FishTalk Magazine October 2025 by SpinSheet Publishing Company

Time for a Sword Fight!

Pooles Island Primer

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

With the Formula 387 Center Console Fish , your best days are finally here! Now celebrating 70 years, the 387 CCF is the ultimate angling machine, offering flexibility and equipment options that are new to the Center Console world. The 38 '7 " Formula with a 12 ' beam can be powered by twin Mercury Verado 600 outboards and several triple Mercury options. Surefooted, solid and dependable, the FAS3Tech® hull will take you to bold adventures with absolute confidence.

The 387 features a sculpted, generous-width hardtop with a curved windshield that powers open plus a commanding fishing environment for the win, with dual livewells and fish boxes, and premium GEMLUX® outriggers. Highly styled seating includes the flip-down bench seat aft, triple helm seating, dual forward-facing sun lounge and available bow seating with power table.

The impressive mid station brings a trove of innovations, including a rigging station/wetbar with slide-away bench, Corian countertop and molded sink with cutting board for bait rigging or refreshments. The Plano tackle box drawer plus three more drawers stow supplies, while

a large cooler below powers out, keeping your beverages cold and providing extra seating. The pull-out YETI® cooler to port plus sidewall and cockpit deck storage keep it all stowed yet at the ready.

The captain’s electronics suite includes dual or triple widescreen color chartplotters, Mercury Joystick Piloting, Bennett trim tab system and a trove of upgrade configurations. Everyone will enjoy the Rockford Fosgate stereo with JL Audio speakers, along with charging ports and wireless mounts, plus a high number of drink and rod/drink holders throughout.

The cabin brings generous headroom with a U-lounge/double berth with wood table, aircraft galley with Corian countertop, sink, microwave, fridge, abundant storage and 8,000 BTU AC. Aft is a private head with vanity, vessel sink and shower.

Experience this elite Center Console game-changer now!

The Formula 387 Center Console Fish –70 Years of Delivering the Best!

At 629 pounds, Yamaha’s new V6 Offshore F350 is a featherweight knockout. Stealing all the best design cues and advanced features from its V6 and V8 siblings, the new F350 is the dawn of a new power platform. It’s also the lightest F350 in its class—by more than 65 pounds. Pair it with Helm Master® EX and Siren 3 Pro for exhilarating boating and incredible control in a powerfully light design.

Uncharted adventure is on the horizon—and the Yamaha 450 hp XTO Offshore® is ready to

5.6 liters of V8 displacement, a Phase Angle Control charging system, and integrated electric steering combine to change the way you offshore. And with Helm Master® EX, it

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

YAMAHA DEALER

DELAWARE

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

MARYLAND

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

Annapolis Inflatables/Fawcett Boat Supplies

MARYLAND

8070 Ventnor Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122 ventnormarinamd.com

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

MARYLAND

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

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

Tri-State Marine | 410.562.6247 222 Severn Ave #12, Annapolis, MD tristatemarine.com

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

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

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

Boats, Inc. | 410.287.8280 448 N Mauldin Ave, North

Annapolis Inflatables/Fawcett Boat Supplies

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

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

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

Harbour

21661 havenharbour.com

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

Campbell’s Boatyards - Jack’s Point 410.226.5105

campbellsboatyards.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

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

VIRGINIA Oyster Cove Boatworks |

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

VIRGINIA

5195 G Washington Mem Hwy, Gloucester, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

VIRGINIA

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611

Centerville Waterway Marina | 757.547.4498 100 N Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA centervillemarina.com

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

Jim’s Marine, Inc. | 410.648.5106

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

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

96 East Cross St, Galena, MD jims-marine.com

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

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

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611

legaseamarine.com

18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000

821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

Buoyant Behavior

Set out a buoy line to boost your odds of a daytime sword.

Sand Hogs

Caisson-style lighthouses can often hold fish.

Pop Rocks: Popping Corks for Beginners

Popping corks are a great option for shallow water fishing

Wade-fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Let’s get our feet wet and learn how to wade for sweetwater smallies in our region’s rivers. By

Adam Greenberg

Rocktober Blues

As fall sets in don’t expect angling to get easy… yet.

Lenny Rudow

Jumping Into Pooles

The action at Pooles Island can get frantic in the fall. By Lenny Rudow

Annapolis Powerboat Show Special

The Annapolis Boat Show is here! The Annapolis Boat Show is here!

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

Notes from the Cockpit

By Lenny Rudow

It’s Saturday, July 19. The weather forecast is for low winds, calm seas, and cooler temps than we’ve been having all summer thanks to cloud cover, but no chance of rain. I’m taking a few friends fishing, guys who like many of us can’t fish on weekdays due to work. We all understand that on this beautiful summer Saturday the crowds will be thick, and every hotspot we visit is likely to be pressured.

There is virtually nobody out there. On a Saturday with ideal weather. In July. We start at Calvert Cliffs, where specks, reds, and/or flounder show up most summers. There’s one boat there. We run across to the remnants of James Island, also an area that often produces specks. It’s a ghost town. We hit the mouth of the Little Choptank, multiple hotspots in the Choptank, the Stone Rock, and Tilghman Reef. We see one boat fishing at two of the spots, and three near Sharp’s Island Light—the highest density “pack” of fishing boats we see all day. There’s no one fishing on the west side near the West River or in the South River, and we see one charter boat all day long. One.

As most of you will realize, this was during the two-week striped bass summer closure. There wasn’t any headline-worthy Middle Bay bite going off for other species, and people simply didn’t bother to go fishing. We don’t know the exact

economic impact of this, but one thing is for sure: when anglers aren’t bothering to go fishing on a Saturday in July with ideal conditions, people in the fishing biz are taking a hit.

Charters, tackle shops, and marinas are the obvious losers. But there’s bound to be a significant trickle-down effect impacting everything from convenience stores to doughnut shops. And in this kind of climate people are far less apt to buy a fishing boat. Boat-owning anglers may even wonder why they spend so much money on an item they don’t get to enjoy as often as they used to, and (shudder!) consider selling their fishing machine. Some won’t get a fishing license when spring rolls around.

All of these economic impacts are important. We need charters so boatless people can be exposed to open waters and new anglers can be minted. We need tackle shops so we can talk to someone who actually has a clue before we make a purchase. We need marinas to keep and fuel our boats. And we need fishing to be popular if we want the DNR to have a decent budget, maintain our access points, and provide scientists to study the Bay.

Slumping boat sales should be the scariest factor of all from an economic standpoint, because they’re major-league purchases which generate a lot of jobs and a lot of taxes. For this reason, I’ve attempted to build some bridges between regulators and marine industry representatives in the

recent past—though thus far to little effect. I hope that changes.

Wait a sec—don’t jump to any conclusions. I’m not saying the summer rockfish closure isn’t necessary, and I certainly think we need to do whatever we can to minimize striped bass mortality. But in truth, we should have other options in the Middle Bay during the summer months. If we weren’t plagued by near-nonstop algae blooms from May through August, might we have better angling for more diverse species? If we hadn’t destroyed a huge proportion of the Bay’s habitat, might larger numbers of more diverse species be swimming in our waters? If we hadn’t paved so much of the Western Shore with impervious surface that it altered tributary flows and changed them from steady levels to flash-flood-style runoff, might the species that spawn in our tribs enjoy substantially better success?

If you believe the answer to these questions might be yes, you’ll probably agree that the root cause of this problem lies in our failure to address the basic water quality and habitat issues that we’ve been spinning our wheels on for decades. Meanwhile, I know one thing for sure: a near-empty Middle Bay on a nice Saturday in July is a red flag that something is very, very wrong.

# Hello, is anyone else out there…?

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

Drunk on “Humor”

Q: What kind of wine goes best with shellfish?

A: Crabernet.

-Anonymous

Name That Fish

Dear FishTalk, Iwas fishing near Ocean View using bloodworm bits, trying to catch croaker or spot for live baits, when I caught this very odd fish. My buddy said it’s a remora but as far as I could tell it was swimming free and I’ve never seen a remora inside the Bay itself, so that seems totally crazy to me. Can you ID it?

-Andy G, via email

Dear Andy, Yup, that’s a remora for sure. Although they’re usually seen attached to bigger critters you can encounter them free-swimming sometimes, and while they’re most commonly seen offshore they do inhabit inshore waters, too. It certainly amounts to an unusual catch, but not a totally crazy one. Congrats on the unusual—and interesting—action!

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

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.

1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents

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.

2. Accidents can happen to anyone

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.

3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments

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.

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.

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.

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

Go to progressive.com to learn more.

FISH NEWS

By Lenny Rudow

SAV Seesaws

The 2024 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Survey for the Chesapeake Bay is complete and shows mixed results. The Middle Bay lost ground significantly (around a 14-percent decline), while saltier areas of the Bay enjoyed increased SAV growth (by about 14 percent). Overall, the Bay posted 82,788 acres of underwater grasses, a one-percent decline. This puts the Bay at 64 percent of its 2025 restoration goals as set out by the Chesapeake Bay Program. The survey (performed by the William and Mary Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science) also reflected a shift from eelgrass to widgeon grass as the dominant SAV species, which is reported to likely be a reflection of long-term warming trends.

Graphic courtesy of Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Delighted in Delaware

Three new state records were set in Delaware this summer: one for flathead catfish, another for northern snakehead, and a third for golden tilefish. Angler Jason Wise caught a 33-pound, 15.6-ounce flathead in Lums Pond to establish the state’s first record for the species. Meanwhile at Marshyhope Ditch, Dyllan Rust reeled in a 15-pound, eight-ounce snakehead. That topped the existing record, which was less than a month old, by 11 ounces. And out in Poormans Canyon, Logan Smith dropped a whole squid to bottom in 650 feet of water and then cranked back a 56-pound, 3.2-ounce golden tilefish. The fish topped the previous record set in 2020 by almost 3.5 pounds.

There’s an App for That

The Maryland DNR has announced a new mobile app, called MD Outdoors, which is replacing the old AccessDNR app (which will no longer be supported). It allows displaying licenses and boat/off-road vehicle registrations, includes maps and directions to access points and boat ramps, regulations guides, a fish/shellfish identifier, and more. Developed alongside the DNR’s new licensing system, the app is free and is available on Google Play and the App Store.

Maryland

Delaware

Virginia

# Logan hoists Delaware’s new state record golden tilefish. Photo courtesy of Logan Smith

False Flag

Maryland has a new state record for false albacore. This summer angler Timothy Shaarda, of Clayton, NC, was trolling on the Hawgfin between the Washington and Norfolk canyons when a 23.5-pound false albacore slammed a side-tracker. It bested the 30-year-old record by one pound even. In a strange twist of fate, the captain of the Hawgfin, Kurt Howell, had also been present when the previous record was caught by angler Kevin Sheckells.

As they say on TV: But wait, there’s more! Just 10 days later, angler Jack Dorman was trolling aboard the Game On captained by Scott Stapleford near the Jack Spot. A skirted ballyhoo took a strike, Dorman jumped on the rod, and he cranked in a 26-pound false albacore to break the record yet again and set the bar even higher.

And in the Maryland record department there’s yet more to talk about: angler Dominic Vuotto set a new bar for blueline tilefish, catching a 21.3-pounder while fishing out of OCMD aboard the Foolish Pleasures. That topped the record of 20.6 pounds, which was just set last year.

IT’S GO TIME.

legendary Honda reliability and innovations inspired by our famed racing history, these engines deliver peak performance to help you lock in on every journey, pursuit, and adventure. When the water calls, know

TOctober TKAA

he Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association Speckled Trout Tournament runs from October first through the 30th, with all water of Virginia open to anglers in the competition. This is a C-P-R tournament, with the biggest stringer of three specks winning. Electric propulsion is permitted, but note that mother-shipping is not. Also this month, October 10-13, the TKAA will hold its Boondoggle Tournament. This one’s a numeric win, with prizes awarded based on the number of species caught—size doesn’t matter. We’d tell you more about the rules but this one’s kinda sketchy, with the iAngler page reading, “These rules are probably going to change up to 24 hours before the event, so plan on it. The judges might be drunk or passed out someplace. One will most likely get lost in the woods or something…”

We’re not 100 percent sure what to make of this one, except to say that it should be fun. Visit the TKAA at tkaa.org to learn more.

Angling Inshore

October 4 and 5 are the days for the Ocean City Inshore Classic, a 32-hour fishing blitz (from 7 a.m. Saturday through 3 p.m. Sunday) with categories for rockfish, flounder, tautog, and an open division. Weigh-ins are at Atlantic Tackle in West Ocean City, and all fishing takes place in the bays from Fenwick Ditch to the Verrazano Bridge and in the ocean within three nautical miles of land. Visit the tournament page at fishinoc.com to get all the details.

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.

Carbon Credits

Just how much weight can you save in a rod by making both the blank and the handle out of carbon fiber? Piscifun says it amounts to a 28-percent weight reduction in the Carbon R1, a rod we’ve been testing out since this summer. It is indeed uber-light in hand, and we thought the 6’10” medium-weight, extra-fast action model makes for an excellent Chesapeake Bay jigging stick. The IM8 carbon blank is as sensitive as they come, and the carbon handle seems to transmit subtle vibrations better than neoprene grips. The reel seat is carbon fiber too, and guides are high-end Fujis with Alconite inserts. Spinning models in the Carbon R1 series range from 6’6” to 7’3” and casting rods from 6’10” to 7’4” are also available. Price: $199. Visit Piscifun.com if you’re ready to claim some carbon credits. Exclusive FishTalk Bonus: use promo code FM18 when you order and you’ll get a special FishTalk reader discount!

IWell Blow Me Down

f you’re sick and tired of damp waders, stinky boots, and saturated gloves, there might be a Hedgehog in your future. The Hedgehog Dryer lineup is designed to turn wet gear dry asap, and features a 10-hour timer, odor remover, adjustable heat, and “Tornado” mode. There are three varieties: the Buddy Black Icon i3, which has a pair of hose legs for boots and four arms for gloves and hats; the Hanger Black Icon i3, with eight arms; and the Octopus Black Icon i3 (shown here) with four legs. All have high-pressure ends which blast the humidity right out of fabrics to dry them fast, and the Hedgehogs can dry a pair of wet shoes in a mere half an hour. If you need to dry multiple waders or boots, you can also get two-hose adapters to boost the leg-count. Price: $159 to $199. Visit us.hedgehogdryer.com to trigger some serious evaporation.

Stow ‘N Go

Thanks to all that unorganized gear the back of your pickup looks like a bomb went off… and then it started raining? Sounds like you need to check out the Rux. These heavy-duty TPU-coated nylon (PVC/PFAS-free) stowage compartments are so unique they defy easy description, but think of them as collapsible square duffle bags that are weatherproof and expand into a crate-like form. The stackable Rux 70L (70 liters of volume) is the base of the system and has rails along the edges which accept clip-in organizers like bags and pockets. All of the pieces and parts are shockingly light, shockingly well-built, and carry a lifetime warranty(!). We tested the Rux during a three-day angling adventure and found it ideal for stowing a backpack full of clothes, jackets, a camera bag, and a laptop bag—all stuff we wanted to keep dry during a long haul in the back of a pickup—then when we arrived we collapsed the Rux and slid it under the back seat until it was time to pack up and drive home. Price: $298 for the 70L/$393 for the Essential Kit with a 70L, 25L bag, and 3L pocket. Visit rux.life to get your gear in order.

Flash Forward

You may not have heard of Flashin Assassin lures before now, but there’s a good chance the name will become part of your fishing lexicon in the future. Their jig heads, available in 1/32 to 3/8 ounces, have the added attraction of holographic mylar strips and reflect a real-time imaging sonar shockingly well. At ICAST 2025 they rolled out a far more extensive lineup including mylar spinnerbaits, and announced plans for offshore jigs and trolling lures. Price: $5.99/threepack. Visit flashinassassin.com if you’re not afraid of being blinded by the light.

Twin Powers, Activate!

Is there such a thing as a luxury fishing reel? After casting and cranking with a Shimano Twin Power XD 4000XG, we say yes. The XD version is lighter than previous generations and enjoys just about every tech-tweak Shimano’s come up with, now including the Micromodule Gear II (drive and pinion gear surface updates to improve smoothness and reduce sound); Long Stroke Spool (a boosted spool stroke to improve casting distance); and Silent Drive (reduced rattles, gaps, and movements). It puts out 24 pounds of drag, has a whopping 10 ball bearings, and holds 180 yards of 30-pound Power Pro. We’ve now been fishing with a Twin Power XD 4000XG on a Teremar TXES 70M for several months, and it’s taken over as the favorite rig on the rack for casting lures to large Chesapeake Bay species. Yes, you’ll have to shell out quite a bit to get one, but for smooth, light, reliable performance we’re just not sure that this reel can be beat. Price: $489. Visit fish.shimano.com if you wear an Armani, drive a Bentley, and want to fish in luxury, too.

Have Rod Will Travel

If you’re sick and tired of bag-checking a bazooka, you want a relatively heavy rod you can pack in to distant angling locations, or you drive a Smart Car and can’t fit any of your rods inside, the Penn Battle IV Travel Spinning Combo should do the trick. This three-piece rod breaks down into a travel case that also fits the reel. Medium and medium-heavy, fast-action, seven-foot LOA rods are available with 4000 or 6000 size reels, which makes this one of the beefiest travel rigs around. Price: $239/$259. Visit pennfishing.com and for gosh sakes get rid of that Smart Car asap.

Cell Service

Still trying to find a way to keep your cell phone safe, secure, and useable when you’re kayak fishing? Railblaza has a new option for you, the Gridlock. This five-point phone holder secures your treasured communications device in silicon grips, and has vibration dampening to minimize the jitters when recording video. Aluminum construction ensures longevity in the salty environment, and the Gridlock is plugand-play compatible with the Railblaza ecosystem and StarPort mounts. Price: $75. Visit railblaza.com for the full scoop.

Chill Out

Whew—the heat of summer is now past but we know it’ll get hot again next year, so many of us anglers are probably thinking about buying a selfcontained portable battery powered personal refrigeration system for next summer. Boyard has your chilling cravings covered with the Outdoor Cooling Vest Ice Vest Cool Bag. Slip on this 7.7-pound glacial gadget and you’ll enjoy 200-watts of cooling power and a breeze of below-60-degree air on your back and neck for up to eight hours, thanks to the integrated mini 24-volt compressor, DC brushless fan, and micro-radiator. Cast longer without overheating! Maintain full energy as you battle big, brutish fish! Use it as a backup if you fill the cooler and need to keep additional catches cool! Price: $599. Visit boyardmic.en.made-in-china.com to laugh at all those sweaty suckers standing in the blazing sun.

Help Us Fish For A Cure!

Lucky Number Seviin

Seviin Reels says their new GW series saltwater spinning reels outperform their price-point, with aluminum bodies, forged and anodized aluminum spools, five shielded ball-bearings plus a roller bearing, and a multi-stack carbon-fiber drag system. These reels feature fully sealed bodies which are rated to meet IPX5 standards. There are five sizes in the series, from 2500 to 6000, and gear ratios are 6.2:1 for 2500 to 4000 models, and 5.7:1 for the 5000 and 6000. Max drag is 20 pounds for the 2500, 25 pounds for the 3000/4000, and 35 pounds for the 5000/6000. Price: $130 to $160. Visit seviinreels.com to get the manufacturer’s spin.

Ask an Expert

Captain Mike Sielicki of Apex Predators Potomac Creek

Our expert for October is Captain Mike Sielicki of Apex Predators Potomac Creek. As fall hits we’re going to ask him about the ins and outs of fall snakehead fishing.

Q: Does fishing for snakeheads change when summer turns into fall, and if so, what do you do or use to adjust to the changes?

A: Yes, when water temperatures start falling the fish begin to stage in different ways. Most noticeably, they feed more on sub-surface baits. When this happens I have two lures I throw the most as this happens: a Strike King chatterbait and plastic “critter” baits.

Q: Run us through your gearwhat size rod/reel/line/leader do you like to use?

A: I use a seven- and seven-and-ahalf-foot rod, heavy and mediumheavy moderate fast action, either spinning or casting. My 4000/4500 size spinning rods are spooled with 30-pound Power Pro and casting rods have 50- to 80-pound line. I do not use a leader, ever, but instead use a Palomar to tie directly to the lure.

Q: How do the snakeheads in the Potomac and its feeders react to tidal changes? How does that affect the way you fish for them?

A: Tide changes have a lot to do with catching the snakeheads, because the fish move way up into grass when it’s high even during fall. I like to fish the last three hours of an outgoing and the first three hours on an incoming for the best action.

Q: You take a lot of people out there—what’s the most common mistake you see anglers make when they’re trying to catch snakeheads?

A: The most common mistake I see is people trying to set the hook by sweeping the rod. Often people think that since we’re using bass lures they should set the hook like on a bass, but with snakeheads you need to set the hook straight up with the rod, not sweeping it to the side. And never, ever give these fish any slack.

Q: What haven’t we talked about that people chasing snakeheads this fall need to know?

A: Along with keeping track of the tide changes people need to watch barometric pressure. Changes in it also have a big effect on how these fish bite. When there’s rain or a front coming they become more difficult to catch, and a lot of wind makes it tougher to get bites, too.

Q: Open mic time—is there anything else you’d like to say to all the anglers out there?

A: Always keep that line tight and keep your hooks sharp—and no leader allowed!

# BONUS TIP from Captain Mike: After you catch some snakeheads give some of these marinades a try, they’re great!

CHESAPEAKE CALENDAR

FSFF Monthly Meeting

7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville Family Rec. Center (behind Ford Hall). Chris Campo, a local guide specializing on the Potomac River will present on “Fishing the four seasons on the Potomac.”

1-30 TKAA Speckled Trout Tournament

This is a C-P-R tournament, with the biggest stringer of three specks winning. Electric propulsion is permitted but note that mother-shipping is not. All waters of Virginia are open to the competition.

1-31 Reelin’ & Rockin’ Rockfish Bash Tournament

Join Lucky and Blessed Fishing for a month-long rockfish tournament and a night of food, music, and celebration at our Benefit Banquet on November 13! Prizes, raffle items, and a community that fishes and gives back. Tickets & tournament registration are open now — grab yours today! www.labfishing.org

2 The World Is Your Oysterfest 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. Enjoy a variety of oysters from around the Bay, gourmet seafood and cuisine, Shuck Like a Pro workshop, shucking competition, and more. Proceeds support the Oyster Recovery Partnership.

2-5 Annapolis Powerboat Show

At City Dock, Annapolis. Tickets: annapolisboatshows.com

3-5 Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival

One of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s campus 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OCTOBER

4 Richardson Maritime Museum Boatyard Bash

To benefit the Richardson Maritime Museum. 1 to 5 (rain date, Oct. 5) at 103 Hayward St., Cambridge, MD. Live music, oysters on the half shell, food/beverage trucks, silent auction, vendors, boat display by the Antique and Classic Boat SocietyChesapeake Bay Chapter, hands-on activities, free parking. Tickets: $25 adults (includes 1 beer ticket); $10 for ages 13-20; kids 12 and under free. Questions: (410) 221-1871 or office@richardsonmuseum.org

4 Yorktown Wine and Oyster Festival

12 to 6 p.m. at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, VA. This two-day festival pairs the finest Virginia wines with the freshest local seafood, including succulent oysters served raw, roasted, and steamed. Sip and stroll along the scenic waterfront while enjoying live music, gourmet food trucks, and artisan vendors.

4-5 Ocean City Inshore Classic

A 32-hour inshore fishing tournament with categories for rockfish, flounder, tautog, and open. $100 registration per boat includes captain. $50 each for each additional angler up to 5. Sign up and Captain’s Meeting Friday, October 4, from 5-7 p.m. at Sunset Marina. Scales at Atlantic Tackle in West Ocean City.

FSFF Club Fly Tying

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville Family Rec. Center (behind Ford Hall). Join FSFF as one of its members instructs on how to tie a couple of fly patterns and demonstrates proper tying techniques. Patterns to be determined. All materials will be provided. Please bring your vise and tying tools if you have them.

CCA Angler’s Night Out 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (location TBD). Speaker: Captain Phil Langley of Fish the Bay Charters who will regale us all with stories of his time on the Bay along with an instructional talk on how to “Cast & Blast” on the Chesapeake Bay. Free and open to the public.

9-12 Annapolis Sailboat Show

At City Dock, Annapolis. Tickets: annapolisboatshows.com

11 Party in the Port: Boat Show Edition

6 to 10 p.m. at Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis. Open to the public. Featuring live music by Misspent Youth. This year, we’re celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Valhalla Sailing Project, honoring a decade of empowering veterans through sailing. GA tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Rain or shine.

Westminster Oyster Stroll 12 to 4 p.m. in historic downtown Westminster. Featuring local oyster farmers, live entertainment, delicious food, and fun for the whole family. The event is designed to raise awareness about Chesapeake Bay farmraised oysters and directly supports CCA Maryland’s Living Reef Action Campaign. Tickets: $15.

Do you have an upcoming event?

Send the details to: kaylie@fishtalkmag.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.

OCTOBER

(continued)

11 Yorktown Market Days - Fall Festival

During this special, extended farmers market at the beautiful Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, VA, shop more than 60 different vendors and artists selling seasonal favorites.

15 Annapolis Anglers Club Monthly Meeting

Speaker, food and drink, table raffle, and 50/50. Food starts at 6 p.m. followed by meeting at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 7, Crownsville Road, Annapolis, MD.

MSFC Monthly Meeting

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

18 Maritime Career Festival

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA. This family-friendly event is designed to educate and inform the public of exciting opportunities in the maritime world. No pre-registration is required, and admission is included in the $1 museum admission.

18 FSFF Monthly Hands-On Session

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville Family Rec. Center (behind Ford Hall). Speaker/Topic: Jim Del Bovi – Using technology in Fishing. Yes? No? Fair? Unfair?

18 Oyster Festival

Featuring good community company, fine regional music, an array of choice gifts for purchase, a cash raffle, local food and drink, and the best oysters anywhere. Enjoy the day on the broad green lawn on the banks of the West River in Shady Side at the Captain Avery Museum.

Boater Education: How To Use GPS

Annapolis Sail & Power Squadron’s education course will teach how to choose a suitable GPS chartplotter, create waypoints, build and execute routes, monitor your progress, and integrate with other electronic systems onboard, including VHF marine radio, radar, and autopilot. Zoom 7-9 p.m., $15.00 Instructor-John Locke

Boater Education: Winterization of Your Boat

Learn about what you need to do to make sure your boat is able to survive the winter weather. Zoom, 7-9 p.m., Instructor-Dick Radlinski. $15

CBMM OysterFest

Features live music, retriever demonstrations, oysters, and more at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s campus in St. Michaels, MD. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

30 CCA Annapolis Chapter Annual Fundraising Banquet 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis. This fundraising dinner directly supports CCA Maryland’s focus on ensuring the health of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them, and our objective to conserve, promote and enhance our marine resources for the benefit of the general public.

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 Tune in Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 6 p.m. for a new episode!

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 Presented by

NOVEMBER

19th Annual Fish For a Cure

F4AC is a fishing tournament and fundraising challenge. All funds raised directly benefit the Cancer Survivorship Program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Shore Party 5 to 9 p.m. at Safe Harbor Annapolis.

The Mariners’ Park Fall Festival

1 to 5 p.m. at Harvey Field, The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA. Family friendly activities, pumpkin decorating, live music, beer and cider tastings, food trucks. Entrance to the festival is $2 per person, children 3 and under are free (tasting tickets sold separately).

1 FSFF Club Fly Tying

5 FSFF Monthly Meeting

7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville Family Rec. Center (behind Ford Hall). Bob Dietz, fellow fly fisher from Potomac Patuxent Trout Unlimited Chapter, will present on the “History of Fly Fishing.”

8 Yorktown Market DaysMaritime Festival

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, VA. Sample some of the best seafood in the area, artisans will be selling nautical-inspired jewelry and art, and pirates will invade the area to talk to kids about seafaring life. Enjoy deck tours, kids’ crafts, live music, and educational information for mariners of all ages.

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

8 FSFF Monthly Hands-On Session

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville Family Rec. Center (behind Ford Hall). Joe Bruce will present “Tying tips and how to resolve tying issues.” This will be an open forum so bring your tools and materials you’re having issues with and receive help in resolving tying issues.

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.

Reelin’ & Rockin’ Rockfish Bash Benefit Lucky and Blessed Fishing invites you to our 1st Annual Reelin’ & Rockin’ Rockfish BASH

Benefit – a celebration filled with great food with Mission Barbecue, LIVE Rock & Roll Band, Silent Auction, Raffles, and the chance to support programs that make a difference for people of ALL ages and abilities. rockfishbash.com

14-16 Easton Waterfowl Festival

Join family and friends to celebrate the traditions, music, art, and food that make this area of the world so special. For over 50 years, the Waterfowl Festival, Inc. has staged an annual event that has raised $6 million for wildlife and habitat conservation, education, scholarships, and research.

19 Annapolis Anglers Club Monthly Meeting

Speaker, food and drink, table raffle, and 50/50. Food starts at 6 p.m. followed by meeting at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 7, Crownsville Road, Annapolis, MD.

CCA Angler’s Night Out 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at West End Grill in Annapolis. Speaker and topic TBD. Free and open to the public.

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

WAY MORE THAN CRAB

Reader Photos

# John, Lexi, and Brian scooped ‘em up and went home happy—very happy.

# Chris found a nice mix of stripers and specks fishing out of PLO.

# Julian caught his first speck! Julian caught his first speck!

# Kevin and the Jurassic Man were trolling for tuna offshore when this very lost cobia slammed their spreader bar.

# Trent caught his first yellowfin tuna aboard the Heat Wave.

# Adam split his time between redfish and snakehead—and did quite well on both!

# Waylan braved the fog to catch his first citation-sized crappie.

# Paul beat the heat – and beat the bass, too!

# Newlywed Lexi wasn’t this happy on her wedding day!

# Andrew’s daybreak striped bass battle pays off with a beaut!

# David put a bluegill under a bobber and BAM!

# Brennan hit the pond early and hit paydirt.

# Cooper caught this bass on a swimbait— and has definitely caught the fishing bug!

# Finn found the Severn River white perch.

# On her very first voyage out of Wachapreague Jessica bagged a 21” and a 23” flounder – sweet!!

# Ray and his dad enjoyed an Eastern Bay topwater bite.

# Ian shifted gears when rockfish went out of season and chased Blackwater dragons instead.

# Gibbie found this Choptank River rockfish ready and willing to strike.

# Mark caught some slot reds in the surf.

# While fishing the rail cars off

this

Chincoteague, Ryan caught

beautiful doormat flounder.

# Gary took a trip to Lake Ontario and tied into a 24-pound chinook.

# William made good use of his mornings this summer!

# Cora caught her first rockfish, a perfect 19”, while fishing in Old Road Bay.

# Luca reeled in this white marlin this week at the Baltimore canyon with his dad Tony and friend Dave aboard the Gone Phishin’ They went 3/4 on Marlin that day.

# Jayson, Grandpa Mark, and Madison caught some beautiful bass at Deep Creek Lake this summer.

# Sandra got into the spot!

# James and Jimmy found some nice catfish at Pooles after catching their limit of rockfish—now that’s what we call a great day of fishing!!

# Webb tied into a true bucket-mouth this summer.

# Kelvin caught his first cobia at the HRBT.

# Drew caught this beast of a sheepshead while fishing near Norfolk.

Hot New Fishboats

By Lenny Rudow

Skeeter ZX200: Sweetwater Samurai

We interrupt our regularly scheduled boat reviews to bring you this news flash: OOPS! We haven’t covered a bass boat in years, and there are gobs of anglers in our region who find these finely honed angling machines ideal for the way they fish. Mea culpa—now let’s solve the problem by taking an up-close look at the Skeeter ZX200.

Why the ZX200? First off, while the ZX line has been around for decades, the current model has been through so many updates and tweaks it’s a far cry

QUICK FACTS

LOA: 19’6”

Beam: 7’11”

Displacement: 2020 lbs

Draft (hull): 1’4”

Transom Deadrise: 20 degrees

Fuel Capacity: 36 gal.

Max HP: 200 hp

AREA DEALER

Beacon Light Marina, Middle River, MD, (410) 335-6200 or beaconlightmarina.com

from what it once was. Secondly, the 2026 model year pricing is eye-opening for a turnkey dedicated bass boat with 200 horses and a trailer. While we eschew printing boat prices since they change so much and so fast, the thing to remember here is that the MSRP is notably less than the sticker price for a decent midrange pick-up, like the Ford F-150 Lariat or the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ. And as we FishTalkers all know, your boat is one heck of a lot more important than the boring old land vehicle it’s being towed by. So, common sense dictates that we spend at least as much on the boat as we do on the truck. And third, despite falling into a relatively restrained bass boat cost bracket, the ZX200 delivers better performance and more features than you’ll be expecting at its price point.

The ZX200 is packaged with a Yamaha VF200LB, part of their V6 V MAX SHO series. These outboards are designed specifically for the bass crowd, with a blazing-fast hole shot and top-end thanks to tweaks like a Kevlarinfused cogged timing belt, chain-synchronized dual overhead camshafts, automatic belt tensioning, and an exhaust pressure reduction system. Now merge

that with Skeeter’s hull, incorporating a 20-degree deadrise, combined center pad and inner strakes, concave reverse chines, aluminum deck grid, and aluminum Torque Transfer transom and stringer system. The net result is going from a dead stop to 20 mph in 4.8 seconds. Cruise at a mellow 4500 rpm and you’ll be running just a notch over 50 mph. Run for the hotspot at a bassier 5000 rpm and you’ll be in the upper 50s. Or send the hammer down and run at a hat-stripping 66 mph. What about those unexpected features? The trailer is probably the biggest surprise. Rather than being a basic single-axel model (which would be easy to get away with for a 2000 pound, 19’6” boat) it’s a custom-matched Skeeter tandem axel trailer with a bow step and a swing-away tongue. Stock goodies on the ZX200 include a Hot Foot throttle, Hamby keel protector, and manual jack plate. The larger deck hatches swing up on gas-assist struts, locking rodboxes in the foredeck have protective tubes for the rods, and the standard-issue Minn Kota Fortrex puts out 80 pounds of thrust. Note that one more standard feature you probably weren’t expecting is a three-year parts/ components, 10-year transferable, limited lifetime structural warranty.

Whether the plan is to buzz across the northern Chesapeake in search of bass, snakeheads, and stripers, to go running up the tributaries, or to hitch up and haul to one reservoir after the next, for many anglers a bass boat will be the top pick. We apologize for letting so much time pass without putting one into the spotlight, and we promise that it won’t happen again. In the meantime, if what you need is a serious bass fishing machine that overdelivers for the expense, it’s time to check out the Skeeter ZX200.

Phenom 43: Pelagic Magic

What happens when you take a boatbuilding team with multiple lifetimes of experience, give them a blank slate, and tell them to design the most magnificent no-holds-barred fishing machine on the face of the planet? That’s basically how Phenom Yachts got their start, when industry long-timer Tommy Hancock (of Sea Pro and Sportsman Boats fame) got together with a group boasting over 150 years of combined experience, and said: GO!

A couple of years ago we covered the Phenom 37 in our sister publication PropTalk (see Phenom 37, a New Phe-

nomenon at proptalk.com), and noted that just about the only things you’ll find on the finest luxury cars but won’t find on a Phenom are wheels and an inboard engine. Goodies like air-conditioned seats and complete touchscreen control, for example—plus a few no automobile can compete with, like a Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilizer—are all present and accounted for. And now they’ve upped the ante with the Phenom 43.

Naturally the larger footprint gives Phenom the flexibility to incorporate a much larger, more luxurious cabin, and the 43 has a saloon of sorts inside of the console, with a dinette centered around

an actuated teak table that converts into a queen berth. It also has a galley with a sink, two-burner induction cooktop, microwave, and refrigerator, as well as a fully enclosed stand-up head with a separate stall shower. Our favorite console cabin feature, however, is the ability to opt for a slightly raised head sole which is essentially an integrated upright rodrack. After washing down your rigs at the end of a day offshore, you can stow them safely away in a fully organized fashion.

Phenom has also found a few ways to give your angling adventures some additional luxury. Tackle stows in customizable boxes which slide into

QUICK FACTS

LOA: 43’0”

Beam: 12’10”

Displacement: 19,200 lbs

Draft: 2’8”

Transom Deadrise: 23 deg

Fuel Capacity: 700 gal

Water Capacity: 90 gal.

Max Power : 1800 hp

Legasea Marine, Yorktown, VA (757) 898-3000 or legaseamarine.com

# The ZX200 is thoroughly tricked out with all the trimmings.

dedicated compartments in the swingup mezzanine backrest. Or swing up the mezzanine seat base instead, and you’ll discover a refrigerated cooler underneath. You say you’d rather revel in refreshments that have ice dripping down the sides? Fear not, dear luxury lover, the cooler also has a direct ice feed from the onboard ice maker. Some additional uber-luxury touches include Sileather upholstery (and yes the helm seats on this model do have both heat and air-conditioning); a massive bow lounger atop the cabin with fold-down arm rests and cup holders; Joystick piloting; thermal night vision; side entry doors on both sides; Lumitec lighting including underwater and interior RGB mood lighting; and an audiophile’s dream system with DSP JL audio amplifiers, five subwoofers, and 14 speakers.

Okay, okay, enough about the cushy stuff—let’s go fishing. In addition to gobs and gobs of deck space, key features include twin 27” Garmin 9227 MFDs pumping sonar waves through an Airmar PM275LHW 1-kw

wide-beam transducer, electric teaser reels in the hard top, four electric reel outlets under the gunwales, fresh and raw water washdowns, and a pair of 86-gallon fishboxes ensconced in four-inch-thick insulation in the deck. It’s the livewells, however, that provide the best example of Phenom’s unbridled dedication to making the best better by any means necessary. They’re 40-gallon wells with viewing ports on the front, each fed by a main pump and a back-up pump on the sea chest, via top and bottom fills. They also have pressure sensors which are monitored by the EmpireBus digital systems, which calculates just how much water needs to be fed to each livewell at any

given time to maintain 0.1 PSI. That ensures your baits never get sloshed and water never gets blasted out from around the lid. Added bonus: Phenom also provides a short mini-standpipe so you can use the wells for shrimp, crabs, or lobster.

We can’t swear that the livewell system on the Phenom is the most advanced on any recreational fishing boat, but if there’s a better one, we sure haven’t seen it. And we can’t swear that this is the most luxurious 43’ center console on the water, but again, we draw a blank when trying to think of what might top it. What we can say for sure is that this boat is named appropriately. It is, in fact, phenomenal.

# The helm of the Phenom 43: Just. Plain. Sick.

Pioner Multi III: Aye, Laddy

# Baaaaa, Baaaaa, Baaaack on the boat with ya.

You want a fishing boat that can also be used to… transport sheep? We’re not sure if you wear a kilt instead of bibs and you’re trying to catch the Loch Ness monster instead of fish, but the Pioner Multi III, a polyethylene boat built in Inverness, Scotland, may be the ideal fishboat for your needs. With a drop-down bow boarding ramp that you can open up right onto the rocky shoreline when it’s time to shepherd your flock aboard, this dual console of sorts is 466 kg long. (Sorry to hit you with metrics, but for some reason we couldn’t get Google to convert from kg to feet). It can handle 80 hp on the transom (which is 59.7 KWs metrically speaking) and has a max capacity of eight people (in both Real American and metrics) or 530 cm of sheep (sorry, the conversion didn’t work again). Visit pionerboat.co.uk if you’re as confused as we are.

Cat Ride, Classic Style

Buoyant Behavior

Set out a buoy line to boost your odds of a daytime sword.

By Staff

Daytime swording is a feast-orfamine endeavor. You might make an hours-long run and end up floating around all day with zero action, or you might make one epic catch after the next. All bets are off, but the lure of potentially battling a gladiatorial beast—and grilling swordfish steaks for the next month straight—is impossible for any serious offshore angler to resist.

Naturally, we want to stack the deck in our favor as much as possible. Days in advance we’ll rig up baits and piece together a plan. And one thing you can do to boost your odds of success is setting up a buoy line.

Deploying a daytime sword bait 1200’ or 1500’ below the boat is tough enough (see “Daytime Swordfish Deep Dropping” at FishTalkMag.com to get the scoop on how it works), and trying to set more than one at a time is a fool’s errand. Unless you’re a true pro you’re far more likely to end up with an epic tangle than an epic catch. Setting a buoy line is the answer to getting down that second bait.

Rigged and Ready

Like most offshore endeavors, being prepared to drop a buoy line requires some specific prep work. Step number one is getting a buoy. The key elements are having a large buoy float with a high-visibility flag on the top and a longline clip at the bottom; some anglers prefer a couple-few feet of 300-pound leader between the float and the clip while others rig the clip

# This swordfish ate a fresh mahi-belly strip bait set on a buoy line near Poormans Canyon.

just a few inches beneath the float. There are plenty of commercially made floats available and some crafty anglers construct their own using fenders or large foam oval buoys, but most regular crab pot floats aren’t quite large enough. You’ll be setting that buoy a couple hundred feet from the boat and it needs to be easily visible, so size matters.

The second bit of prep work is adding floss loops to your mainline to clip on the buoy’s longline clip. Most anglers will set up a couple of loops on a dedicated buoy rod to account for different depth ranges, with the first

THUNNUS AMONGUS

It’s not unusual for the buoy line to produce bigeye bites, which are not exactly unwelcome no matter how laserfocused your desire to catch a swordfish may be.

at 1200’ or so and the second at 1400’ or 1500’. Some others will set three at various depths. You can do this yourself, or again, swordfish “buoy spools” of line with pre-rigged loops can be purchased. Either way, the business end of the rig and the weight is the same as for your regular “tip” rod (the one you fish straight from the rod tip).

Time To Deploy

Ready to get that buoy line in position? You’ll want to set it prior to messing with the tip rod, and set it using the same process we detailed in “Daytime Swordfish Deep Dropping.” When you reach the floss loop set at the depth appropriate for the spot (ideally 200’ to 300’ off bottom), clip on the float.

Once the line is set idle away with the reel in freespool until the buoy is a safe distance from the boat (figure on at least 150’ to be safe and 200’ to be safer). Now you can start setting the tip rod, still leaving the buoy line in freespool as you drive

Three’s Not a Crowd

In case you didn’t guess at this point, a minimum crew of three is necessary to effectively run this show on a recreational boat. You may be able to deploy with just two people (if everything goes like clockwork) but you’ll still need someone at the wheel and a dedicated crewmember for each of the rods when a fish is on the line. It’s also best to have three when attempting to land a swordfish: one for the wheel, one for the harpoon and gaff, and one for the rod.

away from the buoy. When you make your turn back towards it someone will need to mind the buoy rod to take up the slack and cross from one side of the boat to the other. The captain will also have to remain mindful of where the buoy is when heading back towards it, and maintain a buffer zone. When all is said and done and the tip rod is fully deployed, if the buoy is too close for comfort leave the reel in freespool and let the current and wind create a bit more distance.

Game Time

Minding a tip rod requires nonstop staring at the tip to detect bites, so with two lines out you’ll want two sets of eyes dedicated to watching. Naturally, that second set of eyes will be focused on the buoy as opposed to the rod. On occasion you’ll see the buoy do a funny dance and maybe get pulled under, but when a fish takes this bait the weight is no longer pulling straight down on the buoy and holding it upright, so it’s most common for the buoy to lay over on its side.

Either way, when a hit is detected you need to apply tension asap. Depending on the type of reel you have and how rapidly you can take in line you may want to start ripping it back as fast as possible, or you may want to shift the engines into gear, give them a burst of power, and use the boat to stretch the line tight. If the rod doubles over and a fish is on, as one crewmember straps in for battle another should get the tip rod’s line up and out of the water as quickly as they can.

Is setting out a buoy line a risky play? Youbetcha, especially if you haven’t seen it done a time or two. In fact, we’d strongly encourage watching the process before trying it yourself. But getting that second line over the side can lead to memorymaking rewards—and a month’s supply of swordfish steaks.

# Some anglers construct their own custom swordfish buoys. And some get more creative than others.

SAND HOGS

Caisson-style lighthouses can often hold fish.

By Wayne Young

Perhaps you’ve never caught a Chesapeake Bay “sand hog.” That’s because it’s a slang term for manual laborers who worked inside subsurface pressurized chambers, hand-shoveling sediments to sink structures resting on the chamber into bottom sediments. This construction process was used for building seven pneumatic caisson lighthouses in Chesapeake Bay, which are now fishing legacies thanks to the extremely difficult, hazardous, and backbreaking work by the sand hogs. Chart 1 identifies and shows the location of caisson lighthouses and other light structures scouted here as fishing destinations.

When fishing caisson structures, all we see is the caisson and the light structure on top of it. There’s nothing on the chart to give away that subsurface rocks may be there, and in some cases, a lot of rock. Cartographers didn’t put riprap symbols on former paper and raster charts for caisson lights in contrast to riprap symbols charted for screwpile lighthouses and skeletal steel towers. So, before sonar scanners, we had to learn the hard way—by snagging.

Consulting historical construction details sometimes provides a better understanding of a caisson light structure’s fishing attributes. But available historical records aren’t complete. Rock is present at some lights where rock isn’t documented. After digging deeper into the history of the Bay’s lighthouses, the following is what I found.

Huge caisson “sparkplug” style lighthouses offered a stable manmade outpost designed to withstand storm waves and winds, strong currents, and ship strikes. Initial caisson lighthouse construction involved fabricating a wooden box caisson, fastening the lower courses

of curved cast-iron caisson plates, floating the caisson assembly to its designated location, weighting it down by progressively filling it with concrete and rocks and sand, adding layers of cast iron plates, and backfilling with more cement and rock as the caisson settled to the bottom. They were then jetted into the bottom with water jets and pumps and held in place by their own weight. Although most caisson lighthouses survived winter ice damage they have one weakness: susceptibility to scour.

Pneumatic caisson structures followed the same general construction method except that the chamber served as a pressure chamber with an air lock for the manual labor of digging the caissons into the bottom. Caisson layers of curved cast iron plates were progressively added as the structure was dug deeper

into the bottom. Once the excavation depth was reached, the chamber and subsurface voids were filled with cement and stone to keep the structure from floating. Riprap was placed around some to protect against scour. So, what structure is at the caisson lighthouses to fish?

Site 1 Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light (1873) was the first caissonstyle lighthouse constructed in the Chesapeake Bay using the float in, sink, dredge in, and fill technique. It’s constructed on deep, soft bottom which precluded placement of rock. The biofouled vertical sides are the fishing structure.

Site 2 Baltimore Light (1908) pneumatic caisson sits off the mouth of the Magothy River. Coast Guard historical records report that the chosen site was

# Chart 1: General location of caisson lighthouses and other structures.

found to have 55’ of semi-fluid mud above a stable sand layer. A storm pushed the caisson over onto its side during initial construction and the contractor went out of business. The caisson was eventually righted and dredged down to 82’ below the surface where it encountered sand and sits on 91 pilings driven into the bottom. The biofouled caisson iron plates are the fishing structure at this lighthouse.

Site 3 Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse (1883) sits on a wooden caisson foundation which was sunk only three feet into the bottom. We learn from the Coast Guard’s historical registry nomination that during a 1901 routine inspection, including the taking of soundings around the station, an extensive scour in the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse was discovered below the foot of the caisson. Within a few weeks it had enlarged nearly necessitating an emergency treatment. In 1902 about 670 cubic yards of riprap was laid around the foundation to prevent further bottom scouring.

Huge rocks are around the base and also away from the base (Image 1). There’s also an object that looks like the wreck of

a small open boat nestled against a large rock. When fishing here, in addition to fishing the caisson, try jigging the rocks away from the caisson. Using older, beatup jigs is a good idea; it hurts less when they are lost.

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Site 4 Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse (1882) is an entirely different type of caisson structure. This is a fabricated cast iron lighthouse and caisson in a single structure with the bottom filled with cement. The structure leans slightly to-

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# Image 1: Side-scan sonar screenshot of riprap scour protection at Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse. Courtesy of Nick Garrott, Sonar Pros.

wards the northwest as a result of scouring that occurred in 1883. Riprap was placed on the northwest side but disappeared, possibly settling into soft sediment. Heavy brush mattresses were then laid around the base to stabilize the bottom and held in place by a covering of small stones. In 1885, 760 tons of large rock were placed around the base. The scour apron was visible at low tide at that time, but today depths are charted at seven feet. The light structure and rocky bottom sometimes attract stripers and are worth checking out when passing by.

Site 5 Sharps Island Lighthouse (1882) is another fabricated “coffee-pot-style” cast iron caisson and lighthouse structure. It sits in sand and has no rock protection. Pressure from heavy winter ice in the 1970s pushed the light over leaving the leaning tower we see today. The now long-abandoned caisson has cracks and is in poor condition. A cast iron ladder broke off on the southwest side and is lying on the bottom. Ebb currents and northerly winds create strong currents around the base. Yet, there doesn’t appear to be much if any scour. Tossing a live spot on a

weighted line on the up-current side and letting it fall back to the light sometimes produces. Some seasons speckled trout have also been known to gather around the lighthouse in the heat of summer.

Site 6 Southeast of the Sharps Island lighthouse ruins is an icebreaker that protected the former Sharps Island screwpile lighthouse until heavy ice swept the structure away with the keepers inside during 1881. The wooden house floated for five miles before grounding, enabling the keepers to escape a watery grave. The “detached” icebreaker consisted of three wrought-iron screwpiles that were braced together and 200 cubic yards of riprap placed around them. The now submerged rockpile is just east northeast of the navigation marker. Rockfish and bluefish commonly cruise the area but there are only a few feet of water over the rocks, so approach cautiously.

Site 7 Hambrooks Bar Warning Daybeacon in the Choptank River was a cement-filled caisson light structure that has rocks around the cylinder as scour

protection. The abandoned structure was planned for demolition, but that hasn’t occurred. Some of the rocks cover at high water levels. So, there’s a rockpile to cast to.

Site 8 Hoopers Island Lighthouse (1902), not to be confused with Hooper Strait Light, is a pneumatic caisson structure which is surrounded by riprap to prevent scour. During construction 300 tons of riprap were placed and augmented by a second placement of an unspecified quantity of stone.

Site 9 Over at Hooper Strait Light, which is now a skeletal steel structure that replaced a screwpile lighthouse, there’s a submerged rockpile just northwest of the tower. Its location isn’t specifically charted, although the riprap symbol on paper and raster charts provides a general warning. Based on the rockpile’s location relative to the light structure, down-Bay ice floe movement through the strait, and its round mound shape, a best guess is that the rockpile was an icebreaker rather than stone placed under the former screwpile lighthouse. However, if the latter, then that would be where the light was located. Approach carefully from a safe direction.

Site 10 Point No Point Light (1905) on the west side of the Bay off Point No Point suffered numerous mishaps during construction of the pneumatic caisson structure. At one point, the wooden caisson with three tiers of iron plates attached was moored to a temporary pier which collapsed during a gale. The second and third tiers broke off. The caisson floated down the Bay before being recovered off the Rappahannock River. After repair, the caisson was towed to the site and sunk, and secured in some manner with 225 tons of riprap.

# Image 2: Various caisson light structures. Left photos by Author. BAG screenshots from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer. Bottom right historical photo – U.S. Coast Guard photo

Since sand hogs had to work inside the chamber, rocks were probably placed around the caisson to keep it from being displaced. Although the caisson survived a heavy ice year during construction, the replacement construction pier didn’t. An air compressor, boiler, cement, and stone were lost when it was carried away.

At least three objects are about 40 yards northeast of the caisson. The two curved features on the bottom are charted as an obstruction and suggest they’re the lost cast iron plates. A circular mound is about 45 yards to the southeast, possibly the site of the lost construction equipment and materials. So, there are multiple spots here to check for fish. If they’re not productive, there are artificial reefs to the southwest inside the Point No Point Fish Haven.

Site 11 Solomons Lump Lighthouse (1895) pneumatic caisson has 300 tons of riprap scour protection in addition to the caisson.

Site 12 Smith Point Lighthouse (1897) has a pneumatic caisson plus scour protection. About 825 tons of rock mined from Virginia’s Occoquan River were deposited around the base, but much of this rock has been displaced away from the lighthouse itself. It continues to provide excellent marine habitat.

Site 13 Pungoteague Light (1908) was another small concrete-filled caisson light which is now a ruin. It was protected by a rock breakwater on the west side. All that’s left is a listing caisson and the now submerged rockpile.

Site 14 Wolf Trap Light (1894) has the pneumatic caisson and 300 tons of scour protection.

Site 15 Thimble Shoal Lighthouse (1914) is a pneumatic caisson structure protected by a massive quantity of riprap. Some rock displacement has occurred and a large scour developed off the southeast

side, but most of the rock is still around the caisson.

Site 16 Middle Ground Lighthouse (1891) at Newport News has a very deep foundation protected by about 1000 cubic yards of riprap. The light receives the full force of flood and ebb currents, and massive scour holes have developed. Much of the riprap has been displaced. The structure is in the center of Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s Middle Ground Reef, which has been extensively developed with demolition materials, reef balls, and other reef structures.

Most Bay caisson lighthouses were declared surplus by the Coast Guard and sold by the General Services Administration to private bidders, or were abandoned. However, the Coast Guard retained an easement for navigational lighting at most. Each of the lights described offers fishing opportunities. Productivity may vary, but each deserves a place in your prospecting playbook.

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.”

POP ROCKS: POPPING CORKS for Beginners

By Staff

Popping corks are a great option for shallow water fishing

In recent years the changing Bayscape has led to a greater intermingling of northern and southern species than we Chesapeake dwellers have ever seen before. From the Bay Bridge clear down to the CBBT, shallow water anglers might pick up a combination of redfish, rockfish, and speckled sea trout on any given day. And since these three predators all enjoy slurping up the same sorts of goodies, you might catch any one of the three while casting lures like soft plastics, small spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, or even topwater. Another option that shines in certain scenarios is fishing a popping cork, a southern technique which has tremendous popularity in Virginian waters and in recent years has been catching on more and more in Maryland as well.

What Is a Popping Cork?

A popping cork is essentially a big foam bobber that has a tube in the middle with a stiff wire running through it, and beads that slide on the wire above and below the cork. The cork slides freely up and down the wire. When an angler jerks the line to “pop” the cork, it slides back and forth banging the beads. This creates a clicking and clacking sound. Some popping corks also have a concave top, so they pop or chug more or less like a topwater popper.

As you might expect, all that clicking, clacking, chugging commotion is believed to draw the fish’s attention. And tied two or three feet below that cork is your offering, following said commotion. The predator heads for the action, sees the

lure, and attacks—or so we hope. When the cork gets pulled under the water’s surface, you know to set the hook and the fight is on.

While there are a million and one theories out there about how and why popping corks are so effective, listening to underwater recordings of predator fish feeding can prove illuminating. Odd as it seems the dominant sound is mostly clicking and clacking, which many people believe is the reason why lures with rattles inside can prove so productive. The science on this is limited and some researchers have claimed that most of the noise made by rattling lures is outside of the fish’s hearing

range, so we’re not about to stake any claims as to the facts behind the function. But one thing is for sure: popping corks do in fact work.

How To Rig a Popping Cork

A loop is bent into each end of the popping cork’s wire, giving you top and bottom attachment points. You can use a swivel or quick-clip but most anglers will tie their mainline directly to the top loop, then tie their leader to the bottom loop. Choose leader length according to

# Popping corks come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

time two or three feet will be best, though sometimes leaders as short as 18” or as long as four feet will prove ideal. Most of the time 15-pound test is plenty of strength for the leader, though some anglers bump it up to 20 or even 25 if large fish are around.

What you tie onto the end of that leader is a matter of great debate. Many anglers choose either a three-or four-inch paddletail on a quarter-ounce to half-ounce jighead. Many others use plastic shrimp. And some anglers opt for the real thing and use fresh shrimp or live minnow on a jig head.

You’ll notice that popping corks come in all sorts of bright colors, and it’s a good idea to get a few different ones. Cork color usually won’t make a difference to the fish, but it will make it easy for you to ID which rig is which and quickly switch between them as you fish different rods. Sometimes something as subtle as a few inches of leader length or a different jig head can make a difference, and if all your corks are the same it can be hard to tell one rig from the next.

How To Fish a Popping Cork

When fishing the shallows for fish like reds, specks, and rock, the traditional southern tactic works great: two or three pops followed by a pause. The length of the pause is generally three to five seconds, and this is usually when the strike will come. If that cork takes a dive, set the hook immediately.

Try faster and slower cadences through the course of a day because at different

Added Bonus!

Popping corks come with an added advantage over most other options you might pick: they add an ounce or two to the overall rig, so you can cast them a country mile.

times and in different places fish will respond more or less to a cork that’s fished faster or slower. When you get a strike try to mimic the cadence you were using, and keep experimenting until you can nail down the cadence that the fish want most at any given time.

Popping corks can also be incredibly effective on Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and stripers when these fish are schooled up and breaking water, but in this scenario speed up the retrieve and forget about the pause entirely. Instead, cast out as far as possible then crank the cork back at fast speeds while constantly popping. But if mackerel and blues are in the mix make sure you swap out that lure for something that’s bite-proof, first, or they’ll slice and dice their way through a bag of tails in short order.

When To Fish Popping Corks

Popping corks can work in most shallow water fishing scenarios, but where they shine the brightest is fishing around weedbeds. Often it’s impossible to fish a jig or plug effectively over weedbeds without becoming fouled. Sometimes you can rip

an offering across the surface and keep it out of the weeds, but you may need to retrieve faster than optimal to do so. Instead, tie on that popping cork and trim the leader so your offering is suspended just above the top of the weeds. You’ll rarely become fouled, and that pop-pop-pause allows you to work the lure along at a reasonable pace.

Another prime scenario for popping corks is casting around shallow oyster bars or similar structure. Again, the key feature is that it keeps your lure or bait near the target depth without becoming fouled.

As for open-water use, save the corks until you see fish thrashing on the surface. Generally speaking it will only prove effective when fish are schooled up and breaking, and you know where to cast to bring the cork right through the frenzy.

Okay: are you ready to catch more of those reds, specks, and rock? You have lots of options to make it happen, and one you don’t want to miss out on is tossing a popping cork—no matter where in the Bay you do your casting.

# This redfish fell for a white paddletail fished over a weedbed, two feet under a popping cork.

Wade-fishing

for Smallmouth Bass

Let’s get our feet wet and learn how to wade for sweetwater smallies in our region’s rivers.

By Adam Greenberg

If you’ve never been waist deep in a river battling with an angry smallmouth as he barrels his way downstream, don’t fret. In just a few minutes, you’ll have everything you need to start wade-fishing for smalljaws. Smallmouth bass are not only one of America’s most sought-after freshwater gamefish, but one of my favorites to target as well. With their oval body

shape, bronze backs, and vertical black bars and/or spots, these fish are as gorgeous as they are feisty. They smash lures with a purpose and rip drag with a vengeance. But, perhaps the coolest part about these fish is how often they jump while hooked. An acrobatic smallie on the line is enough to get any anglers’ adrenaline pumping.

What’s more, smallmouth bass are accessible to nearly everyone. No boat is needed, just your own two feet. Let’s take our first step into the river and get pumped to wade-fish for smallies.

Safety First

In whichever river you choose to start wading, understanding the

# This small but mighty specimen clobbered a spinnerbait nearly half its size.

# The author holds up a smallie that smacked a jerkbait during an autumn wade.

potential risks and how to manage and prevent them is paramount. First and foremost, it is highly advised to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) in fast-flowing water. River currents can get nasty, and one wrong step may suck you into an undertow. Something low profile like a self-inflating PFD works well, as it’s lightweight and won’t restrict movement.

While not always necessary in the summertime when the air is hot and the water is refreshingly cool, some situations—like in spring or fall— may call for you to strap on a pair of waders. A wading belt is an essential addition to your outfit. If you slip and your waders fill up with water, the weight may pull you down beneath the surface and cause an immediate risk of drowning. A wading belt is a strap that goes around your body, somewhere between the waist and middle torso, and cinches the waders tight. This will prevent your waders from filling up should you take a spill.

It’s likely you’ll want to bring a backpack of some sort to store your tackle, snacks, and whatever else you may bring on a fishing outing, and a first aid kit is a pivotal piece of equipment that should be packed every time. Stash it in a waterproof bag along with your cell phone.

A few more safety precautions to take when wading any river: test before you invest, listen to your gut, and leave a “float” plan. Always make sure to check the stability of whatever rock, log, or mud flat you plan to walk over before you invest your full body weight and risk falling. Use one foot to see if it’s a stable place to walk, then decide whether or not to proceed. Your decision making should be influenced by your gut feeling. It’s an instinct humans have had for all of our existence, so if your gut tells you “danger, danger!” do not disobey. Finally, leave a plan with a trusted friend or family member as to where you’re going and when you plan to return. That way, if anything does happen to you, someone will know where to send help.

Gear and Tackle

Social media and the professional bass industry will tell you that there are 20 different rods to have for 20 different tactics or techniques, but when wadefishing this is simply impractical. I like to carry a single 7’0” to 7’6” spinning rod with medium or medium-light power and fast or extra-fast action. The long rod will give you a boost in casting distance, which is great for covering water you may not be able to reach due to depth, ripping current, or other hazards. The selected rod power will be extremely versatile and allow you to throw both light lures like Ned rigs and heavier topwaters, while the faster action will allow for utmost sensitivity when bouncing jigs or crankbaits over rocks. A 2500 size spinning reel spooled up with eight- or 10-pound braid is ideal, with an eight- to 12-pound fluorocarbon leader.

There’s a plethora of lures that one can use to trick a smallmouth bass. One of the most effective and easy to fish is the spinnerbait. The flashing blades and flaring skirt are an irresistible presentation. A similar but more compact option is a chatterbait. Both can be fished using a straight retrieve, but don’t be afraid to add some erratic action by sweeping or popping your rod tip.

When fish are holding closer to the bottom, a finesse jig or Ned rig is the best bet. Pair both with a soft plastic craw or creature bait, and slowly drag or hop the lure along the bottom mixing in occasional pauses. A green pumpkin color works great in clear water, and dark colors like black do well in dirtier water.

Lipped baits like square-bill crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits are also classic offerings for smallies, especially over rocky bottom. Cast out the crankbait and burn it back, pausing each time you feel it bump a rock. That pause will allow the bait to float over the potential snag, and oftentimes this is when the fish strike. Jerkbaits are best for when the bass start to get finicky, or when the water is cooler in spring or fall. Start off with a few turns of the reel to get the lure down to its running

depth, then begin a twitch-twitchpause cadence. Some days they’ll want to chase, and a one- to three-second pause does the trick. Other times, however, smallies want to eat with their eyes first. Use a longer pause (up to 30 seconds) and allow that plug to suspend in the water column. Look at a bird, check your phone, pick your nose, whatever—but hold on tight because at any minute that fish might decide your jerkbait is a decent enough snack.

Finally, and perhaps most exciting, is topwater lures. One of the easiest to fish is a plopper. These lures are cigarshaped and equipped with a propeller at the back, allowing them to make a “plopping” sound as they’re pulled in on a steady retrieve. Early morning, dusk, and overcast days are best for these surface baits, and the way a smallmouth blasts out of the water to eat one is simply incredible.

Where To Catch Smallmouth Bass

The non-tidal portions of Bay tribs like the Susquehanna, Potomac, and James Rivers are prime smallmouth waters, and most of the rivers west of I95 that are larger than a creek will have some level of smallmouth population. Areas that are lush with grass and peppered with boulders are prime.

The key to finding fish while wading is to look for structure. Vegetation is a great place to target with a chatterbait or plopper. Bring your lure along the edge of the grass line where a hungry smallie will be waiting to pounce. Eddies or areas where current goes from fast to slow above rocky bottom are great places to throw a crankbait or spinnerbait. Cast upstream and make sure to reel fast enough to keep up with the moving water. If you find isolated boulders, make a few casts with your jig or Ned rig, making sure to let it sit on the bottom for a moment before you start hopping or dragging.

Be safe, have fun, and go immerse yourself in the magic of wading for smallmouth bass—it’s an angling experience you won’t forget!

Rocktober Blues

As fall sets in don’t expect angling to get easy… yet.

By Lenny Rudow

The month of Rocktober used to bring wide-open bites with frenzied fish churning water under diving birds all up and down the Bay. And this year we might see that happen, but during the last few seasons finding October rockfish has been downright tough. Bird shows have been far fewer and farther between than in years past, and it hasn’t been until Rockvember that the big fall bite really busted loose.

What gives? Maybe it’s the reduced numbers of striped bass in the Bay, maybe it’s a warming climate, or maybe it’s some other factor we can’t lay our finger on. The bottom line: the “why” part of the equation is rather moot when all you really want to do is just go out there and catch some fish. And hopefully the weather patterns of 2025 will bring back awesome October action and this entire conversation will be moot, too. But if history holds and October ends up being a tougher than expected month for catching rockfish, apply these tactics to boost your catch rate.

1. If the bird shows aren’t happening in a big way, keep your focus on individual fish and small pods of fish found near shorelines, shallow structure, and tributary mouths. Yes, we’re used to this month offering up an open water bite for schooled fish, but if Mother Nature isn’t cooperating and the fish haven’t shifted into that pattern yet you can’t force it to happen. Focus on the pre-schooled fish, however, and you’ll likely discover that you can still get steady bites.

2. Watch the bait. The bait in the creeks, that is, to keep tabs on when the bite shifts to open water. Many anglers start looking out in open water because the calendar says it’s time, but as the past few seasons have taught us, the calendar simply isn’t reliable. What is reliable is the transition of baby bunker from the creeks, to the rivers, to the open Bay—and the fact that rockfish follow them and gather up as the bait gathers up. If you see swarms of bunker at the dock way up a creek or river, that’s a pretty good indication that the rockfish probably haven’t shifted patterns and schooled up yet. After some chilly

# We’re all waiting for that open water bite to crank up, but you can’t force it to happen

nights set in and the bait’s pushed out of there, you know the rockfish will likely be on the move, too.

3. When you find fish and they won’t bite, reach for everything in the tacklebox. There have been times in the past few seasons when you’d see fish on the meter or sidescan and couldn’t buy a bite to save your life. Anglers who swapped out lures one for the next as opposed to casting the same thing over and over again were often the ones who went home happy. Rat-L-Traps, small spinnerbaits, small silver jigging spoons, and three-inch pumpkinseed/chartreuse paddletails

# Stick around for sunset—or get started at sunset and stick around all night—and you have a better shot at catching fish.

are a few examples of lures that saw their moments in the spotlight at different times last season. In each case, the specific one that worked only worked for a few days then the fish seemed to change their minds about what they wanted to hit. The trick to keeping the hits coming was constantly swapping out your offerings until you found something that the fish would bite on that particular day.

4. Stay out late. For several years in a row we’ve seen an October bite that seemed to want to crank up here and there but quickly lost steam from one day to the next. The one commonality? When fish did school up and bust bait, it was in the last half hour (or even 15 minutes) of daylight. If the pattern holds the worst thing you could

do is start running home at 5:30 for dinner. At the beginning of October the sun sets just before 7 p.m. and by the end of the month sunset will be right around 6 p.m. Check all your lights and headlamps to be sure everything is in working order, and plan to keep casting until you have to turn them all on.

5. Go night fishing in a trib. Often rockfish in the tribs feed best at night during the warmer months of the year, and may continue this practice right up until they shift into “real” fall patterns. There have been periods in recent Octobers when we heard from plenty of anglers who were singing the blues after fishing all day long, yet at the very same time we were also hearing about a red-hot bite for

fishermen who started casting after the sun had gone down. Stick with live baits or dark colored lures and fish light-lines around bridges and illuminated piers, and there’s a good chance you’ll discover that the night bite is the right bite.

Are you ready to rumble with the rockfish this Rocktober?

We certainly hope so, because Rockvember is still one long month away. And although the fishing has been tough during this month for the past few seasons, if you modify your tactics to meet the moment you can still celebrate this Chesapeake holiday the oldfashioned way—with a rockfish on the end of your line.

Jumping into Pooles

The action at Pooles Island can get frantic in the fall.

By Lenny Rudow

The waters around Pooles Island look like any other in Chesapeake Bay, but the fishing around this little chunk of dry land is anything but normal. Pooles has a rich history, having been home to a gunpowder factory during the Revolutionary War, being occupied by the British during the war of 1812, and hosting an orchard famed for growing “Pooles Island Best” peaches. From World War I through the 1960s the island served as target practice for the military. But it’s the history of dredging that’s had the biggest impact for anglers.

Both removal of deposits (to dredge up fossilized oyster shell for spat planting) and disposal of deposits (sediment from around the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal approach channel) have taken place in close proximity to Pooles. And although these activities ended decades ago as their environmental costs became clear, they left

behind a bottom with some of the most dramatic depth changes and contours in all of the Chesapeake.

To the west, north, and south, most of the bottom is more or less as one would expect with relatively gradual slopes and changes. To the east, however, the humps and edges are downright radical. There are cliff-like drops from less than 10’ to more than 30’ and shallow humps surrounded by deep troughs. Watch the numbers that pop up on your depth finder as you idle between the island and the channel and you’ll see strings of digits shooting up and down with little apparent rhyme or reason: 25-8-15-6-32-9. And if you’re watching the LCD screen as you wander these waters you’ll also very likely see clusters of fish hanging around these edges.

For a solid decade after the rockfish moratorium ended Pooles was known for holding some of the best fall fishing on all of Chesapeake Bay—maybe

THE best. Although live-lined spot and perch probably account for more of the catch these days, back then eeling was the ticket and the tactic commonly produced 28” to 36” fish in tremendous numbers. On weekends fleets of boats were at times so thick you’d have to push off another boat with one hand while you dropped your line with the other. Over time that bite dropped out, and Pooles dropped out of the angling headlines. In recent years, however, a good fall bite has at times rematerialized at these humps and bumps—just not necessarily always for rockfish. Depending on the season and the timing, there’s been a mix of rock and monster blue catfish popping off at Pooles.

Searching the Shoals for Stripers

No doubt every angler who fishes here on a regular basis has their own favorite hump or bump, but you might find the fish on any of the dramatic

Rigged and Ready

Standard rigs for eeling consist of an egg sinker on the mainline above a swivel, followed by three to four feet of 40- to 50-pound leader, tied off to a 6/0 or larger circle hook. Since smaller hooks seem to result in gut-hooking more often, we’d recommend using an 8/0 or larger hook (which does not seem to reduce the bites). Load up an eel by hooking in through the bottom jaw and out through the top. Live-liners armed with spot can slide the hook through the same way, or anchor up after locating some fish and hook through the back behind the dorsal fin.

drop-offs here. At times they may be right up on top of a shoal. Savvy anglers will stay rigged and ready to drop lines at any moment, go on the hunt, and spend much of their time searching as opposed to dropping lines at any old drop-off. Set up an east-west pattern and zigzag your way slightly northward or southward as you make each pass, staring at the fishfinder screen. When you spot some fish, unless the marks are magnificent try circling back and take a peek at the same shoal or edge from a slightly different perspective. And when arches fill the screen jump into action.

Position your boat up-current or upwind of the fish (depending on which force is stronger), far enough to get your lines down before being swept by the fish, then send the rigs down to bottom. As you drift take in and let out line to account for the changing depths as you wait for the telltale thump-thump-thump of a rockfish sucking in your offering. Or if live-lining finfish, you may want to (precision) anchor or Spot-Lock right over the fish.

Singing the Blues

If you’d rather target blue cats you can try cut bait as opposed to livies, but note that you’re likely to catch this species whatever you might be offering up—and at times during recent years fishing eels has been the ticket to catching big blues. If they’re your focus, however, note that you’ll often do best when using

a Santee Cooper rig with a float added to the leader. Blue catfish tend to hunt just up off the bottom a hair, and having that float will at times be the key to success. Most anglers targeting the blues will also anchor up as opposed to drifting, and fan-cast several lines out off either side of the boat.

Thanks to that crazy bottom, fishing at Pooles is as unique as the island’s history. And at times, it will be just as rich, too. So make a little angling history of your own and pay a visit to these awesome Upper Bay humps, bumps, troughs, and shoals.

Size Matters

If you’re looking to catch slot fish as opposed to catching and releasing over-slots (be gentle on those bigger fish, folks!) and you plan on eeling, choose the smallest eels possible. Large eels are generally eaten by larger fish, and a 19” to 24” rockfish usually won’t tangle with an eel much thicker than your pinkie.

# The humps, bumps, and troughs found here are as dramatic as you’ll see in all of Chesapeake Country.

# Fishing at Pooles has changed through the years—many years. (Photo circa 1995). Today it remains a prime Upper Bay fall hotspot.

Annapolis Powerboat ShowSpecial

The Annapolis Boat Show is here! The Annapolis Boat Show is here!

By Staff

You say you plan on wrangling those rockfish and chasing the cobia from a red-hot new fishing boat next season, but you’re not sure what to get? Never fear, dear boat shopper: the Annapolis Powerboat Show is coming. Or, it may already be her depending on when you picked up this edition of FishTalk. We went to press about two weeks before the show and this October edition will remain on the racks until after the show has started—so we hope it’s not too late. Quick! Check the date! Is it October 6? If so, ARGH and DARN! But hopefully that date hasn’t arrived just yet and as your eyes dart back and forth from these pages to the calendar you’ll be relieved to discover that you haven’t missed the show. WOOHOO! Let’s go boat shopping.

What’s New

If you’re a perennial boat show goer, rest assured, the 2025 show will have plenty of new attractions to keep the experience fresh. Mimosas, anyone? They’ll start flowing at 10 a.m. for those who partake in the VIP experience and hit the VIP lounge, which now offers all-day catering. If beer is more your style, we have some excellent news: Pherm Brewing has crafted a unique Boat Show Brew (which is all about enjoying the open air and sunshine we enjoy on boats, but absolutely, positively, does not taste like fiberglass) just for this event.

Since the harbormaster’s office building is now gone there will now be a bit more elbow room inside the show grounds. And this year FishTalk Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow will be on

hand both Friday and Saturday for a 2 p.m. seminar on light tackle jigging for rockfish in Rocktober, which is free to show-goers. Some other cool seminars include “Crabbing for Newbies” and “How to Keep Your Boat Looking Like New,” so visit the Education tab at the Annapolis Boat Show website and check out the full schedule.

The new things we care about the most, of course, are the cool new fishing boats. If you haven’t yet seen the uberfishy yet uber-comfy Grady-White 281 CE, head for Grady-White’s display. Brown Dog Marine will be there with the Pair Customs 28, one of the most rugged new center consoles on the Bay today. An entire new generation of Parkers will be on hand at the Tri-State Marine display with a mix of center consoles and cabin boats, ranging from

# Just look at all those glorious center consoles—a sight that will warm any angler’s heart. Photo courtesy of Annapolis Boat Shows.

Free Daily Seminars

The Boat Show will feature daily seminars presented by show partners. Seminars are free for all attendees to enjoy and are located by the Compromise Street entrance by the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel. You can find them on the map by looking for the large ‘S.’ Be sure to check the Boat Show website for any scheduling changes and/or updates. Catch the angler in chief giving FishTalk’s at these times:

Friday, October 3

• 2-2:45 p.m. Light Tackle

Jigging for Rockfish in Rocktober. Presented by Lenny Rudow of FishTalk Magazine.

Saturday, October 4

• 2-2:45 p.m. Light Tackle

Jigging for Rockfish. Presented by Lenny Rudow of FishTalk Magazine.

the new 18SE to the 2900 CC. If you want to try tossing light tackle from the biggest bow casting deck around go see the Caymas 281, in attendance at North Point Yacht Sales. Peek at the Sailfish center and dual console models that will be on hand courtesy of Galahad Marine Sales. Or take a look at the alwaysimpressive Sportsman lineup and their numerous center consoles courtesy of Riverside Marine. And if you want to

check out fishing machines with the latest boat construction tech found on the face of the planet, head for the Solace Boats display.

One other cool fishing boat you’ll want to check out—although it’s anything but new—is the U.S. Navy YP boat, which will be on display at the show and open to the public. Although YP boats are used for training purposes these days, they originated in San Diego shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked, when the Navy converted tuna fishing boats for military use.

On top of what’s new, as usual you can count on seeing booth after booth of marine products ranging from fenders to anchors; display after display of marinas, associations, and clubs; and services like boat detailing, repairs, and financing. If new electronics are in your future be sure to swing by BOE

# Stop by and meet Team FishTalk/PropTalk at Land 22

Marine, too. Check out the On Display tab at the Annapolis Boat Shows website for the complete listing.

Details, Details

The show opens at 10 a.m. Thursday October 2 for Preview Day, and runs until 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday the show is open during the same hours, and Sunday it closes at 5 p.m. General admission is $32 ($45 for Preview Day), kids seven to 15 get in for $10, and kids six and under are free. Sunday is military personnel day with tickets for military members reduced to $22. There’s a box office by the Dock Street entrance, or you can avoid the line by ordering your e-tickets online. Parking is available in the downtown garages, however, it fills up fast; most days shuttle buses will be running from the NavyMarine Corps Memorial Stadium, where day-of parking is $30 or pre-paid spots are $23 (see Parking Information at the Annapolis Boat Shows website to pre-order). On Saturday parking shifts to the Board of Education at 2644 Riva Rd and is cash only ($15).

Whether you’re looking to buy a cool new fishing machine, you need to find a new marina or marine services, or you just love checking out the latest and greatest boats to hit the water, don’t miss the Annapolis Powerboat Show. Unless you’re reading this on October 6. In that case… ARGH and DARN!

# Whatever style of fishing machine fits your needs, you can bet you’ll find it at the show. Photo courtesy of Annapolis Boat Shows.

CHESAPEAKE AND MID-ATLANTIC

FISHING FORECAST

Gathered from our reports by Dillon Waters

Editor’s Note: 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.

# October will likely be our last shot at those big redfish for the 2025 season, and Isiah closed out October a few years back with this nice catch.

Coastal

October is a month of change along the coast, and let’s hope the weather allows us to enjoy changes like daytime sword fishing, the possibility of double-digit tuna and/or marlin, and the appearance of some fall wahoo. This month is also an excellent time for surf fishing, as a wide range of species moves in close to the beach. Bull reds made an excellent showing last season, and by the month’s end a trickle of the first few big rockfish were showing up as well, so let’s hope 2025 brings more of the same type of action.

Freshwater

As long as we don’t get a major weather event riling things up this month should provide some of the peak action of the year for freshwater anglers. Every species that swims will be in fatten-up mode as the weather cools off, and those falling temps will allow predators to move shallow and stay shallower longer as they go on the hunt.

Way North

If you want to catch a mega-cat, this month offers the best potential in the lower reaches of the Susquehanna as well as in the northern Bay. Of course, many anglers will be focused on the striper bite. If the past is any indication the dam pool and the Flats will both be hot zones, with smallmouth bass and walleye spicing up the action below the dam. Also keep your eye on the Turkey Point area, which produced good numbers of rockfish last October.

Upper Bay

Rocktober is on, people, and let’s hope that this year we don’t have to wait for Rockvember before the action really heats up. We’re expecting the mouth of the Patapsco, the Hodges area, and Love Point to all become potential hotspots this month. But don’t forget that at this time last year many anglers also found success in a completely different way: by targeting snakeheads and pickerel in the Western Shore creeks.

Middle Bay

Will it be Rocktober, or October and then Rockvember? We don’t know as of yet, but many will recall that last year October was a great time to try perch fishing. Note that the best striper action during the month took place in the last hour of daylight, when fish did turn on in multiple locations including Eastern Bay and Chesapeake Beach even though anglers fishing the same areas earlier in the day had trouble getting bites.

Lower Bay

Hopefully the reds and specks will hang around a bit longer, and in 2024 this was still a good month for targeting those species from the Potomac south. Monster bluefish are also likely to be on a tear, considering that they’ve been in the area and last year when October rolled around there were some majorleague choppers busting water. And, of course, we’ll all be waiting to see just how the rockfish action cranks up— Virginia waters open up on the fourth of the month.

# You can bet that Fishing reports editor Dillon Waters is ready for Rocktober to begin.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore

It’s time for prime fall action in the shallows, people. Specks, reds, and stripers should all come into prime form this month, and we can expect surface-busting explosions on topwater to extend beyond the sunrise then crank up again prior to sunset. Some holdout bull reds could still be around, too, and last October they were still being caught right up to mid-month.

Way South

This is a red-hot time of year at the mouth of the Bay, but get your angling action in now because October will almost certainly be your last shot at the migratory species that don’t appreciate the cold. The bull reds and sheepshead currently swarming the CBBT may disappear before the month is out, but there’s a flip side to this coin, too: this is usually when tautog pick up the pace. Have you got your crab baits yet?!?

Yakkings of a Boat Angler

By Lenny Rudow

Oh, my aching knees… Earlier this year I put in two days in a row on a Native Slayer, including three or so miles pedaling against oceanic-strength currents and gusty winds at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Fortunately, this was during one of our many recent heat waves, so it was around 100 degrees in the shade. Of which there is none on a kayak. I might have come through the ordeal in better shape if I hadn’t been trying to keep up with a group of 20-somethings. That said, I did survive (just barely), and I did learn a thing or two about being a boat angler transitioning to kayak fishing. First and foremost, I learned to schedule future long-distance tidal kayak fishing excursions with people of my own age group. But also:

• Don’t keep your net behind you, even if it’s obvious and convenient to drop the handle into an aft holder, because it will be uber-tough to access while fighting a

fish. Instead, once you get where you’re going rest it on the bow where you can easily grab for it.

• Don’t just take your boat rods and go, because many of them have butts that are uncomfortably long for use on a kayak. Sit in the backyard in your kayak and try a few practice casts, and you may find that half of your usual armaments are less than ideal.

• When using live fiddler crabs for sheepshead bait keep them in a bucket inside of the cooler. Whatever you do, don’t try putting them into a bag because they’ll scramble right out. Once they’re loose these things are very tough to catch, and if they hit the deck of the kayak they’ll instantly disappear through a scupper hole.

• Use some self-restraint when choosing tackle. I failed to do so, instead trying

to cover all the bases—and then some—by bringing multiple tackleboxes and stowing them here, there, and everywhere. As a result, half the time I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Eventually I ditched most of the stuff and consolidated a few items from three boxes and a bag into one box. It may have meant carrying less, but I was able to utilize what I did have much better.

• Slow and steady wins the race. Try to pedal hard to reach the hotspot (or beat out the youngins) and you’ll crush yourself instantaneously. But if you settle into a comfortable, mellow rhythm, you can pedal pretty much all day.

Did I have fun on this calorie-combusting adventure? Absolutely, even if those kids did out-fish me, and maybe they even giggled a time or two at my expense. But when I got back home and saw my boat, I hugged it. #

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

BROKER SERVICES

Yacht Brokers of Annapolis From cruising the Potomac River in his powerboat to racing sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay, Drake Bowers loves all aspects of boating. A native of Northern Virginia, he recently graduated from The College of Charleston, where he continued to enjoy life on the water. After returning home, Drake joined the YBOA team working to help clients realize their own boating dreams. Phone: 703.869.8162 Email: Drake@YachtBrokersofAnnapolis.com www.YachtBrokersofAnnapolis.com

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

2019 Alumacraft Competitor 185 CS Yamaha F90XB (44 hours), Load Rite Galvanized Trailer, Bimini Top, Mooring Cover, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, Infinity Stereo, Yamaha 9.9 Kicker Engine, Live Well, Bow Casting Chair, Humminbird Helix 12, Carpet Flooring, Trailer Load Guides, Telescoping Boarding Ladder, and more! $22,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21302

2021 Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX Mercury 75Hp 4-Stroke Outboard (118 Hours), Painted trailer, Bimini Top, Mooring Cover, Cockpit Table, PRV-13 Stereo, and more! $22,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21285

2022 Key West Boats 203FS Yamaha F150XB 4-Stroke Outboard, (159 Hours) Loadrite Aluminum Trailer, Garmin GPS, Soft Top, Dual Battery w/ Switch, Trim Tabs, Clarion Stereo, Bow Cushions, Bow Backrests, Transom Cushions, Leaning Post, Bow Filler Cushion, Compass, and more! $49,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21271

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

2006 Parker 2320 Sport Cabin In great condition and well-maintained. New batteries. Has Garmin navigation and sonar. Yamaha 225. Lift kept. $42,500 Call 410.980.9487 or chriszarba@yahoo.com

For more photos, visit: www.tinyurl.com/2006Parker

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

To advertise in the Brokerage and Classified sections, contact beatrice@fishtalkmag.com

2024 Steiger Craft 23 Miami Yamaha F250 Digital Controls (108 Hours), Warranty until 7/20/29, Venture Trailer, Garmin 1243xsv, 2nd Garmin 1243xsv (Exterior of Cockpit), Garmin Fantom Radar, Garmin GT56 Side Scan, Sionyx, Horizon VHF, Bracket, Wiring, and Set-up for future Trolling motor and Humminbird Transducer, Humminbird Solix 10” Screen w/ 2 dedicated transducers, Sea Dek Flooring, Drop Canvas, Helm Tackle Cabinet, Battery Charger, Cabin Hatch, and more! $124,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21256

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

2019 Key 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, HalfTower w/ Second Station, Second Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv 12”, OnBoard Battery Charging System (2-Bank), ShipsDek Custom Flooring, and more! $179,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20563

1990 Sportfish 42’ Twin 3208 cats. 8kw Onan, teak cockpit, transom door, pulpit, centerline queen in owner’s cabin, double berth guest cabin, head w/ walk in shower, galley up, custom allteak interior, hard top on flybridge. $69,000 Potomac River. 704.425.4108

MARKETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS

HELP WANTED

Advertising Sales Representative Are you on a search for the ultimate full-time gig that pays you well, requires you to get out and enjoy the water, where all of your co-workers are super cool, and where flip-flops and shorts are considered business casual? We are in growth mode, and we are looking for that special advertising sales rep who understands how to work and play hard. If you think you will excel in creating sales and marketing solutions for advertisers, then we would love to chat with you. Contact mary@spf-360.com today!

Seeking Part-Time Delivery Driver – Upper Shore Route Reliable driver needed for Maryland magazine deliveries, 3-6 days/month. Route covers Centreville, Chestertown, Rock Hall, Georgetown, Cecilton, Chesapeake City, Elkton, North East, and surrounding towns. Magazines are picked up in Annapolis. Compensation is based on the number of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, a dependable vehicle, and ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Email info@spf-360.com for more information.

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

TACKLE SHOPS

Boating

Welcome to the Team

East Coast Yacht Sales welcomes Nathan Hesse as its newest yacht consultant on the Chesapeake Bay. Nathan joins the team after having served as the acting director and deputy director of the Command and Seamanship Training Squadron at the United States Naval Academy. He brings a wealth of experience teaching safe navigation, on both inshore and offshore waters, and a safety ethos that is reflected in his representation of Targa and Axopar. Both brands are seaworthy and capable craft ready for year-round adventure in a variety of conditions. Nathan is excited to help clients find the right boat for their dream adventures, whether that means cruising to St. Michaels for dinner, anchoring out for the weekend, or embarking on offshore passages. He holds a 100-ton Master’s License and has worked on both private yachts and educational vessels across the Puget Sound, British Colombia, New England, the Chesapeake Bay, Outer Banks, Caribbean, and the Adriatic Sea. While he has spent considerable time offshore, he has a particular passion for Chesapeake workboats, having captained a deadrise for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and a buyboat and skipjack for Echo Hill Outdoor School. Nathan has also been found gunkholing on his classic lobster skiff and cruising with his wife to remote anchorages on the Bay. Nathan’s extensive experience captaining and training others on a variety of boats makes him a tremendous asset to the team in Annapolis.

New Dealer

“East Coast Yacht sales is excited to welcome Nathan to the team as he brings real world adventure to the search for a new boat,” said Ben Knowles, owner of East Coast Yacht Sales. “We see our customers as explorers, trailblazers, and experience-driven adventurers, and Nathan shares in that lifestyle. I am also excited about his background in education as I know that he will be great at guiding our clients to the right boat for what they want to do on the water.” Nathan will be offering new Axopars, sleek boats with all-weather performance, and Targa Yachts, rugged but luxurious heirloom-quality boats that offer longer range, more creature comforts, and timeless design, as well as quality brokerage power and sailing yachts. ecys.com

Rhode River Boat Sales announces the addition of Monterey Boats to its lineup, which already includes Blackfin Boats and Formula Boats, along with two other new brands, Bulls Bay and Pioneer Boats. The addition of Monterey strengthens the company’s offerings and fills a key gap in its selection of high-quality models for every type of boater. David Conner, director of sales at Rhode River Boat Sales, says, “Twenty-five years later, Monterey Boats has returned to Rhode River Boat Sales. As they say, strong partnerships always come back when the time is right— and we couldn’t be happier to welcome Monterey back into our family. Monterey is a family-owned company that we’ve always enjoyed working with. Their innovation consistently keeps them at the forefront of the industry. While many manufacturers chase ultramodern or Euro-style extremes, Monterey strikes the perfect balance—blending timeless, classic lines with just the right number of modern touches. The result is their stunning Elite Series of boats, which truly has no equal in today’s marketplace. Monterey combines the heart and flexibility of a family-owned business with the advanced resources and manufacturing methods expected from a world-class builder. This makes them a perfect match for the values and philosophy of Rhode River Boat Sales. We look forward to building another long and successful relationship with Monterey Boats.” rhoderiverboatsales.net

Retirement and Welcome Aboard

Scott Croft, VP of public relations at BoatUS announced his retirement earlier this summer with this message: “My 23-year journey at Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and my 35-year career in tourism/travel and recreational boating public relations will draw to a close on September 30, as I head into retirement. I am grateful for the friendship given to me, our professional experience together, and possibly the thousand acts of kindness and camaraderie that all contributed to my wonderful PR career. I have felt valued, made an impact, and most importantly, had fun. But as they say, one chapter ends, a new one begins. My wife, April, and I are headed to Saratoga Springs, NY, where I will continue my volunteer work on Hudson River boating issues. I also plan to explore Adirondack lakes and ponds on a small sailboat and maybe cruise the Erie Canal (now celebrating its incredible bicentennial). Yep, I’ll still be 'messing about in boats.' After September 30, I can be reached at dscroft3@gmail.com.”

With this announcement, Croft also shares that Alisha Sheth is the new BoatUS manager of public affairs. He says, “Alisha would be more than welcome to help you with any BoatUS and BoatUS Foundation news and information, whether it be our TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet, helping to remove abandoned derelict vessels from the nation’s shores, speaking up on Capitol Hill, growing boating safety education and saving lives, or other myriad programs, policies, and advocacy that helps make boating better for the nation’s nearly 12 million boat owners and our more than 740,000 BoatUS members. Just like me when I came to BoatUS in 2002, Alisha has over a decade of public relations agency experience. I know she will carry on our Public Affairs mission with the highest service—listening, helping, brainstorming, and getting answers or interviews for the media we serve. Feel free to send her a short note to say hello!” She can be reached at alisha@boatus.com or (703) 245-2300. boatus.com

New Spot To Pick Up FishTalk

Let’s give a warm welcome to this new FishTalk distribution stop!

• Edwards Pharmacy in Centreville, MD

for Classified/Broker Ads

for

*Add a 1” photo to your boat listing for $25 Marketplace Ads Call For Pricing

SCHEDULE

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