FishTalk Magazine August 2025 by SpinSheet Publishing Company

Bull Reds in the Bullseye

Delaware

Pontoon Express | 302-945-0654 22572 Harbeson Rd, Harbeson, DE pontoonexpress.com

North Bay Marina Inc | 302-436-4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com

Maryland

Annapolis Inflatables/Fawcett Boat Supplies 410-267-8681 | 919 Bay Ridge Rd, Annapolis, MD annapolisinflatables.net

Scott’s Cove Marina | 410-784-7624 10551 Eldon Willing Rd, Chance, MD scottscovemarina.com

Hidden Harbour Marina | 301-261-9200 600 Cabana Blvd, Deale, MD hiddenharbour.net

Intercoastal Marine of MD | 410-335-0458

2925 Eastern Blvd, Middle River, MD intercoastalmarinemd.com

Maryland Boat Sales | 410-574-3988 2426 Holly Neck Rd, Essex, MD mdboatsales.com

Middle River Landing Marina | 410-686-0771 1901 Old Eastern Ave, Essex, MD chesapeakemarine.net

Powersports of Crofton | 410-697-5965 7045 State Route 3 North, Gambrils, MD hondaofcrofton.com

Danny’s Marine LLC | 410-228-0234 3559 Chateau Dr, E. New Market, MD dannysmarine.com

PYY Marine | 410-255-1771 1132 Pasadena Yacht Yard Rd, Pasadena, MD pyymarine.com

Thornes Marine | 410-957-4481 1237 Greenbackville Rd, Stockton, MD thornesmarine.com

Virginia

Sandpiper Marine | 757-787-7783 21530 Taylor Rd, Accomac, VA 23301 sandpipermarine.net

Centerville Waterway Marina | 757.547.4498

100 N Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA centervillemarina.com

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804-453-3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Friday’s Marine | 804-758-4131

(Malise Marine Sales & Service) 14879 GW Memorial Hwy, Saluda, VA facebook.com/fridaysmarine

Legasea Marine | 757-898-3000

821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

platform that takes outboard engineering to the edge—and back. Learn more at YamahaOutboards.com/XTO.

DELAWARE

Rudy Marine | 302.945.2254 32606 DuPont Blvd, Dagsboro, DE rudymarine.com

DELAWARE

Cedar Creek Marina | 302.422.2040 100 Marina Lane, Milford, DE cedarcreekmarina.com

MARYLAND

Beacon Light Marina | 410.335.6489 825 Bowleys Quarters Rd, Baltimore, MD beaconlightmarina.com

Annapolis Inflatables/Fawcett Boat Supplies

410.267.8681

Ventnor

MARYLAND

8070 Ventnor Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122 ventnormarinamd.com

Cedar Creek Marina | 302.422.2040 100 Marina Lane, Milford, DE cedarcreekmarina .com

North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com

Rt 113 Boat Sales | 302.436.1737 52 Cemetary Rd, Selbyville, DE rt113boatsales.net

North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com

Rt 113 Boat Sales | 302.436.1737 52 Cemetary Rd, Selbyville, DE rt113boatsales.net

MARYLAND

Rt 113 Boat Sales | 302.436.1737 52 Cemetary Rd, Selbyville, DE rt113boatsales.net

MARYLAND

Fairwinds Marina | 410.216.0205 1000 Fairwinds Dr, Annapolis, MD 21409 fairwindsmarina.com

MARYLAND

Tri-State Marine | 410.562.6247 7320 Edgewood Rd, Annapolis, MD tristatemarine.com

Fairwinds Marina | 410.216.0205 1000 Fairwinds Dr, Annapolis, MD 21409 fairwindsmarina.com

919 Bay Ridge Rd, Annapolis, MD annapolisinflatables.net

Annapolis Boat Sales, LLC | 410.604.6962 1629 Postal Rd, Chester, MD annapolisboatsales.com

410.267.8681 919 Bay Ridge Rd, Annapolis, MD annapolisinflatables.net

Tri-State Marine | 410.867.1447 5861 Deale Churchton Rd, Deale, MD tristatemarine.com

Beacon Light Marina | 410.335.6489 825 Bowleys Quarters Rd, Baltimore, MD beaconlightmarina.com

Jim’s Marine, Inc. | 410.648.5106 96 East Cross St, Galena, MD jims-marine.com

Annapolis Boat Sales, LLC | 410.604.6962 1629 Postal Rd, Chester, MD annapolisboatsales.com

Bosun’s Maryland | 410.286.1350 411 Winchester Creek Rd, Grasonville, MD bosuns.com/about-us-maryland

Annapolis Boat Sales, LLC | 410.604.6962 1629 Postal Rd, Chester, MD annapolisboatsales.com

Tri-State Marine | 410.867.1447 5861 Deale Churchton Rd, Deale, MD tristatemarine.com

Hudson Marine | 410.643.6768 219 Hess Rd, Grasonville, MD 21638 hudsonmarinellc.com

Anchor Boats, Inc. | 410.287.8280 448 N Mauldin Ave, North East, MD anchorboat.com

Haven Harbour Marina | 410.778.6697 20880 Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661 havenharbour.com

Campbell’s Boatyards - Jack’s Point

VIRGINIA

410.226.5105

anchorboat.com Campbell’s Boatyards - Jack’s Point | 410.226.5105

106 Richardson St, PO Box 410, Oxford, MD campbellsboatyards.com

campbellsboatyards.com

Oyster Cove Boatworks | 804.824.9904 5195 G Washington Mem Hwy, Gloucester, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

VIRGINIA

Norfolk Marine | 757.461.3391 5221 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA norfolkmarine.com

VIRGINIA

Centerville Waterway Marina | 757.547.4498

100 N Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA centervillemarina.com

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Tri-State Marine | 410.867.1447 5861 Deale Churchton Rd, Deale, MD tristatemarine.com

Jim’s Marine, Inc. | 410.648.5106 96 East Cross St, Galena, MD jims-marine.com

Rudy Marine | 443.995.3785 3033 Kent Narrows Way S, Grasonville, MD rudymarine.com

legaseamarine.com

Oyster Cove Boatworks | 804.824.9904 27 Campbell Dr, Topping, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

Annapolis Inflatables/Fawcett Boat Supplies 410.267.8681 919 Bay Ridge Rd, Annapolis, MD annapolisinflatables.net

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Tri-State Marine | 410.562.6247 7320 Edgewood Rd, Annapolis, MD tristatemarine.com

North Point Yacht Sales | 410.280.2038 7330 Edgewood Rd, Ste 1, Annapolis, MD northpointyachtsales.com

Jim’s Marine, Inc. | 410.648.5106 96 East Cross St, Galena, MD jims-marine.com

Anchor Boats, Inc. | 410.287.8280 448 N Mauldin Ave, North East, MD anchorboat.com

Bosun’s Maryland | 410.286.1350 411 Winchester Creek Rd, Grasonville, MD bosuns.com/about-us-maryland

Campbell’s Boatyards - Jack’s Point | 410.226.5105 106 Richardson St, PO Box 410, Oxford, MD campbellsboatyards.com

Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

Oyster Cove Boatworks | 757.716.1819 1305 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025

Join us in 2025 as we celebrate our continued commitment to making a splash in cancer care for our community.

Fish For A Cure (F4AC) is a fishing and fundraising competition that benefits cancer patients and their families in our community. Over the last 18 years, F4AC has raised more than $6.5 million to support the Cancer Survivorship program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. The 19th Annual Fish For A Cure Tournament, Paul C. Dettor Captain’s Challenge, and Shore Party will be taking place on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Safe Harbor Annapolis, our tournament home. For more information and to register, visit us at www.fishforacure.org.

Running of the Bulls

There’s a good chance your PB redfish is swimming around in the Chesapeake at this very moment.

By Lots of Fishy Folks

Five Must-Have Freshwater Lures for Beginners

Make sure these top picks are in your tacklebox before you head for the pond, lake, or river.

By Staff

The Bailing Battle

There was a time when catching mahi-mahi bailing at the lobster pot balls was a gimmie. Those days are over.

By Lenny Rudow

Unknown Bottoms off Rappahannock Spit

Waters off the mouth of the Rappahannock River offer a variety of wrecks and obstructions.

By Wayne Young

Bass’n & Burn’n All Day Long

Bassing during the dog days of summer may be tough, but you can still get a bend in that rod.

By Staff

TMI for Doing a TMI

Trolling motor installation meets engineer brain. By Mack Speed Walt

Radical bass shot by cool visual magician Dave Inscore.

Expert Local Fishing Knowledge & Advice

ANGLER IN CHIEF

Lenny Rudow, lenny@fishtalkmag.com

PUBLISHER

Mary Iliff Ewenson, mary@fishtalkmag.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Chris Charbonneau, chris@fishtalkmag.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Winans, molly@fishtalkmag.com

SENIOR EDITORS

Beth Crabtree, beth@fishtalkmag.com

Kaylie Jasinski, kaylie@fishtalkmag.com

COPY EDITOR

Lucy Iliff, lucy@fishtalkmag.com

FISHING REPORTS EDITOR

Dillon Waters

ADVERTISING SALES

Eric Richardson, eric@fishtalkmag.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

Brooke King, brooke@fishtalkmag.com

DISTRIBUTION / BROKERAGE / CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER

Beatrice M. Mackenzie, beatrice@fishtalkmag.com

ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER

Zach Ditmars, zach@fishtalkmag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Royal Snyder, royal@fishtalkmag.com

COASTAL CORRESPONDENT

John Unkart

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Adam Greenberg, Jim Gronaw, Chuck Harrison, Capt. Monty Hawkins, Eric Packard, David Rudow, Wayne Young

DISTRIBUTION

Keith Basiliko, Martin and Betty Casey, Jennifer and Al Diederichs, Gregory and Dorothy Greenwell, Dave Harlock

Rudow’s FishTalk is a monthly magazine for and about Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic anglers. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the officers of Rudow’s FishTalk LLC. Rudow’s FishTalk LLC accepts no responsibility for discrepancies in advertisements.

Rudow’s FishTalk is available by first class subscription for $45 a year, and back issues are available for $4 each. Mail payment to Rudow’s FishTalk Subscriptions, 612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD, 21403.

Rudow’s FishTalk is distributed free of charge at more than 850 establishments along the shores of the Chesapeake and the DelMarVa Peninsula. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute Rudow’s FishTalk should contact the Rudow’s FishTalk office, (410) 216-9309 or beatrice@fishtalkmag.com.

Rudow’s FishTalk Recycles

1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents

2. Accidents can happen to anyone

With comprehensive coverage, you’ll also be protected nancially for theft, vandalism, and unexpected events like storms if you need repairs or replacements due to damage.

3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments

When accidents happen, boat insurance offers liability coverage for damages or injuries you cause while boating, up to speci ed limits. It can also cover lawsuit costs if you’re sued.

Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you’re in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and af liates. Product features are subject to policy terms and conditions and may not be available in all states or for all vehicles and coverage selections.

*No. 1 rating based on boat market share data from Rate lings.com.

**Sign & Glide® is an optional coverage you can add to any Progressive Boat policy and costs $30/annually ($50/annually in Florida). Prices are subject to change.

ve things you should know about boat insurance

Are you ready to embark on your next on-water adventure? Before you set sail, here are ve things to know about boat insurance.

4. Most lenders require boat insurance

If you nanced your boat, you’ll likely need boat insurance since most lenders require boat insurance to protect their investment. Additionally, some marinas or municipalities require proof of insurance for docking.

5. Progressive offers specialized boat coverages

Ever worry about getting stuck on the water?

Progressive’s Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage** can help. It’s an additional coverage that steps in if your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, paying for on-water towing, jump starts, soft ungroundings, and fuel delivery. Fuel cost isn’t included.

Don’t let unforeseen circumstances disrupt your voyage. Cruise with con dence thanks to Progressive Boat insurance. Because when it comes to your boat, peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.

Scan to get a quote in as little as 4 minutes.

Go to progressive.com to learn more.

Outside the Box

By Lenny Rudow

FishTalk’s intrepid Production Director, Kayak Sharpie, and all-around Tech Wiz Zach

Ditmars has a chronic angling issue: he changes lures about every five casts. Perhaps a reflection of an ADD affliction (SQUIRREL!), I’ve seen him catch a fish, take it off the hook, then cut the lure off and tie on something completely different.

To my angling brain this is just bizarre. But, is this behavior nuts or simply outside of the box? Often while he’s making a switch I can’t resist tossing out some sort of snide comment, like “Oh, it makes sense to tie on a shallow diver when you just caught a fish down deep on a jigging spoon,” or simply “Are you nuts?!” But a while back while fishing in the Smith Island Fishing Tournament, I watched as his disjointed and sometimes incoherent (to me) tactics kicked butt.

We were fishing in a gut on Smith Island, where a ripping outgoing current swung around a shoreline dropping from wet mud to eight feet of depth in just a few feet. We had taken just a cast or two when someone looked over the side and noticed that the water was peppered with May worms, rushing by in the flow. Then someone spotted a big swirl. Four anglers cast at it madly, to no avail. Then we saw another swirl. And another. After trying several different lures depression began to set in. These fish were 1000 percent focused on the May worms, period, and no matter what we offered up it wouldn’t tempt them.

I sat staring at my assortment of lures wondering what I should try next, when I heard the sound of line being drawn tight against rod guides followed

by the sound of drag. Then, I heard the sound of Zach giggling. My head came snapping around. He was hooked up and it looked to be a nice fish. As he swung a 25” rockfish over the side I looked to see what size, color, and type of lure he had tied on… and my jaw hit the deck.

Counter to conventional wisdom he had rigged up a popping cork. Yes, a popping cork, in eight feet of water with the nearest weedbeds miles away. There was two feet of leader beneath it, capped off by a weighted swimbait hook. Yes, a swimbait hook. On the hook there was a two-inch strip of red Fishbites bloodworm, pierced near the end, slid up the shank, and then doubled-back through the point.

Zach released the fish and immediately hooked another. Contributor Eric

Packard, also aboard for the tournament, started scrambling to make up an identical rig. Minutes later he had a rockfish on the line, too.

Thus, the Zach Rig was born.

We’re a long way off from the next May worm season, but in May of 2026 you can bet I’ll have a popping cork, weighted swimbait hooks, and Fishbites bloodworms aboard the boat.

I strongly suggest that you do, too. And if you spot fish swirling on May worms and the Zach Rig starts catching, for gosh sakes, don’t cut it off to try something else. SQUIRREL!

# The “Zach Rig”consists of a Fishbites blood worm strip on a weedless swimbait jig under a popping cork.

Dear FishTalk, Idecided to change things up this month— lucky you!

There once was a fish named cod, whose life ended at the tip of a rod. He gave a good fight with all of his might, but a cooler awaited the poor sod. -Anonymous

Dear FishTalk,

Settle an argument between me and my boyfriend: can fish hear music, and does it spook them?

- Violet T., via email

Dear Violet, Fish are surprisingly good at hearing and sensing vibrations thanks to both internal ears and their lateral line, so we have no doubt that they can hear music at some ranges and volumes. We have no clue if it spooks them, but we’re pretty sure that at a low volume playing mellow tunes like Salmon and Garfunkle couldn’t hurt. (Take that, Anonymous!)

Dear FishTalk,

In the July edition it mentioned trolling swimming plugs from a kayak for Spanish mackerel and blues. What are your top recommendations for some specific plugs that work well for this?

Dear Pete, Sure, no problem. Some top favorites include:

• A half-ounce silver/blue Rat-L-Trap

• The four-inch Rapala X-Rap Saltwater Silver (S)

Send your fish photos, questions, and comments to lenny@fishtalkmag.com

-Pete B., via email

• The Shimano World Minnow Flash Boost in Black/Silver, Pink Smelt, or Wintergreen THE BIGGER

Meet our biggest and best saltwater trolling motor yet. Riptide Instinct™ QUEST™ has a treasure trove of features for chasing trophy fish: shaft lengths up to 100”, Auto Stow/Deploy and all the power you need for offshore fishing. FREE REIN TO FISH FEARLESSLY IN SALTWATER minnkotamotors.com/Instinct

FISH NEWS

Changes for Bluefin

If the bluefin tuna return to our coastline this winter, it will be under a very different harvest scenario for anglers. Due to an alleged overage in 2024, during which the Large Pelagic Survey (LPS) assessed a 175-percent increase in landings of school-sized bluefin as compared to the seven-year average, NOAA has announced cutting retention limits to one fish between 27 and 47 inches for private vessels fishing under a Highly Migratory Species Angling Category permit. Charter and head boats will be allowed to keep two fish in the same slot. No retention of fish 47 to 73 inches will be allowed. The American Sportfishing Association is calling for a review of the LPS results, citing a lack of evidence from angler reports and the fact that for 15 of the past 16 years anglers have been in compliance with the Angling Category subquota.

Crabby About Crabs

By Lenny Rudow

The Chesapeake Bay winter blue crab survey results are in, and they are not awesome. The cooperative effort between the Maryland DNR and Virginia Institute of Marine Science estimates a blue crab population of 238 million—the second lowest in the history of the survey. The numbers of mature male, mature female, and juvenile crabs all declined, with male abundance dropping almost by half from 46 million to 26 million. Ouch.

Kudos to Kimbro

Maryland’s Sport Fishing Advisory Committee has named angler Shawn Kimbro as the recipient of the 2025 Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award. Kimbro is known for writing about Chesapeake Bay fishing techniques and ethics in books and articles, as well as for his podcasts and videos. “Shawn exemplifies the effort and dedication to Maryland fisheries that the award was founded on,” said committee chair Scott Lenox, “and he is a deserving recipient.”

Fallfish Fracas

Remember how the Virginia record for fallfish was set in 2021, then 2022, and then again in 2024? Well, you guessed it—there’s a new record yet again for 2025. But this time, there’s a twist: the angler who set the record back in 2021 is the one who caught it, so he’s now the record holder for a second time. Angler Jerry Hall caught a three pound, 13.9-ounce fallfish this spring while fishing in the Jackson River. Hall, known as “Push-Button Slayer” since he fishes with a Zebco push-button reel, said the first time he set the record was an accident, but this time he was actually targeting it.

# If your bushel baskets seem a little lighter this year, it probably isn’t your fault.

# Those big winter bluefin are off the table for 2025.

TOURNAMENT NEWS

Guide’s Tournament Wrap-up

This June a new and unique tournament took place on the Bay: 20 boats each captained by a professional fishing guide competed in the inaugural Maryland Light Tackle Fishing Guides tournament, hosted by Capt. Tom Weaver and presented by Visit Annapolis. Only boats with guides competed, and as one might suspect, the competition was quite stiff. Congrats go to all the winners, and thanks to Skippers Pier for a fun awards party. Awards were custom-framed photos by Jay Fleming, and the perpetual trophy awarded to Capt. Eric Goodrich of Stella Charters was handcrafted by CCA MD. Longest striped bass was a 29.75-incher caught by Tim Elliott/Stella Charters; longest stringer of 85.75 inches also went to Stella Charters; longest striped bass by a female angler hit 29.5 inches for iFishMD; longest striped bass youth angler was a 22-incher aboard Griffin’s Guide Service; longest striped bass on fly was a 23.25-incher, also with Griffin’s Guide Service; and a Slam of rockfish and speckled trout went to Hookset Guide Service.

# Stella Charters set the pace for the first-ever Maryland Light Tackle Fishing Guides tournament.

Bills for Charity

August 20 through 23 the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament hits the water, and while this event produces some very large paydays for the anglers, it also generates funds for Achievable Dreams, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and The Billfish Foundation. Since its inception donations have topped $1.5 million. Anglers pocketed $837,000 in winnings in 2024 with 70 teams participating, and 139 billfish caught and released. This is an invite-only event; visit vbbt.com if you’d like to request adding your team to the waiting list.

Large Mouths Yakking

The Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association (TKAA) Largemouth Bass C-P-R tournament runs all month, from 12 a.m. August 1 through 12 a.m. September 1. It’s open to anglers fishing anywhere in the state of Virginia that’s public access (no private lakes or ponds) and entry costs a mere $30. Visit the TKAA at tkaa.org to learn more.

The Big One

Ocean City, MD, will be swarming with boats and anglers August 4 through 8 as the world’s largest billfish tournament, the White Marlin Open, comes to town. This year marks the 52nd for the event, which at this point has generated over $113,500,000 in prize money. Last year’s top prize hit an eye-popping $3.7 million and a total of $8.59 million in winnings, with 318 boats and over 3000 anglers participating. Get the full scoop or register online at whitemarlinopen.com

MidAtlantic Mayhem

Many of those big sportfishers won’t be leaving town after the White Marlin Open concludes, because shortly after that the MidAtlantic kicks off. With fishing from August 17 through 22, this also-epic event generated a top prize of $1.4 million and a total purse of $5.75 million last year, with 198 boats participating. Find out all the details at themidatlantic.com

HOT NEW GEAR

Editor’s Note: We wish we could personally test every item that appears on these pages, but that simply isn’t possible. So that you know the difference between when we’ve physically tested a piece of gear and when we’re writing about it because it’s newsworthy and we think you’ll want to know about it, we’ve developed this FishTalk Tested button. When you see it printed next to something in this section, it means we’ve personally run it through the wringer.

Eye in the Sky

You say you wish you could lay eyes on your treasured fishing boat every second of the day? Remote monitoring systems that allow you to take a peek at your boat via sensors and an app on your phone deliver the next best thing, but they’re pricy. At least, most are when you compare them to the Skyhawk Oversea monitoring system. And unlike some boat monitoring systems this one runs on internal batteries rather than sapping your boats’ power supply. Plus, Oversea utilizes the latest in low power-draw tech so those batteries last for years rather than months. There are sensors for geofencing, location monitoring, battery status, bilge pump activity, temperature, high bilge water, entry, shore power, and motion, all of which can send you an alert if anything’s amiss on Mom’s Mink

FishTalk’s own Eric Richardson installed a Skyhawk Oversea system on his boat, and he says it provides some serious peace of mind especially since his boat lives on a mooring and is tough to check up on. “It’s easy to see where the boat is and what’s going on in it,” he says. “I know when the bilge is pumping and I can always see that the solar battery charger is doing its thing. In fact, I can tell the difference between night, when voltage drops a bit, and day, when the charger brings it up to 14.8 volts. If it were to drop below 12.3 volts, an alarm on my phone would go off. That means I don’t have to worry about going to my boat, discovering a dead battery, and having to cancel a trip.”

He also noted the easy installation, which was as simple as scanning the QR code on the back of each sensor and then adding it in the app. “Once I figured it out I had the whole system installed and set up in a couple of hours,” he says, “and there’s a

real feeling of security in being able to check up on the boat at any time.”

Pricing: starts at $299, subscriptions start at $9.99 a month. Visit oversea.boats to learn more.

10" 13" 16" 22" 24"

You got new charts! Explore the ocean with vibrant terrain & depth shading, using all-new TZ MAPS. Don’t just take our word for it. See for yourself. Scan here, and we’ll show you!

Yo, Yo!

Looking for a B-I-G twitchbait that will tempt those monster reds and hungry cobia into biting? The Yo-Zuri 3D Inshore Twitchbait R1349 spans five-and-a-quarter inches and weighs an ounce and three-quarters, and we found it casts a country mile even when tied off on relatively heavy gear. It also boasts a 3D prism finish and interior hologram sheet to maximize those flashes as it darts and swims, plus it has a rattle in the head to add some noise and vibrations into the fish-attracting mix. This is a slow sinker and the R1349 swims at two to three feet when retrieved at a slowly twitched pace, or just under the surface when retrieved rapidly. There are 26 color patterns available. Price: $11.99. Visit yo-zuri.com if you feel the itch to twitch.

Tune in Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 6 p.m. for a new episode!

Presented by

New episodes air on the first Thursday of the month on our Facebook page (facebook.com/fishtalkmag) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/fishtalkmagazine). View past episodes at fishtalkmag.com/live-with-lenny

Scan this code to follow us on Facebook and YouTube or sign up to get notified about upcoming LIVE video streams via email at fishtalkmag.com/live-with-lenny

Here, Hold My… Rod

You wish your boat’s rodholders allowed you to swivel and pump as you battled with those monster bluefin and bigeye tuna? WLS Designs, located right here in Chesapeake Country in Oxford, MD, says they have the answer. The Side Gunnel Striker Holder drops into an existing rodholder then locks in place. An integrated swivel allows you to turn vertically as well as horizontally so you can not only follow the fish but also pump the rod. It’s constructed of aluminum, powder-coated on the holder section, fits both straight and bent butt rods, and is rated for 50 pounds of drag but has been tested to 150 percent. Price: $259. Check it out at 353 Custom Tackle in OCMD or call/text (443) 631-2752 for more info.

Slow it Down

Looking for a rod designed specifically for the slow pitch? It’s time to check out Okuma’s Tesoro Slow Pitch rods, which come in both spinning and casting versions. They’re built on 24/30-ton carbon blanks with reinforced multidirectional fiber, with medium-light and medium action. Spiral-wrapped guides are stainlesssteel with Zirconium inserts and reel seats are Fuji. All of the Tesoro Slow Pitch rods are 6’8”, have split rear grips, and line ratings range from 20- to 80-pound test depending on the model. Price: $195.49. Slow Pitch fans, check out okumafishingusa.com

Playing Possum

We’ve seen plenty of lures imitating mice, rats, and ducklings, so why not a possum lure? The CL8Bait Adult Possum Wakebait is an eight-inch metal mammal with a carbon fiber bill that gives it an “ultra-realistic swimming action.” (Possums swim? Who knew?!) Add in the replaceable eight-inch spring-attached tail and you have a 16”, 7.5-ounce lure that creates a great surface disturbance yet can be paused and allowed to rest so it looks like the animal is playing… well, you know. Price: $140. Visit cl8bait.com when you’re ready to visit the Possum Kingdom.

TLucky Number Seven

he Penn Spinfisher has been around for a long, long time, and is now up to iteration number seven. It remains a workhorse spinning reel that comes in multiple versions (standard, Live Liner, and Long Cast models) and prioritizes ruggedness with a full metal body and side-plate. This latest version is also fully sealed to an IPX5 rating, which means it can withstand water jetted at 4.4 psi pressure from any angle. Reel sizes range from 2500 to 10500, putting out from 15 to 50 pounds of max drag. All models feature five ball-bearings plus a roller bearing, have the HT-100 carbon fiber drag system, and a CNC-cut brass main gear. Price: $199.95 to $319.95. Visit pennfishing.com to learn more.

We’ll e-mail you our updated reports every Friday afternoon, just in time for your weekend fishing adventures.

Chill Out

If you want a mini-might of a super cooler Plano has a new offering you might find of interest: the Frost 14. This 14-quart carry-on has inch-thick insulation so it holds ice for extended periods, and features clamp-down dual-stage latches, an air-tight gasketed seal, tie-downs in the handle, and a removable dry basket. Available in Pacific Blue, Inland Green, Storm Gray, and Seafoam colors, this addition to the Frost collection of coolers is the smallest in their lineup (which includes 21- and 32-quart models). Dimensions are 20” x 12” x 14.3”. Price: $169. Visit planooutdoors.com to keep those beverages cool and frosty.

Strumming for Strikes

What’s the problem with dry flies? They get wet. You could sit there huffing and puffing, make 1000 false-casts, or spritz on one of those chemical sprays, but the simple silicon Fly Banjo is a unique and hassle-free solution. It attaches to your vest or belt loop at one end and the other end has a ring. Slide the fly’s hook over the ring then grab the tippet and pull until the Fly Banjo is taut. Then, start strumming. The fast vibrations created by the plucked band shake the fly dry in just a few twangs. Nifty! Price: $9.99. Check out flybanjo.com if you want to go fishing and practice your Bluegrass at the same time.

Maryland

Fairwinds Marina | 410.216.0205 1000 Fairwinds Dr, Annapolis, MD fairwindsmarina.com

PYY Marine | 410.255.1771 1132 Pasadena Yacht Yard Rd, Pasadena, MD pyymarine.com

Richardson Marine | 410.745.9279 9649 New Rd, McDaniel, MD 21647 richardsonsmarinerepair.com

Thornes Marine | 410.957.4481 1237 Greenbackville Rd, Stockton, MD thornesmarine.com

Delaware

North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com

Carlisle’s Marine | 302.389.0100 49 Artisan Dr, Smyrna, DE carlislesmarine.com

Virginia

Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

Ask an Expert

Captain Larry Geipe of Chasing Light Charters

Our expert for August is Captain Larry Geipe of Chasing Light Charters. Since summer has set in, our conversation focuses on catching Spanish mackerel on light tackle.

Q: What’s your favorite gear to use for Spanish mackerel?

A: My favorite mackerel rig starts with a Backyard Custom 6’8” medium fast action MHX saltwater rod. A high retrieval speed spinning reel is critical and I like the PENN Battle III 4000HS, which returns 43” of line per crank. The most important thing with Spanish mackerel is retrieval speed and if your reel doesn’t have a high ratio, it will greatly reduce your chances of success. I spool my reels with 15-pound high visibility braided line and use a threefoot leader of 20-pound Ande mono leader connected to the braid via an FG knot.

Q: What’s your favorite lure?

A: My personal all-time favorite lure is the one-ounce RealImage Jigging Spoon in Chartreuse Shad, fitted with a 1/0 VMC inline hook. There are many great mackerel lures out there, but in my experience, nothing has beaten the RealImage. In general, you can’t go wrong with any metal minnow profile in the one-ounce range.

Q: Do you have any tricks for finding the fish, beyond just looking for birds?

A: When casting for macs, your best friends are schools of smaller snapper bluefish working over rain minnows and other small minnow-sized baits. My theory is that snapper blues appear in larger numbers and help to round up and condense the bait into denser balls. Another possibility is that these small blues create a natural chum slick that the mackerel home in on. Chumming for Spanish mackerel is actually very popular in southern states like Florida, and it stands to reason that more scent in the water will attract more fish. In any case, I have observed that when snapper blues are not present, the bait and macs tend to spread out over a wider area and casting

opportunities may dwindle. When this happens, trollers tend to have better success than light tackle anglers.

Q: Okay, you’re coming up on the hot zone and your clients are getting ready to cast. What do you tell them?

A: If macs have been spotted and are popping up on the surface, I tell my crew to hold their rods at the ready with their fingers on the trigger and to wait. I’ve caught more mackerel waiting to see them than I have blind casting for them. When macs break the surface they are typically not there for long, and if you’re stuck reeling in your last cast, chances are they will vanish before you have time to reset. When you see them break the surface, make your cast to place your lure ahead of them and, as much as possible, going in the same direction they are headed. Allow a two- to threesecond countdown for the lure to sink then rip it back at maximum speed. Think of it like merging onto I-95 during rush hour; you want to join the flow of traffic at a matched speed, and not cut across it at a slow speed. When there’s nothing happening on the surface, it’s time to blind cast and to include working the deeper parts of the water column. One of my favorite techniques is to let the lure completely sink to the bottom and let it sit for a second before cranking it back with a massive sweep of the rod tip. This technique has produced some of my largest Spanish macs.

Q: Are there any common things you see people do when trying to catch Spanish mackerel that you’d advise against?

A: The biggest thing I’d advise against is becoming disappointed if you don’t fill the box with your limit. If your goal is meat for the table, you might be better off trolling.

Q: Hit us with any tip you might have that hasn’t come up already.

A: Spanish mackerel have small boney mouths and are very prone to spitting the hook. I’ve found that the catch ratio is pretty much the same whether I’m using treble hooks or a single hook. However, net hangups and unhooking times are vastly higher when using treble hooks and the last thing you want to be doing when the action is hot is wasting time fumbling around with treble hooks.

Thank you, Captain Larry!

CHESAPEAKE CALENDAR

Through

Mar 31

The Great Chesapeake Invasives Count Help collect important data while competing for great prizes! Log your invasive species catches (northern snakehead, blue catfish, flathead catfish) on iAngler, and FishTalk will present live, monthly prize drawings. Register: ccamd.org

Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Cape Charles, VA.

4-8

52nd Annual White Marlin Open

The world’s largest and richest billfish tournament. In Ocean City, MD.

7 LIVE with Lenny

Join the angler in chief Lenny Rudow at 6pm live on Facebook or YouTube. fishtalkmag.com/live-with-lenny

8-10 Rock Hall Pirates & Wenches Weekend

A town-wide family friendly event in Rock Hall, MD. Rum tasting, shanty sing-a-long, performers, dinghy parade and poker run, live music, activities for kids, and more.

9 150th Anniversary Celebration of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse 6 to 9 p.m. at the Navy Marine Corp Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD. Presented by the US Lighthouse Society and Visit Annapolis. Dinner, guest speakers, live music, wine pull, door prizes, and more. Tickets $150 per person.

AUGUST

9-10

Portsmouth Powerboats at the Park Vintage Regatta

Presented by the Portsmouth Power Boat Association at the Portsmouth City Park boat ramp.

10 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In St. Michaels, MD.

Watermen’s Appreciation Day

A thrilling boat-docking contest, steamed crabs straight from the Bay, live music, family activities, and more unforgettable fun for all. Tickets will be available online and at the door. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

13 Frederick Saltwater Anglers Monthly Meeting

Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Frederick Elks Lodge #682. Optional food starts at 6 and meeting begins at 7. We have a speaker and vendor along with raffle prizes and a 50/50.

16 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Pocomoke, MD.

19th Annual KIF Youth Fishing Derby

At the Romancoke Pier on Kent Island. 8 a.m. registration, 9 to 11 a.m. fishing, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. prizes and refreshments at the Kent Island American Legion #278. Sponsored by the Kent Island Fishermen, Inc. and Kent Island Estates Community Association. Age groups: 3-5, 6-10, and 11-16. Bait provided; bring your rods (limited number of loaner roads available).

CMM Waterside Music Series

7 p.m. at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, MD. Live music by Sam Hunt.

CRAB Cub Poker Pursuit

The CRAB Cup Poker Pursuit allows powerboat skippers to join sailors in a day of fun on the water in support of CRAB while competing for prizes. Shore Party at Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets: crabsailing.org

16 Sassafras River Docking Contest and River Days 10:30 a.m. at the former IJK docks at the north end of Georgetown Yacht Haven, MD. Centered around the docking contest, this event will include dozens of local vendors as well as food trucks, live music, drinks, and more. Serves as a fundraiser for the annual Georgetown Labor Day Fireworks and the local community.

17 Tides and Vibes

3 to 7 p.m. at Baltimore Peninsula’s Port Covington Marina. Theme: Splashdown - cool off with some classic backyard games. An afternoon of free waterfront fun for the whole family. Food, drinks, games, music.

17-22 The MidAtlantic Tournament In Ocean City, MD.

18 Anglers Combos for Kids Event

At Mike’s Beach. Boats needed. Presented by Anglers Sports Center.

21 MSFC Monthly Meeting

7 to 8 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge, MD. Mid-Shore Fishing Club of Maryland.

AUGUST

(continued)

NS Savannah and SS John W. Brown Open House

The SS John W. Brown World War II Liberty Ship will have an open house with its pier mate, the NS Savannah, and will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pier 13 in Baltimore. Tours available on both vessels; learn how to volunteer and support the ships.

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CBMM Charity Boat Auction

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Bid on donated vessels of all shapes and sizes. Every sale directly supports CBMM’s mission.

31 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Crisfield, MD.

SEPTEMBER

4 LIVE with Lenny

Join the angler in chief Lenny Rudow at 6pm live on Facebook or YouTube. fishtalkmag.com/live-with-lenny

6 3rd Annual Oysters Blues and Brews Festival

12 to 7 p.m. at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore. Enjoy oysters and other great seafood from the Chesapeake, sip on a cold beer, shop with local vendors, dance to live music, and enjoy family friendly activities including arts and crafts. CCA Maryland will be on hand with free family and youth fishing opportunities and reef ball building activities.

6 5th Annual Portsmouth Paddle Battle

Participants will compete in SUP, kayak, and canoe categories on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, VA, depending upon age/experience level. Music, good food, drinks, and special events for children, including the Junior Paddle Battle. Proceeds will help The Friends support the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum.

Anglers Combos for Kids Event At port Covington. CCA family fishing. Boats needed. Presented by Anglers Sports Center.

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Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Hoopers Island, MD.

10 Frederick Saltwater Anglers Monthly Meeting

Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Frederick Elks Lodge #682. Optional food starts at 6 and the meeting begins at 7. We have a speaker and vendor along with raffle prizes and a 50/50.

SEPTEMBER

(continued)

Lil‘ Amps Bent Rods 3rd Annual Fishing Tournament

Rods in at 6 a.m. Weigh ins and afterparty at Red Eye’s Dock Bar. Reel in big catches, great prizes, and help support individuals in recovery. Registration: $550 per boat (ends August 30). First place rockfish stringer: $15,000.

13 SS John W. Brown Living History Cruise

“Honoring Those Who Served.” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. aboard the SS John W. Brown World War II Liberty Ship on the Patapsco River. Each six-hour day cruise features: music of the 40s and 50s, period entertainment and historical reenactments, fly-bys (weather permitting) of vintage World War II aircraft, tours of the ship, and more. Tickets: ssjohnwbrown.org

14 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Suicide Bridge, MD.

18 MSFC Monthly Meeting 7 to 8 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge, MD. Mid-Shore Fishing Club of Maryland.

20 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Chincoteague, VA.

21 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Solomons Island, MD.

26-28 7th Annual Tangier Classic

Fishing tournament headquarters: Crisfield American Legion Post #16. Come out for a good cause, support a local family in need, and have a great time doing it!

27 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Havre De Grace, MD.

For links to the websites for these events and more, visit FishTalkMag.com/calendar

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Sponsored by the Kent Island Fishermen, Inc., and the Kent Island Estates Community Association In memory of Jon Bupp & Dave Grapes

8 AM | Registration 9 AM - 11 AM | Fishing

11:30 AM - 1 PM | Prizes & Refreshments at the Kent Island American Legion #278

Bring your own rods. A minimal amount of Loaner rods available. Bait is provided. Wristbands are required for Fishing and Lunch admittance. Prizes: Largest Fish, Smallest Fish, Most Unique Fish, Most Fish Caught in each age group. Must be present to claim prize. No more than one trophy per winning child.

Reader Photos

# Gary tied into a six-pounder in Loch Raven Reservoir.

# Robert was perch fishing in the North East River when this guy showed up to the party.

# Lincoln caught this striper on topwater at Poplar. WTG, Lincoln!

# John jigged up some flounder from the suds of Assateague – rockin’ cool!

# Lauren tied into a 29” blue cat while fishing in the Patuxent. Nice one, Lauren!

# Skip had a great day of flounder fishing out of Chincoteague.

# Becca found a big ‘ol bass on the Flats.

# Now there’s an unusual catch – Corey reeled in a surf cobia!

# Dave of Shark Whisperers took a break from the sharks to catch this awesome redfish.

# Bill tied into a beautiful bull drum while casting from the beach.

# Brandon and Parker found the bulls and cobia cooperative at the CBBT this spring.

# Matthew and Craig departed from the great town of Havre de Grace aboard the Miss Mer Sea, and returned to the dock with dinner.

# A 33” snakehead was minding its own business, swimming around in Pasadena, when Kevin came along and…

# Karolina started off rockfish season with a bang.

# Kate from the American Sportfishing Association made the perfect cast, and reeled up this rockfish.

OF THE MONTH FIS H PIC

# Robert tied into a monster 34.5” dragon while fishing a Mepps in Norman Creek.

# Jonny and Kevin cranked up some hefty golden tiles from 700’ below.

# Tim caught his first fish! Tim caught his first fish!

# Amy battled this brute of a bull in the Lower Bay.

# Hunter started cobia season off in awesome form while casting a Getting Jiggy cobia jig.

# Thomas found a nice tog along the pilings in OCMD.

# John hit the Potomac after work and tied into this beautiful largemouth bass.

# Alden reeled up the blues while fishing near the Target Ship.

# Lucy tied into a rather massive sandbar shark while fishing the Delaware beaches.

# Alex ran down to Virginia Beach and as expected caught the unexpected –a hound fish!

# Christian and Ryan found some stripes just outside the Severn River.

# “Professional Angler” Gil went to Canada, and B-A-M!

# Cooper tied into a surprise sunrise snakehead while catching rockfish in the West River.

# Kevin and his nieces Savy and Emaline snagged a hot dog from the grill, and caught some catfish.

# Rich tempted a perfect slot striper into biting with a live white perch.

Hot New Fishboats

Solace 28 HCS: Mission Control

By Lenny Rudow

FishTalk readers may remember that a few years ago we were utterly blown away by Solace’s entry into the hybrid bay boat market with the 30 HCS. But this model wasn’t just among the techiest and highest-performing hybrids out there, it was also among the biggest. So we were psyched to hear of the launch of their new 28 HCS, giving anglers who demand the latest and the greatest an option that’s a bit smaller and easier to handle.

QUICK FACTS

LOA: 29’6”

Beam: 9’10”

Displacement: 6950 lbs.

Draft: 1’5”

Transom Deadrise: 18 degrees

Fuel Capacity: 205 gal.

Water Capacity: 20 gal.

Max. Power: 700 hp

Like its bigger sibling, the 28 HCS is designed with a variable-degree deadrise twin-stepped hull. It begins with a wavechopping 45-degree entry deadrise and tapers down to 18 degrees at the transom. That establishes a happy medium for inshore anglers concerned about draft (1’5” with the engines up) and stability for casting in the shallows, as well as open water anglers looking to run out when the sea conditions might not be picture perfect.

Construction is uber-techy, with a vacuum-infused carbon fiber and epoxy blend. A fascinating—and advantageous—trait of the 28 HCS is the use of magnets. They’re laminated into the seat bases, and magnets are also integrated into the Sileather upholstered cushions. Dropped in place they stick tight, but when you slide your hand under the cushion and pull up they pop right off. You know all the fumbling and grumbling that goes along with trying to remove a seat cushion so you can easily access the compartment below, on most boats? That’s definitely not an issue here. And it

works so well that Solace also laminates magnets into the gunwales to secure cupholders and accessories.

All the other high-end construction details one might hope to find are present and accounted for. Aluminum gets a PPG Coraflon coating, which improves corrosion resistance and has 20 times better color retention over time as compared to regular powder coat. Wiring is tinned copper with Deutsch waterproof connectors. 316-grade stainless-steel fasteners are chrome-plated. Integrated hard top supports are carbon fiber. The list goes on and on.

On the fishing front the 28 HCS delivers the same level of foresight. The bow converts from seating to a full-sized casting deck with a filler insert, and the transom seat’s seatback flips down to become an aft casting platform. There are 30-gallon fishboxes in the deck, a 30-gallon livewell, fresh and raw water washdowns, eight flush-mount rodholders in the gunwales, six rocket launchers on the hard top and supports, a pair of

Hot New Fishboats

kingfish holders on the top, and three more rodholders on the transom. The real standout feature, however, is tackle stowage. Fold down the back of the aft-facing seat on the back of the leaning post, and there’s room for eight big Planos and a long lure/ rig rack with room for a full spread of lures and then some. The bow-mount trolling motor with lithium-ion battery system and charger, 18’ Gemlux outriggers, twin Power Poles, and a cobia tower are all angling options you’ll want to consider.

The boat is available with twin Yamaha or Mercury outboards in 600-hp and 700hp packages—plan on speeds in excess of 60 mph whichever you opt for—and a joystick and autopilot are considered stock features. Same goes for a Garmin 8616 in the helm along with a 500-watt transducer with sideVu and ClearVu. Oh,

and there’s a 1400-watt JL audio system with six speakers, two subwoofers, and a pair of amps. And an onboard engine flush system, RGB underwater lights, an articulating bow ladder, a through-stem anchor with windlass, a sink inside the head compartment, a ski tow pylon on the hard top, and just for good measure engine cowl lighting. Whew!

The 30 HCS blew us away, and the 28 is more of the best of the best, just in a slightly smaller package. If you drive a Lamborghini, wear Canali, and eat Wagyu beef, your sea trial awaits you.

Area Dealers

North Point Yacht Sales, Annapolis, MD (410) 280-2038 and Gloucester Point, VA, (804) 885-4090, or northpointyachtsales.com

Robalo R160: The Reel Deal

IT’S BACK! The Robalo R160 was, for many years, this builder’s smallest offering and one of the few 16’ center console fishing boats on the market which was fully finished and had many of the features and fittings found on bigger boats—but without the bigger boat price tag. Robalo discontinued the model years ago, but now they’ve brought the R160 back and it’s even better than before.

You still want those bigger boat features? Of course you do! How about a real pipework-framed leaning post,

instead of a flip-back cooler seat? How about rodholders and cup holders made of stainless-steel instead of plastic? How about top-shelf Envision mildew, stain, UV-resistant silicon upholstery instead of vinyl? Oh, and how about a poured ceramic transom coring backing up the Kevlar-reinforced hull, the same build technique Robalo uses for larger models, which then gets backed up by a limited lifetime hull warranty? And on top of all that they throw in a single-axel aluminum trailer with a folding tongue jack.

Along with a newer nicer leaning post with a 36-quart cooler underneath, this latest iteration of the R160 also has a different console, which adds six vertical rodracks along the sides of the forward console seat. Flip that seat up, and there’s a 12-gallon livewell underneath. The swim platform is larger, too, as is the integrated 24-gallon fuel tank.

Some additional angling highlights can be found in the transom, which houses a pair of flip-up jump seats on the sides and stowage underneath including a five-gallon bucket compartment. Flip the seats down, and they provide aft elevated casting positions. Open up the bowdeck hatch (note that it stays open, too, thanks to friction hinges) and you’ll find a 16.5-gallon fishbox that drains overboard.

The R160 comes with a 70-hp Yamaha F70 standard, and can be upgraded to an F90. The 70-horse option has plenty of pep for a boat of this size, with a cruise in the mid-20s and a top-end in the upper 30s. This is an ubereconomical rig, too, and when cruising at the most efficient 4000 rpm (which produces speeds in the low 20s) gets better than eight mpg. Up the ante to

# You want a monster forward casting deck? You’ve got it.

QUICK FACTS

LOA: 16’4”

Beam: 7’0”

Displacement: 1600 lbs.

Draft (hull): 1’0”

Transom Deadrise: 15 degrees

Fuel Capacity: 24 gal.

Max. Power: 90 hp

the 90-hp powerplant and cruise jumps up to around 30 mph while top-end gets slightly north of 40 mph. Efficiency is still impressive, with best cruise clocking in at 4000 rpm, speeds in the upper 20s, and over seven mpg.

We need to remember that on any 16-footer performance will be affected quite a bit by the load of passengers and gear, but any way you cut it this is pretty

# The R16 has plenty of big-boat-like features, but in a small boat package.

darn magnificent performance for a boat in this class. The level of construction is similarly impressive. As is the outfitting. As is the fishing focus. You know what else is? The price. Much as we’d love to print hard numbers here on the pages of FishTalk we simply can’t. First because they can change so erratically that by the time you pick this up and read it the number we printed may well be wrong, and second because of price

variations due to optional features and rigging. That said, the fully outfitted boat-motor-trailer price is below that of the average new car. In this day and age that’s exceptionally rare. And we’re exceptionally psyched the R160 is back.

Area Dealers

Anchor Boats, North East MD, (800) 773-2628 or anchorboat.com

Cat Ride, Classic Style

Rush Wave: What a Rush

There’s not much room for mounting rodholders and forget about a fishbox, but if you’re looking for a miniature marine machine that will get you from Point A to Point B, this electric “go kart boat” will get you there. Maybe. Watch the videos on their website and the woman driving this thing looks as scared as a bull minnow in the grip of a blue crab. The manufacturer says it will break 30 mph, the battery lasts up to an hour, and it is “ideal for outdoor and indoor use.” Okaaaaay… Price: $5999. Visit rush-wave.com if you’d like to scare the bejesus out of the fish and quite likely yourself.

Running of the Bulls

By Lots of Fishy Folks

There’s a good chance your PB redfish is swimming around in the Chesapeake at this very moment.

Monstrous. Ginormous. Hugemungous. When it comes to hunting for the redfish of a lifetime, nowhere is your shot better than late summer on Chesapeake Bay.

We’ve covered targeting big bull reds more than once in FishTalk, and a survey of past articles reveals an interesting twist in that coverage: the intel has come from several different captains and sharpies, based in both Maryland and Virginia. And naturally, everyone has their own take on things. To celebrate the return of redfish this year we decided to bring you an amalgamation of some of the highlights these different perspectives provide.

The Where

The number one clue which leads me to giant bull reds is finding the biggest bluefish in an area. Stripers, blues, and Spanish mackerel will often be demolishing bay anchovies in late summer, and where you find the biggest blues is often where you find the biggest redfish. Typically they’ll be in 20’ or more of water, and I’ve had my best luck from Flag Harbor across to Taylors Island, up to Sharps Island and Breezy Point.

– Capt. Pete Dahlberg

I catch most of these fish within 100’ of one of the CBBT islands, primarily the first and second islands. Look for places where the rocks are different, where the island curves in or curves out. Often big reds will hold close to the rocks in these locations.

– Hampton Correspondent Chuck Harrison

The most important thing for me is Humminbird Mega Side Imaging. The big schools of red drum in the middle Chesapeake are like roaming buffalo, and you need to cover a lot of water while scanning for them. We will effectively cover over 100 miles looking for them on many trips.

– Capt. Steve Griffin

The How

These fish will almost always eat but they move fast, so getting your lure down to them before they’re gone is key. You won’t find a jig less than 1.5 ounces on our boats for redfish and on windy days we’ll even throw a four-ounce G-Eye.

– Steve G.

Once a school of fish breaking on bait is located I’ll position upwind and up current, cut the motor, and gently drift towards the breaking fish. I love using BKDs for reds, but if bluefish are thick I’ll use a metal jig like a two- to three-ounce Hard Head Vertical Jig or a Specialized Baits Lil’ Bunker spoon. Bluefish-proof plastics are good to use, too. If I have four anglers on the boat I’ll have two people getting lures low in the water column and two fishing higher in the water column.

– Pete D.

Fly anglers can target big reds with a 10 weight and a sinking line. You can fish the sinking line in the shallows but if you notice activity on your bottom machine you won’t have to switch rods. A large Clouser minnow, in white and tan colors, will work well.

– Contributor Kendall Osbourne

I cast a plastic paddletail jig within several feet of the rocks and let it hit bottom, then begin working it back to the boat, jigging and allowing it to sink back to bottom. When I spot them schooled up swimming near the surface, I cast out in front of the direction the fish are heading in and let it sink down past the school.

– Chuck H.

# Kaylie got her PB bull last summer, while fishing near Kiptopeake.

The Tips

After landing a big redfish replace your leader. The line will be stretched and often nicked up as well. A few feet of leader is a small price to pay for landing another trophy fish.

– Chuck H.

Since red drum often run in schools, keeping multiple lines in the water even after a drum is already on will result in multiple hook-ups. Although it’s a challenge to keep the lines from tangling, good communication and teamwork will pay off. On days with heavy winds, however, less is more to avoid additional chaos.

– Contributor Beth Synowiec

When looking for bull reds around breaking fish, going from one school to another is key. I’ll use binoculars extensively and keep moving until I find them.

– Pete D.

# Kayak anglers have a shot at mega-bulls, too.

Don’t Forget!

Any fish that even comes close to qualifying as a true bull is well outside of the slot limit and must be released, so it’s incumbent upon all of us as responsible anglers to treat these fish with kid gloves. That means it’s ideal to snap off a photo with the fish in the water or lifted momentarily just above it. If you’ll be landing the fish make sure you have an appropriate fish-safe landing net with coated mesh, not knotted nylon, which scrapes slime off the fish thus removing its immune system. Also be sure nothing dry (including hands and towels) touches the fish, for the same reason. Keep your hands away from the fish’s gills and gill plate and instead hold it by the jaw with a pair of fish grips or sturdy gloves, and support it at the anal fin with your other hand. When removing a fish from the water hold your breath. When you realize you need to breathe remember that the fish does, too, and send it gently back over the side.

# Some top offerings from some top anglers (top to bottom): BKDs, Lil’ Bunker spoons, plastic paddletails, and a Clouser minnow.

FIVE MUST-HAVE FRESHWATER LURES

for Beginners

By Staff

Make sure these top picks are in your tacklebox before you head for the pond, lake, or river.

Ask AI how many different airplane models have been built since the Wright brothers took flight, and in under a second it can tell you about 18,000. Ask that computo-brain how many bicycle brands have come into being since 1875 and it unhesitatingly tosses out the figure 2925. But ask it how many different fishing lures have been made and the synthetic synapse is stumped. The best artificial intelligence

can come up with is to say that the number is “vast and constantly evolving.” Indeed. Then try asking it what the five most important must-have fishing lures are for a beginner angler. Again AI begs out, perhaps because it’s finally grown “smart” enough to realize that there’s a lot of contradictory information out there—and it doesn’t have the prerequisite 30-plus years of angling experience to take a stab at formulating a satisfactory answer.

#2 Mepps Aglia Dressed Spinner

The Aglia started the Mepps legend when it was first invented in France in the 1930s. The fact that it’s still in production today, nearly a century later, tells you something—it works. The #2 Aglia is small enough that crappie and trout will pounce on it, but large enough to garner attention from bass and steelhead. After you find out how well it works you’ll probably go out and add a #1, a #3, and a #4 to your collection to target smaller and larger species, too.

Fear not, dear beginner angler. We have that experience and we don’t need to glean the idiocracy of the internets to formulate such a list. And while it may not be perfect in every angler’s eyes, this group of must-have lure choices is entirely defensible. The opinions of others will surely differ somewhat and that’s perfectly valid, but if we were restarting our freshwater fishing lives as beginners tomorrow, these are the first five lures we’d make sure were in the tacklebox.

A Selection of Tube Jigs (and jig heads)

There are a million look-alikes in the world of tube jigs and none necessarily stand out as “best,” but no one can question the effectiveness of a tube on a jighead. Get some two-inchers for panfish like crappie and perch, and three- or four-inchers for bass. Also get a selection of colors and a selection of head sizes so you can cover different depth ranges. Tip: make sure you have red/whites in the mix for crappie, and some dark brown rootbeer patterns for smallmouth.

FIVE MUST-HAVE FRESHWATER LURES

for Beginners

3 4 5

DRiver2Sea Whopper Plopper 75 (white)

We might easily have simply said “topwater plug” instead of singling out the Whopper Plopper, or perhaps have gone with the classic Heddon Spook. However, this specific selection holds one advantage over other topwater plugs: you can work it like a pro from the very first cast, because all you do is retrieve and the lure’s action is automatic. Most other topwaters require some practice to work effectively. Ultimately you’ll probably want to move in that direction, but to enjoy success and build up some quick confidence, the River2Sea Whopper Plopper is a winner.

Plastic Worms

If you’re going to try to catch bass—and you almost certainly will—you’ll need to have some plastic worms on hand. We especially like these for beginner anglers because fishing them “wacky worm” style (sliding your hook right through the middle of the worm) is as simple as it gets. You will, however, have to learn to detect that subtle tap that means a bass has sucked the worm into its mouth. That’s how you know when to set the hook. A variety of colors is nice but most of the time natural brown and pumpkinseed green catch the lion’s share.

Rebel Wee Craw

There is no predator fish living in a creek, stream, or river in the Mid-Atlantic zone that doesn’t love eating crayfish, and just about all of them will smack a Rebel Wee Craw with abandon. Smallmouth, rock bass, sunfish, trout—you name it. Larger versions of the Rebel Crawfish are available and we’d suggest grabbing a few of these, too, for those days when you’re casting in areas that have larger specimens around. But for all-around fish-catching riverine versatility the Wee Craw is awfully tough to beat.

o you have a favorite or two you think belong on this list? Of course! Do you see one or more listed here that you haven’t had much luck with? That wouldn’t be a shocker, either. Remember folks, this is fishing we’re talking about. What works today won’t necessarily work tomorrow and fish do change their minds. If you don’t believe us, just ask AI.

Next month: five must-have fishing lures for saltwater beginners.

For more articles on how to learn to fish, visit fishtalkmag.com/tag/fishing-beginners

The Bailing Battle

By Lenny Rudow

There was a time when catching mahi-mahi bailing at the lobster pot balls was a gimmie. Those days are over.

Mahi-mahi may not enjoy the same status as tunas and marlin, but few things get the offshore adrenaline pumping harder than watching a school of green and blue missiles racing for your bait at warp speed. Once on the hook these fish go absolutely insane, and once in a taco they become terrifically tasty. And there’s no better way to get that visual buzz of watching them eat than to try bailing.

Here’s the rub: back in the late 90s and early 2000s I called bailing “the closest thing to a sure thing in oceanic angling.”

As a general rule when you approached a lobster pot float on the edge of the shelf and tossed out a handful of chunks, 90 percent of the time you’d see those streaks of electrified color come shooting over to feast. And 90 percent of the time those fish wouldn’t hesitate to slurp down a bait or go rocketing after a plug or spoon.

We live in a different age. Back then the vast majority of the boats trolled, trolled, and trolled when they were at the canyons and it was relatively rare to see other boats focus on bailing. But there was a severe drought in the tuna bite sometime just before the Great Recession. The entire fleet might have caught a handful on any given day, and the vast majority of the boats were coming home empty-handed. The marlin

# Bailing for mahi might not be as reliable as it once was, but it’s still often the best way to put meat in the boat on a slow summer day offshore.

bite that summer was only slightly better and again, most of the boats targeting them were skunked. More and more boats and even many of the charters— who had eschewed bailing entirely for as long as they’d been running—started pulling up to the balls.

The next summer the tuna bite wasn’t much better, and this was the same timeframe when deep-dropping for tilefish became popularized. Since then we’ve had some good years and some not so good years of offshore fishing, but no

matter what the bite’s like it’s now rather difficult to fish more than two or three balls before boats have picked over all the others within range. You can bet that someone hit those very same balls within the last day or two, and on a weekend day it’s tough to get out early enough to find any that haven’t already been bailed. The net result? These days it’s common to only find fish at 25 to 50 percent of the floats you pull up to, and rather than attacking with abandon more than half the fish you see show a shocking amount of caution.

Picking Your Battles

Just how cooperative or uncooperative the fish plan to be is outside of your control, but you can tilt the odds a bit when choosing your destination. If you’re planning to bail and any one specific canyon has held a bite that’s become well known, head for a different destination. Let’s say there’s a bigeye bite at the Washington, for example. By 10 a.m. half the boats there will have bored anglers aboard who just want to catch something, and you can bet the balls will be picked over in short order. If you planned to bail all day, hopefully you headed somewhere else.

Better yet is finding balls that are strung out along the edge of the Shelf but aren’t inside one of the submarine canyons. Finding these can be dicey— they’re almost always somewhere along the canyon edges but come and go along the other contours and notches, as commercial boats move their gear around. Don’t fly blind and just hope to find some, but if you locate them while trolling or get word of a set outside of the usual areas it can be a boon. Also note that floats can sometimes be found strung next to offshore wrecks and in areas of live or rocky bottom inshore of the canyons, and these generally get a bit less pressure than those on the edge.

Best of all is spotting a thick patch of weeds, a well-defined weedline, a log, or some other form of flotsam. This will generally be a matter of luck, but when you do spot significant structure floating on the surface be quick to abandon the balls and check it out. And when weeds are spotted look for some sort of anomaly in them; if there’s a chunk of wood, a five-gallon bucket, or some other item mixed in, that’s likely where the fish will be focused.

Battling for Bites

Okay: you’ve found some mahi, but as is often the case these days the fish have already been pounded on and someone else caught the stupid ones before you arrived. Now they’re uber-skittish and you can’t buy a bite. What’s next? There are several tactics you can use to get those nervous nellies eating. For starters, drop leader size and use a smaller hook. A fish that rejects a chunk of butterfish hanging from a 10/0 J-hook tied to 50-pound test will often slurp

# Always carry a couple boxes of squid, and be prepared to fish them whole if the fish need some tempting.

down that same chunk of butterfish if it’s hiding a 6/0 hook tied to 20-pound test. Just make sure it’s a circle hook and don’t give the fish too long to eat, because if a mahi’s teeth rub against that thread it’ll chafe through long before you get the fish up to the boat. Having the fish hooked through the corner of the jaw so it’s biting down on metal is the only way to win this particular battle.

Another thing you can do is offer the fish something a bit more tempting. Having live baits does the trick, so leaving the dock with a couple dozen live spot or mullet in the livewell gives you a serious advantage. The other way to get those fish biting is to toss out a whole squid and let it freefall. As the squid sinks its tentacles wiggle enticingly, and this almost always sends mahi into overdrive. The best presentation is to rig up a Squidly by clipping the tip of a squid’s mantle, running the end of your leader down through it, sliding a small egg sinker over the leader, then tying on your hook. Before going to all that effort, however, it’s worth simply threading a squid onto your hook via the tip of the mantle and tossing it over. Often that’s enough to get the job done. Another effective tactic is to send the fish into a full-blown feeding frenzy so they start attacking anything and every-

thing. One surefire way to do this is to throw a few handfuls of bull minnow over the side. Vigorously bounce a few off the transom to stun them so they swim in circles, and the mahi will go utterly berserk.

Battling for Mega-Mahi

Try bailing for long enough, and sooner or later you’ll see an unusually large one of 20 pounds, 30 pounds, or more. Usually these fish move alone or in pairs, and when there’s a school of chicken dolphin on a pot they’ll be off to the side and slightly away from the main body of fish. These larger specimens will often be even cagier than the others and they rarely eat a sloppily presented fish chunk. When you spot one of these stop what you’re doing, take a breath, and focus. If you kill a bunch of chickens while they’re around the fish will eventually get the message and respond with lockjaw. Instead, prep a special rig for the big beasts. Use the heaviest appropriate rod that you have and up-size the leader to 50-pound test or more. If you have a large live bait, offer it. If not, rig on a whole ballyhoo. Those big fish want a big meal, and those chunks that are bite-sized for chicken dolphin often aren’t enough to seal the deal.

Try letting the ballyhoo freefall while giving it a wiggle here and there and sometimes they’ll inhale it. Other times they’ll swim close but won’t take it. In that case, put the boat into gear and start slow-trolling the ballyhoo in circles around the pot or flotsam. If that doesn’t do the trick there’s one final bait-and-switch style trick you can try: rig up a rod with a fouror five-ounce bright, shiny jigging spoon, flip it out near the fish, and let it freefall for a good 100’. Then rip it back as fast as you can turn the crank. When it gets to about 20’ and you see it flashing its way up, someone else then tosses the whole ballyhoo in and lets it freefall. Though the mahi almost never hit the spoon they do often chase it and get excited. Hopefully excited enough that when they spot the ballyhoo going in the other direction they throw caution into the wind and smack it.

Times and fisheries change, and what was once as close as it gets to a sure thing offshore can leave anglers frustrated and frantic in this day and age. The gimmie is gone. But if you approach bailing with a bit more brainpower and come prepared to make an offer they can’t refuse, it’s still one of the best ways to get that offshore adrenaline pumping.

# Few fish are as gorgeous as a mahi on the line. (Note the remnants of a squidly hanging on the line).

UNKNOWN BOTTOMS OFF RAPPAHANNOCK SPIT

Waters off the mouth of the Rappahannock River offer a variety of wrecks and obstructions.

By Wayne Young

The popular angling venues Windmill Point Reef and the nearby natural reefs were featured in “Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs: Voyages of Rediscovery” (Young, 2020), but the reef story doesn’t stop there. Out there off the spit are some interesting “unknown” bottoms and obstructions and several obstructions that sure look like constructed artificial reefs where none are recorded. Out there too is the “lost” target ship Katahdin, an experimental harbor defense ram dating back to 1893 that was sunk by gunfire and abandoned in 1909. There’s also an interesting uncharted anomaly north of the north end of Rappahannock Shoal Channel.

Starting with the latter, Site 1 on Chart 1, using the Bathymetric Data Viewer (BDV), the anomaly appeared to consist of multiple objects with vertical relief. The feature is about 125’ long and 100’ wide. However, it turned out to be an uncharted depression. The deceptive character of the image is attributed to bathymetry shading according to information received from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) after reporting the anomaly. Ship pilots weren’t aware of anything there either. But logic says something caused the irregular depression; there might be structure in the hole. The sur-

rounding bottom is relatively smooth. So, the feature may attract bait and sportfish and appears large enough to find easily.

Northwest of Buoy G “59” at Site 2 is a 52’ wreck. In 1949 the Steamship Oremar reported striking an object that was later determined to be a wreck. The reported depth was about 34.5’. When the most recent hydrographic survey was performed by a contractor for the National Ocean Survey (NOS) in 2006 the least depth had increased to 52’. The BVD image covering this feature shows rectangularly shaped wreckage about 120’ long and 20’ to 25’ wide oriented southeast-northwest. The image also seems to show the wreckage partially infilled with sediment. There is a deep scour hole on the northeast side. This indicates that currents driven by a combination of flood tides and exposure to strong physical energy from wind-driven waves from the southeast are dominant in this area. The wreckage appears to be listing into the hole. These combined effects are reflected in the increase in least depth as the hull settled into the scour hole. This feature, although relatively deep, offers substantial structure for spring and fall fishing.

Look for a structure cluster west and southwest of Buoy G “57”. Closest to the buoy is a plane wreck (Site 3). Just to the west of the plane is an obstruction (Site 4). Just south of the latter is another wreck (Site 5). The most interesting is the airplane wreck. It is a light aircraft that crashed during a student solo flight. The student was rescued; the plane wasn’t so lucky.

Sites 6 and 7 shown on Chart 1 are by appearance unofficial artificial reefs. Color Shaded Relief images of these reefs are overlaid on Chart 1. Site 6 appears to be bridge sections placed in a semi-circular pattern and mostly covered by sediment. Site 7 appears to be slab and beam forms placed in a line. Perhaps both of these were permitted one-time placements, but neither is within the Virginia Marine

# Chart 1: General location of structure surrounding Rappahannock Spit. Embedded “BAG” Color Shaded Relief screenshots from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer.

Resources Commission’s (VMRC) artificial reef program. An internet search yielded no historical information about either reef. Thus, my characterization of each as a Bay “bandit,” an unpermitted artificial reef. Most likely they’ve been there for decades. Regardless of their derivation, the reefs provide structure to check out when prospecting for sportfish.

Site 8 shows a small anomaly. There’s not much there, but it might hold a fish or two. Moving northwest closer to the east side of Rappahannock Spit, there is an obstruction, Site 9, and Site 10 which is shown as an obstruction, but is recorded as a wreck. Site 11 is Windmill Point Reef. There are several natural formations in the upper northwest corner of the reef site that might qualify as obstructions but for the fact that they are inside the reef boundary. Site 12 is also a small obstruction; the object appears to be some type of framework that resembles lifting gear from a trawler, as seen on multibeam sonar in Image 1.

There is a small 29’ wreck on the west side of Rappahannock Spit at Site 13, along with several additional uncharted small anomalies of similar size nearby. Site 14 is much more interesting. My initial thought was that, because of size, this 35’ charted obstruction might be the lost Kathadin wreck. Gary Gentile, in his extensive writeup book about Virginia shipwrecks, said that the ram wreckage was charted as an obstruction off Rappahannock Spit but gave no coordinates. However, the feature was thoroughly investigated by a hydrographic survey, and determined to be the highly deteriorated wreckage of a barge. The wreckage, described as a large debris pile, rises up to five feet off the bottom.

Site 15, a narrow, elongated feature about 300’ in length, is located off Stingray Point with a least depth of 10’. One could say that it’s off Rappahannock Spit, and it is in a manner of speaking. This feature is most likely the USS Katahdin, although hydrographic survey did not identify what it is.

There are several features south of the spit below the area shown on Chart 1, the most interesting being a small barge wreck of interest nine nautical miles 109 degrees True from Stingray Point at 37’30”39.7 x 76’07”16.0. A 3D color multibeam sonar image shows the wreck intact and upside down. Here’s where digging into Descriptive Reports pays off. Not only is there a more robust image of the feature, but it’s also in higher definition which aids in assessing condition. In this case, zooming in on the image suggests that the sides are heavily covered with marine growth. Using the BDV embedded scale with the “BAG” image of this wreck shows an estimated length of 75’ and width of 20’.

There are other wrecks and obstructions in this westside portion of the main stem. Those most prominent are discussed above along with some for which imagery was available online. These features and the Windmill Point Reef as well as other artificial reefs along the westside provide an exceptionally diverse range of structure to explore and hunt for sportfish. #

As well as being a regular contributor to FishTalk, Wayne Young is the author of multiple books detailing wrecks and fishing reefs in the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and beyond. All are available at Amazon.com, and you can find his Facebook page at “Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs.”

# Image 1: Unidentified obstruction off Rappahannock Spit at Site 12. The feature’s configuration resembles trawl lifting gear. Screenshots from NOS DR 11503 (2006).

# Small intact barge wreck at Site 14. Top Right and Bottom – Screenshots from NOS DR H11505 (2006). Top Right –Screenshot from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer.

Bass’n & Burn’n All Day Long

Bassing during the dog days of summer may be tough, but you can still get a bend in that rod.

By Staff

Welcome to August—the walk from the truck to the water’s edge will have you sweating, it’s a chore to breathe, and if you don’t apply sunscreen liberally you’ll soon look like a piece of overcooked bacon. Even worse, getting those bass to bite has become a whole lot more difficult than it was a month or two ago. How can you ensure your drag will do more burning than your skin? You can’t. That’s just not how fishing works. Follow these tips through the course of a full fishing day, however, and you’ll boost your chances of hooking into a bucketmouth.

Dawn

Pole Position – Let’s start with the obvious: your best shot at getting bites will occur in the very first hour of daylight. The second hour isn’t bad either, but as soon as the sun breaks the horizon and gets higher and higher in the sky your chances of hooking up get lower and lower. This isn’t the time of year to sleep in, it’s the time of year when you need to get up way before sunrise and be ready to cast at the very first hint of daylight. Tactical Maneuver: tie on topwater, and dog-walk, buzz, or pop alongside shoreline laydowns, brushpiles, beaver dams, and similar structure.

9 a.m.

Made in the Shade – Once the sun is up and the daybreak bite is over, it’s time to start looking for shade. Docks, bluffs with shade trees, and anything that casts a shadow on the water is well worth prospecting. Tactical Maneuver: Choose a lure you can skip long distances, like a fluke, plastic worm, or frog. Then don’t just cast to the edge of the shade but instead skip your lure under whatever is creating it and get deep into that cool pocket. This is the go-to maneuver whenever there are docks or overhanging trees.

Summer bassing can be tough, but work at it and you’ll get those bites.

Noon

Search the Depths – During the heat of the day bass will move deep in many bodies of water, to look for a cooler climate. “Deep” is a relative term, and it can mean 10’ in a pond or 30’ in a reservoir. You’ll have to identify their depth with prospecting or electronics, but either way, be prepared to make an offering that gets down to where you find the fish. Tactical Maneuver: If you’re on a boat, locating fish with the meter and jigging a resin spoon can be a midsummer killer. From shore it can be surprisingly effective to simply put a shiner on a hook, weight it down with a split-shot, and cast it out near deepwater structure. Deep-running crankbaits and creature baits you can fish on bottom can work well, too.

4 p.m

Crawl Before You Walk – Ledges and sharp drop-offs where there are major-league depth transitions are a good zone to work during the late afternoons, though you have to recognize that it’s often hard to buy a bite at this time of day during August. But keep on casting, because the later (and cooler) it gets the better your chances of getting a strike. Tactical Maneuver: Working big swimbaits for big bass has become a thing in recent years (see “BIG Swimbaits for Bass” at FishTalkMag.com if you missed the article last month), and these can be run deep to trigger afternoon attacks. Use a weighted hook or jig head of half an ounce or more, and work the lure very, very slowly up and down the drop-offs.

Dusk

Light Up the Action – As evening hits you get another window of opportunity for a shallow water bite, but often it’s a fraction of the action sunup provided. Don’t give up hope—stay out after dark. Yes, we know you’ve fished through every moment of daylight at this point but during the heat of summer bass often bite even better at night than they do during the day. The trick here is often finding lighted areas, like docks or bridges. As is true in many very different aquatic environments, lights draw in bait and bait draws in predators. Cast along the edges of the light-lines where the illumination

fades to blackness, because this is where hungry fish usually lurk as they wait to make an attack. Tactical Maneuvers: Tie on a lure that draws attraction via means other than sight. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, ploppers, plugs with rattles, and other offerings that throw out vibrations will help the bass home in on that lure in the darkness. Also, always remember that the color black can be a killer at night.

# A fluke is an excellent choice when you need to skip lures under docks to work the shade.

Whew! It’s been one heck of a long fishing day. Hopefully, after being up this long you’ve had your fair share of bites. There’s just one problem: that sunrise bite is usually the very best of the day and it’s about to happen all over again. Can you really throw in the towel as the first hint of light hits the horizon? We didn’t think so…

TMI for doing a TMI Trolling motor installation meets engineer brain.

By Mack Speed Walt

While replacing my old, heavily used, 54” shaft 70-lb thrust Minn Kota Power Drive with a new 60” shaft 80-lb thrust Riptide Terrova, I learned quite a bit. Ideally you’ll have a professional do this job. But if you do attempt to replace it yourself here are some challenges and DIY tips—accented with a bit of numeric evidence but absolutely, positively no actual math—that could help.

Challenge #1: On some smaller boats (mine is a Sportsman 17) you might discover that there’s not enough clearance to secure all six bolts to the bow. The solution: a quick release mount provides about two extra inches, which may be (and in my case was) enough additional surface to mount the motor securely on the bow with the clearance necessary to deploy the shaft.

Challenge #2: Attaching a stainless-steel washer and lock nut in a blind access hole (such as through the anchor locker) with your arm fully extended is difficult. Doing so without dropping the nut or washer into an unreachable cavity in the bow is exceptionally difficult. The solution: Use some corrosion-resistant paste (Anti-Seize, Loctite, etc.) on the washer before sliding it over the bolt. That will help it stick in position as you go back in with the lock nut.

Challenge #3: You were working on Challenge #2 and dropped a stainlesssteel nut into an unreachable crevice in the bow of the boat. A magnet will not help, since stainless-steel is non-ferrous. The solution: Before you begin work (and drop anything), place a towel under the work area to block the cavities. Leaving the detailed math out by order of the AIC, there is still only a 37 percent success rate that you can retrieve your dropped nut or washer, but that’s decidedly better than zero chance.

Challenge #4: You followed the above processes but dropped your wrench. The solution: Good news! Most wrenches aren’t non-ferrous, and a 24” flexible magnet pickup tool will easily grab the wrench that landed on your towel, with a 99.5 percent success rate.

Challenge #5: Now you need to replace the 50 amp circuit breaker in your battery compartment with a 60 amp circuit breaker. The danger here is that if you drop your wrench it might land on the battery terminals and create some fireworks. The solution: Place your towel over the battery so the terminals and connections are completely covered. Wait a sec—the American Boat and Yacht Council

(ABYC), which determines the specifics required for NMMA certification, requires all electrically energized parts to be protected by a boot or enclosure. If those terminals and connections aren’t already fully covered and protected, congratulations, you now have another DIY job to tackle when you get done with the trolling motor.

Challenge #6: Keep the heading sensor at least 24” away from batteries, power cables, or large ferrous objects to avoid interference. The solution: Use a compass to check for nearby interference. You can ID the metal(s) causing interference by touching them with a fridge magnet—if it sticks or pulls, the steel is ferromagnetic and may disrupt the sensor.

# With the new trolling motor in place, Walt’s ready for some serious fishing.

Challenge #7: That 22-gauge heading sensor wire sure is small, so soldering it to the 16-gauge inline fuse might be a challenge. The Solution: Hold on there, partner—another ABYC recommendation applies. Soldered connections are subject to breaking when exposed to excessive vibrations, and you can bet that includes a wire connection in the bow of a small boat. You need to either get a 16-to-22-gauge drop-down butt connector, or otherwise give the wire some additional support to protect it from vibrations. Either way, when you’ve made the connection use marinegrade heat shrink tubing to give it some added protection.

Okay: everything worked during the sea trial, and oh, one bonus tip: don’t forget to retrieve the towel from Challenge #3 before you close the hatch. Otherwise in the heat of summer, a strange smell coming from your anchor locker will remind you it’s still in there.

Editor’s Note: Walt, you did an admirable job of conveying the details of this project without a bunch of confusing math—thanks!

# Use a compass and a magnet to identify areas where the heading sensor will or will not be subject to interference.

# A quick-release bracket extends the bow far enough for the additional two bolts.

Simple but Sweet

Check out these easy-to-make recipes, one for anglers who spent the day fishing inshore and another for those who made it out to the offshore grounds.

Offshore

Looking to cap off an excellent fishing trip with a dinner every angler—and everyone else in the family—will love? Try this simple but bangin’ recipe for tuna steaks on the grill.

Ingredients:

• Fresh yellowfin tuna steaks

• 1/2 cup soy sauce

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• Juice of 1/2 a lemon

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 2 tablespoons crushed or minced garlic

• Kosher salt

Mix all the ingredients except for the Kosher salt in a zipper-lock baggie, and let it marinade for 20 to 30 minutes. Set the grill to full blast then drop on the fillets. Cook for just a minute or two per side and leave the meat pink in the middle for best results; sprinkle on a bit of Kosher salt before serving.

Inshore

Speckled trout, rockfish, redfish, you name it. Hey, you can never go wrong with a recipe based on Old Bay and butter, right?!?

Ingredients:

• 1 pound skinned fillets

• 1/4 stick of butter

• 1 heaping tablespoon Old Bay

• 1 teaspoon brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Melt the butter and mix in all the spices. Slather the mix over the fillets and bake at 350 degrees until they’re cooked all the way through. For moister fish bake in a Pyrex pan, and for drier fish bake on a rack over a pan or cookie sheet.

For more great fish dishes type “recipe” in the search box at fishtalkmag.com

# To the plate.

# To the grill.

# From the gaff...

# From the net...

CHESAPEAKE AND

FISHING FORECAST

Gathered from our reports by Dillon Waters

We all know printed fishing reports are generalized, and weeks have passed before the report gets into your hands. For timely, up-to-date reports, visit our website FishTalkMag.com. Current reports will be published every Friday by noon — just in time for your weekend fishing adventures. In the meantime, here’s our monthly prognostication.

Coastal

Will August give us the closeto-home opportunity we had last season with mahi on the bass pots? We don’t know as of yet, but as we go to print these blue and green missiles have certainly made their presence known farther offshore and hopefully they’ll oblige. We also can’t say if we’ll see the same midsummer doldrum in the tuna bite that made yellowfin tough to come by last August, but even if that does happen you can bet the marlin numbers will be decent by now. And inshore both the reef site flounder fishing and the sea bass season got off to great starts, so it’s a good bet there will be plenty of action this month.

Freshwater

With the heat of summer in full swing expect daybreak, dusk, and heavy cloud cover with a drizzle to provide the best opportunities for catching fish in ponds and lakes. Casting to shade helps, too, because those fish are just as desperate to cool off as we are these days. If we get enough rainfall some of the river options may produce as well, though if it all comes at once and turns the water muddy it’s best to wait a few days before casting those lines.

# How will the Spanish mackerel bite be this august? We know Julian is hoping for a hot one.

Way North

The northern river mouths and the lower Susquehanna can be counted on for good summertime catfish fishing, and the past few seasons this has also been a great time to target snakeheads in this zone over grasses and on the Flats. Last season swimbaits were a perennial favorite, catching a mix of snakeheads, largemouth bass, and striped bass. Fishing below the dam should be good, too, though of course it all depends on where the rain falls and just how many of those gates open up.

Fishing Forecast

Upper Bay

No doubt most anglers in the Upper Bay have been waiting for rockfish to reopen, and considering how the early season went there’s a good chance the Patapsco will be the hot zone yet again this summer. That said, remember that the heat takes a serious toll on fish being released; check the DNR’s Striped Bass Fishing Advisory Forecast, and when it’s in the red consider going after different species. White perch should be biting, and we’d expect bottom fishing to be excellent since there was an early push of decent sized spot and croaker this year.

Middle Bay

As we go to print with this month’s edition the redfish action in the Middle Bay hasn’t been as awesome as hoped for, but consider chasing after those bluefish—this year’s crop is significantly larger than the blues we’ve grown used to seeing, and good numbers of fish up to five pounds (with larger fish showing up) have been prowling this zone. Hopefully by the time this edition reaches you Spanish mackerel will have moved into the area as well, and with all the mini-bunker we’ve been seeing this year our fingers are firmly crossed for a better showing than 2024 provided.

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Lower Bay

Cobia have been around ever since the season opened up and should remain a solid target through the month. We expect the blues and mackerel to be thick right about now, too, so grab those binoculars and start searching for birds. In the Lower Bay tribs look for weedbeds in two to eight feet of water, where specks, reds, and rockfish will almost certainly be prowling around. Expect good action early and late but midday lulls when the sun’s shining.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore

This zone is bound to have shallow water species like specks and reds cruising around, but remember that when it gets uber-hot they might not be so shallow. Last season when the water temps spiked it became critical to find slightly deeper structure after the sun rose up in the sky and the morning bite had ended. Or, you might want to shift gears entirely and search for schools of big bull redfish. We can’t swear that action will be as good as last season, but if it is…

Way South

The mid-summer bite is red hot at the mouth of the Bay, and while predicting which bite will be hottest is impossible, we can say one thing for sure: you have options. Lots and lots of options. Sheepshead on the CBBT pilings, bull reds at the islands, blues and mackerel in open water, flounder on the channel edges, cobia following schools of bait, specks and reds in the shallows and the inlets—is fishing the Way South zone during the summer an angler’s dream, or what?

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# Fishing reports editor Dillon Waters hit the docks in his kayak and found this pretty slot fish waiting to bite.

Eyes Wide Open

S even sight-casting tips for kayak anglers.

By David Rudow

There aren’t many experiences on the water as exciting as watching a fish engulf your lure in a few feet of water. As luck would have it for those of us who dream big while captaining small boats, kayaks are the perfect vessel for sight-casting. Let’s look at seven tips that will maximize your success on the water.

1. Slow and Steady Wins the Race -The biggest advantage to being in a kayak is stealth, but if you push through a flat or cove without plenty of patience all you’ll end up seeing is mud clouds and the tail end of a very scared fish. Once you’ve reached the area you want to fish, simply let yourself drift in the breeze or current and make small adjustments with your paddle. If you’re having trouble locating fish pick up your pace. Once you’ve located a productive area, move as slowly as possible. Often the fish will end up swimming right in front of you.

2. Stand up Before you Get to your Spot or Stay SeatedChanging your position vertically is the easiest way to spook a fish while sight-casting, be it a redfish or a snakehead. If you haven’t stood up yet and you see fish, stay seated and make your cast. Sighting fish while seated is doable if you have decent water clarity and a good pair of sunglasses. I know I’d rather fish with a disadvantage, rather than stand up and get treated with mud clouds as spooked fish dart off.

3. Use Short Rods - The amount of fish that you’ll hook within a few feet of the kayak is shocking, and making a very short, precise cast isn’t easy if the fish aren’t much further from you than your rods’ length. My favorite rods for the task are 6’3” and 6’6”. Having around a foot of extra room to work with makes a significant difference, and also makes life easier on a kayak in most situations.

4. Fish Smaller Baits - Sight fishing generally means fishing shallow and using some finesse, unless you’re targeting cobia. Smaller baits that won’t create a big splash and spook fish are essential. When targeting redfish or juvenile rockfish, it’s generally a good move to throw baits in the three- to four-inch range. Straight tails are good choices because they create less of a splash and look more natural while resting, drawing more strikes on the pause. Try topwater, too, because a wellplaced cast with a topwater lure usually won’t scare the fish and will draw some epic boatside eats.

5. Cast Underhand or From the Side - Overhand casts are more likely to spook fish because generally the lure will fly higher in the air and then make a bigger splash-down. In an ideal situation get as close as you comfortably can, and make a soft underhand cast a few feet past and in front of the fish.

6. Follow Spooked Schools - If you spook a school it’s not always the end of the world. Pay attention to what direction they went in, and immediately follow up with a cast. More often than not you can still draw a strike. If you don’t, slowly head in the direction you saw them shoot off in. Many fish will make a quick burst off in one direction, then slow down and continue to feed or start circling back. If you don’t find where they swam off to swing back to where you originally spooked them.

7. Keep the Sun Behind You -This isn’t always possible given the wind, tides, and cloud cover, but do your best to keep the sun at your back. This will give you the best visibility through the water with the least glare. A nice pair of sunglasses is essential. For fishing the Chesapeake, I prefer bronze glasses for the stained water in the northern Bay and blue or green for the clearer, emerald water down south.

# This slot red ate a soft plastic popper a few feet from the boat, in crystal clear water.

Charters, Guides, and Headboats

One of the most difficult ways to learn how to fish the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean is trial and error. Then there’s the boat issue; we don’t all have one. Luckily, the Bay is full of knowledgeable guides and charter captains ready to show you the ropes. Below you will find a directory of professional guides, charter boats, and head boats to get you started on your quest for the perfect fish. Whether you like to fly fish, troll, or bottom fish, there’s likely a local expert who can lend a hand.

BROKERAGE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

POWER

2024 Bayliner M17 Mercury 75 EFI 4S Outboard, Karavan Galvanized Trailer, Impulse Blue, Garmin EchoMap 54CV and Transducer, Bimini Top, Snap-on Cover, Ski Tow Pylon, Cockpit flooring, Jensen Stereo, and more! $29,495 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21103

2020 Bayliner Element E18 Mercury 90hp Outboard, Karavan Trailer, Blue Hull / White Bottom, Cockpit Table, Bimini Top, Cockpit Cover, Ski Tow Bar, Digital Depth Finder, and more! $19,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21229

New 2024 Bayliner T18 115 EFI 4S Mercury Outboard, Single Axle Galvanized Trailer, Black Hull w/ White Bottom, T-Top w/ Rail Mounted Rod Holders, Convenience Package (Stereo Speakers, Stainless Steel Upgrade Package, Hydraulic Steering, Forward Livewell, Trolling Motor Bracket), and more! $32,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20732

2007 Yamaha SX210 Great family boat! Dual Yamaha 110Hp 1052CC engines w/ jet drives, and much more! $21,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com

New 2024 Sportsman Open 212 F150XC Yamaha Outboard, INCLUDES Venture Aluminum Trailer, Explorer Blue w/ White Bottom, Polar White Upholstery, White Powder Coating, Platinum Package is now Standard, Premium Dual Chair Leaning Post w/ Flip-Up Bolsters and Armrests, Standard SeaKeeper Ride System, Standard Garmin GPSMap 1243xsv MFD 12”, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20570

2025 Bayliner T22CC 200 4S Non-DTS (Warm Fusion White) Mercury Outboard - Upgrade, Galvanized Trailer w/ Brakes, Reef Green Hull w/ White Bottom, Coastline Interior - Tan, Stainless Steel Upgrade Package, Interior Lighting Package, Ski-Tow Pylon, Console and Helm Seat Cover, Bow Filler Cushion, CX PackageTransom Bench Seat, Cockpit FlooringTeak Mat, Portable Head, Transom Shower w/ Demand Water System, Simrad 9” GPS Digital Dash w/ Vesselview Mobile Link, Rockford Fosgate Stereo, and more! $78,125 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21013

2025 Bayliner T22SC Mercury 200HP XL 4S Non-DTS Warm Fusion White Outboard, (Trailer Available), Bimini Package (Stainless Steel Upgrade, SB Windshield Wiper, Bimini Top w/Boot, Pop Up Cleats, Dual Battery Switch & Tray), Comfort Package (Portable Head, Transom Shower, Cockpit Table, Bow Block Off w/Bow Filler Cushion), Tech Package (Rockford Fosgate Stereo, Interior and Exterior Lighting, Vessel View Mobile), Ski Tow Pylon, and more! $94,730 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21067

2017 TideWater 230 XLF Yamaha F250 Vmax (253 Hours), 300hr Service was completed 2 years ago and a 100hr Service was completed this spring. Aluminum Tandem Axle Trailer, Garmin GPSMap, Standard Horizon Eclipse VHF, Gull Wings, Sprayshield, Dual Battery and Switch, Underwater Lights, White Bottom Paint, Trim Tabs, Outriggers, JVC Stereo KD-MR1BT, Missing 2 Cushions in Bow and 1 in the Transom, and more! $64,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21230

2025 Bayliner T23 Explorer Mercury 175HP XL V6 DTS Outboard, (Trailer Available), Solid White Hull and Bottom, Hardtop Roof Hatch, Bow Thruster, Premium Pack (Bimini w/ Complete Enclosed Canvas, Real Teak Cockpit Table, Extended Swim Platforms, Fusion Stereo w/4 Speakers, Cockpit Sun Lounge), Cabin Comfort Pack (Enclosed Sea Toilet w/Sink & Portlights, Cabin Curtains, Refrigerator), and more! $99,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21146

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2018 Yamaha 242 Limited S Super clean single owner boat sold by us! 300 Hours and ready to go! $56,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com

2019 Kew West Boats 244CC Yamaha F300UCA Outboard (473 Hours), Load Rite Aluminum Trailer, Garmin 7616 GPS, Uniden VHF Radio, Hardtop, Dual Battery, Portable Head, Raw Water Washdown, Windlass, Trim Tabs, Bottom Paint, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21162

2023 Aquasport 2500 CC – FULLY LOADED! Twin Suzuki 200Hp outboards (130 total hours). 2 Simrad EV03S 12” monitors; bathroom; 2 bait wells; blue tooth stereo; DEKit flooring; seat/helm covers; winter cover; dual axel trailer. $115,000 Call: 202.285.5687. More photos: www.tinyurl.com/AquasportCC

2025 Bayliner T25 Explorer 225 V6 Digital Throttle and Shift, Smartcraft w/ Hydraulic Steering Outboard, (trailer available), Solid White Hull and Bottom, USA Premium Package (Bimini w/Complete Enclosed Canvas, Enclosed Head w/Sea Toilet, Extended Swim Platforms, Hardtop Spreader Light, Shorepower, Trim Tabs, Port & Starboard Wipers w/ Washer, Cockpit Table, Bow Thruster, Fusion Stereo w/6 Speakers, Cockpit L-Lounge, Cockpit Sun Lounge), Cabin Comfort Package, and more! $139,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20921

New 2024 Sportsman Masters 267OE XF450 Yamaha Outboard - White, INCLUDES Venture aluminum trailer, Ice Blue w/ White Bottom, Polar White Upholstery, White Powder Coat, Half-Tower w/ Second Station, Second Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv 12”, On-Board Battery Charging System (2-Bank), ShipsDek Custom Flooring, and more! $179,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20563

2024 Sportsman Open 322 CC Twin Mercury 400Hp V10 Outboards, (Trailer Available), Sea Glass Hull and Bottom, 2 Garmin 1643xsv 16” Screens, Garmin VHF, Garmin GMR 434 xHD3 Open Array, Mercury Joystick, Pump out Head, Sundeck/ Table Cushion, Underwater Lights, Trim Tabs, Windlass, Mooring Cover, and more! $339,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21182

2015 Grady White 330 Express Loaded Express ready to fish offshore or cruise the Chesapeake! Low Hours. $300,000 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com

1990 Nautique 42’ Sportfish Twin economical cat 3208s. 8kw Onan, teak cockpit, transom door, pulpit, queen centerline cabin, double guest cabin, head w/ walk in shower, galley up, custom all-teak interior, hard top on flybridge. Fish the Bay or ocean! Potomac River. $59,000 704.425.4108

SPF Seeking Baltimore Distribution Driver! Help Us Get Our Magazines into Local Hands. SpinSheet, PropTalk, and FishTalk (SPF) are seeking a reliable part-time delivery driver for our Baltimore route. Flexible schedule – one to three days per month. Twenty or so stops per publication with room to grow the route, which equals more pay! Pickup is in Annapolis. Applicants must have valid driver’s license, a dependable vehicle, and the ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Email info@spf-360.com to learn more.

HELP WANTED

The Annapolis Boat Show is Hiring Come work at the event of the year in Annapolis! Flexible schedules and job descriptions from August to October. Can you smile and greet vendors? Can you lift, bend and carry? Can you welcome patrons and answer their questions? Enjoy hourly wages, free entry to the shows, free food and a completion bonus. For additional information and to apply, please visit www.annapolisboatshows.com/job-opportunities or www.annapolisboatshows.com

MARINE SERVICES

TACKLE SHOPS

Alltackle.com 2062 Somerville Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410.571.1111, and 12826 Ocean Gateway #9548, Ocean City, MD 21842, 410.213.2840, alltackle.com

Anglers Sport Center 1456 Whitehall Road, Annapolis, MD 21409, 410.757.3442, anglerssportcenter.com Clyde's Sports Shop 2307 Hammonds Ferry Road, Halethorpe, MD 21227 410.242.6108, clydessportshop.com

Boating

Acquired

Cutter Marina has officially acquired Porter’s Seneca Marina, located at 918 Seneca Park Road in Middle River, MD. The marina will now operate under its new name: Cutter Marina – Seneca Creek. This new addition joins the company’s existing operations on Old Eastern Avenue and Chrismar Lane—bringing their family of marinas to three fullservice locations along the Middle River. Together, these properties now offer more than 250 slips, including space for vessels over 70 feet with floating docks and deep-water access. “This marks more than a change in ownership—it is a continuation of commitment to boaters and the Chesapeake community,” Cutter Marina stated in a press release. “As a family-owned and operated business, we believe marinas should offer more than slips and dock space. They should provide real support, experienced service, and a trusted place to keep you on the water.” With this acquisition, the immediate focus is on continuity and quality. cuttermarina.com

Official Dealer

Legasea Marine in Hampton Roads, VA, announces its appointment as an authorized dealer for Phenom Yachts. This new partnership brings Phenom’s line of performance-driven, luxury vessels to discerning boaters across Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Founded by boating industry veteran Tommy Hancock in 2022, Phenom Yachts is built on four brand pillars: family, fishing, luxury, and performance. The company was established to redefine the center-console experience by blending true yacht-caliber finishes with the ease of use and reliability customers in this segment demand. “Phenom is one of the most exciting new entries in the premium center console category,” said Chris Hall, president and co-founder of Legasea Marine. “Our customers are increasingly looking for that elite combination of performance, craftsmanship, and creature comforts—and Phenom checks all the boxes.” Legasea has multiple new Phenom models on order, which will give customers first-hand access to experience their sophisticated styling and seamless integration of performance fishing tools and family-friendly amenities. Every Phenom yacht features their cutting-edge NexStep stepped hull design and are powered exclusively by Mercury Marine in twin, triple, or quad configurations of the latest Verado outboard technology—ensuring peak performance backed by one of the most trusted names in marine propulsion. As a full-service dealership with factory-trained outboard technicians, full marina facilities, and an established presence in the Lower Chesapeake, Legasea is well positioned to introduce and support Phenom’s models to the region’s boaters. legaseamarine.com

Welcome to the Team

VETUS, creator of complete onboard boat systems, has appointed Arnau Lloansí as international sales manager of maneuvering systems, a key strategic position that underlines the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in this dynamic product category worldwide. Arnau will be responsible for driving global sales of VETUS maneuvering systems, including bow and stern thrusters, control panels, and related accessories. He will also work closely with international partners to provide training, technical support, and tailored solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of boat builders, dealers, and end users. Arnau will continue to be based in Spain while working closely with VETUS headquarters to implement the company’s global strategy for maneuvering system growth. vetus.com

Account Manager

Rightboat.com, the global online marketplace for buying and selling boats, announces the appointment of Jamie Tate as account manager, USA. With an extensive background in the marine industry and a reputation for client-focused service, Jamie brings invaluable experience and insight to Rightboat’s continued growth across North America. She joins the company following several years in yacht brokerage and marine business development. Jamie’s depth of knowledge in both sail and powerboat sectors—combined with a passion for building long-term partnerships—makes her a natural fit for the fast-growing team. “We are thrilled to welcome Jamie to the team,” said Josie Tucci, VP of Marketing and GM USA at Rightboat. “Her industry expertise, client-first mindset, and dedication to innovation will be key assets as we expand our support for brokers, dealers, and manufacturers across the U.S.” In her new role, Jamie will focus on supporting Rightboat’s U.S.-based B2B partners—helping them increase visibility, capture more leads, and streamline their online sales presence. rightboat.com