FishTalk Magazine April 2024

Spring Into the Surf

Trot Down the Catfish Trail

5861 Deale Churchton Rd, Deale, MD tristatemarine.com

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

Bosun’s Maryland | 410.286.1350

411 Winchester Creek Rd, Grasonville, MD bosuns.com/about-us-maryland

Hudson Marine | 410.643.6768 219 Hess Rd, Grasonville, MD 21638 hudsonmarinellc.com

Rudy Marine | 443.995.3785

3033 Kent Narrows Way S, Grasonville, MD rudymarine.com

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

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

Ventnor Marina | 410.255.4100 8070 Ventnor Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122 ventnormarinamd.com

Haven Harbour Marina | 410.778.6697 20880 Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661 havenharbour.com

VIRGINIA

Oyster Cove Boatworks | 804.824.9904 5195 G Washington Mem Hwy, Gloucester, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

Norfolk Marine | 757.461.3391 5221 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA norfolkmarine.com

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Oyster Cove Boatworks | 804.824.9904 27 Campbell Dr, Topping, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

Oyster Cove Boatworks | 757.716.1819 1305 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA oystercoveboatworks.com

Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

Delaware

Pontoon Express | 302-945-0654 22572 Harbeson Rd, Harbeson, DE pontoonexpress.com

North Bay Marina Inc | 302-436-4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com

Maryland

Annapolis Inflatables/Fawcett Boat Supplies 410-267-8681 | 919 Bay Ridge Rd, Annapolis, MD annapolisinflatables.net

Intercoastal Marine | 410-335-0458 2925 Eastern Blvd, Baltimore, MD intercoastalmarinemd.com

Scott’s Cove Marina | 410-784-7624 10551 Eldon Willing Rd, Chance, MD scottscovemarina.com

Hidden Harbour Marina | 301-261-9200 600 Cabana Blvd, Deale, MD hiddenharbour.net

Maryland Boat Sales | 410-574-3988 2426 Holly Neck Rd, Essex, MD mdboatsales.com

Powersports of Crofton | 410-697-5965 7045 State Route 3 North, Gambrils, MD hondaofcrofton.com

Galahad Marine | 410-827-7409 121 Rental Ln, Grasonville, MD galahadmarine.com

Danny’s Marine LLC | 410-228-0234 3559 Chateau Dr, E. New Market, MD dannysmarine.com

PYY Marine | 410-255-1771 1132 Pasadena Yacht Yard Rd, Pasadena, MD pyymarine.com

Thornes Marine | 410-957-4481 1237 Greenbackville Rd, Stockton, MD thornesmarine.com

Virginia

Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804-453-3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com

Friday’s Marine | 804-758-4131

(Malise Marine Sales & Service) 14879 GW Memorial Hwy, Saluda, VA facebook.com/fridaysmarine

Legasea Marine | 757-898-3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com

Hardcore Angler

Total of FIVE bait tanks all fed by a Hooker sea chest and Hooker electric pumps.

With the double stepped, semiasymmetric hulls and plenty of bow flair, you can fish in comfort through water you’d never brave with another center console in its class

Where Innovation Meets Open Water

The 34 CT contains six insulated plumbed storage boxes, totaling 3,000 qt of storage connected to macerator pumps

58

51

47

A Shad Bit Unconventional

Catching shad is a great way to celebrate spring with a bend in your rod, and there are many different ways to make it happen. By Staff and Readers

49

Choosing a Fishing Rod For Beginners

Get the right rod for your needs — and then get it bent! By Ian Rubin

51

Spring in the Surf

April is one of the best months of the year for surf fishing fun. By Lenny Rudow

53

Bayology 107: Understanding Scours

Anywhere you have structure and currents, scours can form — and potentially attract fish.

By Wayne Young

55

Offshore Intel

The more distant the horizon, the more critical the intel. By Staff presented by siriusXM Marine

58

Blue Cats in the Bullseye

Charging down Maryland’s new blue catfish trail.

By Staff presented by Fish and hunt Maryland

Melissa enjoyed a beautiful day on Assateague Island during the April black drum run.

612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD 21403 (410) 216-9309 FishTalkMag.com

ANGLER IN CHIEF

Lenny Rudow, lenny@fishtalkmag.com

PUBLISHER

Mary Iliff Ewenson, mary@fishtalkmag.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Chris Charbonneau, chris@fishtalkmag.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Winans, molly@fishtalkmag.com

SENIOR EDITORS

Beth Crabtree, beth@fishtalkmag.com

Kaylie Jasinski, kaylie@fishtalkmag.com

COPY EDITOR

Lucy Iliff, lucy@fishtalkmag.com

FISHING REPORTS EDITOR

Dillon Waters

ADVERTISING SALES

Katie Lange, katie@fishtalkmag.com

Eric Richardson, eric@fishtalkmag.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

Brooke King, brooke@fishtalkmag.com

ISTRIBUTION / BROkERAGE / CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER

Beatrice M. Roderick, beatrice@fishtalkmag.com

ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER

Zach Ditmars, zach@fishtalkmag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Royal Snyder, royal@fishtalkmag.com

TACTICIAN

Craig Ligibel

COASTAL CORRESPONDENT

John Unkart

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alan Battista, Jim Gronaw, Chuck Harrison, Capt. Monty Hawkins, Eric Packard, David Rudow, Wayne Young

DISTRIBUTION

Martin and Betty Casey, Gregory and Dorothy Greenwell, Dave Harlock, Ron and Colleen Ogden, John and Chrissy Wathen

Rudow’s FishTalk is a monthly magazine for and about Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic anglers. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the officers of Rudow’s FishTalk LLC. Rudow’s FishTalk LLC accepts no responsibility for discrepancies in advertisements.

Rudow’s FishTalk is available by first class subscription for $45 a year, and back issues are available for $4 each. Mail payment to Rudow’s FishTalk Subscriptions, 612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD, 21403. Rudow’s FishTalk is distributed free of charge at more than 850 establishments along the shores of the Chesapeake and the DelMarVa Peninsula. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute Rudow’s FishTalk should contact the Rudow’s FishTalk office, (410) 216-9309 or beatrice@fishtalkmag.com.

Member Of:

THE

navigating peace of mind

Unpredictable waters

THE IMPORTANCE OF BOAT INSURANCE

Embarking on the open water is an exhilarating experience, lled with the promise of adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a weekend cruiser, safeguarding your vessel with proper insurance is not just a choice—it’s a necessity. Explore the reasons why every boat owner should prioritize boat insurance for a worry-free voyage.

Navigational exibility

The open water can be unpredictable, with unexpected storms, collisions, or other potential accidents. Boat insurance can give you nancial protection if there is damage to your vessel, providing coverage for repairs or replacement.

Damage and injury

Accidents on the water can result in damage to other boats, docks, or even injuries to passengers. Boat insurance offers liability coverage, which can pay for damages or injuries you’re liable for while boating, up to speci ed limits, and lawsuit costs if you’re sued. This includes damage you cause to another watercraft or if someone on or near your boat is injured and you’re found to be legally responsible.

Theft and vandalism

Unfortunately, boat theft and vandalism are realities that boat owners face. Boat insurance has comprehensive and collision coverage that can protect you against events outside of your control, including theft and vandalism.

Incurred medical payments

Accidents on the water may lead to injuries for you or your passengers. Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you are in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.

Peace of mind for nancing

If you nanced the purchase of your boat, most lenders require insurance coverage to protect their investment. Having boat insurance not only ful lls these requirements but also gives you peace of mind knowing that your nancial interests are safeguarded.

Some water municipalities and marinas may require proof of insurance for docking or accessing certain areas. Boat insurance allows you the exibility to explore different destinations without worrying about entry restrictions.

Emergency towing and assistance

Progressive boat insurance can include optional Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage. If your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, Sign & Glide® pays for on-water towing, jump starts, soft un-groundings, and fuel delivery.

Wreckage removal

If your boat sinks, Progressive boat insurance will cover the cost of removing your boat from the water (if removal is legally required).

Investing in boat insurance is not just about protecting a valuable asset; it’s about safeguarding the memories, experiences, and joy that come with your on-water adventures. Don’t let unforeseen circumstances disrupt your journey—navigate with con dence, knowing that Progressive boat insurance has you covered. Ensure a smooth and worry-free voyage, because when it comes to your boat, peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.

Notes from the Cockpit

Good golly I’m excited FishTalkers, and I’ll bet my bottom dollar that you all are too. It’s getting warmer out there and one bite after the next is popping up, we made it through winter, and now it’s time to get our gear in order and yank the winter covers off our fishing boats. Which brings me to this month’s topic of discussion: boat reviews and boat shows.

Recently a reader emailed me to let me know he didn’t like the boat reviews in FishTalk because they “never say anything bad.” It’s a comment I’ve heard through the years, not just at FishTalk but also at virtually every publication and outlet I’ve ever written boat reviews for. So, I wanted to clear the air a bit.

First off, we need to point out that there’s no such thing as the perfect boat. It doesn’t exist and it never will, because what’s perfect for you isn’t necessarily perfect for me. You might want stainlesssteel rodholders, for example, but if I’m stretching the budget to get a boat, I might be happy to see plastic and the reduced cost that goes along with it. Second, it’s exceptionally rare I come across a boat I don’t like. A fishing boat, any boat, is a ticket to freedom in the same way that a car, any car, can be a ticket to freedom for a new driver. I know I sure loved the 1972 Impala I drove when I was 18, even though the sagging headliner was moldy and the suspension felt like you were in a moon bounce. So, always remember, what you’d call trash might be treasured by someone else.

But, what happens on those rare occasions when I encounter a really awful boat?

By Lenny Rudow

I simply kill the review. The last time I had to go this route I was yelled at on the spot by the dealer and received a nasty-gram follow-up. But if there’s a better way to handle this sort of situation, I sure haven’t been able to find it.

For those of you who are boatshopping and want to find the boat that’s as close to perfect as possible for you and your family, reading boat reviews should just be the very beginning of the journey — it’s impossible to examine all the complex facets of a boat and its many systems in 900 to 1200 words. So, I’d never want anyone to “decide” to buy a boat based on one of my reviews or any other for that matter. But hopefully the review will capture the character of the boat,

giving you an idea if it’s in the right ballpark for your wants and needs. If so, you can check out some other reviews and maybe a video or two. If it still feels right, it’s time to take a look at the boat in person.

This is the time to head for a boat show — and don’t forget, we have the Bay Bridge Boat Show this month, April 12 to 14 in Stevensville, MD. Hopefully you caught our Hot New Fishing Boats for 2024 feature last month. If not, head on over to FishTalkMag.com and check it out, because this year’s crop of cool new fishing machines is bigger and better than we’ve seen in years. In fact, dozens of cool new models that are making headlines, many of which we mentioned in that article, will

# Can I take it out yet? Can I, can I?

Bay Bridge Boat Show Details

• Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

• Free parking is provided off-site with shuttle busses taking you to the show from Christ Church Parish on Friday, and Kent Island High School on the weekend (follow the signs).

• Prepurchase your tickets online at annapolisboatshows.com. You’ll be automatically entered to win door prizes, and entry can be scanned from your phone.

be at the Bay Bridge Boat Show this month. Whether you’re looking for a relatively small, inexpensive skiff or a multi-engine rocket ship of a fishing boat, you’ll be able to see it here.

Boat show shopping beats any other way of looking at a boat you’re thinking about buying, because it’s where you can see a model of interest up close and personal with no pressure or time constraints. And on the very same day you can take a look at its closest competitors. Or, if you’re a very undecided soon-to-be boater you

can just wander around a bit. I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts you see something that grabs your eye.

Added bonus: The Bay Bridge Boat Show isn’t just a shopping venue, it’s an educational one, too. There’s a long list of seminar speakers touching on topics from finding the best dock-and-dines (10:15 Friday) to fishing for snakeheads with Team FishTalk II (2:15 Saturday). Yours truly will be giving a talk on light tackle jigging for rockfish as well, on Friday at 2:15; check out the schedule on the website under the “Education” tab for the full listing of events.

After shopping at the show if you think you’ve found a match, it’s time to schedule a sea trial with the dealer. If you buy the boat, you’ll spend the next five or so years getting used to it, learning its idiosyncrasies, and discovering the attributes that are more than skin deep. And I can guarantee you one thing: every time April hits and you yank off that winter cover, you’ll fall in love with your boat all over again.

1.

Dear FishTalk,

ISteamed Up

’m disappointed that charter anglers are now limited to one striped bass per person per day, and that you supported this change. I am sure this will hurt the charters. I live in Pennsylvania and normally come to Maryland with a group of friends to charter fish a few times a year. This costs around $170 per person, and we buy fuel and usually stop at the seafood store in Maryland on the way home as well. At one fish per person it simply is not worth it. It’s especially frustrating when we all know that the menhaden boats are sucking up all the fish’s food, making it harder for the rockfish to thrive. And, how did these changes affect the commercial harvest?

Sincerely, James C., Abbotstown, PA

Dear James,

We’re disappointed charter anglers only get one rockfish, too, but no more or less than we’re disappointed that all recreational anglers can only take home one fish. We always have been in support of as equitable a distribution of the pie as possible because other businesses such as tackle shops and marinas depend on the fishery every bit as much as charter boats. So, we didn’t support anyone getting one fish as much as we wanted to see everyone getting the same number of fish, with the longest season possible. That said, your point is salient and we’d suggest reaching out to the captains you’ve fished with in the past — there’s a good chance they can put plenty of other species in the fishbox to help fill the gap and make the drive into Maryland well worth the experience.

As for the menhaden situation… frustrating certainly is the right word for it!

2. Flares are self-contained and require no batteries (which often corrode leak and lose charge in extreme marine environments as well as posing environmental concerns upon disposal).

3. PYROTECHNIC FLARES are up to 300X* BRIGHTER than a flashing LED Electronic Beacon.

4. Orion flares DO NOT CONTAIN Perchlorate, a chemical of concern associated with groundwater pollution.

5. As a result of the altitude achieved by pyrotechnic aerial flares, the sighting area for these signals is exponentially greater than for electronic beacons:

Sighting Area (based upon signal height above horizon)

SOS Beacon 3 Mile Radius

aerial flare

Steamed Up II

Q: Why did the shellfish go to the gym?

A: Because he wanted to be mussel toned.

-Anonymous

Go for the Gold

Iwas interested in the article on fishing for golden trout last month, but it didn’t say where you can catch them. How do I find out?

Tana B., Parkville, MD

We’re glad you enjoyed it, Tana! To find them in your area go to the Trout Stocking webpage on the Maryland DNR website, scroll down to the link for the Trout Stocking Location Map, put your mouse over the blue dots and lines closest to home, and click for info. The box that pops up shows species type at the bottom.

ARE

ARE

6. Flares are US Coast Guard APPROVED Day and Nighttime signals**. Flashing Electronic Beacons are certified for nighttime use only and require a separate daytime signal.

7. Orion flares are MANUFACTURED IN THE USA whereas most electronic beacons are imported from China.

UNDERSTANDING LOCATE VS ALERT SIGNALS

Due to the curvature of the earth and line of sight restrictions, potential rescuers can only see handheld electronic light and handheld flares (LOCATE SIGNALS) up to 3 miles away.

NEW HANDHELD ECO-FRIENDLY FORMULATION. BURNS 35% BRIGHTER WITH 33% LARGER FLAME. Anyone beyond 3 miles will not see Locate Signals. This is why aerial flares (ALERT SIGNALS) should also be on your boat. ALERT SIGNALS can be seen as far away as 41 miles to alert potential rescuers you require assistance. As rescuers approach, LOCATE SIGNALS help pinpoint your exact location.

F I s H N E ws

By Lenny Rudow

2024 Striped Bass Regulations Come Into Focus

At the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) meeting this winter, board members voted to institute Bay-wide striped bass regulations for the Chesapeake combining all jurisdictions (Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and the Potomac River). All anglers will be allowed to keep one striped bass per day, between 19 and 24 inches long. Seasons will mirror 2022. However, as we go to press, there are still additional regulations for the state of Maryland which are yet to be finalized. Coastal striped bass regulations have also been set, maintaining the previous 28- to 31-inch slot with a limit of one fish per person per day, and Commissioners voted to cut commercial striped bass harvest quotas by seven percent.

This move by the ASMFC eliminates “sector separation,” which is the uneven bag limit between anglers on charter boats and individuals fishing from private boats or shore. Public comment regarding the practice was 2344 against sector separation, and 55 in favor. For several years Maryland has shifted limits and seasons to accommodate a second fish for charter boat anglers, despite previous public comment also being overwhelming against doing so. Maryland’s DNR representative on the ASMFC board, Michael Luisi, lobbied vigorously to continue this practice and the state collectively voted to do so; however, was outvoted despite three attempts to propose different management schemes.

Additionally, the state of Maryland has passed emergency regulations to eliminate May trophy season and all targeting of striped bass, including catch-and-release fishing, to May 15. Targeting rockfish on the Susquehanna Flats is now also disallowed through the month of May. What remains TBD for the state is an additional week of summer closure (extending the July shut-down through August 7) and closing the hook-andline commercial season during the recreational season closure.

Rockin’ the Rock Bass

Thomas Over, Jr. is one happy angler! This winter he was fishing in the Susquehanna River jigging for yellow perch, when a 10.5-inch, one-pound rock bass smashed his red and white tube jig. The rock bass ties Over with the 1997 record for Maryland set by Timouthy Adams, also on the Susquehanna River.

Flying Free

The Free State Fly Fishers have announced a great spring program for the month of April, starting with a club meeting on the third of the month at 7:30 p.m. featuring speaker Mike Slepsky of Tightlining Guide Servies. On April 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. they’ll have fly tying instruction, and then fly fishing sharpie Joe Bruce will present “How to Attack Pads and Catch More Fish” on Saturday the 20th at 10 a.m. All are welcome, there’s no fee to attend, and all meetings are held at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center at 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Rd, Davidsonville, MD. The club will also have an outing to Western Maryland later this month. Visit fs-ff.com to learn the details.

# Fish like this falling between 28 and 31 inches will be legal to keep along the coast in 2024, but any caught in the Chesapeake Bay over 24 inches will have to be released.

Mad (Again) Over Menhaden

This winter Northampton County, VA, passed a resolution to ban industrial menhaden reduction fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia state waters. The resolution cited 17 net spills between 2018 and 2022, which caused thousands of dead menhaden and red drum to wash up on the shores of Northampton County and triggered park closures, public health, and tourism issues. The County stated the position that “Industrial menhaden fishing should be prohibited within the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and three miles off all lands of the Commonwealth.”

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION.

Today’s lesson? How to land more fish with the incredible clarity of new MEGA Imaging+™. Using this high-frequency sonar, spot a school of tarpon, down to the direction they’re facing, for easy cast and catch. Class dismissed. Visit Humminbird.com/MEGA to learn more.

School of Tarpon Boca Grande, FL

# Dead redfish and menhaden litter the beaches of the ESVA in 2022, courtesy of Omega Protein.

Invasives are ON!

It’s time to register for the Great Chesapeake Invasives Count (which is absolutely free!) and start helping out Chesapeake Bay fisheries while you win cool stuff. Just take a picture of the blue catfish, flathead catfish, or snakehead you catch on a ruler and upload it to the Count via the iAngler app. The data we collect is shared with fisheries scientists tasked with handling the invasive species crisis. Each and every time you upload a picture of one of the invasives and/or its stomach contents, your name goes into the prize drawing. And this isn’t merely for one prize. We’ll be holding monthly drawings on Live with Lenny, when you could win T-shirts, tackle shop gift certificates, sunglasses, and more. Register today at ccamd.org/count.

To UR nam E n T nE w S

Flounder Pounder

April 26 is day one of Captain Steve’s 2024 Spring Flounder Tournament in Chincoteague, VA. Fishing runs through May 5 and can take place anywhere, but fish must be weighed at Captain Steve’s. First prize is $1000; visit stevesbaitandtackle.com for the details.

Coming This June…

We have a while yet to wait, but the Ike Foundation has announced that its annual Pro-Am Bass Tournament will be held June 1 on the Chesapeake. It will run out of Anchor Marina in North East, Saturday, June 1, with prizes totaling $40,000 and a first place prize of a new BassCat Bobcat bass boat with a Yamaha outboard. More important than the prizes, this tournament is the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds go to furthering their mission to get more kids into fishing and the outdoors, especially youth in areas where such activities are not readily available. Visit theikefoundation.org to learn more.

DC246

OS405 S288

2400 TRS

2200 TRS

2600 TRS

2700 Open

Selbyville, De

RT113b

220 CC

262 CC

280 CC

H o T n E w GE a R

Editor’s Note: We wish we could personally test every item that appears on these pages, but that simply isn’t possible. So that you know the difference between when we’ve physically tested a piece of gear and when we’re writing about it because it’s newsworthy and we think you’ll want to know about it, we’ve developed this FishTalk Tested button. When you see it printed next to something in this section, it means we’ve personally run it through the wringer.

meet a metanium

Serious bass anglers ISO the perfect lowprofile casting weapon will want to meet Shimano’s reinvented Metanium, the DC A, which is armed with some serious smarts — it has a microcomputer chip that detects changes in spool rotation and adjusts brake force accordingly. That means you get maximum casting distance with the best possible backlash protection. The reel also features a low-inertia MGL spool, the X-SHIP bearing-supported pinion gear, 10 ball-bearings, and a magnesium CORESOLID body integrating the side-plate, frame, and wind guide into a single solid piece. That helps bring down weight, and the new model weighs just over half an ounce less than the previous version. Six models are available in 6.2:1, 7.1:1, and 8.1:1 gear ratios, they put out five pounds of drag, and are rated for 12- to 20-pound test. Price: $499.99. Visit fish.shimano.com

Heckofa Hook

If you want to be 100-percent absolutely, positively sure that you never, ever-ever-ever-ever EVER gut hook another rockfish while livelining spot, you’ll get a Mustad CH39937NP-DT Giant Circle Hook. We believe there are no guarantees in fishing but this is one we’re willing to make. We also guarantee that if you can catch a spot big enough to put on this hook you’ll have a new IGFA world record on your hands. This 27/0 monster is chemically sharpened, non-tempered high-carbon steel, and can be used by tow truck drivers and crane operators as well as anglers. Price: $231.00. Visit: wowyouareambitions.com.

Spinning for a Deal

You say you want a new spinning reel, but you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg? The newest Ceymar A from Okuma will have you casting and jigging in no time at an MSRP that’s sure to please. Perks include an oiled felt drag system, seven ball-bearings, and a machine-cut brass pinion gear. The reels come in 500 to 8000 sizes with 4.5:1 to 5.0:1 gear ratios, and max drag pressure is seven pounds for small models, 15 to 18 pounds for midsize reels, and 33/35 pounds for 6000/8000 sizes. Price: $59.99 to $79.99 (See? We told you so). Visit okumafishingusa.com to learn more.

Reversing Gear

What do you get with a jerk-bait that goes backwards? Why, a krej-bait, of course. There’s only one, and it’s called the Krej. These half-ounce, 3.9” jerk-baits have an upside-down lip and are weighted to sink backwards, specifically for use while fishing with real-time sonar imagers. You can pull the Krej while watching until you see that it’s beyond the fish on-screen, and if no strike has occurred, slack the line and allow the lure to sink right back to them for a second, then a third, then a fourth tease. We had the chance to test one out on a recent fishing adventure and found that it works exactly as advertised, with one additional twist: that strange lip allows you to swim the Krej right across the surface, too, while creating an enticing wake. Five color patterns are available with five more on the way. Price: $14.99. Visit Berkley-fishing.com to learn more.

Presented by

Call a Spey and Spey

There’s a new fly reel from Sage in the form of the Spey II. This is a top-ofheap offering with a full frame featuring portings located to maintain a weight and balance ideal for matching Spey rods; radiused edges; a one-turn drag knob; and machined 6061T6 aerospace-grade aluminum construction. The sealed carbon fiber drag system has been upgraded with new O-ring seals and a dual clicker system to limit freespool rotation. The Spey II is available in granite and black finishes, left or righthand models, in five through 10 weight sizes. Price: $550.00 to $575.00. Visit farbank. com for more buggywhipping information.

Now Playing in PA

In the category of news rather than new, local Pennsylvania company AFW Fishing Brands (the makers of such goodies as Hi Seas Grand Slam lines, C&H Lures, and more) acquired Aqua-Clear this winter. We know you’ve seen — and almost certainly used — Aqua-Clear’s rigs plenty of times in the past, and our own personal experience has shown that their offerings work great for rockfish, flounder, croaker, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for new packaging and new rigs coming to a tackle shop near you soon, or check out afwfishing.com.

Q: Let’s start with gear, what do you throw for a mixed-species bag?

A: My three favorite lures are easy. A 6” BKD or 4” to 5” soft plastic paddletail on a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce jighead. These baits can be worked on and around structure like shallow wrecks, rockpiles, grass beds, current rips, etc.

When the water is 50 to 60 degrees, a hard bait can really help with a finicky bite shallow. I like a Rapala X-rap 10 if in 4’ or less water, or a X-rap 12 in 4’ to 10’ or so. These baits rattle, vibrate, and really draw attention from a distance when the fish aren’t numerous in an area. Work them aggressively and reds, stripers, and specks will all eat them.

When water temps in the spring are warming through the 60s all shallow species will bomb a surface plug. A Storm Chug Bug is one I love. It’s big enough to draw strikes from big stripers but also small enough to be attacked by specks and reds. Throwing well past structure and working back over it is most effective. Don’t land

This month we talk with Captain Pete Dahlberg , otherwise known as Walleye Pete, of Four Seasons Guide Service. Our topic: Finding and fishing shallow water structure.

the lure right where you think the fish may be or spooking could occur.

As for rods I like a 6’ 8” medium-action rod, or something close is fine, with a 3000 size reel and 14- to 15-pound braid line. Anything heavier impedes long casts with light lures.

Q: What are some of the most important visual cues you look for when prospecting for hotspots?

A: Current and structure are always what I look for. Points with current ripping around or underwater structure with a current rip over it are a huge visual clues for me. I always attempt to position the boat adjacent to these current rips and about 3/4 of a cast away. Staying quiet on the boat is also important. When you’re this close to the spot, stomping, hatch-slamming, music, or big abrupt man voices are bad.

Q: What are some of the ways you use to look for spots that aren’t visible to the naked eye?

A: Before fishing a new area I’m going to use Google Earth for shallow regions, and charts like Navionics and Humminbird’s latest stuff for deeper areas. Another super tool are books by Wayne Young covering the region you are going to fish. His books show structure, give history, and grid coordinates on structure. Once I’m on the water, Humminbird MEGA side-imaging is invaluable for spotting underwater structure that isn’t visible to the eye.

Q: How do you know when the timing is right to fish the shallows versus deeper areas?

A: In spring and fall water temperature is the key thing for me. In spring when I see 50 degrees I will start fishing shallow. I key on days with sun, and afternoons are usually more productive. I like points with a big cove nearby, with sun-warmed water coming out and flowing over a point with a trough of 4’ to 8’ of depth. Many times this situation can see a water temp difference of five to eight degrees from the water in the main-stem Bay. The bigger the difference the better. In the fall when temps drop below 50 degrees shallow life seems to disappear. Bait rolls out to deep water and so do the fish.

Q: Open mic time — is there anything we haven’t discussed that shallow water anglers need to know?

A: One thing which comes to mind is what drives me to fish one region over another. Conditions are the driving factor. Wind direction and speed, tide prediction, and once I’m on-site the water clarity. I don’t care where fish were yesterday if today’s conditions aren’t conducive to fish the area again. Trying to push a square block through a circular hole just doesn’t work, so the existing conditions are what rule my location game.

Thank you, Capt. Pete! You can get in touch with Captain Pete at (703) 395-9955, walleyepete.com, or on Facebook or Instagram.

# Fishing shallow structure is a top tactic when you’re onboard with Walleye Pete.

Ricky’s Life – Not Defined by His Disability

I became disabled in August of 1980 at Sandy Point Beach diving off one of my cousin’s shoulders. We had been diving all day and I said I was going to take one more dive and that one was my last. I almost drowned because everyone thought I was joking. I became paralyzed from the neck down for about a year. I was told by doctors that I wouldn’t be able to feed myself again, but after that year they diagnosed me as an incomplete quadriplegic because I have some use in all four limbs after staying in the hospital for about a year getting therapy. I have been in and out of therapy for years. I heard of Fish Redeemer through one of my therapists, so I booked to have fun with my family, my cousins, one friend, and a nephew. We are all baby boys of each family. My cousin who is also in a wheelchair got hurt a year after I did and is a paraplegic and his sister approximately a year after that became a quadriplegic. We may have a disability, but we have the ability to still live laugh, and have fun. The fishing trip was a great experience for all of us. We never knew that there was an organization out there like yours that assists those with disabilities and veterans. The guys (Captain Greg, Tony, Curt, and Ray) were really nice and helpful. I pray God continues to bless this organization and everyone connected. Thanks so much. We look forward to the next trip.

April

3 fsff monthly meeting

7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers clubhouse at the Davidsonville, MD, Family Rec. Center. Speaker: Mike Slepesky, a fly fishing guide from the Tightlining MD Guide Service.

3 cca angler’s Night out People’s Pint Night giving back to CCA’s conservation work. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, MD. Three expert angler panelists will discuss alternative species to Rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay: Dave McCollum (Tochterman’s Tackle), Captain Kayla Haile (River Queen Guide Service), Dillon Waters (FishTalk Magazine).

4 ‘Bridge to Bridge’ cca Eastern shore happy hour

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Island Tackle Outfitters in Chester, MD. This event is free and open to the public. New to CCA? This is a perfect opportunity to connect with local members and find out more about us and our local impact. Please bring a friend!

4 liVE with lenny

Tune in Thursday at 6 p.m. for a new episode on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Presented by Yamaha.

6 capca leadership for captains

This program will be conducted by Arlene Karpas, a professional leadership, team building, and executive coaching consultant. Cost: $155, CAPCA/SBYC: $140. Register: capca.net

havenharbour.com/outboards

6 Eca appraisal road show community fundraiser

Doors open 11:30 a.m. for food truck and cash bar. Appraisal Show 1 to 3 p.m. at the Eastport Democratic Club in Annapolis, MD. The appraisal cost is $10 per item, and you can bring as many as you want. The Eastport Civic Association will donate funds to youth programs.

6 fsff monthly fly tying

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers clubhouse at the Davidsonville, MD, Family Rec. Center. A FSFF member will instruct us on how to tie a couple of fly patterns. All materials will be provided. Please bring your vise and tying tools if you have them. The clubhouse has some tools available for new fly tyers. Questions:  rybeer@gmail.com

6 cca central region chapter fundraising Benefit

6 to 9 p.m. at Linganore Wine Cellar in Mt. Airy, MD. Included in your ticket price donation is a one-year membership to CCA, all you can eat raw oyster bar, beer and wine, delicious dinner, live and silent auction, raffles, and more. Tickets: ccamd. org

6-7 southern maryland fishing & outdoor adventure fair

Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, MD. Featuring fishing and outdoor vendors, speakers, food, kid’s casting contest, 50/50, door prizes, a Maryland Boater Safety Course, and more. Admission: $5 cash at entrance, kids 12 and under are free. Presented by the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization, Inc. Vendor Registration at:  smrfo2021@gmail.com

10 frederick saltwater anglers monthly meeting

Food starts at 6 p.m. followed by meeting at 7 p.m. at 289 Willowdale Drive, Frederick, MD 21702. Each meeting has a speaker, vendor, prize raffle, and 50/50.

12-14 Bay Bridge Boat show

At Bay Bridge Boat Marina in Stevensville, MD. Tickets: annapolisboatshows.com

13 Boats and Brews

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 231 Farm and Outdoor Sports (171 Skipjack RD, Prince Frederick, MD). Spring open house with local Mully’s beer, face painting, food vendors, raffles, and huge savings.

13 introduction to sea kayaking

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cult Classic Brewery on Kent Island, MD. Join the all-volunteer Chesapeake Paddlers Association for a day of exploring sea kayaking in the classroom with local paddlers and instructors, no boat needed! Cost: $40, lunch, snacks, and beverages provided.

15 capca monthly meeting

6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Speaker: Captain Rob Chischester. Topic: Experiences Aboard a Lightship. Free, online via Zoom. Learn more at capca.net

15-19 fawcett manufacturer’s rep Week

Meet manufacturers’ reps from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fawcett Boat Supplies in Annapolis. April 15: C. Sherman Johnson, Vetus/Maxwell, Wichard, and Edson. April 16: ACR Electronics, Mustang Survival, Fortress, and Sika. April 17: Smoove. April 18: Plastimo, Bainbridge, and Ronstan. April 19: Pettit, Dometic, and Starbrite.

17 annapolis anglers club monthly meeting

7 p.m. at the American Legion in Crownsville, MD.

18-21 fsff club fishing outing

This will be a Free State Fly Fishers club run fishing outing to the Western Maryland rivers and streams to chase trout. In order to attend, you must be a FSFF member with current dues paid, as well as a signed liability waiver. Questions: rybeer@gmail.com

20 fsff hands-on session

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers clubhouse at the Davidsonville, MD, Family Rec. Center. Speaker: Joe Bruce - How to Attack the Pads and Catch More Fish. Questions: rybeer@gmail.com

20 Wicomico invasive fishing tournament

Join us for a day of fishing, food, live music, and education on local invasive fish species! wicomicoenvironment.org/ wicomico-events/fishing-derby

20 sail and sell: a maritime market collective Day

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spring Sale at Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies; East of Maui Spring Waterman’s Swap & Suptastic Sale; Fawcett Boat Supply’s Tent Sale and Manufacturer’s Rep Week; Chesapeake Light Craft Maritime Flea Market; and Forward Brewing food specials and microbrew beer (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.).

26-28 annapolis spring sailboat show

At City Dock, Annapolis, MD. Tickets: annapolisboatshows.com

27-28 carp-a-thon

Two days of carp fishing and social gathering at Hains Point-East Potomac Park in Washington, DC. Presented by Amped Up Outdoors.

27-28 maryland Boating safety course

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (30 min. lunch break) on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday at Parish Creek Landing Marina (4819 Woods Wharf Rd.) in Shady Side, MD. $20 per person (free attendance for any family members). Presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary; passing students will be awarded the Maryland Boating Safety Certificate. RSVP by 04/19: kacie@parishcreeklanding.com or (410) 867-4800.

28 annapolis frogman swim

At the Bay Ridge Community Pool Association beach (2 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis). Fundraising swim to benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation. Each swimmer is requested to raise around $2000 in donations.

Do you have an upcoming event?

Send the details to: kaylie@fishtalkmag.com

Ay

1

fsff monthly meeting

7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville, MD, Family Rec. Center. Rich Batiuk, a FSFF member, will present on “The New Maryland Fly Fishing Trail.”

4 fsff monthly annual swap meet

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville, MD, Family Rec. Center. Open to members of the public at no charge. A wide array of fly fishing and other fishing related rods, reels, fly lines, equipment, clothing, and books will be available for sale, all at incredible prices. Questions: rybeer@gmail.com

8 frederick saltwater anglers monthly meeting

Food starts at 6 p.m. followed by meeting at 7 p.m. at 289 Willowdale Drive, Frederick, MD 21702. Each meeting has a speaker, vendor, prize raffle, and 50/50.

11 fsff monthly hands-on session

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse at the Davidsonville, MD, Family Rec. Center. Joe Bruce will share with club members his experiences in using different retrieval techniques with his fly rod to greatly improve your ability to catch more fish under an array of different weather conditions and fishing situations. Free to members and visitors. Everyone should bring a fly rod rigged up with line and a leader. Questions: rybeer@gmail.com

15 annapolis anglers club monthly meeting

7 p.m. at the American Legion in Crownsville, MD.

17-19 fsa Etzler flounder frenzy

Presented by the Frederick Saltwater Anglers in Chincoteague, VA.

24-26 smith island fishing tournament

The Smith Island Fishing Tournament, founded in 2022, celebrates the culture of this iconic Chesapeake Bay community. Proceeds benefit the Smith Island Fire Departments. Stay tuned for more details and registration info.

Marine Engine & Generator Sales • Parts

# Brian and Bob found some keeper tog fishing the bay in OCMD.

# Bill and Matt targeted Upper Bay largemouth, and enjoyed a fantastic fall bite.

# Zach and Eli caught this 28” while trolling Swim Shad on an umbrella with 12 ounces of weight near Brickhouse Bar.

# Craig enjoyed some awesome fly fishing/ wade fishing action in the Lower Bay.

# Jamie and Brian found some elusive coastal slot stripers.

# Fred and his friends decided to go B-I-G this winter!

# Herb encountered a beautiful Eastern Shore yellow perch this winter.

# Patrick found some double-header perch in an Eastern Shore river.

# Kelly and Dave got into the sea monsters while fishing with Weaver.

Reader Photos presented by

# Former cover model Lucy caught a 14-inch yellow perch this winter. WTG, Lucy!

# Andy and Gavin awoke the Always Somethin’ 2.0 from her winter slumber, and were glad they did!

# Hal rung in 2024 with a nice New Year’s Day Stoney Creek pickerel.

# Bob wrapped up 2023 in the perfect way. Perfect!

# rich tied into this monster cat fishing cut bait near Port Deposit.

# David jumped aboard Capt. Tom’s boat with Marc and Laura, and a magnificent day of fishing and photos was had by all.

# Eric Olson went down to Oregon Inlet this winter and scored a monster bluefin.

# Kyle and Brian had an awesome winter bite in the bay behind Ocean City, catching 26 rock in an hour and a half.

# Eric got into ‘em on the troll.

# Keith enjoyed the amazing winter Chesapeake Bay rockfish bite.

# Gary’s still cranking the reels at 83 years old and encountered this beautiful rockfish in the York.

Reader Photos presented by

# Lucy again, this time on a trip to Unicorn where the pickerel were snapping.

# Tyler hit the Pocomoke and enjoyed a hit bite on minnow on shad darts.

# Jim, Tim, and Mark had quite an adventure in Guatemala this winter on the Gypsy

# Jerome and Jay Jay enjoy flashbacks to summertime 2023 and a hot bite.

# Gary tied into a beautiful bass at Loch raven despite the snowy background.

# Brad enjoyed some awesome action from winter trophies on the Middle Bay.

# Ed, Eddie, and Jeff enjoyed nonstop blue cat action on the Susquehanna this winter.

# Theresa caught some nice crappie on an Eastern Shore millpond on a sunny January afternoon.

Hot New Fishboats

By Lenny Rudow

Pathfinder 2200 TRS: Fish, Beware

I’ll never forget one particular ride aboard a Pathfinder boat during a press gig in Stuart, FL, on a blustery winter morning. The captain announced we’d be running eight miles through the open Atlantic to get to an area where the cobia were thick, and much as I love cobia fishing, the mere thought of running that far in open ocean on a bay boat made my back hurt. Still, I was there to do a job. So I kept my reservations to myself, hunkered down in an aft jump seat, and pulled my hood over my head to keep off the spray. About a mile into the trip I was hit with the realization that a modern, well-built bay boat is simply nothing like those of yesteryear.

We weren’t getting soaked, we weren’t getting pounded, and we were skipping through the seas at speeds in the mid-30s. Net result? A hastily packed cooler of cobia steaks joined me for the flight home.

The 2200 TRS is Pathfinder’s most popular bay boat, and last year it received a series of changes and upgrades to bring the newest tech and features into the fold. The hull is a few inches longer and the gunwales are an inch higher than previous models, and the running surface is stepped. The boat is vacuum infused via Pathfinder’s VARIS system, which maximizes strength while minimizing weight. Drop a 250-hp outboard on the transom and you’ll see top-end

speeds in excess of 50 mph. Pull the throttles back to 3000 rpm and 25 mph and you’ll get an outrageous four mpg. Opt for a more economical 150-hp powerplant and you’ll enjoy a top-end in the mid-40s and a cruise at around 30 while hovering around that eye-opening four-mpg mark.

As a result of the slightly larger footprint, many of the 2200 TRS’s interior features get a boost. Rodboxes are a bit bigger, there’s more deck space, forward seats are larger, and the aft cockpit is roomier. The aft seating arrangement has also been modified a bit, to now have a flip-up bench seat integrated into the center of the aft casting deck.

Q UIC k Fa CTS

LOA: 22’5”

Beam: 8’6”

Displacement: 3,275 lbs.

Transom Deadrise: 15 degrees

Fuel Capacity: 65 gal.

Max HP: 250 hp

aRE a D E al ER

Speaking of casting decks: light tackle casters are going to love the elevated fore and aft decks, and the forward deck is particularly spacious. Added bonus: the forward seat back-

rests are the swing-and-lock variety, so you can lean back on them when sitting, pivot them out of the way when fishing, or remove them altogether and gain a pair of rodholders.

Stock fishing features include four flush-munt gunwale rodholders, eight vertical console rod holders, under-gunwale racks, locking rod boxes, and a 35-gallon livewell. Remember that Pathfinders are highly customizable boats, so you can order one with a slew of additional features rigged for the way you like to fish.

Have you gazed longingly at bay boats like the Pathfinder, attracted to their amazing fishability but balking because the bay boats built 20 years ago soaked you with spray and rattled your teeth out? You’re not alone. Once upon a time I was in your camp, too. Then I got a ride on a Pathfinder. Take one for yourself, and you’ll be in for an illuminating experience — whether you catch any cobia or not.

Sportsman Open 252: Intelligence Quotient

“Buying a fishing boat is a wise investment,” said no sane financial advisor, ever. But we LOVE to fish, we LOVE our fishboats, and from the mental health perspective buying a fishing boat is the wisest thing you could possibly do. So, we anglers will seek out the nicest fishing machine that we can pretend to afford, thank you very much. And if you perpetually peruse the center console market you’ll realize that some brands do tend to offer a better deal than others.

A standout in the bang-for-your buck department is Sportsman Boats, which regularly seems to deliver a far more comprehensively outfitted boat than most others carrying the same price tag.

You don’t believe it? Then check out the new Open 252 Center Console.

Critical in your comparison is to remember that some builders advertise a cost and then charge extra for “options” that fish-heads like you and me would consider must-haves. Add ‘em in and the initial cost gets inflated, sometimes even doubled. You won’t have that problem with the Open 252 because the list of standard features is exceptionally long. We’re talking about big-ticket items, like a complete

electronics package with a 12” Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv MFD, GT12M CHIRP through-hull transducer, VHF 115 radio and antenna, and Apollo RA670 eight-speaker stereo system. Or consider family perks like the bow cushion set with removable filler, removable bow seat backrests, and a freshwater system with transom shower. You get them all without checking any cost-adding boxes.

Additional standard features we anglers will love include a 30-gallon aquarium-style livewell; four flushmount rodholders in the gunwales, five rocket launchers plus kingfish holders on the T-top and four rocket launchers on the leaning post; undergunwale racks; a raw water washdown; two in-deck insulated and macerated fishboxes; and underwater lights.

# Topnotch construction alert: note the fully finished hatch bottoms, gaskets and gutters, gas-assist struts, and dog-down latches.

The biggest surprise of all, however, may be that this boat comes equipped with the Seakeeper Ride vessel attitude control system. In a nutshell, sensors take up to 1000 measurements per second and adjust a pair of paddles on the transom (think: super-duper trim tabs) up to 100 times per second. The constant adjustments combat the pitch and roll created as the boat hits waves, reducing

overall motion by up to 70 percent. Take a ride on a Ride-equipped boat and turn it on and off, feel the difference, and you’ll be sold on the system. Clearly Sportsman was, because as they’ve redesigned their line so the appropriate models have now been outfitted with the Ride. Standard.

With so many goodies included with this boat the biggest decision you’ll have to make will be the power option. The Open 252 can be had with a pair of 150s, a single 300, or a single 350. We don’t have numbers for the single rigs but Sportsman’s tests show a pair of F150s net you a cruise in the mid-30s and a top-end pushing up against the 50-mph mark.

Note that the Open 252 also has a few attributes that set it apart from other center consoles of this size. It has a 9’3” beam, so you have as much deck space as many boats with a foot or two more LOA. It comes with a three-sided tempered glass enclosure integrated in the hard top and D-tube pipework, not the usual windshield found on most moderately priced boats. And upholstery is covered with high-end Sileather silicon

TQ UIC k Fa CTS

LOA: 25’3”

Beam: 9’3”

Displacement: 4672 lbs.

Transom Deadrise: 21 degrees

Fuel Capacity: 128 gal.

Max HP: 350 hp

aRE a D E al ERS

Norfolk Marine, Norfolk, VA (757) 461-3391 or norfolkmarine.com; Riverside Marine, Essex, MD, (410) 686-1500 or riversideboats.com

fabrics, which are ASTM-tested for UV, salt, and temperature resistance.

So: is buying a sportsman Open 252 Center Console a wise investment? We aren’t financial advisors, and we don’t recommend talking to one. But if you want to find a way to stay sane in this crazy world, it might just be the smartest move you ever make.

Yamaha Outboards: Up the Ante with the F350

his spring you’ll see a hot new outboard churning the waters, the all-new F350 from Yamaha. This 4.3L V6 powerplant is based on the epically reliable and battle-hardened 4.2L V6, but has many of the features pioneered on Yamaha’s XTO offshore models. And gaining just 18 pounds as compared to the 4.2L F300, the 629-pound F350 has the highest powerto-weight ratio in its class.

The added displacement and extra horsepower come from an extended stroke, a higher compression ratio (11:1) and improved airflow. The new electronic throttle valve is eight percent larger and the intake air moves through surge tanks which have been expanded by 40 percent. Additional upgrades include a newly designed crankshaft built from an improved steel alloy, carbon-coated valve

lifters, an integrated flywheel fan, and a move to iridium spark plugs. The F350 also boasts a new lower unit, which has the same footprint as older units but additional teeth in the clutch dog.

As one would expect the F350 gets a full dose of tech from Yamaha’s usual playbook, too: cylinders are plasma-fused to eliminate the need for sleeves while evening out heat distribution and reducing friction; exhaust gasses are evacuated above the antiventilation plate when operating in reverse to prevent gasses from hitting the prop and reducing its bite; digital electronic steering comes standard, and complete integration with Helm Master EX and joystick steering is available.

By the time this edition hits the streets the new F350 should be available; check out the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic Yamaha Outboard Dealers page at FishTalkMag.com or visit yamahaoutboards.com for more intel.

# The Sportsman 252 is ready to fish right out of the box.

By Staff and Readers

Catching shad is a great way to celebrate spring with a bend in your rod, and there are many different ways to make it happen.

There’s an annual spring migration taking place this month in many of the Chesapeake’s tributaries which will trigger a different migration of sorts — one involving fishermen jumping into their cars, boats, and kayaks. As hickory and then American shad make their way up into rivers like the Susquehanna, Potomac, Rappahannock, and James, anglers will be on their way to intercept them.

One of the beautiful things about the shad run is that everyone can get in on the action. They can be caught from the shoreline, piers, or just about any type of watercraft. You don’t need highly specific gear, and shad lures are about as inexpensive as anything ever used to fool a fish. If you enjoy feeling a tug and watching fish jump, you can easily get in on this particular game.

We’ve covered shad fishing in the past, and if you need a brush-up on the basics regarding tackle and tactics be sure to visit FishTalkMag.com and type “shad” into the search box. There are, however, some unconventional ways of suckering shad into biting which have been brought to our attention in the recent past. Ready to try something new?

LBy Larry Lee

ast year while fishing hickory shad on the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg, I began using a rig that I developed from ordinary tackle components. I was inspired by the way butterfly jigs allow the hook to be connected to the line directly without a spoon or lure body in between.

The lure is made by placing a #2 willow blade on a snap swivel, convex side first. Then place a #2 straight shank hook like a VMC 9255 on the snap, with the hook opening away from the blade and the shank along the concave side of the blade. It should resemble a Johson Silver Minnow spoon except the blade and hook are connected to the snap and not each other.

To fish this, place an inline sinker of one-quarter to one-half an ounce approximately 12” to 18” ahead of the snap swivel. The retrieve can be slow and steady or in a jerk/pause rhythm. The blade will wobble or spin depending on the speed of retrieve, current, and shape of the snap.

I have caught dozens of hickories with white, chartreuse, red, and silver blades. The blades can even be doubled to give two color flashes. Very few fish have thrown the lure and every fish has been hooked in the center of the lower jaw. I call it the “Larry Rig” but I really don’t care what people call it, I just thought FishTalk readers might find it interesting.

# Making up a Larry rig will take mere seconds.

IBy Harry A.

just read “Spring Shad Fishing” on your website, and while there wasn’t anything wrong with the article, you missed the easiest way to tie a tandem shad rig. Don’t bother tying it at all, just buy a Sabiki rig and cut it down so there are two hooks per section. Not all Sabiki rigs will work, but there are a million varieties and the ones with lures about an inch long with some flashy tinsel work great. I’ve found the ones with pink flies, tinsel, and a bead in front are best. I tie or clip a half-ounce weight to the bottom for deep water and fast current, or in some of the shallower spots, crimp a large split-shot to the bottom. Try it, it works!

LBy Noah Carter

ast year I was trying to fish a small Western Shore creek that gets a good shad run, but the clear spots along the bank were taken. I found a spot to stand at, but there were so many tree branches hanging over that even being careful, I hooked more trees than fish. Then, I had a brainstorm: I put a very thin quill bobber a couple feet above my rig and instead of trying for a long cast, just flipped it out a few feet from shore. I let the current take it a good 60 or 70 feet downstream, then began a slow retrieve pulling the bobber along the surface. I must have caught two dozen shad that day, and after that I never hooked another tree.

necessary, add some weight, and you’re all set.

# Cut a Sabiki rig to match local regulations if

# It’s SHAD time, people!

Choosing a Fishing Rod for Beginners

By Ian Rubin

Get the right rod for your needs — and then get it bent!

The fishing rod market can be quite overwhelming with the gazillions of brands, materials, models, and actions offered nowadays. Knowing where to begin can be difficult. So, let’s take a look at narrowing down your options through a detailed overview of the various categories of rods and what specific details to look for.

Many factors such as rod length, action, and lure weight, are crucial to selecting the right tool for the job. When choosing a rod the first key step is to ask yourself what type of fishing you will be doing. More specifically, will you be fishing freshwater or saltwater? From a boat or shore? Tossing bait or lures? Much like golf clubs, fishing rods each have their own use. You wouldn’t use a putter to tee off, nor would you go jigging from a boat with a surf rod.

Before diving into what type of rods to use for each application let’s address what all the fancy lingo means. Every rod lists a few basic pieces of information including length, lure weight, line weight, action, and power. The length of the rod is pretty self-explanatory. The lure weight is the suggested weight range in ounces (or sometimes grams) that can be comfortably thrown with a rod, and staying more or less within this range will help prevent overloading it. The line weight is the recommended line weight to put on your reel, and line weight is often used for describing

the weight of the rod. A 10- to 15-pound class rod, for instance, is a rod rated for 10- to 15-pound line. Rod power is the amount of force it takes to bend a rod. Powers span from ultralight (UL), light (L), medium light (ML), medium (M), medium heavy (MH), heavy (H), to extra heavy (XH). The heavier the power the more force required to bend the rod, therefore an H or XH will be much stiffer than a UL or L rod. And action is where in the rod

the bend occurs. Actions range from slow (S), moderate (M), moderate fast (MF), fast (F) to extra-fast (XF). The faster the rod the more the bend is concentrated in the tip, the slower the action the more there is an even bend throughout the rod.

Next, let’s make sense of what all these details mean when selecting a rod. Typically, longer rods are better for fishing from the bank (unless overhanging trees are present), while shorter rods are better for

# Length, weight, power, and action all come into play when considering which rod is best for the job.

Choosing a Fishing Rod For Beginners

fishing from a boat. Surf rods used for fishing from the beach are usually the longest and may also be used whenever casting large rigs from shore.

Heavier power rods are better for long throws because they can cast heavier weights and lures. H and XH rods are ideal for casting bait as far as possible when catfishing or fishing from the surf, for example. They’re also appropriate for handling the strong pulls of very large fish. M and MH surf rods are better suited for casting smaller lures and rigs because they will not be as stiff and they will not wear you out as much casting all day.

At the other end of the extreme, panfishing for perch, bluegill, and crappie requires much smaller and lighter power rods to cast small lures and baits, as well as detect subtle bites. So if your goal is to go throw a worm

under a bobber or fish small plastics for small panfish, consider a rod in the 6’0” to 7’0” range with an UL to L power.

In-between, there’s a wide range of options for a wide range of fish and fishing styles. Bass require a slightly heavier power rod, something in the 6’6” to 7’6” and ML to H range. Starting off, a 7’0” medium power rod will be sufficient for most applications for bass fishing. Due to the dense vegetation snakehead frequent, upgrading to a MH or H rod for snakehead will make fishing around grass and lilies more effective since you have some extra power to horse the fish out of the cover.

When light tackle jigging for fish like stripers most people use a 6’6” to 7’0” M rod with a F or XF tip to maintain contact with their jig and

make fast hooksets. The term “light tackle,” in this case, is relative (since heavier gear was traditionally used for catching rockfish), as opposed to referring to the specific weight rating of the rods.

The best way to find a good fit is to go into your local tackle store and tell them exactly what type of fishing you plan to do and what your budget is, and they will be able to recommend the best rods for your style of fishing in your budget. You don’t need to start off with every single model rod in a line off the bat, but you’ll evolve as an angler and soon realize that no one rod can cover all the bases; specific rods are the best tools for specific jobs. If you’re like most anglers, before you know it you’ll have a garage full of different tools! #

# You can NEVEr have too many fishing rods!

Spring in the Surf

By Lenny Rudow

FApril is one of the best months of the year for surf fishing fun.

rom June through September, our beaches are lined with anglers. There’s usually plenty of room to cast, but depending on where you’re fishing if you casted left or right instead of straight ahead, your Doodlebug rig would likely land on a beach blanket or a truck hood rather than sand. Before and after the crowds arrive, however, surf anglers can have huge stretches of beach all to themselves. This includes the month of April — when surf fishing along the Mid-Atlantic coast can produce some surprisingly spectacular catches.

Quality Over Quantity

This isn’t the time of year when hordes of spot, croaker, puffers, kingfish, or flounder are going to chomp on your bait 30 seconds after the weight hits bottom. Panfish are generally in short supply or completely absent. But April is often when you can score the surf catch of a lifetime. Black drum generally arrive earliest, followed by trophysized rockfish. Big “racer” bluefish of 30-plus inches begin showing up. And before the month is out there’s a chance of bull reds making an appearance as well. You may fish all day long for a

handful of bites, but often they’ll be the bites that make it all worthwhile.

There are, of course, exceptions. Clear-nose rays can be plentiful pests at this time of year. Dogfish don’t yet tend to be around in huge numbers during April but can still show up and fool you into thinking your target species is on the line. And there’s also the unknown. This is, after all, the ocean. You simply never know exactly what the heck will be out there. We’ve seen days when countless 10- to 14-inch rockfish hit one bait after the next, turning an entire tidal cycle into an endless sequence of

rebait and recast. We’ve seen days when something, be it crab or finned critter, mysteriously pecked or picked off one bait after another without ever providing any indication of a bite.

Then, there’s the weather. A strong wind and crashing waves can slam the surf fishing door shut faster than anything else. A drop in temperatures can turn off a hot bite overnight. Hey, this is fishing and you know the drill, but surf anglers are subject to the whims of the weather even more so than most other fishermen. Still… 50 pound drum… 50 pound rockfish… need we say more?

# Morgan enjoyed empty beaches along with April action — something you certainly won’t see a month or two later. Photo courtesy of Dave Moore, Shark Whisperers.

Commotion of the Ocean

Though there’s a bit more leeway in long stretches of featureless beach, as usual, where you set up and cast will have a huge impact on your success rate. On the beach, this means looking for bars, breaks, and sloughs. Truth be told, however, just how choosy you can be depends entirely upon how mobile you are. When you’re walking out on foot cradling rods and sand-spikes under one arm with a cooler strap slung over the shoulder, you won’t get very far no matter how good the spot does or doesn’t look. Get an OSV permit and roll across the sand sitting behind the steering wheel, on the other hand, and you can cruise for miles until you see an appealing spot. That said, remember that any deviation from the norm is

Heave Ho

Much of the year fish in the surf feed in close to the breakers and overcasting them is a common problem. These larger fish, however, are more focused on migrating up the coast than they are on sticking around and feeding. So generally speaking, it’s best to heaveho your casts out as far as possible into the surf.

what you want. A break in the outer bar, a slough that creates an unusual swirl in the wash, a hole where the waves don’t break, and so on; see the How to Read the Surf section in our Surf Fishing Guide at FishTalkMag. com to get the details on what to look for.

What about rigs and bait? Casting into the surf in April it’s relatively straightforward. Fishfinder-style rigs with 8/0 to 10/0 hooks are the norm. Sand fleas are a hands-down winner for baits, though some drum-specific sharpies prefer freshly shucked clam. All of that said, an 8/0 hook baited with two large sand fleas and a strip of Fishbites clam flavor will be exceptionally tough to beat. Fresh clam comes off the hook easily in rough conditions and with depressing frequency flies off on the cast, but the Fishbites holds fast until it melts away. Rockfish and red drum

will smack the combo, and black drum utterly adore it. Late in the month or early in May when temperatures come up a bit, mullet chunks generally grow in effectiveness. But for most of April, you just can’t go wrong baiting up with fleas and Fishbites together.

How much weight you’ll want to choose depends entirely on the conditions. As a rule you’ll want to use enough to keep tension on the line and hold fast in the surf, which can require anything from a two-ounce pyramid sinker to 10 ounce “Sputnik” or “spider” weights with wire legs that dig into the sand.

Hit the beach later in the spring and you’ll get more bites. Fish the surf in the summer or fall and the pace of the action is likely to be far, far faster. But visit the beach this April and you may find a beach with little competition — and lots of quality. #

# FishTalk contributor Eric Packard holds up an April black drum caught on Assateague Island. Note the flea/Fishbites combo, still on the hook.

Anywhere you have structure and currents, scours can form - and potentially attract fish.

By Wayne Young

It’s a curious thing that we might learn something about fishing structure from Edward Teach, dba Blackbeard the Pirate, or more precisely, from physical changes around his late ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Found in 1996, the wreck is a national marine archeological and cultural treasure. Reports on exploration of this famous 1718 shipwreck off Beaufort Inlet in North Carolina explain how current interacts with objects on the bottom, causing scour, and how an object progressively settles in reaction to this scour.

Some artificial reefs were inadvertently placed at locations prone to physical energy that produces heavy scouring. Take for example unanticipated deep scouring around and settling of concrete railroad bridge caps (Image 1) deployed in the Taylors Island Fish Haven during my time with the Maryland artificial reef program. They progressively settled into scour pits. The bridge caps could disappear into oblivion unless they reach bedrock before sinking entirely below the mudline.

Although scour hydrodynamics is a very technical topic, a basic awareness of flow interactions with objects is sufficient to aid in assessing scour patterns for fishing. Current flow above a threshold velocity that encounters an object deflects over and around the structure, causing turbulence. The constricted current stream increases in velocity, producing vortices along the front and sides and along the lee, and from there down current. Eddies touching the bottom then churn up sediment which is carried off in the current stream, leaving behind a scour pit.

Understanding Bay scour patterns also requires a basic working knowledge of water flow and circulation. There are, in

effect, multiple Bays fed by tributaries which are distinctly different on each side of the estuary, and the way we fish them necessarily varies by the conditions we encounter. Half of the Bay’s water volume is freshwater fed by river systems. Most of the freshwater comes from watersheds at the north end and on the west side of the Bay. With one quarter of the Bay’s volume coming in from the Susquehanna River basin, almost another quarter coming in from the other westside rivers, and half its volume saltwater from the ocean, vastly varying circulation and salinity conditions exist across the estuary. Additionally, multiple old riverbeds and submerged landforms interact with water flow and tidal currents to further complicate circulation.

The direction of current flow is influenced by geography, riverbed and

channel configurations, surface winds, water depth, and other factors. The Bay may be ebbing on one side and flooding on the other in some locations as the tidal cycle changes. Countercurrents with water near the surface moving in one direction and currents near the bottom moving in the opposite direction also occur. It’s also common for a tributary to still be flooding when the Bay at the tributary mouth has begun to ebb, and vice versa. Currents will also pile up on or be steered or split by formations that jut out into the current stream or down into the water column such as bridge piers, which obstruct the flow. Where turbulence, upwellings, and downward current vectors occur, baitfish are often disoriented, compressed into a smaller space, dispersed from a school, or delivered by the current conveyor belt to waiting predators.

# Image 1: railroad bridge caps at Taylors Island Fish Haven.

It’s possible to scope prospective productivity in relation to current flows by studying scours. A feature in the middle of a scour indicates about equal exposure to ebb and flood currents in the Bay. Strong dominant currents produce a scour in the lee, that is, on the opposite side from which the current is coming. Thus, a deep scour on the up-Bay side of the feature means that the flood is dominant. If a scour is on the downBay side, then the ebb is dominant.

Many prominent scours are on the up-Bay side of features that are in, or in proximity to, deep water, or are on the eastern side of the Bay. UpBay scour in deep water is probably attributable to denser salt water in the salt wedge pushing up the Bay near the bottom on rising tides. Scours on the up-Bay sides of wrecks towards the eastern side suggest that floods tend to go up that side running counter to westside ebb flows during changes in the tidal cycle. Regardless, an up-Bay scour suggests a fishing feature with prime flood tide fishing activity, and a down-Bay scour suggests a feature best for fishing during the ebb.

Site 4 on image 2 marks the broken remains of the submarine USS Dragonette, which was used as an explosives test site. The wreck is perpendicular to current flow and the scour is entirely on the up-Bay side. So, the dominant flow near the bottom is flood current. Site 5 marks two unidentified scows northeast of Point Lookout which are charted as an obstruction. Very slight depressions indicate that the wrecks aren’t much affected by current. However, they are covered and surrounded by huge riprap which was carried as cargo and are, in effect, artificial reefs, and fishing should be equally effective during either ebb or flood. Site 6 marks the wreck of a 59’ least-depth 195’ barge that sank in 1958. The wreckage is very low profile, rising less than a foot above soft sediment. However, there is

a huge scour hole on the northwest side, so we know the dominant flow across this wreck is towards the northwest on flood tides.

Site 7 is the location of an unidentified 38’ least-depth wreck that rises 12’ from the bottom. It was discovered in 1949 just northwest of the northern end of the Rappahannock Shoal Channel when it was struck by a ship. The wreck is oriented northwestsoutheast and angles across the dominant current, which we can see is the flood by virtue of a huge scour hole on the north side. Site 8 is the well-known “Texaco Wreck” southwest of Cape Charles City Harbor. The type, name, and when the vessel sank are unknown, but it was

about 200’ long and rose about 15’ off the bottom when found. The broken off ends sit in scour holes where there is still substantial vertical relief. Configuration of the scours and sediment deposits show that this wreck lies across the current stream and receives strong currents during both flood and ebb.

A basic objective for light-tackle anglers is to determine where and when conditions are favorable for fishing. Although Bay fluid dynamics is an enormous and complex topic, the key point is to work to understand current interactions with each specific feature where you plan to fish, and under which current conditions a feature is most productive. #

standing Scours

As well as being a regular contributor to FishTalk, Wayne Young is the author of multiple books detailing wrecks and fishing reefs in the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and beyond. All are available at Amazon.com, and you can find his Facebook page at “Chesapeake Bay Fishing reefs.”

# Image 2: Examples of “BAG” Color Shaded relief depictions showing scour effects at Bay wrecks. Screenshots from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer.

Offshore Fishing

presented

The more distant the horizon, the more critical the intel.

By Staff

When you’re going to spend an afternoon at the lake or a morning on the Bay, naturally you want to catch fish. But when you’re heading offshore it means spending hours of prep, gobs of cha-ching, every hour of daylight (and then some!) cruising and fishing, and then hours cleaning up from the adventure. The investment is so substantial, catching fish becomes all that much more critical. Unfortunately, you can’t ever insure a good catch — or for that matter a single strike. But you can stack the deck in your favor, and one key way to do so is with good intel.

We think the number-one way of gathering solid fishing intel in our area is by checking the FishTalk fishing reports. (You knew we were going to lead off with that one, right?) Of course, we also think this is self-evident. So, in addition to keeping up to date with the reports here are five top ways you can develop intel and use it to your advantage for your next offshore fishing foray.

1. Spread the Wealth

Don’t go to one tackle shop and get all your stuff the day before a trip, go to a bunch of different tackle shops. Buy your leaders and crimps at one, get your skirts and lures at another, and buy your baits at a third. Each time, strike up a conversation at the counter and with other anglers you bump into. And don’t start these conversations by asking “where’s the hot bite?” That only invites an attitude. Instead, begin by saying you’re thinking about going to X canyon or Y lump and see what kind of response you get. Getting solid intel out of other anglers can be like pulling teeth when you ask directly about hotspots, but fishermen love to give their two cents when presented with questions.

2. Watch the Weather

If the weatherman is calling for flat seas, great. But in all other conditions, you should think of weather info as a type of fishing info that goes beyond just making the go/no-go decision first thing in the morning. This has to do with both how you’ll fish and where. Consider, for example, if there’s going to be a breeze blowing out of the south and all indications are that the fish are somewhere in the vicinity of Poormans Canyon. Instead of heading for the center of the canyon, it might be smart to head slightly south of the southernmost point you want to try. When you get there, start trolling north and you’ll have the seas behind you as you set the spread. That will make it easier on everyone involved and if it takes a couple of hours to locate fish you won’t already be beat to a pulp or soaked to the skin when it happens.

If you don’t have a destination in mind, running into a sea in the morning can be a good move simply because a long ride home in a head sea can be miserable. If

When it comes to gathering fishing intel on social media, our honest advice is to do your best to completely block it out of your consciousness. Not only is it rife with misinformation and disinformation, social media also magnifies success and minimizes reality. You might see a glorious post with pics of a monster fish from Spot X, but there could have been 100 other boats at the very same spot which struck out — and you’d never know it. Worse, the character doing the posting might not even know exactly where Spot X is, and in reality may have been fishing at Spot Y. Or they could be a “black hat” trying to spread misinformation. Just ignore all that noise, and you’ll be better off.

# One fish like this makes all those hours worth it.

Offshore Fishing

presented by

chunking is in the plans, rough seas can mean the difference between anchoring up and drifting, so you’ll want to rig up accordingly. The 50-footers don’t have to worry too much about this stuff but for most of us, calculating weather intel into the gameplan can make the difference between a great day and a miserable one. And while we all have our own favorite weather forecast services, remember that this is an area where having SiriusXM marine weather on your boat gives you a serious leg up. You can get up to date weather conditions and updated forecasts while you’re out in the middle of the ocean and change plans on the fly as necessary, rather than depending on what you saw the night before. The awareness and confidence it gives you by being able to track storms and lightning strikes right on the MFD may be the most critical advantage of this weather intel, but the system counts when it comes to boosting the catch rate, too.

3. Get Walking

This isn’t doable if you’re trailering to the inlet from far away in the early morning hours, but if at all possible, walk the area docks between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. when most of the boats that were out fishing are returning to the slip. If you see bloody water pumping out of a through-hull fitting or tuna being tossed out of the box, strike up

a conversation. Again, directly asking where someone was is not a great idea. It’s better to fish for the intel than to demand it, and if someone doesn’t offer anything up out of the goodness of their heart, they probably would have led you astray if asked directly, anyway.

Note: unless you have an established relationship with a fulltime captain, your luck is bound to be better if you spend your time chatting with recreational anglers as opposed to professionals. Other recreational anglers won’t necessarily be going out the very next day, and thus are likely to be a bit less tight-lipped. For this reason a visit to the local boat ramp can be even more productive than heading for high-dollar marinas with big boats in the slips.

4. Get the Tech

There are boats running around out there with the ability to tap into SST, plankton fronts, and even weedline data in near-real-time. They can even overlay it on their chartplotter, and go directly to the breaks and fronts that hold the fish. Are you on one of those boats? If not, note that SiriusXM Marine can pipe all that data and more into your helm via satellite whether you’re running Garmin, Furuno, Simrad, or Raymarine. Their Fish Mapping service can also deliver the areas recommended by an oceanographer’s analysis and tailored for specific gamefish species.

5. Collate the Data

After doing as much of the above as possible, sort through that intel. You can be sure some of the dock talk you hear is old, some of it is exaggerated, and some could even be intentionally false. You don’t want to stake your day on any one source, but on general consensus and the data-driven factors. Then you can make a reasonable game plan.

There’s nothing easy about gathering fishing intel — just ask our reports editor Dillon, and we’re sure he could give you an earful. Work at it, however, and your chances of success will go up. And with a little bit of luck that huge angling investment you’ve made will pay off. #

# Tracking the weather isn’t just a matter of safety, it can help you catch more fish, too!

Screenshot courtesy of SiriusXM.

# With all those boats in the background you know the memo got out. But, did you get it?

Capt.

Blue Cats in the Bullseye

Charging down Maryland’s new catfish trail.

By Staff

There’s no such thing as a sure thing in fishing, but in recent years targeting catfish has become about as close as it gets in many Maryland waterways. Channel cats have been around for decades and flatheads have expanded their presence, but it’s the invasive blue catfish that has undergone a serious population explosion since escaping from the confines of the middle Western Shore rivers and spreading to virtually every tributary on both sides of the Bay.

Why Catch a Cat?

These fish aren’t just numerous, they can get big. As in, huge. In fact, the Maryland state record sits at 84 pounds — mustering more mass than the state’s Chesapeake Bay records for rockfish (67 pounds), red drum (74.4 pounds), and every other species tracked by the state except for cobia (97.8 pounds) and black drum (103.5 pounds). Considering that a 102-pounder has been recorded in the James River, there’s a possibility that someday a blue catfish could claim the mantle as the biggest fish in

the Bay. But there’s a problem with these colossal catfish: they eat a lot. An awful lot. And since they didn’t previously exist in this ecosystem, chowing down on native species can have a serious impact. In fact, the Maryland DNR specifically wants we anglers to target these fish and remove those that we catch from an environment being thrown out of balance.

Added Bonus: blue catfish just so happen to be quite tasty. Unlike some other catfish species they have a firm white meat

Mthat’s quite mild. There’s no limit on their harvest so you can keep as many as you’d like, and the best size for eating, in the 20” to 30” range, also tend to be the most numerous. (Health advisories may be in effect for larger fish in some bodies of water and can be found at the Maryland Department of the Environment website).

Added Double-Bonus: these fish aren’t just numerous and good to eat, they’re also willing to bite 12 months out of the year. The action can be slowed at times by strong fronts and pressure changes (explaining why it doesn’t quite earn sure-

Family Time

any of the hotspots called out in each of the four regions of the Catfish Trail are ideal places for taking the entire family on an angling outing. Since the action is likely to be fast the kids will love it, these are shoreline access spots open to the public, and many have additional facilities like restrooms, hiking trails, or picnic shelters. Several are even located in License Free fishing zones where beginners can try their hand at fishing without even buying a license.

# Brady found this chunky blue cat swimming in the Patuxent.

Competitive Catting

There are several catfish tournaments you can get in on during the month of April. On the 13th there are two, the Sharptown Catfish Tournament at Cherry Beach Park (see the Sharptown Catfish Tournament on Facebook), and the Benedict VFD Catfish Tournament (bvfdrs.com). Then on April 20 check out the Wicomico Environment Invasive Fishing Derby (wicomicoenvironment.org).

thing status), but the vast majority of the time blue catfish will be on the feed.

Unheard-of Added TRIPLE

Bonus: plenty of blue catfish hotspots are easily accessible from shore. No matter where you live in Maryland, if you’re near the I-95 corridor or to its east you’re mere minutes from an accessible shoreline fishing spot with great blue cat action. With so many different options close at hand, how will you know where to fish? Simple: just follow the Maryland Catfish Trail.

Hitting the Trail

The new Catfish Trail focuses on waters rich with blue catfish which have easily accessible public locations where you can walk down to the banks of a tributary river or the Bay, cast out, and have an excellent shot at reeling back one catfish after another. There are four regions: Eastern Maryland, Capital Region, Southern Maryland, and Central

TMaryland. You can find them mapped out at Fish & Hunt Maryland (fishandhuntmaryland.com).

Click on the region of interest, and you’ll get a synopsis of the different locations available there. Check out the Central Region, for example, and you’ll learn about North Point State Park, the fishing piers at Havre De Grace, and more. Click on the Eastern Region to learn about Pocomoke River State Park, Cambridge Municipal Yacht Basin, and other options. Try the Southern Region and take a peek at Mattawoman Natural Environmental Area, Newtowne Neck State Park, and so on. Or visit the Capital Region to get the lowdown on hotspots on the Potomac and its tributaries. Dozens of locations

along the trail are detailed, and along with the info you’ll find on the Trail webpages there are also links going to each of the parks with websites where you can find out even more details about the location.

Catfishing ABCs

For a deep dive into catfishing tactics head for FishTalkMag.com and plug “catfish” into the search box, but know that this is a fairly simple fishery. You’ll need a rod and reel that can handle 12- to 20-pound test or heavier, but just about any sort of rod action and type will work just fine. Either mono or braid line gets the job done, too. Slide a fishfinder-style rig or an egg sinker onto the main-

The Great Chesapeake Invasives Count

he CCA Maryland Great Chesapeake Invasives Count begins this month, and this awesome effort lets you participate in citizen science and win a prize or two as you go fishing. Anyone can enter, and it’s completely free. Just register (visit ccamd.org), then log your invasive catches including blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakeheads, by taking a picture of them on a ruler. Every time you log a catch your name goes into a digital hat for the prize drawings. Open the fish’s stomach and photograph its contents (not required, but great intel for the science geeks), and your name goes into the hat a second time. At the end of every month winners are drawn for prizes like sunglasses, T-shirts, tumblers, and more.

The catch information and stomach contents information we anglers provide is shared with fishery managers to help them build an understanding of where these fish are concentrated, what they’re eating, and the overall state of our fisheries. So you not only get to go fishing and win stuff, you also help the scientifical types figure out how to handle the invasives invasion.

# The Catfish Trail is divvied up into four different regions which are mapped out on the Fish & Hunt MD website.

line, then tie on a swivel. Next rig up three to four feet of 30- or 40-pound test monofilament leader with an 8/0 to 10/0 circle hook on the end, and if you’re using a fishfinder rig, clip on enough weight to hold bottom.

You can use any sort of cut fish for bait, though most people like bunker the best. Raw chicken breast, chicken liver, or small live fish like bluegill or pumpkinseed can be used as well. Cast out and let it sit until you get a bite. When the rod starts bending remember that with a circle hook you don’t want to jerk back to set the hook, but instead, slowly apply tension by reeling until the fish is on the line.

Okay: Are you ready to start trotting down the Catfish Trail? As soon as we heard about it we jumped in the car and set out for almost-surething action — and 100-percent sure-thing fun! #

YOne Catty Cover Contest

ou say you’d love to see yourself, a friend, or your kid grace the cover of FishTalk Magazine? When you hit the Catfish Trail be sure to take plenty of pictures, because some lucky catfish hunter will end up being our November edition cover model. Pictures need to be:

• In a vertical upright format, with room at the top and bottom for the title and cover blurbs.

• High resolution and in focus.

• Showing a blue or flathead catfish caught in Maryland waters and an angler or anglers with BIG SMILES on their faces!

The contest will begin accepting entries in September, so stay tuned for more details and be sure to snap off some awesome cover-style photos as you enjoy catching those catfish all summer long — you never know, you might just end up on the cover of FishTalk!

# Follow the catfish trail to fishing piers on Chesapeake tributaries and you’ll be in prime catfish-catching grounds. You might even get as lucky as Bejay and pull in a fish like this 14 pounder.

Charters, Guides, and Headboats

One of the most difficult ways to learn how to fish the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean is trial and error. Then there’s the boat issue; we don’t all have one. Luckily, the Bay is full of knowledgeable guides and charter captains ready to show you the ropes. Below you will find a directory of professional guides, charter boats, and head boats to get you started on your quest for the perfect fish. Whether you like to fly fish, troll, or bottom fish, there’s likely a local expert who can lend a hand.

F I s HIN g For ECA s T

Predicted after review of past reports gathered by Dillon Waters

For timely, up-to-date reports, visit our website FishTalkMag.com. Current reports will be published every Friday by noon — just in time for your weekend fishing adventures.

Coastal

This is the last month to chase tautog before the spring closures arrive, but most of the coast’s April headlines will likely be coming from the beaches and the bays. The much-anticipated flurry of flounder action should be happening in the coastal bays by now, and as the month progresses we can expect it to get better and better. In the surf, meanwhile, black drum should begin a run followed by big migrating rockfish, and eventually red drum and bluefish can be expected to join in the frenzy.

Freshwater

Trout stockings are in full swing in every state in the region, the shad runs should peak this month, and bass entering the pre-spawn phase can be depended on to strike — this is a red-hot month for freshwater anglers. In fact, there will be so many bites popping off it’ll be tough to decide what to focus on. Early snakeheads? Riverine smallmouth? Take your pick, people, and welcome to April!

Way North

In all Maryland waters of the Chesapeake targeting of rockfish in any way, shape, or form, including catch and release, is not legally allowed this month. Hopefully we’ll still have some perch action going on to keep us busy, but even if these fish spawn and cruise on the early side we know we can depend on good ‘ol Mr. Catfish. Blue cats should be chewing on just about anything fished just about anywhere and this month (well, almost always) should provide the most reliable bite around.

Upper Bay

In all Maryland waters of the Chesapeake targeting of rockfish in any way, shape, or form, including catch and release, is not legally allowed this month. With a little luck, however, the white perch will still be running this month and you might encounter a few yellow stragglers as well.

Middle Bay

In all Maryland waters of the Chesapeake targeting of rockfish in any way, shape, or form, including catch and release, is not legally allowed this month. See Upper Bay, and repeat. As we get a bit farther south, however, we should be seeing the shad showing up in the rivers that still see decent runs.

# Our intrepid reports editor Dillon Waters had a great winter, but is more than psyched for spring’s arrival.

l ower Bay

In all Maryland water, well, you know In Virginia C&R is legit, but of course boxing the fish is not. Expect that blue catfish in the western shore tribs should provide peak action, and if you’re fishing the Potomac, Rappahannock, or James, you have a shot at hooking into a true river monster. Added bonus: from the Potomac down the shad runs should peak at some point this month.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore

Same goes here for targeting of rockfish in any way, shape, or form, including catch and release, in Maryland water of the Tangier Sound. At this time of the year many anglers on the Shore head for the coast and enjoy some flounder action rather than hitting the Bay, but remember that specks often show up as early as April and reds have been caught in southern areas of the ESVA pretty much every month of the year. It may be tough to find ‘em but the rewards are spectacular, so, just how bold are you feeling?

Way South and VA

In this zone you can bet the reds will be hitting by now, and if specks aren’t a thing by the beginning of April they sure should be before the month draws to a close. Remember that the earliest arrivals are often the biggest fish, so trophy hunters should be ready to act. But this being the first full month of spring there will be plenty of other early arrivals in this zone — blues and flounder should be in town before the end of April, and you can bet the tog at the CBBT will shake off their winter slumber and start smacking those crab baits.

# This monster snakehead gave Lanny a charge when he hit the Potomac in April a few years ago.

Power to the People

By David Rudow

Powered propulsion has a plethora of pluses when it comes to kayak fishing, but choosing which is best can be a tricky task to tackle. Let’s take a look at some of the hot options out there, including all-in-one electric kayak packages, bow mounts, and stern/rudder mounts.

Old Town Sportsman Bigwater EPDL + 132

price: $5999.99

The Old Town Sportsman Bigwater EPDL+ 132 comes equipped with an electric-assist pedal drive (exact power/pounds of thrust is not specified by Old Town) that makes long distance travel a breeze. The drive has three different settings, including manual pedal, power assisted pedal, or fully motorized with five different speeds. This kayak comes rigged to run, including a 36V 20Ah Li-ion battery and charger. The motor is controlled with built-in buttons and a screen that lets you monitor battery life.

The MotorGuide XI3 Saltwater 55 LB 36”

With Pinpoint GPS

price: $1549.99

The MotorGuide XI3 is a bow-mount 12V electric motor that equals about 0.85 hp of power and is a favorite among many kayak anglers. This motor does not come with a battery so you’ll need to choose and purchase one on your own, and it requires additional mounting hardware for most kayaks. Wireless steering through a handheld remote eliminates additional steering mechanisms that some motors require, and lets you sit back and relax as you cruise to your next spot. This model in specific is built for the salt (freshwater models are also available), allowing you to fish from the Susquehanna flats to the CBBT without a worry. While it costs a few hundred extra dollars to add, the Pinpoint GPS technology is well worth it, turning time spent fighting the current or resetting your drift into non-stop fishing action.

Torqueedo Ultralight 1103 AC

price: $2899

The Torqueedo Ultralight 1103 AC is a powerful stern-mount three-hp equivalent electric motor with a 915 Wh battery integrated into the system that lasts up to 48 minutes at top speed, and can be switched out with a backup if needed. The system includes a throttle with a display to control speed, and either a foot or hand control steering system is installed. They are reliable, efficient, and are one of two kayak motors on this list that could make you check your speed in the six-mph zone.

Bixpy K-1 Angler Pro Outboard Kit

price: $1599

newport nk300

price: $1299

($2105 with 30Ah battery)

The Newport NK300, like the Torqueedo, is a three-hp equivalent stern mount motor. The main difference between the two is that the Newport doesn’t come with an integrated battery, allowing you to choose your battery size and brand. It includes a throttle with a display to control speed, and can be rigged to steer using your feet or hands as well. The Newport has speeds comparable to the Torqueedo, so make sure you don’t break the sound barrier and scare every fish within a quarter mile.

There are a lot of options out there to power a kayak, and at the end of the day your decision will be based on preference. Bow mounts are best for holding position while fishing, stern mounts will get you from point A to B the fastest, and the EPDL is new tech but seems to be a middle ground between the others, and comes in a complete package with no additional rigging or addons necessary. Whatever you decide, don’t forget that with an electric motor your kayak is now a vessel under power and needs to be registered with the state before use.

Note: The Bixpy K-1 can be bought by itself for $699, but you must use a Bixpy battery to power it. The kit includes their largest battery at 768 Wh. Speed is controlled with a wireless remote, with three options for reverse and 13 for forward. Top speed puts out 38 pounds of thrust and provides a maximum run time of two hours on the highest setting. The Bixpy can be mounted in different ways using kits they have available for specific models of kayak, as well as a universal rudder mount that can fit almost any kayak. The ringed and guarded drive reduces the possibility of getting snagged on weeds, floating lines, and other obstructions in the water and lets you sneak into the shallows with ease.

Early spring snakehead Tips

Snakeheads may like it hot, but if you choose the right spot and make the right moves April can be a great month for targeting them. These three tips will help light a fire under ‘em.

Forget about fishing the weedy shallows that were so productive last summer—there’s little to no cover there this early in the season, so the fish probably won’t be there. Instead, look for hard structure like deadfall and docks, and focus your efforts there. See the arrow pointing to the tree lying partially in the water? That’s where this fish came from and on the same day several others were spotted sitting right next to a tree or branch.

1 2 3

When the sky is bright you might see snakeheads at the surface sunning themselves. However, they’ll often be sitting within inches of cover (see Tip #1) where it’s very difficult to deliver a lure without spooking them.

In this situation reach for a light lure that doesn’t make much splash, can be given action without pulling it right out of the strike zone, and is weedless so it won’t get hung up if you hit a tree branch instead of the fish. Then try to drop it right in front of the fish’s nose.

Four-inch soft plastic flukes are an excellent choice; rig them on a 3/0 or 4/0 worm hook with the point just barely coming through the lure’s back. This will land gently, sink slowly, and can be micro-twitched without moving it more than an inch or two

Look at that sky – bright blue and cloud-free is exactly what you want for April snakeheads. However, it will often take a while for them to “wake up,” even on warm days. When the forecast is for clear sunny skies and a multi-day warmup, clear your schedule for the afternoon of the second or third day of increasing temperatures. Instead of going early wait until lunchtime to head out, and fish until the sun gets low in the sky to enjoy peak action. The farther into a warming trend you get the better the bite is likely to be.

Marina Updates

Parish Creek Landing Marina in Shady Side, MD, shares several updates, including the announcement of a new general manager: Chris Hylton. “I’m very excited for this opportunity to manage Parish Creek Landing!” says Hylton. “I have worked at Chesapeake Yacht Club in Shady Side for the last 12 years. I went to college at St. Mary’s College of Maryland where I got my bachelor’s in economics and public policy, with a minor in political science. I’ve been around the water all my life and grew up in Shady Side. I’ve worked on countless cars, trucks, boats, etc. with my dad, so don’t be surprised if you all see me working with the guys all season long. I’m always around and available so feel free to stop in the office or stop me in the yard if you ever want to chat. I’m going to do everything I can to get to know all of you and make this the best experience we can here!”

Parish Creek has also hired Aaron Catterton and Jeff Henderson. Catterton has experience as a diesel mechanic as well as operating heavy equipment and has lived locally in the Deale/Shady Side area all his life. Catterton and Hylton have been working hard on servicing all the marina’s equipment and getting it ready for this spring season. Henderson has been hired as a part-time mechanic. He has over 40 years of auto mechanic experience as well as servicing boats and has experience running heavy equipment as well. He too lives in Shady Side. When he’s not at the marina, you will likely find him running the family charter fishing boat, Tenacious, or in the woods hunting. parishcreeklanding.com

Top a ward

AkzoNobel’s innovative ‘That Feeling’ influencer campaign, celebrating the yachting and boating lifestyle, has landed a top prize in the Neptune Awards, organized by the Marine Marketers of America. AkzoNobel took first place in the Influencer Marketing category for its yearlong campaign featuring some of the boating world’s leading online personalities. ‘That Feeling’ featured contributions from Lisa Blair, Martine Grael, Kahena Kunzaall, Monique Richter, Riley Whitelum, Elayna Carausu, Jason Marshall, Janaye MacDonald, Curtis Jazwiecki, Kate Gladieux, and Kate Sawyer. These high-profile industry influencers all celebrated the feeling of being on the water. From the splash of the waves to the smell of sunny days, the perfect day out on the water is why people fall in love with boating, and it’s ‘That Feeling’ the campaign aimed to capture. That feeling paired with the pride that comes with maintaining their boats played out on various channels and across four peaks in the calendar year, in different parts of the globe. Matt Anzardo, global marketing segment manager for AkzoNobel’s Yacht team, says: “This ambitious piece of brand storytelling perfectly captured the emotions associated with the moments of being a boat owner as well as the global reach of our brand as the sector leaders in the yacht coatings industry.” The Neptune Awards judging panel said: “AkzoNobel has done a wonderful job of harnessing the power of respected, leading influencers to share the pride and passion of ‘That Feeling’ of being on the water. It envelopes an emotional connection to the water and boating while leveraging the entertainers of the industry. Very well done!” akzonobel.com/en

New Program

Suzuki Marine USA has unveiled a new national dealer program to help get boaters into fuel-efficient and clean Suzuki fourstroke outboard technology while properly scrapping/recycling their old two-stroke motors. The program—named “4-4-2” (meaning four-stroke for two-stroke)—was introduced at the 2024 Minneapolis Boat Show and will be rolled out nationally in Q1 2024. Through its 4-4-2 Program, Suzuki Marine will provide additional discount options to the dealer that can be passed along to customers on top of what they give on trade for the engine. To qualify for the program, the dealer must scrap/recycle the two-stroke outboard engine, and the money the dealer receives from scrap will be donated to an environmental organization of the dealer’s choice. Under the program, dealers can accept in trade any brand or size of two-stroke outboard, regardless of age or condition.

“We worked on a pilot program over the summer with our dealer Dan Chesky of Dan’s Southside in Minneapolis,” said Brandon Cerka, Suzuki Marine general manager of sales and marketing. “He was very successful, and this got us excited about the benefits of expanding the program nationally to help our dealers move customers into clean burning Suzuki four-stroke technology, while getting as many old two-stroke motors off the water as we can,” added Cerka. Representatives of Suzuki Marine and Dan’s Southside met with MN-Fish during the Minneapolis Boat Show to kick off the 442 program and will be donating a $4000 donation to MN-Fish Executive Director Mark Holsten for all the two-stroke outboards converted and scrapped during the pilot period. MNFish (Minnesota Sportfishing Foundation Coalition) is a nonprofit representing the interests of all Minnesota anglers, clubs, local organizations, and industry stakeholders. Suzuki Marine generously agreed to match the initial $4000 donation to MN-Fish to double the positive impact and give the program strong momentum. Suzuki’s 4-4-2 Program incentives and dealer support apply to the sale of any new Suzuki outboard from 2.5 to 350 horsepower. suzukimarine.com

BRO k ERAGE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

DONATIONS

DONATE YOUR BOAT

Help a Wounded Veteran 240-750-9899

BOATs4HEROEs.ORg

BROkERAGE SERVICES

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

POWER

Mako 17’ 171 Saltwater Sportsman

CC 1993MY Yamaha F150 4-stroke, Loadrite trailer, leaning post, AFT fish boxes, highly sought after hull, super clean. $11,995 OBO (Stock# U-402) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

2016 Sportsman 19’ Island Reef Clean, low-hour boat w/ T-Top, Yamaha 115Hp. $32,999 w/ trailer. Beacon Light Marina 410.335.6200 sales@beaconlightmarina.com www.beaconlightmarina.com

2016 Grady White 205 Freedom $59,990 Yamaha F150XB - Only 183 Hours. Trailer Included. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

Trophy

20’ 2002WA Mercury 150 2-stroke, roller trailer, runs great, Cuddy cabin w/ toilet, well maintained. $9,995 OBO (Stock# U-361) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

2020 Yamaha 210 FSH Sport Great Family and Fishing boat! Twin Yamaha Tr-1 Jet Drives w/ 210 hours. Extended Warranty until 6/14/2025. $52,900 w/ 2022 Venture Trailer. Beacon Light Marina 410.335.6200 sales@beaconlightmarina.com www.beaconlightmarina.com

2022 Sportsman Open 212 F150XB Yamaha Outboard, Venture VATB4225 Trailer, Explorer Blue w/ White Bottom, Ash Gray Upholstery, Offshore Package, T-Top, Premium Dual Chair Leaning Post w/ Flip-up Bolsters, Garmin 9” DF/FF/GPS Hours - 134, Vinyl Teak Flooring, and more! $63,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20778

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

2024 Boston Whaler 210 Montauk

A local favorite with lots of room fitting up to 9 people w/ bow cushions available for a very comfortable and dry ride. The 21 Montauk gets you into the 200Hp club which comes w/ digital throttling to make docking the boat that much easier. Lots of maneuverability for whatever the water activities you are enjoying this summer! Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

2024 Boston Whaler 210

Vantage Brand new size available for our dual console fans! The 210 Vantage is not just a new model, it’s a representation of our commitment to quality, innovation, and simplicity. We’re bringing something exceptional to the market, a boat that’s equally suited for family outings, fishing trips, or just relaxing on the water. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

Scout 21’ 210 Dorado DC

2021MY Mercury 150 4-stroke, new Loadrite aluminum Trailer, like new condition, rare find. $48,310 OBO (Stock# U-386) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

For all the latest listings, visit fishtalkmag.com

2007 Sea Hunt 225 Victory Walkaround Alot of new recent upgrades including Minnkota Trolling motor setup! Yamaha F150 w/ 336 hours and a new F9.9 Kicker. $34,900 w/ 2022 Loadrite Trailer. Beacon Light Marina 410.335.6200 sales@beaconlightmarina.com www.beaconlightmarina.com

2021 Robalo Boats 222 CC

F200XB Yamaha Outboard, Yamaha Extended Warranty until 3/5/26, Hours - 192, Coyote Aluminum

Tandem Trailer w/ Brakes and Winch, Hard Top w/ Electronics Box, rocket Launcher, Spreader Light, Leaning Post, Compass, Simrad GPS, Simrad VHF, Fishwells, Aerated Baitwell, rod Storage and Holders, and more! $69,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com

www.riversideboats.com #20677

2022 Bayliner DX2200 150 EFI 4S Mercury Outboard, Mercury Warranty until 5/14/25, Venture Aluminum

Trailer, Gray Hull w/ White Bottom, Graphite Interior, Full Windshield w/ Opening Center Panel, Stainless Steel Upgrade, Bimini Top w/ Boot, Bow Well and Cockpit Cover, Swim Platform/ Extended Swim Platform, Transom Shower w/ Demand Water, Portable Head, Simrad GPS, and more! $53,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com

www.riversideboats.com #20672

2023 Defiance 220 Admiral

Very Nicely optioned ready for cold weather fishing. Yamaha Mechanical F250. $99,900 w/ trailer. Beacon Light Marina 410.335.6200 sales@beaconlightmarina.com

www.beaconlightmarina.com

2023 Pathfinder 2200 TRS BLOWOUT LEFTOVEr PrICING! Yamaha F150. Boat Is Loaded and ready to Go! Ameratrail Trailer Available. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

Bayliner

2024 Boston Whaler 220/250

Dauntless Newly designed hull! Balanced perfectly between the local favorite 210 Montauk and the durability of the Outrage hull model, this 22-foot boat just feels much bigger but w/ all the maneuverability, a little deeper V that can handle rougher waters. Big lounge seat up front w/ a massive storage locker underneath. Also comes in a 25-foot size. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

22’ Shamrock ‘96 $17,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

new

Loadrite trailer, powder coated hard top, head compartment w/ toilet, low hours, super loaded. $44,888 OBO (Stock# U-385) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

2014 Sportsman Heritage

231CC F250XA Yamaha Outboard, 12’ Garmin GPSMAP 5212, Hours - 610, Compass, Trim Tabs - Trim Gauge, Stereo, Storage Cover, Bolster Seats, cooler Seat, Aerated Baitwell, raw Water Washdown, Underwater Lighting, and more! $55,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20780

2016 Sportsman Open 232CC F200XB

Yamaha Outboard, Hours - 640, Offshore Package, Fiberglass T-Top w/ Leaning Post, Spray Shield, 12» Simrad GPS w/ Stereo, Structurescan Transducer, Porta Potty, Under Leaning Post Tackle Station, Slide Out Cooler, and more! Purchased new from riverside w/ all services performed by us, customer trading up to a new Sportsman Heritage 261. $56,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20678

2018 Cobia 237 Center

Console Yamaha F300XCA w/ 70 Hours. Trailer Included. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

2020 Sportsman Open 232CC F200XB

Yamaha Outboard, Hours – 91, Offshore Package, T-Top w/ Electronics Box, rocket Launchers, Spreader Light, Cargo Net, Garmin 9” MFD GPS, Trim Tabs / Trim Gauge, Stereo, Compass, Porta-Potty, and more! $64,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20684

Trophy Bayliner 23’ 2302WA

2000MY Mercury 225 Optimax, Loadrite roller trailer, hard top w/ electronic box, runs great, cuddy cabin w/ toilet, well-maintained. $19,995 OBO (Stock# U-332) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

2022 Bayliner Trophy T24CC 250 4S Mercury Outboard, Mercury Warranty until 7/16/25, Hours - 30, Power Assist Steering, Gray Hull Side w/ White Bottom, Graphite Interior, Stainless Steel Upgrade, CC Fishing Seats w/ Livewell, Fresh Water Shower System, Digital Dash w/ Mercury Vesselview link - Twin 9» GPS, and more! $69,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20671

2024 Boston Whaler 240

Vantage Another Chesapeake Bay icon of the Boston Whaler family is our 24 Vantage. Perfect ski boat for the family, fits 11 people and has a top speed of nearly 50mph. Every Whaler is built with a foam filled hull so this unsinkable legend is one of the safest boats on the water. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

Century 24’ 2400CC 2007MY Yamaha

F250 4-stroke, Venture aluminum Trailer, T-tops w/ electronics box, new cushions, head compartment w/ toilet, well-maintained, low hours. $39,999 OBO (Stock# U-381) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

Twin V 24’ 240DC 2024MY Twin 150

Wellcraft 24’ 242 Fisherman CC

2020MY Mercury 250 Verrado, new alum. Loadrite trailer, powder coated hard top, head compartment w/toilet, low hour, super loaded. $57,996 OBO (Stock# U-396) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

(key Gull) 25’ Carolina Classic ‘06 $49,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2019 Sportsman 251 Heritage Yamaha F300XCA w/ 76.4 Hours. No Trailer Included. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

2021 Sportsman Open 252 CC Twin F150XCA Yamaha Outboards, Yamaha Extended Warranty until 2/2/26, Hours - 631, (display 2021 Venture trailer available for add’l $5,000), rocket Launchers, Spreader Light, Outriggers, Windlass, Underwater Lighting, Trim Tabs / Trim Gauge Auto Pilot, (2) 12” Garmins, Minnkota Ultera 10’ Power Pole, Electric Trolling Motor, and more! Boatel Kept. $129,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20628

Beacon Light Marina 410.335.6200 sales@beaconlightmarina.com www.beaconlightmarina.com

2003 Cobalt 240 5.7 GXi Volvo Penta, Hours - 675, 2006 Venture VATB-6000 Trailer, White Hull, Bimini Top w/ Boot, Bow and Cockpit Cover, Storage Cover, Stereo w/ 6 Speakers, Interior Lights, Wake Board racks, Porta Pottie w/ Pump-out, Bolster Seats, Cooler Seat, Extended Platform, and more! $21,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20713

4-stroke Mercury, new custom fitted alum. Loadrite trailer, dual console, powder coated hard top, full head compartment w/ toilet, super load, 9 hours. $149,999 OBO (Stock# U-390) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

2024 Boston Whaler 250

Outrage Powered by twin 300 v8s - This incredibly dry haul even in the worst of seas is truly a well thought out design. Our 250 and 280 Outrages are equipped with the fishing package, including rod holders, a livewell, fresh and raw water washdowns, and a tackle storage center - For those who are more inclined to hear about the safety factors the 250 and 280’s offer features such as a self-bailing cockpit, stainless steel grab rails, and a tempered glass windshields providing peace of mind for you and your crew. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

Wellcraft 22’ 222 Fisherman CC, 2019MY Mercury 4-stroke 150,

alum.

2000 Grady White 232

Gulfstream Overall great fishing platform w/ a comfy cabin and wide beam! Single Yamaha 225 OX66 2 Stroke. $34,900 (No Trailer included).

Brokerage & Classified

Aquasport 25’ 2500CC 2020MY Twin F150 4-stroke Yamaha, Venture alum. trailer, radar, twin Simrad, head compartment w/ toilet, and much more. Super low hours. $89,995 OBO (Stock# U-365) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

Parker 25’ 2520 Pilot House

1993MY Yamaha 250Hp, Karavan aluminum trailer, solid floor and transom, super clean, awesome 6pack boat. $39,999 OBO (Stock# U-389) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

2011 Cutwater 26 Ideal pocket cruising yacht, thoughtfully owned and maintained. Features include generator, bow and stern thrusters, A/C, upgraded electronics and more. Contact Grady Byus at 410.533.9879 or Grady@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2017 Century Boats 2600 CC Twin F200XCA Yamaha’s, Hours - 261, Yamaha Extended Warranty until 4/19/25, Venture Trailer-8725, White Hull, Hard-Top w/ Electronics Box, rocket Launchers, Spreader Light and Outriggers, Windlass, Fusion Stereo, rayMarine electronics package, Compass, and more! $104,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20645

2019 Regal LS6 V8 350 DuoProp Volvo Penta, Hours - 322, 2020 Venture VATB7225 Aluminum Tandem Trailer w/ Brakes and Spare Tire, Cockpit Seats w/ Bolsters, Sunshade System - Bow and Cockpit, Cockpit Seagrass Mat, Bimini Top, Bow Cover, Cockpit Cover, Garmin GPS, Arch, Anchor Windlass, Fusion Stereo, Enclosed Head, Port Light Half Moon, and more! Lift kept. $89,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20662

2020 key West 261CC Twin F200XCA

Digital Yamaha Outboards, Hour Meter - 381, Engine Warranty until 3/31/26, Load-rite Aluminum Trailer, Light Blue Hull / White Bottom, Hardtop, Electronics Box, rocket Launchers, Spreader Light, Garmin Electronics Package, and more! $129,995 riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20661

2023 Pathfinder 2600 TRS $149,990

Yamaha F300NSB - Under 20 Hours. Full Transferable Warranty. rT 113

Boat Sales 302.436.1737

www.rt113boatsales.net

2023 Pathfinder 2600 TRS BLOWOUT

LEFTOVEr PrICING! Yamaha F300. Fully Loaded, Twin Power Poles, Ameratrail Trailer Available. rT 113

Boat Sales 302.436.1737

www.rt113boatsales.net

2023 Pursuit DC266 $199,990 Twin

Yamaha F150XCA - Under 20 Hours. All Warranties Transferable. rT 113

Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

2024 Pursuit S268 Sport Twin Yamaha F200XSB. Trailer Available. rT 113

Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

Cutwater 26’ C-26 2016MY Volvo

Penta in-board diesel, new customer fitted Loadrite aluminum trailer, super loaded boat, like new condition, super low hours. $149,995 OBO (Stock# U-395) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

Jeanneau 26’ 7.5 CC

F300 4-stroke, white powder-coated T-top, Garmin electronics, Fusion stereo, electric windlass, bow thruster, head compartment w/ toilet, under 40hrs., super clean. $99,995 OBO (Stock# U-387) rudy Marine, 302.945.2254, www.rudymarine.com

(Reel Blessed) 28’ North Coast ‘21 $249,900 Jack Kelly 609.517.2822 jack@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2012 Pursuit C 280 Very low hours, well-equipped, and lift kept since new. Excellent fishing platform with aggressive deadrise for handling rough water. Contact Ken Comerford at 410.991.1511 or Ken@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2023 Boston Whaler 280

Dauntless Our 28 Dauntless here is the perfect combination of fishability and family cruiser. Equipped w/ retractable aft sunshade and bow sunshade that is very quick and easy to install - this single-engine 400Hp is more than enough juice to run across the bay even in the worst of conditions. Sale Pending. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

2024 Boston Whaler 280

Outrage Powered by twin 400 v10sThis incredibly dry haul even in the worst of seas is truly a well thought out design. Equipped with the fishing package, including rod holders, a livewell, fresh and raw water washdowns, and a tackle storage center - The 280 is a self-bailing cockpit, stainless steel grab rails, and a tempered glass windshields providing peace of mind for you and your crew. One difference in the layout of the deck is the 280 Outrages offers a large lounge in the bow seating areachildren and ladies first notice and their favorite part of the boat. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

Find boat reviews at fishtalkmag.com

2024 Boston Whaler 280 Vantage Beautiful classic white hull with chrome decals, big enough to host the entire family including aunts and uncles - the twin 300s that will reach almost 60mph! Plenty of room to host for any occasion or head out and catch some local rockfish out on the Bay. A must see! Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

2019 Mathews Brothers Patriot 29

Freshly repainted, comes with full Garmin electronics package, GS, radar, VHF and Autopilot. Contact Jack McGuire at 401.290.7066 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Hot Pursuit) 30’ Pursuit 3000 ‘00 $49,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Sans Regret) 30’ Scout ‘20 $349,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2024 Cobia 301 CC Twin Yamaha F300NSB. Trailer Available. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

(Elba) 31’ Ocean Master ‘98 $85,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2021 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer A true natural, the Sundancer 320 Outboard reimagines the possibilities of how a cruiser can look, feel and perform. Contact Jack McGuire at 401.290.7066 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2022MY Yamaha

(Mental Rehab) 27’ Rinker ‘05 $32,900 Dan Tisoski 267.784.7229 dant@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2023 Cobia 320 CC BLOWOUT

LEFTOVEr PrICING! Twin Yamaha XF425. Yamaha Helm Master Joystick w/ Autopilot. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

2024 Boston Whaler 320 Vantage This is our 320 Vantage, and comfortably fits 14 people. An adjustable port lounge gives you lots of options for your boating enjoyment. Bluetooth ready. 3/5/10 year warranty available. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

2024 Pursuit DC326 Twin Yamaha F300NSB. Yamaha Helm Master Joystick w/ Autopilot. Generator, Air Conditioning, Full Electronics Package. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

2024 Boston Whaler 325 Conquest

Pilot House Fish, cruise, never have to choose. With the new 325 Conquest, “split personality” takes on a whole new meaning. This adventurous boat is so much more than a cabin cruiser - Designed for maximum versatility, the 325 offers purposeful amenities for all your favorite activities. The conquest offers ultra-convertible port lounge, full front glass windshield for incredible visibility, and a spacious cabin perfect for overnighting. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

2002 Grady White 330 Express

Extremely well-equipped to fish outfitted with full tower, outriggers, and recent re-power in 2019 with Yama F300’s still under warranty. Contact Chris Beardsley at 315.447.1251 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2024 Boston Whaler 330

Outrage Built for the ocean but easy enough to handle through ego alley downtown Annapolis! Equipped w/ white 400Hp v10 engines to maximize performance on our newly designed Outrage. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

33’ Bertram ‘80 $45,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Dottie k) 34’ Silverton ‘05 $124,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2007 Triton 351 Express repowered in 2021 w/ Triple Mercury Verado V8 300s. This sought after engine package elevates the ultimate offshore fishing machine. Price recently reduced. Contact Mike Coe at 410.387.8859 or Mike@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Rivendell) 36’ Nauset ‘90 $98,000 Evan Joseph 804.396.5446 evan@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2011 MJM 36 Downeast Lift kept with upgrades to electronics, power windshield and pilot house cushions. Twin Volvo 220Hp D3 diesels fully serviced in 2023. Contact David Malkin at 443.790.2786 or David@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2019 Tiara Sport 38 LS Perfect boat for day yachting with family and friends. Equipped with triple Yamaha 350’s, painted to match the hull. Contact David Malkin at 443.790.2786 or David@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2021 Tiara Yachts 38 LS Lift kept, lower hours (150 hrs) on triple mercury 400s, optioned with Seakeeper, radar, painted engines to match the hull, and more. Contact Jack McGuire at 401.290.7066 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2024 Boston Whaler 380 Realm The 38-foot realm is the ultimate host w/ the most boat ride - You will draw attention in the best way possible! Perfectly equipped w/ Quad 400 v10s, bow thruster, and joystick piloting - No matter the amount of your boating experience these tools make docking such a big boat look easy. Chesapeake Whalertowne 410.827.8080 www.whalertowne.com

(Martini & Me) 42’ Post ‘81 $65,000 Andy Stratton 908.265.7670 andy@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2023 Pursuit S428 Sport $1,189,000 Quad Yamaha 425XTO w/ 168 Hours. Yamaha Warranty Until 5/13/2030. rT 113 Boat Sales 302.436.1737 www.rt113boatsales.net

(Jessi Jane) 46’ Hatteras ‘83 $65,000 Dennis Mancinelli 404.395.6688 dennism@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2023 MJM 4 Looking for an opportunity to purchase a Like New MJM 4, then this is your boat. Contact Ken Comerford at 410.280.2038 or Ken@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2023 Tiara Yachts C49 Coupe rare chance to get into an almost new Tiara 49 Coupe without the wait and at a nice discount to new. Contact Bob Oberg at 410.320.3385 or Bob@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

Seeking P/T Magazine Delivery Drivers for three-day-a-month magazine distribution routes in Maryland. Compensation based upon quantity of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, reliable vehicle, and be able to lift up to 25 lbs. For more info, call 410.216.9309 or email info@spf-360.com

MARkETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

HELP WANTED

Dock Hand/Dock Staff FT & PT April-October. $15 hourly pay plus tips $$ to tie-up boats located at a busy dock bar location in Annapolis. Boating knowledge is a plus. 410.263.1981 Download application at www.schoonerwoodwind.com/employment

Yacht Sales - Curtis Stokes and Associates, Inc. is hiring new salespeople for our Chesapeake area operation. Candidates must be honest, ethical and have boating experience. This is a commission only position. Contact Curtis Stokes at 410.919.4900 or curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

Marine Technician BOE Marine is seeking a skilled and dedicated Marine Technician to join our team. responsibilities: diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining a variety of marine equipment and systems. Experience in marine mechanics, electrical systems, and engine diagnostics is preferred. If you have a passion for the marine industry and enjoy working w/ boats and marine equipment, we want to hear from you! To apply, email resume to jobs@BOEmarine.com, www.boemarine.com/careers

Marine Electronics Sales Are you passionate about marine electronics and enjoy helping customers find the perfect solution? BOE Marine is looking for a motivated and knowledgeable individual to join our sales team. responsibilities: assist customers in selecting and purchasing marine electronics products, provide expert advice/recommendations, and contribute to the overall success of our sales department. Commission based position. To apply, email resume to jobs@BOEmarine.com, www.boemarine.com/careers

1980 33’ Bertram - $45,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

1990 36’ Nauset - $98,000 Evan Joseph - 804.396.5446

2005 34’ Silverton - $124,500 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

1981 42’ Post - $65,000 Andy Stratton - 908.265.7670

1983 46’ Hatteras - $65,000 Dennis Mancinelli - 404.395.6688

2000 30’ Pursuit - $54,500 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2022 20’ Bulls Bay - $52,900 Jack Kelly - 609.517.2822

1998 31’ Ocean Master - $85,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2023 31’ Grady-White - $385,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2020 30’ Scout - $349,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2001 34’ Intrepid - $149,500 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2021 28’ North Coast - $249,000 Jack Kelly - 609.517.2822