Uniquely Grady-White. gradywhite.com
CONTENTS
Features
JA S O N ST E M P L E
50 Ultimate Road Trip Guide to top fishing getaways from coast to coast. RI C BU RNL EY
56
62
68
Cape Lookout Diary North Carolina waters provide a dynamic range of fishing variety.
Valley of the Giants In the Florida Keys, black grouper top the bottomfishing wish list.
BRIAN HORSLEY
D AV I D C O N WAY
A Classic Row with Royalty A taste of history with British Columbia king salmon. T E R R Y W . S H E E LY
On the Cover: Black grouper, tough brawlers and tasty on the table, make anglers fight hard for their dinner. P H O T O B Y A D R I A N G R AY
4 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
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CONTENTS
Departments TALK ON THE DOCK 13 Casts + Blasts 18 Reader’s Catch 20 Salt Water Kids 22 New Gear 24 Conservation Citizen Science !8
RIP CUNNINGHAM
TACTICS + TACKLE 28 Top Trolling Tips Pay attention to five fundamentals for successful trolling. G EO R G E P OV E R O M O
@8
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C H R I S W O O D WA R D
38 First Look Xplor X24 Andros Cobia 280 CC 42 Electronics See For Yourself
“POTENT TROLLING SPREADS UNLEASH FISH-ATTRACTING COMMOTION AND THE ILLUSION OF FORAGE.”
JIM HENDRICKS
46 New Electronics
“TOP T ROLLI NG T IPS ” PAGE 28
$2
FLOAT PLAN 34 Boat Talk Island Time
$6
10 Editorial Home Stretch
&4
G L E N N L AW
48 Top Shot J E S S I C A H AY D A H L RICHARDSON
&8
#4 THIS PRODUCT IS FROM SUSTAINABLY MANAGED FORESTS AND CONTROLLED SOURCES.
74 Fishability SeaVee 450Z Blackfin 302 CC 82 Traveling Fisherman 90 Backcast Who Needs Enemies? DOUG PIKE
SALT WATER SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE Volume 82 Number 5 (ISSN 0036-3618, USPS 478-380) is published eight times annually, including combined June/July, Aug./Sept. and Nov./Dec., by Bonnier Corp., 480 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 236, Winter Park, FL 32789. Copyright 2021 by Bonnier Corp. All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of Bonnier Corp. MAILING LIST: Occasionally, we make portions of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we think might be of interest to you. If you do not want to receive these offers, please advise us at 515-237-3697. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Salt Water Sportsman magazine, P.O. Box 6364, Harlan, IA 51593. Periodicals postage paid at Winter Park and additional mailing offices. Subscription rates: $24.97 for one year, $41.97 for two years and $53.97 for three years. Please add $14 per year for Canadian addresses and $28 per year for all other international addresses. Canada Post Publications agreement number #40612608. Canada Return Mail: IMEX, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 682. Printed in the USA.
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IT TAKES ONLY ONE SMALL CHANGE TO CATCH MORE FISH.
SO WE ADDED SIX.
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Karl Anderson, Gary Caputi, Nick Honachefsky, John McMurray, Mark Sosin REGIONAL EDITORS Ron Ballanti (California), Ric Burnley (DelMarVa), Angelo Cuanang (California), Rick Gaffney (Hawaii), Al Ristori (New York/New Jersey), Robert Sloan (Texas), Dave Vedder (Pacific Northwest) CONTRIBUTORS Carter Andrews, Tim Barker, Richard Gibson, Steve Haefele, James Petrakis, Doug Pike, Robert L. Prince, Steve Sanford PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
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WIN
EDITORIAL
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Home Stretch Summer brings the hope of a new season and a return to normal.
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NOAA Fisheries and Bonnier Corporation are excited to partner again this year to showcase the undaunted passion American anglers have for saltwater UHFUHDWLRQDO ą VKLQJ
NOAA wants you to participate by voting for your favorite SKRWR RI WKH EHVW SKRWRV will be placed into brackets DQG JR KHDG WR KHDG 7KRVH with the most votes will move RQ WR WKH QH[W URXQG Upload your picture and vote for your favorite picture by going to
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hat could be more appealing right the tunnel and the boarding process. Then, as the plane is ready to pull away now than exploring new waters, from the gate, somebody decides they our theme this issue? need to visit the lavatory. So everyone That could be an ill-timed concept sits and waits, and waits, till that person at the moment, but I don’t think so. It’s emerges, makes their way back down certainly irresponsible to sound the the aisle and buckles in. all-clear just yet. But there’s nothing We’re waiting on another hundred particularly irresponsible about keeping million or so to buckle up so we can all the imagination working. get rolling. As we slip past the landmark of a When this whole mess started more year of cautious behavior and COVIDthan a year ago, we talked about social 19-curtailed activity, the whole allure distancing as part and parcel to the anof new waters smacks of a normal we gling mindset. That’s surely gotten a lot haven’t known for a while. of us through this, and perhaps preventExploration, new experiences, the ed an entirely lost year. After all, if you freedom of summer—remember that? get skunked, you don’t give up the game Yeah, so do we, and it sounds great. Summer is upon us. So is great fishing, and quit fishing. The toughest days can only get better with enough from stripers in the Northeast patience, and one thing to the tarpon migration down anglers know is patience. south. Right now, I’d settle for Now, as the end is perhaps an unfettered shot at the same in sight, some of the lessons old experiences on familiar turf. we have learned on the water Discovery and new fisheries Glenn Law It’s been a tough and rely on come into play: sound especially appealing and, year, but better days persistence, patience, with some luck and persistence, are in sight. ingenuity and hope. might be within reach. We look forward to the day when Many of us are beginning cautiously quarantine means waiting to clear to venture out once again, and some customs, a pod refers to a bunch of porof us are hatching plans, if not quite poises surfing a bow wave, and the only yet for next week, at least for the reason to wear a mask is so you don’t get imaginable future. sunburned. As we go to press, somewhere around half of Americans have entered the ranks of the vaccinated. Skeptics and refuseniks to the vaccine line may stretch out the time we have to deal with this and delay getting back to a semblance of normal, or a new normal. GLENN LAW It reminds me of making your way to Editor-in-Chief the airport, through security, through glenn.law@bonniercorp.com EDITOR’S TIP
Through tough times, lessons learned as anglers pay off in a lot of other ways.
10 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
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READER’S AND KIDS’ CATCHES A nice linesider and youngster grip ’n’ grins, page 18 NEW GEAR Hot peepers, tackle, kicks and a backpack, page 22 CONSERVATION You own the best tool for accurate fish counts, page 24
Talk on the Dock Slim Edge Secures Victory at Offshore Championship NEWS LINES P. 13
Offshore World Championship Won by Narrow Margin The battle for the coveted world title came down to the wire.
M I C H E L L E GAY LO R D / O U T YO U R F R O N T D O O R
A
fter four action-packed days, the 2021 Costa Offshore World Championship came to a thrilling conclusion, with a single sailfish release separating the three leading teams in a field of top international anglers who had to win one of the qualifying tournaments to earn a spot in the event. Held April 11-16 out of Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica, a location renowned for its THE CHAMPS: Members of the winning team would need more hands to hold up all their prizes.
FACT
world-class offshore fishing, the championship required all teams to fish aboard a different charter boat each of the tournament days, following IGFA rules and using video verification to amass billfish release points, and also targeting tuna, dorado and wahoo for extra points. Michael Moretti, Dwight Wolf, JP Rodrigues and Dell Dembowsky, who punched their ticket to the big dance by winning the Presidential Flamingo Fishing Rodeo, took top honors, scoring 3,500 points by tallying one blue marlin and 15 sailfish
releases. For their feat, they received championship rings by VanMark Jewelry Designers, Bodo Muche Studio trophies, Guy Harvey limited-edition prints and championship apparel, Costa sunglasses, Yeti Rambler tumblers, Garmin Quatix watches, Shimano reels, Flor de Caña rum, Big T lures, AFTCO tackle and Soundview Millworks custom cutting boards, along with the opportunity to defend their world title next year, and the right to continue to compete for several more. Dembowsky, who
Major DDT Dumpsite Found Off the Southern California Coast P. 16
Are Gulf Anglers Getting Nicked on Red Snapper Again? P. 17
Anglers fishing Costa Rica’s fertile waters frequently encounter Pacific blue and black marlin, and Pacific sailfish in bunches.
JUNE/JULY 2021 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM 13
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Casts+Blasts
accounted for the marlin and eight of the team’s sailfish releases, was crowned the tournament’s top angler. Jason Ford, Josh Cloke, Troy Grasseth and Chris Mayeda, who won the Oregon Tuna Classic to earn their team’s spot at the Offshore Championship, claimed second place— after heeding the sage advice of the 2019 champs—scoring 3,433.32 points by releasing 14 sails and one blue marlin, and weighing in a 54.44-pound tuna and dorado of 47.9 and 30.98 pounds. The team was awarded gold pendants by VanMark Jewelry Designers, Guy Harvey limited-edition prints, Costa sunglasses, Yeti Rambler tumblers, Garmin Quatix watches, Penn reels, Flor de Caña rum, Big T lures, AFTCO tackle and Soundview Millworks custom cutting boards, as well as an invitation to compete again in 2022. The third-place team won the San Carlos Hammer Down tournament in Mexico to qualify. Pete Finocchiaro, Alex Hammer, Frank Kastl and Capt.
14 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
Gilberto Lachica, who skippered the team to victory at the qualifier event in Mexico, managed to release four blue marlin and seven sailfish for 3,400 points, with Lachica and Kastl taking second- and fourth-place angler honors, respectively. The team members received silver pendants by VanMark Jewelry Designers and Guy Harvey limited-edition prints, plus products from Costa, Yeti, Garmin, Penn, Flor de Caña rum, Big T lures, AFTCO and Soundview Millworks, along with an invitation to the 2022 championship. The best boats and crews were also recognized. Frenzy, the 42 Maverick Express with Capt. Jose Fernandez and mate Marcos Solano, were declared Top Boat and Crew of the tournament, with two blue marlin and 12 sailfish releases, plus a 47.9-pound dorado weighed in. The 42 Maverick Convertible, Dragin’ Fly, with Capt. James Smith and mate Alberto Ramos, took second place with five blue marlin and seven sailfish releases. The 38 Bertram Express,
Raven, with Capt. Marcos Obando and mates Angel Duvan and Johnny Salas, came in third with one blue marlin and 11 sails.
LETTERS
Mutual Benefits Great article on the wind farms [Conservation, April]. Your take on RODA (Responsible Offshore Development Alliance) was especially insightful. Offshore wind is not problemfree, but there are clear benefits to the environment and to the recreational fishing community. All the offshore wind experience is in the EU, and experience there reveals that offshore wind and recreational and commercial fishing can and do coexist and thrive. From the recreational viewpoint, I have spoken to dozens of anglers who say this structure will be the best thing that ever happened here, and I can’t wait to fish them. Capt. Paul Eidman New Jersey
WHEN YOU can feel it in your hands, you see it in your mind, and the angler within you goes to work.
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NEWS LINES
Massive Toxic Dumpsite Discovered Off Southern California An environmental disaster has been brewing for decades a scant 10 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. That’s where scientists unearthed decaying barrels laced with DDT in 3,000 feet of water between Long Beach and Catalina Island. The offshore dumpsite was located by David Valentine, a professor of microbiology and geochemistry at the University of California Santa Barbara, who first suspected its likely existence when he dug up a 1985 report describing chemical disposal practices from the 1940s to 1970s of companies like Montrose Chemical Corporation, the largest DDT manufacturer in the US, which was located in Torrance on the
Southern California coast. DDT, which the EPA now labels a “probable human carcinogen” was a widely used pesticide, sprayed on crops—and even on crowded beaches for mosquito control—from 1939 until 1972, when the US government banned it after studies showed DDT builds up in animal and human tissues, resulting in harmful side effects.
The report had not yet been published, but the number of barrels was estimated at 500,000. Although his research was not published until 2019, Valentine got the opportunity to follow up on his suspicions in 2011 and 2013 while leading oceanographic cruises in the area. His team captured video of leaking barrels and took samples from the ocean floor. Armed with this compelling evidence, Valentine spoke to various
government agencies, but it took public outcry from a story about his findings in the LA Times last fall to finally spark some interest. This spring, Scripps Institution of Oceanography began a two-week mission to survey the deep ocean bottom. Employing a large research vessel, 31 scientists and crewmembers, and two high-tech robots, the Scripps team used sophisticated sonar to map the seafloor and count the number of barrels, previously estimated at 500,000. The two-week mission is complete, but the team’s final report had not yet been published at press time. Nevertheless, the recent discovery is only part of the story of environmental damage from decades of DDT discharge along the Southern California coast, which may continue to impact marine life at alarming rates. The unprecedented number of cancer cases in California sea lions (1 in every 4 is plagued with the disease) could be one glaring example.
LETTERS
NEWS LINES
Stake a Claim
A D R I A N G R AY
Gulf Snapper Turmoil Continues The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council recently voted to approve a slight increase in the 2021 red snapper annual catch limit, and requested its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) revisit catch-level recommendations that largely ignore the results of the Great Red Snapper Count (GRSC), which show red snapper in Gulf of Mexico waters are three times more abundant than previously estimated. The council called for the SSC to review its red snapper catch advice for 2021 and beyond as soon as the GRSC final report and additional information can be considered. In addition, the council voted to resolve the differences between federal and state data collection estimates, which will negatively impact the states
WHAT GIVES?: Gulf anglers again face limited red snapper opportunities despite proof that the fish are far more abundant.
of Alabama and Mississippi, reducing their quotas by 50 and 60 percent, respectively. The action, however, will not go into effect until January 2023, allowing the status quo on red snapper catch allocations for the remainder of 2021 and through the 2022 season.
Recreational fishermen may want to reconsider working with RODA (Responsible Offshore Development Alliance) and ROSA (Responsible Offshore Science Alliance) to protect their interest. As wind farms and other ocean energy systems become the new ocean environment, the recreational fisherman needs to secure a place in the discussion of where these systems are placed and how we are allowed to operate around them. When wind farms were first developed in Europe, recreational and commercial fishermen were not consulted, and neither group had any input. Today, in America, both sectors are given the opportunity to contribute and help developers cover the cost of fisheries liaison officers. They are much more considerate of the historical uses of the ocean, primarily because of the efforts of commercial fishermen. The turbines appear to be a positive for recreational fishermen. The Dominion Power turbines are quickly earning a reputation with Virginia fishermen for the number of dolphin and black sea bass they attract. Whether RODA, ROSA or some recreational groups believe wind farms can be stopped, it appears the writing is on the wall. The ocean will not be the same. We need to claim our right to be involved in the process. ROSA has accepted recreational fishermen, myself included, as members of its Research Advisors Group. My hope is that we can work with the developers to find a solution that cuts carbon output yet still works for all fishermen. I was told years ago by a professor in fisheries that we had better put our differences behind us and start working together because there are groups that don’t care for either of us. Jeff Deem via email
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Reader’s Catch
Improvisation Pays Off Patty Clayton of Port St. Lucie, Florida, fishing in the St. Lucie River with her husband, Tommy, in their 14-foot Carolina Skiff, decided to troll a popular casting lure: a root-beer-colored D.O.A. TerrorEyz. Cruising slowly along a tributary shoreline, she landed a few small snook as a warmup to this 30-incher. READER’S CATCH
YOUR CATCH To send in your catch photo, email us at catches@saltwatersportsman.com. Got a piece of good news to share? Want to gripe? Like to see your thoughts on the pages of Salt Water Sportsman? Send your letters, manuscripts and any relevant comments to editor@saltwatersportsman.com or via U.S. mail: SWS Editor, 480 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 236, Winter Park, FL 32789. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed but will not be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by an SASE. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: saltwatersportsman.com/cs or 800-759-2127. Outside the United States: 800-979-6828; Back Issues: 800-464-2819; Bulk Reprints: 877-652-5295, ext. 117.
See who and what’s out there.
M94D
new
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18 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
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Salt Water Kids
Liam Stewart
Steve Hotz Jr.
Stephen Hering
7, Florida
5, New Jersey
12, New Jersey
An avid angler, athlete and loyal SWS reader, Liam will take a day on the water over hockey and lacrosse, his other favorite pastimes. An undaunted fisherman, he recently landed this 28-inch snook all by himself.
With his sights set on bigger and better catches, Steve wanted just one thing to celebrate turning 5 years old: to go yellowtail fishing in the Florida Keys with his grandfather. His birthday wish came true.
Whether surf-casting near his home in Shark River, New Jersey, or heading offshore, where he caught this little tunny, Stephen always enjoys spending time on the water with his dad, grandpa and uncle.
NOMINATE A KID: SWS recognizes kids who represent sportsmanship, passion and proficiency in saltwater fishing. To nominate an exceptional Salt Water Kid, email us at swkids@saltwatersportsman.com.
20 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
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2 Shimano Exsence Exsence spinning reels from Shimano feature
magnesium frames, cold-forged Hagane gears, and a MagnumLight spool for a 14 percent weight reduction, among other proprietary performance features. Available in trout-taming 3000 and redfish-ready 4000 sizes, for 10- to 30-pound braid. $539.99 and $549.99; fish.shimano.com
3 Toadfish Rods Spinning rods from Toadfish combine responsive tips for solid hook-sets with a progressive bend for fighting power. Lightweight, high-carbon graphite
22 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
blanks, premium components, and an indestructible one-piece grip and reel seat resist saltwater abuse. Available in five models from 5 feet, 11 inches to 7 feet, 6 inches, in medium-light to mediumheavy actions, designed to carry 6- to 50-poundtest braided line. $118; toadfishoutfitters.com
4 Grundéns Sea Knit Based on a classic sneaker design, the Sea Knit Boat Shoe from Grundéns features seamless knit nylon uppers, a nonmarring, natural gum rubber outsole
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5 Yeti Crossroads The 35-liter Crossroads Backpack from Yeti, offered in aqua, blue or green, is ideally sized as a weekender. It’s a suitcase masquerading as a backpack, with an interior divider and 180-degree clamshell access. Tuffskin nylon construction is waterand stain-resistant, holds its shape, and cleans up easily. $249.99; yeti.com
Bow and pray.
Tarpon season in The Lower Keys is about timing, skill and luck of the draw. Hook up and be ready to bow to the king. Stay tight and pray that all those hours in the gym weren’t for naught. Whether you come for tarpon fever or Stock Island’s delightful restaurants and rustic charm, there is no greater example of piscatorial bliss. fla-keys.com/lowerkeys 1.800.872.3722 For the latest protocols on health & safety in The Florida Keys, please visit our website.
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Conservation
Citizen Science
T
ground-truthed and calibrated against his is not the first time I have in-person collected data. discussed this, so bear with So, what are the problems with this me if it sounds repetitious. There are kind of data collection? The first is outapproximately 9 million saltwater reach and how to gain enough volunanglers in the US. Guessing conservateers so that a broad sample of anglers tively, 80 percent of those anglers have get involved. The larger the sample, the smartphones, which means there are less likely there is bias in terms of an7.2 million mobile platforms that could gling technique and experience. The supply fishing-success information innext issue is getting volunteers to reto a system managing the fish we all main active in the program like to catch. If just 10 percent over a reasonable period. volunteered to submit data evCurrent experience indicates ery time they went fishing, the that anglers sign up, but then amount of information would over a short period, they subdwarf what is currently commit information less and less piled with in-person intercepts Rip Cunningham and fishing-effort surveys. The Anglers stand to play until they are simply inactive. a critical role in data In a number of experiments amount of data would be valugathering. so far, volunteer retention has able to managers, if it could be
been one of the main problems. If we look back 25 or 30 years, there were a variety of fish-tagging programs that got a large number of anglers involved with the collection of data, which could ultimately be used in managing fish. That data collection took a lot more effort than the current requirements of taking a couple of measurements and entering the information into iAngler, iSnapper, the SAFMC Release app or any of the other apps used by anglers. One of the frustrations of some taggers was not understanding how that data would be used to manage the resource. That is the same today as the data collection and EASY TALLY: Many anglers are already equipped to provide instant catch reports.
“There are 7.2 million platforms that could supply information into a system managing the fish we all like to catch.” 24 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
I L LU ST R AT I O N BY J O H N W. TO M AC
We carry the key to useful fisheries management data in our pockets.
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Conservation
system have become complex. Assuming all politics are local—folks are most interested in the fishing in their backyard—the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has been developing a Fishery Citizen Science Program since 2019. The vision of this program is to advance science and increase trust one project at a time, a strategy to narrow the focus of effort
to improve local fisheries management information through collaborative science. While this program started in 2019, we know what happened in 2020 to impede data collection. So, this program is still relatively new. The SAFMC set out a list of priorities that covered a broad variety of specific needs, starting with otolith collection to calculate fish age, gonad collection to determine
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maturity, discard information, genetic sampling with fin clips, and personal fishing logbooks, which help with abundance estimates. Some are hands-on, and some entail electronic data collection, but they all relate to local species. The first citizen science project was SAFMC Scamp Release. This gathers data on the number of scamp grouper that are released, their size, the locations of the catches, the depths being fished, and what sort of descending devices or venting tools were used. The SAFMC developed its own SAFMC Release app for anglers to record and submit the data. In the development process, the SAFMC worked with the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program and, through a grant, it expanded the app to cover a variety of shallow-water grouper species. A secondary program, called FISHstory, looks at hundreds of historic photos from the 1940s to ’70s taken on a headboat fleet in Daytona Beach, Florida, to document catch and length estimates. This effort uses crowdsourcing to get a lot of folks looking at these old photos. In both cases, the SAFMC staffers developed training materials, guiding principles and standard operating procedures for all volunteers who get involved. This has not been a simple buildit-and-they-will-come project. The SAFMC understood some of the problems with getting anglers involved and then keeping them active in the program. That is why this program took several years to develop. Staff were assigned to craft angler outreach and to set up action teams. This will allow the staff to assess what has been successful, what needs to be improved, and what could be eliminated. It has always been my feeling that anglers, as a user group, have a lot of useful information for managers. How to get that information in a format that is usable for resource management has always been the issue. It now looks like more-universal citizen science is getting closer.
26 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
c o n t e n d e r b oat s .c o m / b oat s / 4 4 c b
POWERED BY
T+T Successful trolling demands improvising on the basics, page 28
Tactics +Tackle SET Begin with a known, predictable trolling pattern based on fundamentals.
READ Interpret the sea conditions along with the weather to fine-tune your trolling strategy.
ADAPT an.com
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Stay flexible and adjust your tactics throughout the day to fish more effectively.
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“Notable achievements are often contingent on the subtle tweaks.”
Top Trolling Tips George Poveromo Sound basic trolling tactics never go out of style.
There are numerous methods of targeting gamefish, and each serves as a foundation upon which to build success. However, notable achievements are usually contingent upon subtle tweaks and aggressive modifications to the fundamentals, especially when conditions turn challenging or feeding activity ceases.
READY TO RUMBLE: Start with a familiar, proven trolling spread as a basis for developing a tailored presentation. 28 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
G EO R G E P OV E R O M O
Pay attention to five fundamentals for successful trolling.
Tactics+Tackle
For general offshore trolling, I’ve outlined five crucial parameters. These are strictly for the mechanics of offshore trolling, and not the skills required to decipher ocean environments and conditions to locate fish.
Realistic Illusions Potent trolling spreads unleash fishattracting surface commotion and present the illusion of forage scurrying for survival. Pelagics can be coaxed to the boat with white water splashing
A
FLAT-LINE BAIT WHERE PROP WASH FADES TO CLEAR WATER
B
C
200-250 FEET
A D C
DIVING PLUG RUNS BELOW THE PROP WASH
B
150-200 FEET
SECOND FLAT LINE 30 FEET BEYOND THE SHORT FLAT LINE
D
DIVING PLUG IN CLEAN WATER BEYOND PROP WASH
300-500 FEET
LONG-RIGGER BAIT
LONG-RIGGER BAIT
CENTER-RIGGER BAIT OR LURE
30 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
behind it, but absent the fleeing-prey deception, they’ll likely fade away. Holding them is an art. I position my baits in clean water, in a staggered formation to isolate each bait for easy pickings. A pair of 20-foot carbon-fiber outriggers spread the baits—and any teasers—well off the sides of the boat, over clean water. The center-outrigger bait excluded, the long-outrigger baits are the longest lines in the spread. If short-outrigger baits are deployed, they skip or swim in clean, blue water outside the prop wash and generally behind any teasers. These baits represent the closest in the trolling spread. Dirty water has merit, however. I believe prop wash appears as a feeding frenzy, so I position port and starboard flat lines around this agitation; one bait rides where the prop wash dissolves into clean, blue water, and the other about 20 to 40 feet beyond that. With deep-diving swimming plugs, a Mag 40 diver runs in the wash, tracking near the bottom of the commotion, whereas a Mag 30 swims in the clean water behind the wash. As a general rule, beyond my flat lines, the long-outrigger baits run roughly 150 to 200 feet and 200 to 250 feet back, respectively. The centeroutrigger bait rides approximately 300 to 500 feet beyond the spread. Sea conditions and bait types constantly dictate adjustments. Again, the conditions, targeted species (e.g., deep baits for wahoo) and style of fishing (e.g., teaser fishing) all factor here. Speed Dial Trolling speeds are crucial to generate strikes, and there’s no magical velocity for success. My optimal trolling speed is when the baits do exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. That is, skipping baits should barely break the surface— not greyhound across it—and swimming baits should shimmy just under the surface. It takes some placement and throttle adjustments to achieve the right illusion. If strikes are slow in
I L LU ST R AT I O N BY ST E V E SA N FO R D
T+T
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Tactics+Tackle
coming, experiment with trolling speeds. Picking up the pace might be the solution. It enables you to cover more territory and changes the bait action. Off-center trolling (tight zigzag patterns) also enhances bait action. Slowing the pace also works, even when skipping baits are floundering under the surface. Slowing down to a few miles per hour has helped us score dolphin, tuna, billfish, king mackerel, and even grouper near shallow reefs. We often employ the sink-and-swim: Shift into neutral, let the baits sink for a minute, and then quickly resume trolling speed. Remember, it’s all about presenting the illusion of fleeing forage.
Ground Cover Trolling is search-fishing, hunting along color changes, rips, thermal edges, canyon walls, trenches, mounds and other structure. Remove the visual clues presented by rips and color changes, and the effort becomes considerably more difficult. The trail feature on my sonarmapping page reveals exactly where my boat is in relationship to bottom structure, how much real estate I’m covering and more. If I had a dollar for every story I’ve heard of anglers experiencing unsuccessful dolphin trips, I’d be the owner of Salt Water Sportsman. Among
T
CURRENT SPEED 4 MPH
S
BOAT SPEED 6 MPH
A
A 6 - 4 = 2: A boat heading into the current has an apparent speed of 6 mph, but the actual speed over ground is only 2 mph.
B
B Angling diagonally to the current provides speed over ground that better matches the apparent boat speed.
TIP
trollers, the theme involves towing baits in a southerly direction for most of the day, unsuccessfully. Given that the north-flowing Gulf Stream averages 2 to 4 mph, simple math shows that little ground gets covered trolling directly into the Stream between 5 and 8 mph. Water volume is covered, but not hard bottom. Speed over ground becomes minimal. In this situation, a trail feature reveals this lack of progress in bottom coverage; conversely, deviating easterly and westerly will result in better progress over bottom and structure. Hooking Up Another common trolling error is slowing or shifting into neutral right after hooking up. Monofilament lines have an inherent stretch of up to 25 percent. To accommodate this stretch and increase solid hook-sets, keep the boat moving forward at the same trolling speed for at least 30 seconds. Do not gun the boat in dragracer fashion to set hooks; it will knock folks off balance and ruin the rhythm of the bait spread. Maintaining steady, forward momentum keeps the remaining baits in play, increasing chances for multiple hookups. Endgame Throughout the fight, maintain just enough forward momentum to keep the angler straight to and tight with the fish (read: no slack or bellies in the line). This is particularly critical with a heavy lure or weighted bait, which the fish could shake off with any slack. Shifting into neutral during the final stages could also be disastrous. The objective is to preserve the rhythm of the fight and keep the fish swimming toward the boat. Bump the throttles in and out of gear, holding a straight heading, and lead the fish alongside the boat. A full standstill should only come after the catch has been released or deposited into the cooler.
When prospecting for structure, pay attention to the effect of current on trolling speed to cover ground efficiently.
32 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
I L LU ST R AT I O N BY ST E V E SA N FO R D
T+T
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Float Plan PLAN Online searches will help you pick your ideal destination and plan accordingly for the trip.
PREP Checklists for needed supplies, boat maintenance and safety items simplify and shorten trip prep.
PLOT Plot the desired course, and input all waypoints in your chart plotter beforehand to make the trek as easy as connecting the dots.
By Chris Woodward
Research and prep ensure a safe and fun trip to the Bahamas.
BOAT TALK
Island Time Prepare your vessel for a Bahamas crossing this summer.
M
any boating anglers are tormented by tropical dreams—the kind that feature white sand, tuna-rich, sapphire waters, and lobster-encrusted coral reefs. Those vivid images replaying in their minds suggest the Bahamas, so many of the afflicted buy boats based on their overnighting amenities and
seaworthiness, anticipating a crossing to the islands. Summer ranks as the top time to trek across the Gulf Stream. This year, due to the urgent itch to travel and the uptick in boat sales spurred by the pandemic, the Bahamas could see a major surge in boat traffic. At the same time, rules for visiting the
islands by boat remain fluid, dependent on COVID-19 statistics. Visit bahamas.com/getting-here for the current regulations. Planning for any crossing should include three main elements: creating a checklist for boat maintenance, safety gear, tools and supplies; charting a course using an app or
CAPTAIN’S DUTY: The captain handles the paperwork and checks in the boat and crew with the authorities.
34 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
S C OT T SA LY E R S
“The wealth of info available online makes planning an island crossing a cinch.”
Boat Talk
navigation software; and preparing customs and immigration paperwork. Seasoned captains and fishermen with dozens of crossings under their belts offer valuable tips to prepare your vessel. “You’ll want to look at all your safety gear to make sure it’s in good condition and, in my opinion, you should never cross without an EPIRB,” says Capt. Dean Panos of Miami, who has crossed to the Bahamas six to 12 times a year for nearly three decades and, at press time, was planning a trip to Chub Cay on his current boat—a SeaVee 370Z with triple Mercury 300s. Panos also recommends buying a vessel-tracking system. He uses AtlasTrax, which allows family at home to monitor his path. Longer-ranging trips necessitate a satellite phone, which you can rent. A backup handheld GPS also makes sense, in case something goes wrong with your electronics. Keep a waterproof boat bag handy to hold your boat registration, insurance papers and passports. You’ll also want a good first-aid kit, and you need to carry quarantine and Bahamas courtesy flags. The former should be flown as soon as you’re in sight of land. “If I’m close to needing engine service, I get that done before the season,” says Carlos Carbonell, a South Florida angler who describes himself as a weekend-warrior dad. He makes three to four Bahamas trips a year on his Invincible 39. “I tell the mechanic to give me spare spark plugs and fuel filters—a kit of things—for my three outboards. We also take spare props.” Panos suggests anglers with tripleoutboard setups bring spare right and left props downsized slightly in pitch.
MANNERS: Bahamas courtesy flag replaces the quarantine flag after clearing customs.
Lower-pitch props help you plane and run on two engines, if necessary. He also carries five or six extra fuel filters because gasoline at some remote-island ports might be contaminated. Be sure to pack a toolkit to do basic repairs, and create a checklist for the remaining gear and tackle you want to take. That should include power cords, extra dock lines, and cleaning supplies. Experts recommend crossing with a buddy boat when possible. But if you can’t, file a float plan with someone at home. That might be as simple as outlining a route, with departure and arrival times, and island contacts. Panos uses the Navionics app to plan trips. He downloads the route to his onboard electronics and leaves a copy with the family.
By the Book Once you leave the dock en route to the Bahamas, don’t even think about fishing before clearing customs. You need both a fishing license and an approved travel permit from customs before you can legally wet a line. You must fly a yellow quarantine flag when entering the Bahamas. Hoist it when you sight land. Once you’ve cleared customs, it can be supplanted with the Bahamas courtesy flag, if you choose. Upon arrival, only the captain may leave the boat until paperwork is in order. Everyone on board must show a valid passport. To simplify the entry process, obtain fishing licenses and travel permits before you go at gooutdoorsbahamas.com.
36 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
Be sure to register your EPIRB and any personal locator beacons online with NOAA, and make sure you provide updated emergency contacts. As the boat owner, you must fill out the forms that allow you into the Bahamas for your vessel and crew. You can find the customs clearance forms, COVID-19 Travel Health Visa (which, at press time, required a negative test no more than five days prior to arrival), and cruising permit information at bahamas.com. Submit the information, pay the entry fee (based on vessel size), and print these forms before you leave. You still must meet with Bahamas customs and immigration personnel when you arrive. Only the captain can leave the vessel and clear the boat and crew. When you depart, you must return your completed immigration form. Panos recommends you initiate the paperwork you’ll need for US Customs ahead of time, using the CBP Roam app (cbp.gov), available free from Apple and Google Play stores. “Before you leave [the States], pre-load the passengers and passport photos. When you clear back in, report your arrival via the app,” Carbonell says. “The process has gotten a lot better.”
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Cobia 280 CC The 280 CC keeps the running surface of its predecessor, the Cobia 277 CC, as well as the smart layout—which includes a front-entry head and hideaway bow table—and a wealth of tournament-inspired fishing amenities, like a leaning post with tackle station, a 42-gallon livewell with clear lid, undergunwale rod storage, eight flush-mounted rod holders, twin macerated 47-gallon fish boxes, cockpit coaming bolsters, a transom door, and raw- and freshwater washdowns. But a number of additions elevate the 28-footer to a higher echelon: an advanced console design that integrates with the hardtop frame for a more stylish look and greater strength, a three-sided windshield with electric wiper and vent, an acrylic infinity dash to house a full array of electronics, and more. Comforts and conveniences include a 62-quart forwardconsole cooler, a freshwater sink, an electric head, and convertible, double-bolstered helm seats. Additional options include kingfish-style (angled) rod holders, a cockpit toe rail, outriggers, a windlass, and fore and aft sunshades.
40 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
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Electronics
“With the GoFish camera, you can easily download footage to a computer or
See For Yourself New underwater video systems let anglers eyeball the depths for fish.
Ethical Angling? Before delving further, let’s address the goliath grouper in the swimming pool: Do underwater cameras belong in the toolbox of an ethical saltwater angler? Some might view them as cheating, but the same could be said about other technological advances such as live-sonar systems, which let you view fish and lures in real time.
I’ve used underwater cameras to explore, then employed the information to fish more effectively later. This, in my mind, represents ethical usage.
immediately rigged our lines to target the coveted yellowtails, and caught three big fish before the nomadic school moved on.
Cable Guy Surprising Discoveries There are two types of remote underA past trip to Santa Catalina Island off water video camera systems for anglers: the coast of Southern California serves as a good example. I had just purchased Those that have a self-contained battery and attach to a fishing line, and the a GoFish camera and sent it down to kind tethered by a cable that supplies check out a 250-foot-deep ridge. Sure power to the camera and feeds enough, it captured video of imagery to a display on the Pacific rockfish hugging the boat. Aqua-Vu and MarCum bottom. But then, while reare among the best-known trieving the camera, it capbrands in the latter category. tured an unexpected sight: The major advantage of schools of California yellowJim Hendricks cable cameras is the ability to tails swimming about 150 New cameras let you peer underwater view video in real time. Both feet above the ridge. without getting wet. companies offer cameras that Armed with this intel, we
UNDERWATER EYES: Remote submersible cameras can offer insight into how fish like snook behave and respond to lures and baits.
42 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
JON WHITTLE
O
cean depths remain a mysterious realm. Though advances in sonar technology help demystify the underwater world, even the best machines require interpretation. Wouldn’t it be great if we could see for ourselves? Today you can thanks to submersible video camera systems that let you peer below the surface.
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Electronics
shoot in high-definition (up to 1080p), with 110- to 120-degree fields of view. Most have the capability to illuminate the depths as well. Aqua-Vu uses a ring of infrared lights around the lens. Recording video footage for playback and study later is possible with some systems. The MarCum Pursuit HD ($549.99), for instance, offers a builtin MP4 DVR able to record on a 128 GB micro-SD card, letting you play back video on a computer. Cable systems also let you adjust the camera’s viewing orientation. The Aqua-Vu camera, for example, can be adjusted to shoot imagery ahead, behind, straight down, or angled 45 degrees down and upward. A stabilizing fin keeps the camera steady in a current or as the boat drifts, and you can add 14 ounces of auxiliary weight to bring the total heft to just over 3 pounds, helping to keep the cable vertical.
44 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
SPECIAL SCREENING: The Multi-Vu Pro system from Aqua-Vu lets anglers use a multifunction display to view underwater video plus the sonar and/or plotter simultaneously.
comes with a control module and power cable to tie into the boat’s 12-volt system. A cool feature is the ability to split the screen to view both the fish finder and streaming video at the same time. Wireless Wonders Cable systems were initially designed for freshwater anglers, so the cables are usually 50 to 75 feet long. Aqua-Vu does offer an optional 125-foot cable; however, some saltwater anglers might want to view structure and fish at even greater depths, and that’s where a video camera such as the GoFish ($199.99) proves more practical. It’s warrantied to depths of 500 feet, but the company claims it will actually survive to depths of 2,000 feet. You tie this cigar-shaped video camera to your fishing line—the main line at the top and the leader at the bottom, where the lens is located. If you want to scout the water column or bottom, simply attach a sinker to the other end of the leader. You can also tie a hook
or lure to the leader and fish while the camera is attached. Retrieve and Review Two internal, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power the GoFish for an hour and a half at a maximum resolution of 1080p at 60 fps. You can increase battery run time to two hours by lowering the resolution to 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps. The camera is available with an optional LED light, but ambient light proves sufficient to 250 feet. There’s no streaming video. For easy playback and editing, the GoFish records one-, three-, five- or 10-minute clips on a 64 GB micro-SD card (not included). You can download footage to your mobile device once you reel the camera back in, or use a micro-SD reader to review the video on a laptop. The GoFish does not float; neither does the Aqua-Vu nor MarCum video camera. So, avoid snagging them on the bottom, or you could lose your camera and the ability to see for yourself.
I L LU ST R AT I O N BY ST E V E SA N FO R D
On Display Most cable systems come with their own displays. The MarCum Pursuit HD includes a 5-inch high-definition color screen with a built-in cable reel on the back side. Controls on the display’s case let you adjust brightness, contrast and sharpness. The Aqua-Vu HD 7i Gen 2 ($629.99) features a 7-inch daylight-viewable screen with a base that serves as a cable reel. A control pad on the case allows you to adjust illumination, zoom and more. The majority of these systems have integral 12-volt batteries. The MarCum Pursuit HD system, for instance, includes a rechargeable battery that provides up to six hours of continuous run time. The rechargeable battery for the Aqua-Vu HD 7i Gen 2 provides seven hours of run time. The Multi-Vu Pro video setup ($799.99), a relatively new system from Aqua-Vu, relies on the boat’s existing multifunction display and onboard DC power system. It includes HDMI and RCA ports, and connector cables to network with video-enabled MFDs from brands such as Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance and Simrad. It
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TOP SHOT
School’s in Session Yellowfin tuna—Allison tuna to old-timers, and ahi in the Pacific and on most menus—are esteemed as angling adversaries and for their quality on the table. Ranging worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, they often school with like-size classmates and can reach 400 pounds. Yellowfins are epipelagic, traveling above the thermocline, usually above 300 feet. This school was found feeding off Isla Coiba, Panama. Photo by JESSICA HAYDAHL RICHARDSON
48 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
FIND THE HOT BITE THIS MONTH IN THE TRAVELING FISHERMAN, PAGE 82
JUNE/JULY 2021 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM 49
JA S O N ST E M P L E
50 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
HOME OR AWAY: Yellowfin tuna is one of the many options available to anglers willing to expand their horizons.
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LOCATION: Virginia Beach, Virginia TARGET SPECIES: White marlin SEASON: July through September
DELAWARE
Ocean City MARYLAND
VIRGINIA
Richmond
A t l ant ic Oc ea n
Newport News
VIRGINIA Norfolk
Virginia Beach
MID-ATLANTIC WHITES
E
ach summer, hordes of billfish migrate along the Eastern Seaboard, and Virginia Beach is right in the middle of the action. A fixture on Rudee Inlet, Capt. Jimmy Bayne has fished tournaments and hosted anglers on his 58-foot Paul Mann, Sniper, for decades. He says white marlin go in a feeding frenzy in late summer before migrating to their winter grounds. Bayne studies satellite watertemperature images, looking for warm-water eddies spinning off the Gulf Stream prior to starting the
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50-mile run to the fishing grounds before sunrise. When he finds blue water between 76 and 78 degrees, along with circling birds, he slows the boat to 6.5 knots, deploys two squid daisy chains and two 20-bait dredges rigged with fresh ballyhoo or split-tail mullet, and adds an Ilander-and-ballyhoo in the center. “The Ilander draws in white marlin and gives me something to feed a blue, if one shows up,” he explains. Bayne says Virginia Beach is a perfect destination for traveling biggame anglers. The city offers a variety
of accommodation and entertainment choices, and is located smack in the middle of marlin country. Rudee Inlet is easy to navigate, and a free launch ramp at Owl Creek provides access to the inlet. MARLIN CENTRAL: During the summer, Virginia Beach offers terrific action with white marlin, top, as well as blues, above.
R I C B U R N L E Y ( B OT TO M ) ; JA S O N ST E M P L E ( 3 ) ; M A P S BY T I M BA R K E R
NORTH CAROLINA
CAJUN TUNA
P
A typical day starts at first light, catching bait. Then Beach heads out to where his intel tells him he’ll find current upwellings with the desired temperature and clear water. “Clear water is key,” he says, explaining he would rather fish clear, green water than murky blue. Once Beach finds MISSISSIPPI A promising water, he slow-trolls three Biloxi live baits, staggered at 50, 100 and 150 feet behind the boat, keeping a rod-andreel combo ready to lob a livey away from the boat when he hooks up, a good way to get a doubleheader. Yellowfin tuna lead the LOCATION: parade of gamefish that hunt Venice, around or between offshore Louisiana Venice structure. Other species he TARGET encounters with regularity inSPECIES: Yellowfin tuna clude wahoo, white and blue marlin, sailfish and more. SEASON: Spring through “With any luck, we get our tuna
erhaps best known for its worldclass redfishing, Venice, Louisiana, is also ground zero for yellowfin tuna fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, which Capt. Kevin Beach of Mexican Gulf Fishing Company says is nothing short of spectacular when the water and weather conditions are right.
LOUISIANA Baton Rouge
Lak e P on tch ar tr ai n
Mi s si ss ip p i R iv er
New Orleans
G ul f of Me x ico
in the morning, and spend the rest of the day targeting marlin and dropping for swords,” he says. For offshore anglers hoping to explore Venice waters on their own, Beach has some advice: “Don’t try to run out without radar.” The mouth of the Mississippi River is often shrouded in fog, and marine traffic of all sorts is pretty heavy in the channel at all hours. You’ll often be dodging ships and floating logs, but they’re the only hurdles between you and some of the best offshore fishing you’ll experience. OFFSHORE BOUNTY: Oil rigs off Venice produce great yellowfin tuna fishing, top, with plenty of 40- to 80-pounders, above.
Winter
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LOCATION: Boston, Massachusetts TARGET SPECIES: Striped bass
Gloucester MASSACHUSETTS
A tla nt ic O ce an
Boston Boston Harbor
Provincetown Plymouth RHODE ISLAND
C ap e C od Bay
BOSTON BASS
F
or anglers chasing extra-large striped bass, there is no better destination than the rich, rocky waters of Boston Harbor, where from mid-June through August, Capt. Brian Coombs pays undivided attention to trophy stripers, which he says have enjoyed a recent resurgence in Massachusetts waters. “We are lucky to have a very healthy population of striped bass.” After procuring the necessary supply of live bunker, Coombs fishes the
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schools of menhaden holding around structure or along channel edges. “I look for the darkest schools,” he says, explaining the blue-black knot of menhaden indicates striped bass are herding bait. Then he cases out the bait pods with side-imaging sonar. Once he finds one hosting striped bass, he drops a live menhaden on a three-way rig just outside or below the school. After he lands a fish, he simply returns to the same bunker school and repeats the process.
When stripers are feeding aggressively, Coombs switches to large topwater lures and soft-plastics. “The bass will spray through schools of bunker,” he says. Coombs positions the boat as far as possible from the school and makes a long cast to avoid spooking the fish. He changes treble hooks for heavy-duty single hooks to survive the hard pull of a 50-pound striper. Boston Harbor is a reliable place to find striped bass all summer, with many 50-pounders in the mix. But Coombs says visiting anglers need to exercise caution. “There are only two public boat ramps, and they can get crowded.” On the water, he stresses the value of accurate charts and an attentive skipper. “Depth can go from 60 feet to just two in a matter of a few yards.” But the boulders and underwater cliffs that make navigation challenging also make Boston Harbor one of the best striped bass destinations on the entire Northeast coast. BASS TIME: Warm water, rocky lairs and forage draw stripers to Boston Harbor in summer, top, including trophies, above.
E R I C K U L I N ( 2 ) ; C A PT. JAC K S P R E N G L E ( O P P O S I T E , 2 ) ; M A P S BY T I M BA R K E R
SEASON: Summer
Los Angeles
CALIFORNIA Santa Catalina Island
S an P e dro C han nel
Sa lton Sea
UNITED STATES
San Diego
Tijuana P a ci fic O c ea n MEXICO
LOCATION: San Diego, California TARGET SPECIES: Mako sharks SEASON: Summer
SOCAL SHARKIN’
S
harks demand a healthy respect from anglers, but they also provide plenty of excitement. And off San Diego, that excitement goes up a notch because makos—known for their ferocity and incorporating aerial displays into their battle plan—are the sought-after target. After chasing the man in the gray suit for over 20 years, Capt. Conway Bowman has turned shark fishing into a science. While beautiful weather and sandy beaches attract visitors to the Southern California coast, Bowman says deep canyons only a few miles from shore bring in the sharks. He notes the fish move inshore on a rising tide and slide offshore with the outgoing. When he finds bait and birds, what he calls “sharky conditions,” Bowman establishes a slick of tuna chum and waits. “Big, aggressive,
alpha predators with an appetite are perfect candidates for light tackle or fly-fishing,” he says. “But I never know if my next shark is going to be 80 pounds or 400.” When he spots a big shadow swimming up the chum slick, Bowman casts a big tube fly ahead of it. To get the shark’s attention, he strips the fly to tease the predator and provoke a strike. “A 400-pound shark will rise like a trout on a dry fly,” he says. After hooking a mako, Bowman recommends letting the shark finish its initial blistering run and aerial antics. “That’s when I turn the boat and work toward the shark, letting the angler put the brakes on with heavy drag pressure,” he says, and then he settles in for the fight, which could take 30 minutes
or three hours. For do-it-yourselfers hoping to test their skills against a big shark, San Diego has a free launch ramp with a full-service outfitter. The run to the fishing grounds is short, and the weather is almost always perfect. But Bowman warns anglers to always stay alert: “I’ve had makos jump into the boat; they are no joke.” FIN-NESS: Shark fishing off San Diego is top-notch. Makos are abundant and many make ideal light-tackle targets, above.
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CAPE LOOKOUT N O R T H C A R O L I N A W AT E R S
PROVIDE A DYNAMIC RANGE
O F F I S H I N G VA R I E T Y STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN HORSLEY
DIARY
OVERSIZE: Trophy-class redfish, locally called old drum, hunt Cape Lookout Shoals for menhaden.
ON PRETTY DAYS IN LATE FALL AND MOST OF THE WINTER, CAPE LOOKOUT, NORTH CAROLINA, SERVES UP EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TROPHY REDFISH. AS A BONUS, THE LOCAL REEFS AND WRECKS HOLD HORDES OF GRAY TROUT AND BLUEFISH; GO A LITTLE DEEPER AND YOU’LL FIND GROUPER, AMBERJACK AND SNAPPER. Sandwiched between Cape Hatteras to the north and Cape Fear to the south, the Cape Lookout area is served well by Morehead City and Beaufort, where many anglers launch. Access to the ocean is via Beaufort Inlet. Farther east, on Harkers
Island, anglers reach the ocean through Barden Inlet under the watchful eye of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Location, Location Cape Lookout Shoals runs 10 miles almost due south into the Atlantic Ocean. To the
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west of the shoals is Onslow Bay, and to the east is Raleigh Bay, locally referred to as the East Side, known to produce the most consistent fishing. Although tops in promise, the area also holds a particular challenge: Significant wind whips the shoals up and stacks waves on top of what can already be a large swell. As a result, most anglers prefer to wait for a calm day to
cross Cape Lookout Shoals en route to the East Side. When winter cold fronts lower the water temperature significantly, menhaden move down from up the coast and out of the inlets, taking up residence along the beaches of Core Banks. MONSTER MASH: The waters surrounding Cape Lookout yield huge reds.
1
2
3
1 When voracious, fast-moving bluefish invade nearshore waters, light-tackle and fly anglers rise to the challenge. 2 Wherever structure, such as rock outcroppings, wrecks, ledges or artificial reefs, punctuates the bottom in 50-foot depths, anglers find willing weakfish (gray trout). 3 Rock piles and ledges in deeper water provide cover and foraging opportunities for red snapper as well as a range of other species, including king mackerel, gag grouper and black sea bass.
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SWS Tackle Box Cape Lookout Trophy Red Drum
RODS 6- to 7-foot medium- to heavy-action spinning or conventional jigging REELS Sturdy and spooled up with 20- to 30-pound braid LURES Bucktail jigs (make sure you mash down the barb) with white or chartreuse heads with a soft-plastic grub or twist tails; 2-foot length of 100-pound monofilament for leader F LY TA C K L E 11- or 12-weight rod; reel with reliable drag F LY L I N E 600-grain sink tip FLIES Large Half-and-Half flies tied on 3/0 hooks in chartreuse-and-white, with large lead eyes HANDLING Use a net to gently bring drum to the boat. Though quite hardy, these fish should be handled carefully and released quickly. Some of these fish are 50 years old.
This abundant forage draws hungry predators. Old drum, jumbo false albacore and bluefin tuna quickly move in to sample the all-you-caneat buffet. Find Bait, Find Fish Big redfish overwinter in the ocean around Cape Lookout. The magic water temperature for them is 60 degrees and above. It is not unusual to find sea-surface temps in the 50s one day and the
upper 60s the next. When the water is too cold, they move off the beach and hang out over live bottom. Several sites in the area provide the optimal temperatures for these fish. Reds can be found feeding on schools of shad (the local name for menhaden) pretty much any time. In the late season, the drum do little surface feeding and are usually found around schools of shad. The downside to an abundance of shad is it spreads out the predators. You may have to fish several schools of shad before you find the right one with attendant redfish. Be on the lookout for gannets and pelicans, which dive on schools of shad when they are in 15- to 50-foot depths. Once you locate a school, your fish finder comes into play. A school of redfish has a sonar signature much like lasagna: They swim in layers. A school of shad often forms a dome shape from the bottom. That’s a good sign.
OLD DRUM MOVE UP AND DOWN THE BEACH, WITH GULLS AND GANNETS CIRCLING THE FASTMOVING SCHOOLS. SIDE-SCAN SONAR HELPS YOU STAY WITH A SCHOOL. That dome usually means they are getting eaten from below. Try bouncing a 3- to 5-ounce bucktail jig with a 6-inch twister tail off the bottom. Big reds are not the smartest fish in the ocean; they often bite any lure or fly presented to them. Reds are not always stacked up on the East Side
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of Cape Lookout. Sometimes the area just west of the shoals can be excellent. Gannets and gulls are a big tipoff. It also is not unheard of to see a big bluefin tuna wallowing around in less than 20 feet of water, gorging on shad. Old drum move up and down the beach in 15- to 50-foot depths while gulls and gannets circle the fastmoving schools. This is when side-scan sonar helps you stay with a school. The best tool is teamwork; several boats working together stay with the fish longer, maximizing opportunity.
Make Your Move When redfish are scarce, there is plenty of promise for other species within 6 to 12 miles of the beach. The waters around Cape Lookout are speckled with sunken ships, rock outcroppings and artificial reefs. The closer structures—in 50 to 60 feet—hold gray trout (weakfish) and bluefish. In late winter and early spring, it’s time to look for large bluefish. Light jigging tackle with 10- to 15-pound braid, a short TRIPLEHEADER: When big redfish get competitive, anglers are the beneficiaries.
TN NC
N NORTH CAROL OLINA Morehead City
Beaufort
Harkers Island SC
Core Banks
Cape Lookout
GA
Beaufort Inlet
Raleigh Bay Onslow Bay
Bardens Inlet
FL
Atlantic Ocean
Cape Lookout Cape Lookout Shoals
length of wire leader and 2-ounce metal jigs does the job. In deeper water, rock piles and ledges hold gag grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish,
Atlantic Ocean
king mackerel, red snapper and a host of other species. The same tackle used for weakfish and blues works here, though you might want to go heavier for grouper
BAHAMAS
and red snapper. So step up to a conventional outfit with 30- to 50-pound braid and bucktail jigs sweetened with a strip of false albacore, cigar minnow or squid.
The Trade-Off The variable in Cape Lookout’s exceptional fisheries is the weather, which can turn from placid to a full gale in seconds. Keep a keen eye on the weather and be ready to react quickly when things turn nasty. Any wind over 12 knots from the north makes it tough to fish the East Side. The preferred winds are light southwest, west or northwest. With the right intel and a little bit of patience, fishing Cape Lookout’s diverse waters provides the kind of experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.
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A D R I A N G R AY
VALLEY OF THE GIANTS
IN THE KEYS, BLACK GROUPER TOP THE BOTTOMFISHING WISH LIST. BY DAVID CONWAY
Anglers in the lower Keys speak of a deepwater location called the Valley of the Giants, where big black grouper show up reliably, season after season. Whether factual or somewhat embellished, the legend of the valley is a testament to the respect Keys anglers give black grouper, the toughest bottomfish to beat this side of 300 feet, and arguably one of the best on the dinner table. Reefs, Wrecks and Ledges On the Atlantic side of the Keys, you’ll primarily find blacks at three structure formations: around coral heads at the main reef, wrecks beyond the reef, and along live bottom and ledges beyond JACKPOT: Many grouper lairs hold multiple fish, enabling skillful anglers to pluck more than one from each spot.
speedos, often available in local waters the main reef line, usually between 130 and considered one of the best baits and 250 feet deep. A fourth structure, for big grouper. Even a local party boat, the patch reefs in Hawk Channel, hold Capt. Chandler Warren’s Gulf Stream, is grouper in winter, but that’s primarily a renowned grouper-catching ride. during the spawning-season closure “The opening of the season on May 1 (January 1 through April 30). An important feature of bottom relief coincides with some of the best mutton in the Keys is the intermediary reef line, snapper and yellowtail fishing of the year,” Warren says, “so those are great a dead reef that rises up just beyond the times on our boat.” main reef line and runs parallel. That To the southwest, off Islamorada, structure runs only intermittently, the secondary reef isn’t however. In the upper as prominent, so Capts. Keys, the intermediary reef SWS TACKLE BOX Ryan and Scott Wenzel, line runs from Carysfort WENZEL brothers who together to Molasses Reef, and then BROTHERS’ SETUP ROD: Shimano 5-footrun 4Reel Charters, drops off in the middle 6-inch Tallus bent butt or search for black grouper Keys. Its profile rises again equivalent closer to the main reef. in the lower Keys and conREEL: “The reef drops off tinues southwest of Key quickly here, from 60 to West. Where it runs and 90 feet,” Ryan says, “and doesn’t, along with the wawe look for spotty, live ter quality, determines the bottom, and coral heads nature of the black grouper that stack up on the rollfishing in that area. off from the reef. Our goKey Largo has a strong LINE: to depth is about 80 feet.” bottomfishery off the reef You want to mark coral and in deeper water. I’ve of 50-pound mono top shot, 15 feet of 60to heads, Ryan adds, but had incredible days of black 80-pound mono leader also read the surrounding grouper fishing there. The bottom for yellowtails, Gulf Stream flows close TERMINAL TACKLE: 10-ounce egg sinker, 8/0 live growth and nearby to the fishing grounds, or 9/0 circle hook relief. For more accurate bringing good water qualreads, he sets his sonar on ity. Key Largo anglers are BAIT: Live speedos, grunts, jacks high chirp. big on live baits, especially
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—CAPT. SCOTT WENZEL, 4REEL CHARTERS
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“If you don’t have chirp,” he says, “set your fish finder to 200 kHz to read the bottom and tell whether it is live or not. On the screen, there will be fuzz showing on the bottom, not hard, solid marks. You won’t really mark the black grouper. They might be underneath the rocks. It’s more about looking for that live area than about a single fish mark or one spot.” Anchor and Chum “We anchor for black grouper because
that’s how we catch the bigger ones,” Scott says. “The more you sit on a spot and chum, the more likely that the fish will come in. In addition to block chum off the stern, we’ll drop chum balls, even before we send down a bait. When the chum ball hits the bottom and disintegrates, the grouper really get curious.” Some anglers use sand in their chum WRECK RULER: Black grouper sometimes exceed 100 pounds and are often the apex predators at a wreck or reef.
A D R I A N G R AY ( 2 )
WE LIKE TO ANCHOR FOR BLACK GROUPER BECAUSE THAT’S HOW WE CATCH THE BIGGER ONES. THE MORE YOU SIT ON A SPOT AND CHUM, THE MORE LIKELY THE FISH WILL COME. WE CHUM OFF THE STERN AND DROP CHUM BALLS.
TOP PRIZE: Elated wrecking crewmembers inspect a hefty black grouper before hoisting it over the gunwale.
balls, while others prefer to mix in oats. Both combine the chum balls with attractants, such as thawed block chum, bits of cut bait or menhaden oil. To be effective, the ball must hold together as it sinks and break apart once it reaches the bottom. While the brothers target black grouper with heavy outfits and braided line to get the fish up fast, they also use a long 150-foot mono top shot to absorb some of the shock during the fight. “You pull a lot of hooks if you don’t have the top shot,” Ryan says. On the Drift In the lower Keys, the deeper side of the intermediary reef makes terrific drifting grounds for black grouper. In my days in Key West, we’d routinely catch nice ones in 250-foot depths, drifting jigs tipped with bait on light tackle within sight of Sand Key Light. “My favorite way to target black grouper is to drift over active bottom in a couple hundred feet of water, way west of Key SWS PLANNER West,” says Capt. Jamie WHAT: Black grouper Connell of Flying Fish WHEN: May through Charters. “I like to cover December ground, and if I find a small WHERE: Florida Keys area that is significantly more productive, I can anWHO: Anglers on boats chor on that specific spot. capable of fishing some 10 miles off the coast. Also, by drifting, I feel like most Keys marinas, it is harder for other preda- From access to grouper tors like sharks to stay with grounds is only out that far, or even closer. me and eat our baits or the The following charter fish we’re targeting.” operations will also put For those times when you on fish: conditions make anchorGulf Stream Party Boat ing at a wreck favorable Key Largo 305-451-9788 for targeting black grouper, Connell has a few tips: Capts. Ryan and Scott Wenzel “You will never get a grou4reel-charters.com per out of a wreck if you’re 786-860-2320 sitting directly over it, so Capt. Jamie Connell anchor way up-current flyingfishkw.com and let out enough anchor 305-304-7667 line to get close. A lot of
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1
S A N D - B A L L I N G TA C T I C 1 With a mixture of sand and chum, form a ball around a bait. 2 Gently drop the ball in the water, and pull line off your reel to supply the slack needed for the ball to sink freely. 3 The sand ball should start to break up just as it nears the bottom. 4 Most grouper stage up-current of a wreck, so fish accordingly.
2
3
4
big predatory fish, like black grouper and jacks, tend to be on the up-current side of the wreck, while fish like mutton snapper prefer to hang out on the down-current side. If you spot more marks upSWS TACKLE BOX current, what you’re seeCAPT. CONNELL’S ing on your fish finder is SETUP probably some grouper.” ROD: 6-foot, mediumConnell, like the action, 80- to 130-pound class Wenzels and most other captains now, uses heavy REEL: Maxel Oceanic gear and braided line. 50-wide or equivalent “Regardless of where I’m LINE: 100-pound braid targeting black grouper,” he says, “I always start out LEADER: 10- to 15-foot leader of 100-pound with a heavy outfit. You fluorocarbon don’t want to get smoked by a big one right away.” HOOK: 9/0 3X circle hook on Carolina rig Reliance on heavy gear is understandable. Black BAIT: Strip of bonito or grouper are big and powlarge, live goggle-eyes, erful, and while they often pilchards, pinfish or ballyhoo give you a second chance, it may not be on the same day.
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S C OT T SA LY E R S ; I L LU ST R AT I O N BY ST E V E SA N FO R D
BIG’UN: Yanking a black grouper this size away from structure requires both stout tackle and plenty of muscle.
HONORED PAST: The Tyee Pool provides a showcase for time-honored British Columbia tackle and customs.
PAST
History and tradition remain alive and well at the Tyee Club.
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PRESENT
A modern sport-fishing fleet offers
A CLASSIC ROW WITH ROYALTY A TA S T E O F H I S T O R Y W I T H B R I T I S H COLUMBIA KING SALMON STO RY A N D P H O T O S BY T E R RY W. S H E E LY
For a bucket-list destination, this internationally famous British Columbia salmon pool at the mouth of the Campbell River on Vancouver Island is strangely quiet. The evening water is flat with slow swirls around skinny rowboats, and transparent enough to see broken littleneck shells on the bottom a dozen feet down.
UP TO DATE: Modern gear, boats and techniques also have a place in this fishery. familiar chinook fishing.
CHALLENGE
By any method, catching a chinook fresh from the ocean represents a notable feat.
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By the Book “Fish on, fish on!” Three guys in the boat below us shout the requisite warning in unison, one holding a seriously bent rod, and the boatman rowing madly but properly for open water. The reel clicker chatters, and even that is a prescribed part of this micromanaged tradition: “When playing a fish, make sure your clicker is on so that other rowers will know that you are playing a fish and they can stay out of your way.” The hookup boat moves according to a second stilted
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Tyee Pool rule: “The rower should row in a straight line for a few moments to allow other boats to clear their lines, and then endeavor to maneuver the fish out of the pool into deeper water and away from the other boats as soon as reasonably practical. This can be achieved by rowing at an angle out into Discovery Passage and against the current. If you have tight tension on the fish, it will eventually come with you.” Neighboring boats clear out of the way with barely a word, then close in behind the hookup.
Hallowed Grounds Presidents, assorted kings, princes, dukes and tag-along royalty have traveled huge distances to rule these salmon—but few did. In 1919, author and fisherman Zane Grey turned his back to a hot swordfish bite at Catalina Island and traveled by train, steamship, truck wagon BITING TIDE: Traditional lapstrake rowboats blanket the Tyee Pool against a modern backdrop, above. GRAND STYLE: Painter’s Lodge overlooks the mouth of the Campbell River, opposite.
M A P BY T I M BA R K E R
M
y rower, Dwayne Mustard, a tyee salmon evangelist, whispers that we’re coming into the “biting tide,” the three hours before high slack. The biting tide is no secret. As the time approaches, boatmen guiding a fleet of look-alike lapstrake rowboats jam the eddy off the mouth of the Campbell River, pushed together by an incoming tide and a singular goal: tyee, the First Nations word for “chief.” In coastal Canada, the title now describes any chinook salmon over 30 pounds.
WHEN YOU GO BRITISH COLUMBIA
Campbell River CANADA
R VANCOUVER ISLAND
St ra it o fG eo
ia rg
Vancouver
P aci fi c Oce an
Victoria Sa lish S
ea
WASHINGTON
Seattle
UNITED STATES
and canoe to tempt these Vancouver Island kings from a cedar dugout. According to his records, Grey caught several 30-pounders and lost a 50-pounder at the gaff. “Tyees,” he wrote, “will call forth all the excitement, skill and work any angler could ask.” That has not changed. The Tyee Pool is public waters, with rules and bag limits managed by the
YOU COME HERE TO KNOW THAT YOU FISHED HERE, AND TO FISH THE HARD WAY—WITH NO MOTORS, NO BAITS, NO BARBS, NO FISH FINDERS AND NO MODERN REELS. ANGLERS DON’T COME HERE TO FILL THE FREEZER.
Canadian Department of Fisheries. But since 1924, the Tyee Club has overseen it with strict authority, classic ethics, and a tyee calendar that starts on July 15 and ends September 15. The club provides a weighmaster, who keeps watch on the pool, records catches, enforces the Tyee Club rules—laid out in a 168-page book—and guides the century-old traditions. For $20, he will sell you a
From mainland highways, book the BC Provincial vehicle ferry from Vancouver at Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Campbell River is 97 miles north of the ferry landing on Highway 1A/19. Commercial flights to the Vancouver International Airport South Terminal connect with Pacific Coastal Airways to Campbell River. Some hotels and lodges provide shuttles. For travel, food, accommodations and local info from Destination Campbell River, visit campbellriver.travel.
registration that entitles your tyee to be recorded forever in the clubhouse and grants the right to ring the club bell—one ring for every 10 pounds. The fishery has changed in recent years, of course, like all Pacific salmon fisheries. Fewer chinook grow into giants like the 50- and 60-pounders displayed in the Tyee Club yearbook, or captured in yellowing photographs and displayed in nearby fish lodges and local museums. But with this gene pool there is always hope. You come here to know that you fished here, and to fish the hard way—no motors, no baits, no barbs, no fish finders, no modern reels. Room to Breathe Anglers don’t come here to fill the freezer, although there are nearby options and two dozen local charter services for that. In the next morning’s mist, Natalie and I take a break from the pool and try
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the other side of Campbell River’s salmon fishing— the catch-and-eat side. We walk past a trio of tippy tyee boats cradled on the dock and step into an electronically enhanced 17-foot center-console. Guide Rob Turko turns on the electronics, fires the 50 horses, and we roar north through the infamous rock and whirlpool at Seymour Narrows. We’ll troll off electric downriggers with Greenlite flashers and Double Glow plastic squid for chinooks, chums, pinks, and maybe an early coho. In a couple of hours, we have almost two limits of prime salmon in the fish box for winter fillets. This is the modern Campbell River: conventional tackle, action, hard strikes, running salmon and flying nets. This more familiar fishing stands in glaring contrast to the reserved old-school challenge of the Tyee Pool. But if you like to eat salmon—and I do—this conventional option puts salmon in the freezer on a Tyee Pool destination trip. Never Enough Back at the dock, Mustard is waiting to tell me that a fresh school of tyees has moved into the pool. Four were caught on the morning row, the largest in the high 40s. We’ll go out at 6 p.m. Mustard pulls gently on the oars, we slide to the left, and Natalie’s rod bounces— just once, but it’s electrifying. The salmon doesn’t come back. “Might have been a tail slap,” Mustard says, “or a nip.” Below us, a large dorsal fin rolls through the slick.
Incoming pods of king salmon hang in the pool for days, sometimes weeks, collecting into a large school. Some occasionally run upriver then drift back to the pool. The salmon move with the tides, banking to the north on the outflow and piling up in the south on the flood. Rowers watch for rollers and splashers, and stay on top of the school. This evening, we’re plugging the north end of the south bar, and fish until full dark at 9:15. Twice the club bell rings—two 30-pounders for the night’s row. Slow, Mustard says, very slow. We’ll try again tomorrow. ROYAL DINING: There’s always the opportunity to take home fresh salmon steaks.
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RULES AND REGS Tyee Club 250-914-4455 tyeeclub.org TA C K L E A N D I N F O River Sportsman 250-286-1017 info@riversportsman.com riversportsman.com TYEE POOL GUIDES Painter’s Lodge Multiple guides info@northcoasthotel resort.com paintersresort.com Fishing Booker fishingbooker.com/charters (Represents 25 Campbell River saltwater charter services) Coastal Wilderness Adventures coastwild.com fish@coastwild.com CR Sport Fishing crsportfishing.ca info@crsportfishing.ca Riptide Fishing Charters riptidefishingcharters.com scott@riptidesportfishing charters.com
A celebratory bonfire glows on the beach, in front of the Tyee Club. The chilled surge of a late-evening saltwater tide ebbs past our boat, flowing, I’m sure, with countless stories of shattered egos and sport-fishing legacies. We’re about to pull on the plug and call it a night when two boats over, a rod doubles down and somebody shouts, “Fish on!” The boat pulls for open water and disappears into the night. Mustard agrees to meet us on the dock for one last tyee row at first light. “There’s often a daylight bite,” he says. A daylight bite will be perfect, I think, but just the challenge of another row is all I need. That and a reason to yell, “Fish on!”
Fishability
LENGTH: 45' DIESEL: 48 gal.
BEAM: 12'6" WATER: 100 gal.
74 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
DRAFT: 27"
DEADRISE: 22 degrees
MAX HP: Unlimited
FUEL: 788 gal.
PRICE: $1,196,400
WEIGHT: 22,000 lb.
SEAVEE BOATS: seaveeboats.com
SeaVee 450Z The stunning looks, superb ride and myriad fishing features are sure to make this a coveted offshore center-console.
SEAVEE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH TOP-NOTCH, FISHINGFOCUSED CENTER-CONSOLES, AND THE 450Z, THE BUILDER’S LATEST ADDITION—BASED ON ITS PROVEN STEPPED HULL—IS DESTINED TO BE ANOTHER WINNER. WE GOT THE CHANCE TO TEST THE RIDE, PERFORMANCE AND NUMEROUS FEATURES WHILE PRE-FISHING FOR A SAILFISH TOURNAMENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AND THE BOAT DID NOT DISAPPOINT.
By Karl Anderson
o
TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER Partly cloudy LOCATION Palm Beach, Florida WIND Northwest 15 to 20 knots SEA STATE 4 to 6 feet TEST LOAD 12 adults, 450 gallons of fuel, 100 gallons of water
ur survey began in front, where the forward deck features an in-floor storage bin that serves as an optional livewell and a large insulated fish box on the centerline, bookended by full-length rod lockers, a great feature for traveling and overnighting away from home. An anchor-locker hatch affords access to the through-hull anchor shoot and windlass. A plush, two-person lounge rests at the front of the console, with seven vertical rod holders on each side. But rod storage is considerably more extensive. In fact, our test boat sported 34 flush-mounted holders spread along the outboard deck, and two rows of vertical holders for 15 rods on the transom. The one-piece, resin-infused console has no visible fasteners for a clean, stylish look. The center-aligned helm is protected by a safety-glass windshield integrated into the hardtop frame and has only corner posts, offering an unobstructed line of sight. Ergonomically designed, with every switch and control interface at arm’s length of the skipper, the test boat’s helm featured two 24-inch Furuno multifunction displays, a 12-inch display in the center, Mercury engine control, JL Audio control, generator control, autopilot interface, and VHF radio with remote mics, plus a Vetus bow-thruster control and an Optimus steering joystick.
JUNE/JULY 2021 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM 75
F
Fishability // SeaVee 450Z
1
2
Dual-row seating features three plush helm-style chairs in each row, with flip-up armrests and seat bolsters. The aft row is slightly elevated to provide unimpeded visibility forward, and both ends of the forward row house tackle storage. Access to the console interior is on the starboard side, and entrance is gained by pushing a button to operate the computer-controlled, helical drive
system that opens and closes the fiberglass door. Inside, the console has an air-conditioned private head and shower with integral shelving and a mirrored vanity with sink and storage, as well as a galley complete with countertop, sink, Vitrifrigo refrigerator, microwave oven and storage. The U-shaped lounge with a highlow, expanding teak table converts into a queen berth. The interior is lit by
76 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
3 1 An optional second helm boosts fish-finding capability. 2 Dual-row seating accommodates six shaded by the hardtop. 3 Typical of SeaVee centerconsoles, storage and fish-box space in front is generous.
near-full-length acrylic windows on the console sides. Soft wall coverings offer yachtlike refinement while dampening noise. The main electric distribution
proof was certainly 40-gallon well—with in the pudding as we clear lid and window Q UA D cruised easily and efto monitor the baits— ficiently at 3,500 rpm, in both cockpit cormaking 34 mph while ners, all fed by two Best burning just 47.8 gph, Marine sump boxes and taking no spray dewith three pumps each. spite the 15- to 20-knot We tested the boat in winds encountered normal offshore fishing PERFORMANCE throughout the day. At conditions, with a conFAST AND EFFICIENT day’s end, we hit 70 mph siderable load: 12 peoWith quad Mercury at wide-open throttle, ple and their gear, full 450Rs, the 450Z breaks burning 183 gph. livewells, 450 gallons 70 mph, and burns 47.8 gph at 3,500 rpm. All weighed and of fuel and 100 gallons measured, the stunning of water. Powered by RPM MPH GPH looks and superb ride, quad Mercury 450Rs, 3,500 34 47.8 4,000 43.1 60 coupled with a host of the boat ran smoothly, 5,000 57.7 104 standard amenities, comfortably and 6,000 68 178 comfortable overnightremarkably quiet. 6,300 70.1 183.7 ing accommodations The 450Z’s and built-in fishing cross-ventilated, features all integrated into a tight, twin-stepped hull utilizes a four-port well-executed package, are bound to air-induction system with a central make the SeaVee 450Z a highly coveted air reservoir to provide the airstream fishing machine. to minimize speed-robbing drag. The ME
R C U RY
450 R
panel is on the aft bulkhead, just inside the door for easy access, even without entering the cabin. A hanging locker rounds out the ample weekend-living quarters. The SeaVee’s cockpit is also set up for easy access, with three in-deck hatches at the transom to reach the bilge, an optional in-deck livewell or storage boxes, a 200-gallon fish box on each side, and a centerline compartment for the 9 kW Onan generator and Seakeeper gyrostabilizer. Side doors to both port and starboard add convenience when boarding, snorkeling and diving, and boating large fish. Suspending surface baits from kites is a key sailfish tactic that requires a substantial amount of live bait such as goggle-eyes, threadfin herring, sardines or pilchards, all of which demand ample livewell capacity, as well as the proper water flow to remain healthy and frisky. The 450Z has five livewells totaling 200 gallons, including a
JUNE/JULY 2021 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM 77
F
Fishability
Blackfin 302 CC A superb blend of fishability, performance and comfort makes this a top offshore center-console. By Randy Vance
LENGTH: 30'2"
BEAM: 10'
WEIGHT: 9,000 lb.
78 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
DRAFT: 20"
MAX HP: 800
DEADRISE: 23 degrees PRICE: On request
FUEL: 240 gal.
BLACKFIN BOATS: blackfinboats.com
THE 302 CC, THE LATEST ADDITION TO BLACKFIN’S LINEUP OF FISHING MACHINES, BEARS THE BRAND’S HERITAGE, ALONG WITH MANY OF THE TRAITS THAT MADE ITS SIBLINGS POPULAR WITH SERIOUS ANGLERS, ON AN EFFICIENT, HIGH-PERFORMANCE MICHAEL PETERS SVVT DOUBLE-STEP HULL.
T
TEST CONDITIONS WEATHER Partly sunny LOCATION Fort Lauderdale, Florida WIND East 10 mph SEA STATE Light chop
he high sheer adds to the boat’s sleek look and seaworthiness, while all-composite construction from stem to stern, with major parts bonded, ensures long years of service and peak performance. Blackfin firmly believes an offshore fishing boat must be able to withstand unexpected gnarly sea conditions, so every switch, latch, hinge and screw is triple-checked, and fuel and water systems are also pressure-tested thrice for potential leaks as part of the builder’s extensive quality-control protocol that guarantees every boat that rolls off the line is absolutely free of building and rigging defects. A tackle and bait-rigging station, complete with a Yeti 45-quart slideout cooler underneath, is conveniently located in back of the helm seating. It includes a sink with freshwater faucet, plus tackle storage and tool holders to keep all essentials readily accessible. The rigging station can be swapped for aft-facing mezzanine seating that, combined with the foldaway transom lounge, turns the entire cockpit into a spacious social zone ideal for entertaining. The test boat had eight Gemlux combo rod-cup holders on the gunwales, undergunwale racks to cradle six rods, plus four additional holders on the transom, flanked to starboard by a transom door and to port by a lighted, insulated 30-gallon livewell with viewing window through the cutting-board
TEST LOAD Two adults, 240 gallons of fuel JUNE/JULY 2021 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM 79
F
Fishability // Blackfin 302 CC 1 The spacious helm accommodates dual MFDs, plus switches and other essentials. 2 Bow U-shaped seating includes a filler that bridges the gap to form a raised casting deck. 3 Gunwale racks keep additional rods ready yet out of the way. 4 A slide-out cooler complements mezzanine seating, which can be swapped for a tackle-rigging center.
3
RY 3 0
80 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
CU
lid to keep tabs on the bait, and fed by a high-capacity pump to ensure the proper water flow so liveys will stay frisky. To ice down the day’s catch, the 302 features a pair of 54-gallon in-floor fish boxes, both insulated and macerated. A standard portside door provides another entry or fish-hoisting area, and an optional removable ladder makes it easier to board after diving or swimming. While serious angling is the foundation of every Blackfin, luxury and comfort are never overlooked. A glance at the plush forward seating, ergonomic helm, and in-console compartment beneath provides clear confirmation. Conveniently placed underneath the forward-console seat, a cold storage compartment supplies crew seated or fishing upfront with cool beverages or snacks. The dual helm seats rival those on a BMW, and their style extends to all other cushions, including the ones on the bow lounges and the stowable, forward-seat backrests, which merge with the coaming pads when fishing.
0S
1
suite with FLIR, radar and chirp sonar, SeaDek covering on the platform, colored hull sides and white rub rails (in2 stead of black) are among the numerous available options. Twin Mercury V-8 outboards supplying 600 horses pushed the test boat to 55 mph at wide-open throttle, and let us cruise at 37 mph with a yield of 1.4 mpg and a range of 300 miles (leaving 10 percent of reserve fuel). The maximum power rating allows for dual 400s for those who desire more topend speed, but the 300s brought the 302 up on plane in a tad over 5 seconds and performed a variety of maneuvers admirably, including sharp 180-degree 4 turns without falling off plane. This is where the Michael Peters Gray gelcoat on the hardtop underside complemented the powder-coating SVVT hull clearly shines. Its dual steps pair with a notched bottom— on the frame for a striking look and about 2 inches deep—that extends helped absorb reflected light, improvfrom just behind the steps to the traning visibility of multifunction displays som, spreading abeam on the dash. A 6-inch midway between the window vent at the chine and keel from port top of the temperedto starboard. Such deglass windshield opens sign elements set the electrically for added hull apart and give the ventilation, and a surfMER Blackfin its speed and mat finish atop the the desired reliability center console keeps on the turns. phones and keys from The 302 CC was a sliding about. pleasure to run and The 302’s impresproved every bit the offsive list of standards shore performer we’ve also includes a bow PERFORMANCE come to expect from thruster, windlass, rawBlackfin. On it, serious and freshwater washEFFICIENTLY RANGY anglers will find all they down systems, cockpit With twin Mercury 300s, the Blackfin cruises at need for success, while pedestal table with over 37 mph for approxithe numerous familySeaDek inlay and vermately 300 miles. friendly amenities let tical side-mount base, RPM MPH GPH everyone enjoy their and 30-amp outlets aft. 3,500 15.6 22.4 time on the water. A Garmin navigation 4,000 25.4 24.2 4,500 5,500 WOT
37.4 50 55.3
26.8 41.8 49.2
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Fisherman Species
1st Choice
Hawaii
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Portugal
North Carolina
Guatemala
Mexico
Bermuda
Hawaii
Alaska
82 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM JUNE/JULY 2021
2nd Choice
Comments
Australia
Pacific Blue Marlin: The abundance of tuna and mahi in Hawaiian waters keeps plenty of big, hungry marlin in the area, providing ample opportunity for anglers looking for a bragging-size catch to tangle with specimens weighing over 500 pounds. The fishing forecast is quite similar in Gold Coast, Australia, where the big-game fleet also enjoys consistent action with blues of superlative size.
US Virgin Islands
Atlantic Blue Marlin: In the DR, blue marlin action continues to please big-gamers, especially those looking for 150- to 250-pounders to battle on light tackle or fly gear. This time of year, however, boats often have to make longer runs into La Mona Passage to find a consistent bite. In the Virgin Islands, the world-renowned drops near St. Thomas come into their own now, producing big fish and multiple daily hookups.
Costa Rica
Black Marlin: Off Salinas, Ecuador, cooling waters invite a seasonal influx of big blacks, increasing the odds of raising fish weighing 600 pounds or more, perhaps even a grander. Off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, marlin fishing improves around the seamounts and offshore banks, with blacks leading the charge. The likely 10 or more daily hookups make the long runs—and sometimes overnighting at sea—worth it.
Dominican Republic
White Marlin: Madeira and the Azores islands shoot to the top of the white marlin fisheries list this time of year, with the season approaching its traditional and reliable peak in the surrounding waters. Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, migrating whites trickle away from the region, bringing the action off Dominican shores down a tick or two. Enough fish remain, nevertheless, to keep things exciting.
Florida
Atlantic Sailfish: Many of the sails joining the seasonal northward billfish migration reach North Carolina waters, providing excellent prospects for boats fishing the first drop, some 50 miles offshore. Despite the climbing surface temperatures and migrating billfish, seasoned crews still find and hook sails consistently along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Staggering live baits at different depths is the ticket to success.
Costa Rica
Pacific Sailfish: Peak sailfish time comes to an end in Guatemala, but the shoulder seasons here produce more fish than other parts of the world do at their best. In fact, some days it’s still possible to tally a dozen releases this time of year. In Costa Rica, now is when waters off the northern ports of Tamarindo and Flamingo really shine. The drier, more stable weather in the region is a nice bonus to the solid sailfishing.
Ecuador
Striped Marlin: Although the fishing off Cabo San Lucas and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands experiences a typical lull during the next few months, both of these perennial striped marlin hotspots yield enough fish to remain among the most likely places on the globe to target them successfully. Days with three or four hookups are not out of the question at both destinations, especially for boats fishing live baits.
Mexico
Wahoo: This time of year, ’hoo heads find more willing members of their favorite target species in Bermuda than anywhere else. The fish stack at Argus and Challenger, the fabled offshore banks, making wahoo fishing as reliable as it gets. Off Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, wahoo action is on the upswing, and it improves quickly in July, the start of peak season for striped torpedoes in the region.
Bermuda
Yellowfin Tuna: Yellowfins invade Hawaiian waters in early summer, adding excitement to any day of offshore fishing. Even boats targeting big marlin often troll a couple of smaller lures for tuna. Small-boat anglers, and those hoping to tango with 40- to 80-pounders on light or fly tackle, find their quarry off Oahu’s fabled North Shore. Bermuda’s offshore banks also yield plenty of yellowfins this time of year.
Canada
King Salmon: June is when the bulk of the chinook run takes place throughout Alaska, but a few places, such as the Kenai River, get a second round in July, extending the opportunity for anglers to intercept the fish as they stage in tidal water before continuing up the rivers. In British Columbia, Canada, waters around Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and the nearby Gulf Islands should produce plenty of kings too.
D I A N E R O M E P E E B L ES
TRAVELING
B E S T W O R L D W I D E F I S H I N G : J U LY 2 0 2 1 Species
1st Choice
Bahamas
Florida
Florida
Belize
Louisiana
New Jersey
Florida
Louisiana
New York
Florida
2nd Choice
Comments
Turks and Caicos
Bonefish: Summer brings stable weather to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, and winds come down a few clicks, providing excellent conditions for stalking tailing and cruising bones on shallow flats. Midday heat, however, will warm up skinny water beyond bonefish’s tolerance, so it’s best to fish early and late in the day, or simply move out to 4 or 5 feet of water to look for mudding fish during the heat of the day.
Mexico
Snook: Linesiders in Florida are widespread across their range, and they’ll start forming pods in preparation for spawning later in the summer. That means the fish will be easier to find, will compete for food with other group members, and afford anglers chances for multiple hookups in one spot. In the Yucatan Peninsula, mangrove lagoons to the north and south, and the backcountry of major bays yield plenty of snook.
Belize
Tarpon: The big annual migration in Florida continues, but most fish turn and head back sometime in June, while others linger until July. Of course, not all tarpon embark on the great pilgrimage. Many are resident fish that stay close to home until the first cold snap sends them to their wintering haunts. In Belize, tarpon stage a similar run, with pods cruising the coastal flats and shoals.
Florida
Permit: In Belize, this is a great time of year to chase permit on the flats sprinkled from Ambergris in the north all the way to Punta Gorda in the south, as well as the shoals around the outer atolls and those stretching along the southern half of the coastline. In Florida, permit return to the flats after congregating around nearshore wrecks for spawning. Biscayne Bay and the lower Keys flats are consistent hotspots.
North Carolina
Red Drum: In Cajun country, reds take to the shallow marshes to forage. Anglers in shallow-draft skiffs should find plenty of tailers and slow cruisers to target. Bay-boat crews also get their shots, fishing outer shorelines, and bayous connecting marsh ponds and lagoons to open water. In North Carolina, redfishing heats up from Swansboro to Pamlico Sound. Look for trophy fish around river mouths and deeper shorelines.
New York
Striped Bass: Striper fishing in the Northeast becomes more predictable and productive. Forage is the ticket; find baitfish schooling and the bass won’t be far away. New Jersey and New York beaches and inlets should hold plenty of both the prey and the predators. A cruise along the shore is all you’ll need to spot the telltale signs: birds diving, surface flips or splashes, and boats fishing the outskirts.
Cayman Islands
Swordfish: In South Florida, broadbill chasers experience solid action as well as comfortable sea conditions as gentler southeast breezes become the norm. Soon, however, summer heat will start to have an effect on the fishing, making the night shift increasingly more productive. In the Cayman Islands, the local fleets benefit from similar conditions and techniques picked up from Florida crews to catch their share.
Georgia
King Mackerel: Oil and gas platforms along the Louisiana coast—in less than 250 feet of water—draw plenty of kings this time of year, and so do anchored shrimp boats and the mouths of the major passes, where baitfish congregate. In the South Atlantic, Georgia reefs like the KC off Savannah, the F off St. Simons Sound, and KBY off Cumberland Island are top summer spots for the “Big Macks.”
New Jersey
Bluefish: Summer is bluefish time in the Northeast as schools of the voracious, toothy critters arrive on the scene with a single purpose: gorging themselves. Much like the game plan for striped bass in the region, locating baitfish aggregations along New York and New Jersey beaches leads anglers to the action. Expect beaches adjacent to the inlets to be prime areas to intercept some blues.
North Carolina
Dolphin: South Florida waters are flush with dolphin this time of year as waves of fish riding the Gulf Stream hang around the weed lines and flotsam pushed close to shore by seasonal southeasterly winds. The spring migration brings an increasing number of fish to Carolina waters. Boats out of Crystal Coast and the Outer Banks, where the Gulf Stream comes close to the coast, should find plenty of takers.
JUNE/JULY 2021 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM 83
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Rates accurate as of 04/06/2021. See website for current rates and terms, as well as financing for Live-Aboards and loan amounts below $25,000.
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When the sea beckons, answer the call with an affordable marine loan from Essex Credit. Whether refinancing an existing loan or financing a new or used boat for live-aboard, full- or part-time charter, or pleasure use, our dedicated and experienced consultants can help you with your dream vessel. With our simple online application, applying for a loan couldn’t be easier. So visit our website or call 866-377-3948 (TTY: 800-659-5495) today to take advantage of the open water, and our low, fixed APR*.
Apply online at EssexCredit.com/sws
* Estimated APR (Annual Percentage Rate) based on 5 year loan term; individual rate may vary based on loan amount, loan term, vehicle use, model year and type of boat. Subject to consumer loan program requirements and credit approval. Rates and terms are subject to change based on market conditions and borrower eligibility. Certain fees, closing costs, and restrictions may apply. APR applied to the loan is the APR in effect on the date the application is received and is valid for 60 days. Boat must be 2001 model year or newer; for boat model year 2001 to 2010, add .25% to above rate. Maximum loan term based on loan amount. Maximum loan amount is calculated using an advance percentage determined by FICO score and multiplied by NADA guide base wholesale value with add-ons; if not listed in NADA guide, then multiplied by 80% of BUC low retail value. Other rates with different loan terms are available. Example of a refinance recreational use boat loan: A $65,399 loan (includes a $399 processing fee) for 5 years with a fixed interest rate of 4.047% would have an APR of 4.29% and 60 monthly payments of $1,205.81. This is only an example and the APR and processing fee may differ for your specific transaction. Loans with longer terms may have higher rates. Essex Credit is a division of Bank of the West. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
© 2021 Bank of the West. Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California. NMLS ID 19116
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Who Needs Enemies? Sometimes you rely on friends at your own risk. By Doug Pike
U
nder the right circumstances anywhere, money talks. And on a media fishing trip to Mexico, $20 spoke loudly enough to put a good man in a bad mood for the dark half of a day. Five outdoor writers, who ran into each other regularly on fishing junkets around the turn of the century, met yet again in Houston and enjoyed another smooth, two-hour flight south. Beyond customs, we were welcomed by two representatives from the host lodge. As the men introduced themselves, two local porters stacked our significant pile of luggage and rod cases onto carts. One of the hosts, having hatched a plan with one of our group beforehand,
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was carrying an extra $20 bill as we walked and talked through the airport. Parked tightly against the terminal curb were a pair of matching vans, their side and rear doors swung open wide. “You guys hop in this van,” one host said, herding us forward, “while our guys finish loading your gear into that one.” As we shuffled toward the front van, our host pulled one of the porters aside, whispered something, and slipped that bill into the man’s shirt pocket. And with that, while we made room in the passenger van for five middle-aged bodies and as many camera bags, the porter quietly removed one of the rod cases from the cargo van, carried it low,
and slid it silently into the back end of the passenger van. The case fit nicely beneath the seats, sort of like how that cash fit in the porter’s pocket. At our destination, as the vans were unpacked and we talked about the inshore and offshore fish we intended to catch, one guy paced nervously between the cargo van and the offloaded cargo. “You guys seen my rod case?” he asked. “I watched that dude put it in the van, but it’s not here.” The hosts and the mark looked everywhere in and around that second van, but none could find the missing case. One of the three knew where it was, but he wasn’t talking. Nobody in our group, not even me, thought to look in the passenger van because we’d watched—or thought we had watched—all of our gear go into that second vehicle. “I brought a couple of extra rods,” one of the guys (the co-conspirator, it turned out) volunteered. “You’re welcome to borrow them.” “We’ll find that rod case,” said the host, who already knew where it was safely hidden. “No worries, amigo.” Dinner was awkward. We tried to talk about fishing, but our concerned friend kept bringing up his lost tackle. And worse, the two who had perpetrated the prank allowed it to simmer, not just through the meal, but through the entire night. At breakfast the next morning, the writer who put up the $20 to make the rod case disappear came into the dining room toting two of the worstlooking rods and reels to ever travel internationally. Where there wasn’t rust, there was corrosion, and vice versa. “You can borrow these,” the man said without expression. A hush fell over the room. The man with the absent gear feigned appreciation, but his face said otherwise. “Or,” the prankster continued, “you can use these.” And with that, the host came around the corner with the missing case. Cursing and a few threats followed. And then three days of great fishing.
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