FishTalk Magazine May 2023

See Your Local Suzuki Marine Dealer For All the Details

All Star Marine Inc | 410-574-8281 2434 Holly Neck Rd, Essex, MD

Bob’s Marine Service, Inc. | 302-539-3711

31888 Roxana Rd, Ocean View, DE

Danny’s Marine LLC | 410-228-0234

3559 Chateau Dr, E. New Market, MD

Fawcett Boat Supplies | 410-267-8681

919 Bay Ridge Rd, Annapolis, MD

Friday’s Marine | 804-758-4131

(Malise Marine Sales & Service)

14879 GW Memorial Hwy, Saluda, VA

Galahad Marine | 410-827-7409

121 Rental Ln, Grasonville, MD

Hidden Harbour Marina | 301-261-9200

600 Cabana Blvd, Deale, MD

Powersports of Crofton | 410-697-5965

PYY Marine | 410-255-1771

1132 Pasadena Yacht Yard Rd, Pasadena, MD

Sandpiper Marine Inc | 757-787-7783

21530 Taylor Rd, Accomac, VA

Scott’s Cove Marina | 410-251-8047

10551 Eldon Willing Rd, Chance, MD

Thornes Marine | 410-957-4481

1237 Greenbackville Rd, Stockton, MD

Tradewinds Marina | 410-335-7000

412 Armstrong Rd, Middle River, MD

SAVE THE DATE!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

Fish For A Cure (F4AC) is a fishing and fundraising competition that benefits cancer patients and their families in our community. Over the last 16 years, F4AC has raised more than $4.5 million to support the Cancer Survivorship program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. The 17th Annual Fish For A Cure Tournament, Paul C. Dettor Captain’s Challenge, and Shore Party will be taking place on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the South Annapolis Yacht Centre. Registration for the 2023 tournament will open in late spring 2023.

For more information, visit us at www.fishforacure.org. Join us in 2023 as we celebrate continued commitment to making a splash in cancer care for our community.

39

Spring Snakeheads

We take a full-on tour of Eastern Shore snakehead country to discover the ins and outs of spring snakehead fishing.

By

Butch Huber and Lenny Rudow presented by Fish & hunt Maryland

43

Bluewater Early Bird

Will we get an early tuna bite this season? Fingers are crossed!

By Staff

presented by siriusXM Marine

46

Yeocomico to Coan

The Northern Neck shoreline from the Yeocomico River down holds oodles of angling opportunity.

By Wayne Young

48

Rigging for Beginners Part III: Rigging Baits

There’s more than one way to put bait on a hook. By Staff

50

Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters: Find the Best Fishing Guide

Choosing the best Chesapeake Bay fishing charter is easier said than done, but this guide to finding guides will help. By Staff

52

Troller’s Pre-Season Prep

Five things you can do today to catch more fish during the upcoming season.

By Lenny Rudow

Max and David came home to Maryland from Utah and New Orleans, and less than 24 hours later boated this beast of the Blackwater. Photo by Mark Nicolaus.

PARTY, BAND, GREAT FOOD

Registration Deadline May 3 Limited to 100 boats

Fish Measure-in

Results based on Catch & Release only, using digital photos on the Official Boatyard 2023 yardstick.

Entry Fee

$250 per boat of 4 anglers

$50 for each extra angler

Registration Forms & Rules: boatyardbarandgrill.com

Great Sponsor Prizes! 1st Place fish outline hung from a Boatyard beam!

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Skipper’s Meeting 5-7 pm

Live Music

SATURDAY, MAY 6

Fish Measure-in

Must be in line by 4:30 pm

Party + Band 4-8 pm

Timmie Metz Band & Tambo

Awards Ceremony 5 pm

BENEFITS

Registration opens March 6. More info at boatyardbarandgrill.com

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

A SSOCIATE 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

Eric Richardson, eric@fishtalkmag.com

Nathan Younge, nathan@fishtalkmag.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

Brooke King, brooke@fishtalkmag.com

DISTRIBUTION /BROKERAGE /CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER

Beatrice M. Roderick, beatrice@fishtalkmag.com

ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER

Zach Ditmars, zach@fishtalkmag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRODUCTION A SSISTANT

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, Mollie Rudow, Wayne Young

DISTRIBUTION

Andy Aviles, Martin and Betty Casey, Gregory G. Greenwell Sr., Dave Harlock, Ron and Colleen Ogden, Ross Thornton, 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.

© 2023 Rudow’s FishTalk LLC

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Notes from the Cockpit

The first of May marks the much-anticipated opening of Maryland’s trophy striped bass season on the Chesapeake Bay. In Virginia there is no longer any such season. And up and down the coast, state after state has instituted a slot for the much-beloved rockfish so that the true trophies — also known as breeders — swim free. Thus, we can’t let May begin without examining the ethics of having a directed fishery where the largest, most fecund females are squarely in our crosshairs.

The cases for and against having a trophy season are both straightforward and valid. Those arguing against will say that the fishery is in trouble and we need to leave those big breeders alone so that they can reproduce. Those arguing for will emphasize that the trophy season has a huge economic impact in Maryland, especially for charter boats and tackle shops, and that the stocks are far better today than they were when the state began allowing a trophy season post-moratorium. Yes, there are many other cases that can be stated, but the vast majority of the fireworks boil down to these two points of view. And in truth, they’re both correct.

They’re also not mutually exclusive.

In the early days of post-moratorium trophy fishing, we were issued plastic tags with our licenses allowing us to take just a few fish each season. In some Gulf states anglers can buy a tag or tags allowing them to keep one over-slot redfish per season or per tag. Practices like these permit fishing to take place, without allowing the free-for-all harvest of huge numbers of fish. And in some cases when the fish are being harvested the angler is ponying up to do so, with his or her money going to the programs that support and/or rebuild the fishery.

By Lenny Rudow

Would a program like this be the right move in the Chesapeake Bay? I don’t know. But I do know that there’s room for discussion. I know that it’s critically important to many recreational anglers that we protect those big cows as much as we possibly can. And I know it’s critically important to the tackle shops and charter captains that we don’t eliminate a substantial portion of their income.

# A trophy caught on my boat circa April 2000, when three of us killed three fish over 40 inches. Was it excessive? It didn’t seem so at the time but in hindsight, absolutely.

I can hear the points and counterpoints being made in all your angler-brains right now, because they’re taking place in mine, too. This is not an easy issue to resolve. And it’s so incredibly important to so many of us that we all tend to quickly become heated in the back-and-forth. Many recreational anglers — myself included — can’t claim to have any moral high ground because we boxed 40-inch-plus rockfish for decades before ever realizing that it might be problematic. Many charters are in the same boat because they harvested trophies daily by the dozens year after year. And many businesses may (may) appear to be putting personal gain ahead of the fish’s welfare. On the flip side of the coin, there’s no denying that a certain segment of the angling community seems (seems) to enjoy jumping on their high horse maybe a tad bit too much and sometimes without necessarily considering all the factors revolving around the issue.

Pointing fingers is pointless, but reasoned discussion is a good thing. Heck, it is, or at least used to be, a core tenant of our democracy. I invite your (civil) input no matter what side of the fence you may be sitting on; email lenny@fishtalkmag.com for publication in next month’s Letters section. I hope it grows to be pages and pages long.

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Stuffed Inbox

Dear FishTalk, Hi, my name is Amy and I’m an account manager with BigSales, a leading fulfillment company. We work with big name brands and manage all aspects of vendors and advertising. I would be keen to show you how our solutions work, can we connect for a call next week?

-Amy J., via email

Dear Amy, Thank you for emailing us 4602 times. The answer is “no,” but we won’t respond to your emails because we’re scared you’ll put us on yet another spam list. We know it’s a one-in-a-million shot you’ll ever see this, but on the off-chance, Amy: please get a real job.

Feeling Blue Over Yellows

Dear FishTalk, What happened to the yellow perch run? I remember years back when there seemed to be a lot of concern over yellow perch and bag limits were cut for a while, but this spring’s run was about the worst I can remember and I’ve hardly heard a thing about it in the news (other than the FishTalk fishing reports).

-Tim G., via email

Dear Tim, We’d have to agree that with the exception of a few very short bursts of action, in many of the historically productive areas the yellows were mostly MIA this spring. We’ll have to wait and see what the DNR’s young-of-year survey looks like before drawing any further conclusions, but if the numbers are way off, hopefully these important fish will get the attention they deserve.

Cash Advance

Dear FishTalk:

Q: Where do fish go to get some quick cash?

A: The prawn shop.

-Anonymous

Send your fish photos, questions, and comments to lenny@fishtalkmag.com

Aerial Alert Signals

Long distance aerial flares (ALERT

short distance (3 miles or less) handheld flares (LOCATE SIGNALS) are the brightest most dynamic signals when rescuers have been sighted.

For passive, long duration signaling (when you aren’t sure who is out there), consider the Orion Electronic SOS Beacon. Experienced boaters carry an assortment and Orion has them all!

Fi SH New S

By Lenny Rudow

Boosting CCA-VA

The Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia (CCA VA) has been on the move lately, and now has a new website at ccavirginia.org. They’ve also started up a new Facebook page and Instagram account. CCA VA has become more and more active in recent years, and now’s the time for anglers who care about the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia fisheries to join in the never-ending quest for better fisheries management, water quality, and habitat issues. Go to the website, click on the volunteer tab, and get involved today!

Invasive Behavior

The Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake is out to help anglers boost their catch and help rid the Chesapeake of invasive species at the very same time, with a new Fishing for Finned Invaders virtual event via Zoom on May 18 at 7 p.m. Sponsored in part by FishTalk Magazine, contributor and snakehead fishing sharpie Eric Packard will be presenting along with Dr. Noah Bressman, an avid angler and fish researcher from Salisbury University. Anglers tuning in will learn about invasives including snakeheads and blue catfish and how to catch more of them, from both an angling and scientifical point of view. The event is free (Free snakehead intel! Free blue cat intel!). Visit interfaithchesapeake.org/events to sign up or learn more.

Delighted in Delaware

Delaware saw no fewer than six (six!) records set in 2022, and all now confirmed. They include a sevenpound, 10-ounce pickerel caught by William Mack; a 21-pound, seven-ounce tautog reeled in by Brent Wiest; a 26-pound, 11-ounce false albacore captured by Mike Spayd; an 89-pound, three-ounce cobia battled by Scott Brooks; a 25-pound, eight-ounce blueline tilefish cranked up by Dain Hursh; and a 48-pound, three-ounce blue catfish bested by James Lord. Whew, what a year for the record books!

Meanwhile in MD

CCA Maryland deployed around 175 oyster reef balls on Noah’s Reef near Dobbins Island in the Magothy River this spring, along with the help of the Magothy River Association. These balls were built by students participating in the Living Reef Action Campaign, and you can bet they’ll become fishing hotspots attracting rockfish, perch, and more. The three-dimensional structure provided by reef balls has been shown to help restore marine habitat, improve water quality, and benefit recreational fishing. For more intel on reef ball locations in the river see “Magothy River Reefs” at FishTalkMag.com.

# CCA-MD, the Magothy River Association, and volunteers work hard to get those reefs growing.

# FishTalk Contributor Eric Packard will be presenting during the Finned Invaders workshop.

Content Is King

FishTalk Magazine won big in the 2022 Boating Writers International Writing Contest, taking home three awards at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show. The article Thermal Thunderdome won first place for Product Reviews, and the accompanying video won third place in the video category. Notes from the Cockpit took third in the columns category. The annual contest rewards excellence in marine journalism in 15 categories and is judged by a panel of writers in the marine field. You can read the winning stories at FishTalkMag.com and see the video on FishTalk’s YouTube channel.

Reporting Rescinded

Anglers catching cobia in Virginia waters will no longer be subject to mandatory catch reporting and permitting. The Marine Resources Commission voted unanimously to end the program and the associated recreational permit for the 2023 season and moving forward. All other cobia regs remain the same (the season is June 15 to September 15 with one fish per person and two per boat per day, with only one over 50 inches allowed. Minimum size remains 40 inches and gaffing is prohibited). However, the Commission is encouraging voluntary reporting, and especially release data via the Virginia Saltwater Journal system, to help with stock assessment.

Sludging Away Your Stripers

As water quality woes continue chipping away at the ability of our fisheries to recover and thrive, the Chesapeake watershed received a wonderful donation of over 30,000 gallons of chicken rendering waste sludge rich in pollutants including nitrogen and phosphorous this spring. The spill from a three-million-gallon tank (reportedly filled to the brim) in Wicomico County near the Nanticoke watershed occurred when a pipe failed.

A new administration recently took the reins in Maryland and there are some positive signs they support the Bay (for real!), so this might be a good time for Maryland residents to let the powers that be know that they want the Bay’s health prioritized. The Maryland Department of Agriculture administers nutrient management plans under which nitrogen and phosphorous fall, and the Department of the Environment has been tasked with investigating this specific event. Emails with your (polite, reasoned) thoughts could be sent to the new Governor, Wes Moore, via the maryland.gov Contact the Governor page; Serena McIlwain, the Secretary of the Department of Environment, at mde.secretary@ maryland.gov; and Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Kevin Atticks, at kevin.atticks@ maryland.gov.

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Fish at Smith

The second annual Smith Island Fishing Tournament is set for Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21. Run via the iAngler app, the tournament benefits the Smith Island Cultural Center. The goal is to catch a Smith Island Slam: a redfish, a rockfish, and a speckled sea trout. The longest aggregate of all three wins, and there are Calcutta for the longest red, rock, trout, black drum, and a “wild card” fish. The top three winners will gain free entry in this fall’s Tangier Classic. There will also be a Youth Grand Prize sponsored by Sea Hawk Sports Center for kids 16 and under. Visit the Smith Island Fishing Tournament on Facebook or go to iAngler for details.

Spring in the Surf

Saturday, May 6 is the Old Inlet Spring Surf Fishing Tournament, with fishing at the Delaware Seashore State Park. There are Open, Ladies, and Kids divisions, plus a Calcutta for the largest bluefish caught. Then, on May 20 it’s Cast for a Cure, a team surf fishing tournament benefitting the Tunnell Cancer Center Special Needs fund. Fishing takes place at Fenwick Island State Park. Visit oldinlet.com for more information.

Winter Pickerel Wrap

The 2022-2023 CCA Winter Pickerel Championship is a wrap, and after 96 anglers submitted over 600 catches, the results are in. Herb Floyd caught the longest fish, a 28.25-inch monster. Raymond Vrablic III crushed it in the Under Armor three-fish stringer division, accumulating 82 inches of green torpedoes. But that’s not all— he also had the biggest tidal pickerel, the longest bass, and won the Anglers/Daiwa Calcutta. Meanwhile, son Talan Vrablic caught the biggest youth pickerel with a 26.5-incher. WTG, Vrablics! Second place stringer and biggest fly-caught pickerel went to Shawn Kimbro, Bradley Smith had biggest crappie, Ryan Altenburg topped the yellow perch charts, Noah Bressman won biggest kayak fish, and Amy Fisher was the top lady angler. Congrats to all!

HOT NEW GEAR

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.

Humming Right Along

Electric outboards have proved to be awesome propulsion systems for small boats, and the newest player to enter this market is industry giant Mercury Marine. The 48-volt Avator 7.5e has the power to produce “similar speed” as the Mercury 3.5-hp FourStroke, according to the company, and has a 1-kWh lithium-ion battery that slides into a compartment in the motor’s cowl. Tiller-, side-, and binnacle-mount remote controls and a remote digital display are available, and Mercury says larger 20e and 35e models are in the works. We had the chance to briefly test a prototype prior to the 7.5e’s release and found that like other electric outboards it’s virtually silent, provides gobs of torque the moment you hit the throttle, and of course is exhaust-free. Weight is 60 pounds and shaft lengths available include 15-, 20-, and 25-inches. Price: TBA. Visit mercurymarine.com to learn more.

Power to the People

Why do all that work of casting and potentially experience arm fatigue, when you could be catapulting your lure with ease? That’s the concept behind the Elastic Sling Bait Launcher. Basically a slingshot mounted to a fishing rod (they call it “utilizing the potential energy stored in a pre-tensioned elastic cord to propel a fishing lure or bait”), this bait-launching brainchild has yet to be born and isn’t available on the market — but the patent is currently for sale. Yes, you could purchase the rights to the Elastic Sling Bait Launcher, build a factory, market it, and save millions of anglers everywhere from the scourge of arm fatigue. Price: TBD. Contact: your therapist, if you’re actually interested.

Octane Boost

Lead-heads are like fuel for your fishing: You burn through ‘em, need to refill on a regular basis, and have to make sure you get quality stuff if you expect prime performance. A new way to give your jig head selection an octane boost is filling the box with High Octane Custom Baits (HOCB) Teardrop Jig Heads. HOCB started offering these this winter, in one-half to three-ounce weights and a range of colors including some eye-catching custom combinations. We used ‘em while fishing for rockfish, found them highly effective, and noted three stand-out features: high quality 2X hooks from VMC, big flashy eyes, and a relatively tall keeper barb that effectively holds tails in place. These heads are hand-poured and powder-coated. Price: $8.99 to $9.99/3-pack. Visit highoctanecb.com for more info.

Protective Measures

All-season angling from a center console can make for cold, wet runs. You can have a set of Isinglass “wings” made to enjoy better protection from the wind-blast and spray, but these are a pain in the keister to put up, take down, and stow. Plus, they have a limited lifespan. And on top of that they’re difficult to see through. The bottom line? Wings are better than nothing, but not by a lot. The next-level solution: Wind Armor.

Wind Armor systems consist of rigid hinged wings made of scratch-protected, UV-protected 9mm acrylic (thicker 12mm acrylic is used for boats that go 70-plus mph), actuators mounted to the side of the console, and control buttons at the helm. The wings swing out to deploy and swing in to stow out of the way of your angling activities at a press of the button, so the whole assembly/disassembly procedure necessary with Isinglass, snaps, and zippers is eliminated. The Wind Armor wings won’t wear out after a few seasons, and they offer crystal-clear views rather than that foggy look you get with Isinglass curtains. Systems are custom installed, made to fit specific boats, and can be fitted for most model center consoles with a T-top. Price: starts at $3995. Visit Brown Dog Marine at browndogmarine.com or call (410) 310-8931 to learn more.

The new TwinPower SW 10000 and 14000 models incorporate Shimano’s Heatsink Drag to deliver overwhelming drag performance and provide anglers with an increased advantage during long bouts with hard-fighting game fish. Shimano’s Heatsink Drag dissipates heat away from the spool to reduce drag-force drop caused by increased friction during blistering runs.

Paddle Harder!

Trying to find that soft plastic paddletail with the oh-so perfect color few lures seem to have? One that’s a bit tougher than most others yet still provides lots of wiggle and waggle as it moves through the water? A new option you’ll want to check out is Striped Finn Lures. These plastics are custom-made and handpoured in Elkridge, MD, and come in a wide range of colors including everything from snow white to an electric blue/green called “Glacier.” Our fave: Blue Haze, which looks pearlish-blue and looks extremely bunkerlike. Note that these four-inch paddles are denser than most, to hold up to multiple strikes from sharp-toothed critters. Think: snakehead candy. Price: $4.99/5-pack. Visit stripedfinnlures.square.site.

Feeling Crabby

Crabbing with pull traps is great fun with the kids, but stacking and stowing a big pile of traps is not — especially if you have a small boat. Topless stackable traps are better for stowage, but aren’t ideal for young children since they can’t always pull the line fast and smooth enough to keep the crabs inside. A nifty new solution we discovered this winter is the Gotcha! Crab Trap. Developed specifically for family crabbing, the Gotcha! has a buoyant upper ring and a stainless-steel lower ring. The inside of each ring is meshed, and when stowed in your boat or garage, they sit flat on top of each other. When you bait ‘em up and drop ‘em down, the upper ring floats up to open the trap. Then when you pull on the line, the two rings close and trap the crabs inside. Once the lower ring has been lifted up off the bottom the two rings stay pinned together, and the crab won’t get out even if a young line-puller hauls it back in fits and starts. Like we said: nifty! Price: $40 (discounts with multiple-trap orders). Visit gotchacrabtraps.com to learn more.

All Decked Out

The new Deckpad, winner of an NMMA Innovations Award at this year’s Miami Boat Show, may not technically be fishing gear, but we’re thinking an awful lot of the family anglers out there will be interested in learning about it. This drop-stitch fabric inflatable pad is capped off with an EVA foam surface, and fitted with stainless-steel D-ring attachment points. It will fit the bow deck of your boat perfectly, because the company has a library of boats built by over 100 manufacturers which have been 3-D laser-scanned to generate 500k+ millimeter data points. And when you take a break from fishing, the Deckpad creates a floating sandbar of sorts for hanging out on and in the water. Price: $1395. Visit deckpad.com.

Power Boost

Yamaha’s F425 XTO Offshore has received a power boost and the Yamaha F450 is now available. They get the extra horsepower by increasing intake and exhaust volume, while dampening the engine’s operating volume by incorporating a new intake silencer. But what may be the biggest news about this new outboard isn’t even related to its new power rating. Yamaha has incorporated a phased angle control charging system which provides a whopping 96 amps of juice even when merely at idle. That’s enough juice to feed power-hungry onboard systems and in some cases will be sufficient to eliminate the need for a generator. Also added to the F450 is Yamaha’s “Total Tilt” feature, which allows you to tilt the motor to full-up or full-down with a double-tap on the switch rather than having to hold it in position the whole time. Price: starting at $49,500. Visit yamahaoutboards.com for more info.

LTT Umbrella

We all know umbrellas work great and we all know most are way too heavy for light tackle use… right? Not so fast — the Striper Sniper Swim Shad Ultralight Rig weighs only three ounces. This mini-brella of sorts is available in silk chartreuse, chartreuse glitter, white, or pearl, with 3.5- or 4.0-inch shad or seven-inch Snake Worms, and a quarter-ounce or three-eighths-ounce G-eye jig hook bait. The ideal trolling speed for these rigs is 2.0 to 2.5 mph, so they’ll prove perfect for light-tackle-loving boat trollers and also for kayak anglers. Price: $19.99. Bonus Deal: type in code FISHTALK when checking out and you’ll get a discount! Visit stripersniper.com.

Old-School Flounder Catching the S.O.S.

People were catching flounder long before jigging for them came into vogue, and old -school tactics still work like a charm on them in this day and age. Whether you enjoy fishing with bait or you want to set out an extra line and sit it in a rod holder while you work a more active rod, here’s how to do it the traditionalist way.

• Rig up with a Fluke Killer, Spin-N-Glo, or a similar rig. Cut squid strips about half an inch wide and three or four inches long, and slide one onto the hook. Then take a large bull minnow and add it to the hook as well, going in through the lower jaw and out through the upper jaw.

• Drift your squid/minnow sandwich along the edges of channels and shoals. If you get a bite pay attention to depth and focus on similar depth ranges.

• When you get a bite DO NOT set the hook right away. When taking a bait flounder will grab the tail end first and you’ll usually feel a nibble-nibble-nibble. Set the hook now, and you’ll just rip the bait off. Wait until you feel the slow thump-thump-thump of the fish swimming off, and you’ll then be able to get a solid hook-set.

Late spring can be a tough time for jiggers, as many of the rockfish are in small, highly mobile pods that haven’t yet joined up to form big schools. They’re often in open water, they’re often suspended, and they’re often here today and gone tomorrow. So, how will you ensure success with these suspended open-water stripers? You can’t — hey, this is fishing, people! But you can up the odds of bending your rods by using these tactics:

• Focus on areas with structure, contours, or live bottom in the 20- to 30-foot range. You might find fish shallower and you might find fish deeper, but at this time of year this is often the sweet spot. As you do so, look for thermoclines on your fishfinder (which look like faint but consistent returns that create a line along a relatively consistent depth). When you find an area where the thermocline intersects with dropoffs, shelves, and other structure in the appropriate depth range, you’ve found a spot with good potential.

• Remain highly mobile. If you’re not catching fish don’t be afraid to run to a different location. If you find a pod or two and enjoy limited success, look for similar types of areas (considering depth, current, geographic orientation, etc.), point the bow for ‘em, and open up the throttles.

• Cast out and retrieve as opposed to jigging vertically. Let your jig hit bottom before beginning a retrieve and/or use the countdown method; for whatever reason vertical jigging rarely works as well on rockfish in this scenario.

For more information on jigging for suspended rockfish visit FishTalkMag. com and punch “suspended” into the search box. We have several articles going into detail on how to get those fish snapping.

# Scotty jigged up this fine spring striper with aplomb.

# Yes, flounder do still enjoy munching on squid ‘n minnow sandwiches.

Che S apea K e Ca L endar

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F OR C HESAPEA k E B AY BOATING NEWS , v ISIT PROPTALK . COM

May

through May 7

capt. Zed’s 32nd annual spring flounder tournament 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Wachapreague, VA. The tournament runs April 28 through May 7 with a whopping $5000 going to the first-place winner. All the action will be at the Island House and Trident Tackle, right in the heart of town.

5-7 Dc Boat show

Inaugural boat show on the Potomac River in National Harbor. There will be a wide variety of vessels from sail to power, and new to quality pre-owned.

6 20th annual BB&g catch & Release spring fishing tournament

Presented by the Boatyard Bar & Grill. Registration deadline: May 3 (limited to 100 boats). $250 per boat of 4 anglers. Awards ceremony at 5 p.m.; party and band from 4 to 8 p.m. Proceeds support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, and the Annapolis Police Foundation’s Youth Fishing Camp. Register: boatyardbarandgrill.com

6 yorktown Blues, Brews, & BBQ festival

Sample more than 30 local craft beers, dig into some amazing BBQ (available for purchase), and listen as some of the best blues musicians in Hampton Roads and beyond take the stage at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, VA. Tickets: villageevents.org

5-7 Welcome to Boating and fishing

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sandy Point State Park boat ramps in Annapolis, MD. Presented by Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Annapolis School of Seamanship, Boat U.S. Foundation, and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland. Learn from the pros at free seminars about boating and fishing, and demonstrations on boat launching and safety equipment. Several classes are also available for purchase. $5 park entry fee.

10 frederick saltwater anglers club Monthly Meeting

Frederick Saltwater Anglers meet monthly at 7 p.m. at the Frederick Elks Club, the second Wednesday of every month. Food starts at 6 p.m. and we have speakers, vendors, and raffles with 50/50s. Call Rob at (301) 606-0392 for more information.

12-21 station 15 inaugural hook N’ hose Black Drum fishing tournament

Dates: May 12-13 and May 20-21. Presented by the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company. Captains meeting is May 11th at the Cape Charles Yacht Center at 7:30 p.m. Registration and rules can be found on the Facebook page @Station 15 Hook N’ Hose Black Drum Tournament

13 clc Big little Boat festival

At Conquest Beach in Centreville, MD, on the Chester River. Presented by Chesapeake Light Craft. This one-day rendezvous will be held rain or shine. Fun family activities including a kids’ cardboard boat building competition and race, SUP and rowing coaching, small boat seminars and demos, and more. Register for free at clcboats.com

18 finned invaders: fishing for invasives

7 to 8 p.m. online event. Join Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake and FishTalk Magazine as we hear from speakers Dr. Noah Bressman of Salisbury University and Eric Packard, FishTalk Magazine contributor, to explore the impact of invasive fish. We’ll learn about how blue catfish and snakehead impact the Chesapeake and its native species from Dr. Bressman, before learning how to catch them from Eric Packard. No fishing experience necessary!

19-21 second annual smith island fishing tournament

Run via the iAngler app, the tournament benefits the Smith Island Cultural Center. The goal is to catch a Smith Island Slam: a redfish, a rockfish, and a speckled sea trout. The longest aggregate of all three wins. Individual registration: $150, team (max of 2 anglers): $225 ($100 for additional anglers).

20 Vessel safety checks

America’s Boating ClubWilmington will offer free Vessel Safety Checks Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at three locations in Rock Hall, MD: North Point Marina, 5639 Walnut St; Bayside Landing Park, Bayside Avenue; and Osprey Point Marina: 20786 Rock Hall Ave. For more info email wspsboaters@gmail.com

20-21 cambridge classic Powerboat Regatta

The races happen on Hambrooks Bay off the Choptank River in Cambridge, MD. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days (weather permitting). Watch on land on bleachers at Gerry Boyle Park at Great Marsh.

For links to the websites for these events and more, visit proptalk.com/calendar

Chesapeake Calendar

20-26 National safe Boating Week

The Safe Boating Campaign is a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, encouraging boaters to always wear a life jacket while on the water.

23 Blue angels flight Rehearsal Blue Angels practice for 2023

USNA Commissioning Week Show starting at 2 p.m. above Annapolis.

24 Blue angels flight

Demonstration

Blue Angels fly starting at 2 p.m. over Annapolis. Congratulations to USNA Class of 2023!

27

yankee Point Marina 10/10/10

Benefit concert series

10 consecutive weekends, a different musical act each weekend with each event to benefit a different local charity. First up: Black Cat Murphy. Benefits Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Band kicks off at 6 p.m. on the beach at Yankee Point Marina in Lancaster, VA. No cover, 100 percent of bar proceeds go to DAV. Bring your beach chairs or join us by boat from serene Myer Creek.

June

3 first annual Janes island state Park Paddlefest

Guided paddle tours, poker run paddle, campfire on the beach, vendors, music, children’s activities, and sunset paddle. Familyfriendly event. Event is free, however registration is requested at dnr.maryland. gov. Participants are responsible for supplying vessels. Boat rental reservations can be made in advance with local vendors.

3 glamped Up

A ladies-only online fishing tournament presented by Amped Up Outdoors. This is a multi-species event with a point scale based on length.

3 MMhf classic Boat and car festival

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wilmer Park in Chestertown, MD. Presente by the Maryland Maritime Heritage Foundation. Free admission for spectators.

9-11 47th annual Norfolk harborfest

At Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk waterfront, VA. Free and open to the public. On both land and sea, thrilling activities and live music take center stage at Harborfest, including the annual Parade of Sail featuring international tall ships, one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast, a mesmerizing drone show, interactive family games and activities, Navy exhibits and demonstrations, artisan foods and beverages, national and regional live entertainment, and more.

OVER$25,000

10 Bands in the sand

Each summer 1600 guests gather on the beach, dance the night away, and raise a drink to a saved Bay. 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis. Benefits CBF. General admission tickets go on sale May 1 and cost $200: cbf.org

10-11 RhVfc guardians of the Pearl Rockfish tournament

Presented by the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company. Captain’s meeting June 9. This second annual tournament promotes heritage, tourism, and fishing for the town of Rock Hall, while also raising funds for the RHVFC. $500 per boat of six anglers (additional anglers can be added at $100 each). Register: rockhallvfc.org

10-11 sMBc Rumble on the River

Exhbition-only event with vintage race boats. At Piney Point Landing in Piney Point, MD. Southern Maryland Boat Club.

11 free kids fishing tournament

Hosted by North Bay Fishing Club from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration at 8:30 a.m. at North East Community Park, 250 West Walnut St., North East, MD. For age groups 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16. Loaner fishing rods and bait available or bring your own. Free picnic lunch for all with hot dogs, water, and snacks. RSVP to John P. at poepoe090900@gmail.com or Daniel R. at dano5191@aol.com

14 frederick saltwater anglers club Monthly Meeting

Frederick Saltwater Anglers meet monthly at 7 p.m. at the Frederick Elks Club, the second Wednesday of every month. Food starts at 6 p.m. and we have speakers, vendors, and raffles with 50/50s. Call Rob at (301) 606-0392 for more information.

15 a chesapeake Perspective

This new series moderated by FishTalk Angler-in-Chief, Lenny Rudow, will feature industry leaders from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic region with whom viewers will be able to engage with by asking questions during the live stream via Facebook on YouTube. 7 to 8:30 p.m. “Expanding Angler Access.” fishtalkmag.com/ chesapeake-perspective

16-18 antique and classic Boat festival and the arts at Navy Point Wooden classics, vintage race boats, and other antique and Chesapeake Bay-related boats come to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD, along with artisans and craftspeople for this annual Father’s Day weekend event.

16-17 ocMD tuna and tiaras tournament Ladies tuna tournament in Ocean City, MD. A portion of all registration fees benefits Women Supporting Women.

# Mark and his dad doubled up on sailfish on a winter trip to Guatemala.

# John Handel hit the 24-inch mark with this beautiful rainbow trout in the Patapsco.

# Eli caught his first fish all by himself, a mighty fine pickerel, casting into the waters of the Magothy.

# The Hasses went south this winter, and enjoyed some quality ‘cuda time.

# Maverick caught this whopper of a bass fishing in a pond in La Plata.

# We’re not sure we’ve ever seen a fish smile at being caught, but Hunter’s parrot fish (reeled up in Islamorada) certainly seems to be grinning.

# kevin and kaitlin ran south for a break from winter, and found the snook biting at Siesta key.

# Ryan and his friends went crappie fishing in the morning, then enjoyed some action on the Middle Bay.

# Mady caught this Susquehanna catfish after casting some worms out into the river.

# Layla scored a MONSTER jigging on the Middle Bay this March.

# Henry caught this 45-incher while fishing with Fish With Weaver. That’s one heck of a rockfish, Henry!

# Ike got into some beautiful rainbow trout this spring in Calvert County.

# Gary trolled up some megarock this March.

# Louis and Jeff scored some river monsters in the Potomac.

# Sean Boomer caught this monster jigging just before the spring closure.

# This 38.75-incher took Chris for a serious ride, towing the kayak for about a quarter of a mile before finally being bested.

# Even with a broken arm, Young Buck (Jameson) managed to reel in this massive crappie at North Shore Campground in v irginia Beach. WTG, Young Buck!

# Seth tied into this smallmouth on the Susquehanna casting a black and orange Mepps spinner — on his first cast of the day.

# Talk about a big crappie – Gary measured this one at 16.25 inches!

# Isaac found the shad chomping at Mason Springs as the weather warmed up.

# Teddy was fishing with Capt. Robert Smith of Adventures on the Water when this beautiful redfish struck.

# Logan jumped aboard with Capt. Tom Weaver this spring, and landed this beaut of a Severn pickerel.

# David Saavedra tied into a 47 — his PB — on second trip targeting C&R trophies from the kayak.

# Brian Conner tied into a nine-pound west side snakehead this spring. YUM!

# v irginia caught this beautiful drum this spring in the Lower Bay.

# Joshua welcomed spring by catching some shad.

# kenny had a great spring crappie fishing!

# Jim pulled up this preseason beaut just south of Bloody Point.

World Cat 260CC-X: Slice and Dice

World Cat has been on a steady march updating their line to the CC-X models, and the latest to get the update is the all-new 260. The number-one stand-out feature of the boat is, of course, the fact that it rides atop two hulls rather than one. Say what you will about the cat-versusmonohull debate, one thing is for sure: when it comes to the smoothness of the ride in a nasty chop, a spoon-like hull just can’t match the knife-like twin-hull entries. And since World Cat uses a planing compression tunnel (air gets compressed in the tunnel as it narrows moving aft; they call

By Lenny Rudow

it “VectorFlo”) for all their boats, the hull also creates its own shock absorber of sorts when impacting waves. But — if we’ve said it once we’ve said it a hundred times — we don’t expect nor want anyone out there to take our word for it. You need to go on a sea trial and feel how the boat behaves for yourself to get a full understanding of how it runs, and do your best to schedule it when the wind’s blowing. Our sea trial on the 260CC-X came on a day that was unfortunately calm, and (argh!) we didn’t get to enjoy the boat’s best attribute. That said, if you find smoothness of the ride the most critical aspect of a boat, you’d be missing

out big-time if you didn’t go for a cat ride when the wind was pumping.

The hull is, of course, just one aspect of a boat. Topsides, the 260CC-X is a fishing machine through and through. Six flush-mount rodholders come standard (four aft and two forward), the leaning post sports four rocket launchers, and the T-top has four more. The console has vertical racks for four per side. A 12-inch Garmin GPSMAP comes stock and a second can be added as an option. Another option of interest is the trolling motor pre-wiring, which you’ll need if you want to enjoy the benefits of a bow-mounted trolling motor. Considering the angling effectiveness

Q UICK Fa CTS

LOA: 25’6”

Beam: 9’0”

Displacement: 6750 lbs.

Draft (hull): 1’2”

Transom Deadrise: NA

Fuel Capacity: 180 gal.

Max. Power: 400 hp A REA D EA l ER

Bosun’s Marine, Grasonville, MD, (443) 347-6314 or bosuns.com

# The unique stern arrangement is a must-see.

of Spot-Locking in place and creeping stealthily through the shallows we’re calling this one a no-brainer, while also noting that this boat drafts a mere 14 inches — far less than most 26-foot monohulls. Other notables for fishing include fresh and raw water washdowns, spreader lights, a slide-out cooler under the leaning post, and flush U-shaped bow seating that can be stripped of the cushions and used as a forward casting deck.

Speaking of the forward casting deck: World Cat adds a unique touch here, with a forward seat that folds back to double its size and expose a nonskid fiberglass surface. That means you have fewer cushions to deal with stowing, and there’s no insert to worry about mounting in place.

In the stern this boat takes an entirely new approach to the layout, and it provides a fishability boost we’d expect to see copied by other boats in the future. Rather than have one of those wide transoms that forces you forward in the cockpit, which can make it tough

to get far enough aft to land a fish (much less work one around the outboards), the 260CC-X has a centered casting deck with a wide 50-inch fold-up bench seat. It’s flush with the swim platform running all the way back between the outboards, which makes it possible to move aft easily. And it folds all the way down to become an aft casting deck. Meanwhile, the corners of the cockpit gunwales are widened out to house a 30-gallon livewell on the starboard side and a 30-gallon insulated cooler/fishbox to port. There are larger fishboxes in the deck on either side of the console, and integrated into the bow seating.

Those who enjoy taking out the kids when the bite is slow will enjoy the fact that there’s a ski-tow bit on the top, a head inside the console, and a freshwater shower in the cockpit. The 260CC-X also has a

standard Fusion Apollo 670 stereo system with six JL Audio speakers, a USB port at the helm, and you can add an optional aft cockpit shade.

We ran the boat with a pair of Yamaha F200 outboards, which is the max power package for the model. At a mellow 3500rpm cruise we ran along in the mid-20s, at 4500 rpm we made speeds in the mid-30s, and at wide-open we hit 48.7 mph. That was fairly heavily loaded, too, with full fuel and three people aboard. Run this boat light, and you’ll beat the 50-mph mark. (The dealer mentioned hitting 52.)

Will the 260CC-X be the ideal boat for you and your family? That’s your call. But we can say one thing for sure: if you decide to take one for a sea trial and there’s a stiff chop on the Bay, you’re likely to step off this boat with an entirely new cattitude.

Grady-White 281 CE: exploration Sensation

For 2023 Grady-White expands its Coastal Explorer line with their biggest bay boat yet, the all-new 281 CE. This model line is aptly named. You want to explore the back-bays and creeks? With a minimum draft of 1’7” and the optional trolling motor rigged on the bow, shoal water sight fishing is in the cards. You want to run out into the open Bay and search for stripers? You couldn’t find a better boat for this application. There are yellowfin chewing chunks at the Hot Dog? With more interior freeboard (22 inches) than most hybrid bay boats and a Grady-White SeaV2 variable-degree deadrise hull, this fishing machine can handle those oceanic adventures better than some 28-foot dedicated offshore boats. Explorer, indeed.

Another reason this boat’s ideal for probing uncharted waters is its performance. When you’re going to try untested fishing grounds you don’t want to burn up a bunch of time slowly cruising around, and with a pair of F300s on the transom, this model can run along in the low- to mid-40s in the 4500-rpm range. Nail the throttles, and speeds in the upper 50s are in store. Added bonus: with a 160-gallon

fuel tank this boat carries one heck of a lot more juice than most hybrid bay boats its size, and when you crunch the numbers you’ll discover that if you throttled back to 30 mph (where you’ll get around 2.4 mpg), even allowing for a 10-percent fuel reserve you could cruise for close to 350 miles.

Of course, like all Grady-Whites the 281 CE is thoroughly equipped for

angling. Pull the cushions and put in the insert and the entire bow turns into a massive casting platform; there’s an elevated aft casting deck which houses an 18-gallon livewell; tackle stowage with six trays lives in the post, where you’ll also find a 38-gallon livewell; a pair of insulated fishboxes are under the bowdeck; there’s a massive 74-gallon fish/stowage compartment under the forward

Hot New Fishboats

Q UICK Fa CTS

LOA: 27’7”

Beam: 9’4”

Displacement: 5650 lbs.

Draft (hull): 1’7”

Transom Deadrise: 16 degrees

Fuel Capacity: 160 gal.

Max. Power: 600 hp

A REA D EA l ER

Tri-State Marine, Deale MD, (410) 867-1447 or tristatemarine.com

console lounger; and there are eight rodholders plus four rocket launchers on the T-top and four more in the leaning post. Still, the angling highlight in our humble opinion is that bowdeck design. With the insert in place we stepped up and faux-casted (there wasn’t enough time to fish for real since we jumped aboard for a spin during the Miami International Boat Show), and came to realize that you’ll have no problem posting multiple anglers up there. In fact, we don’t think it would be a stretch to take out five or even six anglers and still cast in comfort.

Speaking of comfort — this is no rough-and-tumble fishboat. In fact, it delivers about as much luxury as you could

hope for in a boat of this size and then some. Take the bow seating, for example. When the casting call is complete and you drop the cushions back on, you can press a button to electro-mechanically raise up the forward-facing seatbacks integrated into the bowdeck. Or, let’s say you want to go for a dip. Move aft, press another button, and the portside gunwale swings down to become a dive door and swim platform. Not that it’s tough to get to the aft swim platforms in the first place, because the transom seatbacks swing fore and aft then lock into place to create a walkway.

Other comfort-inducing, family-friendly features include an 18-gallon freshwater system, a Bluetooth stereo with a waterproof touchscreen and six speakers, autoretracting hydraulic trim tabs, 12-V and USB ports at the helm, and a compartment inside the console with an electric flush head. We’re putting the through-stem anchoring system into this category, too, since the anchor windlass with bow and helm controls will certainly be a lot easier to use than a rope and your shoulders. Are you ready to do some piscatorial pioneering? If so, it’s time to explore setting up a sea trial on the 281 CE. #

Ingenity 23: Hug That Tree!

You want a fishing boat that reduces your carbon footprint, helps battle climate change, and can be towed with a Rivian? The Ingenity 23 might just fit the bill. Think of it as a pontoon/cat/ deck boat with a Forward Drive stern drive powered by a 63- or 126-kWh battery bank. It can hit 30 mph and runs all day at “low speed,” so like many larger electric boats, range is a bit limited (and Ingenity isn’t publishing all the specs).

That said, if you’re looking to save the environment, catch your dinner, and spend around a quarter-mil at the very same time, you’ll want to give it a look. Note: you’ll need to break out the hole saw, because no rodholders come standard. C’mon Ingenity, anglers care about their carbon footprint, too — where’s the fishing model?! Visit ingenityelectric.com for more info.

For more fishboat reviews, visit: FishTalkMag.com/fishboat-reviews

# A large section of the port hullside swings down to water level at the press of a button.

Maryland Spring Snakeheads

We take a full-on tour of Eastern Shore snakehead country to discover the ins and outs of spring snakehead fishing.

By Butch Huber and Lenny Rudow

Butch Huber of Reel-All American Fishing Ventures on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a licensed snakehead fishing guide. Butch has a great rep for catching fish and generously donated to FishTalk’s Fish For a Cure effort two years in a row, so when we decided it was time to delve deep into the tactics of spring snakehead fishing, naturally, this is the guy we went with. And as we cast, we talked about the ins and outs of chasing after this invasive predator.

Q: What’s different in fishing for snakeheads during the spring as opposed to summer or fall?

A: In the spring you have to be slow and patient with your retrieves, while starting out with good search-baits like spinnnerbaits or chatterbaits. The fish act differently than in summer and they’ll be moving around a lot. Once it warms up, there are fry balls and you can see where the fish will be, and target them more specifically. But in the spring? You’ll have to work to find them.

Fall is different, too, because it’s a time of changing weather and the fish will focus a lot on transition areas from shallow to deep water. It can take some searching to find them then, but working methodically to figure out where the snakeheads are and what they’ll hit is key during the spring season.

Q: As spring arrives and the snakeheads start biting, what’s your go-to lure?

A: Probably number one is a spinnerbait, because it’s so versatile. You can fish it fast or slow, shallow or deep.

Q: How does the tide affect the bite, and how do you adjust to it?

A: Low water pushes them deeper, so you’ll want to target edges and drop-offs. And high water takes them up into grass edges and cuts. However, there’s a big difference between the effect of the tide on the Eastern Shore versus the Western Shore. On the west side the effect is a lot more pronounced. For some reason on the Eastern Shore it doesn’t seem to have quite as big an influence.

Q: Do you ever use live bait?

A: Personally I’m a lure fisherman. But I might use minnow as a last resort if they absolutely refuse to hit anything else I throw. It’s really just a matter of personal preference, though, and you can catch plenty of these fish on both.

Q: What’s your recommendation on gear — line, rods, reels, lures, and leader.

A: You want a heavy or medium-heavy rod with a fast action. Braid is my go-to, anywhere from 30- to 60-pound test will work, and I don’t use any leader

# Spinnerbaits are a great spring season search-bait.

or clips. I’ve tried them, and broken off because of it — I don’t like adding another attachment point that can fail. Which lures you choose really is a matter of personal preference. (Editor’s Note: Butch is a pro-staffer for Addiction Baits and Tactical Fishing Company, and we cast some of each as we fished. You can check them out at addictionbaits.com and tacticalfishingco.company.site).

Q: What do you think is the most misunderstood aspect of spring snakehead fishing?

A: Speed, usually the speed of the retrieve. If you go too fast in the spring you’ll miss a lot of fish and get a lot of short strikes. I probably sound like a broken record to a lot of my clients because I’m always saying to slow down.

When there’s a bite on topwater frogs it’s not the speed of the retrieve as much as the speed of the hookset. You need to give the fish time to get the frog all the way into its mouth and if you set the hook on the strike, you’ll miss every time. What I’m looking for is a solid three-count, but most people get excited and count way too fast in their head, so I tell them to count to five before setting the hook.

Q: What haven’t we talked about that people who want to catch spring snakeheads need to know?

A: Keep casting. And casting, and casting, and casting. Don’t give up, because these fish sometimes give you a very small window of opportunity and their behavior can turn on a dime. It’s not unusual to go all day with barely any strikes and then in an hour put 20 fish in the boat.

You can reach Capt. Butch at Reel All-American Fishing Ventures on Facebook or Instagram or at (410)-829-8966.

# Enter that snakish catch in the CCA Great Chesapeake Invasives Count and you could win some awesome angling prizes!

Turn Snakes Into prizes!

Don’t forget that the CCA Maryland Great Chesapeake Invasives Count is now on. Register for free on the iAngler app, log a photo of the snakehead on a ruler showing its length, and you’re automatically entered in multiple prize drawings for cool goodie ranging from Engel coolers to tackles hop gift certificates. Every fish you log gets you another entry and blue catfish and flatheads count, too. Visit ccamd.org to learn the details.

Travelling to Ground Zero

For those travelling to snakehead country, Cambridge, MD, is ground zero. From here you’re located close to the Blackwater River system, the Transquaking, the Chickamacomico, and all the associated tributary area waterways — all of which are jam-packed with snakeheads. You can hire a guide like Butch, bring your own small watercraft, or you can seek out one of the kayak rentals available in the area if you want to head out ISO snakes on your own. Plenty of shoreline fishing opportunities exist, too, but note that on sunny weekend days public access shoreline spots can get very crowded. Visit the Maryland DNR Public Angler Access Map via the dnr.maryland.gov website for information on shoreline access locations, boat ramps, and soft launches.

During our snakehead escapade we stayed at the Cambridge Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa, and Marina, a premier resort with 342 acres on the Choptank River. This place is utterly magnificent and has multiple restaurants, provisions on-site, and plenty of activities so non-anglers in

the family can keep busy during a stay. There are several other hotels in town as well as restaurants ranging from authentic Maryland fare to casual Mexican dining. Cambridge has a bustling arts and entertainment scene, too. More intel can be gathered at visitdorchester.org and choosecambridge.com

Non-anglers in the family will enjoy simply kayaking in these waters, where wildlife abounds. On any given trip you’ll see bald eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, multiple species of

ducks, herons, egrets, Canada geese, beavers, otters, and turtles. Lots and lots of turtles. If you get lucky you might even see sika deer or white tail along the shorelines. Those choosing to stay on dry land can visit Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge’s hiking, cycling, or driving wildlife trails and the Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center. Another area draw is the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center in Church Creek, and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge.

Shore neighbors

As the popularity of snakehead fishing has exploded in recent years two issues of concern have arisen: litter and parking. Visitors should be especially conscious that carrying out every bit of trash you generate is your responsibility and coming armed with a bag to carry out extra litter left behind by less respectful people is encouraged. Do not ever trespass or park where the signs say not to. If you arrive at a spot to find all the parking taken, which can happen on sunny summer weekends, simply head for other access points — there are many. Also note that at boat launches there are some areas reserved for boat trailer parking, and of course, you should never park in such a way that access to the ramp itself is impeded.

Northern Snakehead Channa Argus

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Transquaking River Chicamacomico River

Simple Snakehead Tacos

J ust about everyone agrees that snakeheads are great eating, but not everyone agrees about the best way to cook them. Grilled or fried snakehead bites are awesome, but this snakehead taco recipe takes it to the next level.

Ingredients:

• Chimichurri sauce

• Coleslaw with red cabbage

• Corn Salsa

• Lime slices

• Snakehead fillets

• Tortillas

Instructions:

1. Slice the snakehead fillets into bite-sized slices and put them in a zipper-lock bag. Pour in the Chimichurri sauce, and leave them in the refrigerator to marinade for a half-hour or so.

2. Put a splash of oil in a pan, heat it up, and fry the snakehead chunks until they’re cooked through and break apart easily with a fork.

3. Grill your tortillas for about 30 seconds per side (you can heat them directly on a stove-top). Lay on a heap of snakehead, a smattering of corn salsa, and a pile of slaw. Give the ensemble a spritz of juice from a lime slice.

4. Enjoy!

# These snakeheads that Eric and Zach snagged on the Little Blackwater will truly make some tasty tacos!

Offshore Fishing

presented by

Will we get an early tuna bite this season? Fingers are crossed!

By Staff

Just when will the waves of yellowfin begin pushing through out Mid-Atlantic waters? No one can predict it for sure. Sometimes it happens early, sometimes it happens late, and… well, for those who can bear the painful recollections, there have been seasons when the fish and the weather conspired to more or less ruin the spring season. Let’s hope 2023 is not one of those — and let’s be prepared to get in on this action the moment that tuna temptation begins.

Mode of Operation

Most of the time, this will be a trolling game. Early yellowfin are on the move as they head north, and it’s rare for them to set up shop and stick to any one spot for long. The hot bite can be dozens of miles away from one day to the next and just about every trip you’ll probably have to do some looking to find the fish. So, tactics like chunking and jigging generally aren’t yet in vogue.

The offerings are fairly simple. Most boats will put out a six- to eight-line spread. Skirted ballyhoo and maybe a daisy chain or two go on the long lines; don’t forget to put a blue/white back there somewhere. Spreader or splash bars run on the shorts or in a similar position from the gunwales, depending on just how your boat and your outriggers are set up. Rigged or skirted ballyhoo go on the flats. Old timers may well put a chain of cedar plugs back there on a flat line. They may also run a bird trailing a Green Machine daisy chain in the center way-back.

Note to modern anglers: that bird/ Green Machine rig seems to have fallen out of favor a bit in recent years, but there was a time when there wasn’t a charter boat running out of Ocean City that didn’t pull it. Truth be told it’s still one of the most effective yellowfin-pleasers out there. Rigging one up is simple: Get a 12-inch Boon Bird, add a 12-foot leader of 150- to 200-pound test, then put a Green Machine inline, then after another two to three feet of leader add a second inline Green Machine, and two

to three feet after that attach a third Green Machine with a hook. Try it and we’ll bet you like it.

Finding the Fish

The oceanic waters off our coast are very different early on than they will be later in the season. While the midsummer ocean warms up until it has a character that might be described as rather blah, at this time of year you can expect to find majorleague temperature differences from one area to the next, eddies rolling in off the Gulf Stream, and water barriers colliding. This is a time of year when finding the temperature breaks prior to leaving the dock becomes critical, or better yet viewing those breaks on your MFD as the shots come in. FishTalk supporter SiriusXM offers two plans that can help with your offshore endeavors, Marine Offshore Weather and Fish Mapping, which have all the data any service can deliver and then some — plus, it can be beamed right to your boat so you can view it at the helm. We’re not sure just how that can be beat, but regardless of what option you personally may choose to use for getting temperature break or

# The bird/triple Green Machine rig is a classic winner.

# The early bird gets the worm… and sometimes, the tuna fish.

Offshore Fishing

presented by

other ocean condition data, just be darn sure you get it because this is one of the times of year when it matters most.

Also remember that those breaks may hold fish (the stronger and more abrupt the break is, the stronger the possibilities) even when they’re located in areas one wouldn’t expect to find fish during other seasons. Don’t ignore a significant break merely because it’s over flat bottom nowhere near one of the usual hotspots. And don’t just blindly run for the canyons because, hey, everyone loves to go to the canyons. As an eddy or an edge moves those fish will follow, even if it’s in the middle of nowhere.

When you locate a temperature break, be sure to crisscross it and work both sides. The water may look better and run warmer on one side or the other, but that most certainly doesn’t mean it’s the side you’ll catch fish on. In fact, with yellowfins in particular it’s quite common to draw a blank in the “pretty” water and then mash ‘em up on the dirty side. These aren’t billfish, and they’ll happily chase the bait where conditions appear to be less than ideal.

Also keep your eyes out for visible standing rips and troll through them, but don’t focus on one rip line alone even if it looks magnificent. If the fish are there you’ll find out, and on a particularly

rippy day you can troll through dozens of them before a rod goes down. But often, one rip that looks like all the others will for whatever reason be magic. So, when you cross one and get a hit turn around — there’s a good chance your rods will go down again — but if nothing happens leave it in your wake even though it may look attractive.

We’ll say it one more time: we can’t predict exactly when the yellowfin will start showing up. That’s why we have our FishTalk fishing reports, to keep the current fishing intel flowing. But looking back through the years there’s an excellent chance that it will be this month. Are you ready to go get ‘em? #

When you’re 50 or 60 miles from the inlet, changes in the weather become no joke. One thing we want to point out about the SiriusXM satellite service is that it gets you a slew of weather data that can’t be beat. Sure, you have an app on your phone for weather, but does it work when you’re trolling in the Washington? Not a chance. SiriusXM weather goes well beyond what apps can tell you anyway, with wave height/period/direction, NEXRAD storm cell attribute information, radar, lightning strike, wind field, high-resolution wind forecast, and more, all rolled into the one service. All of this is piped to your MFD in near real time, and can be overlaid on your chartplotter so you can see exactly where you are and exactly what is coming your way. Visit siriusxm.com/marine to learn more.

# SiriusXM not only gives you a satellite’s view of the conditions far out of cell range, it includes critical data like wave heights, locations of lightning activity, and a storm’s direction of travel.

When I added SiriusXM... BINGO!

Earl Bentz, CEO, Caymas Boats

Boater receives complimentary service.

“I was making long runs and in essence fishing blind and hoping for a miracle. The day after I added SiriusXM with sea temperatures to my Garmins, BINGO! The birds, bait and fish were all concentrated on the temperature break line. Amazing — I will have SiriusXM Marine on all my boats in the future.”

Earl Bentz, CEO, Caymas Boats

Learn more at siriusxm.com/MarineOffers

Trial Offer Details: Activate a new monthly subscription to either: (i) SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping or (ii) SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping and the SiriusXM Platinum audio entertainment plan on the same device, and receive your first (1) month free for each activated service (a savings of $109.99 on Fish Mapping and $23.99 on Platinum service), plus get free device activation (an additional savings of $25). A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew every month thereafter and, at the beginning of your second month, you will be charged at then-current rates (currently, $109.99/mo. for Fish Mapping and $23.99/mo. for Platinum service). Fees and taxes apply. You must cancel your subscriptions during your promotional period(s) to avoid future charges. Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-800-985-9200. All fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer may be modified, suspended or canceled at any time. Subscription and hardware sold separately. Your Platinum subscription plan may be eligible for a multi-radio discounted rate if maintained on the same account as an activate full-price SiriusXM Marine Weather or Fish Mapping subscription package. $100 Rebate Offer on new hardware with subscription purchase.

NOTE: SiriusXM services may include weather, other content and emergency alert information which is not for “safety for life,” but is merely supplemental and advisory in nature, and therefore cannot be relied upon as safety critical in connection with any seacraft or any other usage. SiriusXM is not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies in the services or their use.

© 2023 Sirius XM Radio Inc. SiriusXM and all related logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its respective subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Photo credit: George Gozdz.

Yeocomico to Coan

The Northern Neck shoreline from the Yeocomico River down holds oodles of angling opportunity.

The Northern Neck of Virginia borders the Potomac River, but natural forces acting on the shoreline and inlets create conditions just like those found along the Eastern Shore’s oceanic coastlines and barrier islands. Receding lands have resulted in submerged sod banks, submerged islands, ruins, and remnants of failed shore protection structures that jut out into the longshore current flow. Additionally, tributary waters are home to substantial oyster farms with subsurface cages. Many of these features are spots to prospect for striped bass when they’re feeding shallow.

Site 1 on Chart 1 is a general marker for the northeastern approach to the Yeocomico River mouth north of Hog Island and the Hog Island Fish Haven. Today, Hog Island is the high ground at the end of a narrow peninsula rather than

By Wayne Young

an island. North northwest of the peninsula’s tip about 1850 yards is a natural rock formation at coordinates 38’01.701 x 76’28.585. Known locally as “Great Rock” this formation has several high points. The feature rises as much as 10 feet above the surrounding bottom and is a well-known local fishing destination.

Northeast of Great Rock about 2000 yards is the southwest corner of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission’s (PRFC) Hog Island Fish Haven The fish haven contains a substantial deposit of Wilson Bridge concrete demolition materials. Immediately southwest of the fish haven is an area of hard, rugged rock bottom with a rise of about five feet and which is about 400 yards long centered at coordinates 38’01.934 x 76’27.427. The ridge is oriented north northeast to south southeast. A six-foot wreck, Record Number 10470 in the Coast

Survey’s Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System (AWOIS), is a 39-foot cabin cruiser that sank in 1968 about 600 yards southeast of the fish haven’s southeast corner at approximate coordinates 38’01.834 x 76’26.969.

Hog Island, Site 2, was a barrier island that extended across the north side of Judith Sound in 1868. It was separated from the mainland by a short cut known as Judith’s Creek which led into Judith’s Sound on the west side. With erosion of the eastern end of the island, the sound has transformed into a shallow bay, probably filled in with the eroded sediment. However, some of the drowned eastern end is submerged sod bank.

The western side of the Hog Island remnant which juts out to the north is connected to the mainland by a wide beach that formed across the entrance to the creek. A little cut along the southwest corner of the remnant is probably Judith’s Creek. A jagged sod edge is on the Potomac side of the feature. Comparing satellite images from 2015 and 2021, it is apparent that the river side of the remnant has eroded and receded about 50 feet. A sandy beach that was on the north side was washed over Hog Island exposing the sod edge. When you see sand in the brush and trees, that’s the result of overwash from major storms which scoured the sand and transported it into the uplands where it was deposited.

The thin peninsula that ran east from the southeast corner has breached, leaving a little islet. Eventually, this too will disappear. The flood current follows the edge to the tip and runs towards the northwest. An ebb should flow from this little point towards the northeast. Try casting to this little point on both ebb and flood currents. Also prospect along the north side and off the eastern tip from the river side.

Chart 1: Geographic references and features from Yeocomico River entrance to Coan River.

Travis Point as charted applies to the entire neck and not just the north point. The Lewisetta waterfront on the eastern end of the point is lined with docks, some of which have adjacent pier ruins. Site 3 marks the south corner of Travis Point where rock armor extends around the corner along with a series of wooden jetties. A series of wooden jetties with loose rocks placed along the rear to middle sections project out from the shoreline.

Site 4 is a general marker for commercial oyster reefs and oyster farms on leased oyster grounds in the northern half of the Coan River, the Glebe, and

the mouth of Kingscote Creek. Most of the leased grounds have multiple spots where there are bags or cages full of oysters.

Site 5 is an intertidal breakwater that runs from Cowarts Point north northeast along the face of the neck. By appearance, this may have been a protective structure for an earlier shoreline. Try casting to the closed end at Cowarts Point and also the open north end. There is a circular anomaly in the shallows at coordinates 37’59.809 x 76’28.274. The northeast tip of the neck has several features that jut out from the shoreline. The water is very shallow, but might be worth a cast or two with topwater lures.

Great Point, Site 6, marks the southeast side of the Coan River mouth (the entrance channel is on the Hog Island side). The shoreline along the northeast face of the point is littered with fallen timber. The area immediately offshore is charted as foul. Satellite images show submerged fallen timber between the northeast side and Private Marker “1A” at coordinates 37’59.242 x 76’26.584. Water depths are rather shallow, but offshore submerged timber often attracts speckled trout and stripers.

Moving northwest of the point 600 yards brings us to one of three elongated mounds shown by the BDV “DEM” Color Shaded relief image for this area (Chart 2). Private marker “1A” is at the southeast end of the mound which is shown as about 200 yards in length. All are marked in general as Site 7.

When using shaded relief images or chasing shadows in satellite images, confirming data is helpful insofar as available because of the potential for artifacts and shadows in images that can be misleading. In this case, a Google Earth satellite image shows a line of intense underwater shadows where the BDV “DEM” image shows the first mound, which is the shallowest of the three. Water clarity and surface conditions obscured this feature in satellite images viewed from other resources. Best guess is that there are three low-profile mounds as indicated. There is another mound, also generally marked as Site 7, located 1600 yards west northwest of Great Point. This pronounced circular feature, also detected using the BDV “DEM” image, is at coordinates 37’59.456 x 76’27.647. Although the mound isn’t charted, it is just to the southwest of a short bubble in the 10-foot contour line.

Northern Neck tributaries offer sheltered locations to fish when conditions are unfavorable for small recreational craft on the Potomac or the Chesapeake Bay. The Glebe, Coan River, and Yeocomico River entrance have enough features to fill up more than a day of prospecting.

Stay tuned for next month, when we’ll take a detailed look inside the Yeocomico River itself. #

Wayne Young is the author of many books detailing bay and ocean structure, including “Bridges Under Troubled Waters: Upper Chesapeake and Tidal Potomac Fishing Reefs,” “Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs, Voyage of Discovery,” “Phantoms of the Lower Bay,” and “Hook, Line, and Slinker.” All are available at Amazon.com, and you can find his Facebook page at Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs.

Uncharted mounds in the Coan River entrance. Screenshots from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer.

Rigging for Beginners, Part III: Rigging baits

By Staff

There’s more than one way to put bait on a hook.

# Rig those livies right, and the predators won’t be able to resist.

What’s the easiest way to fool a fish into biting? Often, offering it live bait is the ticket. But getting that minnow from your bucket into a fish’s mouth is easier said than done. In fact, there are several ways to make it happen and which will prove most effective may change from day to day or hotspot to hotspot. Ready to get rigging? In our final installment of Rigging for Beginners, we’ll take a look at some of the most common baits and match them up with the rigs and lures we talked about the past few months. (And remember folks, if you missed any parts of the Rigging for Beginners series you can find them online at FishTalkMag.com).

Live Finfish

Whether you’re baiting up with a minnow or a menhaden, knowing where to place the hook in the baitfish is critical. The three most common locations include:

• Through the jaws or nose.

• Through the back forward of the dorsal fin.

• Through the back aft of the dorsal fin. So here we have just three options, but to make matters more confusing, each will prove more or less effective in different scenarios. So, let’s look at each in a bit more detail.

Through the Jaws or Nose

Siding the hook through the jaws, you’ll want to go in through the lower and out through the upper so the baitfish swims upright. When the hook pops out always check the point to ensure it doesn’t have a scale capping it (a common problem with bull minnow). Remember that you want to go through the jaws, not just the lips, so the bait’s attached firmly. And don’t go too far back through the fish’s skull or you might kill it and lose its appealing wiggle.

Choose the jaw-hooking method whenever you’re attaching a live bait to any form of lure. Adding a bull

minnow to a shad dart or bucktail, for example. Jaw hooking is also effective when you’re live-lining the fish on a bare hook, but note that with no additional weight the fish will usually swim at the surface.

Through the Back Forward of the Dorsal Fin

To apply this method insert the hook through the meat of the fish’s back just in front of the dorsal, and push it through so it comes out the other side. Be careful not to go so far down the fish’s back that the bend of the hook is completely filled or it will hinder the point from making a solid hook-up. Instead, go just far enough down the back that when you pop out the other side the hook won’t easily rip through the back.

This method works well when you want the baitfish to swim down in a current without any added weight. It’s also effective in set-and-forget situations, such as when suspending a baitfish under a float and letting it drift, or under a tip-up when ice fishing.

Through the Back Behind the Dorsal Fin

Run the hook through the bait just as you would when hooking froward of the dorsal. This is another method

# Three methods for rigging live baitfish

that works well when you want the fish to swim down or are setting it in place and leaving it alone. But never use this method when you’re in a stiff current or the boat is drifting. A live fish being dragged backwards through the water doesn’t look natural, and predators are more likely to look quizzically at a fish moving in reverse than they are to eat it.

Worms (Yay!)

What could be more nostalgic than fishing with nematodes? These wiggling wonders are the most numerous multicellular animals on the planet, and countless species of fish love to eat them. How you’ll turn that fact into a bend in your rod depends on a number of variables.

The first thing to consider is the

Grass Shrimp

Fishing with grass shrimp can be frustrating, because they’re incredibly delicate baits. Cast too hard and they’ll fly off the hook. Miss a nibble and you can bet that your shrimp is gone. But they’re also incredibly effective at times, especially when it comes to perch fishing, and shouldn’t be dismissed. Whether you’re threading them onto a bottom rig or sweetening up a shad dart, there are two targets to shoot for: you can push the hook in through the bottom of the shrimp’s head and out the top, or in through the bottom of the tail and out through the top. Either way produces bites and neither way stays on the hook all that well — pick your poison, make your casts gently, and if the shrimp are small stack multiples onto the hook.

# A common way to rig a grass shrimp is to push the hook through the head and out the top.

perch a single segment of the crab or even a piece of leg may be enough. A bull red drum, meanwhile, probably won’t be interested in anything less than half of a crab.

The best way to get crab to stay on the hook is by sliding the hook into and through a leg socket. In the case of peelers and hard crabs, most anglers will also pop off the hard back-shell and toss it over the side.

There are lots of other live baits out there, ranging from crayfish to clams to eels. And as you become a more advanced angler you’ll probably encounter situations where you’ll want to use them. But this selection of common offerings is more than enough to get you started, and hopefully, turn those baits into big rod-bending bites. #

up on parts I and II of the Rigging for Beginners

Catch

series at fishtalkmag.com/tag/fishing-beginners

# To rig a blue crab bait push the hook through an open leg socket and work the barb out through the bottom shell.

Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters: Find the Best Fishing Guide

By Staff

You’ve saved up some hard-earned cash and now you want to find the best Chesapeake Bay fishing charters around, to make sure your day on the Bay is an all-around awesome event? Of course you do!

Many anglers who don’t own a boat look forward to a charter fishing trip all year long, when they can enjoy getting out into open water and targeting fish they may not commonly catch. And anglers who do own a boat are often excited at the prospect of fishing with and learning from a professional. But all charter fishing operations are not created equal, and the best fishing guide for Angler A is not necessarily the best fishing guide for Angler B.

How can you ensure you’ll have that perfect day of fishing the next time you charter a boat? You can’t! Variables ranging from weather to a slow bite can make any day of fishing fall short of ideal. But if you do your homework and choose the best Chesapeake charter fishing operation for your personal needs, there’s a far better chance you’ll be happy with the outcome.

Character of the Captain

The number-one factor to consider is the character of the captain and crew. You can spend a day on the biggest, most beautiful boat on the Bay and catch hordes of fish, but still have a lousy time if you don’t get along with them. Conversely, you can be on a Clorox bottle of a boat and fail to feel a single tug, but still have fun when you’re surrounded by the right people.

If you don’t already know a captain and/or mate you get along with, you can learn a lot by word of mouth. You

can also glean a bit of info by checking Google and Facebook ratings, though these should always be taken with a grain of salt since online and social media ratings can be either sugarcoated, or on the other hand, made by someone with an ax to grind. But the very best way to judge the character of a captain is to meet them. Visit winter fishing shows (where many set up booths), attend seminars when they talk at local fishing clubs, or even walk the docks at the end of the day and strike up some conversations.

Choosing the best Chesapeake Bay fishing charter is easier said than done, but this guide to finding guides will help.

# Guides usually operate smaller boats, and may use more finesse-oriented tactics.

# Some of the larger charter boats on the Bay are certified to take dozens of people out on the water, and are a great option for angling office parties, team-building, and similar excursions.

Charter Fishing Boats

As a general rule you can depend on a professional charter fishing boat to be safe. The captains take their boats off the dock on a daily basis and want to come home at the end of the day as much as you do. But some people want luxuries like an air-conditioned salon. A clean head can be a consideration. You might want to fish from a relatively small, open boat similar to your own to learn more about how you can effectively catch fish on your boat. Or you might want a break from the usual exposure to the elements to experience fishing from a much larger boat than your own.

Which charter fishing boat will be right for you depends on the experience you, personally, are looking for. The critical thing is that you check out the boat either in person or in pictures ahead of time, to make sure it fits the bill. And if price is a factor, remember that as a rule of thumb the larger the boat is the higher the cost will be. Bigger boats cost more and burn more fuel, so you have to recognize that chartering prices will reflect that.

Fishing Style and Target Species

Different captains and boats use different types of tactics and tackle, and many will target different species depending on seasonality and availability. You’ll want to make sure you’re in store for the form of fishing you enjoy, and many charter fishing boats will be live-lining for rockfish one month and then trolling for blues and Spanish mackerel the next — so don’t make any assumptions. It’s best to ask ahead of time what the operation’s specialty is, what species might be targeted

at a specific time of year, and what type of tactics the charter uses.

You’ll discover that there’s a wide range of attitudes in this regard. Some captains will dictate the terms, period, and you won’t have any input on the matter. Others will ask, “what would you like to target and how do you like to fish?” Remember, however, that these people fish for a living day in and day out and generally know what they’re talking about. If you want to target redfish and they tell you the reds haven’t been around, listen to them. And if you insist on fishing “the hard way,” you have to accept that you might not catch many fish.

Fishing Charters Versus Fishing Guides

When talking tackle and tactics it’s a good time to distinguish between charter fishing boats and guides. Many people see them as one and the same, and there’s no dictionary definition separating them. But as a general rule of thumb, services that advertise themselves as “charter fishing” usually focus mostly on catching fish and less on the party’s hands-on learning. Most charter fishing boats operate with a mate who will set the lines and bait the hooks for you. You do the relaxing and the reeling. Their boats are usually 30-plus feet long and have a cabin, and while most carry up to six passengers (“sixpacks” in fishing lingo), some larger boats can carry dozens of people and specialize in big parties, team-building excursions, and similar trips.

Those captains who call themselves “guides” and especially “light tackle guides” tend to run smaller boats without additional crew. Some carry up to six

Our Guide to Charters and Guides

Remember that fishtalk has charters and guides who advertise with us (see page 59). We also have an interactive map on our website showing where they’re based and their contact information. Just click on the “charters” tab of the homepage to find it. Naturally, we think you should give them bonus points for helping to support fishtalk as they spread the word about their services. But the fact that they advertise in our magazine tells you something else, too. it tells you that they want to reach the recreational angling community here on the chesapeake Bay — you, the person reading these words right now. so if you don’t already have a favorite charter captain or guide, we hope you’ll start your search with these folks. after all, they’re playing a part in bringing you fishtalk, and thereby helping you catch more, bigger fish.

passengers but others may have a limit of four anglers. They tend to use lighter tackle and more finesse-oriented techniques, and usually provide more of a learning experience. If you can tie your own knots they’ll leave you to it, and if you can’t, they’ll show you how.

Of course, this isn’t true across the board and there are plenty of exceptions. The only way to really know what you’re getting into is to talk with the captain before you book, and be straightforward about exactly what sort of experience you’re looking for.

Okay: are you ready to find that perfect Chesapeake Bay charter fishing boat, perhaps go looking for the best Chesapeake Bay fishing guide for your needs, or maybe try both and see which you like more? Hiring a pro can be a great way to learn how to catch more fish, and it’s also a great way to simply enjoy a day on the Bay — whether you own your own boat, or not. #

# A day of Chesapeake Bay charter fishing can be exciting — very exciting.

Hopefully, you’ve already taken care of the usual wintertime trolling tackle maintenance chores. Your line is fresh, your reels are cleaned and lubricated, and your leaders are prepped. But savvy anglers know that you can increase your odds of success next season by going the extra mile. Add these five tricks to your gear prep regime and you’ll boost the chances of success every time you leave the dock.

Ninety percent of the trollers out there set the length of their lines by making their best guess — and that’s a huge mistake. Boost your catch rate this spring by ending this guesswork today. Measure off 75’, 100’, 125’, and 150’ distances on your reels, and mark the line with vinyl tape or by binding a short piece of colored floss around it. Some anglers prefer to splice in a short length of spectra. Whatever

By Lenny Rudow

method you choose, the critical thing is just that you do it, so when you deploy those lines you know exactly how far they’re out. The next time you respool, consider using one of the lines that’s color-coded for length.

What about “counting bars?” Assuming you’ve taken the time to measure out specific lengths and the corresponding bar-count for your particular gear and line, it’s better than outright guessing. But bar lengths from one reel to the next will vary, even between two identical reel models, if the amount of line on them (and thus spool diameter) varies. When freshly and evenly spooled by a pro they’ll be pretty close at first, but the first time a line snaps above the leader the measurements get out of whack. And if they’re spooled with lines of different diameter the variation can be huge in the first place. So, marking is a much surer bet.

Take out all your umbrella, tandem, and spreader rigs, and inspect them closely. Does the white look white? Does the chartreuse look chartreuse? Or, does the white look gray and the chartreuse look yellow? During winter layup plastic shad bodies collect dust and grime, and they may look pretty dingy the first time you take them out. Make them look like new with a damp cloth and some warm water, plus a squirt of dish soap. Soak the shad body in the soapy water for a minute or two, then rub it with the cloth. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. And if you find lures where the color has faded out with age, replace them entirely.

Same goes for any lures with filaments, like bucktails or parachutes, which can get dirty with age and will benefit from a cleaning. To get grime out hold the lure in a bowl of soapy water and run an old comb through the filaments.

Five things you can do today to catch more fish during the upcoming season.

You already know that water temperature plays a huge role in the way the fish will act, but do you know if your temperature gauge is correct in the first place? Many units are shipped from the factory without being calibrated. And over time even calibrated temp gauges will get out of whack. The specific method will vary by MFD manufacturer, so you’ll need to Google up your unit, and find out how to adjust the temperature. Then match it up with what a reliable thermometer tells you while your boat floats in the water at the dock.

If you have rods with one or more roller guides, when’s the last time you disassembled, cleaned, and lubed them? These things need annual attention to work properly, and the chances are great that roller guides are one of the most under-maintained items in your arsenal. After cleaning, lubing, and reassembling them, saw a rubber band across the rollers to make sure they’re spinning freely.

Many of us reuse our leaders year after year, which eventually leads to break-offs. Take out each and every leader that’s seen action and run your fingers down it, feeling for chaff or nicks. Also cut off all the old knots (which tend to weaken with age) and tie new ones. And if any leader is more than two seasons old, replace it.

Speaking of replacing things: if your mainlines are monofilament and they’re more than three seasons old, they need to go, too. Remember, monofilament is degraded by UV light and it has a limited lifespan whether you use it or not. If it’s been sitting on those reels year after year there’s a good chance your 30 pound test is now actually 20 pound test. Braid lasts a heck of a lot longer, although it can get weakened by abrasion. Most abrasion takes place near the end of the line so it’s a good idea to chop off and discard the last 10 or 15 feet of line on every rig, every season. Then shine a bright flashlight on the next 10 or 20 feet of line and look for bunches of little frays or hairs hanging off. If you see any, lop off that section of line, too.

Okay: now are you ready to get out there and troll, troll, troll your boat? We certainly hope so. And we hope that after you get busy with these trolling tackle chores, you’ll enjoy bent rods and full coolers all season long. #

If you hope to land a true monster, stop hand-setting your drags and start scale-setting them. Most anglers shoot for between 25- and 30-percent of the mainline rated breaking strength. After using a scale to set your drags, try pulling them by hand. You’ll likely be surprised at just how light — or just how tight — you’ve been setting them all along.

# Are your whites white, and your chartreuses chartreuse?

# When’s the last time that roller guide was disassembled, cleaned, and lubed?

Working Shallow Structure

By John Veil

You don’t need an expensive boat and a large fuel bill to catch fish. Small vessels like kayaks bring lots of shallow water areas into play and can be very productive. Most of my fishing is done from a kayak in water depths less than six feet, frequently trolling with light tackle looking for stripers and other species.

Features to look for include grass beds in depths of three to five feet and spots with vertical structure that rises off the bottom. The vertical structure can be rock piles, stumps, oyster shells, old building foundations, or other objects. One of my favorite May fishing locations has both, with grass beds near shorelines in various spots and some points that jut out into the current. What is more unique about this location is an area several acres in size with numerous vertical mounds in only four to five feet of depth. Those mounds rise several feet off the bottom and create a marvelous habitat.

Although I had been fishing on other portions of this site for several years, I first discovered this area of shallow structure in the spring of 2021. My elec-

tronics helped me find the otherwise unmarked boundaries of the mound area, with sonar and/or downscan showing the individual mounds. As I paddled back and forth across the area, my GPS marked trails on the screen showing everywhere I had been. Whenever I caught a fish, I marked a waypoint. After a few trips, I had a good pattern of waypoints that showed me where the mounds were and where the fish were likely to be. You can do the same at any location, as long as you do two critical things:

• Make sure you have trails activated on your GPS.

• Make sure to take the time to save waypoints, immediately, every time you hook up.

One day last May I finished with 41 stripers up to 23-inches trolling these mounds — and paddling around while catching fish like that certainly beats going to the gym for a workout. Now that I have them in my GPS I’ll be able to return to the spot and try the same trolling pattern to bring my lures close to the structure this May.

Tackle for shallow water, light tackle trolling includes six-foot, six-inch spinning rods with medium light or medium power, and 2500 or 3000 series reels. Ten-pound braid matches up well, with a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Jigheads trolled in water this shallow can be from an eighth to a quarter of an ounce with three- to five-inch paddletails; white and chartreuse often work well.

# A nice May fish from the shallows; upper right is a selection of good lures to try trolling around shallow structure.

# Marking bites and monitoring your track on GPS is a great way to learn an area while kayak trolling.

Fi SH i N g F O re CAST

Editor’s Note: We all know printed fishing reports are generalized, and weeks have passed before the report gets into your hands. 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. in the meantime, here’s our monthly prognostication.

Coastal

If you haven’t already prepped up for the spring tuna bite you’re behind the game — at some point during May the action should bust wide open. Stick with trolling at this time of year as the chunk bite commonly doesn’t develop for another month or more, and pay close attention to the SST charts because breaks can work like magic in May. Inshore remember that black sea bass come back in mid-month (and should be around in good numbers when the 15th hits), while back on the beach surf fishing action should be cranking up and with a little luck some chopper blues, big kingfish, and even some stripers will show up in the suds.

Freshwater

This is prime time people, prime time — for just about everything. Bass may still be bedded in some areas and in a post-spawn feeding frenzy elsewhere; look for them to complete their spawn and make the transition as a body of water warms up beyond their 55- to 65-degree spawning range. Crappie will be moving into the same mode shortly after the bass (their trigger starts at around 60 degrees). Trout sharpies should get out asap before spring turns into summer, and snakehead anglers are undoubtedly going to be out in full force this month looking for the first of the fry balls.

Angler Alert! When it comes to Chesapeake Bay striped bass we’re looking at three different regulatory areas in FishTalk’s zone of coverage this month, each with different specifications. And the rules and regs can sometimes unexpectedly change. Remember that it’s up to each individual angler to check the full details regarding regulations where and when they may plan to fish, and to know just which zone they may be fishing in at any given time.

Gathered over the past month by Dillon Waters

# Fishing reports editor Dillon Waters is pounding the water — perhaps right now — to keep up with the latest bite.

Way North

As May begins this entire zone will be closed for striper fishing, but May 16 the flats and some surrounding areas will be fair game; check the DNR Striped Bass Regulations maps to see where and when different areas are open. And if spring rock isn’t your thing, there will still be plenty to keep you busy: white perch should be in the lower portions of the river, some shad may still be around, snakeheads are waking up for the season, and of course catfish are an ever-present option.

u pper Bay

May marks the return of (what’s left of) Maryland’s trophy rockfish season, with the fishable areas expanding on May 16 and the size limit dropping from a 35-inch minimum to a 19-inch minimum (and an unchanged limit of one fish per person per day). There will be other options, though, as we look back at the last couple of seasons and remember that May provided a great blue and channel cat bite for boat anglers all around and shoreline casters at Sandy Point. The Baltimore creeks saw a serious snakehead blitz through this month, too.

Middle Bay

May marks the return of (what’s left of) Maryland’s trophy rockfish season, with the fishable areas expanding on May 16 and the size limit dropping from a 35-inch minimum to a 19-inch minimum (and an unchanged limit of one fish per person per day). Catfish will also be biting strong on the west side down to around the Thomas Point area (salinity depending), and by late this month white perch should be found in their usual summer haunts.

l ower Bay

May marks the return of (what’s left of) Maryland’s trophy rockfish season, with the fishable areas expanding on May 16 and the size limit dropping from a 35-inch minimum to a 19-inch minimum (and an unchanged limit of one fish per person per day). In PRFC waters the limit’s 35 inches for the first half of May (below the 301 bridge), dropping to 20 inches with two per day allowed May 16 (below the I-95 bridge). Virginia’s season starts May 16

# Wherever you do your fishing, it’s a good bet the catfish will be around - and biting - this month.

with one fish per person in a 20- to 28-inch slot. Whew! That’s a lot to keep straight, but keep it straight we must… unless last year’s early redfish run repeats itself along the west side and is too much temptation to resist.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and l ower Shore

Rockfish? Redfish? Speckled trout? Black drum? It all tends to happen a little earlier here along the Eastern Shore side than it does to the west and to the north, so all bets are off as to which of these species will provide the best action in May. One thing is for sure, however—all of them and then some are possibilities.

Way South

At the mouth of the Bay in May choosing what to fish for can be downright difficult. Heavyhitting drum should still be on the shoals, slot reds and specks will be terrorizing the bait in the shallows, flounder can be found on channel edges, and bluefish should have moved into town in full force. By the end of the month summer species like Spanish mackerel and sheepshead are likely to be around as well. Decisions, decisions…

# Brad Ditmars got in on the redfish action last year, and we’re sure he’s hoping for more of the same this spring!

Tips & Tricks

during the summer when water clarity drops you can get away using six- or even eight-pound leaders for crappie, which can be very helpful when fishing around heavy cover. But as water clarity improves in the fall, don’t forget to downsize back to four-pound test when they start acting spooky. photo courtesy of eric packard

do you have a few of these swinging around on your boat? pull those trebles and swap ‘em out for single hooks. Sure, you’ll miss a handful of bite, but both the fish and your fingers will thank you.

2

as Bay waters warm up, think “pink” when tossing plastics for specks. a surprising amount of the time this will be their color of choice. photo courtesy of travis long

giant blueline tilefish would make your day? don’t go anywhere you’ve fished for ‘em before and don’t go to a known hotspot. the biggest fish in the schools generally get fished out first and with more pressure on bluelines these days, you need to prospect for undiscovered territory to get the real monsters.

3 4 5

you have your sight set on slot reds and you know where they are, but a dead tide has killed the bite? try slow-trolling gold wobbling spoons close to bottom structure. When the reds sit deep and are inactive, the slow wobbler sometimes triggers an attack. photo courtesy of eric packard

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.

BROKERAGE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

21’ Trophy ‘99 $8,500 Jack kelly 609.517.2822 jack@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2022 Bayliner VR6 OB 150 EFI 4S Mercury Outboard, Extended Mercury Warranty until 5/14/2025, Hours - 27, karavan Trailer, Impulse Blue Hull w/ White Bottom, Boot Stripe, vR Series Graphite Lux Interior - Gray, vR Sport Package - Blue, Proarc Tower w/ Integrated Bimini Top, Windshield w/ Opening Center and Side Wings and more! $54,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20443

2021 Sportsman Heritage 251 CC Twin F150XCA Yamaha Outboards, Yamaha Extended Warranty until 8/7/2024, 51 hours, new trailer available, Steel Blue w/ White Bottom, Desert Tan Upholstery, White Powder Coating, Hard Top, and more! $139,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20367

2021 Cobia 280 CC Upgraded Yamaha F250NSB w/ Fully Electric SteeringHARD TO FIND! Only 28 Engine Hours, Extended Warranty until 4/28/2026, Custom Ameritrail Trailer, Custom order hull color, Anthracite Gray, and more! $197,995 R iverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20260

2004 Chaparral 290 Signature is well cared for, recently serviced and ready for cruising. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

25’ Triton 2486 ‘05 $49,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2021 Wellcraft 262 Fisherman is extremely well equipped with very low hours. Ready to fish and comfortable for family cruising. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

BOATs4HEROEs.ORg

POWER

2021 Sea-Doo FishPro iDF & Sound System, Rotax 170 HP, karavan Trailer w/ Spare Tire, Storage Cover, Bait Cooler, Bow Storage Hatch, Removable Transom Cooler w/ Rod Holders, Stereo, Garmin DF / FF /GPS, Trim Tabs, In-Dash Hour Meter, (5) Rod Holders, and more! $17,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20424

2020 Mako 19 CPX Upgrade to Mercury 150 4-stroke w/ only 175 hours, warranty remaining until 8/25/2023, 2020 EZ Loader bunk trailer, Lowrance Elite 9» GPS/ Fishfinder, Garmin EchoMap 74Sv GPS/Fishfinder, and more! $39,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20368

2012 Crownline 21SS 4.3L MPI 220 Mercruiser, Heritage Tandem-Axle Trailer w/ Spare Tire, Bimini Top w/ Boot, Bow Cover, Cockpit Cover, Carpet Runners, Sport Seats, Digital Depthfinder, Hour Meter - 175, Stereo w/ (4) Speakers, and more! $29,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20238

22’ Shamrock ‘96 $17,500 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2006 Sea Fox 236 Center Console Low hours on Suzuki 150Hp 4-stroke, includes trailer. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2018 Tidewater 232 LXF Well cared for and maintained. Includes trailer and is ready to see. Contact Troy Waller at 804.885.4090 or Troy@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2021 Sportsman Heritage 241 CC Yamaha F250XB w/ warranty remaining until 5/8/2024, Under 100 hrs, Boat has been lift kept, trailer not included, new trailer available, White Hull sides, Desert Tan Upholstery, and more! $99,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20295

2011 Parker 2510 XL Walkaround very well-equipped and cared for. Full Garmin electronics suite, trailer included. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

27’ Grady White ‘18 $209,000 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

29’ Tiara ‘00 $44,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Off Duty) 28’ Bertram ‘83 $35,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2017 Sportsman Open 282 CC Twin Yamaha F200XCA Outboards, Yamaha Extended Warranty until 07/21/2023, Hour Meter - 257, (trailer available), Ice Blue Hull, Powder Coating, Twin Simrad 12” GPS, Simrad vHF, Spray Shield Console Cover, Full Storage Cover, Windlass, Aerated BaItwell, Tackle Storage, and more! $149,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20447

(Hot Pursuit) 30’ Pursuit 3000 ‘00 $54,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Severn Sunrise) 31’ Tiara 3100 Open 1982 Dual Crusader 454, Furuno Radar, Plotter, Sounder, Digital Yacht AIT 2500. Spring commissioning is planned for the end of March 2023. $24,900 Call Charlie Iliff 410.227.1066

2020 Sportsman Open 312 CC Twin F300XCA Yamaha Outboards, Extended Engine Warranty until 5/30/2025, Hours - 209, Custom Painted White Engines, (trailer available), Steel Blue Hull w/ White Bottom, Canyon Tan Upholstery, White Powder Coating, Dark Hull Color, and more! $229,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20446

(Busted Flush) 32’ Stamas ‘78 $38,500 Bill Sudek 443.463.2583 bsudek@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2015 Edgewater 335 Express Pristine, one owner, installed with all the important options. Contact Anthony Flake at 443.994.4328 or Anthony@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Reef Dawg) 34’ Hydra-Sports ‘14 $260,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2015 Crownline 350 SY Twin Mercruiser 8.2L MAG 380Hp each, Bravo Series Drives, Axius Drive System - Joystick and Sky Hook w/ DTS, Aluminum Hardtop, Generator, AC / Heat, Electric Cockpit Grill, Stainless Steel Refrigerator, Galley, Head Compartment - (Shower with Adjustable nozzle, electric flush toilet, teak seat, cabinetry with solid surface countertop), Dealer Maintained, A Must See!! $229,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com www.riversideboats.com #20458

2021 Pursuit DC 365 very wellequipped with factory options as well as additional dealer installed upgrades. Lift and dealer maintained with very low hours and up to date service. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2001 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer very well cared for with several recent upgrades. kept in a covered skip and meticulously clean and ready for cruising. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2018 Tiara Sport 38 LS Low hours (160) on triple Yamaha 350’s, full encloser for helm, dealer maintained and well cared for by sole owner. Contact Jack McGuire at 401.290.7066 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2012 North Pacific 39 Pilothouse

(Game Hog) 40’ Robbins ‘99 $139,000 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2013 MJM 40z Downeast A beautiful example of the brand. Owner has spared to expense in her upkeep and maintenance. Contact David Malkin at 410.280.2038 or David@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

33’ Bertram ‘80 $45,000 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2011 MJM 36z Downeast Truly unique in its combination of comfort, performance, efficiency and good looks. Well-equipped and in very good condition. Contact David Malkin at 410.280.2038 or David@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

An excellent platform for extended cruising or the great loop. very wellmaintained with many convenience upgrades. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com

www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2022 Tiara Yachts 39 Coupe Your opportunity to own a like new Yacht. Purchased as a holdover until the next boat arrives. Contact Grady Byus at 410.533.9879 or Grady@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

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

MARKETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

MARINE SERVICES

Electronic Marine Annapolis is looking for a Full- or Part-Time installation technician and an installation assistant to install and service marine electronic and electrical systems on boats. Prior boat maintenance experience preferred. Our Full Time Tech’s work Monday to Thursday, 10-hour days. Pay and benefits based on experience. Our office is located at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard in Annapolis. Please email your resume to Sales@ElectronicMarine.com

P/T Delivery Driver - Baltimore City for three-day-amonth magazine distribution route in Baltimore City & surrounding area. 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. Contact Beatrice at 410.216.9309 or beatrice@spf-360.com

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 SERVICES

SLIPS AND STORAGE

TACKLE SHOPS

S CHOOLS

Virtual About Boating Safely Certification NASBLA Maryland State approved. May 6th, 9:00am-3:30pm. Register: https://form.jotform.com/230036811329449

Chesapeake Perspective

The Coastal Conservation Association and partners announce a second season of “Chesapeake Perspective:” three, livestreamed roundtable events featuring leading experts from the Chesapeake and Atlantic region who will engage in entertaining and thought-provoking conversations designed to spark innovative and real solutions to some of the most pressing issues confronting Chesapeake recreational anglers today, tomorrow, and in the years to come. Chesapeake Perspective is presented in partnership by the Coastal Conservation Association, American Sportfishing Association, BoatUS, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Yamaha Rightwaters, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland. The moderator is Lenny Rudow, FishTalk magazine’s Anglerin-Chief. The events take place the third Thursday in April, June, and September from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Topics include: April 20 – Opportunities and Impacts of Invasive Fish, June 15 – Expanding Angler Access, and September 21 –Habitat Preservation and Restoration. CCA Maryland executive director David Sikorski issued the following statement: “Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we implement effective solutions that begin to address some of the most pressing issues confronting Chesapeake recreational anglers. Our Chesapeake Perspective series is a step forward in that effort…” Join the conversation during the live streaming. Register today for free at fishtalkmag.com/chesapeake-perspective

40 u nder 40

Now in its seventh year, Boating Industry’s annual recognition program of strong young leaders continues to put a spotlight on a unique group of industry trailblazers. Selected from hundreds of nominations from across the industry, these young leaders were chosen based on their multitude of accomplishments and strengths, as well as their passion for the recreational boating industry and their promise to bring their industry into the future. Here at FishTalk, we wanted to offer congratulations to all those selected, but especially to our advertisers who were recognized.

When asked about recent accomplishments, Jason Baumgartner, operations manager at Riverside Marine, and also the vice president of the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County (MTABC), says he is most proud of spearheading a new winter boat show (The Chesapeake Bay Boat Show in Timonium, MD). He says, “I was on the operating committee along with the duty of show coordinator where I handled logistics of the show move in and move out. We are coming off our second year with the show with resounding success. In our second year, the boat show was 100 percent rented. The show included over 30 dealers and 80 booth vendors. The success of the show allows the MTABC to give back to our local boating community.” Regarding careers in the marine industry, he says: “If you are passionate about the water and the lifestyle associated with it, you can find a rewarding career in almost any type of job in the marine industry… You couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to find a career you enjoy in a field you are passionate about!”

Victoria Harris, sales manager at Pasadena Boat Works remarks that she was drawn to the marine industry because boating was always a part of her family’s life. She says, “I grew up on the water in Pasadena, MD. We had everything from canoes and paddleboats to sport and fishing boats.” Victoria takes a lot of pride in the presence she has had at her job. “I love meeting new customers and bringing them into our Pasadena Boat Works family,” she adds. “I hope to inspire others with my success and determination. I came into the marine industry at only 22 years old with little knowledge. I am now 27 and it is amazing how much you grow in just a few short years. Set your mind to something and chase it.”

New Product

AkzoNobel’s Awlgrip yacht coatings brand is launching Awlcraft 3000, the latest Awlgrip topcoat to feature enhanced color technology delivering truer and deeper colors for professionals and boat owners. The new Awlcraft 3000 system uses the same toner system as is used for Awlgrip HDT, which reduces complexity for Awlgrip distributors. Developed specifically for professional use, the system is coupled with AkzoNobel’s suite of digital color matching tools that support owners in finding the right color for their boat. Sharing the next generation color platform with Awlgrip HDT means it offers a deeper, truer, and more consistent color performance, while retaining the long-lasting, high-gloss finish that its Awlcraft 2000 predecessor is celebrated for. The launch of the new generation topcoat and clear coat comes in a landmark year for Awlgrip, in which it will celebrate its 50th anniversary. At launch, the Awlcraft 3000 Clear Coat and a set of ready-mixed colors will be available for the Asia Pacific, European, and North American markets that include the popular colors of: Snow White, Flag Blue, and Extreme Black. The full Awlcraft 3000 range will consist of a full range of colors, one clear coat, and one binder base (available later in 2023). Awlcraft 3000 will continue to use Awlcat #2 converter and Awlgrip Reducers. awlgrip.com

s end your c hesapeake Bay business news and high-resolution photos to kaylie@fishtalkmag.com

Curtis

1980 33’ Bertram - $45,000 David Robinson - 410.310.8855

2014 34’ HydraSports - $260,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

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

2018 27’ Grady-White - $209,000 David Robinson - 410.310.8855

2005 25’ Triton - $49,500 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2021 60’ Custom Phil Jones - $740,000 David Robinson - 410.310.8855

1999 40’ Custom - $139,000 David Robinson - 410.310.8855

1978 32’ Stamas - $38,500 Bill Sudek - 443.463.2583

1983 28’ Bertram - $35,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900

2020 30’ Scout - $349,000 David Robinson - 410.310.8855

2016 26’ Pro-Line - $79,000 Curtis Stokes - 410.919.4900