Holiday Gift Guide

DICKINSON ARMS

New Ranger Series single-shot shotguns from Dickinson Arms combine classic good looks, craftsmanship, excellent shooting performance and remarkable value. There is a full family of models for adults and youth, as well as a shortbarreled, folding Survival model – at retail prices ranging from $144-$164 MSRP.

dickinsonarms.com

SMOKER CRAFT

Big water? Rough water? The Smoker Craft Phantom is ready for anything with its heavy-gauge all-welded hull, deep interior, IGTS integrated gunnel track system and toe holds for enhanced safety.

The Phantom series features an all-new, exclusive Vertex Performance Strake (VPS) hull and sets a new standard for heavygauge welded boats.

smokercraft.com

SILVER HORDE

The KatchKooler Deluxe keeps your catch fresher and features a compact design for easy storage. Made from high-density closed-cell foam. Waterproof outer fabric. Add reusable ice packs and protect your catch from bacterial degradation.

silverhorde.com

GIBSON’S BLIND COVERS

Ever wonder why ducks and geese flare off early? They can see you from above! With Gibson’s Blind Covers you can easily watch the ducks while staying hidden, and then simply gently nudge the covers open when it’s time to take the shot. Made from welded steel, powder coated, portable or permanent, adaptable to boats and stand-up blinds, sizes 2 through 6 feet, adjustable, sold in pairs. You see the ducks and they don’t see you. Drop more birds this season! Price $225-$425 per pair. Call (209) 712-9858 to order or visit Gibson’s Blind Covers’ website.

gibsonduckblindcoversinc.com

BOAT INSURANCE AGENCY

The Boat Insurance Agency is an independent agency representing the best marine insurance companies. They carefully compare a number of policies to find the lowest premiums and best values for your boat insurance needs.

Boat Insurance Agency is owned and operated by Northwest boaters. They have the local knowledge needed to understand boating in the West, along with your special needs.

Contact them for an insurance quote and to learn more about the value and service they can offer.

boatinsurance.net

PACIFIC WINGS WATERFOWL ADVENTURES

Perfect gift for the waterfowl hunter in your life is a hunt with Pacific Wings. Gift certificates available. You can purchase a hunt as a unique gift that is sure to please. Premier waterfowl hunting in eastern Washington.

pacific-wings.net

RAD POWER BIKES

The RadRover seamlessly blends rugged capabilities and exceptional comfort. With 4-inch fat tires and a reputation for stability, Rad Power Bikes’ flagship ebike is perfect for off-road adventures, weekend spins around the cul de sac, and everything in between. It’s no wonder it’s the best-selling electric fat bike in North America.

radpowerbikes.com

BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION

Dual Performance is available in 5.56mm with a 62-grain projectile at 3,000 feet per second from a 20-inch barrel and a .308 152-grain version at 2,800 fps from a 24-inch barrel. The performance of these rounds will set new standards and the accuracy ensures terminal capability is delivered with precision.

black-hills.com THE BEST OF THE WEST

The Best of the West Mountain Scout rifle is perfect for backcountry, ruggedterrain hunters. BOTW started with the strong but lightweight BOTW Mountain Hunter carbon fiber stock that has a slim, compact profile, then kept the weight super low by pairing that stock with a 22-inch carbon fiber barrel and titanium action. Chambered in 6.5 PRC, it tips the scale at only 6.8 pounds with a Huskemaw BD 4-16x42 scope!

thebestofthewest.net HAKAI LODGE

Create family memories that will last a lifetime! Share your fishing adventures at Hakai Lodge with your sons, daughters and grandchildren during multi-generation vacations, making it a family event to remember. It’s nice to have a break from your devices and what better way to bond with your family than on a fishing trip in the scenic wilderness of British Columbia? (The lodge has WiFi; whether or not you use it is up to you!)

Hakai Lodge is family-friendly and offers special rates for young adults. Their fishing trips are all-inclusive, including round-trip airfare from Seattle, Washington, and range from six days to two days. Check their website for rates.

hakaifishinglodge.com

PROLIX LUBRICANTS

Even Santa would love to see a bottle of PrOlix in his stocking this holiday season! There is no product on the market to date that works like PrOlix; just see their ad in this publication and learn more over at their website! Let PrOlix make it a joyful holiday!

prolixlubricant.com

SKINNER SIGHTS HTF

The Skinner Sights HTF bag allows your firepower to be “concealed in plain sight,” yet ready in case of an emergency. Holds up to a 40-inch long gun and two handguns. Room for three rifle and eight pistol magazines. Knife, flashlight and accessory pouches. Cordura construction with heavy-duty stitching. (Firearms and accessories in photo are not included. For illustrative purposes only.)

skinnersights.com

CALIFORNIA

COSTA MESA

Maurer Marine

873 W 17th St (949) 645-7673 www.maurermarine.com

OREGON

EUGENE

Maxxum Marine

1700 State Hwy. 99 N. (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com

LET’S GO TO THE HOP!

PADDY HOPPING WILL YIELD PLENTY OF SALTY TREATS FOR OFFSHORE ANGLERS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

The fishing offshore for tuna, yellowtail and dorado this year has been great. The water temperature there has stayed more consistent than inshore, with temps off San Diego’s kelp beds dropping 5 to 8 degrees at least twice during a time when normally it is about 70 to 72 degrees.

These conditions have really affected the yellowtail off the kelp beds. Just when it got good the winds turned the water over. The calicos, at least off La Jolla and Point Loma around San Diego, don’t know what’s going on, so catch rates have slowed a bit, but it should return to normal with all the hot days we’re having.

COVERING A LOT OF RANGE When heading offshore, you can find paddies everywhere from about 9 miles out and beyond. From San Clemente and Catalina Islands south to the Coronado Islands and down into Mexico, it’s just a matter of how much gas your tank holds and how safe it is for your boat to traverse these waters.

You never know when a paddy might cross your path or you may never see one all day. They can be as large as a double garage door and not hold a fish, or be as small as an album cover and hold a giant school of dorado or yellows.

I should mention that when a bite starts, don’t just charge out of the

Josh McMahon shows off a nice dorado, which came off a paddy near the 43 Fathom spot. Up and down the Southern California coast, paddy hopping is scoring plenty of fall fish. (JEFF KING)

harbor and onto the ocean. Make sure your boat will go the distance, your bait tank will hold up and your tackle will do the trick.

Some of the tuna – if you do stumble across them – are giants and will surprise you and your tackle if you’re not prepared. Get ready this winter for next year’s tuna and paddy hopping and make sure all your rods and reels are in good working order and maybe reline them as well.

FALL SEASON IS HERE So how long will the paddy hopping and offshore action last? Almost every year the fishing goes into November, and sometimes it will stretch into December. It mainly depends on the water temperature and how far you can travel in your boat, as the tuna will drift south out of range of most small craft. Again, gas and size of your boat will make a difference.

Last month and up until now the hot spots have been the Desperation area off San Clemente Island south all the way to the 302 and 425, and points south into Mexico. But you never know where you may find a streak of the right water.

Last month Capt. Joel King and his boat FreeJack found a full-speed paddy of dorado at the 302. The fish there were in the 6- to 8-pound range with a few 10- to 15-pounders. Another paddy nearby held 15- to 20-pound yellows. Fishing in August, as usual, was out of this world.

HOW TO ATTACK A PADDY Once you spot a paddy, you can troll by it or just slide up on it and throw bait in the water. I like to troll by and throw a handful of bait as we pass and watch for boils. Then, when you decide to slide up on it, don’t use the motor and instead pull upwind and float with the wind past it – staying a cast’s distance away.

Most of the time your bait will swim to the cover of the paddy, and if the dorado or yellowtail are there you will know it in a second. TACKLE CHECK Gear for fishing the paddies can range from light to heavy. Many anglers are now fishing with spinning gear. It’s fun fishing for the dorado since they can be line-shy at times. I have been using a set of Daiwa Proteus spinning rods with BG 4000 and 6500 reels. I’m loaded up with Daiwa 65-pound J8 braid and run a 40- to 80-pound leader of Maxima fluorocarbon. Mustad supplies the hooks, No. 10827 bait style. But some anglers prefer a circle hook for that perfect corner-of-themouth hookup. Poppers and jerkbaits have been red hot as well.

Of course, regular tackle – from light bass gear to heavy conventional gear – works as well, but you can’t just grab that old rod you haven’t used in years and run out after these fish. You must check your drags, reline and tie on a new hook.

The points on hooks do deteriorate if they have been near salt air, even

The rewards of a good paddy stop: yellows and dorado for the grill. (JEFF KING)

just sitting in a package. They are so sharp the point can rust away easily. You’re better off investing in a new pack of Mustad hooks than to keep wondering why you get bit but don’t hook that fish of a lifetime.

EXPECT ANYTHING There will be surprises, and when that happens you need to be ready. What if the bite goes from small yellowtail to tuna or small dorado to 20-plus-pound yellowtail? Always start a little heavier, and if you’re not getting bit then go to lighter tackle, unless you are well versed in playing out a big fish and just love light-tackle action.

The fish are there in the Pacific, so you need to go if you haven’t already, find some of them and score some delicious meals for the winter. Grilled yellowtail, dorado or tuna tastes just as good in December and January as it does any other time of the year. CS

ALL BOATS POWERED BY HONDA MOTORS

2018 Custom Weld 22’ Offshore

This thing takes big and stable to the next level. 1/4” bottom on this monster. 8’ BOTTOM. Yes, this thing has an 8’ bottom. That makes it so stable it is incredible. Powered by a 250hp Honda. This massive offshore can do anything you want. It is a Tuna killer. Karavan tandem aluminum trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes. Air ride seats. Washdown. Wipers. Drop curtain. Ready to go. TRADES WELCOME.

$74,995.00

Welcome Aboard Fish Rite!! We are excited to announce the arrival of Fish Rite boats.

2020 18’ Performer

Yamaha 115hp outboard. Karavan galvanized trailer. Full canvas top. Ready to hit the water.