Jason Arnold

Hogfsh on the reefs of Fort Lauderdale. Opposite top: Spiny lobsters pack in under a coral head during the start of mating season of of Miami Beach. Bottom: A lone sailfsh cruises southward from Fort Lauderdale during the winter migration.

BY GUEST EDITOR

NICK HONACHEFSKY

Support for Slots

A conservation-minded look at how slot limits may be the most viable way to manage a species.

Everybody loves catching the big one, but fsh shouldn’t need to rely on luck to active members of a species, whereas the younger and older counterparts are reach trophy size—they can always use a little help from fsheries management. protected to grow and spawn out. In the old days, when stocks weren’t as pressured both commercially and With obvious discourse, diferent species demand varied slot sizes, but basic recreationally, size limits were small and bag limits were big, but that arcane criteria when determining a slot limit could include the following: management now has no place in a world where ever-growing demand makes • Start lower slot parameter sometime after sexual maturity. efective management an absolute necessity. A sound answer to start managing a • Slot harvest range would include active, early middle-aged fsh. recreational fsheries population, in my opinion, is to initiate slot limits. • End the higher slot parameter before a “trophy” level, when the largest

Slot limits on saltwater species promote many benefts toward the overall of species carry the most eggs. sustainability of a species, most importantly because they allow for the growth • Introduce a trophy tag to use once a year to keep a world-class fsh. of juvenile members and protect the wizened breeders. This “selective culling” In my opinion, New Jersey set up a near perfect slot scenario a few years back instituted by a slot limit, in theory, when regulating striped bass. propagates the health and viability of Slot limits on saltwater species Anglers were allowed to keep the species. As juveniles are allowed to one fsh between 24 and 28 grow and reach sexual maturity, they promote many benefits toward the inches (age 5 to 8 years old) then enter the strongest period of their and one fsh over 28 inches. life in early middle age, when they should overall sustainability of a species, Those regs were smart as they be harvested. Any middle-aged fsh that most importantly because they allow allowed harvest of a healthy, survives past the upper parameters of a early middle-aged fsh, as well slot will be able to breed and procreate for the growth of juvenile members as another middle-aged or freely until their natural deaths. The slot older fsh— plenty of fllets to allows anglers to take or release strong, and protect the wizened breeders. take home for a day out fshing.

The regs then changed to two fsh over 28 inches long, which I wasn’t pleased with, as many people began keeping the larger breeder cows (30-50 lbs./42-50 inches), while throwing back the smaller, albeit quality-sized, fsh (12-18 lbs./28-35 inches), thus putting more pressure on the big breeders. If we prompt anglers to take only the largest of fsh with no end cap, uneducated and even educated anglers will tend to get “big eyes” syndrome and keep the largest fsh they catch that day.

In an ideal scenario, regulations would also allow a once-a-year trophy tag to address the desire to take home a world-class caliber fsh. For example, a Floridian bags a redfsh that’s a potential record at 50 inches, well outside the 18- to 27-inch Florida slot, but so long as he possesses a “once a year” tag, he would be allowed to keep and mount the fsh. Obviously, anglers practicing conservation should release trophy-caliber fsh anyway, taking measurements and photographs for a fberglass fsh mount for commemorating the event. Other factors to consider that support a middle-aged slot rather than keeping large breeding fsh revolve around studies showing that more toxins accumulate in older, larger fsh, making the smaller, middle-aged fsh more desirable to consume.

Whatever the case, there is no panacea for fsheries management, and many variables must be taken into consideration when delineating regulations, including spawning seasons, bag limits, growth rates, mortality rates, etc., that must be factored into the equation. However, I think initiating slot limits, in respect to other species-specifc variables, is a good place to start for any fsheries management, as it smartly addresses the biological and life-cycle science behind creating regulations.

Eric Schwaab, left, during an interview with Dr. Guy Harvey at the 2012 Gulf Fisheries Symposium. Photo: Jim Tizzano.

Eric Schwaab

Eric Schwaab, has more than 25 years of experience in local, state and federal natural resource management. He is assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, is currently acting assistant secretary for Conservation and Management for NOAA. Schwaab was a participant in the recent Gulf Fisheries Symposium sponsored by GHM. In his role at NOAA, he oversees the management and conservation of marine fsheries and the protection of marine mammals, sea turtles and coastal fsheries habitat within the United States’ exclusive economic zone. We’ve asked him for some insight on the science and process of creating fshing regulations.

CA: Can you help us understand how

NOAA Fisheries does their fish stock assessments?

ES: Many factors play into estimating the health of a fsh stock. To develop fsh stock assessments, scientists gather biological information such as how long a species lives, the age or size at which they reproduce and how many ofspring a species typically produces. We also gather information from commercial and recreational fsheries, and when available, we use independent scientifc fsh abundance surveys. These surveys are very helpful for tracking the stability of stocks, or whether they are trending up or going down.

NOAA has dedicated millions of additional dollars to improve and accelerate fsh stock assessments by hiring more experts, developing cuttingedge statistical models, and collecting better data through the use of new technologies, such as sonar and high-resolution video.

BY CA STAFF

An insider perspective on fishing regulations.

In the Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean assessments, NOAA uses a cooperative process called Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR). The Regional Fishery Management Councils, in coordination with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, all work together to manage this process.

One thing I like about this process is that it is very public. And, in the fnal phase of this process, a panel of independent experts reviews the data and assessment outcomes, and makes recommendations. We use similar processes in other regions.

CA: As anglers, we hear

about the importance of recreational data. There is a lot of skepticism about its accuracy. Can you explain what NOAA Fisheries is doing to address this?

ES: We treat concerns about recreational data very seriously. Most of the time, anglers question the accuracy of catch and efort estimates, and express concerns about how fast the collected data is put to use. There’s no doubt that calculating total catch from millions of recreational anglers is more challenging than directly tracking commercial catch landed at the dock.

A few years ago, NOAA asked for and received a thorough review of our recreational data collection system by the National Research Council. Results showed that we needed to make improvements in many aspects of our recreational estimation process. NOAA Fisheries quickly responded with an initiative we call the “Marine Recreational Information Program.”

Our scientists and managers worked with outside experts, state partners and many in the recreational fshing community to improve the accuracy of catch estimates by removing sources of potential bias— factors that could infuence the estimates.

I am happy to report that in the spring of 2013, NOAA Fisheries will begin using improved catch surveys and conduct them in ways that will provide better data. For example, in the past, we didn’t conduct surveys at night, so valuable data may have been missed. We will collect data at night, and we plan to continue to work toward monthly turnaround of the data.

CA: The Councils and NOAA

have told us that we will have better fishing once stocks rebuild, but it seems the opposite is occurring in the Gulf with red snapper.

ES: The red snapper population is doing great, and we expect this year’s assessment to show more good news. The recreational allocation has increased from 2.45 to 4.26 million pounds over the past four years. But as anglers are seeing more fsh, bigger fsh and fsh in more places, they are catching fsh faster than the quota is increasing. The retained fsh are heavier, bag limits are being caught more quickly and more anglers are catching them. This results in shorter seasons to ensure that we continue to progress toward a fully rebuilt stock, with older fsh and improved distribution across its historic range.

The Gulf Council’s Reef Fish Committee met in a special session in January to discuss potential solutions to the shorter fshing seasons, including allocating more fsh to anglers and shifting to regional management of fsh. We are also awaiting a new stock assessment later this year.

NOAA scientists and managers share anglers’ frustration regarding red snapper, and we are looking at this issue carefully.

Eric was a panelist and moderator at the Gulf Fisheries Symposium in September. Photo: Jim Tizzano.

CA: Some of the management

techniques NOAA uses may be working, but they are tough to take. Any predictions for the future?

ES: NOAA scientists are seeing more fsh and better fshing conditions in many areas around the country. Many recreational fsheries are seeing increased quota and better fshing opportunities. But we still see other recreational fsheries struggling with changing conditions. And even with improving stocks, constraints are needed to ensure we do not short circuit progress.

The Councils, with recreational, commercial, state and federal government and other representatives, are working hard along with NOAA to implement the laws in a way that work for fshermen and fsh. I am optimistic that information provided by the public during the ongoing review of the National Standard One guidelines, which includes annual catch limit provisions, will help identify a path to get us to where we all want to be. We are excited by the progress we have made together, but know that we have much work together to provide fshing opportunities not only today, but for our children and grandchildren.

Bill Boyce is a veteran fsheries biologist turned TV producer and host. His work includes the award-winning series Angler’s Digest.

For adventurous types,

the South Pacific conjures up seductive images of deep, blue water and palm-speckled islands. Most of the fun in this part of the world is focused on surfing killer breaks and diving over fat, healthy coral. Both are a product of spectacular reefs tucked away in a corner of the globe that relatively few people frequent. This remote paradise is high on the wish list of most divers and surfers, but few anglers realize sportfishing is equally spectacular in the region and yet severely underutilized. Why is there so little fishing? First, very few boats found in the South Pacific are rigged adequately to pursue large, big-game species offshore. Second, tackle is expensive and must be imported from thousands of miles away, as very few outfitters are present in the island chains. Third, when you consider how few people have ever fished the South Pacific, most of the offshore habitat is virgin wilderness and very little is known about it.

Above: Fiji’s Great Astrolabe Reef is one of the healthiest and most resilient on the planet. Slightly cooler water temps allow it to bounce back quickly from coral bleaching episodes and help it to sustain a healthy fsh population. Maps: © 2013 Google Maps. Cnes/Spot Image. Data: SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCO, LDEO-Columbia, NSF. Image: Terrametrics.

Travel Facts

The Fiji Islands lie some 700 miles north of New Zealand and include over 300 islands dispersed in two main groups known as Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Only 100 or so islands are inhabited and the others are nature reserves. • The population of Fiji is 775,000. • Weather is typically mild year-round, ranging from 65-90°F. • When traveling from the United States, you will cross the International Date Line, losing a day on your arrival and getting it back on your return. • Daily fights service Fiji from Australia, New Zealand and the United States on Air

Pacifc Airlines. The main international airport is in Nadi on Viti Levu’s western coast.

From there, commuter fights reach every corner of the Fijian Island group. • The local currency is the Fijian dollar and the current exchange is about 2:1 to the

U.S. dollar. All the stores readily exchange U.S. dollars to Fiji dollars. • English is the most common shared language of Fiji. • The Fiji tourism board in the U.S. can be reached at fjime.com, 310-568-1616. • Air Pacifc Airlines fights can be booked at airpacifc.com, 800-227-4446.

All of this holds true for Fiji, one of the Pacifc’s most picturesque island chains. That is, with one exception. A frst-class, ofshore fshing operation here ofers a staggering array of inshore and ofshore fsh to target. I tripped over it by chance, which is often the best way to fnd such jewels. A few years ago, I was directing and hosting a saltwater fshing television show called IGFA Angler’s Digest. We received an email invitation to fsh with an IGFA captain on the remote island of Kadavu, the southernmost island of Fiji. We looked it up on the map, and began some research. Hmm… The Astrolabe reef extends nearly 100 kilometers around its south side. This reef is world famous for the quantity and the quality of the coral. In fact, many reputed coral ecologists have spent time researching the corals found there and use these studies as a reference to compare other quality reefs in the world.

Fish Engine

Fiji’s reefs difer from many other living coral environments in that they have been found to be very resilient to coral bleaching occurrences. It is common knowledge that the warming of global sea temperatures plays a major role in massive bleaching episodes. Scientists have determined the bleaching process evolves when sea temperatures rise over 29°C for a period of over six weeks or more, causing devastating bleaching to several coral groups, especially the Acropora varieties.

A favorable, nine-year study by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) and scientists on the Fiji Coral Reef Monitoring Network (FCRMN) concluded that Fiji’s reef systems are very quick to recover from these events. In fact, the massive coral bleaching in the South Pacifc in 2000 and 2002 had recovered to pre-bleaching levels by 2005. This is great news for the world’s coral reefs if they also share Fiji’s unique environmental conditions.

It certainly helps that Fiji is geographically remote from industrialized landmasses, with a low density of destructive commercial fshing practices. Fiji also has an amazingly large physical reef diversity of coral species, with an extensive connectivity of these habitats, genetic stocks and good current fows to disperse larvae during spawning events. Couple all these factors with the expansive network of locally managed, marine protected areas, and you can understand why Fiji’s reef resiliency occurs and why it is such an important place to sustain. The Astrolabe reef of South Kadavu Island also has the fortune of having water temperatures that average 0.5-1.0°C less than the other Fiji islands, and thus, not nearly as susceptible to coral bleaching. In fact, coral experts agree that the expansive coral larvae production of the Astrolabe reef of South Kadavu Island is a major coral regeneration source for the rest of Fiji following acute bleaching periods.

With such a hearty and healthy reef system, it’s no wonder Fiji is a diving hotspot; but how about the fshing? With some continued correspondence with Captain Adrian Watts of the Matava Resort, we quickly surmised this man was very well outftted, very enthusiastic and very serious about chasing some light tackle world records.

“So Adrian, what types of fsh are we expected to encounter on the outside reefs?”

“Depends on the time of year, but over the course of a year…you will see them all. Dorado, barred Spanish mackerel, yellowfn, skipjack, and dogtooth tuna, sailfsh, black marlin, blue marlin, sharks, and packs of huge wahoo, and giant trevally, all just meters from the reefs, and no farther than a few miles ofshore.”

That type of a glowing report was enough to get my producers into a flming frenzy. We booked it.

Fiji

Nadi International Airport

Great Astrolabe Reef

Kadavu

Fijian Fish Safari

Getting there was pretty straightforward—a 10-hour “red eye” direct fight from Los Angeles to Nadi on the very accommodating Air Pacifc Airlines, then a six-hour layover and a one-hour, inter-island fight on the same air provider. A ponga skif took us to Matava Resort. Along the way, we passed a reef that immediately told us what a special spot we had just found. Approaching the resort, we passed the BITE ME, a well-outftted, 31-foot, twin diesel, Aussie-built, DeepVee sportfsher resting on anchor in one of the most scenic sportfshing settings I have ever seen. My thoughts began racing with visions of what we could expect on the reefs the next day. We walked ashore, and the Matava Resort staf anxiously greeted us. The resort is an eco-lodge, built out of local, native woods, with roofs of thatched palm and bamboo siding. It only holds 22 people, so you never feel the need to adapt to a mega-resort mentality. The staf of local Fijians are amongst the friendliest I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and from the frst “bula” (“hello” in Fijian), you feel as welcome as family.

We were there in the Fijian winter month of July. They call it winter, but it seemed like a stunning summer in California. There was some wind and rain, and Mother Nature was acting the part. But the water was a balmy 78°F, or 25.5°C. Adrian informed us that yellowfn, sailfsh and large wahoo would be the target species. He didn’t let us down. From the frst hour of the reef, we were covered up in huge wahoo, passing through large concentrations of them “packed” up and attacking our lures in multiple forces. Movement would be seen in the lure spread, and seconds later, huge explosions would go of on the baits, with skying wahoo of 50-60 lbs. leaping 15 feet out of the water and crashing down on our baits as they attack from above. Multiple hook-ups were the norm. I would be “bendo;” then the mate, Joe Tuko, would grab a rod; then

Local Vibe

The island of Kadavu is dotted with several native villages, which rarely, if ever, get any tourist exposure. Matava ofers a unique opportunity to visit one, and the amazing waterfall there is icing on the cake. The village lifestyle is all about family and friends, and nothing to do about materialistic belongings. Kids are well fed with a rich protein diet from the sea and garden-grown A Fijian kava celebration mixes locals, vegetables. Schools are an important tourists and a peppery local plant. component of village life and the kids revel in community activity, such as song and dance. Kava celebrations (kava is a local Fiji-grown pepper root used to create a spiritual drink) can occur at almost any time in the villages and occasionally a kava party is thrown for the guests at Matava. A good kava party story is essential for anyone returning home from Fiji. my cameraman/producer, Richard Chudy, would must ask how many more we may have seen if we even get into the action. put out a trolling spread similar to that fshed in

After catching and releasing several large Central America for sailfsh. wahoo, we passed a point along the outer reef wall Marlin is a Fijian summer fsh, meaning that where Captain Adrian informed us of a few bait they show in these waters from December through balls on the meter. “Watch for sailfsh in the pattern.” February. Both black and blue marlin are caught here Within minutes, a double hook-up on sailfsh was and many are considered sizeable for their species. the result. It should be noted that these Fiji sailfsh An average fsh is 400 lbs., yet many are caught, or at are large individuals, many commonly found above least hooked, that would scale over 700 lbs. of body 120 lbs. By the end of the day, fve sailfsh had been mass. Many are hooked just a mile or two outside the raised and we weren’t even fshing for them. One reef where lots of small tunas are seen foraging on

Matava

Matava is most typifed as an eco-resort. Built within the tropical forest of Kadavu Island’s south shore, the views and the sounds of the Astrolabe reef in the background make for a breathtaking setting. The entire resort is constructed from locally grown pines and hardwoods, which make up the frames for the main structures. The siding and roofs are done in traditional manner and constructed with thatched palm fronds and weaved palm. Each bure (room) is designed and orientated to beneft from shade and sea breezes for cooling. The water supply is a natural spring fltered through limestone, and is of excellent quality. The entire staf is made up of local villagers whom are amongst the most friendly you will ever meet. The vegetables are organically grown in the resort garden and the fsh served for meals are, of course, super fresh, typically flleted within hours of your plate appearance.

small baitfsh; others are encountered by spending a day on the ofshore bank located 30 miles from Matava on Kadavu’s southwestern tip. This is a active fsh area anytime you decide to make the run. Once there, current movement is essential at the bank to get things “fshy.” Adrian likes pulling lures for his marlin, as this allows him to cover lots of territory in the pursuit of big fsh. But if conditions appear good on the bank, then catching tunas, bridling them and slow trolling them on the bank can bring interest from some gargantuan predators. Marlins aren’t the only ones, however. Large pelagic sharks, wahoo and world-record-sized dogtooth tuna will pulverize these live baits, too.

Speaking of tunas, yellowfn make an annual pilgrimage through Kadavu waters. Most commonly seen in June, July and August, they are usually just the football-sized variety. But when encountered more ofshore, yellowfn approaching 100 lbs. can be hooked. The lean and mean dogtooth tuna is a year-round resident and often can be seen on dives as they cruise the narrow passages from open water to inner reef.

For the last few years, my gamefshing eforts have been focused on the speedy, toothy wahoo. Few places in the world can boast the aggregation behavior of wahoo “packs” like Matava can. The IGFA world record book can be rewritten in these waters with a patient angler, some excellent tackle and some time on his hands. Two years ago, I targeted the men’s IGFA world record on 8-lb. test. I hooked that fsh, but after one hour and ffteen minutes, pulled the hook. For the last two years, Tim Simpson of Australia’s BlueWater magazine and I vowed to meet up in Fiji to pursue that very same record this year. We joined forces with Captain Adrian Watts, and his trusty mate, Joe Tuko, to give the record a run for its money this June. As you all know, having great boats, skippers, mates and competent “handle-turners” can mean nothing if the weather doesn’t want to cooperate, hence our 2008 trip. That dilemma made us all agree to “butch up” for another attempt this year. This year, Mother Nature gave us two days of peace. The quest was the same as a year ago—a men’s IGFA worldrecord wahoo on 4 kg. The fsh are there, it is just fnding the one that will make a mistake far bigger

Yellowfn tuna are best targeted June through August in Fiji. Photo: Bill Boyce.

than merely inhaling a plug.

The frst fsh of our entire trip was a good sign. I took the Fijian sailfsh record on 4 kg. And we were all smiles. “This is too good to be true,” we simultaneously proclaimed, as smiles, photos and some frosty beverages were exchanged. Next fsh was Tim’s turn and it proved to be a nice Fijian sail on the same light string. Hmm…Two for two on sails on light tackle and we are feeling invincible. The tackle was working perfectly.

It was the second day of fshing that the team would truly hit pay dirt. The weather calmed just as weatherbuoy.com had promised, and Adrian wasted no time in taking us to the spot we have wanted to hit for more than two years—that previously mentioned “fshy” ofshore bank 30 miles from Matava. Life on the bank that day wasn’t very thrilling, as we found slack tide upon our arrival. A few small, roving schools of yellowfn chasing bait, but so far, no packs of giant wahoo. After an hour of no action, we were making plans to head back to the east when it happened…streaking masses of tail movements and huge explosions on our lures! All three rods lit up simultaneously, and the Boone “mirror” diving teaser was being chewed by a huge “hoo.” We each grabbed the closest rod and handled them with kid gloves. Tim’s fsh was streaking for the eastern horizon, mine the western horizon, and Richard’s was heading of the bow. Joe Tuko was trying to pull the Boone unit out of that hoo’s mouth and it came back toward the boat. As Joe yanked the half-eaten teaser from the water, the 25-kg. fsh came skying after it. The fsh jumped a meter out of the water at lightning speed. It few past the stern and missed joining us in the pit by an arm’s length.

An hour later, my Shimano TLD 5 blew up from spool compaction with my fsh just 15 meters below. I hand-lined the 4-kg. line and JT gafed it. Tim’s fsh was moments later. Finally, on the gaf and coming over the rail, it seemed in slow motion, but when its head cleared the gunwale, we knew it was the one. When it fopped on the deck, the dream was reality—a 31.4-kg. wahoo on 4 kg.—a new men’s IGFA record! There would be no need to wake from this dream.

Blowing Bubbles

It’s rare I get to visit an area in the world that has both great fshing and diving. The beautiful thing about scuba diving is if the weather is too sloppy to be out fshing, diving can provide a great day of adventure. Here at Matava, the underwater world is as good as it gets. As mentioned earlier, it’s world renown for the exceptional coral condition—the Astrolabe Reef is among the fnest coral communities on earth. The variety and quality of the reef environment should make any traveling angler a candidate for a day or two of diving here. Not certifed? No worries, Matava ofers scuba lessons and PADI certifcations. Not into the scuba thing? No worries, Matava has some insane snorkeling just a few hundred meters from the dock.

The diversity of the marine life here is simply

Far left: The author with mate Joe Tuko and a Fijian record sailfsh taken on 8 kg. line. Left: Tim Simpson and Tuko with an IGFA record 31.4-kg. wahoo on 4 kg. line.

incredible. Giant mantas are a star attraction, with their graceful fying motion and alien-like shape. But there are also butterfy fsh, angelfsh, snappers, groupers, coral trout, barracuda, jacks, barred Spanish mackerel, sea turtles, soft corals, giant clams, sea anemones, clownfsh, lionfsh and sea snakes. If you do dive but don’t wish to cart your dive gear halfway around the world, no worries…just like the quality of the fshing gear on the BITE ME, the Matava Resort has excellently maintained scuba gear for rent.

Some of the best dives here are the drift dives, where you are dropped of at the corner of the open water passages, then drift the walls of these passages while watching the world go by. Here, the coral is most vibrant due to the current, and the fsh are large and more diverse in variety. Water temperatures range from their coolest 77°F in the Fiji winters (June–August) and warm to 85°F in the Fiji summers (December–March).

Do It All

Whether fshing or diving, Kadavu is an outpost at the edge of a vast and vibrant resource, and one of the few places anglers can go to get a taste of big-game fshing at its best in the South Pacifc. Whatever your preference— chasing marlin or mantas or hooking up on fat wahoo—you need not confne yourself to just one adventure. There’s plenty of reef and fsh to go around.

When is Light Right?

In the last issue of Complete Angler, Nick Honachefsky wrote an editorial headlined “Light Tackle Ethics” that discussed the pitfalls of fshing too light a line for the sake of a line-class record. The problem, he explained, is that such tactics typically result in long fghts that end up costing the life of big-game fsh…often the very breeder fsh we need to perpetuate highly pressured fsh stocks. Bottom line: such ego-driven fshing isn’t smart conservation.

This issue, in deciding to run Bill Boyce’s tale about pursuing a 4 kg. lineclass record for wahoo in Fiji, we asked him to provide some perspective on the subject of fshing light tackle. His response, “I don’t really see a confict in Nick’s position and what we were doing in Fiji. We were there targeting a specifc species known to congregate in massive numbers. This allowed us to avoid the bycatch issues that can result in unnecessarily killing valuable fsh. Also, wahoo are an incredibly abundant sportfsh, a common gamefsh in the Atlantic, Pacifc and Indian Oceans. Even if we would have hooked and lost a big breeder fsh that ultimately died, it would not have a signifcant impact on the overall population.

“Like all fshing,” Boyce continued, “the important thing about using light tackle is to do it responsibly and target the fsh that can best handle the stress. What light tackle fshing does prove is that anglers who do it successfully are those who truly take the sport of fshing to the extreme. They maintain their tackle in its peak condition, their knots meticulously tied, possess an intimate knowledge of the fsh they are targeting, as well as the fghting strategy of that fsh they are targeting, the way it will eat the lure or bait, and the environment in which the fght will take place.”

What do you think? Shoot us an email at editor@GuyHarveyMagazine.com or visit GHM on Facebook to weigh in on the ethics of fshing light.

BY DARYL CARSON

Hi-tech video tools make showing off a great catch more fun than ever.

G E A R H E A D S:

Although history doesn’t record the frst fsh ever pulled from the water, we can be sure it was quickly followed by the frst fsh story and subsequent embellishment of the facts. Bragging, it seems, is one of the frst things fshermen learn. In the modern era, the smart phone has given this important fshing skill a great boost. It lets you take photos of your just-caught fsh and then relentlessly blasts them out to spouses, friends and distant cousins you only “like,” but don’t really know. It’s a beautiful thing.

More importantly, technology now lets us do our bragging without also killing fsh that we don’t really need to keep. If you’re going to eat it, then by all means, take that smelly thing home and hoist it under the nose of all your loved ones. If not, get some great pics…or better, some great video…and then let the beast go to breed like mad, grow a little more and become bragging rights for someone else another day.

It’s in that spirit that we’ve rounded up some of the coolest video tools and accessories made just for fshing. The latest technology allows fshermen to not only capture the moment when the fsh comes out of the water, but also the action under the water. In fact, with cameras that can be trolled at high-speed, we can even brag about the one that got away. And we can do it in HD.

Several of the accessories mentioned here are for the GoPro camera systems. The small size, rugged build and solid performance of the GoPro has made it the go-to platform for capturing footage for all manner of extreme sports. And if it’s done right, blue water fshing certainly qualifes as extreme. Numerous other camera systems are available and most have waterproof housings available from the manufacturer or from aftermarket frms that specialize in underwater imaging.

If you’re new to capturing video while fshing, then start simple. A single camera— even one placed on your fshing kayak—that can be easily turned on when a fsh strikes will catch the basic action with little fuss. For more heartthumping footage, it’s best to employ both a topside and underwater camera. The latter can be operated as a “pole cam” on the end of a long handle, from an ROV or even trolled behind the boat with full view of a billfsh spread. On larger boats with multiple crewmembers, it’s also a good idea to designate one person to place, maintain and operate the cameras.

Just like any fshing practice, trial and error will bring refnement in technique. And, although it’s not discussed in this article, it’s also a good idea to plan to edit the footage you do get. This is a must if you use multiple cameras, but even more importantly than that, no one wants to watch long segments of nothing between big strikes. It’s really not bragging if your audience goes to sleep.

SeaViewer

Used by professional video production crews (Think: “Air Jaws” and “Monster Quest”), the SeaViewer Fast-Troll camera is built specifcally for blue water anglers. Its hydrodynamic design delivers excellent stability, even at trolling speeds up to 15 knots. Five strategically placed grommets allow for attaching towing cable, release clips and additional weight. This trolling camera can also be rigged as a drop cam or pole cam and works with standard monitor and recorder devices, or with SeaViewer monitor and recording devices. The basic kit includes a B&W or color probe (both infrared and low-light capable), 50 feet of cable, cable hand spool and cable clips, 3/4- to 1-inch pole attachment and carrying case. Camera measures seven inches in diameter and 12 inches long. MSRP 795.00 seaviewer.com

GreenFish CPR Mount

Specifcally designed for use on boats or kayaks, this fshing-friendly camera mount has a unique expansion locking system that works with standard shaped rod holders and secures a camera quickly and conveniently to any size boat. The mount’s foam-covered handle gives a no-slip grip, and an upper fex arm makes it easy to position a camera at any position or angle desired. The mount attaches to any camera or housing with a tripod ftting and is ideal for use with GoPro video cameras or any small digital system. And, as with all its sales, GreenFish will donate 5% of its revenues to non-profts that promote good conservation and sustainable fshing. MSRP 89.99 greenfshmovement.com

Lifeproof iPad Case

An iPad is a great way to review, store and manage video “on the go.” To use it safely on a boat means having some protection. The list of claims by Lifeproof for their new iPad case is staggering: dustproof, shockproof, waterproof and snowproof. More impressive are the technical specs for each of these claims. Without rattling of all the numbers, it means you can literally bury your iPad in the sand at the beach, dig it out and then drop (yes, we said drop) it in the kiddie pool to clean it up. Perhaps most impressive is that this all comes with “Naked Screen Technology,” which simply means there is nothing between your fnger and the touch screen. Ever. The case provides access to all device controls and has a special system to enhance sound from the speakers, so music and videos never sound mufed. MSRP 99.99 lifeproof.com

Aquabotix HydroView

An ROV for every boater, the HydroView is a compact unit with a video camera that can be “fown” using the motion control function of an iPad—just move the tablet and it steers the HydroView through the water. The system can also be controlled using a PC or Mac computer and is ideal for hull inspections, checking an anchor or getting a close-up of your favorite fshing reef. The HydroView records live video and captures still images in HD. Includes LED lights, an HD camera, 75-foot cable and waterproof carrying case. Upgrades and accessories, like depth and temperature sensors, are also available. MSRP 3,995.00 aquabotix.com

Biscayne Rod GoPro Handle

Made from fve pieces, Biscayne Rod’s fshing-ready GoPro handle stretches to 74.5 inches when assembled, but packs up easily for storage and transport, making it a great tool for that once-in-a-lifetime billfsh trip. The butt cap is a FUJI rubber gimbal, and the rear grip is eight inches long and fts securely in a rod holder for steady shots while on the move. Also included is a 12-inch forward rope handle for a non-skid grip. A universal head is designed to work with any type of mount. MSRP 250.00 biscaynerod.com

TrollPro3

Now in its third generation, the TrollPro housing supports the latest GoPro HD video cameras and all previous models, including accessory backs. This rugged, plastic housing is built to troll behind your boat, capturing your fshing spread and all the action of big strikes. Proven stable at speeds up to 11+ knots, it allows the camera to capture everything in its wide feld of view, and a new Stealth Blue fnish helps it blend into your trolling spread. The housing is normally combined with a 24-oz. trolling weight to keep the camera deeper in the water column. It can also be deployed vertically while fghting a fsh or while jigging. MSRP 149.95 (camera not included) trollpro.com

Melton Tackle GoPro Boat Stick

The GoPro Boat Stick is a racehorse version of the traditional pole cam and is excellent for catching the heart-pounding, underwater action of landing a big fsh. Built on a premium, tapered fberglass blank and ftted with an EVA grip, it is extremely lightweight, durable and efortless to handle. The six-foot length is easy to maneuver in a crowded cockpit and the perfect length for catching action just beneath the waves. Compatible with all HD HERO Original and HD HERO2 cameras. MSRP 119.99 meltontackle.com