Angler Apparel: Dressed to Protect

Hooking into a big gamefish on the open ocean and then fighting it to your boat is both a thrill and an addiction second to none. But a serious angler must endure sun, heat, humidity, wind, and salt water, so it’s imperative to dress for comfort if you want to thoroughly enjoy (and survive) the day.

What’s more, unless you want to put your dermatologist’s kids through college, you’ll need to protect your skin from the elements. Speaking of which, two skin protection ratings are often confused. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is the rating for sunscreen lotions applied to your skin. Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is what to look for in clothing. UPF is rated from 15-50. A UPF above 30 gives about 97 percent UV protection, so that should be your minimum. Try this angler apparel to keep your skin safe from the sun.

Picking an outfit for a day on the water used to be simple: cargo shorts and a T-shirt. Now, it’s full of terms like polytetrafluoroethylene, hydrophilic and hydrophobic. Clothing for fishing has gone technical, but the bottom line is it should keep you shielded, cool, dry, comfortable, and looking good.

Here are some examples for the well-protected, well-dressed angler:

Jackets

In the tropics or during the summer months, you (usually) don’t need a jacket to keep warm, but keep one handy for those occasional rain squalls. Look for jackets that are breathable and waterproof (not water-resistant). Check that zippers and stitching are
waterproof and that there are sealed pockets inside and out for your stuff. Storm flaps over the zippers are a bonus as are cuff closures to keep water out and chafe protection that goes easy on your neck. Tip: If you’re fishing offshore, stay away from camo jackets
worn by fishermen on rivers and streams—if you fall overboard, you’ll be hard to spot.

WindRider’s Pro Foul Weather Jacket

WindRider’s Pro Foul Weather Jacket is designed by boat builders, and is waterproof and breathable with fully taped seams, roll-away hood with a bill, and has a double storm flap and zipper to keep water out. A high, fleece-lined collar protects from wind.

MSRP $137; windrider.com

Gill OS24JW Fishing Rain Suit

Gill knows a thing or two about being around water. The new women’s OS24JW fishing rain suit is a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic technologies to keep you 100 percent protected.

MSRP $349; gillmarine.com

Shirts

Don’t even think about spending a day on the water in just a T-shirt, you’ll fry your arms—long sleeves and high collars are the way to go. Shirts should shed heat through vents or special fabrics. Go for high UPF ratings; many have antimicrobial treatments that control odors (after eight hours, you’ll thank me) and fabrics that are soft on the skin.

AFTCO’s Barracuda Geo Cool Hooded Long-Sleeve Shirt

AFTCO’s Barracuda Geo Cool hooded long-sleeve shirt uses its Geo Cool fabric to cool you while wicking away moisture. It features vented mesh panels on the sides, an integrated vented face mask in the hood, a UPF 50 rating, and thumb loops to keep sleeves from riding up.

MSRP $70; aftco.com

Guy Harvey Women’s Turtles Haven Long-Sleeve Shirt

It’s not just guys that have to worry about the sun; ladies do, too, and the Guy Harvey Women’s Turtles Haven long-sleeve shirt has performance and styling with Guy Harvey’s artwork. The 88 percent poly fabric is comfy, antimicrobial and moisture wicking with a UPF 30 rating.

MSRP $36; guyharveysportswear.com

Columbia’s PFG Bahama II Long-Sleeve Shirt

The PFG Bahama II long-sleeve shirt from Columbia is practically an angling tradition—as
capable in the cockpit as it is stylish at the yacht club with its button-down collar. The shirt is made with fast-drying, lightweight nylon (Omni-Shade, UPF 30 fabric) and features mesh-lined back vents and tabs on the upper arm to roll up the sleeves. It has four chest pockets to store your essentials and comes in a variety of colors.

MSRP $48; columbia.com

Hats

The sun doesn’t care if you have a thick head of hair; it will bake your noggin anyway. A visor won’t cut it, nor a baseball cap (even if you wear it backward to be trendy). You
need a serious hat.

Sunday Afternoons’ Sun Guide Cap

Sunday Afternoons’ Sun Guide Cap provides head protection, neck shade and a face mask in a stylish package that adapts to your needs. It’s a baseball cap with a clamshell brim that folds so you can stuff it in your hip pocket. It uses a convertible ventilation system
on top to release the heat. Its microfiber cape is lightweight, ventilated and removable so you can wear the cap ashore. Even better, the cape snaps in the front to become a mask to protect your face.

MSRP $38; sundayafternoons.com

Quicksilver Pierside

When the action is a little slower, go with the traditional lifeguard’s hat. The Quicksilver
Pierside is made of 100-percent straw with an adjustable chin strap and gives all-day sun protection that looks cool and keeps you cool.

MSRP $20; quiksilver.com

Ultra Sun Hat from Coolibar

The “booney” hat has been a fave for decades. It combines a floppy brim with a chin strap for breezy days. You’ll find it at a number of stores from the classic Tilley to West Marine
to Columbia.

The Ultra Sun Hat from Coolibar is an astounding UPF 50+ in a booney style with removable face drape that has a shapeable wire around the nose piece. A chin strap and sizing cord in the crown make for a custom fit.

MSRP$55; coolibar.com

Shoes

There are a few folks that like flip-flops in the cockpit, but to fight a fish, opt for shoes that keep you planted on the deck.

Pelagic’s Pursuit 6” Deck Boot

Most of the time, it’s nice to keep your feet dry, and Pelagic’s Pursuit 6” Deck Boot is 100 percent waterproof.

The insole and cooling liner provide arch support, and the non-slip, non-marking sole has gutters to rid water whether you’re backing down on a big one or hosing down at the
dock. A nice touch is the stomp pad for easy boot removal.

MSRP $89; pelagicgear.com

Cognac & Vanilla Deck Shoe from Tucket

The Cognac & Vanilla Deck Shoe from Tucket is the perfect cockpit to cocktails footwear—it looks terrific, feels great and has drains built in to empty any unexpected water douse.

Rinse it off, stamp it dry and you’re off to the club.

MSRP $59; tucketfootwear.com

Face Masks

Perfect for the sportfishing angler, these stretchy masks cover your neck, your face and nose, and the dermatologist’s favorite part, the ears. They protect from the sun, wind and cool air.

Grundéns Fish Head Neck Gaiter

Long a supplier for commercial fishermen, Grundéns offers the Fish Head Neck Gaiter, a stretchy nylon/spandex mix with a UPF 50 rating that wicks away moisture and is quick-drying. When not used as a mask, the gaiter works as a bandanna or headband. Available in several colors and designs.

MSRP $25; grundens.com

Patagonia’s Sun Mask

Patagonia’s sun mask with UPF 50 protection sports a tapered design to cover the neck and stay in place. Seams are flat-sewn for minimal chafe, and the fabric minimizes instances of eyewear fogging and voice muffling.

MSRP $29; patagonia.com

By Chris Caswell, Southern Boating June 2019

Fishing an Inlet

There’s more than meets the eye when fishing an inlet. There’s much find in the rips, currents, and eddies.

The solid snook hit exactly where I expected, inhaling a large swimbait just as it fluttered out from beneath a bridge spanning a small pass along Florida’s southwest coast. As I hoped, the intersection of the boulder-lined shore with the fast current flowing between the bridge pilings caused my lure to sweep in a tight arc and drop into a small groove of deeper water as I drifted on the outgoing tide. It was there the snook was waiting to ambush anything that might struggle in the current. This is fishing in an inlet.

Releasing the 12-pounder back into the pass, I marveled at its trim, gold appearance. No monster, this one, but it was double the size of fish I had been catching on a set of nearby flats. “That’s the beauty of inlets,” I remember thinking to myself. “They always have a few big fish on the prowl.”

Open Secret, Open Season

It’s no secret that serious inshore predator fish species favor inlets. In fact, most expert anglers spend a lot of time working these areas with the hope of catching their largest fish of the year. Sure, you can tempt a few monsters in shallow backbay waters or pick big snook, channel bass, gorilla blues, and monster stripers out in the open ocean depending on where you are stationed along the coast, but inlets and passes concentrate predatory fish like few places can and allow sharpies to maximize their efforts.

“There’s a lot going on in an inlet to favor large predators over baitfish species,” says “Crazy Alberto” Knie of Tactical Anglers, a tackle company known for its popular Smart Lure series. “If you aren’t already looking for big fish there, you should be.”

According to Knie, who has fished inlets and passes from southern Florida to the northeast and hooked plenty of trophy-class stripers, snook, tarpon, and other species along the way, inlets feature a great combination of current and structure. “Any time you can bring those two factors together,” says Knie, “you’ve got a starting point. It’s a place where big fish are likely to congregate because they have an edge in power to deal with the current and ambush points in which to hold while waiting for baitfish overwhelmed by turbulence.

Read the Tides

Consider, too, where all that bait is coming from on an outgoing tide,” he adds. “Most inlets drain shallow flats, bays, and harbors. On strong new and full moon tides, entire schools of baitfish get sucked into the inlets and flushed out to sea. Down south, pilchards and finger mullet, along with big shrimp and the occasional menhaden, make up most of the menu. Up north, spearing, bay anchovies, and bunker are among the usual fare. The end result is a giant chum slick extending from protected shallows right out into the open
ocean, sound or gulf. No self-respecting trophy fish can pass up that buffet.”

As strong currents slice through sandy bottoms and create cuts, bars, and troughs, the rapid changes in depth also form rips and eddies. At the same time, bends in an inlet or pass make coves and points where baitfish gather to rest and regroup. Here, gamefish slice through schools of smaller critters pooled up by the current. Adding a bridge to the equation offers even more structure plus overhead lighting that creates late-night shadow lines where tarpon, snook, drum, blues, and stripers explode on passing baitfish silhouettes.

In the Night

“It amazes me how many serious anglers overlook the potential of fishing inlets after dark,” says Knie, who recommends tossing a Tactical Angler’s SubDarter lure under such conditions because it’s easy to work in a variety of ways from a straight, unbroken retrieve to a series of jerks and direction changes. “Either way, it presents a big silhouette and big fish like big baits. I’ve had bull reds on it, tarpon, snook, and even a few sharks. In the mid-Atlantic and northeast, it’s also accounted for cow stripers, big weakfish and slammer blues.”

Another great lure for fishing southern inlet waters is a Flair Hawk jig. It’s like a cross between a bucktail and a parachute lure. Work it close to the bottom with a pumping action to make it pulse during the day, and it will catch a multitude of species. Offshore Anglers makes a version they call a Redtail Flair Hawk that is a popular choice for targeting snook, redfish and jacks.

In northern waters, I favor bucktails and large soft plastic swim baits, although I’m likely to use a popper if bass or blues show on the surface. Live bait is yet another option, of course, with pilchards or shrimp favored in southern passes and live eels or bunker the preferred offerings from New Jersey north.

Know your Season

Water temperature enters into play with inlet productivity as well. In many areas, ocean temperatures can run as much as five to seven degrees cooler than those inside a bay or harbor. Early in the season, warm bay water flowing out of an inlet can turn on lethargic fish. Later in the season, rising tides usher cool water into the shallows to refresh summer species. Often, these fish will move up into inlets to feed.

“When you really get down to it, there’s little difference between fishing an inlet or another one,” says Knie. “Sure, there are more species to catch in southern waters than there are up north, and baits and lures might change from one place to the next, but the basic theory holds the same. Consider the tides, line up the structure, and work any holes, rips, eddies, or seams you can find. Keep an eye on other boats in the vicinity for safety’s sake, and never pass up the chance to work shadow lines beneath bridges on the graveyard shift.”

Having discussed the strong currents, rips and varied bottom configurations common to most inlets and passes, it should come as no surprise that these are not areas where you can let down your guard. Many skippers I know keep their engine running at all times, even while on the drift when fishing an inlet. That way, they can react quickly to stray waves or boat wakes bounding off the rocks, changes of direction in the current or a rapidly rising bottom.

Safety First

“Even though your engine’s running,” advises Knie, “keep your lights to a bare minimum and your music muted if fishing at night. Despite all that rushing water, big fish can still be quick to spook. The less they realize you are around, the better your odds of hooking a monster.”

Be aware, too, that you need to hold a secure position as you drop your bait or lure over the side. We’re talking heavy fishing sticks, big baits and, possibly, monster fish at the end of your line. Toss in a rogue wave or two, bouncy rip water, plus other skippers that may not quite possess your fine and courteous seamanship skills, and you’ve got an accident just waiting to happen.

Keep your drifts short and targeted to specific areas. Always watch the water, and be aware of boaters around you at all times. If you can do all that, and maintain your footing, you just might be able to haul a lunker or two from the inlet depths.

By Tom Schlichter, Southern Boating June 2019

Top Ten Fishing Gadgets

Boaters need a ton of gadgets and gear, even for just a day cruise. But anglers may need even more. Here are our top ten fishing gadgets for summer fishing.

Fishing is for everyone, experts and novices alike. Before you head out to the canyons, the beach, or your neighborhood pond, check out these top ten fishing gadgets for all your angling needs. From mugs to guns and everything in between, Southern Boating has the gadgets and gear you need to land the big one.

YETI 24 oz Rambler Mug

YETI adds to its stainless steel Rambler Drinkware collection with a 24oz mug. Available in stainless, black, seafoam, and navy colors, the unbreakable mug is designed with a cold beer in mind and features double-wall vacuum insulation, the YETI Quad-grip handle and is dishwasher safe.

MSRP $29.99

yeti.com

Rheos Gear’s Floating Cooper Sunglasses

Protect your eyes around the water with Rheos Gear’s new Floating Cooper Sunglasses. Embedded nose pads make for comfortable wear.

Additionally, the glasses include an enhanced grip against water and sweat. These polarized shades offer anti-scratch, anti-fog, and anti-glare lenses. They have 100 percent UV protection. The Coopers come in tortoise and gunmetal frames with a variety of lens color options, including thermal, marine, gunmetal, and emerald.

MSRP $50

rheosgear.com

Cressi Cherokee Ocean Speargun

The Cressi Cherokee Ocean Speargun keeps its traditional qualities but adds cutting-edge technical solutions. Features include an oversize trigger that aligns with the barrel to eliminate inertia, new integrated rubber load assist, and stainless steel, self-lubricating Teflon mechanism. The Cherokee Ocean has 16-millimeter dual bands with Dyneema wishbone and a unique magnetic loading system.

MSRP from $369.95

cressi.com

Kastking’s Crixus Line

Budget-minded baitcasters have a new choice in reels with Kastking’s Crixus Line. Named after the Roman gladiator, there are two versions. The Dark Star has seven plus one, stainless steel ball bearings and an anti-reverse roller bearing with a 7.2:1 gear ratio.

The Glacier White and Sea Spray have five plus one with anti-reverse bearing and a 6.5:1 gear ratio. Features include CNC machined aluminum spool, brass gears, aluminum handle, and SuperPolymer grips.

MSRP $56.98 for the Dark Star

kastking.com

Paralenz Dive Camera

Capture your underwater experience with the Paralenz Dive Camera. The patented, depth-controlled color correction system eliminates filters and automatically corrects to match the depth. A pressure sensor allows real-time depth and temperature to display in videos and pictures.

This is one of the fishing gadgets best for freedivers, SCUBA enthusiasts or those who spearfish. Made from military grade aluminum, the Paralenz is durable and waterproof to 820 feet.

MSRP $699

paralenz.com

Livetarget’s Glass Minnow Baitball Twitchbait Lure

Livetarget’s Glass Minnow Baitball Twitchbait Lure is ideal in clear water where fish get a good look at the bait. A favorite in weedy flats because of its floating ability, the lure is versatile and simple to use; twitch with a slow cadence or an aggressive retrieve. Livetarget’s suspending twitch baits can coax fish from just above the grass without getting fouled.

MSRP $12.99

livetargetlures.com

Fishidy App’s new Offline Mapping Feature

Wi-Fi or cell connectivity is minimal when fishing a remote location and makes finding or marking a favorite spot on the chart difficult. The Fishidy App’s new Offline Mapping Feature allows users to download new or preferred areas before leaving the dock and makes it accessible when there’s no service.

The feature includes depth contours, local fishing reports and more. The app is free with in-app purchases.

MSRP $49.99/year for a premium subscription

fishidy.com

Power-Pole’s Charge Marine Power Station

Power-Pole’s Charge Marine Power Station is an innovative, bi-directional marine battery charging and power management system that diverts power where it’s needed and keeps batteries continually charged and monitored.

The unit weighs seven pounds but is much lighter than carrying extra batteries. Control the settings through the C-Monster app. Works on all battery types and has a built-in emergency engine start. It’s definitely one of many fishing gadgets any troller needs.

MSRP $1,295

power-pole.com

Fifty Women Who Fish

Author Steve Kantner portrays the lives and passions of 50 extraordinary female anglers in his book, Fifty Women Who Fish. They come from different backgrounds and life experiences, but all are accomplished on the water and active in protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems—and they love to fish.

MSRP $59.95

whywomenfish.com

Beckson Marine’s D-5 Thru-Bulkhead Hose Fitting

Beckson Marine’s D-5 Thru-Bulkhead Hose Fitting makes clean work when routing drainage or supply lines through bulkheads. The D-5 fits any standard half-inch hose and installs in minutes. Versatile to use in a wide range of applications, the fitting is perfect for routing drain lines from livewells, baitwells, coolers, and tanks.

MSRP $30.55

beckson.com

BONUS:

YETI’s Cargo-Style Loadout Gobox

You probably have a cooler or two lying around, but what about a go-box? YETI’s Cargo-Style Loadout Gobox is waterproof, dustproof and can hold and protect everything from fishing gadgets and cooking gear to rangefinders and cameras.

The LoadOut GoBox is nearly indestructible to endure the sun, negative temperatures, and rough daily activities.

MSRP $249.99

yeti.com

Viking 68 Convertible

The new Viking 68 Convertible not only lands granders, it does so in grand style.

The new Viking 68 Convertible drew public acclaim in late January. Fresh from the New Jersey factory, the company’s demo model took first place at the 55th Annual Buccaneer Sailfish Cup Tournament out of Palm Beach with 25 releases.

A week later at Viking’s VIP Boat Show Preview in the company’s Riviera Beach, Florida, facility, invitees swarmed over this exciting new model before the general public got a look at her mid-February during the Miami Yacht Show. Viking never has a problem attracting attention with its new models. This 68 is everything you would expect from the family-owned and operated company. Because their mantra is about building a better boat every day—as they have for the past 54 years.

Winner Winner, Tuna Dinner

Designed as a tournament winning contender, its fishing prowess is obvious the minute you step aboard. The bi-level, self-bailing cockpit is 176 square feet and includes an air-conditioned observation mezzanine with an extended flying bridge overhang. This provides shade and comfort below and is aptly suited for tropical fishing hot spots like Mexico, Costa Rica and beyond.

Mezzanine appointments include standard amenities like bait freezer capacity, tackle stowage, a refrigerated drink box built into the salon step, and access to the walk-in engine room. The lower pit is equipped with a walk-through transom door and a transom fish box that can double as a livewell to complement recessed wells.

If you prefer a topside livewell set-up, the corner scuppers can be set up with threaded drain fittings to minimize water on the deck. Rounded coamings provide comfort when working the fish to the boat for a fast release. Efficient use of available space includes side lockers under the coaming to stow gaffs and tag sticks. It also conceals the Glendinning cablemaster shore power cords, as well as DC outlets to power deep, drop equipment and kite and teaser reels.

Viking is known for customizing each boat to the owner’s needs. The company’s demo program allows it to wring out systems and equipment best suited to the vessel’s intent. Our test boat, for example, featured a dedicated ice discharge receptacle in the mezzanine and a Seakeeper SK 26 gyrostabilizer in the lazarette.

Superior Livability

A fiberglass, electric sliding door leads to the salon. While the cockpit is all about fishing, the yacht’s interior is elegant and plush. Viking’s partner, WBC Design, created an exquisite environment of beauty and detail that is accentuated by Viking’s walnut joinery throughout. A dayhead is to starboard immediately inside the door. To port, an L-shaped Dewberry sofa with stowage below and a hi-low cocktail table address the home theater on the starboard side, a 49-inch HD TV that rises from the walnut cabinetry. Forward on the port side is a four-seat walnut dinette on a raised platform, which conceals a sizeable drawer that slides out to accommodate fishing rods and other gear. The bulkhead forward of the dinette is a perfect spot for another HD TV that can also serve as a monitor to show the yacht’s electronic displays from the flying bridge.

The galley boasts Viking’s popular island arrangement which allows 360-degree access and makes it easy for two or three people to use without creating a logjam. The bi-level Cambria counters complement the three bar stools and the Amtico flooring. Sub-Zero under-counter drawer-style refrigerators and freezers with their large capacity are ideal for feeding guests while long-range cruising or making tracks on the tournament trail. A microwave/convection oven, a trash compactor, a garbage disposal in the stainless-steel, under-mounted sink, a four-burner electric cooktop, and plenty of stowage for supplies, cookware and utensils are all standard fare. Throughout the salon and galley, air conditioning flows quietly from walnut grills above the valances and window-framed lambrequins. Just forward of the galley cabinetry and adjacent to the companionway staircase, a walk-in pantry serves duty for stowage and electric accessories.

Tried and True

A helm station on the flybridge provides sweeping views while fishing.

One thing missing in the salon is a step up to the galley level often seen on large convertibles to create more headroom in a stateroom below. That’s another subtle distinction about the way Viking designs its boats. Viking’s in-house design group and its demo crews use their boats vigorously. Constant tournament fishing and the travel those require between events allow the teams to fine-tune each model bow to stern. That includes items like headroom, so every onboard feature works and works well. The crew stateroom, for instance, with six-foot, four-inch headroom also offers secondary access through the engine room so the crew can tackle early chores without disturbing late sleeping guests. Upper and lower berths with innerspring mattresses, plenty of stowage, entertainment systems, and a nice size head with a fiberglass shower stall ensure that crew also travel first class.

Stately Staterooms

The master stateroom is a royal suite with plush carpeting, a queen-size walkaround bed with an upholstered headboard, end tables with reading lights, a 32-inch HD television, and a total of 18 drawers, lockers and other stowage compartments, not counting the bulk space beneath the bed. You could travel for a month and not wear the same outfit twice. Even so, there is a front-loading laundry center in the companionway as well as a deep linen closet and other stowage lockers. The master head features a Cambria countertop, a curved walnut vanity, a fiberglass shower stall with a seat and a custom one-piece door, Amtico flooring, an MSD system, and more stowage lockers. The forward stateroom is similarly outfitted with a queen-size bed and a private head and shower, while the port-side stateroom features upper and lower berths and private head facilities.

Viking’s reputation for its engine rooms displays similar 110-percent efficacy. Walking between the MTU 12V Series 2000 M96L engines supplied by Johnson & Towers is Disneyland for adults. Centerline headroom is six feet, six inches, and I had no problem walking outboard to reach batteries, the Spot Zero water system, the Aqua Matic desalinator, multiple Dometic air-conditioning units or other accessories. Our test boat had a second 29kW Onan genset (one is standard) with toolboxes atop each one. Forward on the port side is a dedicated room with the water heater, the MSD pump, condensate drains for the air-conditioning system and the Octoplex electrical distribution panel. Lifting a hatch exposes the central sea-water system that delivers ample flow to the livewells, wash down, ice chipper, air conditioning, and other critical water dependent units. The engineering is a textbook for proper installation with neat wiring, labeling, support, and chafe protection.

Steady at Sea

Taking the helm for a sea trial in the ocean off Atlantic City, the GPS blinked 42 knots a couple of times, but the top end remained at 40 to 41 throughout maneuvers. The sea had gentle swells, and the running surface displayed the due diligence Viking’s engineering group put into developing an effective strake pattern for the bottom. At speed, the water breaks away from the hull just forward of where the house begins and the strakes do a good job of throttling the spray.

It took a half hour of turning and cutting across the wakes before I could get so much as a few drops on the foredeck. Looking astern gives more clues to the bottom’s geometry: a very clean wake and minimal rooster tail. Even backing down was revealing, as the transom crown pushes water to the sides instead of digging in. The Viking 68 also utilizes the company’s proprietary VIPER steering with programmable independent rudders, which gives the boat amazing maneuverability matched to the swift throttle response from the quiet and clean-running MTU engines.

So fly

The flybridge is familiar to other large Viking stablemates with three Release Marine helm seats and a center console command station for good visibility over the long foredeck and cockpit. There is lounge seating with rod stowage underneath to port and starboard as well as a lounge forward. A big freezer, a refrigerated drink box, a sink, and freshwater outlet are among standard items. Our test boat also had an extensive navigation, communication and entertainment package installed by Atlantic Marine Electronics ($244,009), and a custom tuna tower/fishing ensemble from Palm Beach Towers ($180,786), both Viking subsidiaries, that allow the yacht to be delivered ready to fish and cruise, sometimes with special touches.

The PBT tower, for example, features aft contour legs that attach to the house to provide more walking space on the side decks and larger drop-down boxes for teaser reels and electronics in the hardtop overhead. This boat also had the new Furuno DFF3D multi-beam side-scanning sonar for deep water scouting and its new DRS25AX 3-D radar with a gearbox design and a high-powered magnetron for spotting birds feeding on surface baits.

To be sure, this new Viking is a hot ticket ready to fish, and the fish better watch out.

By Peter Frederiksen, Southern Boating September 2018

Specifications:

LOA: 68′ 7″
Beam: 19′ 2″
Draft: 5′ 5″
Displacement: 115,306 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 2,060/344 gals.
Test Power: 2x 1,945-hp MTU 12V Series 2000 M96L
Cruiser/Top Speed: 32.6/40.9 kts
Range: 496nm @ 32 knots
Price: $4,065,000 (base)

Contact:

Viking Yachts
(609) 296-6000
vikingyachts.com

The Best Fishing Lures

Top anglers spill the beans on the best fishing lures

Just about every serious saltwater angler carries around a tackle box or lure bag full of artificials. Some haul several to and from their boat on every trip. Simply put, fishermen want the best fishing lures. I’m no exception.

I want big ones, small ones, surface poppers, deep divers, and anything that wiggles, wobbles or rattles in between. But what if you could only choose one lure with which to fish? Which would it be? Here’s what a quartet of expert anglers with reputations for hooking the big ones have to offer.

Poppers on the Net

Hard fishing Nick Honachefsky is the host of the new hit Internet fishing show Saltwater Underground. For boat action with stripers, he’s addicted to topwater poppers, with a Stillwater Smack It, Tactical Anglers Crossover Popper and Creek Chub Knucklehead seeing roughly equal time.

“I’ll throw poppers as a search lure just about anywhere,” he says. “Off the New Jersey coast, they’ll raise stripers and gorilla blues. In tropical or southern waters, they draw strikes from virtually any large predator. If I could only choose one of the best fishing lures, it would be the Crossover Popper from tacticalanglers.com. At four and a half inches, it’s a size anything can eat.”

Top anglers claim that Tactical Anglers Cross Over Stalker is the alluring-est lure.

Matching the retrieve speed to the type of fish you target makes a big difference in hook-up ratio, explains this frequent flier. “For bass and snook, you want to work nice and slow. With jacks and little tunny, you need to almost rip the lure away from the fish. I like a seven and a half-foot St. Croix spinning rod rated eight to seventeen-pound test for this fishing. It’s light, for sure, but it can handle anything up to twenty pounds. For bigger fish, I’ll grab something more sturdy.”

Catch Honachefsky’s new show at tackledirect.com and follow him on Instagram at @nickhonachefsky. The show features everything from anglers on the docks to the top offshore pros, and each segment is only 12 minutes long.

Skitter Me This

Capt. Gary Dubiel of Speck Fever Guide Service in Oriental, North Carolina, is known as

Skitter done! A top fisherman swears by this lure.

one of the country’s premier guides for redfish and speckled trout. He works the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound and puts patrons on big fish using a variety of techniques. But when he just wants to have fun, out comes the new Rapala Skitter V. It’s an all-around, outstanding, inshore surface plug that catches a ton of stripers, speckled trout and redfish.

Dubiel favors a walk-the-dog retrieve, typically in shallow areas over wood structures, grass flats or extensive marsh edges, which he approaches quietly in his K2 Marie Frontier 210 Bay Boat.

“Every day can be a little different in terms of what the fish want,” notes Dubiel. “I tend to fish this lure a little slower than most anglers. That really lets the fish hear the rattle inside. If strikes come up short, you can slow it down even more or speed it up a little bit to elicit that bite.”

With lure color, Dubiel prefers a white belly and he doesn’t stress much over the top pattern. He will, however, opt for orange in tannin-stained water or for a black underbelly in especially clear water on bright days. Attaching the lure with a loop knot, he advises, allows for more side-to-side motion. “This lure will raise fish of all sizes,” he says. “You’ll catch anything from school bass to forty-inch redfish on it.”

A Tactical Approach

“Just one lure?” chuckles Alberto Knie. “Are you kidding me?” Knie is well known in the fishing industry as the head of Tactical Anglers. He’s also one of the most highly skilled and innovative fishermen I’ve ever met. From stripers to snook, clownfish to roosterfish, blackfish to summer flounder and even peacock bass, he’s mastered them all.

“For a combination of thrills and versatility, I’d have to go with the Tactical Anglers Crossover Stalker,” reveals this super sharpie. “It’s just a great inshore choice. I’ve used it for peacock bass, largemouths, smallmouths, stripers, snook, and even redfish. Some of the snook and stripers I’ve caught on it have surpassed the 40-inch mark.”

Knie works the Stalker using a simple walk-the-dog motion to drive predator species wild, and he loves that it casts a country mile, comes through-wired and sports 3X VMC hooks and a low-frequency rattle. “It’s indestructible, and the bone color wreaks havoc along the southwestern coast of Florida, especially in the mangrove stretches around Estero Bay,” he says. “Use a small, shallow-draft boat to probe backbay areas, and you can really clean up on the redfish during an evening bite.”

Vary your retrieve based on water temperature and species pursued, advises this trophy-catching guru. If chasing springtime snook or summer stripers, a slow retrieve around serious structure works best. As the water warms or the fish grow more aggressive, don’t be afraid to speed things up.

Make ’em Mad

Some claim the MirrODean is king in the quest for the top fishing lures.

A former game warden, Capt. Jason Semeyn of Shallow Water Escapes knows the Sunshine State’s waters better than most, especially Tampa Bay. One artificial he always carries along is a MirrOlure MirrOdine. It’s a hard bait he believes works on everything in inshore waters.

“This is a suspending lure,” says Semeyn. “Let it settle a few inches below the surface and retrieve it steadily with a few twitches mixed. One of the first times I used this lure, I drilled a 34-inch snook, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Fish just slam it.”

Semeyn likes to get his 23-foot Hanson Bay boat in tight to mangrove edges on the flats.

Snook in those shallows, he explains, act a little like largemouth bass. “If you know where they are, you can keep casting to the same spot until they get mad enough to strike. It’s a ton of fun hooking angry fish.”

A New Entry

As for me, I love Spro bucktails for summer flounder and stripers, topwater poppers for shallow water action anywhere, and soft plastic jerk baits for a gentle approach when predators seem spooky. Last fall, however, I got hooked on a new lure I helped Panther Martin design. Called the BigFin, it’s slender like a sand eel but sports a high dorsal fin that doubles as a weed guard.

I like the seven-inch, two-ounce size for big stripers, weakfish and large snook, and the five-inch, one-ounce version for school bass, redfish and slot-sized snook. Simply cast out and retrieve with an occasional twitch. The smaller size also slams false albacore when reeled fast enough to stay just below the surface.

By Tom Schlichter, Southern Boating June 2018

Photos Courtesy of Saltwater Underground, Shallow Water Escapes, and Tactical Anglers

Cobia Season in the Mid-Atlantic

It’s Cobia Season!

Cobia season is underway in the mid-Atlantic and runs through September 30th in Maryland and Virginia and through December 31st in North Carolina. The minimum size in Maryland is 40 inches with a daily catch limit of one per person per day or three per vessel.

Virginia has the same regulations except that only one fish can be larger than 50 inches. The minimum size in North Carolina is 36 inches with a daily catch limit of one per person/vessel per day; for-hire boats can possess up to four cobia per day.

The Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association based in Newport News, Virginia, has joined forces with the Old Dominion University Alumni Association to host the Monarch Cobia Classic July 19-21. The tournament will be hosted at the Yacht Club at Marina Shores, and organizers are hoping to make it the largest cobia tournament on the Atlantic coast.

First prize for the largest cobia will be $10,000 with cash prizes through the fifth place ($1,000). The tournament benefits the Old Dominion Alumni Association scholarship fund and Virginia Institute of Marine Science research. Anglers and non-anglers can enjoy the tournament awards and dock party Saturday evening.

odualumni.org/cobiaclassic

By Chris Knauss, Southern Boating July 2018
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Board

More Mid-Atlantic Updates:

Cruise with the Marine Trawlers Owners Association

Fishing with Kids

When you go fishing with kids, there’s more to it than grabbing the tackle box, rod, and reel.

Selma Radoncic grinned from ear to ear as she gently stroked the dorsal fin of a fat bluegill before we carefully released it back into the water. At the tender age of five, she was out fishing and loved every second of it. Only minutes earlier, Selma had caught her first fish, a six-inch largemouth bass, and celebrated with high-fives all around.

Now, she was on her fourth fish and would go on to deck some 20 more. It was a carefully orchestrated morning trip that saw us leave the fish biting. Even before we returned to the dock, it was apparent the young angler would be forever hooked. There was little doubt that her dad, Emir Radoncic, and grandfather, John Kurtz, would have a new fishing partner for life.

Industry surveys show that most anglers get their start in fishing as youngsters. In fact, studies reveal that very few people pick up the sport as adults. Thus, those first few trips fishing with kids need to be fun and successful if your child is ever going to see fishing as a favorite pastime. Unfortunately, indoctrination into the fishing world for many youngsters consists of a spur-of-the-moment trip with the minimal preparation. That may end in boredom or even frustration for both child and adult. That’s a shame because all it takes is a little insightful planning and success can be assured, even if the fish don’t bite.

Short Trips and Fast Action

One key point to remember is that kids have limited and varied attention spans. Thus, it’s generally best to keep first trips brief. One hour of fishing can offer enough fun for most kids. Two or three hours is plenty even if the fish are hungry. Remember that, to children (and most adults), the day’s last impression is often more important than the first. For example, an hour of good fishing followed by three hours of waiting for one last bite can undo a productive start. Quit while you’re ahead and your kids will beg for more.

It’s also important to realize that children need action and success when they go fishing. Although the promise of catching a big one may provide a grown-up challenge, it pales in comparison to the reality of a small fish actually tugging at the end of the line. Tuna and six-year-olds don’t mix very well, but a day spent catching scup or perch can be delightful.

In general, it’s a good idea to avoid large, overpowering or elusive species like cow stripers, large drum, tackle-busting blues, wary bonefish, or finicky trout. Instead, key on small, fast-biting and abundant quarry; you can always increase the challenge on subsequent trips. For the novice angler, summer flounder, croaker, porgies, snapper, grunt, catfish, perch, and panfish are ideal targets, as are many so-called “trash fish.”

Take sea robins, for example. These oft-maligned scavengers are perfect for getting kids started. While adults tend to consider them little more than bait-stealing pests, sea robins are really neat from a kid’s perspective. They are abundant and colorful, feed with abandon, have wing-like fins, make loud croaking sounds, sport a gaping, toothless mouth, and strike both lures and bait. They also fight hard. Fry ‘em up and they taste enough like summer flounder that few will know the difference. Call them “dragon fish” and they suddenly take on a mysterious aura. Just watch out for the spines that surround their head when you’re fishing with kids.

As a youngster, I loved to catch sea robins. I also fished with abandon for bluegill, perch, bergalls, and porgies (scup). I spent countless hours at a local tidal creek enticing spearing and killies (mumichugs) to bite on tiny beads of Wonder Bread. I’ll let you in on a little secret: Learn to hook a dainty minnow and you can catch anything that swims.

Homework is Key

Time is precious, but an investment in scouting goes a long way when it comes to scoring a successful first fishing outing. Before you bring the kids along, head out and make sure the fish are actually biting. Are the fish where you expect? Can you actually catch one? If not, do a little more prospecting before your protégé joins you.

As for fishing instruction, give a hands-on demonstration. Most kids can figure out how to cast and retrieve any basic fishing setup in about 15 minutes. Provide casting demonstrations and practice at the dock or in the yard before heading out. Learning to cast while the fish are jumping can be especially exasperating. With younger kids, grown-ups should bait the hook and unhook the catch for obvious reasons. Appropriate flotation devices should always be mandatory. Lay down the safety ground rules ahead of time. “Look before you cast” should especially be reinforced before allowing any fishing to commence.

As for actual tackle, start out with light gear that kids can handle and balance with ease. But choose a sturdier rod and reel over the inexpensive kid’s push-button spin-cast set-up commonly found in big box stores. As a rule, these cast poorly and don’t hold up well, which can lead to more disappointment than joy. Besides, you’ll be amazed at how quickly kids pick up the mechanics needed to use more grown-up gear if the fish start to bite.

Catch, Release and Have Fun

Fishing trips provide a great opportunity to introduce the topics of conservation and outdoors ethics to children. Long before anyone places a bait in the water, explain that some of the smaller fish will be released and discuss the techniques for letting fish go.

Of course, no matter how much you plan, there are going to be days when the fish just refuse to bite. If that happens, it’s okay to admit defeat. Fish for a bit, then switch gears and try some other fun activity. Rather than end the trip on a sour note, sample a little shellfishing, go crabbing, catch frogs or crayfish. You could fly a kite, collect driftwood and seashells, skip stones, explore a cove, swim in the shallows, have a picnic, or play tag on the beach. It’s all good, and associating these fun activities with going fishing is always a smart move.

To be certain, you really want to catch something on that first outing. But failing to score doesn’t doom the day. Most youngsters are simply happy to be out on the water spending time with you. Realize this one simple fact, and you’ll understand what many adults have forgotten but most kids already know: Catching fish is just a bonus.

Story and photos by Tom Schlichter, Southern Boating June 2018

Connley Fishing Rods

Connley Fishing’s Platinum Series Custom Fishing Rods start with a Calstar rod blank and feature Winthrop roller guides (or Fuji SIC carbine guides) with hand-shaped finger-notched grips and Winthrop adjustable terminator butts.

They’re the newest models Connley’s “when only the best will do” fishing rods.

MSRP $500-$700

connleyfishing.com

Get caught up with more fishing.

Dolphinfish Tagging in the Caribbean

Participate in the Caribbean Dolphinfish Tagging Initiative

The Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP) is running the latest study of Dolphinfish, sometimes known as Mahi-Mahi. DRP is the largest private research program aimed specifically at better understanding the movements, population dynamics and life history of dolphin fish around the world. They will be doing so with a dolphinfish tagging initiative.

In the U.S. waters of the Caribbean Sea, namely Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the program has been active since 2008 and deployed seven satellites and nine acoustic tags and has had 150 participants tag and release 742 dolphinfish. Since 2016, twenty vessels have contributed detailed catch information from more than 697 offshore fishing trips.

“The northeast Caribbean Sea is a key location to continue to expand the DRP to further describe local movements and regional connectivity with not only northern Caribbean Islands and the United States, but within the Caribbean Sea as a whole, which is largely unknown,” says Wessley Merten, Ph.D., director and president of the DRP, based in Rockville, MD.

Anglers who catch dolphinfish in U.S. Caribbean waters can participate in the dolphinfish tagging initiative. Send a photo and a brief description to Merten at wess@beyondourshores.org, on Facebook @tagdolphinfish or Twitter @dolphintagging. He and his team will incorporate the report into the DRP’s bi-monthly posts. Anglers who want to tag and release small dolphin can also request a tagging kit by emailing Merten or calling (787) 436-8300.

dolphintagging.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating May 2018

More Caribbean Updates:

Sport Fishing Tournaments in the Caribbean

Yellowfin Tuna in the Gulf

Let’s go fishing! Yellowfin Tuna are abundant in the Gulf Stream.

It’s prime yellowfin tuna month in the Gulf Stream off the North Carolina coast. If you only looked at the ads for North Carolina sportfishing or the fishing tournament schedule, you may assume billfishing is the best in fishing action.

But yellowfin tuna is the most popular catch for offshore North Carolina anglers, and for good reason—yellowfins are great tasting.

Put your drag setting to good use because catch restrictions allow anglers to take home a generous amount. Sport fishing enthusiasts are not limited to going out with the big boys; anglers can bring home a decent size catch in center consoles, too.

#fishon

fishing-nc.com

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating May 2018

More Southeast Seaboard Updates:

Wooden Boat Shows

World Famous Blue Crab Festival

National Maritime Day

Viking 44 Open

The Viking 44 Open delivers on so many levels, you’d swear she’s a lot bigger boat.

When Viking decided to beef up the other end of its sportfish boats, it introduced the 37 Billfish and a 42 Open outfitted with pod drives. Seeing an opening for yet another size slot to fill, Patrick Healey, the company’s president, and CEO, along with his design and engineering team, decided on a 44 Open with traditional drives to join the company’s much-admired line-up. But don’t let her size fool you. At 44 feet, she packs in all the horizon-chasing, battlewagon DNA found in her larger sisterships.

“We wanted the 44 Open to appeal to those coming out of the center consoles or new boaters looking for a family-oriented, easy-to-run sportfish that can and will offer comfort, safety, and our Viking performance,” remarked Healey. “She’s even a practical solution for those wishing to downsize as well.” Her sleek and low profile, subtle bow rake and eye-pleasing, gentle sheer all combine with the design of the wraparound windshield as it rises up from the foredeck to present that unmistakable Viking look. However, it is from the bottom up that the real story about this boat begins.

Built at the Mullica, New Jersey facility, a strong, resin-infused hull is a hallmark of a Viking build no matter the size and something the company has continually been developing over their 50+ years in operation. A hull-to-deck joint is utilized and again, is typically found in all its sportfish boats. “A sealed flange joint Is through-bolted and fiberglassed from the inside making the resulting structure extremely strong and watertight,” said General Manager John Leek IV.

Going the Distance

Viking goes the distance to ensure the entire Viking 44 Open is as robust as possible. The stringers are glassed to the hull then the floors are secured to the stringers and glassed to the hull. The bulkheads are also glassed to the floor and then into the hull and deck. “Everything that goes into that boat construction-wise comes together in a very strong, solid structure. It’s not any one thing but a combination of techniques,” Leek noted.

Leek’s statement rang true as no matter where I examined, whether it be door or hatch opening or closing, or underfoot on her decks, her sturdy build was quite evident. In the Awlgrip-finished engine room—accessed via the forward part of the cockpit area—and being a hands-on skipper myself, I found more than ample space around the pair of standard 800-hp MAN I6 diesels to do all critical maintenance checks or work, as well as having an easy reach to all pumps and switches. The dedicated space for the Seakeeper is also located here. In addition, there were some more important construction details to note.

Viking uses an aluminum extrusion, referred to as a saddle, affixed to the stringer creating a full-length engine bed. Getting it right is important, and Leek noted the exact positioning of the vibration isolators and the engine mounts themselves. “Making sure the drive train is aligned and sitting securely on those beds is essential to the smooth, stable ride of the boat,” he said. Other points are her main structural bulkheads with the light resin transfer method utilized on all lids, doors and hatches. In addition, the fuel tanks are infused and built integral to the hull.

Easy Owner Operations

With boats of this size being traditionally owner operated, Viking made sure everything that fits this profile was put aboard making the experience as good as it gets. “From families to a bunch of friends going out for a day or even several days of fishing, we can offer a package complete with everything they would need,” added Healey.

One merely has to step aboard the 119-square-foot cockpit area to know she is built for comfort and safety and ready for action. Along with the requisite in-sole fish boxes, I found a transom livewell and lazarette aft, a deck with deep channels to quickly drain deck water, and dedicated space already supplied for a Seakeeper gyro in the engine room. The mezzanine is set to starboard to accommodate the port-side access to the command deck and provides up close and personal seating for all the fishing action that is sure to happen there.

I particularly liked the centerline helm mounted on a raised platform. Given the large wraparound windshield, with its posts pushed back on either side to create a single, centerpiece of glass, I could see, even at the dock, the great sightlines afforded with the design.

Indeed, when I got to drive her once we were out on the ocean, whether doing hole shots, tight circles and turns, running straight and true, or backing her down hard where I
noted she pirouetted like a prima ballerina—all a testimony to her fine design and engineering—my view into the seaway was just as it should be. And, of course, there is the essential custom tower by Palm Beach Towers, a Viking subsidiary. By the way, this association allows the company to always have direct influence on the design, fit and finish, and quality control. The expert electronics install is courtesy of Viking’s own Atlantic Marine Electronics.

To port of the helm is a built-in console housing a tackle center, refrigerator, and storage locker. Over on the starboard side and aft is a seating area with a table. Access to the living accommodations is also to port, and Viking utilized every square inch of space to provide a livable and comfortable area in which to enjoy the time, whether it be overnight or longer periods after a day of fishing or cruising.

Livability Aboard

The seating area on the Viking 44 Open has ah a table is to port and a quite comfortable alternative sleeping area for weary fishermen after time spent in the cockpit. Opposite from the full galley is all the counter space and equipment necessary for complete meal preparation. The breaker system for the entire boat is on the aft bulkhead. “Our design means you do not have to go searching for a particular breaker. It’s all here,” remarked Healey.

The generous forepeak quarters, with a shared head to the central room, offer Viking’s attention to detail and excellent fit and finish work, as does the second stateroom located aft and under the command deck. Again, it’s a great space in which to catch some rest from angling action or for the kids to continue their adventures while underway, at anchor or in for the night. Regardless of where I looked, I found more than adequate storage room throughout the boat in which to pack clothing, fishing equipment, and food and drinks for extended time away from the dock.

All of this comes together in a very exciting package once the hull hits the water and she is off to fish or cruise. On my test day, with a rolling sea offshore of Atlantic City, New
Jersey, we were able to put this Viking 44 Open through her paces. I found her to be a nimble, quick-to-react boat, answering the helm with all the attitude of a sports car as interpreted by Viking. She is definitely the kind of Viking ready and willing to take her place in the company’s prestigious line-up of sportfishing boats. Healey is proud to say, “We strive to build a better boat each and every time.”

With the Viking 44 Open, it’s easy to see they’ve done it again.

Specifications

LOA: 45′ 1″
Beam: 16′ 4″
Draft: 3′ 10″
Gross Weight (Standard Fuel): 49,500 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 845/120 gals.
Power: 2x 800-hp MAN I6 diesels
Cruise/Top Speed: 30/34.5-35 knots (depending on fuel load)
Range at cruise: 345 nm
Price (base): $1,315,000
Contact: Viking Yachts vikingyachts.com or (609) 296-6000

By Ken Kreisler, Southern Boating December 2017

Red Snapper Count

Red Snapper

Red snapper, delicious, but also heavily fished, is the now the focus of an innovative federal and state collaboration.

Since 2018, all five Gulf states manage red snapper fishing for private vessels not just in state waters, but also federal.

NOAA Fisheries has issued Exempted Fishing Permits for each state to set its own private vessel angler season dates, collect landings data, and then close the season if and when its red snapper quota is reached.

Tasty red snapper is one of the most sought-after fish in the Gulf of Mexico, so fisheries managers carefully watch the populations of this deep water reef fish. NOAA Fisheries has set the 2019 red snapper season for recreational charter boats fishing federal waters 12 miles out.

The “For Hire” season starts June 1st and lasts for 62 days. You can only keep two, and they have to be at least 16 inches long. If you want to be in the loop, sign up for text message alerts.

For recreational anglers, individual states manage the red snapper seasons and other regulations for both state and federal waters. Each state is different.

Florida: myfwc.com

Alabama: outdooralabama.com

Mississippi: dmr.ms.gov

Louisiana: call (504) 284-2032

Texas: email julie.hagen@tpwd.texas.gov or call (512) 389-4620.

A Red Snapper Count in the works

Increasingly vocal pushback, especially from recreational anglers, has led to the award of
an in-depth, $12-million research initiative to accurately determine the abundance of red snapper in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico with a red snapper count.

An independent review panel convened by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium has picked a team of 21 scientists from universities in all five Gulf states. Their research will be coordinated by Greg Stunz, Marine Biology Professor at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a voting member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

The project has enthusiastic support from the person on top of the federal fisheries management pyramid, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. It is also supported by Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama who chairs the appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. Shelby said he hoped an accurate red snapper count in the Gulf could be determined “once and for all.”

Anglers will tag red snappers and report numbers and locations of previously-tagged snappers that they catch. Commercial fishing vessels will host observers to count fish brought aboard and their locations. Other on-the-water research tools will include remote-operated vehicles, camera sleds, scuba divers, and acoustics.

By Bill AuCoin, Southern Boating June 2019

More Gulf Updates:

Art Festivals in the Gulf

The Battle for Mobile Bay

Pursuit S 368 Center Console

The Pursuit S 368 (LOA: 37′ 11″, Beam: 12′) features an integrated hardtop and windshield system, transom extensions and class-leading styling detail for luxury center consoles. At the helm, Pursuit pairs Garmin electronics with Yamaha engine controls for seamless operation of the mechanical and navigation functions. Below the center console are amenities including a fully enclosed head, convertible sofa berth, large storage areas, and galley.

Above-deck social zones in the bow area, at the helm and aft in the cockpit give plenty of guest space. A forward sunpad and teak tables provide room for entertaining. Anglers will appreciate a 24-gallon livewell and two fish boxes, along with the raised mezzanine seat in the wideopen cockpit. When powered with triple Yamaha 300-hp engines, the Pursuit S 368 runs to a top speed of 49 mph, cruises at 32.1 mph and has a range at cruise of 317 miles utilizing the 425-gallon fuel tank.

pursuitboats.com

Return to the Center Console Roundup.

Jupiter 38 HFS

The Jupiter 38 HFS (LOA: 38′ 2″, Beam: 10′ 7″) is a versatile center console that is fully customizable. The boat’s hull design provides a smooth, dry ride in challenging sea conditions. With three motor options—dual Yamaha F350s, triple Yamaha F300s and triple Yamaha F350s—customers may equip their Jupiter with the power desired.

Exhilarating tournament performance comes easily with a top speed of 69 mph with triple 350s, and the 38 HFS can comfortably cruise at 35.9 mph with a fuel burn of 1.31 mpg with the triple 300s. The Jupiter 38 HFS is a proven tournament winner that features premium angling necessities, including hybrid forward seating, two 104-gallon ﬁ sh boxes, a bait prep center with a 53-gallon stand-up livewell, six rod-holders, four rod rack sets, multiple storage compartments, and a customizable T-top tower package. This 38 HFS was designed to not only accommodate the serious angler but also provide room, comfort, and amenities for family cruising or day boating.

jupitermarine.com

Return to the Center Console Roundup.

Big fish, big money

Winter fishing in the Chesapeake is a big deal.

But a bigger deal is the legal drama over who will receive $2.8 million of winnings from this year’s White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland. In August, Phil Heasley, aboard Kallianassa of Naples, Florida, caught a 76.5-pound white marlin to win an estimated $2.8 million, which was reported as the largest individual cash prize in sportfishing history. Tournament rules state that anglers cannot fish until after 8:30AM, but adherence to the tournament’s rules is in question and the prize money is now in escrow.

Heasley, president and chief executive officer at ACI Worldwide, caught the only “qualifying” white marlin in the tournament, fishing along with Capt. David Morris and mates Kyle Bohannon and Joseph Hagen. According to a court document filed by White Marlin Open Inc. (WMO), Heasley, Morris, Bohannon, and Hagen were on Defendant Heasley’s vessel when he caught the white marlin. None of them passed multiple polygraph tests administered by two examiners.

Heasley contends that he and his crew did not violate tournament rules. In September, Heasley and his attorneys filed a notice of removal to have the civil case removed from Worcester County Circuit Court and transferred to a federal court. That’s where it stands now. Richard Kosztyu, who caught the winning tuna in the tournament, would gain the most if a judge rules against Heasley. Kosztyu has received $767,091 and would receive an additional $2.3 million. The circuit court document is available on the WMO website. whitemarlinopen.com

Time for stripers
Striped bass fishing is a fine winter fishing activity at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Action typically picks up in the Virginia Beach area in October and runs through April. With their annual migration, tens of thousands of stripers move through the area in search of schooling bait fish. Located in the middle of two food-rich currents—the Florida Current coming up from the south and the North Atlantic Current coming down from the north—and two great bodies of water for winter fishing, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is an ideal feeding place. Add the 17-mile-long Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the mix and you’ve got plenty of structure for anglers to target hiding fish. Anglers can also try to cash in on their catch this season by participating in the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout. This year’s benefit tournament runs December 8-10 with weigh stations at Rudee Inlet and King’s Creek Marina on Cape Charles. midatlanticrockfishshootout.com

Good clean fun at Harbor East
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Harbor East Marina in Baltimore as a Maryland Clean Marina. The facility earned the recognition after adopting best management practices from the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook, meeting all environmental and regulatory requirements and passing a site inspection. Harbor East is a 200-slip marina that can accommodate vessels up to 125 feet. Transients are welcome. The marina offers easy access to many of Baltimore’s best attractions including the National Aquarium, Harborplace (shopping and dining), sports venues, the convention center, and others. Harbor East also plans to participate in the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership, a collaborative effort to restore the state’s oyster population. As part of the program, oyster gardens will be installed at the marina, where baby oysters will be planted and protected. harboreastmarina.com

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine December 2016