techniques, local ecology, and the best practices for sustainable fishing.
Family-Friendly Atmosphere - The marina’s family-friendly atmosphere makes it an excellent choice for families looking to bond over an outdoor adventure. Kids can learn the ropes of fishing, participate in catch-andrelease practices, and enjoy the thrill of reeling in their first fish.
Additional Amenities - We offer a variety of amenities to enhance your visit. Enjoy onsite dining options that serve fresh seafood and local cuisine, or relax at the marina’s beautiful surroundings after a day on the water. Additionally, the marina hosts various events throughout the year, from fishing tournaments to community gatherings, ensuring there’s always something happening.
Bring Us What You Caught! Have it grilled, blackened or fried with crispy fries, and house coleslaw. Served up family style for an unforgettable end to your charter trip.
Dockstore - We offer top brands like: AFTCO, Costa, Reefs, Phins, Sun Bum, Swig, Maui Jim, Wild Republic, Bogg Bags, Ice Mule, Gecko, Tervis, Toadfish and much more! We also offer: Fuel, beverages, snacks, beer, hard seltzers, wine spritzers, sunscreen, branded t-shirts, hats, coolers, marine supplies and more!
Oh, Snap! Chasing Giants in The Keys
By Astrid deGruchy
When it comes to snapper fishing, the Florida Keys are hard to beat. From shallow mangroves to deep wrecks, these waters hold everything from tasty keepers to tacklebusting giants, and the right gear makes all the difference.
Mangrove snappers are the everyday staple, found year-round around bridges, mangroves, and patch reefs. Light tackle with a PENN Spinfisher VI or Battle III 3500 with 20-25 lb mono gets the job done. Use live shrimp, pilchards, or cut ballyhoo for consistent action. Downsizing leader in clear water is key. On the reef edge, Yellowtail snapper are Keys gold. Target them from spring through fall using a PENN Slammer IV 4500 with 15 lb mono. Set a steady chum slick and free-line white baits like pilchards on a Mustad 1/0 J-hook. Keep your presentation natural since yellowtails spook easily.
For heavier hitters, Mutton snapper shine during the late spring and early summer full moons. Use a PENN Authority 5500 matched with 30 lb mono leaders and Mustad 3/0 to 4/0 circle hooks (Big Guns are the best). Drift live pinfish or pilchards back naturally, and be ready, when a mutton eats, it’s all power. For something more regal, head deep for queen snapper, the true royalty of the snapper world. These stunning red
fish haunt 500-1,000 feet down along the continental shelf. A PENN Fathom II paired with 40 lb braid and a Mustad 6/0 circle hook tipped with squid or bonita chunks gets it done. Most anglers opt for electric reels, but hand-cranking one up is a badge of honor.
Then there’s the ultimate test: the Cubera snapper. Capt. Kody (@ capt_kody) recently put me on a 65-pound Cubera out of Key West. These brutes demand muscle, like PENN International 50VISX, 80-100 lb mono + Mustad 12/0 circle hook type muscle. Summer full moons are prime, and whole lobsters are the bait of choice (yes, not cheap). Once you’re hooked up, it’s a brutal test of endurance, arguably the hardest fight you’ll experience on stand-up gear, especially when you’re handcranking every inch.
Out here, every snapper tells a story…from the quick hits of mangroves to the heart-pounding brawls with cubera beasts. We live for those moments, and now you can too.
Follow the journey on Bean Sportfishing TV on YouTube. If you are interested in a Cubera Trip, reach out to Capt. Kody Michael on Instagram (@capt_ kody) or go to reel-guides.com.
THE LIGHTEST, MOST POWERFUL ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE INDUSTRY.
Whether you’re fishing from a paddleboard, kayak, canoe or small boat, the ePropulsion eLite 500W redefines your on-water experience with innovative features and commitment to sustainability. Designed to be the most compact and lightweight electric outboard in its class, the eLite is an easy-to-use alternative to small internal combustion engines for enthusiasts worldwide. Max 5.6 miles at half throttle and 3.5 miles at full throttle.
EPROPULSION
ELITE 500W: THE ULTIMATE IN PORTABLE ELECTRIC PROPULSION
In general, the trend in boating these days is bigger is better. Right? Engine horsepower is getting higher and higher, and boats are being built able to accommodate two, four, even six engines. But what about the other end of the spectrum—anglers and cruisers that are looking for the ultimate in portable propulsion? Whether you are looking for a boost for your kayak or a reliable motor for your inflatable fishing boat or tender, the perfect engine should be lightweight, easy to take on and off, easy to use and provide the range and speed for almost any conditions. It should be self-contained, so you don’t have to deal with lugging around a fuel tank, or even have to purchase and safely store gasoline on your boat. Electric propulsion is the way to go,
but no one has really gotten the right combination of affordability,
top speed to over five miles per hour. With multiple charging options, including 110/220V AC, 12V DC and solar with the use of optional ePropulsion converters, the eLite can be fully
charged in around four hours. For added capability and convenience, the engine includes a USB-C output that allows users to charge and power other electrical devices.
At just under three-feet in length and weighing 14.7-pounds including the built-in battery, the eLite stores easily and the one-click quick-release bracket allows for installation and removal in a matter of seconds. For exceptional portability, the tiller handle converts to a perfectly balanced carry handle. With multiple trim and tilt angles, adjustable steering resistance and shaft length, and a shallow-water mode, the eLite is completely customizable. Its Smart Battery Monitoring System efficiently optimizes performance, carefully regulating battery level, temperature, and remaining state-of-charge all displayed on an ultra-simple interface, leading to extended range, a more energy-efficient operation and longer battery life. Built to last, it is IP67 waterproof, and is constructed of aviationgrade aluminum alloy for lighter weight and greater durability. In addition, the anti-ground auto kick-up feature protects the motor from accidental damage. Available for under $1,000, it is also the most affordable electric outboard in its class.
There’s no time like today to upgrade to the electric outboard of the future. The ePropulsion eLite is in stock and ready to take you quietly and sustainably to your next adventure.
FISHING THE FALL BASS TRANSITION
IN THE SOUTHEAST
By
NPFL Professional Angler Joey Bloom
The first cool mornings of fall always bring a little excitement for me. When I back the boat down the ramp and see mist rising off the water, I know the season is changing and the bass are about to do the same. Down here in the Southeast, the fall transition is one of the most unpredictable— but also one of the most rewarding—times of the year.
The key is bait. As soon as water temps slide from the 90s into the mid-70s, shad begin their migration out of the main lake and into the creeks or shallow shorelines. They’re chasing plankton, and the bass are never far behind. If you can find the bait, you’ll find the fish. I don’t even bother making a cast until I see shad flickering on the surface or lighting up my electronics.
My mornings usually start with topwater or a shad-colored swim jig. A walking bait is one of my favorites to throw across the mouth of a pocket, and it can trigger some of the most violent strikes of the season. I’ll never forget a morning last October when a seven-pounder came out of two feet of water and nearly ripped the rod out of my hand. That’s fall bass fishing— when they decide to eat, they don’t play around.
As the sun gets higher, I shift gears. Shallow wood, laydowns, docks and grass edges become prime ambush points, and that’s when I reach for a squarebill crankbait. I like squarebills because they’ve got just the right wobble and durability to grind through cover. The trick is to make contact—bump that crankbait off a stump, dock, or tick it through grass. Those deflections are what trigger bites. Covering water quickly is important because bass are
constantly on the move, shadowing those bait schools.
But not every fish in the lake makes the same move at the same time. Some of the bigger, older bass stay out deeper longer. For those, I keep a Carolina rig handy, and I’ve had great success pairing it with Bait Cave Customs hand-poured soft plastics. That slow drag across a secondary point can tempt those stubborn deep fish that won’t chase a moving bait.
Weather plays a huge role, too. A cold front will slow everything down, and that’s when I switch to finesse— something like a Bait Cave Customs, Cave Club finesse worm on a shaky head, worked methodically. On the flip side, a cloudy, stable day can set off a feeding frenzy, and that’s the time to throw reaction baits and keep covering water. Fall fishing here is a constant adjustment game, and you have to be willing to change with the conditions.
At the end of the day, the fall transition is like putting a puzzle together. The pieces change daily—sometimes hourly—but once you figure out where the bait is, how the bass are relating, and what they’ll react to, the action can be phenomenal. It’s the season where I cover the most water, throw the widest variety of baits, and stay the most flexible.
what makes fall in the Southeast so special. It’s unpredictable, challenging, and full of opportunity. And when everything lines up, it’s some of the best bass fishing of the entire year. With the right mindset—and the right tackle—you can make this season one to remember.
Follow all of Joey Bloom’s fishing and fun on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.
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/
2026 BASSMASTER OPENS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
BWATCH VIDEO
.A.S.S. officials unveiled the schedule for the 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, eight tournaments spread across two divisions that will challenge anglers on some of the country’s most iconic fisheries.
The Opens have long served as a proving ground for aspiring pros, and in 2026 the trail will once again deliver a diverse slate of fisheries, from Florida grass lakes to Northern smallmouth waters. As always, the stakes are high—the Opens offers competitors a pathway to qualify for the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier Series (EQs) presented by Bass Pro Shops and ultimately the upper echelon of tournament bass fishing: the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
To balance traditional techniques with technology innovation, B.A.S.S. announced several competition updates for 2026. Forward-facing live sonar (FFS) will be limited to two tournaments in each division.
“Year after year, the Bassmaster Opens provide some of the most exciting and diverse competition in bass fishing,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “With legendary stops like Sam Rayburn and Lake Erie alongside other diverse venues, this schedule ensures our anglers—and fans—will see a mix of techniques and fisheries in 2026.”
Entries and payouts will remain consistent with 2025. However, new incentives raise the stakes: the Anglers of the Year (AOY) from each division’s St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Divisional Angler of the Year standings and the overall Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year will earn berths into the EQs at no cost. In addition to qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, if an angler enters all four tournaments in a division and wins one, they will also earn a guaranteed berth into the EQs.
Another important change: anglers who enter only a single event will not receive any AOY points. Only full-division participants will earn points toward the 2026 Bassmaster Opens Divisional Angler of the Year races.
There are also updates to the qualifications to the EQs. Anglers who
• Jan. 29-31 — Kissimmee Chain (Kissimmee, Fla.)
• Apr. 1-3 — Lake Eufaula (Eufaula, Ala.)*
• Apr. 30-May 2 — Lake Norman (Charlotte, N.C.)
• Aug. 20-22 — Lake Erie (Buffalo, N.Y.)*
Division 2 Schedule
• Feb. 19-21 — Sam Rayburn Reservoir (Jasper, Texas)*
• Apr. 23-25 — Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees (Grove, Okla.)
• May 20-22 — Pickwick Lake (Counce, Tenn.)*
• June 18-20 — Upper Mississippi River (La Crosse, Wis.)
*Forward-facing live sonar will be permitted at these events.
fish all eight Opens will earn overall AOY points, with the Top 35 in those rankings receiving automatic bids to the EQs. Beyond that, the Top 50 by AOY points in each division (not including anglers who qualified through overall AOY points) will also advance, creating more paths for aspiring pros to chase Elite Series dreams.
Registration for the 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN will open November 4. Details will be available on Bassmaster.com.
CATCH HUGE REDS WITH DEAD BAITS
Capt. Mike Smith
Have you ever tried to use big dead baits to catch huge redfish? If you haven’t, then you should. Many of the larger predatory fish prefer eating fresh, dead baits over live baits so they can save energy.
The odds of becoming an over slot redfish are at least a million to one. An overslot redfish has figured out not only how to avoid predators and how to conserve energy when finding food. That is why dead baits work so well for catching older, wiser and larger redfish.
The best dead baits for redfish are: a large blue crab cut in half, a butterflied large pinfish with its tail cut off, a chunk of ladyfish, and a chunk of bluefish. The key to catching redfish instead of catfish when dead bait fishing is by using enormous dead baits. You want to use baits at least eight inches
long. Catfish always seem to find the bait first and most catfish can’t eat an eight inch dead bait.
Quite often you will catch your monster redfish and notice catfish slime on your line. This tells you that a catfish found your bait first but was unable to swallow it. If you are catching catfish with your dead baits, then you have to go bigger.
Pro Tip: Make sure to use at least a 5/0 circle hook and just enough weight to keep the bait stationary on the bottom. If you let the tide drag the bait across the bottom the redfish will have trouble finding it. But if you use too much weight the fish will often feel it and let go of the bait before getting hooked.
Circle hooks are much less likely to get swallowed and mortally wounding the fish, unlike a J hook. A J hook will often get swallowed if you are not constantly paying
attention to your line.
When using dead baits for redfish keep the rod in a rod holder. Rod holders are much better at hooking redfish with circle hooks than we are. When the redfish picks up the bait and swims off with it, the hook will lodge right in the corner of the fish’s mouth.
The best tackle for catching enormous redfish with dead baits is a medium heavy seven-foot-six-inch rod coupled with at least a 5000 series reel. Spool your reel with 30-pound braided line and make sure to have at least a 30-pound leader attached to the hook.
You can certainly catch a 40-inch redfish with a smaller rod and reel combo but the fish will be half dead by the time you get it landed. In that weakened state the fish will sometimes fall prey to a nearby dolphin or shark. There is no sense killing a big breeder redfish that you cannot harvest anyway.
Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass
Off Charters, is an inshore fishing guide who has been fishing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass flats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact@fishyourassoff.com or visit fishyourassoff.com.
WATCH
VIDEO
Keith caught this monster redfish with an 8-inch chunk of bluefish along a drop off in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon.
ON THE SHOW FLOOR
INTERVIEWS FROM SURF EXPO SEPTEMBER 2025 SHOW
Nick with Pop Board Co talks about the Pop Up Dock with inflatable chairs and a new 12 foot all inflatable boat!
Chad Yost talks about the latest with GRAPLRZ sunglass retainers with a lifetime warranty. Available in nine colors.
Check out some epic collections of original fish artwork stickers by Slappafish!
Steve with WAIHANA goes over high end neoprene products for spearfishing and the outdoors.
Four of Tennessee’s Best State Park Fisheries
When it comes to freshwater fishing, Tennessee has an embarrassment of riches. From massive rivers and reservoirs to small ponds and high-elevation trout streams, the state is home to incredible fishing opportunities. Tennessee State Parks are excellent base camps for on-the-water adventures. They offer amenities for lodging or camping, and many of them are right on the water, with unparalleled access to some of the best fisheries in the nation.
Here are a few great Tennessee State Park fishing destinations:
• ROAN MOUNTAIN STATE PARK: Fed from elevations of around 6,000 feet, the Doe River runs clear and cold through the center of Roan Mountain State Park. Its tributaries are home to healthy year-round populations of native brook trout and both wild and stocked rainbows and browns.
The 2,000-acre park is dominated by hardwood forests and rugged ridgelines. It is a beautiful place to be, whether you’re casting flies or just camping and going for a hike.
• HARRISON BAY STATE PARK: Just outside of Chattanooga, Harrison Bay is a 1,200-acre park with 40 miles of shoreline on Chickamauga Lake. If you’re a bass angler, you know “The Chick’s” reputation as a big-bass factory. It is ranked among the best largemouth fisheries in the world.
The massive reservoir is also a great fishery for smallmouth bass, striped bass, crappie, walleye and big Tennessee River catfish.
• ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK: North of McMinnville, Rock Island is an 883-acre state park on the headwaters of Center Hill Lake, where the Caney Fork, Collins and Rocky rivers meet. These rivers and the lake itself are some of the best fisheries in this part of the world for “The Fish of 10,000 casts.” If the mighty muskellunge is on your hit list, this is a good place to chase one.
The park is also a fantastic place to catch walleye when the rivers fill up with spawning walleye in early spring. There’s plenty of bank space to fish from, and it’s a great area for kayaks, canoes and boats.
• NORRIS DAM STATE PARK: A short drive from Knoxville, Norris Dam State Park is 4,000 acres on Norris Lake. The lake is renowned for excellent smallmouth bass fishing as well as good fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, striped bass and walleye.
If that isn’t enough get you excited, the Clinch River downstream of Norris Dam is one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in the Southeast.
These four Tennessee State Parks are just the tip of the iceberg. With fishing as a primary draw to more than 40 state parks in the volunteer state, you’ll need to do some research to plan your next adventure. For information, visit tnstateparks.com.
October Tides:
Tricks, Transitions & A Little Rule-Breaking
October might just be the perfect month to be on the water. The blazing heat of summer has faded, boat traffic thins, and the marsh comes alive with shrimp, finfish, and the “big three” — trout, redfish, and flounder — all fattening up for the season. For anglers, that means opportunity.
This time of year, I like to keep things simple but intentional. Soft plastics in the 3.25-inch range are my bread and butter. I lean toward paddle tails because I can cover water quickly and the vibration draws strikes from aggressive fall fish. Durability matters too, because when the action gets fast, the last thing you want is to burn time swapping out torn lures. Rigging depends on cover and depth — sometimes weedless, sometimes a jig head — but either way, adapt to the structure in front of you.
Outgoing tides are my favorite. They concentrate bait and predators alike into smaller, target-rich areas. Look for drains, bayou mouths, bends, and reef cuts. Even island points can funnel current and stack fish. Once you’ve found the spots, presentation
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
is everything. Reds often respond to a steady retrieve, trout like a twitch-twitch pause, and flounder react best to a lure darting along the bottom, stirring up a little commotion. Of course, no fish reads the manual — sometimes the “wrong” retrieve produces the right bite.
Which brings me to one of the best lessons I’ve learned: sometimes you’ve got to break your own rules. On a recent quarter-moon tide, I worked a shallow grass flat with two rods rigged identically except for lure color. One was white with a limetreuse tail, the other pumpkinseed with green glitter. Early on, the reds were all over the pumpkinseed, inhaling it on a fast, steady retrieve just under the surface. But when I noticed trout feeding nearby, I switched things up. Instead of swimming the bait, I bounced it hard off the bottom, fast twitches with short pauses. Suddenly, the trout lit up, and they showed a clear preference for the white limetreuse.
That day drove home an important point: don’t get stuck on what’s working. Change the speed, change the color, change the action — sometimes even when the bite is good, it can get better. Covering the same water with different retrieves or presentations lets you unlock what different species want, even when they’re feeding in the same spot.
So, as October cools the air and the marsh fills with life, keep your tackle simple but your approach flexible. Target those pinch points on a falling tide, let the fish tell you what retrieve they want, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The fish are hungry, the weather is kinder, and it’s the perfect time to grab a kid, a paddle tail, and make some memories.
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
Smooth Sailing
Dometic DG3 Delivers World-Class Experience Aboard Custom Catamaran
For many months now, Dometic’s DG3 Gyroscopic Stabilizer has proved itself aboard a boat that doesn’t really “fit the mold” for boats running a single gyro. In fact, this custom 35-foot aluminum Razorhead catamaran doesn’t even look like most boats you’ll see fishing, diving and cruising around the waters of Key West, Florida.
Park Shark—named for her aggressive looks and the fact she runs regular day trips from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park—was conceived by Capt. Robert Trosset and custom builder Razorhead Boats of Iberia, Louisiana. Trosset, owner of Finz Dive Center & Tackle, needed a boat with interior cabin space for six passengers and crew, plenty of creature comforts, all the latest technology, and the ability to make regular 140-mile roundtrip runs in all kinds of weather. He also needed to have rack storage for 28 SCUBA tanks, plenty of aft deck area and a bow landing ramp for exiting the vessel to explore the island and historical Fort Jefferson.
Park Shark’s stats are impressive: Thirtyfive feet long with a 12-foot beam, powered by quad Suzuki DF300 V6 outboards and weighing in at 23,000 pounds. Still, she can top 60mph at WOT and cruise efficiently at 37mph, making it possible to shoot out to the Dry Tortugas, make several different dives, spend some time exploring the fort, and still make it home for dinner. A single Dometic DG3 Gyro mounted at deck level and positioned above the boat’s massive starboard sponson is a big part of this boat’s performance and comfort.
Dometic’s DG3 won an NMMA Innovation Award at the 2025 Miami Boat Show, in part, for the many ways it defied the “rules” for gyro performance and efficiency. By reaching full RPMs in only 16.5 minutes (versus 50 minutes), generating some of its own electrical power to slash overall energy
consumption by 40%, eliminating hydraulics in favor of proprietary Inverted Roller Screw design for true dynamic control of the precession, and spinning down in less than 20 minutes rather than eight hours, Dometic overcame many of the potential obstacles to installing and using a gyro aboard a boat like Park Shark.
Trosset has been impressed with the results. “The DG3 has been most beneficial at rest in a beam sea because it gets rid of the
boat, and it’s ready to go by the time we get out of the channel. I keep it running all the time because there is no downside. The system is so energy efficient that I never had an issue using it all day without the engines running. I run the gyro, A/C, and refrigerators all day long, and never have any issues. My customers love it when it’s 100 degrees outside and we’re out on deck having ice cream.”
Park Shark has no generator—all onboard power is provided by Dometic’s Lithium-
‘snap roll’ action associated with having two hulls. It’s a whole different ballgame out there when we’re drifting or anchored in a beam sea. It makes a huge difference for our customers, many of whom come from around the globe to experience our world-class diving.”
“While I’m running, the DG3 helps us land flat when coming off the waves. This makes the ride softer, more comfortable, and more efficient,” added Trosset. “I turn on the DG3 right when we arrive at the
Ion battery bank, inverter and DC-to-DC charging system. And these power needs are considerable—as this boat features a wealth of additional Dometic technology including a Voyager 18,000BTU A/C system and two NRX-S 60 refrigerator/freezers. The full suite of Raymarine electronics includes three 16” and two 12” MFDs, a Quantum 4’ Open Array Radar and a FLIR M300C Camera system, all integrated with Dometic Digital Switching and controlled through the MFD displays.
To learn more about the new DG3 for boats from 35 to 41 feet, visit www.dometic.com.
Cast Away in Grayson County, VA: A Fishing Paradise in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Grayson County, Virginia, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts—and for anglers, it’s nothing short of paradise. With pristine rivers, clear mountain streams, and serene lakes, Grayson offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the Southeast.
At the top of the list is the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world and a top-tier destination for smallmouth bass fishing. Flowing through the scenic valleys of Grayson County, the New River’s cool, clean waters are also home to musky, walleye, catfish, and panfish. Whether you’re fly fishing from the banks, casting from a kayak, or joining a local guide service for a float trip, the New River promises an unforgettable fishing experience.
Just a short drive from the river is Grayson Highlands State Park, where mountain streams like Wilson Creek and Big Wilson Creek provide excellent trout fishing. These high-elevation streams are stocked with rainbow, brook, and brown trout and offer peaceful surroundings for those seeking a more remote and tranquil experience. Fly anglers will especially appreciate the challenge and reward of landing a native brook trout in these cold, clear waters.
For those who enjoy lake fishing, Rural Retreat Lake and nearby Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area offer wellmaintained facilities, family-friendly fishing, and regular stocking. These spots are ideal for beginners and seasoned anglers alike.
Grayson County is not just about great fishing—it’s about the whole experience. Surrounded by breathtaking views, charming small towns, and a welcoming community, it’s the perfect destination for a fishing trip that balances adventure with relaxation. Whether you’re after a trophy catch or just want to enjoy a quiet day by the water, Grayson County invites you to cast a line and discover the natural beauty of Southwest Virginia.
By Rich Ortiz
Rockin’ Bass In The Adirondacks a dirondacks,
NEWYORK • a skcadnorid , KROYWEN • BUCKET LIST 2025
By the time I was 12 years old, I knew and fished at least two dozen bass waters, most of them from a canoe with my pop. Usually there were no boat ramps, no houses and seldom another fisherman. That’s the beauty of the Adirondack region of Upstate New York. There’s tons of water and lots of fish.
Often when the Adirondacks (ADKs) are mentioned in fishing circles, pristine secluded trout rivers or brook trout ponds come to mind. Our secret is that the ADKs have countless bass fishing options, as well, with any kind of water you could think of.
Three renowned waters within my 30-minute fishing radius are perfect examples of the great bass fishing in our area. Lake George, Lake Champlain and Saratoga Lake provide varied and endless opportunities for both largemouth and smallmouth action, with a spectrum of habitats that could keep any bass enthusiast occupied for a lifetime. Additionally, if it’s a secluded canoe/kayak adventure you’re after, I dare say the ADKs have more backwoods bass waters on public land than any state I can think of. These woods are the same natural forests they were in 1885, when they were deemed untouchable thanks to Teddy Roosevelt.
Imagine fishing secluded, crystal-clear waters with green mountains as a backdrop, moderate temperatures and a relaxing breeze. Since the founding of our country, these waters have provided sanctuary from the heat and congestion of the growing East Coast industrial cities. Summer retreats to the ADKs to fish
and hunt were the norm, and coupling these outdoor activities with attractions like Saratoga horse racing or a Lake George steamboat ride created traditions of the American summer vacation.
Today, if you are serious about bass fishing, yet want to include family on the vacation, the Saratoga/Lake George area is the spot. I feel qualified to endorse the attractions, since when I am not fishing or hunting, I’m performing music at many of the area’s top resorts and restaurants. Though my profession as a traveling musician has allowed me to fish all over North America, my heart is still at home fishing the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park.
Let’s start with Lake George, which is a large deep-water lake that is the ultimate finesse bass water. This beautiful 32-mile-long glacially carved lake has rock shorelines and is speckled with islands that provide endless bass structure. Lake George has AAA reservoir water quality and is crystal clear. Light 6- to 8-pound fluorocarbon line is a must while drop-shotting 30- to 50-foot rocky bottoms for big numbers of smallmouth and some nice 4-pound-plus fish. When drop-shotting I prefer natural presentation baits like the Smelt Nemesis Berkley gulp. The lake temperature remains cool all year, and shaky-head worm presentations or small bass jigs will score a mix of largemouth and smallmouth in ultra-clear 20- to 40-foot depths.
This is a great training ground for teaching your family or friends to fish. Shore fishing is a bonus, and many others and I make trophy catches all year from shore. I rely on my Costa
sunglasses on this lake as much as my Lowrance Sonar. It’s so clear that I can watch strikes in 20 feet of water. I keep three pairs of Costas on board. I prefer yellow lenses for sunrise, low light and cloudy days. These lenses work wonders sighting fish and contrasting bottom structure. I use blue mirror on bright days and amber green mirror lenses for most other situations on the lake.
Just to the north of Lake George, Lake Champlain offers everything a fisherman can imagine. Many experts rank Champlain among the top fisheries in the country for largemouth and smallmouth bass. You can fish just about any presentation in this vast lake, which combines natural and man-made structure like sunken ships, submerged train tracks and dock cribbings. My fishing concentrates on the southern end of the lake, where the water is usually very stained. Vast water chestnut beds yield many 5-pound-plus largemouth bass. Heavy abrasion-resistant line is a must; I prefer fluorocarbon or braid, depending on presentation. I normally punch the weeds with 1or 2-ounce tungsten and big 10-inch Power Bait or Yum worms. Dark colors work best. Topwater and flipping are also go-to tactics, with countless backwaters providing breathtaking views and heart-pounding hook sets.
To the south, Saratoga Lake is much smaller than George or Champlain. It is slightly stained and can be highly pressured but still provides large numbers of largemouth in the 3- to 5-pound range. Dense concentrations of cabbage and mixed milfoil create great opportunities for tossing plastics and jigs on the edges of long weed lines. Saratoga Lake’s close proximity to the City of Saratoga Springs makes it an ideal morning or evening getaway for those visiting during track season, which lasts through Labor Day. While the tourist season winds down, the fish really turn on, which make for some magical days in fall.
a
dirondacks, NEWYORK • a skcadnorid , KROYWEN • BUCKET LIST 2025
The big lakes are great, but to me the gems of this area are the smaller lakes and ponds I learned to fish on. The unique chance to toss a lure to unpressured fish on public waters is a reality. The Adirondack Park features countless opportunities perfect for canoe and kayak fishing. With today’s lightweight watercraft, you can be alone with 2- to 5-pound bass after just a half-mile hike to numerous ponds and lakes. Many canoe
and kayak waters are also roadside or within a state park. New York does a wonderful job providing trailhead access and parking areas for anglers with car-top boats. Research access at www.dec.ny.gov.
The amount of good bass water in the Saratoga/Lake George is staggering. With its proximity to so many metropolitan centers, a short drive up I-87 can have you setting hooks on some beastly bass in no time.
Tennessee’s Mountain Playground
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FLORIDA’S FRESHWATER ODD-BALLS
By CAM Staff
With warm, nutrient-rich waters, south Florida’s system of freshwater lakes and canals makes perfect habitat for exotic species from all over the world. Regardless of how populations of these weird and sporting fish arrived, they are there to stay. Anglers might as well enjoy them.
Darcie Arahill, aka “Darcizzle Offshore,” (pictured on opposite page), knows her way around these canal systems. She has a particular enthusiasm for Delray Beach, Fla.’s Lake Ida, which is a small water body in an extensive system along Florida’s southern Atlantic coast. She enjoys the excellent bass fishing, but perhaps more appealing are the exotics that happen to be fantastic gamefish. The following odd-balls are some of Darcie’s favorites from a fishery unlike any other.
Sunshine Bass: These hard-fighting fish are produced and stocked by the state to control shad populations. They are a hybrid cross between striped bass and white bass without the capability to reproduce. State agencies across the country stock their versions of sunshine bass, and regional variations are called hybrids, wipers, whiterock and palmetto bass.
Sunshine bass offer the fight and some of the size of a striped bass, while displaying the aggressive feeding behavior and warm-water tolerance of white bass. Although the current
strain being produced might not be capable of achieving the size of the more than 16-pound state record, Darcie said they catch plenty of 5 to 6 pounders.
Sunshine bass will take artificials like bucktails and swimbaits, but Darcie said you’re better off fishing live American shad or shiners on a Carolina rig.
Clown Knife Fish: Lake Ida, its northern sister Lake Osborne, and their canals are the only places in North America where anglers can pursue clown knife fish. These aquarium escapees have become a desired gamefish for those in the know. They are a flat, silvery fish with a snake-like tail. They can swim powerfully either forward or backward, which produces a unique fight.
Darcie said these natives to tropical Asia jump like tarpon, and they have been recorded up to 10 pounds in Florida. A clown knife fish might eat a swimbait, but Darcie said live shad or shiners are your best bet.
Peacock Bass: A native to the Amazon River Basin, the butterfly peacock bass has driven many a grand adventure to South America. These gorgeous fish were introduced to Florida by the FWC in the 1980s to control invasive forage species. Anglers are glad to have them.
Sensitivity to cool water keeps peacock bass in check. They thrive only in southeast Florida and grow to their largest size in the canals around Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where they’ve been documented up to 12 pounds.
“They’re very aggressive, and they’re a beautiful fish to catch,” said Darcie. “They fight twice as hard as a largemouth.”
Butterfly peacocks make it as far north as West Palm Beach, but cold snaps knock them back every few winters. They will hammer topwater baits and moving baits.
Check out Darcie’s YouTube channel @DarcizzleOffshore.
SPEND LESS TIME ON TASKS More Time Fishing
It’s no fish tale when you run with a John Deere. You can get everything done faster and easier, so you get more time on the water. Plus, our special offers make them the catch of the day.
OSCEOLA OUTBACK ADVENTURES: A UNIQUE FISHING EXPERIENCE IN FLORIDA
If you’re an avid angler seeking a one-of-a-kind fishing adventure, look no further than Osceola Outback Adventures. Located in Central Florida, just 45 minutes from the Orlando airport, Disney, and other attractions, this full-time guide service offers some of the Sunshine State’s most unique fishing experiences.
Barramundi Fishing: “Fish The Pit”
At Osceola Outback, you can embark on an unforgettable barramundi fishing expedition. What makes this experience truly special? Well, Osceola Outback is the first and only Barramundi guide service in North America. Native to Australia and weighing as much as 100 pounds, barramundi are hard-hitting, drag-screaming fighters that love to leap out of the water to display their power. The property is a working farm, ensuring that no angler goes home without hooking up multiple times. It’s a rare opportunity to catch these impressive fish!
Bowfishing: Targeting Non-Game Fish
Florida is a go-to state for bowfishing, thanks to its warm climate and abundant “non-game” fish. Osceola Outback offers both daytime and nighttime bowfishing trips. You’ll have the chance to shoot tilapia, gar, bowfin, and catfish in the state’s extensive network of lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Airboat Bass Fishing: Explore Uncharted Waters
For an adrenaline-pumping experience, try airboat bass
fishing. Osceola Outback’s custom-built airboats are equipped with 8-foot Blade Power-poles, trolling motors, and full walkaround fishing decks. With seating for three anglers and 500-horsepower motors, these boats can take you to places you’ve never explored before. It’s common for two anglers to land 60+ bass in a single 4-hour trip. Keep an eye out for alligators, wading birds, and birds of prey!
Bass Fishing on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
Known worldwide for huge stringers of largemouth bass, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes offers fantastic fishing opportunities. Osceola Outback provides fully rigged bass boats, and their captains are United States Coast Guard certified and licensed. You can choose between fishing with artificial lures or locally caught live wild shiners.
The International Inshore Slam
Here’s something truly unique: Osceola Outback is the only place in the world where anglers can land an International Inshore Slam. This prestigious achievement consists of catching barramundi, peacock bass, and largemouth bass all in one location. With barramundi native to Australia and weighing up to 100 pounds, this is an angler’s dream come true.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, Osceola Outback Adventures promises unforgettable fishing experiences. So grab your gear, cast your line, and get ready for an adventure like no other!
By Chris Batin
t’s easy to understand why anglers delight in preparing for an Alaska fishing expedition. Some of the thrill is the anticipation, in getting gear and tackle ready, the big reels, 12-ounce and larger jigs, and huge circle hooks that have been honed to hypodermicgrade sharpness. It’s ensuring the cooler is properly marked with your name and address to transport the fillets you’ll be taking home, and most importantly, the arm curls and circuit training you’re doing.
The workouts are necessary, and it’s easy to see why.
Alaska saltwater fishing is not for the weak of arm or back. Halibut get big in Alaska, with fish reaching weights of 400 pounds, and lengths of 9 feet long. Even the 100-pounders you’re most likely to catch can slug it out through 300 feet of pump-and-lift jabs, and rocket back to the bottom to start all over again for round two. There’s no giving up, no taking a breather for more than a few seconds. Once you are engaged, you fight to your limit. Your arm will get numb at times, your hand pulses with fatigue, and your back quivers in spasmodic tension, but the smile frozen on your face says it all.
This is saltwater fishing as good as it gets. While I enjoy slugging it out with halibut, I also enjoy a dukefest with Alaska’s other saltwater species. Lingcod get to 60-plus pounds, and usually attack the rockfish I’m reeling up. With their sharp rows of teeth and sinister look, these water wolves of the deep are among the tastiest fish to catch, as well as forage they feed on; the 4to 20-pound rockfish of various
species, which are among the best-tasting fish in the north country.
But many anglers will want to jig for the five species of Pacific salmon: kings to 70 pounds, coho salmon to 20, and 4- to 8-pound pink salmon. While they might be the smallest of the Pacific salmon, ocean-bright pinks can max out an 8-weight fly rod. Best of all, odd-numbered
years see the return of millions of fish, when creeks and rivers burst at the seams with their numbers. In Valdez alone, as many as 11 million salmon have returned in past years. Anglers delight in catching them along the shoreline near the Solomon Gulch hatchery.
There are many places to use as a base camp to start your excursion. At the end of
the Richardson Highway, Tim Bouchard of Valdez Outfitters likes fishing for big halibut on the outer rim of Prince William Sound, where it meets the abysmal Gulf of Alaska and its continental shelf drop-off to 14,000 feet. Worry not, Bouchard fishes hotspots like Montague Island, where the big fish feed in the shallow 60- to 120-foot depths. He guided his client to catch the 2016 Valdez Halibut Derby winner last year with a 270-pound fish.
For a taste of home-cooking mixed with a professional fishing lodge, Petersburg Sportfishing offers prime fishing on the Inside Passage in the seldom-fished waters near Petersburg. Anglers can opt for boat rentals for do-ityourself fishing or guided saltwater fishing for salmon, halibut, rockfish and lingcod. This family-run business offers not only fishing, but a variety of adventures and tips on enjoying the many fishing and area glacier attractions, as well as prime bear viewing and some fabulous cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing.
Of course, Kodiak Island offers superb deep-sea fishing, bordering the Aleutian trench. Huge halibut migrate from waters bordering these drop-offs and into the shallower food-rich shorelines of Kodiak and Afognak islands. While most fish range from 30 to 100 pounds, fish to 300 pounds and heavier have been caught off Kodiak. Fish this size measure 8 feet in length. Kodiak anglers fish shallow water, from 60 to 180 feet. King salmon fishing
is among the best in Alaska saltwater and runs best from April through early mid July. The best thing about fishing Kodiak is short travel time. The best hotspots are often accessed in less than an hour, which offers more time for fishing. Also, because of the remote location of the lodge, there is little if any sportfishing competition.
In Prince William Sound, Alaska Wilderness Outfitters offers a floating cabin for do-it-yourselfers who know how to catch salmon, halibut, rockfish and lingcod in nearby waters. Each of the four, fully equipped wannigans includes a full kitchen, crab traps boats and motors and directions on where the fishing is best. They’ll transport you to the cabins from Cordova, to one of several bays protected from big-water weather. They also offered guided options in some of the most salmon-rich waters of south-central Alaska. Co-owner Katie Prijatel said guests clean and pack their catch in coolers. Alaska Wilderness Outfitters flies in daily to pick up the fish and drop off more ice. Then the fish is vacuum packed, boxed and frozen for the trip home.
Chris Batin has fished the waters of Alaska for more than 40 years, and has authored many books and comprehensive guides to help anglers navigate their Alaskan adventures and catch more fish. Find them on Amazon.
COOLERS
, the leader in high-performance soft-sided coolers, is hitting the water this year with new, upgraded fishing products. Our fishing team partners told us what they needed, and we listened!
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, our 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. We started selling our soft-sided coolers to the hard-core, go-fast boaters and fishermen in Lake Havasu. We aimed to keep ice in our coolers for up to 24 hours in 120-degree Havasu heat. That goal was accomplished 30 years ago, and we’re still at it.
We know our customers; they fish and boat in the summer and ride the dunes or trails in the winter. AO products give those 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!
We’re looking for active, adventurous folks that demand quality and performance from their gear. Share your adventure and send us your fish story or photo.
If you love the outdoors and dream of being in business for yourself—but not by yourself, now is the perfect time to make a change and choose a Coastal Angler or The Angler Magazine Franchise. We have freshwater and saltwater territories available throughout the country and abroad. Ask one of our specialists about franchise availability in your area.
Come Join Our Team!
With a combined national readership of over a million per month and distribution to over 11,000 businesses in four regions, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine are the preferred resources for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Our brand is well known throughout the fishing world, and our free monthly magazines are recognized as well-designed, thoughtful publications that provide newsworthy and entertaining information pertinent to the marine and fishing industries.
Be in Business For Yourself...But Not By Yourself.
An exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling business opportunity, as a co-publisher of your area’s Coastal Angler or The Angler Magazine, you’ll enjoy the benefits of controlling your own time and future. Our proven franchise publishing system enables individuals with no prior publishing experience to publish a credible and profitable localized version of our award winning magazine. We provide complete training and on-going support to ensure your success.
