Guy Harvey Magazine — Summer 2015 by Rowland Publishing, Inc.

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CONTENTS

SUMMER 2015

REQUIEM FOR A MAKO

THE DEATH OF KILL TOURNAMENTS?

recent FWC event brought together all that’s great about fighting

furthers conservation and charitable causes. The dark side is that

this invasive—yet delicious—species.

big breeder fish are still being killed. There must be a better way.

BY GHM STAFF

REQUIEM FOR A MAKO

SOME LIKE IT HOT SoCal anglers have been living large, thanks to the warm water

Catch a fish. Tag a fish. See it die on a fishing line? Researchers

brought in by El Niño. They’ve even caught a marlin off Catalina

have launched a new cash reward program that aims to keep

Island. Will the streak continue?

satellite-tagged fish from being caught and killed.

BY CHARLIE LEVINE

BY JOHN BELL

THE TIP OF THE SPEAR The fishing and diving communities love to hate the lionfish. A

Competitive fishing generates big fun and big dollars. It also

BY GHM STAFF

THE GREAT SHARK RACE

CAPTAIN GARFO It sounded like a good idea at the time, but our man lost his way

Everyone from big-game anglers to school kids are getting in on the

in paradise. Perhaps volunteering to play deckhand wasn’t such a

Great Shark Race. Place your money, pick a winner and see if your

smart move.

shark wins. The rewards are great research and valuable prizes.

BY GARY POYSSICK

BY NICK HONACHEFSKY

PHOTO PORTFOLIO

DEPARTMENTS

14 16

GUY TALK

Disrupting for Good

MEET THE CHEF

High Style

Guy shares ideas with some of the globe’s brightest at a

Bahamian native Tim Tibbitts has moved home and

Virgin Unite event.

raised the bar on fine—sustainable—dining.

BY GUY HARVEY, PhD

BY GHM STAFF

WEB

Exclusive Content Online

LAST CAST

Hooked on the Mother Ship

Check out guyharveymagazine.com for a dose of GHM

There’s now only one way to fish from a yak—and that’s

anytime. Here are a few of our favorite links.

from the mother ship. BY FRED GARTH

THE BITE

News, Notes & Gear Watch a marlin go up in flames, get in on the GHM recipe contest, get a shower anywhere, and find a pair of waterfriendly shoes that aren’t ugly as sin. BY GHM STAFF

PHOTO PORTFOLIO

Jim Klug An industry veteran and extraordinary photographer captures the essence of life with a fly rod.

On the Cover: Rainbow Country by Guy Harvey

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hobiefishing.com www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 7

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2015

5 GUIDES, 5 RIVERS

DOCK BUZZ

Downstream

FEATURE

5 Guides, 5 Rivers

Scott Smith explains, from his own experience, why

We asked five top freshwater flyfishing guides to give us the inside

saltwater anglers should care what happens in the cold

scoop on the waterways they call home. From go-to tackle choices

water upstream.

to the best off-season bets, it’s all here. We even found out where to

BY SCOTT SMITH

go for a killer breakfast. BY CA STAFF

BACKLASH

Rusty Thompson

GEARHEADS

Cold Water Fly Gear

We sit down with veteran Colorado guide Rusty

All the essentials for chasing trout at high altitude and

Thompson to find out why he’s never been able to

hunting salmon as they push upstream. Rods, reels, lines

escape the Gunnison River.

and more.

BY CA STAFF

BY DARYL CARSON

Complete dedicated Complete Angler Angler (CA) (CA) is is our our “magazine “magazine within within the the magazine,” magazine,” dedicated to delivering access to to experts, thethe latest to hard-core hard-core fi fishing shing enthusiasts enthusiasts & and delivering access experts, in fishing hottest fishingfishing spots spots on theon planet. latest in figear, shingand gearthe and the hottest the planet.

8 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

EVERY BOAT NEEDS A PROTECTOR.

1.800.PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE.COM

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com Progressive Casualty Ins. Co.| &9afﬁliates.

GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE OFFICES: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA Fred Garth, Editor-in-Chief MIAMI, FLORIDA Ozzy Delgado, VP, Sales & Marketing NEW YORK, NEW YORK Merrill Squires, Partner SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA Scott Smith, Partner

CREDITS TO: PUBLISHER Lost Key Publishing Art Director Leslie Ward Managing Editor Daryl Carson Marketing Director John Guidroz Circulation Director Crystal Stevens Director of Sales & Marketing JJ Waters Editor, Complete Angler Nick Honachefsky Accounting Karen Belser Copy Editor Kerrie Allen Contributing Editors Dr. Guy Harvey, Danny Thornton Contributors Joe Abston, Jenny Armstrong, John Bell, Duncan Brake, David Cartee, Brian Jones, Jim Klug, Charlie Levine, Gary Poyssick, Christine Shepard Editorial Advisory Board Dr. Guy Harvey, Chad Henderson, Bill Shedd, Dr. Mahmood Shivji, Steve Stock, Harvey Taulien, David Wilkinson WE RECYCLE:

We’re proud that Guy Harvey Magazine is printed at Quad Graphics in West

Allis, Wisconsin. Quad has been recognized at the state and national levels for its leading environmental programs and numerous awards, including the Friend of the Environment Award from the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group® (WEWG). Quad Graphics also practices the 4 R’s: Redesign, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The company recycles over 560,000 tons of paper per year, which spares 9.5 million trees from the blade. It doesn’t look like the world will be paperless anytime soon, but we’ve figured out how to minimize, and sometimes even eliminate, the impact to our forests and environment. Guy Harvey and all of us at GHM are happy about that. GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE, Issue 20, Summer 2015. GHM is published four times per year (quarterly) for $24.95 per year by Lost Key Publishing, LLC, 7166 Sharp Reef Road, Pensacola, Florida 32507. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Guy Harvey Magazine, PO Box 34075, Pensacola, Florida 32507. No part of this magazine can be reproduced without express written permission from Lost Key Publishing. Occasionally, we may make all or part of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and/or services that may interest you.

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NEW

CONTRIBUTOR’S PROFILE CHARLIE LEVINE

4” Shad

Charlie Levine grew up chasing striped bass and bluefish from the local jetties and fishing on his family boat, Good Times, in the Northeast. After attending college in Colorado and earning a degree in English and journalism, Charlie found his way back to the East Coast where he landed a job at Soundings Magazine. That led

it’s here!

to editorial positions at The Fisherman, Sport Fishing and Marlin. After more than a decade working in print, Charlie followed the mass migration online and currently serves as the editor and publisher of FishTrack.com and Buoyweather.com. He still fishes whenever he can, but most of his time these days is spent chasing around his two young boys, Cooper and Max.

JIM KLUG w w w . d o a l u r e s . c o m

Jim Klug has worked in the flyfishing and

MADE IN USA

outdoor industry since the tender age of 14. After more than three decades in the business, he is guided extensively in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon, and has fished throughout the world in over 40 different countries. His articles and photos have been published in national fishing and outdoor titles, as well as the New York Times and USA Today. Jim is also a founder and partner in Confluence Films, where—along with cinematographer Chris Patterson—he teamed up to create the 2008 flyfishing movie Drift, along with three subsequent films. He is the founder and director of operations for Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, a Bozeman, Montana-based, flyfishing travel company that specializes in booking and arranging fishing trips all over the world. He currently serves on numerous conservation and industry boards, including the Turneffe Atoll Trust, and his first book—Fly Fishing Belize—was released in November 2014. Jim lives in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife Hilary, daughter Carson, and sons Finn and Waylon. www.klugphotos.com

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GUY TALK

DISRUPTING FOR GOOD In May, I was invited by Virgin Unite to give a presentation to a

Swedish Professor Johan Rockstrom, director of the Stockholm

group of supporters of Sir Richard Branson’s allies in business,

Resilience Centre at Stockholm University.

education and outreach. My part was two-fold involving a

In a talk called Big World, Small Planet; Abundance Within

presentation about research, management and sustainable

Planetary Boundaries, Johan asked the question how the

use of coral reef and pelagic fishery resources followed by a

planet responds to the pressures of increased agriculture,

snorkeling tour of some reefs around Necker Island, BVI. In the

atmospheric warming, acidosis in the oceans and what are

context of “Disrupting for Good,” leaders of different businesses

the tipping points beyond which the planet may not recover?

and action groups talked about their experiences in an

Given all the scientific research currently in place, we are the

informal setting, and I was one of only two scientific presenters.

first generation to measure this disruption of the planet and

Other fascinating topics included legalizing marijuana and

to have the ability to fix it. Despite the exponential increase in

decriminalizing drugs, reducing the U.S. prison population, a

pressure from an expanding human population, there is still

texting crisis center, leadership in various contexts and real life

enough forgiveness in the atmosphere and ocean to dampen

GUY HARVEY, PhD

experiences by innovative entrepreneurs. The Virgin Unite team

our current level of abuse. But the current risk we are taking

is an internationally-acclaimed

has the ability to pull together some of the world’s best leaders

would be unacceptable in any business or how we organize our

artist, fisherman, scientist, and

and thinkers for events like this, including former president of

private lives. We need immediate action in terms of reducing

world traveler, who devotes

Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo, who made impressive contributions to

carbon emissions, more efficient agriculture, conservation of

much of his time and money

various debates. One of the most impactful was a presentation

ocean resources and maintaining marine biodiversity, which

toward ocean conservation.

on population growth, industrialization and climate change by

are all goals that we can collectively achieve.

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One afternoon, Sir Richard took me on a brief tour of Necker Island, showing me the breeding group of flamingos, the near extinct lemurs from Madagascar, and the last stop was to see the vast array of solar panels that were installed three months ago. Electricity in

Hot Weather, Cold Water

the BVI, like Cayman or any other Caribbean Island, is very expensive.

You may have noticed the headline on the cover (what we editors call a cover

Immediately, the use of power on Necker has been cut by 30%, and

blurb) titled, Fish Upstream. It represents this issue’s coverage of cold water

with some wind and more solar he expects to be self-sufficient in

fishing along with a few other “upstream” articles we’ve included. Many hard

energy production by the end of the year.

core fishers are equally passionate about chasing fish, whether they’re in

I have recently invested in a solar trellis at my home and will

saltwater, freshwater lakes or chilly rivers. That’s one reason we’ve dedicated

be able very soon to have my light bill cut by 75% here in Grand

more than 25 pages in this issue to the pursuit of rainbow trout, brown trout

Cayman, where the sun shines 350 days per year. In spite of the

and the like. The other, more important reason, is that upstream water travels

push-back from local electricity providers, the CI government has

downstream so conservation measures begin at, well, the beginning. If we’re

removed duties on solar panels and other components. I will keep

going to protect our downstream water, it makes sense to start upstream,

you updated on how my energy bill is reduced month by month. I

even if you only want to catch billfish. Ultimately, it’s all the same water.

reckon in five years I will have paid for my investment so I can spend a little more on my fishing gear. Fish responsible, dive safely. Guy.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 15

CHECK OUT THE LATEST AT .com There’s no denying the Rapala results! 19 IGFA World Record fish caught on Rapala lures last year.

GHRI Tails Sharks and Billﬁsh Follow the impressive journeys of mako

NOAA: Overﬁshed Stocks on the Rebound There’s always so much bad news out there, how about a success story?

and tiger sharks, as well as some pretty well traveled marlin and sailfish.

Why I Believe in Responsible Fishing Editor-in-Chief Fred Garth discusses his journey to a conservation-focused fishing routine.

Guy Harvey Is on Another Building Dr. Harvey is honored for his work in conservation and marine biology with Nova Southeastern University’s newest oceanographic center named after him.

16 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

NEWS, NOTES & GEAR A Little More on Little More recently, artist Bobby Little has found a unique way to recycle conch shells into jewelry forms, shaped as marlins, sailfish, turtles and other sea life native to the Bahamas. “There are literally four million conchs that are harvested annually, Burning Marlin sculpture lights up the skies in Bimini.

which leaves four million discarded

Photo: Duncan Brake. Below: Bobby Little prepares Burning

shells,” said Little. “Each conch is worth

Wahoo sculpture for lighting at Old Bahama Bay on Grand

maybe $2 to those harvesting, but I

Bahama’s West End. Photo: David Cartee.

can turn that shell into $200 to $500 in sea life art.”

Trash to Treasure

“Conch art can become a cottage industry, where locals can participate and make money, if not a living. Instead of

For nearly a quarter of a century, artist and sculptor Bobby Little has built a

selling jewelry that’s made in China, shops can sell items made in the Bahamas

cottage industry around dead coral, trashed conch shells, abandoned oil drums

or Caribbean.”

and discarded metal that has either been washed onto the beaches by the

Little has always played the creator and craftsman role. As a youngster

Antilles Current or dumped at the local landfill on tiny Rum Cay in the Bahamas.

growing up in Hollywood, Florida, he was grabbed by the skateboard craze. Not

So when it came time to find an art theme to promote fishing tournaments

satisfied with just participating, he set up a workshop in his parent’s garage and

at Guy Harvey Outposts, fellow artist Guy Harvey and his Outpost Team needed

began building his own skateboard brand, “Little Skateboards,” selling 300 to

to look no further than Little to come up with a dramatic statement. His massive

400 annually.

Burning Marlin and Wahoo metal sculptures are made from recycled materials, so they fit perfectly for the popular Bonfire Tournament Series created by GH Outposts. “I had seen photos of his Burning Man sculpture, which Bobby used on Rum Cay to commemorate special events, and it was dramatic to say the least,” said Guy Harvey Outpost President Mark Ellert. “His vision of creating art from recycled objects fit our mission of promoting conservation and education.” The burning sculpture will light up the skies at Old Bahama Bay in West End, Grand Bahama, for the Bonfire Beach Bash & Tournament scheduled for June 25–28. For more info: www.ghofish.com. Eventually, the Marlin and Wahoo sculptures, created from metal rebar and other materials, will be sunk as artificial reefs providing a new site for fishermen and divers. “It’s the full cycle,” said the 53-year-old artist. “My way of showing how to imaginatively recycle and recreate.”

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This year, he was inducted into the Skateboard Hall of Fame during a ceremony held in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. For more information on Little’s art, go to www.bonfireseries.com.

Edible Invaders The lionfish invasion continues to spawn a new industry. Custom spears, safe containers, cookbooks, impenetrable gloves and now... drum roll, please...lionfish dip. Yep, the folks at a company called Edible Invaders make the tasty dip and have a strong motto: Eat for a Cause. Eat Progressively. Their “Gulf Lionfish Dip” was on display recently at the Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day festival and folks were digging it. The good news is that lionfish dip can be made from the little guys, less than 10-in. long, which won’t yield much of a fillet. Also, 25% of their proceeds go to reef restoration and reef building on the Gulf Coast, so it tastes good and feels good, too! For more information, go to www.edibleinvaders.com.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 19

Pixel Power

visual extravaganza complemented with both short- and long-form editorial,

Guy Harvey Magazine Expands its Digital Portals

blogs from the GHM team and a freshly scrubbed window into the life of Guy

During the past five years, the print edition of GH Magazine has won numerous

Harvey, the man.

awards and international acclaim for stunning photography, in-depth articles and

GHM’s Online Fisherman is the how, who, when and where of all things fishing.

marine conservation reporting. That same high level of quality has been delivered

As the tag line says, it’s “Education, Information and Entertainment for Anglers,”

through GHM’s website and rapidly expanding social media network. Now,

or as we say, Edufotainment. Actually, we don’t say that. We’re not THAT geeky.

however, the company is pumping enriched rocket fuel into its digital platform

But we do show you how to tie a uni-knot, how to catch a cobia and/or what

with two (yes, two) brand-spanking-new and super-powered websites: Guy Harvey

tackle to use. You can find out what the guides are catching all over Florida from

Magazine’s Online Fisherman and GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Jacksonville to Pensacola to Key West and everywhere in between.

So, why does a magazine need two websites, you may ask? Aren’t we being

Maps, forums, recipes and a weekly gear giveaway, makes GHM’s Online

just a tad greedy with all those pixels, bits, bytes and other sparkly things we’re all

Fisherman as vital as the stop at the mini-mart for cold beverages before you blast

addicted to? The answer is, we are servants of the fishing, boating and watersports

out on a fishing trip. We know this by the more than 100,000 visitors who come to

community and, therefore, wish to provide the best web experience possible. If

the site every month. Of course, some folks come to the website to check out the

that sounds like a sales pitch, it kinda is.

vast video library, such as the helpful instructional gems or the sensational “Snook

Simply put, GuyHarveyMagazine.com is dedicated to showcasing extraordinary marine photography, reporting on Guy Harvey’s latest and greatest

Eats Rat,” which, of course, went viral. Once you’ve scoured the print magazine and read every article at least twice

pursuits (shark tagging, amazing fishing, wondrous scuba diving and such) and

and you’re craving more Edufotainment, check out Guy Harvey Magazine’s Online

expanded coverage of the articles in the print publication. Like the magazine, it’s a

Fisherman and GuyHarveyMagazine.com. You’ll be glad you did.

20 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Staying Under Pressure Leave it to a rad California surfer dude to come up with an awesomely cool way to wash the salt off your fishing gear or the seaweed out of your hair. Chris Crawford of Carlsbad has invented the

“I can show you an entire universe in a single sea shell.”

RinseKit, which is slightly bigger than a car battery box and holds two gallons of water under pressure. All you do is hook it up to a hose spigot, fill it in just 20 seconds and it transfers the pressure from the pipe into the RinseKit tank. Then, you use the spray nozzle with seven settings like jet stream, soaker, etc., to clean off the sand, salt, your dog, or to chase away pesky seagulls. The RinseKit will spray pressurized water for four minutes. That’s a lot of sea gulls… or you can wash your boat down really fast. The RinseKit is perfect for washing off kayaks, paddleboards or even a quicky shower. There are no moving parts, no batteries, and it weighs 24 lbs. when full or 9 lbs. empty. “It’s rugged, lightweight, holds just the right amount of water, and can really help extend the life of your gear,” said Crawford. “You don’t have to pump it, it doesn’t use batteries and it’s super durable.” If you’re camping in the back country and not near a spigot, RinseKit can be pressurized in the field using a standard bicycle pump. It has a folding handle for one-handed carrying, an easy-to-remove lid to stand on for changing and a built-in ruler to measure fish. Chris’s next ingenious addition is an internal water heater that plugs into a 12V receptacle. RinseKit has an MSRP of $89 and wholesales for $45. To learn more, go to www.RinseKit.com.

Immerse yourself in everything Guy Harvey. Master the art of paddleboarding or simply explore miles of soft sand beach. At the end of the day, find tropical drinks and seafood by a massive fish tank, live music and campfire s’mores. It’s a resort

St. Pete Beach, Florida 888.906.5645 GoGetOutThere.com/GHO

Y HARV

Guy’s ready to take you there.

experience like no other, and

OUTPOST www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 21

Recipe Contest: Hey there, aspiring chefs! GHM is holding a Sustainable Seafood Recipe Contest! Send us your best sustainable seafood recipe, we’ll cook it, eat it and judge it! Top recipes will be featured in the Winter 2015 issue of GHM, and published on our website. The First Place winner gets a Wavespin reel DH 3000z, GHM T-shirt and a free year of Guy Harvey Magazine, runner up gets a DOA Lures Kit and a free year of Guy Harvey Magazine, and the Third place prize is a GHM T-Shirt and a free year of Guy Harvey Magazine. No purchase necessary.

SELECTION & JUDGING OF RECIPES The following guidelines will be used to select and judge recipes: • Taste • Ease of preparation • Creativity • Visual appeal

Please send your submissions to Entries@GuyHarveyMagazine.com by August 3, 2015.

GUIDELINES All seafood used must be a sustainable species. (www.seafoodwatch.org)

Phase One: Recipes will be reviewed by GHM to ensure adherence to Contest Guidelines and Rules. Recipes that do not adhere to Contest Guidelines and Rules will be disqualified. GHM, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to make minor edits to recipes.

Each submitted recipe must include the name of the recipe, readily available ingredients (found in most well-stocked supermarkets), standard U.S.

Phase Two: Recipes passing Phase One will then be reviewed by an

measurements (such as cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, ounces or pounds; please do

independent panel of judges, which will

not abbreviate), specific amounts for each ingredient (do not say “to taste” for any

select the top five recipes to move on to the

ingredient, but list exact amount so reviewers can judge how your recipe will taste),

Semi-Finalist round.

and be written to make four servings. Each ingredient must be listed, preferably in order of use, followed by complete, step-by-step cooking instructions, including

Semi-Finalist Round: A culinary

timing and temperature for any cooked components.

team will prepare the top five recipes for

The recipe must be original and not knowingly been previously published or

presentation to an independent judging

have won another award, and the right to submit the recipe to the Contest must

team who will taste the dishes to determine

not be restricted in any way. Submission of a recipe is a warranty by the contestant

the three best recipes.

that the contestant owns all copyrights and other intellectual property rights to the recipe and constitutes an assignment of these rights to GHM.

ENTRY RULES Recipes must be submitted either to Entries@guyharveymagazine.com OR by mail (PO Box 34075, Pensacola, FL 32507) by August 3, 2015. Each recipe must be submitted by an individual. There is no limit on the number of recipes you may submit. Late entries will not be considered. To enter by U.S. postal mail to: PO Box 34075, Pensacola, FL 32507. All mail entries must be received via the U.S. Postal Service. Please, no handwritten entries. In the case of a dispute as to the identity of the entrant, the entry will be accepted or rejected at the absolute discretion of GHM.

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In all phases of the selection and judging of the entries, all decisions of the GHM, the judging team and the reviewers are final and binding. The final three recipes will then be awarded first, second and third prize.

Science Finally Solves Ugly When those first orange Crocs hit the market back in 2002, one thing was for sure, they were butt ugly. But, dang, they were comfy and boaters discovered how well they gripped decks (when they were new and had good treads) and dried quickly so sea slime didn’t grow on your toes. But they wore out quickly and didn’t impress the ladies. Well, now, two Crocs brainiacs, Scott Seamans, s, a founder and chief designer of Crocs, and John Duerden, former CEO of Crocs, have gotten together to make some shoes that actually look cool and are as functional as Crocs. The Fin watermen’s shoe is sweet weet for fishing fishing and boating, as well as for surfers and beachcombers, because they hold their eir grip and will not slip, poetically speaking. The shoe is amphibious with a self-draining g system and a mesh upper to keep wearers comfortable in the water and on land. d. At the core of these “SoftScience™ cience™ shoes” is a proprietary material called Trileon™—a closed cell copolymer developed by Seamans. Trileon™ is so lightweight the shoes weigh only six to ten ounces but still go long g on comfort and style. Now, deckhands, first first mates es and fi fishermen shermen can keep their feet feeling good without looking goofy. For more info, go to: www.softscience.com/mens/fin.

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www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 23

Anglers need to consider where they are when state waters are open and federal waters are closed. For example, you cannot be in federal waters with

Red Snapper Regs Gone Wild

red snapper on board. So, if you plan on fishing for multiple species and want

Much to the chagrin of sport fishermen, the federal red snapper season in 2015

to target triggerfish or other non-red snapper in federal waters, you need to do

ran for only 10 days—from June 1–10. However, the five gulf states—Florida,

that first, and then go to state waters and fish for your red snapper. Bottom line:

Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas—have gotten creative and developed

having red snapper on your boat while fishing in federal waters when the federal

their own snapper seasons. The problem is, none are the same. At least they all

season is closed will likely be considered as evidence that those fish were caught

agree on a bag limit of two fish per person with a minimum length of 16 in. Oh,

in federal waters out of season. Translation: know where you are and know the

except for the Republic of Texas. They have a bag limit of four fish and a 15-in.

fishing seasons or beware!

minimum length.

Mississippi

To further complicate the situation, Texas and Florida state waters go out nine

The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources (CMR) has authorized a

miles, whereas in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, state waters only go three

weekend season in state waters during the month of July. The Mississippi

nautical miles out—but Mississippi and Alabama have decided to rewrite those

legislature also voted to extend state waters from three miles to three marine

borders, too.

leagues (one marine league is about three miles) but is warning anglers that

The red snapper ruckus is a little mind boggling, so here’s a round-up of what

federal officers have not approved that change and may still enforce the three-

each state has done to try and give anglers more fishing time.

mile border. So anglers need to be aware of this risk when fishing beyond three

Florida

miles and await further instruction on how Mississippi plans to enforce the limit

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a 70-day

between three miles and three marine leagues.

recreational red snapper season that started on May 23 and will and run through

Louisiana

July 12. It will resume for all of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 5–7) and finish with

Unlike gumbo, Louisiana has made their recreational red snapper season simple.

Saturdays and Sundays throughout the rest of September and all of October, with

It’s open in state waters seven days a week and will remain that way until

the last day of harvest being Sunday, November 1.

further notice.

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24 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Texas

harvest through Snapper Check to the Marine Resources Division during this

A state with a history of following its own beat, Texas has a year-round season

period, as well as any other time red snapper are allowed to be landed in Alabama.

with a bag limit of four within the nine-mile state water boundary.

Only one report is required per vessel trip, and anglers can provide details via

Alabama

a Smartphone app available under “Outdoor Alabama” in the iTunes or Google

Alabama officials are allowing anglers to fish in state waters from July 1–31.

Play app stores; online at outdooralabama.com; by phone at 1-844-REDSNAP (1-

Furthermore, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill in 2014 to extend Alabama’s

844-733-7627); or by paper forms available at select coastal public boat launches.

state waters to nine miles for fisheries management. However, the federal

Additional information can be found at: www.outdooralabama.com/red-snapper-

government does not recognize the new distance.

data-and-mandatory-reporting-faqs.

The problem for fishermen is that they could be issued citations by federal

The disagreement between state and federal fishery management groups is

officers if they’re caught with red snapper during July. Also, the feds could

nothing new. However, this is the first time Alabama has opened fishing during a

deputize officers from Florida and Mississippi, who could also issue federal

federally closed season.

citations. A press release from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural

The dispute over snapper seasons between state and federal regulatory agencies is both maddening and yet, a little bit encouraging because sport

Resources Marine Resources said that “anglers should understand that fishing

fishermen are getting more time on the water as well as more attention from

between three and nine miles in Alabama’s state waters is at their own risk.”

regulators. The push for states to take total control of fishery management has

“The federal red snapper season this year was only 10 days. Alabama Marine

gained a lot of followers but so far has not been enacted. And, it may never be.

Resource Division biologists have assessed the resource in our waters, and we

However, as anglers continue to squeak their wheels the federal government may

feel that there will still be enough red snapper and triggerfish in Alabama waters

be forced to add some grease. If not, the groups supporting state-management

to open an additional season to give our citizens the ability to catch more red

will very likely gain more momentum.

snapper and triggerfish this year,” said Chris Blankenship, director of the Marine Resources Division. Fishermen are reminded that they are still required to report their red snapper

The summer of 2015 will be remembered as a crossroad when state agencies decided to take matters into their own hands. Whether or not they lose their grip is yet to be determined.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 25

THE DEATH OF KILL

TOURNAMENTS? BY GHM STAFF

THE CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

CONSERVATION & COMPETITION

IS STILL EVOLVIN

NEEDS T

ET I

A sweaty crowd gathers. The smell is ripe. The noise level surges. No, it’s not a Rolling Stones reunion concert. It’s an old-school ﬁshing tournament. The crowd of beer guzzlers and rum suckers gawk at a massive blue marlin hanging by its tail. An impressive number— 847#— is spray-painted crudely across the once majestic and glistening specimen. Now it’s just gray and lifeless. Do we really celebrate death? Are we Barbarians? Certainly, our critics think so. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,

D THE SPORT

HT.

From an economic point of view, fishing tournaments are a bullish business. They bring revenue to hotels, restaurants, tackle shops, boat dealers, gas pumps, and, of course, rum and beer companies. On the sheer enjoyment scale, competing with other a-“fish”-ionados, to catch the most or biggest fish is exhilarating. Tournaments get kids and adults out on the water and away from TV and Smartphones. They bring us closer to nature. And to each other. It’s man (and woman) against man, against nature. Again, all good stuff. And it’s all that good stuff that we as a sport and an industry use to justify an acceptable mortality rate even for strictly catch-and-release tournaments. Our own Dr. Guy Harvey pegs it at 4%. Not all released fish make it. And, in the big

or PETA, as the controversial organization is known, is outright loathed by hunters

scheme of things, we mitigate our impact by promoting good social causes and

and fishermen. It lists fishing under the category of “Cruel Sports” along with

charities, and by raising awareness of marine and fishery issues.

bullfighting, dog sledding and hot-dog rodeos (it’s not what you think). Their

Still, tournaments that are dependent upon hanging a monster marlin, or

website speculates that “fish feel pain” and that catch-and-release causes fish to be

even raising a lunker bass on stage in front of a screaming crowd, are coming

“repeatedly traumatized” for their entire lives. Call Dr. Phil. Clearly, the PETA folks

under more scrutiny. The most pressing concern is that the biggest fish are

aren’t into fresh mahi-mahi tacos.

females. Often, egg-bearing females. So, killing an 800-lbs. mama is completely

Of course, you don’t have to stand on the extreme far left razor’s edge with

counter-intuitive to sustainability. Perhaps more than that, it sends a clear

PETA to agree that needlessly killing fish is, at the very least, problematic. Back

message that such behavior is perfectly acceptable. Catch a big one, keep a big

in the day, before fishing limits and prior to the consciousness shift of fishermen

one. Even if the only benefit is a series of Instagram posts.

toward conservation, many of us stuffed our freezers with fish fillets. We’d catch

The upside to the modern fishing tournament is that tremendous progress

as many as we could cram into a cooler, eat a few and pack the rest for later. These

has been made in the last 15 years, both in billfish and especially in shark

days, most fishermen usually keep one or two fish to eat with their mate and kids

tournaments, to move from a kill format to catch-and-release. Many tournaments

and toss the rest back. This is partly because federal and state laws regulate what

combine both, but a growing number are purely catch-and-release, and this is

we can keep and partly because we know that catch-and-release contributes to

fantastic. It’s a move that has been especially effective because of the regulation

sustainability. All good stuff. But what about that big, dead marlin hanging there?

changes that have required switching from j-hooks to circle hooks in bait for

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 27

billfish tournaments. In the midAtlantic region, where the target species is white marlin, moving to circle hooks has dropped release mortality from 33% to only 2%, according to the survivability study done by Dr. John Graves at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. This catch-and-release tournament trend is on a growth pattern. Especially when the money can still flow, the competition can still be fierce, and the crowd can still get a thrill with a catch-and-release format. From a competitive fishing point of view, however, there are still concerns. Catch-and-release, while great for conservation, is sometimes not seen as the best for competition. Anglers are awarded points for the number of releases rather than for the weight of a single fish. It’s considered easier to catch multiple smaller billfish or sharks

A crowd gathers to see the winning blue marlin. Photo: Mark Worden. Sidebar photo: Each year, about two dozen researchers collect

than to land one granddaddy

mountains of data during the ADSFR. Photo: Brian Jones.

(or mama) animal of significant size. This skews the competition, leveling the playing field and allowing more novice anglers the chance to compete head-to-head with veteran captains and crews. And when there’s big money at stake, that discourages some of the top boats in the field from participating. Loss of participation affects the size of the event, the

THIS CATCH-AND-RELEASE TOURNAMENT TREND IS ON A ROWTH PATTERN. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MONEY CAN STILL FLOW AND THE CROWD CAN STI ET A THRILL.

run entirely by volunteers. The Dauphin Island-based event boasts more than $1 million in cash and prizes, paid out after three days of fishing by almost 3,500 anglers on an estimated 1,100 boats. Prizes are awarded for 15 inshore and 15 offshore species. The “Rodeo,” as it’s called locally, has had a catch-and-release format

total of the cash payouts and

in recent years for billfish and

ultimately reduces the economic

tarpon. Everything else is “hook it

horsepower of the tournament. It’s a legitimate concern, but one that’s being

and hang it.” However, since most of the fish caught go back to people’s freezers

addressed in a case-by-case basis as the catch-and-release tournament ethic

and fryers, that’s not such a bad thing. The exception has been sharks—which

continues to gain ground.

anglers bring to the scales every year and then discard after the event. This year,

One of the latest examples of this is in the world’s largest fishing tournament,

however, with a little nudging from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, the ADSFR

the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. If you’re not familiar with the ADSFR, then

is moving its shark category to an all catch-and-release format. Points will be

you’re missing out on a massive weekend of fishing. Recognized by the Guinness

awarded based on species—small black tips are not worth as much as big tigers,

Book of World Records for its sheer size, the tournament is in its 82nd year and

bulls or hammerheads—and anglers will compete for $10,000 in prizes for the top

28 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

three places. First place wins $7,000. “We just know it’s the right thing to do,” says Eric McCall, who serves as the marketing head for the ADSFR. “But, you have to have enough incentive for the angler to change their ways. And the Ocean Foundation wants us to help them institute that change. “Sort of the consolation prize for killing these sharks was that researchers from the University of South Alabama marine science department would use them to collect samples and gather data. But this year, with the catch-and-release format, we’re going to recruit some of our veteran anglers to help us put satellite tags on a few sharks.” The tagging effort is being coordinated by Dr. Marcus Drymon, research

SMARTER EVERY YEAR The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo—the largest fishing tourney on the planet—is a product of the Mobile, Alabama, Jaycees. It’s a

assistant professor at USA. He says the tournament format change for sharks is not so critical from a numbers point of view—he says his team has been sampling only one to two dozen sharks at the tournament over the previous years—but that it’s the largest animals that are landed and “that’s always problematic.” “One of the great benefits of the Rodeo has been to get a long series of

purely non-profit venture and raises money for numerous children’s

landing data on many different species,” says Dr. Drymon (see sidebar). “For

charities. It also has a long and unique relationship with the University

sharks, we can look back and see a peak in the weight of the winning shark and

of South Alabama (USA), allowing the Department of Marine Sciences

then a dramatic decline in the last 10–15 years. In the time I’ve been part of the

to collect samples of nearly every fish caught. The result is a fishing

Rodeo for the last five years or so, the winning shark tends to be 300–350 lbs.

tournament that’s having a significant impact on fisheries research

That shark would not have placed in the top three in the early 90s, when the

and the future of the sport.

winning shark could have been up to 900 lbs.”

“The Rodeo organizers are incredibly gracious to us,” says Dr.

Dr. Drymon says that he’s purchased several satellite tracking tags to be

Drymon. “They go to a tremendous amount of effort to allow us access

deployed on tiger sharks during the this year’s tournament and he’s looking

to the tournament and to collect data.”

forward to seeing what kind of data is produced. However, his research isn’t going

When it comes to research, he says that sharks are probably one of the lesser stories. In fact, over the years, red drum has been an

to be limited to fish. The new research opportunities available because of the catch-and-release format change will also include the chance to study people.

important research subject. The tournament even developed a special

“A rodeo like this is as much about the natural system—the sharks—as it is

category one year just so a student—Crystal Hightower—could collect

the humans,” says Dr. Drymon. “There are two fundamental questions I want to

the data she needed for her graduate research work.

ask. First: What is the fate of the sharks that are tagged and released? We want to

Likewise, red snapper research, a species generating no small

know about post-release mortality of these individuals. What percent ultimately

controversy along the Gulf Coast these days, has benefited greatly from

survive? And what factors can be reviewed that affect this? Time of fight, hook

the Rodeo with significant age and growth data being collected over

type used, etc.

multiple years. More recently, spotted sea trout research has begun,

“Second: What value do anglers, both Rodeo anglers and the general

giving the Rodeo a chance to impact inshore fisheries research as much

public, place on going to a catch-and-release tournament as opposed to a kill

as it has those offshore. Dr. Drymon also says the availability of so many

tournament? That needs to be quantified. We’re going to do social surveys, and

species at the Rodeo has helped researchers at the University of South

I’m working with a colleague who specializes in this area to help develop the

Alabama to examine toxicity build-up on a broad scale.

right questions. I’m really excited about this. The opportunity to understand

At this year’s tournament, the partnership between the Rodeo and USA will continue, and anywhere from 20–30 scientists will be busy behind the scenes collecting all kinds of data. “There are no other programs I know of that have such a close

these things from the first year of a tournament change is not something that happens every day.” This is good news for tournaments, and especially for the movement toward more catch-and-release formats. Perhaps, in the not-too-distant future, Dr.

working relationship with a tournament,” says Dr. Drymon. “It’s really

Drymon will be able to offer some insights into what really makes a tournament

remarkable. For them to add on the responsibility of feeding us,

tick. What will it take to make catch-and-release the norm, and how can we make

getting us passes and all that it takes to give us room to work. I can’t

it as beneficial to the anglers as it is to the fish they catch?

say enough about it.” www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 29

Fitting mako sharks with satellite tags has proven highly effective for researchers, but in a growing number of cases, the data stream (and the expensive tags) have been lost when sharks are harvested by fishermen. Photo: Christine Shepard. 30 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

requiem for a

MAKO SHARK BY JOHN BELL

A new cash reward program seeks to keep satellite-tagged ﬁsh from being caught and killed.

“St. Marys” was a young, male, shortﬁn mako caught, satellite-tagged and released off Ocean City, Maryland. He proved to be a great ambassador for increasing public awareness about these animals. The shark, named for St. Marys Central School in Martins Ferry, Ohio, logged some 9,200 miles over 358 days (see chart p. 32) with an amazing journey that took him as far north as Nova Scotia, south to just off the coast of Venezuela, a short visit to Puerto Rico and then north again to the waters where he was ﬁrst tagged. In mid May, while researchers were preparing for another mako shark tagging expedition off Ocean City, St. Marys’s satellite pings were being tracked on land in Baltimore. His journey and his life had ended. He had managed to make news all along his travels and serve as a learning tool, not only for scientists, but also for schools following his and other tagged shark migratory tracks. Now, his death was teaching students another lesson about sharks—that they are under siege, still misunderstood and endangered. St. Marys was named by Guy Harvey publicist John Bell, who attended the small, eastern Ohio parochial school in the 1960s. The experiment, according to Bell, was to engage students in the Midwest with sharks and marine science, where most of the children haven’t even seen the ocean, much less a live shark. The test case proved successful as science class sessions included live Skype presentations from the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) as well as posters and shark documentary CDs for viewing. GHRI, with participation from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, has networked dozens of school classroom presentations.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 31

The loss of satellite-tagged fish and the data they provide is a growing

unprecedented

concern for researchers, who not only lose the animal and important information

scientific data,”

it was transmitting or collecting, but the also the equipment, which, in some

said Shivji. “Our

cases, can cost up to $4,000 per tag.

policy is to pay

For Dr. Mahmood Shivji, director of the GHRI at Nova Southeastern University

those fishermen

in South Florida, the loss of tagged sharks and billfish to recreational fishermen

releasing tagged

and commercial longlines is very troubling.

fish with a cash

Dr. Shivji, known internationally for his work on shark DNA studies and the migratory patterns of apex predator fish species, recently returned from the first

reward.” The new

leg of a shortfin mako shark expedition off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland.

reward program

There, he and fellow researchers from GHRI, along with Captain Mark Sampson

is simple: Prior

and University of Rhode Island biologist Dr. Brad Wetherbee, caught, tagged and

to release,

released four shortfin mako sharks. The SPOT (smart position or temperature) tags

photograph the

attached to the shark’s dorsal fin provide a clear, near real-time track of the animals,

animal, showing

which signals to satellites every time it surfaces. Scientists then track and publicly

its tag, and

share the results on their interactive tracking website, www.ghritracking.org.

send the photo to GHRI. If the animal continues to travel in the ocean and sends

The website is an educational and public outreach component of the institute’s quest to study pelagic shark and billfish movement, ecology and migration patterns. The GHRI is only one of a handful of private organizations dedicated exclusively to the science-based conservation of marine fish populations and biodiversity. In a perfect world, tagged sharks and billfish continue to ping to the satellites along their continued journeys until the batteries run out. The real world, however, is not perfect, as Shivji is quick to point out. “Of the 13 makos tagged, released and tracked in 2013 and 2014 off Ocean City, five have been captured—a regrettably and surprisingly large portion,” he said. “It’s a massive ocean out there, but amazingly, 38% of our tagged sharks somehow ran into hooks. These sharks were captured anywhere from 77 to 358 days after we tagged them.” The sharks, which traveled a minimum of 1,800 to 9,200 miles between tagging and capture, were taken in Canadian and U.S. waters. The GHRI, according to Dr. Shivji, began tracking mako sharks in 2009 to study their migratory patterns. The school’s marine biologists, which have tagged makos as far away as Mexico and New Zealand, have a special interest in this fast moving, warm-bodied species, which is under heavy fishing pressure worldwide. They also track other shark species as well as billfish. “The data gathered from these tagged animals allows us to understand how these highly mobile species use their vast ocean environment, which is essential for improving their fishery management, as some species are threatened or endangered,” said Shivji. The GHRI recently has asked fishermen—both recreational and commercial— to kindly employ a release policy if they catch a satellite-tagged shark or billfish. “If it’s alive, please release the animal as quickly as possible so it can continue in its travels and go on providing what is proving to be incredible and

32 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

continuous satellite transmissions over the entire next 30 days, GHRI will present a $500 check to the angler who released the fish. Anglers can document the catch and release of tagged animals by emailing the photo with details of capture location and time to mahmood@nova.edu. Last year, GHRI managed to recover tags from fishermen who had harvested makos and billfish off Nova Scotia and Cuba. However, Shivji said the concept is to release the animal alive and reap a reward. “It’s critically important to keep these animals alive and moving so we can analyze their movements over the course of long periods,” he added.

Satellite tags collect data and transmit it back to researchers whenever the animal comes to the surface of the water, and can provide data for more than a year. Opposite, top: Mako tracks in the North Atlantic. Bottom: Measurements and other data are collected from a tagged mako before it’s released. Photos: GHRI.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 33

, n e

m e l t n e r G u “ o y t r a t s ” ! s k r a h s

BY NICK HONACHEFSKY

The Great Shark Race is an undeniably cool concept. While no one will actually be putting their pet shark against other sharks in a speed contest (an idea worthy of investigation), this contest has its own wow factor. It combines the juiced-up action of shark ﬁshing with the scientiﬁc curiosity that drives research. The best part is, anyone can participate, and there are prizes to boot. It is the ultimate conservation competition on the high seas. The Great Shark Race is really part of an ongoing study into the migration patterns of the ocean’s top predators. The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) and Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University have teamed up to launch the event, which is designed to help further research efforts. Greg Jacoski, director of operations at the GHOF, says it’s modeled after the IGFA’s Great Marlin Race concept, where anglers would tag their marlin and follow their patterns to determine what locations they visited, how far they traveled, where they spent most of their time, etc. “Following in that vein, the GSR actually

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 35

operates three distinct races: Oceanic white tips in Cayman Islands, and mako sharks in two ports—Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and Ocean City, Maryland,” says Jacoski. “The goals of each race will be the same—to see where these sharks roam and what they do, all while throwing in fun incentives and prizes to generate some healthy competition among anglers.” Qualified researchers travel to tournaments and to the selected destinations to deploy satellite tracking tags, called SPOT tags, which are bolted to the shark’s dorsal fin. The SPOT transmitters operate on a single AA battery and are programmed to ping once a day (to conserve battery power) in real time, anytime the shark’s dorsal fin breaks the water’s surface. The process involves catching the shark, where it is tail-roped and secured alongside the boat—with the safety of the shark of paramount importance—then the tag is attached to the dorsal fin. “SPOT tags are unique and revolutionary. They’re less invasive than other tagging attachment methods consisting of four bolts through the dorsal fin, and the tag stays flush against the fin. We also take

measurements of the shark and a fin clip for scientific data,” says Jacoski. “The tags

and a number of corporate sponsors are stepping up to the plate. But anyone can

generally stay latched on for a year before the battery power gives out and the

participate simply by making a donation they can afford, even $10, in the name

bolts rust off, but we will have a healthy amount of data transmitted by the time

of a specific shark they predict to be the winner. If that shark wins the race, that

that occurs.”

donor receives a prize.

After the sharks are tagged, the real fun begins. “The race concept was developed so sponsors can follow the sharks online with a vested interest in their shark,” states Jacoski. To sponsor a tag costs $5,000,

36 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

The format is creating a competitive atmosphere, as Virgin Airlines CEO Richard Branson has gotten into the race sponsoring a shark, and in the Cayman Islands and Isla Mujeres, entire grade schools are sponsoring their own shark.

Left: Tagged sharks are measured and a fin clip is taken for research. Above: Once released, the fish’s travels are recorded. Race participants can track their selected shark online and enter to win prizes by sponsoring a shark or making a donation to the cause. Photos: GHRI.

“It’s great to see the school kids get all giddy, rooting for their shark to win. They’re really competitive with their bragging amongst each other’s school systems,” says Jacoski.

necessary for making real changes where they are needed. “The ultimate goal is to see where these fish are moving and what habitats they are utilizing so we can determine who is responsible for conservation on an

Determining which shark and sponsors win the race is simple. The winning

international level and to push for reform there,” notes Jacoski. The data set that

shark will be the one that has traveled the greatest distance in a six-month period

is gathered during the Great Shark Race will be published in scientific journals,

from each of the three respective tagging locations. The sponsor who bought

peer review journals and be injected directly into the system to affect fisheries

the SPOT tag of the winning shark will receive an original Guy Harvey painting,

management.

along with a 3-day, 2-night fishing trip for two at the Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey

“Through previous tagging efforts, we found that tiger sharks spend over

Outpost in Islamorada, Florida. This includes a full day of offshore fishing, and

half the year in the Bahamas, and now the Bahamas has passed legislation

dinner for two each night at Guy’s Beachside Bar and Grill. As a bonus, if a tag still

to prevent the harvest of tiger sharks in Bahamian waters. We were directly

pings after one year, a signed Guy Harvey print will be awarded to the sponsors.

instrumental in that effort.”

For the donors who picked that shark as the winner, they will win a signed, limited-edition Guy Harvey print. In the end, the Great Shark Race is certainly all about fun and games, but the

For more information on the Great Shark Race and to sponsor a shark or “pick a winner” by making a donation, visit www.greatsharkrace.com. To view tracks of tagged sharks in real time, visit www.ghritracking.org.

real benefit is gathering solid, usable data and the scientific information that’s

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 37

The FWC doubles down on lionfish removal and throws a killer party.

BY GHM STAFF PHOTOS FWC

If the path to a man’s heart is truly through his stomach, then several thousand men fell in love this past May. You see, this beautiful creature came to town. Isn’t that the way love always starts? She had silky smooth skin with fetching hints of copper and ivory. Her hair feathered out like a Chieftain’s majestic headdress. Only one problem. She was a ﬁsh. Oh, but a delicious ﬁsh. The love-in rained down on Pensacola, Florida, with the first annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (LRAD) Festival. There were eight culinary cupid chefs from local eateries who prepared lionfish in more ways than Forrest Gump cooked shrimp. (The following sentence should be read with an extremely deep Southern drawl…) They hads them blackened lionfish, fried lionfish, lionfish sushi, lionfish ceviche, Cajun lionfish, whole fried lionfish, grilled lionfish, seared lionfish, lionfish tacos, lion … uh, well, you get the idea.

38 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

The event was the brainchild of the bright minds at the FWC

places like the Florida Keys or the Bahamas or Virgin Islands, where clear water and shallow reefs favor a diver with a spear over a lionfish without fear. And, in the Cayman Islands, the dive operators have initiated a weekly culling day in

(Florida Fish and

which they offer free dive trips to anyone who wants to go blast away at the tasty

Wildlife Conservation

fish. It’s been quite effective in annihilating the little suckers. But in the Northern

Commission) who

Gulf of Mexico, with thousands of artificial reefs in deeper, murkier depths,

normally don’t

the stubborn lionfish is having its way. A veritable jackrabbit-like population

encourage fishermen to

explosion is happening.

wipe out a species of fish. But protecting the state’s fish and wildlife sometimes means removing invasive critters like pythons in the Everglades and, in this

So, after months of planning, booking venues, setting up vendors, finding volunteers, posting countless Facebook photos, sleepless nights, and recruiting lionfish assassins, Meaghan and her A Team of Dan Ellinor (her boss), and PR expert Amanda Nalley, prayed for good fortune and nice weather. Yet, as anyone knows, weather in Pensacola during May can be hot with a nagging sense of

case, a spiny, striped fish that normally lives in the IndoPacific as well as thousands

lightning storms. The TV weatherheads were issuing warnings of wet stuff and

of aquariums around the world. Unfortunately, the little beasties now reside from

reminding idiots to wear a jacket and carry an umbrella when it rains. But the sun

Brazil to New England and everywhere in between. In a wonderful twist of fate,

gods smiled upon the event and the wind gods blew away the clouds, and nary

Mother Nature gave them a flaky, white fillet that melts on one’s palate and pairs

a drop of rain fell, much to the pleasure of the FWC organizers and chefs cooking

well with a ‘68 Chateauneuf du Pape, or a 2015 ice cold Bud Light.

with gas flames.

In 2014, the FWC put pencil to paper and mapped out a statewide lionfish

Concurrent to the event, a lionfish tournament was organized by the Gulf

slaughter. The petite but powerful Meaghan Faletti, whose 14-word title is,

Coast Lionfish Coalition and their fearless leaders Andy Ross, Leo Cyr, and Bryan

Lionfish Outreach Coordinator, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Florida

and Anna Clark, who was also the vendor coordinator. They pulled in dozens of

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,

amazing prizes and set up the weigh-in station, as well as collected hundreds of

led the charge. Her idea was to have

lionfish prior to the event during the tournament’s three-month-long duration.

simultaneous events across the

The Clarks also utilized the event to debut their mighty vessel, the Lion Slayer,

state with the headquarters

which comes complete with dorsal spines on the wheelhouse.

in Pensacola, because

In the end, more than 3,000 people came to eat lionfish and learn about the

it’s most likely home

invasion. Some 2,300 of them (the fish, not the people) were caught, cleaned,

to the world’s largest

cooked and consumed across the state in 12 events. In Pensacola alone, 877

population of

lionfish were slayed in just two days by three teams in the tournament.

uninvited lionfish.

In another amazing twist of good fortune, Dr. Guy Harvey was in town that

See, the invader has

weekend to kick off his two-month-long art exhibit at the Pensacola Museum

been held in check in

of Art. Guy hung out at the festival, signed autographs, did a dozen or more media interviews, and even practiced throwing a baseball with ex-professional player and current marine science teacher, Pete Della Ratta, for his first-pitch appearance at the Pensacola Blue Wahoo AA baseball game that night. In case you’re wondering, Guy threw heat right down the middle of the strike zone and then, as any blue-blooded Jamaican should, he “bowled” a baseball to the catcher, cricket style. Overall, the two-day LRAD Festival was deemed a fabulous success. Thousands of lionfish were removed, thousand of humans were made more aware, and everyone survived to spear another day. The second annual LRAD event is expected to be held in Pensacola in 2016. To learn how you can help keep lionfish from eating everything in its path, go to www.reefrangers.com.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 39

July 2014

This sea surface temperature image shows unseasonably warm water off the coast

By looking at chlorophyll concentrations via satellite imagery, you can find

of Southern California in 2014. The warmer than normal conditions led to one of the

color breaks and blue water. This shot shows blue water hugging the coast of

best fishing years on record.

Southern California, not exactly a common phenomenon.

April 2015

March 2015

This sea surface temperature image shows warm water very close to the

Offshore fishermen always look for convergent zones, color breaks and

Southern California coastline. In typical years, crews have to run a day or two

temperature breaks. This SST shot taken off Cabo looks promising for the

south into Mexican waters to find water in the mid to upper 70-degree range.

offshore breaks.

So Cal

40 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

So Cal

Cabo

september 2014

baja Peninsula

February 2015

El Salvador The waters off Central America are some of the best fishing waters in the world.

This chlorophyll image shows the warm blue water of the Pacific mixing with cooler,

However, they are also known for having very low oxygen levels. This satellite image

nutrient-rich green water off of the Baja Peninsula.

shows the rotation of the current off El Salvador—appears to be a down dwelling.

LIKE IT

October 2014

Northern Cali The colder Humboldt Current will often alter its movements during El Niño. This satellite image shows the warmer than normal blue waters colliding with colder currents to form eddies off Northern California.

HOT

BY CHARLIE LEVINE

SOME El Niño is ge ing credit for an epic West Coast ﬁshing season, and there might be more to come. Satellite images courtesy of FishTrack.com

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 41

The 2014 Southern California fishing season will go down in the record books as one of the best of all time. Crews fishing from San Diego up to Long Beach were catching tuna in U.S. waters for what seemed like forever. The bite just kept producing, but it doesn’t usually work that way. In typical years, boats must steam south into Mexican waters to find decent concentrations of tuna.

All pelagic species, such as mahi mahi, prefer a certain water temperature range. By knowing what temps your targeted species prefer, you can monitor the sea surface temperature charts to pinpoint potential hot spots.

But of all the catches that punctuated the epic 2014 season, one clearly stands above the rest. In October, at the very tail end of the season, Anthony Hsieh, Capt. Steve Lassley and their team on the Bad Company XL caught the first blue marlin in California waters since 1931. The crew was fishing out of historic Catalina Island,

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This image, courtesy of NOAA, illustrates the prevalent warm

Oceanographers constantly monitor global ocean temperatures, as

waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean during an El Niño versus the

this information comes into play when forecasting major weather

colder water that is associated with La Niña. Each event affects

events. So far this year, the oceans are warmer than normal,

global weather patterns and oceanic currents.

indicating El Niño conditions.

the birthplace of modern-day, big-game fishing, which made this catch even

that sustains large fish populations. The warmer waters would push many species

more significant.

of fish deeper into the water column where they could find more oxygen-rich

Blue marlin is a warm-water species, favoring water temps in the upper 70s to

water, or further out to sea and out of reach of the small boats used by the

mid-80s. For this reason, they just don’t show up in the California bight. But 2014

artisanal fishing fleet. On the flip side, the fishermen also noted years when the

was different. The warm water pushed in, and so did a number of species that

ocean grew colder than usual. They termed these colder waters La Niña, which

don’t normally call this area home.

means “the little girl.”

“For the blue marlin, we were looking for areas where the blue water was

The impacts from El Niño vary all over the world, and no two El Niños are alike.

pooled up,” Capt. Steve Lassley, says. He found the sweet spot halfway between

Weaker El Niño years tend to have much fainter global climate signals than strong

Catalina and San Clemente Island. “We were about a half-mile from a one-half-

El Niño years. But whenever the Pacific warms, which tends to occur every three to

degree temperature break, in 74.2-degree water. That’s hot for California, but cool

five years, it can alter the major currents and sometimes push warmer water closer

for blue marlin fishing.”

to shore.

In this case, anglers attributed the epic SoCal season to the appearance of

“During non El Niño years, easterly trade winds and typical east-to-west

warm water, which blew in on the heels of El Niño. The term El Niño is used to

currents allow water to pile up on the west side of the Pacific and around

describe a cyclical warming of the Pacific Basin that changes oceanic currents and

Indonesia,” says Mark Willis, chief meteorologist for Buoyweather.com. “During El

weather patterns around the globe. The jury is still out on whether or not 2014

Niño, trade winds are typically weaker, which can diminish the strength of east-to-

was in fact an El Niño, but no one is disputing the incredible fishing that occurred

west equatorial currents. In addition, new west-to-east currents also are common

on the West Coast last year. Some are even predicting a similar West Coast fishing

ahead of and during El Niño events that move warm water toward South America.”

season this year.

While the most obvious impact of El Niño is a reversal of the trade winds and associated east-to-west currents, other less directly related impacts can also occur.

El Nin-what?

For example, during El Niño years, the North Pacific winter storm track is typically

The term El Niño was coined by South American fishermen—notably from Peru

stronger and further south. This can weaken the California current that is also

and Ecuador—who noticed that the ocean became warmer than usual during

enhanced or maintained by high pressure off the California coast.

some winters. Fishermen started to call these warmer water winters “El Niño,”

In the Atlantic Basin, tropical activity is typically suppressed during El Niño

which means “the little boy” in Spanish, and for whatever reason, the name stuck.

years due to the common increase in vertical wind shear. However, in the East

These South American fishermen caught less fish during El Niño because the

Pacific, above normal activity is prevalent during El Niño years due to lower

abundance of warmer water reduces the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water

vertical wind shear and warmer sea surface temperatures. That could explain

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 43

when it comes to the current El Niño and whether or not it will play a big role in the summer of 2015. “I think there is considerable uncertainty with how strong this El Niño will be. It’s easy to see these big mounds of warm water known as Kelvin Waves moving east and think El Niño will be strong. But as we learned last year, it doesn’t always happen that way,” Willis says. “The latest update from the Climate Prediction Center suggests that there is a 70% chance that El Niño conditions will continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer of 2015, and a greater than 60% chance it will last through autumn. The consensus suggests it land somewhere in the range of an upperend weak event to a moderate event, but again there is still quite a bit of uncertainty in that.” Of course, this is still nature, so you can never be 100% sure what will happen. But many California fishermen are keeping an eye on the weather and Whenever fishing in warmer water, it’s important to revive your catch to ensure a healthy release, as these waters can have low oxygen levels.

hoping for another epic season. Charlie Levine is editor of FishTrack.com and Buoyweather.com, which deliver global marine forecasts, sea-surface temperatures, chlorophyll charts and other

the two hurricanes that rocked Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on the tip of the Baja

essential weather data to offshore anglers.

Peninsula in 2014. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines El Niño as a prolonged warming of the eastern central Pacific Ocean, lasting more than three months. Ocean temps must rise at least 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit to be labeled as an official El Niño. Warmer El Niño waters flow eastward in the Equatorial Current and will often warm the colder waters of the Humboldt Current. This can create better fishing in some parts of the world and actually slow down the bite in other areas, which makes El Niño a conservation concern. The combination of overfishing and an El Niño can deal a devastating blow to threatened fisheries. The Peruvian anchovy population was at one time the world’s largest, but this fishery collapsed when the 1972 El Niño occurred, unable to rebound after years of being exploited.

Hot Fishing Ahead? While El Niño can certainly wreak havoc on fishing in other locations, it’s being credited by many for a phenomenal bite off SoCal for the 2014 season. Fishermen (and even forecasters) can be quick to use the term when talking about ocean conditions, even if it may not have been an official El Niño by NOAA standards. However, this upcoming summer could be a different story. “We actually didn’t officially see El Niño conditions develop until early 2015, based on official statements from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center,” says Willis.

All signs are pointing to another El Niño year this season. Depending on where

“However, abnormally warm water was present off Southern California and Baja

you fish, that can be a good thing, or a bad thing. For West Coast anglers, it

last summer and fall, and still exists now. Even though things weren’t official last

means warmer waters and hopefully a shorter run to find yellowfin and bluefin

season, it sure walked and talked like an El Niño.” Forecasters are still on the fence

tuna but, more than likely, no albacore. For Southeast anglers, it means a mellower (finger’s crossed) tropical storm season. Photo: Jenny Armstrong.

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CAPTAIN

GARFO BY GARY POYSSICK

“Está borracho de Nuevo.” If you do not speak or read Spanish, it translates, “He is drunk again.” The “he” in question was the first mate, and the angry response to my question came from the charter captain sitting in the well-structured tower above my head. I was still standing on the dock. It sometimes comes as a surprise when I ask younger boat owners for permission to step aboard their craft, but the gnarly Dominican running one of the two Bertram offshore fishing boats simply nodded. I stepped aboard. I had been watching from the parking lot for 10 minutes already. He had been slamming shut tackle boxes, folding towels and had finally climbed up to look around. I asked him who it was that drank too much. “My mate. This is the second time this week, and how am I going to take you people fishing without a second set of hands?” We were on the southeastern corner of the Dominican Republic: rich in fish, culture and, obviously, drunken mates. Back in the day, I was paid for shooting my mouth off about digital files, and how they were causing problems in commercial

Illustration: Crystal Stevens.

printing shops. The event I was there to speak for was the annual meeting of the

to play U.N. fishing mate. Knots and access to the head was pretty much all I had

Printing Industries of America, a lobby and activist group that held as members

to provide. The fishing was incredible. All morning we watched flocks of birds

the top printing companies in the country. The annual gathering gave the owners

show us where the chicken dolphin were feeding, so the captain loaded the box.

the opportunity to talk printing and drink whiskey, and play golf on the Tooth of

During the day, we crossed a few weed lines and had landed and released a few

the Dog. These were, for the most part, rich guys. The local services were delivered

real bulls. The captain was cool with it as long as some of the small fish were going

via a private landing strip on the course property. This was big-time golfing and

to his family. Most we would fillet at the docks and send back to the resort chefs

cultural pleasure for most of the people there. But fishing is a big thing, and

for dinner that night. Cool captain, cool day and fun people, until the crazy Gary

about eight or 10 of the owners had rented two Bertrams and guides for a day of

came out again.

offshore fishing. I fish. I can smack a golf ball and like the game, but I fish. Still, I am not much

“You guys catch wahoo here?” I asked, in Spanish. I had heard the wahoo fishing was incredible. You do not target wahoo out of Saint Petersburg, Florida.

of a crown angler, and the thought of fishing with a bunch of drunken printers

We catch them sometime, and they are caught in the Keys, but word has it the

was not something I was gonna do. I went to the docks to see the boats and talk

Dominican fishery is one of the finest.

to the captains. I am still crazy, but I was crazier back then—or more willing to exhibit my insanity. “I will fish you,” I said. The captain rolled his eyes. Here’s a pure gringo saying

“Right there.” He was pointing at a rocky outcropping to the northeast of where we were slow trolling. A few cero mackerel had taken spoons and one of the guys in the boat had decided to help, so we were laying back a little. Crazy

he would mate the boat. “Thank you, but I will find somebody.” I looked on the

Gary exclaimed, “Do it!” The captain looked at me and laughed, “With these guys?”

console and there was a spool of wire there. Obviously leader material. I have

The rum had flowed and the clients were all half lit up. “Sure,” said crazy Gary.

fished kingfish all my life. I can wrap wire and leave a break so clean you could rub

Crazy Gary is not loaded, but I figured what the hell. I could put a few wahoo in

it on your baby and not scratch her milky soft little butt. I took the spool of wire,

the boat. We pulled the lines we had out and rigged for ballyhoo. We dragged a

pulled a couple of feet of it off the spool, and wrapped and clipped and trimmed

few, but the dolphin and the mackerel were eating anything we threw at them.

a loop—no pliers, mind you—in all of 45 seconds. Less, probably, but who wants

The captain was okay with my copper wraps and I was simply nose-hooking huge,

to show off? “How much?” is all the guy asked as he watched me touch my cheek with the loop end and folded break at the ring of my rental car keys. I did not have a lure or hook in my hand, so I wrapped the loop around the split ring on the Rent-a-Wreck key chain. “Nada. And you get the tip, hermano.” We

fresh ballyhoo and wrapping the tip with two inches of soft copper wire. Slow trolling for wahoo (or any fish) will draw strikes on simple rigs. You will lose more that way than if you spend time wrapping complex rigs, but simple rigs go well with drunken clients. We made four passes and we put four beasts in the boxes.

both laughed. He said, “Okay. You are not likely

Five- and six-feet long, the dark blue

to cut yourself.” And off we went. The sun hot,

and aggressive predators lit up in

the water deep, deep blue, drunken or about

the water. If you’ve ever gotten one

to be drunk rich guys from the Midwest, open

alongside the boat and saw the

water predators and metal flying all over. What

blues, you would know that it is not

could go wrong? I remember saying to the

only dolphin that have unreal colors

captain that I would keep the hooks out of the tourists. Little did I know. For two hours, I tied knots, drank water, moved and shuffled and otherwise gathered the Midwestern adventurers, and laughed a lot. The captain spoke decent English, so thank the fishing divinities I did not have

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in the water. Four of the five printers had caught their very own wahoo. It was getting close to noon and we figured the wahoo would top off the day. One more angry wahoo and we would lighten up a little and

soften their exit. When a fish hit one of the short lines next to an umbrella attractor, the game was on. I set the hook and sat the last of the five hunters in the chair. I was fishing 100-lbs. mono leader tied to Dacron. Eight ought (8/0) chromium steel hook. I can see it now as I wrapped the knots and rigged the ballyhoo. The fish eventually got tired of flying eight feet into the air and getting pulled around, and got close to the boat. If you know wahoo, you know they are like cobia. They are still green the first time you see them. But I was standing on the fish box, and wanted to get the fish in the boat. I had a long gaff, and as the fish was coming near, I showed the angler how to release the line by pushing the release lever. I told him twice—three times maybe—to release it when I said “Now!” I told him six times not to try to pick the fish into the boat— that I would do it. I already had one of the guys slip a bull dolphin off the gaff I had put in his shoulder, and watched the fish swim away. The fish came up. I shouted, “Now! Release!” as I sank the gaff into the shoulder (yeah, I am good) of a 6-ft. wahoo. Too late. The printer had already begun to lift the fish in an attempt to help me. I remember all I felt was a tiny little “tick” on the front of my left thigh and the fish went into the boat. Not into the fish box, mind you. Into the boat. The copper wire and the ballyhoo long gone, the hook had gone through

“Somebody grab Tim! Tim does not look good!” Tim had fainted on the deck of the Bertram. A little cold water, a few laughs, and he seemed to recover a bit. We slow trolled, lost another wahoo and caught two more smallish dolphin on

the fish’s gill plate. And deep—really deep—into my thigh. At that moment, it

our way back. The hook now hanging out of my leg, I steaked the one wahoo that

happened that I was watching the fish bounce around, and with every movement,

had scarred me and then drove to a medical clinic in my rental car.

my thigh muscle was lifting up off the bone. I wiggled my toes and could feel

The room was fairly busy, with a woman and her sneezing child, and a few

pain in the leg, but the fish was knocking around in the boat as it slammed their

workers waiting to be called. The young lady at the counter asked me in perfectly

beer coolers, little sun shoes and whatever else was around in its way. It almost

toned Spanish if she could help me.

knocked one of the guys over. The captain was watching it all unfold, but there

“I think so,” I said. I lifted the sliced shorts away from the hanging metal. “Ah!”

was really very little to do. I threw a towel onto the fish’s head and he stopped.

she said with a smile that I would never forget if I reach two hundred. “Capitan

Like a light turning off, the boat went quiet. The water slapping the sides of the

Garfo.” Captain Hook was not a name I had anticipated being branded when we

now drifting hull was all I heard.

left the dock that morning, but it has stuck deeper than that 8/0. Ten minutes

The fish was on the leader, which was running through his gill, and the guy

later, a bolt cutter had removed the two pieces of steel, a little bleach cleaned the

in the chair was still holding the rod tip. I reached in my pocket and pulled out

wound and a tetanus shot sealed the deal. Later that night, while munching that

my (always sharp) pocket knife. The 100-lbs. leader parted pretty easily on the

damned wahoo, the Tim guy approached me.

steel. The hook was on top of my shorts, and the only thing I could see was the

“Sorry I passed out,” he said. I chuckled. “No big deal. I am glad you

eye, the piece of leader I had left on it and the shaft. The thing was flat on my leg

recovered.” The dark, rich rum and Cuban cigar he was drinking and smoking

and the point was straight down over the bone. I asked the captain for his pliers. I

told the recovery tale quite well. “It was the sound,” he explained. “When I saw

remember wiggling my toes again and, despite the muscle tear in my thigh, being

how deep that hook was buried, I got wiggly. But when you put those pliers on

amused that my toes wiggling was shaking the hook. I knew this was gonna make

it and pushed it through your thigh, it sounded like somebody sticking a meat

for a great story.

thermometer in a freakin’ roast beef. I remember realizing what you had just

I slit the legs of my shorts so I could see the shaft buried in my leg. There were no simple tricks to remove that thing. I grabbed the shaft below the eye, pulled it up a little off the skin, and pushed it through. The quiet boat exploded.

done, and the sound was too much. The next thing I remember was waking up with you all splashing water on my face.” The moral of the story? I just can’t think of one.

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Guide Garrett Blackburn and Martin Pescador Lodge owner Frans Jansen float the Rio Rosselot in Patagonian Chile.

JIM KLUG a photo portfolio

A helicopter from Nomads of the Seas arrives at a high mountain lake to pick up anglers after a day of fishing the Chilean backcountry.

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Angler Ian Davis of Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures hoists a “grande” golden dorado. Secure River, Bolivia.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 51

A close-up of Amy Hazel’s classic steelhead fly wallet. Deschutes River, Oregon.

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Angler Jeff Currier jumps an African tigerfish while fishing the Mynera River in the wilds of Tanzania.

A healthy, wild and native rainbow from the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. Yellowstone cutthroat tail—one of the U.S. West’s most important native fish species.

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A wild Atlantic salmon fell for the Frances fly on the waters of the Norwegian Flyfisher’s Club, River Gaula, Norway. Below: Daniel hooks another giant tarpon in a minuscule creek (remote Central America). The fish goes berserk right after hook-up.

A golden dorado goes airborne on the Pluma River in the jungles of Bolivia.

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Top: Crossing a small, unnamed river in Patagonian Chile near the town of Coyhaique. Bottom: Angler John Hudgens making the cast on the Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 57

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 15 SUMMER 2015

Anglers Andres Ergas, Brett Seng and Greg Bricker float an unnamed and totally inaccessible river (unless of course you have a helicopter that flies you and your raft in!) somewhere in Patagonian Chile. Photo: Jim Klug.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 59 DOWNSTREAM • GUIDE RUSTY THOMPSON • 5 RIVERS, 5 GUIDES • COLD WATER FLY GEAR

BY SCOTT & SHANNON SMITH Scott Smith, his father and friends.

DOWNSTREAM The health of the oceans, is directly connected to the health of our rivers. In a world of Snap Chats, Instagrams and daily innovation, it’s the unchanging

for the fish itself. These are the things that have remained the same in a world that

things that I notice most these days. Like the way that life plays out around us

is all about change.

in cycles and patterns—branching out, returning, periods of regeneration. In

Likewise, I am gratefully aware of the special role of fishing in fatherhood

families, nature and in all of life, the impact of repeating patterns defines us.

and its function as one of the repeating patterns of life. It’s not unlike the cycle of

I am among those fortunate souls whose earliest childhood memories

water itself. Evaporation draws water from the oceans, condensation collects it

overflow with the great outdoors, especially the magic of fish and water. In my

in clouds, precipitation returns it to earth, and runoff through rivers and streams

second stroke of luck, my first fishing buddy was my father. My dad would sit at

returns water to the sea. This is a constant, predictable flow. Moving away from

the front of a nine-foot john boat with a small paddle and troll us around the lakes

its beginnings as intended, gently at first, then collecting speed as it finds its

of North Louisiana and East Texas for just as long as we could bear the heat. Bass.

own course, and ultimately traveling back home purified and filtered through

Bream. Crappie. It didn’t matter, we just wanted to fish. The water held all that two

movement and change, ready to regenerate life again on its way downstream into

boys could ask for on a summer day: the cool relief of a midday swim, the thrill of

the massive waters that are our oceans. Ideally, each ecological phase, like each

shooting cottonmouths with BB guns and always a return to more fishing until

generation, feeds off the other and nourishes the next.

dusk. Our efforts were rewarded with a fish fry in a cast iron skillet over an old

So today I find myself in a somewhat predictable stage, an angler turning

Coleman stove. My father pretended to chase us away when we tried to steal the

50, who spends a lot more time thinking about things that should never change;

freshly fried bass out of the grocery sack he used to soak up the grease. Then it

about kids pulling up crab traps chock-full of blues in Pensacola Bay, about

was off to bed early, happy to dream of doing it all over again the next day.

watching the sun come up a few miles out of Fouchon, Louisiana, and catching

My fishing roots lie firmly in the lakes and rivers of the deep south, but early

speckled trout and reds one right after another, until you’re too tired to cast again.

on, my passion grew to include the deep sea fishing of the Gulf of Mexico. Later,

For me, the innovative changes of today will do their very best work if they help

the allure led to the rivers of Montana and Colorado, where I followed my father,

ensure that what is actually best in life remains the same.

and we surprised ourselves by falling in love with the art of flyfishing. Fish and

As a father and a fisherman, I have become increasingly aware of the need

water are woven tightly into the fabric of my life, and much of what is best about

to safeguard the places that bring continuity to my family’s life and will nourish

being an angler has remained consistent throughout: pursuing a host of species,

the next generation with the same experiences I’ve enjoyed. It’s made me pay

the passion, the challenge, the fun, and ultimately the connection to and respect

attention to the flow of water and its cycles. As an angler who loves both high-

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mountain rivers and the big, blue ocean, I’ve come to understand that what

than three birds out of one covey. Son, we need to keep our water clean so your

happens in one place affects the other.

kids and their kids can enjoy what we have now.”

Nowhere can this be observed more directly than the mighty Mississippi River.

These thoughts are what guide me as I encourage all warm water fishermen

Words like “hypoxia” and “dead zone” are now in the vocabularies of fishermen

to look thoughtfully upstream, as well as down. We must work to understand

and scientists alike. A shortage of oxygen that depletes fish, shrimp and sea life

the complicated factors affecting our waters. Remember the things learned from

populations is caused by too many nutrients (usually in the form of fertilizers)

those who fished before us and pass these values onto our daughters and sons.

running into the Mississippi and then being dumped into the Gulf of Mexico.

Advocate for cold water fisheries upstream, and insist that the sea life downstream

NOAA explains the consequences: “In some cases, vast stretches of open water

that feeds us receives equal value and protection to the food harvested on land.

become hypoxic. Unable to sustain life, these areas, called dead zones, may cause die-offs of fish, shellfish, corals and aquatic plants. Since 1985, NOAA-sponsored research has monitored the largest dead zone in the United States, which forms every spring in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In 2014, it grew to cover more than 5,000 square miles of the sea floor.”

For me, the innovative changes of today will do their very best work if they help ensure that what is actually best in life remains the same.

Alarmingly, this phenomenon is growing steadily in the Gulf. It is caused, at least in significant part, by actions taken hundreds of miles upstream. The good news is that solutions are in the

The waters are, indeed, all connected, just as we are. They move in cycles that are capable of regeneration and restoration for years to come, so long as they are not derailed by the neglect or abuse of men. Just as the cold waters return home to the warmth of the ocean, my father has returned to the warmth of his heavenly home. It is comforting to believe, as I do, that I will be with him again, in the pure,

unspoiled state in which we were each created. See ya downstream, dad.

works, and a large variety of experts seem to agree that “dead zones can be fixed” with enough human intention. It appears that the

Scott Smith & Rusty Thompson

manipulations of man have robbed the Mississippi River of its natural kidneys. The river’s filtering system has been destroyed, so it will require the use of new innovations and, of course, the commitment of humans to provide the river with the dialysis required for the Gulf of Mexico to remain healthy, vibrant and wonderfully familiar. Truly, in water and in life, what happens upstream affects conditions downstream. One of my greatest memories is my last fishing trip with my father. Like most final outings, it was unannounced. I wasn’t aware that it would be our last because of the brain tumor already taking shape. But after shoving off at the confluence where the Gunnison River originates, my dad gave me his typical grin and said, “See ya downstream, son.” I think about that day and about him. I think about my father’s blood flowing through me and my own sons. There was a time when I wouldn’t have described myself as a conservationist, avoiding association with the irrational “tree huggers” of my limited exposure. But looking more closely, I proudly claim the common sense conservation of the common man who was my father. His words echo in my ears often, “Son, If you’re not going to eat it, throw it back. Do not ever catch fish and let them freezer burn. Don’t ever shoot more

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 61

Rusty Thompson BY CA STAFF

Rusty Thompson is a top-flight fishing guide on the Gunnison River in Colorado, but like a lot of flyfishing gurus, he has ample saltwater experience, too. When he’s not in the high country, he likes chasing everything from marlin to roosterfish in the skinny latitudes. This issue, Rusty helped us navigate equipment choices for cold water anglers (see pg 66), and we quizzed him about living and fishing high above sea level.

CA: What led you to the Gunnison River, and why has it become a long-term, committed relationship? RT: I grew up in South Carolina and started fishing and hunting when I was really young. When I was 14, I had an uncle teach me to flyfish flyfish for largemouth bass. I liked it, but I didn’t have a lot of reason to use it. My last year of high school, I got into mountain biking heavily. I did some research search and found Western State Colorado University in Gunnison. So I came me out and decided to finish my last two years of school and pursue mountain biking at the same time. I came out not knowing we had legendary fishing. But I met a guy in art class my first month in school, and he was a big fisherman. We got into it together and struggled for months learning. We were self-taught.. We learned to row boats and learned the techniques for fishing the river. That hat was 1994, and I’ve been here ever since. I became a guide in ‘97, the year I graduated. I had two opportunities: go out into the real world or stay right here. ere. I’ve never even wanted to leave.

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Rusty lets his faithful fishing partner check out the catch. Left: Guide Rusty Thompson shows off a Gunnison River beauty.

female participants. Has there been an increase in ﬂyﬁshing guides that look like Brad Pitt? Why this change in the sport? RT: I don’t know, but I fish with a lot of women. In Crested Butte, we get travelers from Texas and Oklahoma, but also women from Arkansas. These women were instructed by Joan Wolfe. She’s just an excellent casting instructor. These women fish harder than their husbands and they are incredible flyfishermen. Women caught the two largest trout in my boat on two different occasions. One was in the 9-lbs. range and the other just below that. Those are massive fish on the Gunnison. Actually, I prefer fishing with women. They actually listen. Men might hear, but they don’t listen. I find that women are also patient and will enjoy themselves no matter what. It also helps that they don’t have to deal with cut bait or cleaning fish!

CA: What are the conservation issues freshwater anglers are passionate about, or need to become passionate about? RT: That’s easy—proper releasing of fish. This isn’t a

CA: You have a reputation as an excellent casting instructor for newbies starting out on ﬂy. How do you make a difﬁcult technique simple to learn?

the false cast—the big motions back and forth—is

highly fished river, but these fish still take a beating.

what people see and expect. When it comes time

Day in day out, these same fish are getting caught

for that, we’ll work on it before I even tie on a fly.

and I feel like we need to be taking care of these fish

Basically, we keep it simple: crawl before you walk.

a little better. Using barbless hooks, not handling the fish too long, not fighting it too long, are all

RT: It’s basically crawling before you walk. I’m not

CA: What is your bucket list ﬂyﬁshing adventure?

going to take these beginners out and have them

RT: I’ve got some experience in Baja and I love doing

false cast. I’ll teach them the tension roll cast. It’s a

that, but if I could do one thing, I’d like to catch a

technique that I still use every time I’m out on the

tarpon in the 60–120 lbs. range.

water, and is great for windy days or for working under tree coverage. You let the water carry it downstream and then one roll cast. We’ll also teach them the one-time cast. We keep it simple. Of course,

important. It’s important to get the fish back in the water with enough energy to keep going.

CA: If a guy (or gal) is new to freshwater, what should they expect to be different about hunting CA: Research shows that rainbow trout vs. bonefish flyfishing is attracting more or permit? www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 63

Rusty employs a “high and dry” technique for stalking trout.

RT: The size of the fish is one thing. We always hear

eat it. I have no interest in it. Obviously, if we can’t get

thing as flyfishing music, but I’ve heard a lot of Jack

comments from saltwater guys that the fish we catch

one revived, that’s different, but it rarely happens.

Johnson out there. Personally, I enjoy the old outlaws:

are the size of their bait back home. But, basically, it’s

Fifteen years ago, when I first started fishing, I had

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash.

just going to be a different experience. The weight of

one fish I couldn’t revive and we ate him. I don’t have

the gear is a lot lighter and it’s a completely different

any problem with eating fish in general, but I would

technique. We are making 25- to 30-ft. casts into an

just have trouble catching and eating these fish.

area the size of a dinner plate, so it really tests your accuracy. But I’ve had saltwater fishermen giggling like schoolgirls when the fishing is good.

CA: Under what circumstance would you keep and eat a ﬁsh?

CA: Saltwater guys have Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, etc. Is there such a thing as ﬂyﬁshing music?

CA: What equipment has come out in recent years that you recommend? RT: Rubber landing nets! In fact, we stay away from the nylon mesh nets if at all possible. The fish have a naturally occurring slime that protects them, and the rubber nets preserve that coating. Actually, when

RT: Ha! Well, I’m seeing more and more people out

I use a barbless hook, the hook tends to pop out

there with waterproof, Bluetooth speakers. There’s

as soon as the weight is taken off, so a lot of times I

RT: Rarely, if ever. I handle these trout so much on a

a 50% chance that if you see a passing boat, they’re

never even have to touch the fish, but the rubber net

daily basis, the last thing I’d do is cut one open and

gonna have music on it. I’m not sure if there’s such a

has gone a long way for us.

64 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

5 Guides, 5 Rivers & raising baby Gus one hatch at a time BY CA STAFF

Branching into cooler climates, Guy Harvey Magazine has chosen five ‘off-the-chart’ cold water fishing destinations that are a must-fish for serious (as well as novice!) inland anglers. This is especially true for those who fancy the use of a fly rod. For each locale we’ve also tapped the best in local talent, calling on respected fishing guides who explain the essential elements in experiencing the best of each place.

Evening on the Railroad Ranch section of the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River in Idaho. For more of Jim’s freshwater photography see page 48. Photo: Jim Klug.

Bob Streb’s Eagle River Vail, Colorado Local Guide: Bob Streb has been a full-time flyfishing guide in the central mountains of Colorado for over a decade. He is senior guide staff for Minturn Anglers and guides year-round on legendary rivers such as the Eagle River, the Roaring Fork River and the mighty Colorado. The thousands of miles he has rowed, the thousands of lives he has reached, the thousands of pictures he has taken and the thousands of flies he has tied have made him one of the most respected guides in the region. When not guiding, he is busy being a dad to his partner in crime, Sam, riding the Harley with his lady, Kitty, blogging, hunting or custom painting drift boats. “Bobber,” as he is known, also helps with Project Healing Waters, Reel Recovery and supporting greater awareness of the Southwest’s water issues.

Species and Seasons: The region is a year-round wild trout fishery. The abundant population of wild brown trout, rainbow, cuttbow, brookie and the occasional native cutthroat can be targeted even in the coldest months.

Best Off-Season Bets: The Vail/Beaver Creek area is a very busy place during the ski season, as well as a family-friendly place during the summer months. In between, you can take advantage of great deals on lodging, food and fishing. Late April to runoff, and again between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, offer less pressure on the fish, and on your bank account.

Preferred Tackle: Definitely flies, but the best way to find out the particulars is always less public than a magazine article.

Essential Gear: All the outfitters in the area provide necessary gear, but if you like your own stuff, we recommend a 5-wt. rod. A heavier 6- or 7-wt. can’t hurt during the productive streamer seasons of spring and fall. Be prepared to imitate delicate mayflies like PMDs, Stoneflies and the very abundant Caddis flies. The alwayschanging weather at 8,000 ft. requires dressing with multiple layers, a waterproof shell, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.

Good Local Outﬁtter: Minturn Anglers (minturnanglers.com) has all you need, from gear to classes to guided trips. They also serve hunters and offer a “Cast and Blast” that combines fishing with gunning for waterfowl.

Best Breakfast, Steak or Beer: Kirby Cosmo’s BBQ (474 Main St.) in Minturn serves outstanding fare. For fueling up to start the day, Northside Coffee and Kitchen (20 Nottingham Rd.) in Avon will not disappoint.

Conservation Angle: The upper Colorado River Basin, including the Eagle and Roaring Fork Rivers sit at the top of the watershed that is charged with supporting the very dry Southwest. It is an everyday battle to promote conservation and management of a dwindling water source. Every angler and guide needs to help raise awareness.

Sweet Spot: In my case, the issue is not where, but when. If I had to grow up and get a real job and the man left me one week’s vacation, I would float the Eagle River in early July. We don’t get much time to enjoy it from a boat, but when we do, the fish love to eat dry flies. The Caddis flies and PMDs pour off this gem during the summer and the fish respond like no other place I have ever been. It is something I never want to miss. Photos: Bob Streb. 66 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Tom McCall’s Kwethluk River

Photos: Papa Bear Adventures.

Bethel, Alaska Local Guide: Tom’s river career began roughly 20 years ago guiding whitewater rafting trips in California, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. Currently, he lives in Northern Idaho where he chases steelhead and cutthroat. But Tom admits to a bit of wanderlust and loves to visit Alaska’s Kwethluk River, where he takes self-guided trips as often as possible. “Flyfishing is not just about catching fish—don’t get me wrong, there’s not much better than a bend in the rod,” says Tom, “But it’s the different ways you can go about it and the different types of water you can explore—headwater creeks to big, high volume rivers. A lot of times it’s the adventure of searching out new waters that’s the heart of it, and the fishing is the icing on the cake.”

Species & Seasons: Fishing is late June to mid-September. King salmon fishing is in the first half of the season and silver salmon in the second. Also on the menu are rainbow, Dolly Varden and grayling trout.

Best Off-Season Bets: You don’t have to worry about going “off season” because this is a limited drop stretch of river. The regular season runs from late June to mid-September and you’ll have the place to yourself for the majority of your float.

Preferred Tackle: For king salmon: 9- or 10-wt. single hand rod with 12–20 lbs. tippet, depending on your style. Use size 2 thru 6 colorful salmon flies with lots of movement, fished on the swing or dead drifted. For silver salmon: 8- or 9-wt. single hander with 8–10 lbs. tippet. Use pink streamers or surface poppers. A polliwog is a great surface pattern. For rainbow, Dolly Varden and grayling trout: 5- or 6-wt. rod with 6–8 lbs. tippet and use beads, eggs and flesh flies.

Essential Gear: You don’t want to try this trip without the best in rain gear and non-leaky waders. Seriously, except for sleeping, you’ll be living in your waders. Oh yeah, BUG REPELLENT!

Good Local Outﬁtter: We use Papa Bear Adventures (pbadventures.com) for our transport from Bethel to the river. You fly in via float plane and then there’s a short portage from Boundary Lake to the river. The float is about 100 miles and takes 7 to 10 days.

Best Breakfast, Steak or Beer: None, you are selfsufficient. If you don’t bring it from the lower 48, you won’t have it. Of course, you can ship food, booze and gear ahead of time.

Conservation Angle: This is a free-flowing river with naturally returning runs of fish. It’s a fairly unspoiled ecosystem with bears, wolves, moose and more. The conservation issue is to enjoy this place and realize what we fight to protect everywhere else.

Sweet Spot: Don’t miss Magic Creek. It’s well named.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 67

Mike and Aimee Eaton and son George hit the water.

Find Your Own Water BY AIMEE EATON

Editor’s note: Mike, Aimee and one-year-old George Eaton are spending 2015 on the

do they hold? When do they spawn? Get a license and read the regulations.

road in their pickup truck with a well-stocked diaper bag and a top-notch baby carrier.

Meet the locals. Almost every place you’ll fish is someone else’s home

Their goal is to fish for every major U.S. game species that can be caught on a fly rod.

water. Whether you’re chasing Lahontan cutthroats at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, red

It’s been raining since 10 p.m., and when we check the river levels over

fish in Aransas Pass, Texas, or salmon in the Pacific Northwest, there are locals with

morning coffee. The spike resembles Apple stock on the eve of a new iPhone

years of experience and knowledge about the fishery. We’ve found that saying

release. By lunch, the river is pushing into the bank alders and the mossy-green

hello and being polite can result in a wealth of information. Talk to the folks at

color that screams steelhead has given way to watered-down chocolate milk.

the local fishing shop, the supermarket, the campground. Someone out there will

Refreshing the NOAA weather page brings up high wind and rain advisories for

point you in the right direction.

the next four days, meaning the river will be out of commission for at least a week.

Use social media. Whether it is on blogs and websites or forums and

While fishing remains in the cards, it is increasingly unlikely.

Instagram, odds are someone out there has published information about the spot

We’ve fished 127 of the 152 days in the last five months. Of those, only seven

you’re looking to fish. These posts can provide information on what flies to use,

have been on familiar water. Yet, with few exceptions, we have managed to find fish,

the best time of year to fish, camping, and where to get the best après-fishing

and we’ve done it without guides. How is it done? With a map and a cell phone.

meal, among other things. We’ve searched for everything from how to tie popcorn

We pull out our atlas and contact list and start making calls. We’re looking for

beetles to dependable shuttle services.

rivers that clear fast and are hoping to find information on levels at which we can

Learn to use Google Earth and Google Maps. Prior to going to

swing a fly down to a wild steelhead. Two days later, we’re hooked into fish on a

the Olympic Peninsula to fish for steelhead, Mike spent several evenings scrolling

river that yesterday was blown. We’re 98 % lucky, 2 % smart.

over maps of the area. Satellite views can offer a good idea of water depth,

There is no foolproof recipe for finding fish in new water. If there were, the

bushwhacking possibilities and parking. The maps aren’t perfect, but if you’re the

adventure would hold less allure, the fish less magic. What do exist are steps

exploring type, they can provide a starting point, and there’s little better than

that can sometimes lead down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. Here are five that

finding your own secret spot.

work for us:

Go ﬁshing. There is no substitute for fishing. If you’re determined to do

Educate yourself on the area, the regulations and fish. In

it yourself, the best way to learn a new area is to get out on the water and pay

Oregon, navigable rivers are public up to the high water mark; however, finding

attention. You’ll never figure out where the fish really are, or what they’re actually

public land from which to access the water can be tricky. In Colorado, the same

eating if you’re sitting at home or in a hotel somewhere.

does not hold true; the riverbed is often private property and setting an anchor or wading across is trespassing. Local fly shops, state fish and wildlife agencies, and

You can follow the adventures of Mike, Aimee and George at

guidebooks are all good sources for determining where and how to get on the

www.raisinggus.com. When not on the road, the Eaton family lives in Crested Butte,

water. Learn about the species for which you are fishing. What do they eat? Where

Colorado, where they occasionally guide for trout out of Dragonfly Anglers.

Ryan Smith’s Skagit River Seattle, Washington Local Guide: Northwest native and a third generation fly-angler, Ryan Smith has been fly-casting and creating flies since the age of twelve. Growing up in Oregon, with a few years spent in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming prepared him for the challenge of Puget Sound fishing. He’s also owner of The Avid Angler fly shop in Lake Forest Park, Washington. With a degree in biology, Ryan can’t help but weave this understanding of the natural world into every guided adventure and, of course, he’s a certified casting instructor.

Species & Seasons: The most sought-after run of steelhead are the winter-run variety. When winter hits, the weather brings fresh steelhead and higher flows, so the best days are hard to predict. Trips are planned and often altered, but when all the conditions come together, the result is incredible fishing.

Best Off-Season Bets: When the steelhead fishing closes locally or fish or river flows are not conducive to angling, we head to the beach. Sea-run cutthroat are a local native species that is open year-round to angling in Puget Sound.

Preferred Tackle: Since steelhead are anadromous fish, we are often imitating a swimming food form from the saltwater. These fish could be mere days, or hours from the ocean, so they are intrigued by flies that swim. We use 10-ft., 7- and 8-wt. single handed rods and 12- to 15-ft. two-handed rods. Casts are made down and across the river to swing the fly into the steelhead holding water.

Essential Gear: The Northwest can be a formidable place to fish year-round with some rivers receiving annual rainfall of over 10 ft. Hence, the most important piece of gear is a good wading jacket.

Good Local Outﬁtter: I am admittedly biased, as the owner of The Avid Angler fly shop. This is our 40th year in business. We can outfit beginners to advanced anglers, and have been a resource for the fly-tying community for years (avidangler.com).

Best Breakfast, Steak or Beer: We have a few local establishments that are run by fly anglers. For local seafood—and you will never find wild steelhead on the menu—the Steelhead Diner (95 Pine Street, in Pike Place Market) is an obvious choice and run by Chef Kevin Davis.

Conservation Angle: The Puget Sound Rivers have been through a tremendous amount of habitat loss and overfishing. Over the past few years, we have closed our local rivers from January through May to protect wild steelhead. Numbers have been improving and we are getting close to 10,000 winter-run steelhead in the Skagit River, where numbers just 10 years ago were as low as 2,500. We have been experiencing good ocean conditions and good snowpack for the past few years. This year, we are getting back into a drought cycle, so we are crossing our fingers that the fish will be able to enter rivers, spawn and return as adults in a few years.

Sweet Spot: Steelhead are sea-run fish, which means they are always on the move. To maximize your chances, fish water with walking pace speed and large rocks. Ideally, these runs are above or below heavy water, as fish need to rest before traveling upriver.

Photos: Ryan Smith.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 69

Rusty Thompson’s Gunnison River Gunnison, Colorado Local Guide: Rusty Thompson is a veteran of the Gunnison River (see “Backlash” on page 62) with a reputation as an excellent casting instructor, especially for new flyfishing recruits. He grew up in a family of hunting guides in South Carolina, and his first flyfishing experience at age 14 involved largemouth bass. It was mountain biking that drew him to Colorado during his college years, but it was the Gunnison River that has held him captive. A guide since ‘97, he’s on the water as much as possible and is “happily married to a fly fishing female.” He says, “Mandy can row a boat. She can back the boat trailer. But the mistake was I taught her to fish before I taught her to row. Getting her in the rower’s chair is tough.” Of course, when anyone else is lucky enough to fish with Rusty, he does do all the rowing.

Species & Seasons: Brown trout and rainbow trout are the target. The earliest fishing happens in late March to early April but the bulk of the fishing is from Memorial Day to mid-October. Mid-winter fishing is possible but not that frequent. The side water freezes up along the eyelets on fishing rods, making it difficult to cast.

Best Off-Season Bets: The third week of September is not to be missed. The kids are back in school and summer crowds have died down, but the weather’s beautiful—you’re fishing in a long-sleeve shirt—and the scenery will knock your waders off. All the cottonwood trees are changing colors. You get a lot of reds and gold, and you’ll usually have a little snow on the peaks. We get a lot of experienced anglers then.

Preferred Tackle: A go-to technique for most of the season is nymphing. You’re fishing sub-surface and it’s usually good for most clients. If fish are rising, we go to a dry fly, but a nymphing technique is always productive.

Essential Gear: The river starts at 8,000 feet of elevation, so you’re a lot closer to the sun up here. Don’t forget sunscreen (the good stuff ) and sunglasses.

Good Local Outﬁtter: Dragon Fly Anglers (dragonflyanglers.com). If people want to float the Black Canyon, check out Gunnison River Expeditions (gunnisonriverexpeditions.com) or Black Canyon Anglers (blackcanyonanglers.com).

Best Breakfast, Steak or Beer: Don’t miss the Almont Resort right at the headwaters (Hwy. 135 in Almont, CO). It’s a one-minute walk off the river and the food is outstanding.

Conservation Angle: There’s a lot of mining in our area and there’s a big push back from the local communities because of how the runoff affects the river. We live in the flow of whatever happens upstream.

Sweet Spot: Black Canyon. It’s where the Gunnison runs out of Blue Mesa Reservoir. If I have a special day and get a trip planned, that’s where I go. I’m not going to give any particulars . . . I can’t give away all my secrets, but you won’t be disappointed.

Photos: Jim Garrison.

Joseph Demalderis’s Upper Delaware River Hancock, New York Local Guide: Joe Demalderis first started fishing the Delaware River System in the late 1970s and became seriously addicted to it in the early 80s. In 1992, he left a successful career to guide for wild trout, and by 2002 he expanded his services to include saltwater fly and light tackle fishing on the New Jersey coast. Today he does all of this plus hosts trips to destinations such as Patagonia and the Bahamas. In 2010, Demalderis was named Guide of the Year by the Orvis Company. But for all his other fishing ventures, he says the Upper Delaware is his first love and true love. He serves on the board of directors for the conservation organization Friends of the Upper Delaware and has penned chapters in two guide books about the region.

Species & Seasons: We chase brownbow and brown trout from April through October. Best off-season bets: The best option for avoiding the rush is to fish weekdays when most everyone else is earning a living, especially in mid- to late April and mid-June through October.

Preferred Tackle: The Upper Delaware is rich in aquatic insect life, which provides excellent dry fly fishing. A 9-ft. 5-wt. medium fast to fast action fly rod covers that base very well. The same rod can also do double duty as a nymph rod, but for a true specialty nymph rod, a 6-wt. from 9 to 10 feet works better. During early spring run off, or when high water prevails, streamer fishing produces some better than respectable trout. Under that situation, a 6- or 7-wt. fits the bill.

Essential Gear: The usual, of course: waders, rain gear, warm jacket or fleece, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, hat. However, during the late spring, summer and early fall, a stream thermometer is also a great tool.

Good Local Outﬁtter: Check out Cross Current Guide Service (FlyFishTheDelaware. com), Border Water Outfitters (borderwateroutfitters.com), East Branch Outfitters (eastbranchoutfitters) in Hancock, NY, West Branch Resort (westbranchresort.com) in Deposit, NY, and the Delaware River Club (thedelawareriverclub.com) across the border in Starlight, PA.

Best Breakfast, Steak or Beer: Don’t miss the Circle E Diner (369 E. Front St.) in Hancock or Lydia’s Crosstown Tavern (6031 Hancock Hwy.) in Starlight, PA.

Conservation Angle: Due to its dependence on cold water from two reservoirs that are controlled by New York City, the river is sometimes under a threat of unsafe thermal conditions. Water management plans must be unanimously approved by the City, plus the four states that border the river. In recent years, water plans have proven to be more flexible, but still have the shortcoming of no thermal protection for this coldwater fishery. In normal or near normal rainfall seasons this poses no immediate problem, but during low water and warm weather situations it can be very problematic. Friends of the Upper Delaware River have worked alongside members of Trout Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission in developing alternative management plans that address this need.

Sweet Spot: Early spring runoff can bring with it the opportunity to target large wild browns on streamers. The East and West Branches typically provide the most opportunity due to the more manageable size of the rivers. The first sizable mayfly hatch is the Hendrickson, which typically happens in late April or early May. This insect brings out some really nice trout from their winter slumber. Photos: Capt. Joe Demalderis. www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 71

C ld Water Fly Gear GEARHEADS :

The thrill of fly casting for trout in the mountains and the obsessive drive behind BY DARYL CARSON stalking steelhead as they fight their way upstream is the same psychological juice that drives bonefish and tarpon addicts. But while the passions are parallel, the gear is not. Especially for stalking trout at altitude, you’ll need a lighter, more nimble brand of rod, reel and line. You’ll also want to keep those legs dry while wading. This ain’t no Bahamian two-step shuffle across a sandy bottom. It’s hunting spooky fish in rugged country. Here are a few must-haves for your backcountry or high altitude adventures.

Fans of the sling pack will love this milita military-inspired design

Fishpond Barracuda Aluminum Clipper

that can be worn over either shoulder. Gear Ge is stored

Everyone needs eds clippers, and the Barracuda gets the job done with a single,

Fishpond Delta Sling Pack in any of six different different zippered pockets, including in two large main pockets for fl flyy boxes, rain gear and other essentials. An additional front pocket has a nifty magnetic closure for items you need close at hand. There’s even a Velcro attachment for a pistol holster in case your fishing competition includes grizzly bears. • Water-resistant zippers • Cord loops for attaching tools • Water bottle holder • Guide net slot • 18.5” x 11” x 8.5” MSRP $149.95 fishpondusa.com

72 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

replaceable, ble, stainless steel blade that cuts cleaner than two opposing blades. The stylish, ylish, aerospace-grade, aluminum tubular body is also rugged and easyy to hold and control. •

Hook eye clean-out tool •

Cuts braid • Replacement blades available • 2.75” x .75” dia.

MSRP $29.95 fishpondusa.com

RIO InTouch Trout LT

Flambeau Outdoors Bazuka

The long, fine taper of RIO’s new InTouch

Get your rods to the water with peace of mind. Flambeau’s new telescoping

Trout LT line allows light presentations and

Bazuka rod case swallows multiple fishing sticks and its molded construction

effortless roll casts while fishing small dry

stands up to the harshest abuse—even from airline employees.

and soft hackle flies. It’s perfect for delicate

• Stretches from 73–102 in.

presentations to fool trout. The company’s

• Lockable for security

ultra-low stretch ConnectCore technology

• Padded at both ends

dramatically increases line sensitivity for

MSRP $79.99

better cast timing, easier line lift, and sharp,

flambeauoutdoors.com

precise mends, as well as a better feel for subtle takes. • Available in both weight forward and double taper profiles • 3-wt. through 6-wt.

Fishmasks While this company has products for every environment, their masks are hand-sewn in Denver, and protecting fly fishermen from the ravages of the sun

MSRP $89.95

at altitude is at the core of their mission. Each mask has a UPF 50+ rating and

rioproducts.com

protects both from 99.9% of direct and reflected UV rays. Multiple patterns and colors are available to suit different environments.

RIO InTouch Level “T” tips These are fast sinking, level tips. They use tungsten

• Odor control keeps the garment fresh after prolonged use • Moisture wicking fabric promotes dryness • Breathable fabric keeps anglers comfortable

powder for density to offer a supple tip that won’t

MSRP $19.99

kink, yet sinks like a rock. Because they are built on

fishmasks.com

RIO’s ultra-low stretch ConnectCore, the tips are extremely sensitive to soft grabs and ensure fast, solid hook sets. • 30-ft. sections include front and back welded loops • Color-coded for easy ID • Available in 500-ft. bulk roll MSRP $29.95 (30-ft. tips) rioproducts.com

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 73

Scott Fly Rod Radian

Cortland Big Fly

The Radian is a fast action, high-line speed rod that still gives the

Crafted specifically for

nuance and feel of a presentation rod. By dramatically reducing rod

sailing big, fuzzy flies

vibrations, anglers get the best of both worlds. Roll casts to a tricky

through the air, Big Fly line

seam, and short, delicate casts with fine 6X leaders are just as easy as

has an aggressive front-

long distance streamer deliveries to the opposite bank. Available in 4-

taper and over-weighted

to 9-wt. models.

head. It loads quickly and

• Titanium-framed SiC stripping guides

throws big streamers, bass

• Custom reel seats with burled box elder spacers

flies and tandem rigs with minimal false casting.

• Top-grade Portuguese cork

• Low friction PST™ coating

• Universal snake guides from Snake Brand

• Welded loops at both ends ease rigging

MSRP $795

• 2-ft. Dyna-Tip™ keeps the line high and dry

scottflyrod.com

• Available in WF6F–WF12F MSRP $80 cortlandline.com

Cortland Trout Boss HTx Fans of Trout Boss will find the latest version has been improved with a complex new taper, thinner core and Cortland’s proprietary heat-tempered

Smith Dockside Glasses

surface treatment. The result is a line that casts

Available in bronze mirror or blue mirror, Smith’s Dockside sunglasses

tighter loops, shoots

with ChromaPop lenses are designed specifically for anglers. The

farther, floats higher and

enhanced polarized lenses provide 100% protection from harmful

has improved durability.

UVA/B/C rays with film-free polarization and unmatched visual clarity.

• Taper combines a 45’6” head with 10 ft. of level line

ChromaPop lenses increase visual clarity by blocking light wave

• Thinner core reduces diameter-to-mass ratio

intersections that create color confusion for the brain, resulting in

• HTx coating seals out dirt and oils while reducing friction

increased depth and detail of objects while reducing eye fatigue. • Ideal for medium to bright light conditions • Anti-Reflective (A/R) mirror coating eliminates back glare • Coated lenses repel water, dirt and grease

MSRP $80 cortlandline.com

Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot

MSRP $209

The G3 waders use the latest GORE-TEX material, which is now 25%

smithoptics.com

more breathable for comfort with uncompromised waterproof integrity. Specially designed front and back leg seam construction gives anglers an articulated fit that reduces wear in critical zones, bolsters longevity and makes it easier to take every step. • Reach-through hand warming pocket • Zippered chest pocket with utility tabs MSRP $499.95 simmsfishing.com

74 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Simms G3 Guide Boot Great boots require great grip. Simms G3 boots combine a Vibram outsole with multi-directional lugs, with a base platform that minimizes rigid underfoot materials for enhanced feel whether on the trail or in the water. • TPU molded heel clip for a positive, locked-in fit • Neoprene internals for cushion, warmth and easy donning • Compatible with Simms AlumiBite cleats and studs MSRP $199.95 simmsfishing.com

Ross Reels Animas One of the latest innovations from Ross Reels, the Animas Anim is built on a solid aluminum frame and has a striking, two-tone an anodized finish. fi nish. Its drag system is silky smooth, with low start-up inertia but plenty of grip when it’s needed. The machined aluminum alum handle is also reverse tapered for a sure hold. • Tool-less, right-to-left hand conversion • The large arbor aids in line retrieval • Ported reel reduces weight MSRP $225 rossreels.com

Eagle Claw Clear Rubber Trout Net Classic style meets conservation smarts in this handy trout net. The classic wood handle looks great and an is nicely functional. The clear, rubberized net material is much easier on the fi fish sh than a classic knotted design. • Durable bamboo handle • Clear net material materia less likely to spook fish • Safety cord keeps the net secure on your person MSRP $45.44 eagleclaw.com

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 75

MEET THE CHEF

HIGH STYLE BY GHM STAFF

Chef Tim Tibbitts is evidence that a native Bahamian can only spend so much time in the Canadian north. Born in the islands but raised in Toronto, Tim was a professional musician before indulging his lifelong passion for cooking. He attended George Brown College School of Culinary Arts and became a chef, serving in various posts before moving to Freeport, Grand Bahama, in 2012. Joined by his wife, a certiﬁed sommelier, he opened up the Flying Fish restaurant, and the culinary world has been taking notice. The restaurant earned the ﬁrst AAA four-diamond rating in Grand Bahama’s history and in 2014, Tim was named one of Caribbean Journal’s “The Caribbean’s Top 25 Chefs.” Chef Tim Tibbits | Flying Fish, Freeport, Grand Bahama

Today, the couple deliver truly upscale dining—think Austrian crystal wine glasses

Fish is locally sourced, in season and sustainable. The menu constantly

and custom forge cutlery—and a food experience that is sustainable in every way

changes with availability of what’s abundant, including lionfish. “I love using it,” he

possible. There’s an onsite reverse osmosis machine to make bottled water, both

says. “It cooks beautifully and is very versatile. Just don’t get pricked!”

still and sparkling, which are stored in recyclable glass bottles. An onsite laundry facility ensures the restaurant bathrooms are stocked with real towels instead of wasting paper towels. Meats are small farm raised, humanely, and free from antibiotics or growth hormones. All beef is Hereford. Pork belly and bacon are Kurobuta, the equivalent of Kobe beef for pork. Tim even smokes his own bacon. Of course, the seafood is equally high quality and sustainably sourced. “For many years now, we have not served sharks, bluefin tuna, Chilean sea bass and other endangered species,” says Tim, who is also an avid tuna fisherman. He admits his tuna fishing is driven by both the thrill of the fight and the culinary possibilities. “It’s a delicious fish.” “We try our best to make conscious decisions about our impact on our environment,” says Tim.

76 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Tim is always looking for ways to be creative. On Sunday nights, he even takes the stage and plays a little music. Just to keep things fresh.

Lionﬁsh Cakes, Fennel & Orange Salad, and Orange Hollandaise 2 lbs

Lionfish fillets, steamed, flaked and cooled

In a large bowl, combine the lionfish, red onion,

Fennel & Orange Salad

green onion, sweet peppers, chopped parsley, lemon

Oranges, segmented (reserve the juice)

zest, sambal oelek, eggs and panko together. Mix

1 lg

Fennel bulb, shaved on a mandolin

thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Continue

½C

Fennel fronds, chopped

to mix until the mixture starts to come together. Take

¼C

Extra virgin olive oil (good quality)

3–4 oz. of the mixture and form into a ball, pressing

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 med Red onion, finely diced

firmly for it to stick together. Press flat into a fish

Green onion or chives, finely sliced

cake and set on a sheet pan. When all the mixture

Segment oranges into a non-reactive glass bowl.

½C

Yellow sweet pepper, finely diced

is pressed into cakes, place the sheet pan into the

Shave fennel into a bowl of ice water and let sit for

½C

Red sweet pepper, finely diced

refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

10 minutes. Remove from the water and dab on a

½C

Parsley, chopped

In a large, non-stick skillet, pour 2 T of vegetable

clean kitchen towel to remove excess liquid. Add

Zest of 2 lemons

oil and set to medium-high heat. When the pan is

crispy fennel to the oranges, followed by orange

3 T

Sambal oelek chili paste

hot, place the lionfish cakes into the pan. Be sure

juice and olive oil. Mix thoroughly. Season with salt

Eggs

not to crowd the pan. Cook each side of the lionfish

and pepper. Just before serving, finish with chopped

Panko bread crumbs

cake until golden brown. Remove the fishcakes from

fennel fronds.

Vegetable oil

the pan and place back onto the sheet pan. Place

Salt and pepper, to taste

fishcakes into the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes.

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Orange Hollandaise 4

Egg yolks

Clarified butter

Shallots, finely diced

6 ripe

½C

Plum tomatoes, insides removed and

Meanwhile, in a small sauce pot, cook the butter

cut into small dice

over medium heat until the milk solids begin to

Kalamata olives, pitted and cut in half

change to a golden brown color and the butter

lengthwise

begins to smell nutty. The longer you can hold out

Black peppercorns, whole

¼C

Capers

before taking it off the heat, the better the flavor you

¼ C

Rice wine vinegar

½C

Parsley, chopped

will achieve. Be careful, though, as it burns quickly

½C

Fresh-squeezed orange juice

3 cloves Fresh garlic, chopped fine

and turns bitter if you wait too long. Remove from

½ med Red onion, finely diced

the heat to a metal bowl to disperse the heat and

Salt and pepper, to taste

Sambal oelek chili paste

stop the cooking process. Do not refrigerate unless

Place orange juice, rice wine vinegar, shallots

½C

Extra virgin olive oil

as a leftover.

and peppercorns into a small saucepan. Cook over

3 whole Lemons, cut in half to expose the round

medium-low heat. Reduce heat by 80%. Strain the

face, grilled

shallot and peppercorns out, and cool the reduction slightly. Fill half a pot of water and place it on the

Remove calamari from marinade and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Grill over very high heat for 45 seconds per side, until the calamari begins to

Make sure calamari is well cleaned, removing the

curl and tighten up. Do not overcook the calamari or

quill from the tubes and the beak and eyes from the

it will become tough as rubber bands. Meanwhile,

stove over high heat. Once the water boils, reduce

tentacles. Cut the calamari across the tube leaving

reheat some of the butter with roasted garlic cloves,

heat to a simmer. Place a bowl over the water

a small piece attached. The finished cut should

capers, olives and tomatoes just until hot. Place

to create a double boiler. Add egg yolks and the

resemble a slinky. Place the prepared calamari,

grilled calamari on the plate and spoon butter and

reduction, whisking vigorously. As the egg yolks

chopped fresh garlic, red onion, sambal and olive oil

accompaniments over the top. Serve with grilled

rise in heat, they will lighten in color and increase

together in a bowl to marinate for a couple of hours.

lemon to finish.

in volume. Continue whisking, controlling the heat by taking the mixture off the stove as it gets too hot and replacing it as it cools down. Keep whisking and drizzle in the clarified butter. As it emulsifies, the mixture will thicken to a velvetysmooth consistency. Remove the hollandaise from the heat, and season with salt and pepper.

Plate Assembly: To assemble, place two lionfish cakes in the center of the plate. Spoon a generous dollop of orange hollandaise over the top. Finish with a handful of the fennel salad. Garnish with a few fennel fronds. Serve lionfish cakes warm.

Grilled Calamari in Brown Butter 2 lbs

Cleaned calamari tubes and tentacles

½ lb

Unsalted butter

2 heads Roasted garlic cloves kept whole and not squashed

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LAST CAST

HOOKED ON THE MOTHER SHIP My fishing world has gone completely bonkers. Last issue I

Our plan was ambitious. We were using a 45-ft. ex-

wrote about catching mullet on a topwater fly. Very bizarre.

lobster boat, the Flauna II, as a kayak “Mother Ship.” Captain

A bunch of readers thought I was full of bull, but my wife,

David Ellis had traveled all the way to Prince Edward Island,

who is a terrible liar, will confirm my story. Plus, she has

Canada, to buy the perfect yak-hauling boat. However, we

photos to prove it. Then a few days ago, my universe got

had not tested the vessel’s yakability until Hobie showed

stranger than the movie Interstellar, in which Matthew

up. This was our inaugural kayak expedition. On paper,

McConaughey travels through a wormhole into a black hole

everything looked brilliant, but when you add water, waves,

to arrive at a floating wooden bookcase in space where

weather and human stupidity, anything can happen.

he sees his younger self in his daughter’s bedroom and

Unfazed, we strapped five Hobie yaks on the roof of the

somehow moves the secondhand of her watch so that she

wheelhouse, packed up a variety of fine meats, cheeses

realizes it’s morse code and understands that her father

and cold beverages, loaded up the camera equipment

from the past is communicating with her in the future and

along with about 50 fishing rods, and pointed the bow out

that everything in life will work out fine. Well, on second thought, maybe

FRED GARTH

my fishing world ain’t

For the past 25 years, Fred D.

quite that weird.

Garth’s articles have appeared in

…On paper, everything looked brilliant, but when you add water, waves,

Nonetheless, this

numerous books, magazines and

latest craziness began

newspapers around the world.

when the Hobie Kayak

Read his blog at:

TV guys came to visit us

GuyHarveyMagazine.com.

at Guy Harvey Magazine.

tempt fate. In case you haven’t heard, kayak fishing is magma hot these days. Yet, even with efficient

weather and human stupidity, anything can happen.

pedal drives and trolling motors that can transport yakkers long distances, there are still some places

My buddies, Keeton Eoff and Morgan Promnitz, from Hobie,

too far away or too risky to go. Like 20 miles out into blue

showed up with their camera crew to film the extraordinary

water. I guess you could paddle a kayak out there, but that’s

fishiness around what we like to call Flora-Bama-land . . .

idiotic (even on paper). The Mother Ship concept is much

the borderline between northwest Florida and Alabama.

saner. It gets you there safely and in style, and allows you to

It’s here that the states are separated by Perdido Bay, a

move to other spots quickly or cruise back to the near-shore

lovely body of water that means “Lost Bay” in Spanish.

grass flats to catch a sunset trout and/or redfish. All while

Apparently, explorers in the 1600s couldn’t find the bay they

enjoying fois gras and a dry martini, or perhaps a stale

saw on their maps because the pass had closed up after a

cracker and a Bud Light—whatever ticks your clock.

hurricane. Years later, another storm shifted the sugar white

80 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

into the Gulf of Mexico to

Keeton made it clear that catching fish was imperative

sands again, opening up a new cut, and the Lost Bay was

since, after all, we were doing a TV show about fishing.

eventually rediscovered. For the geographically challenged,

I guess that kind of brainpower is why Hobie entrusted

Perdido Bay is near Pensacola.

him with the marketing budget. If there’s any fish that’s

As the crew looks on from the Mother Ship, Morgan Promnitz shows off a blackfin tuna he caught 10 miles offshore from Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico.

guaranteed in the northern Gulf, it’s red snapper.

making Day Uno an awesome fishing and filming

Prather was zooming in on the juicy footage. That’s

They’re so thick you can almost walk to Mexico

extravaganza. On the way back to the dock, we put

when I saw the whiskers. Yep, big ol’ catfish. We call

on their backs. So we hit a few spots offshore and

some very fresh tuna on the Big Green Egg grill that’s

‘em sailfin, gafftop sails, channel cats or danged-ole

got some sweet footage of bottom fishing for the

mounted on the stern deck of the Flauna II, threw on

catfish. Whatever the name, it’s a lowly creature. In

coveted snap daddies. Even in choppy seas, the

a few cow steaks, too, and cracked open some cold

fact, I wrote an article last year about Keeton catching

kayaks performed beautifully until Marty Mood, our

ones to wash it all down. A jam of Texas country rock

a catfish in Captiva Island and called them “Florida’s

local Hobie Fishing Team dude and super-fit fishing

blasting on the stereo put a smile on our faces and

most shameful gamefish, the butt-ugly sailfin catfish.”

freak, decided to switch to light tackle. You know,

we all decided that mother shipping was the primo

Now, the Texan had gone and done it again, opening

catching 15-lbs. snapper on a lightweight spinning

limo ride.

the door for more unabated grief.

rod makes for snazzy TV. Keeton grinned with

Oh yeah, my weird fishing stuff. Hold on, I’m

Morgan bagged a couple of redfish and I site-

approval. So, well, my apologies in advance, but you’ll

getting there… We had plenty of offshore footage,

casted to a big red with my fly rod but spooked it.

have to wait till the show airs to see what happened

so on Day Two we patrolled the inshore grass beds

Oh, and did I mention that Keeton caught another

to Marty, but let’s just say we witnessed an epic battle

for trout and reds. We blasted out at sunrise and fired

catfish? Ha! Being the local expert, I turned the nose

between a P90X pumped-up human and a large

up the Green Egg for scrambled eggs, bacon and hot

of my kayak toward a hidden cove and boldly told

gray fish with very sharp teeth. All on a spinning rod.

coffee during the transit. There’s nothing like bacon

the boys to follow me to the trout. We pedaled hard

Marty survived, but I heard he hit the protein shakes

and coffee to make fishing dudes happy.

for 10 minutes when something blew up the water

hard when he got home. Later that day, Morgan and Marty tagged into some angry bonita and one very tasty blackfin tuna,

Keeton hooked up first with what looked like

about 30 ft. from my yak. My local knowledge had

a hoss bull red. His pole bent over and the blissful

paid off and I was ready to prove it. So, in a fit of

look on his face said it all. Plus, cameraman Cody

madness, I grabbed two rods. First, I tossed a green

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 81

DOA shrimp into churning water and let it sink. Then, I threw a Rapala Skitter Walk topwater into the fray. It had barely hit the water when WHAM! Fish on! Within two seconds, I got doubled up when a big-un’ crashed the DOA. Cody moved in close to get the beads of sweat dripping down my face as I celebrated having two bull reds on at once. They peeled out line like reds, fought like reds, but when I got the first one to the surface, it looked a lot like a freaking catfish. What? A few months before, I caught a mullet on a topwater lure and now a catfish—also on topwater? My sweat turned to tears when I realized that the

Author Garth with a double hook-up.

DOA had a big cat, too. Unfortunately, I have become an expert at catching trash fish on topwater lures. I could hear some loud cackling and didn’t have to look up to know that it was Keeton laughing and was officially off the hook, so to speak. I had out-buttuglied him. It’s hard to stick to the truth when you’re fishing, but in this case, honestly, our trout hunt was a bust. As Keeton and I pedaled back to the Mother Ship, two shameful catfishers, we reflected on fishing’s most profound question: What is fishing all about anyway? We agreed that catching anything is better

Coming home to the Mother Ship.

than catching nothing and that catfish fight as hard, if not harder, than redfish. From a sportfishing point of view, there’s nothing wrong with catfish. Sure, it sounds like two losers justifying failure, but there’s a little bit of sad logic in there if you look real hard. Back at the Flauna II, with the kayaks all packed away, we realized that we’d caught 10 different species of fish in two days. No one had died, gotten maimed or puked. Nobody got impaled in the butt by a treble hook, and we returned with the same number of rods we started with. Not bad for an inaugural cruise. I fired up the grill, got a cold beverage and thought about the kayaking wormhole our Mother Ship had blasted through. Hopefully, the only black holes we’d be exploring in our future would be the kind that holds fish. The ones without whiskers. Next issue, Fred installs outriggers and radar on his yak and trolls the Gulf Stream for something big.

Cody Prather records Morgan’s egg cooking skills.

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com | 83

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Guy Harvey Magazine — Summer 2015

Articles inside

LAST CAST

MEET THE CHEF

GUY TALK