Simple dishes to make using five ingredients or fewer.
Since we do not live aboard, I often look for ways to minimize what we carry on and off the boat by cooking ahead or making simple dishes with few ingredients. These minimalist meal recipes, using no more than five ingredients (many of them shelf-stable), are some of my favorites. All recipes serve four.
Mash avocados and with salsa and lime juice. Taste and add optional ingredients, if desired. Serve with chips.
French Fish Mousse
5 oz. canned fish in oil (or water), drained (e.g., tuna, sardines, mackerel, trout, salmon)
4 oz. butter or cream cheese, softened
2 anchovy fillets
1 Tbsp. capers
½ tsp. lemon juice
Optional: sprinkle of pepper or paprika, chopped dill, or parsley
Drain fish and add to a bowl along with remaining ingredients. Mix until smooth. (While easiest done in a blender or food processor, a rustic version mashed by hand is equally delicious.) Serve at room temperature with crackers, bread, or raw veggies.
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Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
8 pineapple rings, fresh or canned
1 cup jarred teriyaki sauce (or optional teriyaki recipe, below)
4 cups cooked rice (brown or white or wild)
Marinate chicken thighs in teriyaki sauce for 2-3 hours in refrigerator. Heat grill on high (or sauté on the stove top or bake in oven on high heat), then remove chicken from marinade and place on the grill for 4-5 minutes. Turn chicken over and add pineapple rings. Cook chicken and pineapple for 5 more minutes, flipping pineapple rings halfway through. Serve with rice.
Optional Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
1 cup soy sauce
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup mirin (seasoned rice vinegar)
½ cup sake (or sherry)
Mix ingredients, heat, and simmer until thickened.
Fruit Slump
Topping:
1 cup flour
½ cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
4 cups fresh or canned fruit, drained
Optional: 2 Tbsp. sugar (if using unsweetened fruit)
Optional: ice cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop fruit into bite-sized pieces. Mix with 2 tablespoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of sugar (if using) and place in an oiled 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over fruit. Bake for 30 minutes until lightly browned. Serve warm with ice cream.
Optional: ½ cup chopped nuts or 1 tsp. coarse salt
Optional: ice cream
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or foil and coat with oil. Whisk eggs in a mixing bowl. Remove the foil top from the jar(s) of Nutella and place the jars in hot water on the stove top to soften. Add Nutella to eggs and mix well. Add flour and mix until no white streaks are visible. Pour into a prepared baking dish, stirring in optional nuts or sprinkling top of brownies with salt. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Serve brownies cold from refrigerator (they become fudge-like when cold) or warm with ice cream.
The Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation (LLGF) hosted the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels tournament in Islamorada, FL. The tournament attracted women from all over who came to learn fishing and take part in the friendly competition. Taking place over three days, the event saw the participants fishing from private or charter boats on calm seas. In total, the ladies caught 105 fish and released 115, resulting in a total of 220 fish. The event concluded with the presentation of $1,000 in prizes. See winners and sponsors below.
Looking ahead, the LLGF has scheduled several events. On September 22-23, 2023, they will organize the Guy Harvey Outpost Bass Seminar & Tournament at Camp Mack in Lake Wales, FL. Following that, from October 13-15, they will host the Keys Saltwater Weekend Seminar and fishing event in Islamorada, FL.
The October event will include a full-day fishing seminar, two days of fishing, and casual prizes. These upcoming events, along with other listed events, can be found on the LLGF website. Make sure to see all of the event photos at the bottom and read their press release below:
Ladies Hook 220 Fish at Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels Tournament May 19-21, 2023 Islamorada, FL
Ladies came from as far away as Shalimar, FL to learn fishing and compete at the non-intimidating Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels tournament May 19-21, 2023 in Islamorada, FL, presented by Plantation Boat Mart & Marina, Platinum Sponsor. Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation (LLGF), the tournament kicked off on Friday at the Tavernier Elks Club, followed by friendly fishing competition on Saturday and Sunday out of Islamorada, FL. Fishing from private or charter boats on flat calm seas, women caught 105 fish and released 115 for a total of 220.
Winners:
First Place Offshore:
Lyn Gremonprez, Tavernier, FL, 11.95 lb. almaco jack on Plantation Boat Mart.
Second Place Offshore:
Cristiane Carvalho, Miami, FL 10.8 lb. mahi on First Choice.
Jessica Holbrook, Fort Myers, FL took all three awards with 35.5, 34 and 27 inch grouper releases on Blackwater Charters with Capt. Dylan Scoble.
Top Inshore Release:
Ann DeStefanis, Palmetto Bay, FL, bonefish on Blackwater Charters with Capt. Dylan Scoble.
Top Private Boat:
Plantation Boat Mart and Marina
Some ladies caught their first of their lives.
$1,000 in prizes included Penn combos, art prints, shirts and more were presented on Sunday upon the return of boats at Whale Harbor.
Commented Betty Bauman, LLGF Founder, “Screamin’ Reels is a different breed of tournament, where it’s game on for almost every legal offshore or inshore species in the sea. It’s perfect for novice or average anglers and those who never caught a fish and would not dream of entering a fishing tournament.”
Christiane Carvalho, second place offshore winner exclaimed, “This is the first time I have done something for myself, away from my husband and children. I never fished before and won!”
Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including
Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation
Take Me Fishing
Vamos a Pescar
Mercury
Magic Tilt trailers
Shearwater Boats
Power-Pole
Penn
TACO Metals
Lowrance
Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Fish Florida
Largest Annual Sponsors are:
Freedom Boat Club
ICOM America
CCA Florida STAR
Bob’s Machine Shop
AFTCO
Costa
Smith Optics
Frogg Toggs
Hubbards Marina
Star Brite
Future Angler Foundation
Preferred Marine Sales Group, Inc.
Top donors are:
Yeti
Fishing Headquarters
Engel
AO Coolers
Lady Pamela
Big Rock Sports Conservation Foundation
Egret Baits/Vudu
Canoe Outpost
Flying Fisherman
Pelagic Gear
Flanigans
Guy Harvey
TTI Blakemore
Sandbar Tackle
Danco
FishBites
Hobie Eyewear
Reel ‘em Up Lures
Brella
Keys-only sponsors include:
Presenting Platinum Sponsor Plantation Boat Mart and Marina as well as Island Arms & Indoor Range, Sunset Inn, Jeanne Towne of Fidelity Real Estate and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
LLGF offers a second keys event Oct. 13-15 with full day fishing seminar, two days of fishing and casual prizes.
2023 LLGF remaining events, with optional or included fishing are:
Sept. 22-23, 2023 Guy Harvey Outpost Bass Seminar & Tournament at Camp Mack, Lake Wales, FL
Oct. 13-15 Keys Saltwater Weekend Seminar and fishing Islamorada, FL
Nov. 17-19 St. Augustine Surf Fishing Academy
Virtual meetings with education TBA
In Progress:
Sept. or Nov. Tampa Area Bottom Fishing and Bimini Bahamas.
Plantation Boat Mart: Presenting and Platinum Sponsor. Ladies caught one mahi, two blackfin tuna, one wahoo and a skipjack. Teresa Pinner, Tavernier, FL caught the 10.3 lb. skipjack, earning Third Place Offshore. Melissa Sinasac, Tavernier, FL caught a wahoo that was bit off by a shark but would have been the top fish, with the partial wahoo weighing 14.6 lbs.
First Choice: Fishing for the first time in her life, Cristiane Carvalho, Miami, FL caught a 10.8 lb. mahi, earning Second Place Offshore. The ladies hooked 19 mahi, keeping 7 and releasing 12. They also caught four blackfin tuna up to 3.5 lbs., two tilefish and one small almaco jack. Mate Peter showed ballyhoo, lure rigging, bait and fish fighting techniques.
Phoebe: Ladies kept two mahi and released eight. They kept 27 yellowtail snapper and released 13. They also caught four bonito and an almaco jack.
Playbaby: The ladies experienced multiple simultaneous hookups, keeping 12 mahi, releasing 12 more mahi, a jack and a tripletail.
Sunday 3/4 Day Fishing:
Plantation Boat Mart: Lyn Gremonprez, Tavernier, FL clinched First Place Offshore with her 11.95 lb. almaco jack. Teresa Pinner, Tavernier FL took Third Place Offshore with a 10.3 skipjack. The ladies also caught a blackfin tuna, another almaco jack and a mahi.
Scales2Tales Capt. Chris Hanson: The ladies released nine snook up to 26 inches, four sharks and kept ten mangrove snapper.
Blackwater Charters Capt. Eric Scoble: The ladies kept seven spotted sea trout up to 17 inches and released 14 more. They also released a sheepshead, three catfish and a mangrove snapper.
Blackwater Charters Capt. Dylan Scoble: Jessica Holbrook, Fort Myers, FL clinched first, second and third place inshore, releasing three grouper up to 35.5 inches. Ann DeStefanis, Palmetto Bay, FL, snagged top inshore release with a bonefish. The ladies also caught ten ladyfish, two Spanish mackerel and released twenty jack crevalle, one lane snapper, one catfish, three mangrove snapper, a blue runner and eight sharks up to 33 inches.
About “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”
The Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Foundation (LLGF) is a national charitable 501C3 organization dedicated to attracting women and families to fishing and encouraging conservation and responsible angling. In addition to providing educational events with hands-on practice and an opportunity to go fishing, LLGF promotes networking among women anglers and emphasizes mentorships. Founded in 1997 by Betty Bauman, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, LLGF has over 9,000 graduates and is the largest organization in the world whose objective is to introduce women and families to fishing. Both Bauman and the University series – dubbed “The No-Yelling School of Fishing” – are known nationally in the fishing and marine industries. The organization has earned rave reviews from media including Inside Edition, The Early Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS, Good Morning America, Outdoor Life Network, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living and more.
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Phoebe: Jessica Holbrook, Fort Myers, FL; Jane Dodson, Ormond Beach, FL; Ann DeStefanis, Palmetto Bay, FL; Nancy Burt, Ormond Beach, FL; Abbie Edwards, Fort Myers, FL and Marisa Morvillo, Key Largo, FL.
Playbaby: Dorie Zieman, Biscayne Park, FL; Kyllene Carter, Miami Shores, FL; Maryann Vondertann, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Susan Anthony, Fort Myers, FL; Vivian Villanueva, Cooper City, FL and Diane McMahon, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
First Choice: Cristiane Carvalho, Miami, FL (Second Place Offshore); Nicole Metropulos, St. Petersburg, FL; Andrea Vetor, Naples, FL and Dawna Young, Shalimar, FL.
Plantation Boat Mart Saturday: Melissa Sinasac, Jordon Johnson, Teresa Pinner (Third Place Offshore), Sharon Russell and Leslie De La Tatorre, all from Tavernier, FL.
Plantation Boat Mart Sunday: Melissa Sinasac, Sharon Russell, Lyn Gremonprez (First Place Offshore), Brittni Swenson and Leslie De la Torre, all from Tavernier, FL.
Eric Scoble/Blackwater Charters: Suzie Oslos (with trout), Ormond Beach, FL; Jane Dodson, Ormond Beach, FL; Marisa Morvillo, Key Largo, FL and Nancy Burt, Ormond Beach, FL.
Top Inshore Grouper: On Dylan Scoble/Blackwater Charters: Ann DeStefanis (Top Inshore Release), Palmetto Bay, FL; Abbie Edwards, Fort Myers, FL; Jessica Holbrook (First, Second and Third Place Inshore), Fort Myers, FL and Susan Anthony, Fort Myers, FL, with the top grouper.
Bonefish: Ann DeStefanis, Fort Myers, FL Top Inshore Release/Bonefish.
LIVETARGET brings lifelike reality to fishing lures.
By Tom Schlichter, Southern Boating June 2020
There’s a wide-held belief among veteran anglers that many lures are designed to catch fisherman as much as they are to catch fish. No doubt, the premise is true to some degree. In order to turn the heads of prospective buyers, new designs, shapes, colors, scents, and even flavors of lures are introduced every year and touted as features and then packaged in bright colors and marketed under catchy names.
“Somewhere along the way, a lot of manufacturers strayed from making lures that had realistic appeal to their ultimate targets, the fish,” says Victor Cook, a founding partner of LIVETARGET, headquartered in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. “We’ve always taken a different approach. While we certainly understand the value of good marketing, we built our company from the ground up by making lures that are as lifelike and anatomically correct as possible. ‘Match-the-Hatch’ is our credo, it’s in our company DNA. Simply put, we believe artificial lures can be better fish catchers when they look like the natural forage that predators hunt.”
Indeed, that would seem to be the case as LIVETARGET lures do look amazingly realistic. Most of their offerings come in natural color schemes, their baitfish imitations have perfect profiles, dark eyes, scaled bodies, and precisely placed pectoral fins and gill slits. But the company has gone further than simply replicating the appearance of baitfish species, they’ve actually invented new technology to do it.
“Lures not only have to look great to be most effective,” says Cook, who is largely involved with the development of saltwater products for LIVETARGET. “They have to perform well, too. They need to move naturally in the water and give off a little flash as their backs roll from side to side. They must be able to stop, go, and twitch just like the real baits they are meant to emulate. In other words, you need both form and function to build the ultimate lure. Tying these two aspects together is where we’ve spent much of our research over the past several years.”
To reach that goal, LIVETARGET invented a new, specialized injection manufacturing process called Injected Core Technology (ICT). Introduced at the 2019 ICAST show, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, ICT allows the lure’s inner core to host a precise minnow profile encapsulated in an exo-skin covering that drives its vibrating tail or body action. Proprietary metal powder in the inner core ensures vibrant, lifelike flash, and the kind of high-quality realism game fish can’t resist while the clear, soft plastic exo-skin virtually vanishes beneath the surface. The result is a lure that looks anatomically perfect and sports the action to back it up.
“We know from science and our own experience that predator fish primarily focus on baitfish profile, so that’s really where we start,” explains Cook. “We take the forage we want to mimic and match it as precisely as possible. But matching the hatch is not just about appearance, it is about replicating a baitfish’s movements and swimming action, too. With ICT, we’ve been able to blend the natural appearance with the natural action of the baits we’ve produced. The results have been really impressive.”
LIVETARGET’s Slow-Roll Shiner, Flutter Sardine, and Twitch Minnow baits illustrate well the ICT advantage. All three are built around flawless reproductions of minnow baits, yet they have vastly different actions. The Slow-Roll Shiner has a fairly thick profile and hard-thumping soft-plastic swimbait action that incorporates a slight side-to-side roll to give off extra flash along the lure’s flanks. The Flutter Sardine, in contrast, performs like a spoon or jig with the inner core producing a vibrant flash and a feathered tail hook creating just enough drag to hold the points in the ideal strike position as it shimmies to the bottom. Watch it sink and you will see it not only wobbles, it also rocks forward and back. The Twitch Minnow is a small profile, soft-plastic baitfish imitation that can be rigged weedless-style or impaled on a jig. This lure lies on its side as you twitch it during the retrieve. It looks like a dying or feeding minnow, gliding and quivering with the slightest jig of the rod. All three offerings can tempt anything from redfish, snook, jacks, and sea trout down south to stripers, weakfish, sea bass, and fluke in Mid-Atlantic or Northeast waters.
“It’s important to get the appearance right, but it’s the clear, soft-plastic exo-skin that drives all the action,” explains Cook. “With it, we can refine, balance, or create new swimming motions, include a side-to-side roll, or add casting weight without disfiguring or changing the size or profile of the visible target. Because the exo-skin is nearly invisible, we can hide the action generator, such as a paddle tail, twitch tail, or spoon shape, for a more natural, appropriately sized appearance.”
LIVETARGET draws on a wealth of underwater video footage and extensive databases it has complied over the years to help match the hatch with each new product. They have an extensive lineup in both the freshwater and saltwater realms, and they were quite successful even before developing their ICT technology. Last year, their Slow-Roll Shiner, Flutter Sardine, and Erratic Shiner, all ICT products, each won Best in Category New Product Showcase Awards at the ICAST show. Eight additional lures in their lineup have captured New Product Showcase awards since 2011.
“We are really proud of our ICT options,” says Cook. “But we have plenty of other lures in our saltwater lineup that can stand on their own. In fact, for redfish, snook, and sea trout down around Sarasota and Tampa Bay, where I do a lot of my saltwater fishing, I love throwing our Scaled Sardine Twitch Bait. I can catch anything and everything on it. Just twitch, twitch, pause, and repeat. It’s a blast to see that lure get smashed. Our Fleeing Shrimp is another awesome saltwater lure. It looks incredibly lifelike, and you can cast it a mile. Let it settle and then just skip it back across the bottom where sea trout, snook, and summer flounder like to hang out. It has a shrimp-scented body with an embedded glass rattle that makes a ‘tic, tic, tic’ sound, perfectly imitating a fleeing shrimp.”
Just before we went to press, the 2020 ICAST show, which had been scheduled for July, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Still, LIVETARGET has no plans to sit on its laurels.
“We’re going to take this opportunity to finish working on an incredible, groundbreaking project,” reveals Cook. “Imagine lures that provide their own unique strike-triggering action or that can flee and duck for cover like actual live forage, no batteries needed. With these, we plan to take the ‘match the hatch’ theory to a higher level than ever before, combining lifelike appearance with ultra-realistic action all driven by revolutionary new designs that will benefit anglers everywhere.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Men aren’t the only ones who fish. The female anglers are out there and they need fishing gadgets too. We have five fishing gadgets for all anglers.
There is an ever-present contingent of female anglers out there. And while 99% of the market is geared towards men, there are a whole lot of women out there changing the game for the better. We approve of these five fishing gadgets for all anglers.
Waterproof shoes
Women certainly enjoy fishing too, and SoftScience Sailfin Fishing Shoe is the latest in the company’s women’s water collection.
Incorporating their proprietary Trileon footbed, the non-slip grip and fast-draining boat shoe has a more streamlined cut and provides stability in any condition.
We put this shoe to the ultimate test: our ad coordinator is an avid angler in her own right. Plus, she’s soon-to-be-married to a charter captain. There were no reported complaints when she used these shoes over the weekend.
Need an extra rod holder? Move over boys, we have an innovative solution to the lack of rod holders on the boat. And we’re adding cup holders to boot.
Seasucker Rod Holders mount quickly, and their innovative vacuum-mount technology ensures they don’t let go.
Available for a single, two or three rods, the holders attach to a lightweight, aluminum track held by the vacuum mount. The three-rod setup with a six-inch suction mount has 210 pounds of holding power.
You might get wet when you reel in the big one, but your gear will stay dry as a bone thanks to this lightweight dry bag.
Whether on the water or alongside it, keep your gear dry with Otterbox’s Yampa Dry Duffle.
Waterproof TPU-coated nylon with waterproof zippers resists UV and punctures and incorporates a low-density foam exoskeleton to protect your stuff. The Yampa dry duffle comes in three sizes.
There are many ways to fish, but not so many ways to listen to your favorite playlist.
Even if you want to swim or spearfish, you can listen to your tunes under water with H20 Audio’s Stream Waterproof MP3 Player.
Enjoy 10 hours of play time and more than 2,000 songs, and when out of the water, pair up with your smartphone via Bluetooth for more. Submerges up to 12 feet with an IPX8 rating.
Avoid damage to your outboard’s prop and protect unseen marine mammals with Hydro-Shield. It’s a win-win for you, your boat, and unseen manatees.
The skeg-mounted hydrofoil fits on most outboards and inboard/ outboards and also improves performance with its hydro-dynamic shape that provides lift, reduces drag and controls cavitation.
When it comes down to it, the real question remains: Sportfish or Center Console?
There is certainly no shortage of offshore fishing boats suited for bluewater missions. But a notable change over the last few years is the number of larger, outboard-powered center consoles that now compete on the fishing grounds with similar-sized convertibles, which, in the past, were the benchmark for many boat owners. So which is the king? Sportfish or Center Console?
The Convertible
A convertible with a flybridge command station, sizeable cockpit, and mezzanine, spreader supported outriggers, and available tuna tower covers all the bases a serious angler could possibly need. The flybridge offers unobstructed visibility for spotting tailing fish, slicks, rips, bird activity, and protection for navigating in all weather conditions, and there’s ample room for electronics. A centerline helm often has flanking lounges that conceal rod stowage below. Visibility to the cockpit is good for watching baits in the wash, beneath the kites and monitoring angler action below.
This sportfish has decidedly more space than a center console.
In the cockpit, there’s a bait rigging station, a freezer, tackle stowage, an ice chest, a livewell, below deck fish boxes, and a transom door. If the livewell is built into the transom, it also can serve as another fish box or rigged as a reservoir for live bait tuna tubes. A fishing chair or a rocket launcher adds more to the arsenal, and square footage allows the angler to fight his fish from the transom, while the crew has total access for landing or releasing the catch.
After hours, the convertible typically offers a full-featured, air-conditioned salon with entertainment systems. Nearby, a dinette and an adjacent galley—with refrigeration and other appliances powered with an auxiliary generator—makes the boat totally self-sufficient underway and at the dock.
Below, a private and self-contained head with a shower complements overnight accommodations in the staterooms. If the weather turns sour and your fishing plans change, the convertible gives you the opportunity to spend the day aboard the boat enjoying these amenities. Similarly, with its accommodations, the convertible serves as a moveable vacation home for the family that wants to both fish and cruise.
Years ago, the convertible was the step up for boat owners wanting the next best big thing. But it also meant learning more about maintenance and internal ship systems such as running gear and diesel engines, and understanding how an inboard boat handles differently from one with outboards.
The Center Console
Meanwhile, center console builders are not anchored down by their designs. The center console first appeared in the early 1960s as a simple and practical fishing boat. It was a design not unlike a Swiss army knife that could pull off just about any type of inshore fishing assignment. As the style grew in size, more creature comforts such as T-tops and small heads in the console became the norm.
But nothing changed the complexion of the center console as much as the explosive growth of fuel-efficient outboard motors that exceed the 500-horsepower mark. Coupled with two, three, four, or even five outboards with available joystick controls, the operator enjoys fingertip ease maneuverability on center consoles exceeding 50 feet in length.
With design cues from convertible boat manufacturers, today’s center consoles are equipped with features for fishing and cruising. The appeal is broad. Everyone from tournament anglers to their families can appreciate a center console. First and foremost, multiple engine packages deliver heady cruising speeds in the 30- and 40-knot range. Some boats can blaze across the water at better than 50 knots. On the days you can utilize all this speed, an operator can be the first one to hit prime territory and stay there longer when the fish are still chewing.
The intrinsic beauty of the center console layout is the use of space. Working lines all around the boat and dunking live baits from kites are reasons why crews on big center consoles often win release tournaments. A midship-located helm station provides protection for the operator and generally good visibility. On acceleration, bow rise is mitigated with engine trim until the boat is up on plane.
More is More?
Larger boats also benefit with a tower helm above the hardtop. Windshield design varies from a wraparound plex or acrylic screen to an anodized or powder-coated frame. Get more protection against wind, spray, and rain with a clear vinyl enclosure. Engine instrumentation and multi-function display electronics fit neatly in the dash. Drink holders, stowage bins and aptly placed grab rails are a nice touch. There is more overhead stowage when the boat has a T-top.
Most center consoles have two or three seats or a leaning post. But sea conditions and speed over the water will determine whether you are sitting or standing when underway. Handholds are important in any case.
Inside the console of larger models, there is room for amenities. That could be a head compartment, a refrigerator, a cooktop, or a convertible dinette for a berth that’s cozy for two. Some smaller-sized center consoles are configured with lower compartments. However, space is better suited for stowing fishing rods and safety gear.
Abaft the seats is where the center console boat builder shows its expertise. There’s stowage for fishing tackle, a drink cooler, rod holders, and similar gear. This is a good location for a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, space permitting, so consider other stowage and fish box areas. Some builders offer galley features in the cockpit, such as a freshwater sink, electric grill, and a refrigerator. If so, you will need a generator and a water tank to operate these items underway.
The stern is obstructed by outboards. This means fishing off the side. Considering you have the rest of the boat to walk around, it is hardly an issue. When you have multiple hook-ups, it can be an advantage in quick releases and tossing over fresh baits to a lit-up school of sails. Some center consoles have a small door to the swim platform and the engine mechanical. Others have a side door, often preferred when diving and swimming.
In the End
Both convertible and center console boats are adaptable, and each serves as an excellent platform for fishing. Center consoles without a lower compartment don’t offer a place to get out of the weather. Nor all of the amenities typically found aboard a convertible. However, they provide anglers space all around the boat. They can also be less expensive to maintain. And you can go home with you on a trailer at the end of the day to eliminate dockage costs. The key to choosing is to be sure you know how you plan to use the boat. So you tell us: what’ll it be? Sportfish or Center Console
Got an avid angler onboard? Then you’re in luck! You’ll be able to make this grilled fish taco salad in a snap.
For those summer days spent fishing (and hopefully catching), you can utilize this quick and easy recipe for Grilled Fish Taco Salad. This recipe serves four, so double up on ingredients if serving a crowd.
Ingredients:
4 six-ounce fillets of snapper or other favorite fish
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
2 limes quartered
Hot sauce
8 corn tortillas (optional)
Salad Dressing:
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. oil
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
3 Tbsp. lime juice
Salad:
⅔ cup diced cucumber
⅔ cup diced green pepper
4 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper
1/4 chopped cilantro (optional)
⅔ cup chopped onions
1/2 cup corn (fresh or canned)
Directions:
Sprinkle fish with salt and ground cumin. Place on preheated grill (or sauté fish in 1 Tbsp. oil 5-7 minutes or bake at 400 degrees 5-10 minutes depending on the thickness of fish) and cook until fish is just opaque.
While the fish is cooking, whisk together dressing ingredients. Place salad ingredients in large bowl, add dressing and toss well.
Wrap tortillas in foil and place on grill or in the oven to warm (or wrap in plastic wrap and microwave on medium for one minute). To serve, divide salad onto 4 plates and top with warm fish fillets. Serve with lime quarters, mango salsa, hot sauce and warmed tortillas.
Quick, festive and very Bahamian! This Baked Bahamian Grouper is sure to please your onboard guests. Recipe serves four.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 small onions, peeled and sliced
1 sweet bell pepper, seeded, cored, and cut into strips
.3/4 cup canned crushed tomatoes
5 Tbsp. tomato paste
1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper
2 lbs. skinless grouper filet, cut into 4 servings
1 tsp. lemon pepper (or 1/2tsp. lemon zest, 1/2tsp. black pepper, 1/4 tsp. salt)
2-3 pinches cayenne or one chopped 1 jalapeno pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and peppers; cook until soft, stirring often (about 10 minutes). Stir in tomatoes and paste, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until onions are very soft (about 15 minutes).
Season sauce with salt and pepper. Place grouper in a baking dish. Season fish with lemon pepper and cayenne. Top with sauce and bake until fish is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Serve over plain rice.
This simple recipe for pasta in fish sauce packs a punch of flavor. Cook it aboard and you’ll be sure to please your guests.
Ingredients
1 lb. pasta (e.g., bigoli, penne, linguine or other sturdy pasta)
6 Tbsp. oil
¼ cup of reserved pasta water
2 white onions, thinly sliced
10 oil-packed skinless, boneless canned sardines, drained (may substitute canned tuna in oil or anchovies in oil)
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package; reserve 1/4 cup pasta water. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, fry the onions gently in oil and pasta water until very soft and creamy, usually about 15 minutes. Add sardines and then
mash them into the onions until they are well blended and nearly smooth. Next, transfer the pasta to the skillet containing sauce. Over medium heat, toss the pasta with the sauce for a couple of minutes until the sauce clings to the pasta. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
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
Food for a Lucky Chinese New Year: Celebrate 2018 Chinese New Year with a festive dinner party! Recipe serves 4.
Spicy Soy Chili Fish
SAUCE:
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. ginger, peeled and grated
2 cloves garlic, crushed
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup sugar
½ cup water
FISH:
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. oil
1 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. dried chili flakes
4 six oz. filets of salmon/fish of your choice
Directions:
Combine sauce ingredients and heat in a skillet on high for 3-4 minutes or until sauce has thickened to a glaze. Set aside. Mix chili and salt and press both sides of each piece of fish in chili salt to coat, then drizzle with oil. Grill or broil fish for 2-3 minutes on each side or until cooked to your preference. Drizzle the fish with sauce and serve.
The 15th annual Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout hosted by the Virginia Beach Fishing Center is December 7-9. Weigh-in will be available at the fishing center at Rudee Inlet and at King’s Creek Marina in Cape Charles. The Oyster Farm at King’s Creek Resort and Marina in Cape Charles is offering a 10 percent discount for anglers and 20 percent for captains. Slips are $1.25 per foot per night. All fish caught are cleaned and donated to area food banks in the Virginia Beach area and on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. A portion of the money raised through registration fees is donated to local causes such as the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. Team Matador won last year’s tournament weighing in their three largest rockfish for a total weight of 138.3 pounds. With Capt. Jake Hiles of Virginia Beach, the team caught its fish on the first day of the three-day tournament and collected $48,000 out of the $94,500 total purse.
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.
The Bonadeo 37 (LOA: 37′, Beam: 9′ 10″) is custom-built as a one-of-a-kind mini yacht for the discerning few. She was designed from concept to completion as a consortium between the custom builder, Bonadeo Boatworks and a Florida client. Keeping this boat simple for hard-core fishing while making it comfortable for guests was the goal, including adding a Seakeeper 3 stabilizer.
Inside the cavernous cabin, there is more than six feet, five inches of headroom, a queen berth with freshwater head and sink and a cedar-lined hanging locker. Forward of the helm is a sunpad with an aft-facing bench that includes a built-in cooler which can be optioned for a second livewell. Aft of the helm is a wet bar/rigging station with an aft tackle storage unit. The 37 is powered by triple 350-hp Mercury Verado engines and cruises in the high 40-mph range, with a top speed of 60 mph.
Anglers can test their luck in a couple of fishing tournaments this month on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Kitty Hawk Surf Company Kayak Fishing Tournament is Saturday, September 16th. Fishing is allowed anywhere between Wright Memorial Bridge in Kitty Hawk to the north, Hatteras Inlet to the south, up to one mile offshore to the east, and west to the Currituck and Manns Harbor shorelines.
Tournament species include flounder, speckled trout, and red drum. All fish must be caught from a watercraft, and wading is not allowed. It’s a photo catch-and-release tournament, and all pictures must include a custom badge that will be distributed at a Captain’s Meeting the night before the event.
The Hatteras Island Surf Fishing Challenge, Friday, September 22nd to Sunday, September 24th, features four divisions: bluefish, sea mullet, flounder/black drum, and Spanish mackerel/pompano (species chosen depending on fishing reports). Five weigh-in spots are located throughout the islands.
The cost to enter is $60 per angler before September 12th and $70 thereafter, with more than $8,000 in cash and prizes going to the winners. The tournament ends with an awards ceremony at Camp Hatteras. fishermanspost.com
