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
Get caught up with more fishing.
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.
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating May 2018
Big boat, little boat, sportfish or billfish, there is something for everyone at back-to-back sport fishing tournaments hosted by the Antigua & Barbuda Sport Fishing Club in May.
For those who like marlin fishing, there’s the Mikie Pigott Jr. Memorial Classic on May 18th. This is followed by the 52nd Annual Antigua & Barbuda Sports Fishing Tournament (ABSFT) May 19-20, which offers both billfish and sports fish divisions.
“The chance to win the US $100,000 is a big attraction. It should be awarded when more boats take part in the Marlin Division,” says Tournament Director Robert Hall. “They will attempt to break our blue marlin record of 771.25 pounds.”
On land, spectators can watch the fish weighed, mix with anglers, buy from food and drink vendors, and join in nightly parties complete with live bands hosted in the Nelson’s Dockyard venue. The ABSFT is a qualifying event for the Offshore World Championship held each April in Costa Rica.
antiguabarbudasportsfishing.com
Photo courtesy of the Antigua and Barbuda Sport Fishing Club
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating May 2018
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
By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating May 2018
The two-day event is part of a total of eight license-free fishing days offered each year by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and approved by Gov. Rick Scott.
“The license-free fishing weekend is a wonderful opportunity to introduce the next generation of anglers to Florida’s waters while also giving families the chance to make lasting memories on Florida’s beautiful lakes, rivers or ponds. Thank you to Gov. Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for opening the door for anglers of all skill levels to enjoy a weekend of fishing in Florida,” said Gary Jennings, Director of Keep Florida Fishing.
“Florida is known as the ‘Fishing Capital of the World’ and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the license-free fishing weekend in the Sunshine State. There’s no better way to spend your weekend than fishing on the water with family and friends,” said Kellie Ralston, Florida Fisheries Policy Director of the American Sportfishing Association.
According to FWC, while the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers (residents and non-residents), all other rules apply.
Floridians should mark their calendars with the following 2018 license-free fishing dates:
Saturday/Sunday, April 7-8
Saturday/Sunday, June 9-10
Saturday/Sunday, June 2-3
Saturday, Sept. 1
Saturday, Nov. 24
Keep Florida Fishing, an advocacy arm of the American Sportfishing Association, represents the interests of the recreational fishing community. Florida has more than 3 million anglers who generate $9.6 billion in economic impact, support more than 128,000 jobs and contribute $53.3 million to Florida conservation efforts through license fees and special taxes on motorboat fuel and equipment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Never in the history of man have there been so many advances in technology that enhance our lives and the activities we enjoy, including fishing. The world’s most active sportfishing enthusiasts demand products that give them the competitive edge, and Simrad® has consistently responded to the call with marine electronics that outperform the competition. Now, with Simrad’s latest multifunction display (MFD), anglers benefit from a new generation of functionality and ease of use for offshore performance.
Simrad NSS evo3
The NSS evo3 series combines styling, technology and performance with an unprecedented level of built-in functionality. Features include advanced SolarMAX™ HD screens, dual channel CHIRP, glass-helm design, and refined user interface, plus a host of premium features and direct connections. “Simrad NSS evo3 multifunction displays add another chapter to our rich heritage of producing the best recreational navigation systems,” said Leif Ottosson, CEO of Navico. “With premium SolarMAX HD displays, dual channel CHIRP and Network Dual Sounder technology, we are confident NSS evo3 displays will be the first choice of boaters and sport fishermen worldwide.”
NSS evo3 series’ models are offered in 16-, 12-, 9-, and 7-inch TouchSensible™ touchscreens, with keypad and rotary-control knobs, making the units simpler to operate when the boat is moving and in all weather conditions. The precise and reliable interface offers expanded scrolling functionality for quicker access to networked technologies; restyled Exit, Power and MOB buttons that are moved to the corners of the keypad for easier access in darkness; a menu button and cursor-scrolling keypad grouping for simple and fast operation when users lock-out the touchscreen; and a programmable WheelKey button that can be customized to serve a variety of personalized functions or direct autopilot control. The new touchscreen software adds easy-to-understand, modernized bridge-control modes and panel access, a unique press-and hold cursor function and a simple sonar improvement that allows the user to always see the most recent sonar data.
Furthermore, Simrad SolarMAX HD display technology provides exceptional clarity in direct sunlight as well as low-light environments. The NSS evo3 displays feature the
most advanced in-plane switching (IPS) screens in the marine industry for superior color accuracy and enhanced viewing, and optimized LED backlighting and contrast levels further improve the boater’s ability to see clearly in virtually all on-the-water conditions. Perhaps even more important, the touchscreen performs accurately under constant sea spray and foul weather; even when covered in fresh or salt water, the touchscreen responds, a factor that is most reassuring whether near or offshore.
CHIRP enables wide-angle and deep-view sonar images from the same transducer (with a dual channel CHIRP sonar transducer installed on the boat) or from multiple installed transducers. The NSS evo3 built-in dual channel CHIRP sonar is the evolution of practicality, purpose-built to equip charter captains, tournament anglers and recreational fishing enthusiasts with unprecedented views of both low and high CHIRP channels at the same time so that fish targets are marked more clearly.
Non-fishing cruisers also benefit from the NSS evo3 technology since it provides next-generation connected vessels with a fast, 10 Hz internal GPS antenna, full autopilot
integration, engine monitoring interfaces, and TripIntel™ trip computer, which simplify journey planning. Built-in Wi-Fi enables access to GoFree® online services to download software updates and purchase a wide choice of global cartography solutions, and delivers smartphone monitoring and tablet control to extend the display’s reach well beyond the helm. With GoFree® wireless capabilities and the new Simrad Network Analyzer Service Assistant, users easily update their entire system automatically.
NSS Evo3 is compatible with the most expansive selection of optional cartography on the market, including Insight Genesis™ custom mapping, Insight PRO by C-MAP, Lake
Insight HD by C-MAP, C-MAP MAX-N+, Navionics®, and more. Charts can be downloaded over Wi-Fi or installed using the unit’s dual microSD card slots.
Simrad® S5100 High-Performance CHIRP Sonar Module
Simrad delivers high-resolution sonar across multiple depth ranges in its new S5100 High-Performance CHIRP Sonar Module, making it a perfect fit for offshore sportfishing anglers. The S5100 delivers true simultaneous coverage of up to three different depth ranges, whether connected to three single-channel transducers or one dual-channel and one single-channel transducer.
Simultaneous split-screen viewing capability puts anglers in complete control of the water column, and advanced processing technology allows fishing with noise-free clarity at all depth ranges without ever losing bottom depth tracking. Users can customize their viewing to mix and match favorite transducer coverage and transmit power for wide and narrow beamwidths to reveal more fish, detect small and tightly-spaced fish and identify thermoclines.
Using the Simrad S5100 with Airmar® wide-angle CHIRP transducers provides enhanced coverage of the upper water column, a perfect set up for targeting pelagic species. Wide-angle transducers are also useful in shallow water, where traditional narrow beam angles offer limited bottom coverage. A wider coverage area speeds searches and makes individual fish targets easier to see.
“The Simrad S5100 sonar module brings a new level of high-performance sonar to offshore sportfishing anglers with greater detail and resolution,” said Ottosson. “We are excited to add this serious fishing tool to integrate with Halo Radar, our new autopilot line and the NSS evo3 for when your living depends on finding fish.”
The S5100 features high-speed Ethernet connectivity, making it easy to install anywhere on board and is compatible with Simrad NSS evo3 and NSS evo2 multifunction displays, NSO evo2 glass-bridge systems and the S2000 series of fishfinders.
Go to simrad-yachting.com for a list of authorized dealers and distributors of Simrad products.
By LN Evans, Southern Boating, November 2017
North of Tampa Bay on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Anclote River marks the end of the Florida Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Mile 150 and the entrance, upriver, to the city of Tarpon Springs, a true gem for visitors arriving by land or sea.
This quaint and picturesque community carries a history steeped in Greek culture, heritage, and religion, the stories of which are displayed throughout the town on murals and carried on through traditions that are sure to make an impression. It makes sense; Tarpon Springs boasts (by percentage) the largest population of Greek Americans anywhere in the U.S.
Permanently enriched by the Mediterranean heritage brought by the sponge divers and their families who arrived at the turn of the 20th century, the Hellenic influence remains strong in Tarpon Springs to this day. George Billiris was a prominent citizen and personification of the history and culture of Tarpon Springs present and past.
Greece had a thriving sponge industry and the only sponge divers in the world, and around 1900, his grandfather emigrated from Greece to develop and work in the sponge industry in Tarpon Springs, where an abundance of sponges was found, which led to migration. In 1940, George was 14 years old and joined the family tradition of diving for sponges. Right up until his death in 2016 at age 89, he was operating a sponge business from a small office along the city’s sponge docks. George’s son now runs the business and carries on the family customs.
Indeed, the Greek influence here is strong along Dodecanese Boulevard, commonly referred to as the Sponge Docks. Enjoy strolling in the Greek fishing village, savor authentic dishes at the many Greek restaurants and shop for sponges—the Sponge Factory or Spongeorama are worthwhile stops—and other delights at stores lining the boulevard.
There, you’ll also find the city marina and a visitor center that offers area information, including a detailed map. When you’re all shopped out, consider dining at Shrimp Wrecked, Mykonos or Rusty Bellies to replenish your energy reserves. Or shop ’til you drop at The Sponge Exchange, an outdoor shopping mall with interesting stores, Anclote Brew and Mom’s Restaurant. If you’re up for a leisurely boat ride, along the docks are several boat charters you can board for a sponge diving experience, dolphin viewing or a trip to the beach at Anclote Key. Spongeorama also offers excursions to see dolphins and go to the Anclote Key beach for shelling and finding sponges.
It is about a five-minute car ride to the Old Downtown and Historic District, or take the bus or trolley. In the early 1900s, downtown Tarpon Springs was the major center for shopping in this area. The Victorian-style buildings date from 1894 to 1943 and are another representation of the rich heritage of Tarpon Springs. Walk the brick sidewalks under tree canopies, or find a quiet bench and sit between old-fashioned street lamps.
The historic buildings are still a center of commerce for antique shops, boutiques, art galleries, cafés, two microbreweries, bed-and-breakfast inns, and specialty stores. Top-quality, chef-owned restaurants and cafés provide mouthwatering menus flaunting seafood, steaks, Greek favorites, and the chef-owners’ own specialties. The Chamber of Commerce at the corner of East Tarpon Avenue and Pinellas Avenue is a good resource for maps and other helpful information, while the Historical Society Museum & Visitor Center is housed in the original train depot—built in 1909—at 160 East Tarpon Avenue.
The City Library, Cultural Center, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Heritage Museum, Safford House Museum, and the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral are also located in this area. Devotion to Christianity and the Greek Orthodox Church is what led the parents of Nicholas and Peter Stamas from New York City—after emigrating through Ellis Island—to Tarpon Springs, where they opened a hotel and restaurant.
It was in the back of that hotel, in the late 1930s, where Peter and Nicholas built their first boat, a 22-foot wooden cruiser that was awarded first place at the Florida State Fair. Their influence came from Greek craftsman highly skilled at building strong seaworthy vessels, and it was in this unique environment that the Stamas brothers began building boats.
How Did Tarpon Springs Get Its Name?
Tarpon Springs is a short distance up the Anclote River at the north end of Pinellas County. It’s quite well known for its Greek heritage and food and for its downtown sponge docks and boats.
It turns out that the first non-native settlers in Tarpon Springs, A. W. Ormond and his daughter Mary were from Nassau, The Bahamas. They arrived in 1876 and lived on Spring Bayou which connects to the Anclote River. Mary loved to watch the huge schools of fish in Spring Bayou at certain times of the year. The story goes that she started calling it Tarpon Springs.
The problem was, those fish weren’t tarpon; they were mullet, but Tarpon Springs it is. The city celebrates its Greek culture and history at the downtown Sponge Docks, and the Opa! Palooza Greek Festival is June 14-15.
Today, after 65 years, Stamas Yachts is the oldest, continuously family-owned boat company in the U.S. Actually, the epicenter for all things Greek in this town might just be the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The first structure was built in 1907, and then replaced by the much larger St. Nicholas Cathedral in 1943, and is named after Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint and protector of all mariners.
The Cathedral is not only beautiful, but it is also home to the largest Theophany celebration in the Western Hemisphere on January 6th, which marks the Christian celebration of Epiphany. The annual event is marked with a procession from the Cathedral to a platform on Spring Bayou. The Archbishop bestows a blessing of the waters, releases a white dove and throws a crafted cross into the water. Then, dozens of 16- to 18-year-old boys dive into the water in search of the cross; the boy who retrieves it is said to have blessings for the rest of the year.
This celebration also includes a “Blessing of the Fleet,” dining, dancing, and revelry as a part of Epiphany’s “Glendi,” the Greek word for festival.
For visitors who are more inclined to celebrate the outdoors, Tarpon Springs’ warm winter waters are home to manatees and dolphins, while in the spring, eagles and osprey can be
found on their large nests feeding offspring. All this can be experienced by kayak, canoe, nature trails, and tour boats in the beautiful bayous that run through the city. Investing time to explore the many parks throughout the area is well spent since sheltered picnic sites, walking trails, fishing, water access, playgrounds, and wildlife are found in most.
Anclote Key Preserve State Park is located three miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs and is only accessible by boat. Whether you come for the culture and heritage or the shopping and dining, Tarpon Springs will certainly take up residence as a fond place in your heart and memories. Opa!
Anclote Harbors Marina
523 Anclote Road
(727) 934-7616
ancloteharbors.com
Anclote Isles Marina
331 Anclote Road
(727) 939-0100
ancloteisles-marina.com
Anclote Village Marina
1029 Baillies Bluff Rd.
(727) 937-9737
anclotevillagemarina.com
Belle Harbour Marina
307 Anclote Road
(727) 943-8489
belleharbourmarina.com
Port Tarpon Marina
527 Anclote Road
(727) 937-2200
porttarponmarina.com
Tarpon Landing Marina
21 Oscar Hill Road
(727) 937-1100
Tarpon Springs Municipal Marina
100 Dodecanese Blvd.
(727) 937-9165
ctsfl.us/marina.htm
Turtle Cove Marina
827 Roosevelt Blvd.
(727) 934-2202
turtlecove-marina.com
Anglers can enjoy fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and on the Atlantic Coast year-round, and December is typically one of the best months to catch large fish.
Striped bass, known locally as rockfish, tend to congregate in locations where the rivers and tributaries come into the Chesapeake. Jigging with heavy sinker lures such as Stingsilvers and large plastics is typically the best tactic to reach down and catch them, and it’s also a fun and active method. When a large rockfish hits your lure, there’s no doubt about it, especially when using braided line. Trolling large lures down deep is another effective tactic. As the water temperatures drop into the 40s, the fish get a little sluggish, but they need to eat all year long.
A fully heated cabin will keep you warm for the run to the fishing grounds. Hiring a professional charter is also an option, and many captains continue to run their boats until the end of the month. Under current regulations, the season in Maryland turns into catch-and-release only beginning January 1st until the opening of the spring trophy season in mid-April. The spring trophy season on the Chesapeake for stripers in Virginia usually begins in mid-May. The season is open all year on the coast with a 28-inch minimum size.
The Chesapeake is the largest striped bass nursery area on the Atlantic coast. Seventy to 90 percent of the Atlantic striped bass population uses the bay to spawn, which occurs from April to early June. After spawning in the spring, most large stripers move to coastal waters. They spend the summer along the New England coast and the winter near the mouth of the Chesapeake near Virginia Beach and on down to North Carolina.
A 73-pound striped bass caught January 23, 2008, by Frederick Barnes of Chesapeake is the Virginia state record. Barnes made the record-setting catch in the Atlantic about a half mile north of the 4A buoy located north of Rudee Inlet and off Fishermen’s Island. The fish hit a trolled red and white Stretch 30 lure.
The North Carolina striped bass record is a 64-pound fish caught by Keith Angel off Oregon Inlet in 2011. The Maryland state record fish of 67.5 pounds was caught by Devin Nolan in 1995 Bloody Point just south of Kent Island.
By Chriss Knauss, Southern Boating December 2017
Photos: midatlanticrockfishshootout.com
More Chesapeake Fishing News
The folks in Hatteras on North Carolina’s Outer Banks fish year-round. They keep an eye on the weather and take advantage of the good days to motor out to the warm Gulf Stream waters to see what’s biting. If you’re looking for some late-season fall fishing action and fine fall weather is in the forecast, the charter captains can put you on some fish, and you’ll learn how to catch them yourself if you don’t already know how. Anglers heading out from the Hatteras Harbor Marina this past November reeled in blackfin tuna, bluefish, mahi-mahi, wahoo, sea trout, red drum, triggerfish, sharks, blue marlin, amberjack, and king mackerel, including a 50-pounder.
The well-protected, full-service marina has a 20-boat charter fleet as well as deepwater transient slips to accommodate boats up to 60 feet. Slips offer 30-, 50- and 100-amp electrical service and water. Shower facilities, diesel fuel, oil disposal, fish cleaning service, and a laundromat are located on the premises, which also has a marina store and deli. It’s within walking distance of restaurants, shopping and grocery supplies. hatterasharbor.com
The 25th Annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic fishing tournament, hosted by the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association, is scheduled for November 17-19. The tournament coincides with the southerly migration of large striped bass from the Northeast. The winning striper last year was a whopping 52.5 inches—caught by John Weber—and checked in at the Calvert Marina. Captain’s meetings are scheduled from 6PM to 8PM weekdays leading up to the tournament at four locations in Kent Island, Essex, Solomons Island, and Annapolis. Anglers can register and pick up a tournament packet, enjoy some food and refreshments, and share game plans for catching the big one. Weigh stations
are located at Sandy Point State Park, Rod ‘N Reel, Breezy Point Marina, Calvert Marina, Point Lookout State Park, Kentmorr Marina, Knapps Narrows Marina, and Taylor’s Island Campground.
mssa.net
Reedville is very much in the news these days as the Virginia coastal town is home to the only industrial menhaden reduction fishing operation on the Atlantic Coast, with half its quota taken inside the Chesapeake Bay. Unlike menacing Asian carp in the Mississippi, menhaden are a native fish that play animportant role in coastal ecology, providing nutrition for fish and birds and serving as filter feeders of pollutants in the water. Recreational anglers and conservationists have long lobbied for menhaden management based on ecological reference points (ERP). ERPs consider the multiple roles that species play, both in supporting fisheries for human use and the marine ecosystem. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board will meet November 13-14 to consider approval of Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden and to set specifications for the 2018 fishing season. The meeting will take place at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum, Maryland, with an anticipated large crowd representing commercial, recreational and environmental stakeholders. It will be live-streamed via webinar. asmfc.org/species/atlantic-menhaden
Story and Photos by Chris Knauss, Southern Boating November 2017
HOOK UP IN ST. LUCIA
More than $100,000 in prizes, plus entry into the world-famous Offshore World Championships in Costa Rica, are two good reasons to hook up at the St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament. Set for November 7-11 and hosted out of IGY’s
Rodney Bay Marina, it’s the waters just north of the island and south of neighboring Martinique that are hot for single- and doubleheader blue marlin bites in the fall.
Last year, 19 tournament boats from the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada released more than 50 billfish during three days of competition. “Rodney Bay Marina has great nightlife for socializing after each day of fishing,” says Sean Devaux, marina general manager. “Plus, the tournament…features some of the best anglers in the southern Caribbean.”
Charter boats are available. Captain Mike’s, run by brothers Bruce and Andrew Hackshaw, operates a fleet of 31- to 46-foot Bertrams and hold bragging rights for catching a 940-pound blue marlin in 2003, the St. Lucia record. Exodus Boat Charters and Reel Irie are two other sportfishing charters.
Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating November 2017
In 1972, a three-martini lunch was not only tolerated in the business world but derigeur in Madison Avenue establishments like the Jockey Club. It was the Mad Men era, and fortunes were made on Wall Street. The wealthy bought homes in the Hamptons. The uberwealthy took their yachts and airplanes to private clubs on remote islands in The Bahamas, where shutter-hungry photographers didn’t have access. One of those clubs was on Chub Cay, a 1,000-acre spit of coral rock in the southern part of the Berry Islands.
The Crown Colony Club attracted an international, affluent clientele. Socialites, industrialists, former presidents, and actors and actresses frequented the island as often as their schedules would allow, and it soon became their favorite tropical playground, though not for the reasons one would expect. Compared with the glittering lights of casinos and luxury resorts, the accommodations Chub Cay offered were quite modest. But luxury wasn’t the main attraction.
Chub Cay’s location provided convenient access to the Bahamian waters known as “The Pocket,” which are arguably the best fishing grounds in the entire Western Hemisphere,
and, perhaps, the best for billfishing anywhere in the world. The Pocket is the area in the upper northwest part of the Berry Islands where the deep Tongue of the Ocean meets the shallow waters of the islands; when the wind is from the southeast, fish are pushed into the pocket.
Few places offer competitive anglers such an opportune area to catch trophy-sized billfish. Consequently, fishing tournaments became a huge part of Chub Cay and the Crown Colony Club. Men and women alike competed for their names to be displayed on the coveted trophies. Yet for non-anglers, the resort’s swimming pool, 3.5-mile sandy beach and crystal-clear water for snorkeling offered relaxing enjoyment at a secluded tropical hideaway few knew about, another reason Chub Cay was so favored.
The island has changed hands a half dozen times since 1972, and the current owner, George Bishop, acquired Chub Cay in 2014—when it was in bankruptcy— and briefly considered keeping the island restricted for his friends and family. He quickly realized, however, that a private island wouldn’t provide enough of a benefit to the Bahamian
employees, a testament to the character of the new owner.
Bishop’s vision for Chub Cay far surpasses simply restoring the property to its former glory, even if he has to do some of the work himself. When he’s on the island, the successful businessman from Texas can be seen behind the wheel of one of the maintenance department’s fleet of heavy equipment, smoothing a spot on the road or transplanting trees or bushes from the nursery.
The nursery also supplies fruits, vegetables, and herbs for both guests at the hotel restaurant and employees in the air-conditioned dining hall in the employee village. All employees are provided with individual private cottages painted in tropical hues.
Of the 50 or so employees on the island, at least 30 are long-standing workers, having seen both prosperous and not-so-prosperous times with the different owners, but there was something on Chub Cay that compelled them to stay. Waiters John “Remedy” Rolle, for example, came to Chub Cay in 1976 from Nassau, as did Charles Ferguson in the early 1980s.
“I don’t just like what I do; I love what I do,” says Ferguson. His first position was as a waiter for the Fly Bridge Restaurant (it no longer exists) that catered to yacht crew. In those times, the crew restaurant was in a fishing village on the opposite side of the marina, where the fish would be weighed and cleaned.
The Harbour House was the members-only restaurant and decidedly more upscale for the wealthy yacht owners. It’s refreshing to meet two gentlemen who experience such enjoyment from serving others; their smiles exude something more akin to delight. Throughout Chub Cay, it’s evident that profound job satisfaction is the prevailing attitude regardless of the position, and it’s demonstrated to guests upon arrival and throughout their stay.
No matter when they arrive, boat and yacht owners and crew will have the pleasure of meeting Fuel Manager and Senior Dockmaster Tito Darville, who previously attended Langston University in Oklahoma. Midway through his college program, Darville came to the realization that his studies were for a career that held little interest. He recalled that some of his fondest memories were from childhood when he spent his summers washing boats at Chub Cay.
“The first boat I washed, I found out how much money I could make doing something I liked. My mom would buy school supplies that I needed, but I wanted the [cool things that] other kids had, so that’s what I’d spend my money on,” said Darville, who at age 12 or 13 knew that he wanted to be a dockmaster.
In addition to managing three full-time employees and one who works part-time, Darville manages the marina and fuel dock, including fuel for the resort’s power plant. For guests
arriving by boat, he checks them in if they’re staying at the hotel and makes dinner reservations as well. During the busy season, Darville’s day starts at 7AM and doesn’t end until midnight, but even then, he says it doesn’t feel like a job. “I don’t see myself anywhere else,” Darville adds. “This doesn’t feel like work! I have to say that I am in love with Chub and my job, so I know that Chub will love me back.”
Returning guests have their own reasons to love Chub Cay. Issy Perera, president of Apex Marine in Miami, Florida, has been going to the island since 1999. In fact, his first trip to
The Bahamas was to Chub Cay. “It is quiet and secluded, has a beautiful beach and the fishing all around it is fabulous. I go there at least four times a year. Two of those trips are purely fishing trips, and the other two are family trips with grandkids,” says Perera. “It is special because you have nothing to do! You can escape, grab a book, read, and forget about the world at large. It is a great place to rest and recharge your batteries.”
Doug and Kay Sartoris—with boating friends of 25 years, Tom and Cindy Wintermute—returned to Chub Cay in 2017, visiting twice on their 12-day Bahamas’ cruise. They keep
their 53-foot Ferretti Sarlusso in Palm Beach, Florida, but live in Corpus Christi, Texas, and commute monthly in order to spend as much time as possible on their boat. Their first visit to Chub Cay was the summer of 2016 when the hotel was still under construction. However, the pool and marina had been completed, and the Harbour House Restaurant was still open.
By then, the new owner’s development plans were taking shape, and boaters were beginning to return to the island. Then on October 6, 2016, Hurricane Matthew unleashed
its fury on Chub Cay, which was in the direct path of the northeast part of the eye of the storm. The hotel and villas held up under the Category 4 storm, but everything else on
the island was demolished. The work that had been done to restore the resort and provided steady employment for so many was destroyed.
“It was heartbreaking after all the work we’d put in,” says Anthony Del Duca, a business associate of Bishop’s, and the construction project manager. “It was very difficult to see the devastation and even to get our psyches to think about rebuilding. But both Mr. Bishop and I said it wasn’t going to defeat us, and we got back to work, removed
and cleaned up trees and replanted.”
By any standards—let alone how projects in The Bahamas are frequently reduced to a maddeningly slow pace—the rebuild schedule was aggressive to repair damage to the hotel, villas and other buildings, and to replace trees and vegetation.
A soft opening was planned for mid-June 2017—just eight months after the hurricane—with the Grand Opening scheduled for a mere two weeks later on the July 4th holiday weekend. Their moxie paid off, and a well-managed social media campaign publicized the openings.
Their grand celebration included a “Coachella” of sorts, that they dubbed a “Chubchella.” A professional singer was brought in to sing the national anthem for the weekend guests.
Bishop’s wife insisted that a second celebration be held after the guests left for employees to enjoy their own festivities.
Yet with all the work that’s been accomplished in restoring the resort to its former—and future—grandeur, there’s still much to be done to fulfill Bishop’s vision for Chub Cay, which is what attracted Stephen Robinson to the island. Formerly at the renowned Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island since 1998, Robinson was promoted to Director of Food and Beverage at the Ocean Club, the very upscale property that caters to an elite clientele and safeguards their privacy. Now, as Club House Manager at Chub Cay, Robinson is intent on elevating Chub Cay Resort and Marina to a level that surpasses the Ocean Club.
In fact, it was the development plan and opportunity that attracted him, since his experience with bigger developments is that they require many restrictions for decision-making. “After being with a large resort like Atlantis, the smaller quaintness of Chub is like a family,” says Robinson, who enjoys the freedom to create and develop future plans.
For now, his priorities include adding an exercise center, spa and beach sports, since not everyone who goes to Chub goes fishing. Anglers, however, will appreciate that plans are in the works to re-introduce fishing tournaments beginning in Spring 2018.
Whether for anglers or cruisers, couples or families, the accommodations at Chub Cay Resort are first-class. In the hotel, 11 rooms—including a two-story Presidential Suite—offer ocean or marina views. On the reception level, oak beams on the ceiling are from century-old Texas cattle barns, while the lobby floor—complete with a compass rose—
is made of Brazilian Ipe wood.
Ten out of the 11 villas available to lease are also for sale and offer two-, three- or four-bedroom floor plans. Additionally, eight one-bedroom beachfront cabanas all come with outdoor showers for guests to rinse off sand and saltwater and then go directly into the interior shower and bathroom. Chub Cay Resort, in fact, would be an ideal location for a private, island-themed wedding.
Furthermore, 60 residential, 2-acre lots are available for building private residences—all beachfront. But if you’re concerned about sharing your semi-private island with a high-rise condo or the 18-hole golf course that the island’s previous owners planned, that’s all in the past. Bishop is committed to making the least disruption to the natural environment and estuaries, and only approximately 160 of the 1,000 acres are slated for development.
Future projects include installation of a solar energy system and upgrades to the airport and runway. The airport—which provides on-site Bahamas Customs & Immigration for clearing—was built in 1960, and plans are being made to raise the runway and add hangars.
While many developers in The Bahamas have exploited the purity of its natural resources—the land, the pristine water and fishing stocks, for example—the new owners of Chub Cay are not your typical developers. What they are doing on Chub Cay is more aptly described as rebuilding hopes (of employees), dreams (of beachfront homeowners) and memories (for guests). But ultimately, by their commitment to Chub Cay and the people
that enjoy the island, the Bishops are rebuilding lives.
By Liz Pasch, Southern Boating September 2017; Photos
Photos: Ariel; Liz Pasch, Historical Photos; Courtesy of Chub Cay Resort, Bahamas Tourism.
Minn Kota
You’re in the back-country fishing at one of your favorite spots. Then a gust of wind moves the boat, and you have to reel in your perfect cast to reposition the vessel. For owners of Minn Kota® trolling motors equipped with i-Pilot® and i-Pilot® Link™, there’s a revolutionary new app for anglers that allows them to use their smartphone or tablet to control the motor via Bluetooth® (where there’s data coverage).
The goal of the apps was singular: to enable anglers to catch more fish. Brad Henry, brand manager for Minn Kota, says that controlling the boat is essential to that endeavor.
“The new Minn Kota apps help make that easier than ever,” adds Henry. “From setting speed and direction to activating Spot-Lock and our new Spot-Lock Jog feature, we are putting a host of features into the familiar, convenient interface of phones and tablets.”
Minn Kota programmed the apps with the most frequently used commands by anglers when they’re on the water: Propeller On/Off, Left/Right Steering, Speed Control, AutoPilot activation, and deployment of Spot-Lock and Spot-Lock Jog—a feature that maintains position in wind and current. Furthermore, High-Speed Bypass boosts the motor to rapidly accelerate if moving the boat quickly is required.
Updates to the app are communicated to users and can be activated as needed, even while out on the water. “Since integrating Bluetooth into select Minn Kota models, it has opened up a new frontier on upgrades and functionality. On-the-fly software updating is just one of many benefits,” Henry explains.
The Minn Kota apps for i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link were designed with a user-friendly screen layout that mimics Minn Kota’s handheld remotes with which anglers are already familiar. The navigational icons are the same, and the response time is immediate.
Some anglers have reported using the new app as their primary control or as a back-up to their wireless remote, while others prefer to use the foot pedal for control. Ultimately, it comes down to angler preference, and Minn Kota delivers options for anglers to choose how they control their trolling motor.
Simply download the Minn Kota i-Pilot or i-Pilot Link app to an iOS or Android device, then pair it with one of the Bluetooth-enabled Minn Kota trolling motors: Ulterra, Terrova, PowerDrive (i-Pilot only), and Ultrex models. The push-button task is fast and easy.
Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Outdoors and consists of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird® is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fishfinders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products.
Minn Kota® is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of Talon® shallow-water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon® is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
MinnKotaMotors.com/i-Pilot-App
SeaStar Solutions
You love your boat, your outboards have plenty of power and are in fine shape, but when it comes to steering, especially at certain speeds, the combination of the two leaves something to be desired. Maybe it’s the factory-installed electrohydraulic steering system that’s giving you grief. Or, perhaps, you’re driving your boat differently now than when you bought it and you haven’t adapted accordingly.
If you own a boat with Mercury® Verado™ outboards, there’s good news. You can now replace your factory electro-hydraulic steering system with SeaStar Solutions’ Optimus Electronic Power Steering (EPS), which provides an easier boat-handling experience with more precision and control. According to Tom Douglass, vice president of sales and marketing for SeaStar Solutions, the Optimus EPS system was developed in response to boat owners who wanted to upgrade to power steering in order to improve the handling of their boats and their boating experience.
“Now, we can extend the benefits of Optimus EPS to more boaters that are looking for ways to make driving a little easier—and a lot more fun,” says Douglass. The Optimus EPS system also offers speed-adaptive technology, a feature that enables programmable steering resistance based on the engines’ rpms. For example, it will make maneuvering your boat easier at low speeds around docks and in marinas, yet at higher speeds it will help to maintain a straight course while cruising.
To install the Optimus EPS system, remove the factory helm, hoses and power assist pump and replace with the Optimus electronic helm, NMEA2000® harnesses, CANtrak display, hoses, and hydraulic pump. Take note that on typical hydraulic steering systems (and on the Mercury Verado system), the autopilot controls a separate steering pump and actuators that steer the boat when the system is engaged. With Optimus, you don’t need that second pump as these autopilot systems that are compatible—from Garmin, Raymarine or SIMRAD— just plug into the Optimus system and use its pump and controls. This makes installation very easy and much less expensive.
For boats with two helm stations, adding a second station is simple because this is a drive-by-wire system. All you have to do to is run a wire from your network up to the second station and plug it into the Optimus electronic helm. The Optimus EPS system is now available for boats powered by up to four outboards.
By L.N. Evans Southern Boating Magazine August 2017
It was pitch-black and so quiet you could hear a plug drop, which is exactly what I was listening for as I sent a 5-inch Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow hurtling into the darkness. Instead of the light splash I was expecting, I heard the lure clang as it landed on a small dock. With a gentle twitch of the rod tip, I tumbled it over the edge and began a slow retrieve. Three cranks of the reel handle later a furious striper weighing more than 30 pounds exploded on the swimmer.
Sometimes, things that go bump in the night are really big fish. That’s a lesson that comes with night fishing.
There’s something about late- night fishing I find irresistible. Certainly, there is an intriguing eeriness about midnight forays, and the quiet, calm time for reflection is inviting.
So, too, is the opportunity to have a favorite flat, rip or hardened shoreline all to myself. Oh, but who am I kidding? The big ones come out to play after dark and, in the end, the increased chance to encounter a true trophy is what really puts me on the prowl. In any case, the mystique of not being able to clearly see your target, or the take, serves to make things even more tempting.
“That’s when trophy fish are most vulnerable,” says Captain Ryan Kane (Southern Instinct Fishing Charters, 239-896-2341, southerninstinct.com), a Fort Myers, Florida, charter skipper who makes no bones about why he likes to night fish into the dark hours,
“There’s a lot of fishing pressure on the waters around here so the biggest snook, redfish and other game fish species hang back and wait for the sun to go down before moving up onto the flats. Fishing on the graveyard shift allows me to target those bigger fish with minimal competition.”
Indeed, for many inshore game fish species, the summer months are a stressful period. From snook, redfish, sea trout, and shark in southern waters to striped bass, bluefish, drum, and weakfish in mid-Atlantic and Northeast areas, water temperatures approach the upper limits of the comfort zone.
In addition, vacation-crazed tourists patrol the shores, and boaters, parasailers and Jet Ski jockeys crisscross channels and flats. To the fish, it must be maddening mayhem.
For the subaqueous inhabitants of such high-traffic areas, respite comes on rainy days or after the sun sets beneath the horizon. It’s then, when water temperatures decline and human interference retreats, that lunkers go on a feeding binge.
To be sure, nighttime fishing isn’t that much different from the daytime brand, but there are a few points to keep in mind if you want to make it worth the effort. First is pinpointing the most productive time to fish. Many late-night novices head out at 6 or 7PM and just keep on casting as the sun goes down. What they fail to realize, however, is that the nighttime bite is a factor of time. Following a hot, muggy day, the water must have a couple of hours to cool off, big fish need a while to unnerve, and baitfish require the cover of full darkness to move about more recklessly. Waiting until 10 PM or later before embarking on night fishing resolves most of these issues.
As important as fishing in the right time slot is keying on appropriate tides. Just like during the day, late-eating predators favor specific tides. Sea trout and weakfish, for example, are notorious for firing up on the slower stages of water movement. For both, the last quarter of incoming and first quarter of outgoing water usually produce best.
Bass and Blues, in contrast, will sometimes move up onto shallow flats with the first advance of incoming water, and their shallow-water feeding activity often peaks as the current picks up strength. Snook and redfish show a preference for dropping tides that drain shrimp, crabs and baitfish from expansive flats toward deeper water. As the tide starts to recede, they’ll often encroach on sandbars to meet their prey, retreating back to deeper water an hour or two before the tide bottoms out.
Like Kane, Captain Rich Jensen—a full-time charter skipper since 1970 running the Nancy Ann IV out of Orient, New York (631-477-2337, nancyanncharters.com)—has long been hooked on night fishing. He has a reputation for catching big bass year after year. His largest cow so far tipped the scales at 67 pounds, and he’s caught dozens topping 50 pounds on the late shift.
Jensen and his fares hook a lot of their bass on live eels and dark-colored bucktails while drifting through serious rips far off the beach. Still, given the choice, he’d rather troll a big plug in shallower water closer to home if he’s looking for one large bruiser.
“Since the fish aren’t seeing your lures as much as sensing them,” he says, “you can get away with more after dark.
That’s not to say big fish don’t bite during daylight hours, just that for as good as it is during the daylight, it can be better in the darkness as trophy-caliber fish slide into the shallows and drop their guard.” Jensen notes that big bass move around a lot at night while feeding more freely, which increases the odds of hooking up. He favors full moon and new moon tides when intent on scoring with linesiders of double-take proportions.
While nighttime baitfishing varies little from the daytime routine, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to score consistently if using artificials. The most frequent mistake anglers make is retrieving lures too quickly. It’s vital to slow things down to a crawl, and then let up even more. I like to work quiet, subsurface plugs with a wide, wiggling action or large straight-tailed soft plastics.
Kane, by comparison, prefers to make a lot of noise with big Zara Spook surface lures. “If I’m missing sleep, I’m chasing lunkers,” he laughs. “I like a lure that makes a lot of noise and commotion.
With sight limited after dark, fish depend on other senses like vibration and scent to hone in on their meals. If they won’t hit the poppers and plugs, try cut mullet or bunker bait. Cast them up on a flat and let them just sit on the bottom. That oily scent draws predator species from quite a distance.”
As for where to go night fishing on the late shift, start with areas that produce during the day while adjusting for the likelihood that predator species will slide into shallower water nearby. Also, the cutting edge where nighttime and man-made lighting intersect draws its share of game fish. Don’t pass on the chance to work shadow lines along bridges and docks. Approach with stealth and drift into casting range if possible to avoid spooking your quarry.
Of course, there are some commonsense rules to heed should you head out after dark. Most important is to not venture into unfamiliar waters as rocks, navigational aids, sandbars and other late-night boaters are real hazards. Be sure to check out any area you might fish under daylight conditions before making a night run.
“Late-night adventures are not the time to experiment,” cautions Kane. “Fish areas you already know using techniques you’ve already mastered in broad daylight. No fish is worth risking your safety.”
It’s also a good idea before leaving the dock to make sure you are well-organized and to tell someone when you expect to return. Last, be sure to bring along plenty of bug spray if you plan to work back-bay waters. Monster snook, redfish and stripers aren’t the only things that feed after dark.
Tom Schlichter Southern Boating June 2016
Schlichter is a columnist for Newsday.
That’s likely the way the center console makers wanted it. Does the ‘L’ for luxury? Lifestyle? Leisure? Is the ‘F’ for fishing? Family? Fleet?
Any combination will work. See for yourself:
Can’t get enough center consoles models or want more information? You can visit Scout’s website to learn more about the LXF fleet.
