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44 Articles

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

“LOUISIANA ALLOWS OMEGA AND DAYBROOK BOATS TO KILL UNLIMITED NUMBERS OF REDFISH AND SEATROUT IN THEIR HUGE SEINE NETS. Disgusted, I watched the brief video on my monitor. “This is the reality,” says the narrator, Capt. Eric Newman, a top guide out of Venice, Louisiana, with the outrage evident in his voice. “This is what happens when pogy boats come around.” The camera zooms in to the white belly of a floating redfish. “Bull red, dead. There’s another out there,” Newman says. The camera sweeps, zooms in. “Another one out there, dead.” The camera moves, zooms in. “Another one out there.” Again the camera zooms in. “Dead redfish all around us.” The video zooms out to reveal bloated white bellies bobbing at the surface. This is just off a beach in the Mississippi River Delta.…

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

CIRCLE BACK TO J HOOKS

While circle hooks have increased in popularity for their conservation and hook-setting benefits, some captains say anglers might be missing an important point: J hooks perform more effectively in certain situations. When targeting fish with small mouths, such as tautog and winter flounder, or when pursuing aggressive gamefish, such as tuna or mahi, captains often choose J hooks. Traditional inline Js also work best when replacing lure trebles with single hooks (a process that also offers conservation benefits), and for targeting certain soft-mouthed predators such as swordfish. But choosing the right hook always boils down to a case-by-case approach. STRIPERS AND BLACKFISH “We’re trying to keep the mortality rate for striped bass low, so there’s a big push [soon a legal mandate] to use circle hooks,” says Capt. John Luchka (longrunfishingcharters.com) of Point Pleasant,…

CIRCLE BACK TO J HOOKS

BARRAMUNDI (Lates calcarifer)

FLAMBOYANT HAWAIIAN Q I caught this oblique-banded snapper in deep water off Kona, Hawaii. I’ve noticed that a lot of the fish I catch from deeper areas—600 feet, and more in this case—seem to have rather showy color patterns. Because I would imagine it’s fairly dark down there, why would this be? Steve WozniakAlamo, California A Oblique-banded snapper or gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus) are members of the Etelinae subfamily of deep-water snappers within the family Lutjanidae. Other closely related members of the Etelinae, which also live in waters up to 1,000 feet deep in various locations throughout the Indo-Pacific, include ruby snapper (Etelis coruscans) yellows-triped red snapper (Etelis carbunculus), and the pink snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus). All of these fish have something in common: a predominately reddish or pink body color. Short wave-lengths such as…

BARRAMUNDI (Lates calcarifer)

TAMING THE BEAST

In the early and mid-1980s, I was fortunate to experience trolling for yellowfin and bluefin tuna off Block Island, Rhode Island, using plastic-skirted lures. When nearby tuna busted bait on top, the breathtaking excitement was second only to witnessing one crash a trolled lure. It never occurred to us that anglers would soon be casting big lures to these stunning fish and landing them using spinning outfits. “THE EVOLUTION OF HEAVY POPPING RODS ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE LATE 1980S WHEN JAPANESE ANGLERS TARGETED GIANT TREVALLY WITH LONG RODS AND BIG LURES. HOW IT STARTED Back in 2005, some anglers starting in the “tuna-pop” sport were using extra-heavy muskie or striped bass rods rigged with big-surf reels to cast top-waters at breaking fish. These outfits were cumbersome and tiring, especially with heavy mono line. Randy…

TAMING THE BEAST

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

“LOUISIANA ALLOWS OMEGA AND DAYBROOK BOATS TO KILL UNLIMITED NUMBERS OF REDFISH AND SEATROUT IN THEIR HUGE SEINE NETS. Disgusted, I watched the brief video on my monitor. “This is the reality,” says the narrator, Capt. Eric Newman, a top guide out of Venice, Louisiana, with the outrage evident in his voice. “This is what happens when pogy boats come around.” The camera zooms in to the white belly of a floating redfish. “Bull red, dead. There’s another out there,” Newman says. The camera sweeps, zooms in. “Another one out there, dead.” The camera moves, zooms in. “Another one out there.” Again the camera zooms in. “Dead redfish all around us.” The video zooms out to reveal bloated white bellies bobbing at the surface. This is just off a beach…

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

MULTIFACETED MACHINES Garmin has debuted two new series of multifunction displays—GPSMap Plus (pictured) and EchoMap UHD. The Plus series brings increased engine-integration and OneHelm third-party-integration capabilities to 7- and 9-inch displays. The new series allows anglers to monitor their outboards as well as critical onboard systems on one screen. The UHD series is a new line of midsize (7- and 9-inch) keyed and touchscreen-with-keyed-assist combos that come with built-in support for Garmin’s Ultra High-Definition scanning sonar and Panoptix LiveScope. Both series are available with preloaded BlueChart g3 cartography. UHDs cost $499.99 to $1,149.99, and Plus units cost $899.99 to $2,899.99. BEACH BABY Okuma says its new Rockaway long-casting, surf spinning reel is a compact, long-stroke reel with a lightweight graphite body, rotor and side plates, which provide corrosion resistance in the harsh surf…

IGFA NEW WORLD RECORDS

A massive 102-pound, 3-ounce green humphead parrotfish [a] proved a prize for Leon Mark Weeks of Tokyo while fishing in the Seychelles last November. This all-tackle record is the first entry for the species (and won’t be easy to beat!). For 45 minutes, Margaret Shaughnessy of Medford, Oregon, battled it out with a 29-pound roosterfish [b] on 8-pound tippet. The rooster hit a Kinky Muddler fly near Isla Cerralvo, Mexico, last June. The catch defeated a 28-pound rooster caught in 2012. Steve Wozniak of Alamo, California, traveled to Mar del Plata south of Buenos Aires to catch an all-tackle-record 7-pound, 12-ounce Argentine seabass [c] (Acanthistus brasilanus) after the fish hit a squid bait last October. The angler defeated his own all-tackle record, also caught last year, of 2 pounds, 12 ounces. While fishing…

IGFA NEW WORLD RECORDS

CIRCLE BACK TO J HOOKS

While circle hooks have increased in popularity for their conservation and hook-setting benefits, some captains say anglers might be missing an important point: J hooks perform more effectively in certain situations. When targeting fish with small mouths, such as tautog and winter flounder, or when pursuing aggressive gamefish, such as tuna or mahi, captains often choose J hooks. Traditional inline Js also work best when replacing lure trebles with single hooks (a process that also offers conservation benefits), and for targeting certain soft-mouthed predators such as swordfish. But choosing the right hook always boils down to a case-by-case approach. STRIPERS AND BLACKFISH “We’re trying to keep the mortality rate for striped bass low, so there’s a big push [soon a legal mandate] to use circle hooks,” says Capt. John Luchka…

CIRCLE BACK TO J HOOKS

VALHALLA BOATWORKS V-41

Tearing across the ocean at 45 mph this past September, I surveyed New Jersey’s posh Atlantic City skyline like a lucky gambler on holiday. Aboard the newly launched Valhalla Boatworks V-41, I realized this must be what it feels like to beat the house and run away a winner, chips spilling from my pockets. How could it get any better? Built by Valhalla Boatworks, a freshly minted extension of the renowned Viking Yacht Company, the V-41 ranks as the flagship of this new luxury lineup, which includes the V-33 and V-37. Some might argue that the mega-powered center-console market already overflows, but the V-41 is different, breaking new ground in design, accommodations and performance. IMPRESSIVE PEDIGREE The V Series is the result of the cooperative effort of the Viking Design & Engineering team…

VALHALLA BOATWORKS V-41

BARRAMUNDI (Lates calcarifer)

FLAMBOYANT HAWAIIAN Q I caught this oblique-banded snapper in deep water off Kona, Hawaii. I’ve noticed that a lot of the fish I catch from deeper areas—600 feet, and more in this case—seem to have rather showy color patterns. Because I would imagine it’s fairly dark down there, why would this be? Steve WozniakAlamo, California A Oblique-banded snapper or gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus) are members of the Etelinae subfamily of deep-water snappers within the family Lutjanidae. Other closely related members of the Etelinae, which also live in waters up to 1,000 feet deep in various locations throughout the Indo-Pacific, include ruby snapper (Etelis coruscans) yellows-triped red snapper (Etelis carbunculus), and the pink snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus). All of these fish have something in common: a predominately reddish or pink body color. Short…

BARRAMUNDI (Lates calcarifer)

The sea stretched before me like a pane of glass as I piloted the new Scout 330 LXF out of the channel at the Ocean Reef Club and into the Atlantic Ocean off of Key Largo, Florida. Joining me for a test run on this warm, windless September morning were Scout Boats’ product specialist, Josh Slayton, and Sport Fishing group publisher, Scott Salyers. With a 10-foot, 4-inch beam, the 330LXF offers a 3-inch wider stance than its predecessor model, the 320 LXF, for a bit more room to fish, as well as entertain at times when angling is not a priority. The wider beam also contributes to greater roll stability at rest and while underway. Propelled by a pair of Yamaha 425 XTO outboards bolted to the integral motor bracket/swim platform, my…

When I fish from my Hobie kayak, I’ve noticed that everything slows down. Not only is my speed diminished due to lack of outboard propulsion, but my expectations slow too. I find more time to experiment with my electronics, and I’ve uncovered several key features in my multifunction display that have helped me better understand and learn about the marsh zones I fish. Because of that revelation, I asked electronics-makers and pros, who use their MFDs daily, to describe some of the tricks that all inshore anglers can explore to improve situational awareness and fishing success. CHART ART “The cartography is exponentially better now than anything we’ve had even two years ago,” says David Dunn, Garmin director of sales and marketing. “We’re also starting to see a gain in momentum for QuickDraw Contours. Every…

NEW BOATS & GEAR

PURSUIT DC 326 BY CHRIS WOODWARD WITH THE CURRENT popularity of dual-console boats among fishing families, it’s no wonder Pursuit has updated its popular DC 325 with the new DC 326. The 326 features a number of innovative changes, including a custom-infused windshield frame and curved side glass, all-new cockpit seating and a rotating helm seat. For anglers, Pursuit added five rod holders along the transom and a side door. The DC 326 also comes with a 26-gallon livewell in the starboard quarter, four more rod holders in the gunwales, and an option for six more on the hardtop. A portside wraparound lounge, forward bow and foldaway cockpit seating offer plenty of room for crew. Belowdecks, Pursuit added a new, larger berth with a convertible seat in the port cabin. The starboard console now…

NEW BOATS & GEAR

DRYING MACHINES When a console interior or cabin remains closed for any length of time, it can develop spots of mildew and mold, as well as a musty smell, due to condensation. Leaving such a space open to air it out can prove impractical because a sudden rain might leave it wetter still. Fortunately, there are simple devices to help keep boat interiors dry. For example, the Davis Air Dryr (available in two sizes, starting at about $70), the Golden Rod Dehumidifier (three sizes, starting at about $29) and West Marine’s Air Dryer with Fan (about $100) use 120-volt AC power to dry air in confined spaces. Star brite’s No Damp Ultra Dome (about $18.50) and the Marykate Moisture Control Bag (about $30) use absorbent crystals to draw moisture from the…

I remember my first set of trim tabs and how the system smoothed the ride of my 22-foot, outboard-powered center-console. It rode like a different boat, especially when facing a head sea. That was in 1990, and the experience quickly converted me into a believer. That belief has strengthened with the advent of advanced trim tabs from brands such as Bennett, Humphree, Lenco, Livorsi, Mercury Racing, SeaStar by Dometic, Volvo Penta and Zipwake. Newer systems offer far more features than the pair installed on my boat three decades ago. Yet all trim tabs work on the same tried-and-true principle of using adjustable control surfaces on the transom to create stern lift to improve hole shot, adjust a boat’s trim angle and correct for a list while underway. However, the nature of the tabs…

TAMING THE BEAST

In the early and mid-1980s, I was fortunate to experience trolling for yellowfin and bluefin tuna off Block Island, Rhode Island, using plastic-skirted lures. When nearby tuna busted bait on top, the breathtaking excitement was second only to witnessing one crash a trolled lure. It never occurred to us that anglers would soon be casting big lures to these stunning fish and landing them using spinning outfits. “THE EVOLUTION OF HEAVY POPPING RODS ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE LATE 1980S WHEN JAPANESE ANGLERS TARGETED GIANT TREVALLY WITH LONG RODS AND BIG LURES. HOW IT STARTED Back in 2005, some anglers starting in the “tuna-pop” sport were using extra-heavy muskie or striped bass rods rigged with big-surf reels to cast top-waters at breaking fish. These outfits were cumbersome and tiring, especially with…

TAMING THE BEAST

A Billfish Angler’s Guide to Costa Rica

Not until the early 1990s did sailfishing off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast attract major international attention, and by the turn of the century, Costa Rica was billing itself as the “sailfish capital of the world.” Just after that, however, sailfish numbers began to take a major hit, and many anglers ended up more disappointed than excited. But thanks to the adoption of regulations limiting the commercial exploitation of sailfish about 10 years ago, as described in more detail on page 60, sailfish populations have rebounded and remain strong enough to justify the country’s self-anointed title. For example, consider the one-day total from 43 boats during the second leg of the Los Sueños Triple Crown in 2016, when 1,103 sailfish were caught and released. But there’s more to Costa Rica’s billfish story…

A Billfish Angler’s Guide to Costa Rica

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Early in this century, the number of fish caught by anglers off Costa Rica began a steady decline, leaving tourists disappointed and charter fleets scratching their heads. Then it was discovered in 2008 that more than 600,000 pounds of sailfish meat were being exported to the United States each year, often ending up in restaurants as smoked-fish spread. Most consumers had no idea the tasty fish they were eating was sailfish. A small group of charter captains formed La Federación Costarricense de Pesca, or FECOP, a nongovernmental federation of sport-fishing interests to lobby the government, backed by science, to better manage Costa Rica’s territorial waters. (The country’s territorial waters are 11 times greater than the size of its land area.) The group lobbied INCOPESCA, the governing agency of Costa Rican…

If you should be interested in working as a mate for Anthony Mendillo on his Keen-M International fleet out of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, you first might need to prove your prowess with a garden rake. Bluewater anglers throughout the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean have always kept their eyes out for aggregations of often-elusive sargassum weed. Bunches of the orange-brown floating plants, driven by winds or currents, clump together in large mats, and bingo: instant FAD (fish-aggregating device) under which baitfish and small predators quickly gather to eat and not be eaten. Then come dolphin (mahi), wahoo and billfish. And anglers. Traditionally, when it came to sargassum, the most oft-heard complaint from fishermen was a lack of the stuff. Without it, finding fish on a featureless ocean could be…

MULTIFACETED MACHINES Garmin has debuted two new series of multifunction displays—GPSMap Plus (pictured) and EchoMap UHD. The Plus series brings increased engine-integration and OneHelm third-party-integration capabilities to 7- and 9-inch displays. The new series allows anglers to monitor their outboards as well as critical onboard systems on one screen. The UHD series is a new line of midsize (7- and 9-inch) keyed and touchscreen-with-keyed-assist combos that come with built-in support for Garmin’s Ultra High-Definition scanning sonar and Panoptix LiveScope. Both series are available with preloaded BlueChart g3 cartography. UHDs cost $499.99 to $1,149.99, and Plus units cost $899.99 to $2,899.99. BEACH BABY Okuma says its new Rockaway long-casting, surf spinning reel is a compact, long-stroke reel with a lightweight graphite body, rotor and side plates, which provide corrosion resistance in…

The Perfect Pitch

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OFFSHORE ANGLERS never leave the dock without pitch baits. Dead or alive, those baits can turn a fair day of fishing into an unforgettable one. “Every single day I go in the ocean, if there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of catching a marlin, I’ve got a pitch bait on. All day, every day,” says Capt. Matt Carter, who once ran charters out of North Carolina’s Oregon Inlet and now skippers private boats. Carter, who fishes from Montauk, New York, to Mexico, always keeps pitch baits rigged and ready because many fish show up unexpectedly. The baits also tempt fish that appear in a trolling spread or behind a daisy chain but show no interest in eating. “If a gaffer dolphin comes in, you need your pitch bait to be…

The Perfect Pitch

STICKS AND RIGS

▪ Capt. Casey Hunt of Key West, Florida, who kite-fishes with 20-pound Accurate conventional reels, suggests a 7-foot spinning rod and any brand of reel that holds 400 to 500 yards of fishing line for pitch-baiting. He ties a Bimini twist in his 20-pound Momoi Diamond or Diamond Illusion main line, creating 10 inches of doubled line. With an Albright knot, he attaches a 15-foot leader of 30-pound Momoi Diamond fluorocarbon tied to an Eagle Claw 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook. He hooks or bridles live pitch baits through both lips so that the baits don’t fly off when cast. While Hunt runs along a color change to set up a drift, each of his anglers stands ready with a baited spinning outfit. The prepared baits swim in either a 5-gallon bucket…

CEDAR KEY: FEAST OF INSHORE FISHING RICHES

I TURNED MY CAR ONTO CEDAR KEY’S MAIN STREET, AND TIME STALLED. THIS WEST COAST FLORIDA TOWN, NEARLY DESERTED ON A MILD MONDAY EVENING IN EARLY NOVEMBER, LOOKED WEATHERED, LIKE A WOODEN SHIP. A GAGGLE OF LOCALS GATHERED AT A PICNIC TABLE OUTSIDE THE QUICKIE MART. THE STREET LAY EMPTY. As someone who grew up in Florida, I remember these quaint coastal towns from my youth. But here was a 21stcentury glitch. My immediate thought: If this location is a legit throwback, what will its inshore fishing be like? I secretly hoped for historical abundance—primeval plenty. Cedar Key delivered. CLOSE TO EVERYTHING Tuesday morning, photographer Adrian Gray, Raymarine/FLIR marketing manager Jim McGowan and I met up with Capt. Jimbo Keith at Cedar Key’s boat ramp and marina. I remember asking Keith the day before…

CEDAR KEY: FEAST OF INSHORE FISHING RICHES

IGFA NEW WORLD RECORDS

A massive 102-pound, 3-ounce green humphead parrotfish [a] proved a prize for Leon Mark Weeks of Tokyo while fishing in the Seychelles last November. This all-tackle record is the first entry for the species (and won’t be easy to beat!). For 45 minutes, Margaret Shaughnessy of Medford, Oregon, battled it out with a 29-pound roosterfish [b] on 8-pound tippet. The rooster hit a Kinky Muddler fly near Isla Cerralvo, Mexico, last June. The catch defeated a 28-pound rooster caught in 2012. Steve Wozniak of Alamo, California, traveled to Mar del Plata south of Buenos Aires to catch an all-tackle-record 7-pound, 12-ounce Argentine seabass [c] (Acanthistus brasilanus) after the fish hit a squid bait last October. The angler defeated his own all-tackle record, also caught last year, of 2 pounds, 12 ounces.…

IGFA NEW WORLD RECORDS

Located along the stretch of Florida’s western seaboard nicknamed the Nature Coast, Cedar Key perches at the end of a state highway about an hour north of Crystal River. Its location reminds me a little of Venice, Louisiana, which some folks jokingly call “the end of the earth.” Speculators began developing the town of Cedar Key in the late 1850s, anticipating its growth as the western station on the Florida Railroad. The area and nearby islands were named for the eastern red cedar, a once‑abundant native tree. Merchant John Parsons and his business partner, Francis Hale, built the Island Hotel (above) in 1859 as a general store. The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 shut down the building boom. Historians speculate that the general store served as a barracks and warehouse…

FORSAKEN FRONTIER

Central and South America’s often-fabulous Pacific coast fishing is no secret. Proof of that lies in the proliferation of marinas, charters and fishing resorts from southern Mexico through Panama. While few areas are yet truly crowded with anglers, in many stretches, you can expect company on the water. ¶ Not so off Colombia. In three days of fishing during a springtime visit to that country’s Pacific coast, out of Bahia Solano, I saw precious few other boats, and those were being used for local transportation or artisanal fishing. In that respect, the country might be similar to fishing Panama a few decades ago. The coastal topography is certainly reminiscent of Panama, but anglers who like long stretches of water all to themselves will appreciate Colombia. And there’s more for sport fishermen…

FORSAKEN FRONTIER

VALHALLA BOATWORKS V-41

Tearing across the ocean at 45 mph this past September, I surveyed New Jersey’s posh Atlantic City skyline like a lucky gambler on holiday. Aboard the newly launched Valhalla Boatworks V-41, I realized this must be what it feels like to beat the house and run away a winner, chips spilling from my pockets. How could it get any better? Built by Valhalla Boatworks, a freshly minted extension of the renowned Viking Yacht Company, the V-41 ranks as the flagship of this new luxury lineup, which includes the V-33 and V-37. Some might argue that the mega-powered center-console market already overflows, but the V-41 is different, breaking new ground in design, accommodations and performance. IMPRESSIVE PEDIGREE The V Series is the result of the cooperative effort of the Viking Design…

VALHALLA BOATWORKS V-41

ATLANTIC TARPON: GOING PACIFIC

Early in this century, anglers fishing along the coast of Panama or Costa Rica reportedly hooked what they swore were Atlantic tarpon. These days, hooking big tarpon on the Central American Pacific Coast has become fairly commonplace. But their numbers seem to be increasing, and Colombia is a good case in point. While most of these fish are jumped off by the anglers, unsuspecting and unprepared for a fish that’s difficult at best to hook, the thrills are there. And Sport Fishing Colombia experts say it’s not just the odd fish but, more recently, anglers are encountering large schools of them and on a fairly regular basis. Such ostensibly growing numbers suggest the fish could be spawning and growing in the Pacific, and Ross Robertson, Ph.D., a leading expert on Pacific…

ATLANTIC TARPON: GOING PACIFIC

PLANNING A TRIP

Not so many years ago, internal and political unrest made Colombia a place most American tourists avoided. But in the past decade or so, that has changed, and the country has again become an appealing destination. We flew into Medellin. I had long associated that name with drug cartels, but in fact it surprised me as a large, vibrant, clean and new city. It’s set amid mountains (its 4,500-foot elevation keeps Medellin temperatures mild) and, at least in the part of the city we walked around, we found considerable green spaces. Also, prices remain a relative bargain, so far. For instance, a nice breakfast at the airport was $5, and a great ribeye steak dinner with wine, about $25. To reach Bahia Solano, we made the one-hour flight out the morning after…

PLANNING A TRIP

The sea stretched before me like a pane of glass as I piloted the new Scout 330 LXF out of the channel at the Ocean Reef Club and into the Atlantic Ocean off of Key Largo, Florida. Joining me for a test run on this warm, windless September morning were Scout Boats’ product specialist, Josh Slayton, and Sport Fishing group publisher, Scott Salyers. With a 10-foot, 4-inch beam, the 330LXF offers a 3-inch wider stance than its predecessor model, the 320 LXF, for a bit more room to fish, as well as entertain at times when angling is not a priority. The wider beam also contributes to greater roll stability at rest and while underway. Propelled by a pair of Yamaha 425 XTO outboards bolted to the integral motor bracket/swim…

When I fish from my Hobie kayak, I’ve noticed that everything slows down. Not only is my speed diminished due to lack of outboard propulsion, but my expectations slow too. I find more time to experiment with my electronics, and I’ve uncovered several key features in my multifunction display that have helped me better understand and learn about the marsh zones I fish. Because of that revelation, I asked electronics-makers and pros, who use their MFDs daily, to describe some of the tricks that all inshore anglers can explore to improve situational awareness and fishing success. CHART ART “The cartography is exponentially better now than anything we’ve had even two years ago,” says David Dunn, Garmin director of sales and marketing. “We’re also starting to see a gain in momentum…

NEW BOATS & GEAR

PURSUIT DC 326 BY CHRIS WOODWARD WITH THE CURRENT popularity of dual-console boats among fishing families, it’s no wonder Pursuit has updated its popular DC 325 with the new DC 326. The 326 features a number of innovative changes, including a custom-infused windshield frame and curved side glass, all-new cockpit seating and a rotating helm seat. For anglers, Pursuit added five rod holders along the transom and a side door. The DC 326 also comes with a 26-gallon livewell in the starboard quarter, four more rod holders in the gunwales, and an option for six more on the hardtop. A portside wraparound lounge, forward bow and foldaway cockpit seating offer plenty of room for crew. Belowdecks, Pursuit added a new, larger berth with a convertible seat in the port cabin.…

NEW BOATS & GEAR

DRYING MACHINES When a console interior or cabin remains closed for any length of time, it can develop spots of mildew and mold, as well as a musty smell, due to condensation. Leaving such a space open to air it out can prove impractical because a sudden rain might leave it wetter still. Fortunately, there are simple devices to help keep boat interiors dry. For example, the Davis Air Dryr (available in two sizes, starting at about $70), the Golden Rod Dehumidifier (three sizes, starting at about $29) and West Marine’s Air Dryer with Fan (about $100) use 120-volt AC power to dry air in confined spaces. Star brite’s No Damp Ultra Dome (about $18.50) and the Marykate Moisture Control Bag (about $30) use absorbent crystals to draw moisture from…

I remember my first set of trim tabs and how the system smoothed the ride of my 22-foot, outboard-powered center-console. It rode like a different boat, especially when facing a head sea. That was in 1990, and the experience quickly converted me into a believer. That belief has strengthened with the advent of advanced trim tabs from brands such as Bennett, Humphree, Lenco, Livorsi, Mercury Racing, SeaStar by Dometic, Volvo Penta and Zipwake. Newer systems offer far more features than the pair installed on my boat three decades ago. Yet all trim tabs work on the same tried-and-true principle of using adjustable control surfaces on the transom to create stern lift to improve hole shot, adjust a boat’s trim angle and correct for a list while underway. However, the nature…

A Billfish Angler’s Guide to Costa Rica

Not until the early 1990s did sailfishing off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast attract major international attention, and by the turn of the century, Costa Rica was billing itself as the “sailfish capital of the world.” Just after that, however, sailfish numbers began to take a major hit, and many anglers ended up more disappointed than excited. But thanks to the adoption of regulations limiting the commercial exploitation of sailfish about 10 years ago, as described in more detail on page 60, sailfish populations have rebounded and remain strong enough to justify the country’s self-anointed title. For example, consider the one-day total from 43 boats during the second leg of the Los Sueños Triple Crown in 2016, when 1,103 sailfish were caught and released. But there’s more to Costa Rica’s billfish…

A Billfish Angler’s Guide to Costa Rica

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Early in this century, the number of fish caught by anglers off Costa Rica began a steady decline, leaving tourists disappointed and charter fleets scratching their heads. Then it was discovered in 2008 that more than 600,000 pounds of sailfish meat were being exported to the United States each year, often ending up in restaurants as smoked-fish spread. Most consumers had no idea the tasty fish they were eating was sailfish. A small group of charter captains formed La Federación Costarricense de Pesca, or FECOP, a nongovernmental federation of sport-fishing interests to lobby the government, backed by science, to better manage Costa Rica’s territorial waters. (The country’s territorial waters are 11 times greater than the size of its land area.) The group lobbied INCOPESCA, the governing agency of Costa Rican…

If you should be interested in working as a mate for Anthony Mendillo on his Keen-M International fleet out of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, you first might need to prove your prowess with a garden rake. Bluewater anglers throughout the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean have always kept their eyes out for aggregations of often-elusive sargassum weed. Bunches of the orange-brown floating plants, driven by winds or currents, clump together in large mats, and bingo: instant FAD (fish-aggregating device) under which baitfish and small predators quickly gather to eat and not be eaten. Then come dolphin (mahi), wahoo and billfish. And anglers. Traditionally, when it came to sargassum, the most oft-heard complaint from fishermen was a lack of the stuff. Without it, finding fish on a featureless ocean could…

The Perfect Pitch

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OFFSHORE ANGLERS never leave the dock without pitch baits. Dead or alive, those baits can turn a fair day of fishing into an unforgettable one. “Every single day I go in the ocean, if there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of catching a marlin, I’ve got a pitch bait on. All day, every day,” says Capt. Matt Carter, who once ran charters out of North Carolina’s Oregon Inlet and now skippers private boats. Carter, who fishes from Montauk, New York, to Mexico, always keeps pitch baits rigged and ready because many fish show up unexpectedly. The baits also tempt fish that appear in a trolling spread or behind a daisy chain but show no interest in eating. “If a gaffer dolphin comes in, you need your pitch…

The Perfect Pitch

STICKS AND RIGS

▪ Capt. Casey Hunt of Key West, Florida, who kite-fishes with 20-pound Accurate conventional reels, suggests a 7-foot spinning rod and any brand of reel that holds 400 to 500 yards of fishing line for pitch-baiting. He ties a Bimini twist in his 20-pound Momoi Diamond or Diamond Illusion main line, creating 10 inches of doubled line. With an Albright knot, he attaches a 15-foot leader of 30-pound Momoi Diamond fluorocarbon tied to an Eagle Claw 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook. He hooks or bridles live pitch baits through both lips so that the baits don’t fly off when cast. While Hunt runs along a color change to set up a drift, each of his anglers stands ready with a baited spinning outfit. The prepared baits swim in either a…

CEDAR KEY: FEAST OF INSHORE FISHING RICHES

I TURNED MY CAR ONTO CEDAR KEY’S MAIN STREET, AND TIME STALLED. THIS WEST COAST FLORIDA TOWN, NEARLY DESERTED ON A MILD MONDAY EVENING IN EARLY NOVEMBER, LOOKED WEATHERED, LIKE A WOODEN SHIP. A GAGGLE OF LOCALS GATHERED AT A PICNIC TABLE OUTSIDE THE QUICKIE MART. THE STREET LAY EMPTY. As someone who grew up in Florida, I remember these quaint coastal towns from my youth. But here was a 21stcentury glitch. My immediate thought: If this location is a legit throwback, what will its inshore fishing be like? I secretly hoped for historical abundance—primeval plenty. Cedar Key delivered. CLOSE TO EVERYTHING Tuesday morning, photographer Adrian Gray, Raymarine/FLIR marketing manager Jim McGowan and I met up with Capt. Jimbo Keith at Cedar Key’s boat ramp and marina. I remember asking…

CEDAR KEY: FEAST OF INSHORE FISHING RICHES

Located along the stretch of Florida’s western seaboard nicknamed the Nature Coast, Cedar Key perches at the end of a state highway about an hour north of Crystal River. Its location reminds me a little of Venice, Louisiana, which some folks jokingly call “the end of the earth.” Speculators began developing the town of Cedar Key in the late 1850s, anticipating its growth as the western station on the Florida Railroad. The area and nearby islands were named for the eastern red cedar, a once‑abundant native tree. Merchant John Parsons and his business partner, Francis Hale, built the Island Hotel (above) in 1859 as a general store. The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 shut down the building boom. Historians speculate that the general store served as a barracks…

FORSAKEN FRONTIER

Central and South America’s often-fabulous Pacific coast fishing is no secret. Proof of that lies in the proliferation of marinas, charters and fishing resorts from southern Mexico through Panama. While few areas are yet truly crowded with anglers, in many stretches, you can expect company on the water. ¶ Not so off Colombia. In three days of fishing during a springtime visit to that country’s Pacific coast, out of Bahia Solano, I saw precious few other boats, and those were being used for local transportation or artisanal fishing. In that respect, the country might be similar to fishing Panama a few decades ago. The coastal topography is certainly reminiscent of Panama, but anglers who like long stretches of water all to themselves will appreciate Colombia. And there’s more for sport…

FORSAKEN FRONTIER

ATLANTIC TARPON: GOING PACIFIC

Early in this century, anglers fishing along the coast of Panama or Costa Rica reportedly hooked what they swore were Atlantic tarpon. These days, hooking big tarpon on the Central American Pacific Coast has become fairly commonplace. But their numbers seem to be increasing, and Colombia is a good case in point. While most of these fish are jumped off by the anglers, unsuspecting and unprepared for a fish that’s difficult at best to hook, the thrills are there. And Sport Fishing Colombia experts say it’s not just the odd fish but, more recently, anglers are encountering large schools of them and on a fairly regular basis. Such ostensibly growing numbers suggest the fish could be spawning and growing in the Pacific, and Ross Robertson, Ph.D., a leading expert on…

ATLANTIC TARPON: GOING PACIFIC

PLANNING A TRIP

Not so many years ago, internal and political unrest made Colombia a place most American tourists avoided. But in the past decade or so, that has changed, and the country has again become an appealing destination. We flew into Medellin. I had long associated that name with drug cartels, but in fact it surprised me as a large, vibrant, clean and new city. It’s set amid mountains (its 4,500-foot elevation keeps Medellin temperatures mild) and, at least in the part of the city we walked around, we found considerable green spaces. Also, prices remain a relative bargain, so far. For instance, a nice breakfast at the airport was $5, and a great ribeye steak dinner with wine, about $25. To reach Bahia Solano, we made the one-hour flight out the…

PLANNING A TRIP

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