Sailfish? Canyon Companions

Volume 23 Issue 04
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Nor’East Saltwater
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PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT
George R. Scocca
FEATURES
Editor in Chief
Sal Amendolia
Download Your Advantage to Offshore Success
For all of our readers who love those technical toys sold today,
this feature is probably “honey to a bee”. I can’t believe how far
we have come to understanding how technology can impact our
success at offshore fishing. Mike Wright sure does!
by Mike Wright......................................................................pg.12
So You Want to Catch Sailfish?
Captain Zac is back! This time Captain Zac lets us in on the trade
secrets of catching sailfish in Florida while on either a private
charter or an open boat. Don’t go out and try it without reading
this one. You will save yourself lots of precious time.
by Captain Zac Grossman.......................................................pg.20
Tuna and Mahi: Canyon Companions
This feature is packed with advice and tips to help you catch both
tuna and mahi when fishing the canyons. As they say, you learn
something new every day and the information you will read in this
great article proves it.
by J.R.Warnett.......................................................................pg.26
Departments
Editor’s Waypoint.............p.4
Publishers Page................p.5
For Your Information........p.6
Salt on the Fly................p.8
Surfside.........................p.10
Trophy Pages..................p.34
Treasure Trove...............p.36
Nor’east Galley...............p.38
On The Cover
Here is Nor’east Publisher &
President, George Scocca,
with a Nissequogue River
striper, caught recentlyon his
friend Kenny Miklas’s boat.
Nor’East Saltwater
Art Director
Nick DiMarco
Creative Director
Barbara Scocca
V.P. of Marketing
Rob Pavlick
Account Coordinator
Nicole Sinning
Webmaster
James Sullivan
Contributing Editors:
Chuck Barbato
Bob Creeden
Chris Grech
Mike Wright
John Skinner
Karim Farid
Steve Byrne
Rob Caluori
Anthony Alessi
Richard Pannone
Frank Ruczynski
Mike Plaia
Greg Hazley
Richard DeMarte
Tony Salerno
Chris Spies
Nor’east Media, LLC
525 West Jericho Tpke.
Smithtown, NY 11787-5020
Phone: 631.863.0170
Nor’east Saltwater is published monthly
May through October, and bi-monthly Nov.
through April. by Nor’east Media, LLC, 525
W. Jericho Turnpike., Smithtown, NY 11787.
Nor’east Saltwater, Volume 23, Number
04 ©2012 Allcoast Media, LLC. The design
and contents of this publication may not
be reproduced in any manner without the
written consent of the publisher.
3
Editor’s Waypoint
I May Need a Bigger Boat!
This morning, June 6, 2012, at around 2:15am, our phone rang
and my wife and I were not surprised. We have been patiently
awaiting the birth of our 4th grandchild, and she arrived 3 days
before her due date. My son Domenick said she was a beautiful
20-inch keeper weighing 7.1 pounds, which he and my daughterin-law Nicole named Kenley Victoria. They have caught their limit
of 3 and are ecstatic.
A non-fisherman would never think the thoughts that are going
through my head right now. Aside from the fact that my wife
and I can’t wait to see her, I am already thinking of the fishing
equipment I’ll need for her. Tackle, fishing poles, life preservers,
etc., and, of course, her spot on my boat. That is when it hit me.
I may need a bigger boat! Since I love to take my grandchildren
fishing and intend to get them all together on my boat this
summer, I need to make sure there is room for everybody,
including parents. I think I’ll be OK for a few years but before
Kenley Victoria can head out into Smithtown Bay with the rest of us, I’ll have to figure out what I
need so I can be sure everybody can fit comfortably and safely.
While we are on the subject of taking children fishing, it is that time of year again when the weather
conditions and the fish that are biting present a great time to get some kids out fishing. So far this
year, I’ve managed to get out 3 times with the grandkids, and although we weren’t on my boat,
we had a ball trying and sometimes succeeding in catching trout. It doesn’t matter what species
you target, just do your best to get a child out fishing this year. I know that the readers of Nor’east
Saltwater and all anglers in general are getting children out fishing more and more each year. I see
and hear about it all the time and nothing makes me happier.
Keep up the good work my friends. Introduce as many kids as you can to our wonderful sport of
fishing. Teach them everything you have learned about fishing and conservation. They will have
the time of their lives and will never forget those trips with you. Also, remember, there are lots of
children out there who want to go fishing but have nobody to take them for one reason or another.
Find a way to get them out with you, too. You will be rewarded ten-fold.
Thank You,
Sal Amendolia
Editor In Chief
4
Nor’East Saltwater
Publishers Page
The New Beginning
In 1989, my brother Phillip had the bright idea of starting a weekly fishing magazine in New York.
I had some experience with a new technology known at the time as Desk Top Publishing, and we
were two fishing fools always looking for anything that would help us in our quest to catch more fish.
Hence, Nor’east Saltwater was born.
The first issue was dedicated to my mother whom had passed away that week after a bout with
cancer. However she had plenty of confidence in it right from the start, and she was right.
We brought Sea Temp Charts, and Tide Charts and a weekly log style fishing report format that
was chock full of inside information that local anglers were looking for. From the very first issue,
Nor’east Saltwater flew off the shelves of our loyal industry supporters, as anglers quickly learned to
appreciate all that we had provide. We quickly became the #1 source of fishing information in the
region, and remain that way today.
Our website, www.noreast.com, which I first launched in 1995, saw over 150,000 absolute unique
users last month, making us the most popular saltwater fishing site in the nation. The site became so
popular that it wasn’t worth printing a weekly magazine with old information in it, as everyone that
wet a line was finding out about it on Noreast.com as it was happening. It was nothing more than old
news at that point so we reduced the number of issues of our printed edition from a high of 42 to just
8 issues per year.
Just as I saw the internet as the future for the angler, it is clear to me that the printed magazine
is headed in the same direction. The same way just about every photo you’re shown today is on
someone's telephone or ipad, or tablet, the same will be true for magazines and newspapers. So
starting with our July issue, we will be available in digital format only.
Yes, I know, there are still plenty of readers out there that would like hold onto the book itself, and
you may very well be the same people that hate looking at photo’s on a telephone. But this leap to
digital gives us the opportunity to once again expand our ability to deliver faster, and more in depth
coverage of the saltwater fishing scene. As the months pass, we will be adding more and more
features to the now full four color issue of Nor’east Saltwater. It is available on our homepage, for
both mobile and desktop versions. And if you have to hold a copy you can always print it out.
I would like to thank each and every person that distributed our print edition as well as you, the
readers, for your continued support of Nor’east Saltwater. You gave us our start and I will be forever
grateful.
Just as I was right about the web, I know you folks will embrace the new technology of the future as
we continue to be the number one provider of fishing information in the region.
I just wish my brother Phil could see it.
Thank You,
George Scocca
Publisher and President
Nor’East Saltwater
5
For Your Information
By Rob Pavlick
Pabst Blue Ribbon Block Island Bass Tournament – June 2nd-July 7th
A new striper tournament is on the scene! Sponsored by Pabst Brewing Company, in conjunction
with the Block Island Tourism Council, you have over one month to fish this tournament with weigh
stations on Block Island, in Watch Hill, and Wakefield, Rhode Island. Anglers have the opportunity to
compete from boat or shore with over $30,000 in cash and prizes for boat, shore, and junior divisions.
Check it out at pbrfishing.com
Great Gun Anglers Shark Tournament – June 23rd
Fishing out of Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets. Captains’ meeting is Friday June 22 at 7 pm at the
VFW Hall on Montauk Highway in Center Moriches. For more info visit www.greatgunanglers.com or
call Frank at 631-698-1742.
Bay Shore Tuna Club 51st Annual Mako Tournament – June 23rd
Over $50,000 in cash and prizes given out in 2011. Captains’ meeting at Nicky’s On The Bay in Bay
Shore on June 22nd. For more info call 631-650-7280.
1st Annual Long Island Sea Robin Round Up – June 30th
Presented by Hi Hook Bait & Tackle, The Long Island Sea Robin Round Up is a family fishing tournament and festival being held June 30th. Proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Registration is at Hi Hook Bait & Tackle, 33 New York Ave., Huntington, NY. There will be raffle prizes, cash
prizes, and trophies for the childrens’ division. The festival will be held at Mill Dam Park in Huntington and will feature live music, as well chefs from the famous New York City restaurant Daniel giving
fish cooking demonstrations. For more info visit www.searobinroundup.com or call Hi Hook at 631683-4741.
Fifth Annual Fluke Rodeo – July 14th
The Knights of Columbus and Marine Max will co-host the 5th Annual Fluke Rodeo, Special Olympics
and Send A Kid Fishing Fundraiser, July 14th. Entry fee is $20/adult and $10/junior under 16 years
BBQ included. Fishing permitted in bay and ocean from Debs to Shinnecock Inlets. Private boat Calcutta $50/boat, 70/30 split 1st and 2nd. Weigh-in 4pm – 5pm at MarineMax – participants receive
tee-shirt and goodie bag. BBQ 4pm. Chinese Auction & Raffles 5pm. Non-tournament participants attending BBQ - $10/person Sign-up at Marine Max in Lindenhurst, Burnett’s B & T in Bay Shore, Saltwater’s Tackle in W. Islip, J & J Sports in Patchogue or Silly Lily in Center Moriches.
Windswept Marina Angler’s Club Shark Tournament – July 21st
Held out of Windswept Marina in East Moriches, NY, this shark tournament is open to members and
nonmembers. For more info contact Jan at 516-729-2582.
6
Nor’East Saltwater
Montauk Canyon Challenge – July 13th – July 22nd
Boats may fish this tournament from Friday, July 13th at 7pm through Sunday, July 22nd at 11am.
Captain has the choice to fish one overnight or two day trips during the tournament. Accommodations include Star Island Yacht Club, Montauk Marine Basin, and Montauk Yacht Club. Entry is $800
per boat. Compete for over $20,000 in cash and prizes, plus optional calcuttas. BBQ and awards at
Montauk Yacht Club on Sunday, July 22nd. For more information visit montaukcanyonchallenge.com
or call Dave at 845-853-4967.
Babylon Invitational Tuna Tournament July 27-29
Hosted by Babylon Tuna Club. Fishing out of Jones and Fire Island Inlets. There were over $40,000
paid out in cash and prizes last year. This tournament has both inshore and offshore categories. For
more information visit www.babylontunaclub.com
Moriches Anglers Fluke Tournament July 28th
$45 per angler. Fishing from 6am-4pm. Cash prizes will be awarded for top three fluke. Call Chet at
631-728-1860.
Nor’East Saltwater
7
Salt on the Fly
By Anthony Alessi
Casting a Fly at Caumsett State Park
Caumsett State Park is an historical and magical place for anyone to visit any time of year. For the fly
angler interested in catching striped bass it is especially magical. Situated on the peninsula of land
known as Lloyd Neck in the village of Lloyd Harbor, New York, Caumsett is surrounded by the waters
of the Long Island Sound. The shorelines of the park are not easily accessible for geographical reasons
but also because access is granted only through the purchase of a special limited issue fishing permit.
These limitations result in a stretch of shoreline that is rather remote and pristine offering anglers a
truly rare glimpse into what it must have been like to be an early inhabitant of Long Island.
The effort it takes to fish the beaches here is part of the ritual that makes an outing here unique. The
issued fishing permit gives an angler vehicle access to the fishermen’s parking lot on the beach in the
northwest section of the park. It is an adventurous three mile drive on dirt roads through beautiful
open fields and woods to reach the parking lot. After parking, an angler has to choose where he will
fish, as the shoreline here has a lot of options to consider. The open beach directly in front of the
parking lot is studded with boulders, and this kind of structure extends along the beach to the east.
The rocks and huge boulders here, some as large as a garage, attract fish and this stretch of beach is
well worth getting to know. My advice would be to fish this area during a flood tide and learn where
the structure combines with current to create rips and seams that hold bass.
The open beach to the west of the access point is sandy and lacking the rocks so abundant on the
eastern end. The fact that it is a bit easier to travel along and fish makes this stretch of beach very
popular. The fishing can be especially good here during high stages of the tide when sand eels are
thick along the beaches of the Sound. I have witnessed evenings along this section where every
rod as far as the eye can see is bent and fish swirl and crash the surface in every direction. If you
walk west on the open beach to the end, you will find a sand bar that stretches out a few hundred
yards right at the corner where the shoreline bends and continues south. This bar creates quite an
attractive rip during a moving tide and is an obviously excellent spot to cast a fly. Only problem here is
that there is no room for more than three anglers, so have a plan B in mind before getting to the park
if you are thinking of trying out this point.
Another option is to fish the “back side”. This would be the stretch of beach from the point that
runs south towards Cold Spring Harbor. The nice thing about the back side beach is that it can offer
protection from a north and easterly blow. The best way to head directly for the back side is to walk
the well-worn foot path that starts at the west side of the parking lot. It runs along the open north
facing beach just behind the brush line and, while it is a long walk, it is a good example of the beauty
the park offers to visitors who don’t mind hiking. Wild roses stretch along both sides of the foot path,
along with cactus, golden rod and a host of other beautiful flora. Be warned, however, there is also an
abundance of poison ivy that grows along this path. Make sure you know how to recognize it before
you get to the park because, if not, there is just so much of it that you are likely to come into contact
with it. As you walk this path you have a beautiful view of the Long Island Sound on one side and an
equally breathtaking view of acres of marsh with the woods of the park as a back drop on the other
side. This extensive marsh drains into a saltwater pond located at the southwestern edge of the park.
This small body of water together with its outlet is another attractive place to wet a line if you can
withstand the walk through harsh terrain to get there.
If you are interested in a pristine fly-fishing-friendly environment, there is no place I can think of that
fits that description better than Caumsett State Park. Enjoy it to the fullest if you go and please …
please… leave it just as pristine as you found it.
8
Nor’East Saltwater
Nor’East Saltwater
9
Surfside
By John Skinner
Between striper fishing from the surf and kayak,
ter shows. I saw what bordered on a collecand fluking from my 16-foot tin boat, I realize
tive obsession with surf gear. I haven’t thought
that I fished a stretch of 13 times in 12 days at
about rods and reels for a long time. I have a
the end of May. I did take a day off (weather), but 1990 Lamiglas GSB1321M that I use for all of my
made up for it by making two trips on two other
heavier fishing, such as ocean inlets. I bought
days. I manage this by keeping my trips relatively the blank, wrapped the butt with cork tape, and
short. I’ll rarely fish more than 4 hours on a trip,
used electrical tape on the the transition from
with 2 hour or 3 hours being about average. This the cork tape handle to the blank. I wrapped 4
lets me make a lot of observations of the areas
Fuji BSVLG guides on it and used varnish on the
I’m interested in.
threads instead of epoxy. I always do this to make
One observation I have so far this season is a lack it easier to change a broken guide, although I
of sandeels in the Sound, at least in the Riverrarely need to. I’ve worn through the cork tape
head Town area where I’ve been fluking on the
a couple of times, so I’ve covered up a lot of it
shoals about 1.5 miles off the beach. The boat
with more electrical tape. It isn’t pretty, but it
is usually caked with them after a fluke trip. So
has landed a few tons of bass in its lifetime. The
far, after 5 trips and a lot of fluke, I’ve seen one
most important thing I did was to lay out the
sandeel. I thought I found a large school of them guides to Stan Hentchel’s (Rocky Point Fishing
getting beat up by bluefish, but when I motored
Stop) specifications. I put a Penn 706Z on it, and
over, they turned out to be anchovies. The fluke
have never given it another thought. I took the
are spitting up almost nothing, which makes me
same route on my North Shore plugging rod. It’s
wonder how they can stay in the area. I’m not
built on a 9-foot Lamiglas MB1083M blank and
sure if there’s a connection, but the same wais paired with a Penn 550SSg. I can’t imagine a
ters are unusually clear. I wonder if the clarity is
better rod for throwing RedFins and Bombers.
related to a lack of plankton that the sandeels
With my first paycheck from this publication in
would normally be drawn to. The striper plugging the mid 90’s, I splurged and had Stan build me a
on those area beaches has been very slow for
9-foot Lamiglas GSB1081L. It’s been a great rod
me, which isn’t surprising given the lack of bait.
on the South Shore sand in many situations and
I have reports of plenty of sandeels east of my
is also paired with a Penn 550SSg. I wanted a
area, so maybe they’re on their way.
9-foot stick that could handle throwing live and
Another observation is an unusually large numrigged eels. The solution was a GSB1201L with a
ber of adult bunker schools heading west in the
foot cut from the butt at the suggestion of John
Sound. There appeared to be nothing on them,
Schauer. Like my other rods, it’s built with the
and they’ve been screaming west as if they’re
BSVLGs, cork tape, and electrical tape. This rod
on a mission. I guess western Sound anglers will
carries my only Van Staal, a VS200. For lighter
benefit from this bait influx at some point.
applications I use 7-foot St. Croix Premier Series
I had an interesting and somewhat heated enrods with Penn SSgs and Slammers. I can’t build
counter with the DEC on the Memorial Day
a rod of the quality of these production rods for
weekend. I went into this in detail on my Blog
the very reasonable price St. Croix sells them
on noreast.com. One take away message from
for ($100-$140). My surf bags are a collection of
the incident was to make sure you’ve done your
five various size bags in the $40-$80 range made
Marine Fishing Registry obligation before hitting
by Canyon Products. You’ll find very little pricey
the water. I think I might have had some trouble
wood in those surf bags. Super Strike plugs,
if I didn’t have mine. I also learned that it’s actuBombers, and RedFins take up most of the plug
ally good to fish near other anglers sometimes
space. Gibbs pencils and Beachmaster metal lips
because you might need them as witnesses.
are the wood lures that fill out the plug selection.
Something’s been on my mind since the winAdd bucktails and swimshads and I’m almost
Nor’East Saltwater
10
done. There are just a few rarely used tins that
are there in case I need to reach a school of fish
that can’t be reached with anything else. My surf
belt is a $10 dive belt that I bought 30 years ago,
and it sports $30 Manley pliers.
Rod purchases are the one place you’re best off
not scrimping on. A good Lamiglas custom rod
will cost a few hundred dollars, but you’ll have it
a very long time and it’s only a couple hundred
dollars more than a low end surf rod. The CTS
and Century surf rods are getting a lot of attention. These look and feel like superb products
and give anglers something to consider along
with the Lamiglas sticks. As for reels, if money is
no object, it’s hard to go wrong with Van Staal.
The one I own is clearly my best reel, and now
that they sell self-service kits and have videos
online that make self-service easy, these are an
excellent investment. Not everyone has $800 plus
maintenance costs to put into a reel. I’ve made it
through just fine using Penn Z, SS, and Slammer
reels, and I bet most anglers could do the same if
needed.My point is that all of these are just tools.
Hitting the surf with a $600 rod, $800 reel, and
$300 surf bag will do little or nothing in terms of
upping your catch. The important thing is to put
your time in, think hard about your observations,
and refine your strategies. It’s mostly about the
fish, and much less about the gear.
Here’s my strategy for catching surf bass in excess
of 40 pounds – fish a lot in June. This is cow
bass time. I’d bet more trophy class stripers are
beached in June than during the much heralded
fall run. The fishing is much easier now. The big
ones are hitting almost exclusively in the dark,
and there’s only about 8 hours of darkness each
day. The weather is much more stable than in the
fall, so if you get on a good bite, it’s likely to continue for at least a few nights. This is the time to
focus on relatively deep areas with some current
and to throw big offerings. For me, it’s usually
rigged eels. Those and the live ones are hard to
beat. If you’re a chunker, soak some heads this
month. Pluggers should spend more time with
the larger profiled lures. Good luck on hunting
down that fish of a lifetime.
Nor’East Saltwater
11
Download Your
Advantage
to Offshore Success
By Mike Wright
E
asy access to satellite sea surface temperature
imagery has revolutionized offshore fishing
more than any invention since the advent of
LORAN charts. Being able to see where warm
water is and identify temperature breaks within
hours of leaving the dock has made even the
weekend warriors among us more successful
fishermen. Many of us have been using satellite
images of sea temperatures for a decade now
and have learned to look for subtleties in the
swirls and shades of red, orange and yellow; the
steepest, tightest temp changes, the smaller
breaks at an eddy’s leading edge, or a filament
of warmth extending over a deep structure—a
myriad of things that might hint at being more
likely to hold fish. But despite this bird’s eye view
and supernatural vision, we very often still arrive
at our anointed “hot spot” to find conditions
exactly as we expected, except for the presence
of fish. No experienced offshore hunter needs to
be told that not every seven-degree break has
fish running its edges, not all deep blue water is
alive with pelagics, and not every canyon edge
12
holding bait. That’s because there are a lot of
other factors at play in concentrating fish than
just structure and water temperature. Duh--you
don’t need to be told that. But there are ways
to refine our choices of where to fish that will
give us an even better chance at winding up in
the spot where the fish are. Some come to us
through technology readily available to us, and
others are just emerging with the promise that
in the near future it will be easier and easier to
pinpoint where we want to put our lines in.With
the help of Tom Hilton of Hilton’s RealtimeNavigator Fish Finding Service (hiltonsoffshore.
com), we’re going to take a look at how you can
put the information your satellite service gives
you to better use. First of all, you need to start
using more of the information that’s given to you.
There are eight or nine satellites that all of us in
the Northeast rely on for our SST charts. What
you need to remember is that they are not just
up there to help us catch fish. They’re performing
innumerable measurements of atmospheric,
marine and terrestrial conditions and the satellite
Nor’East Saltwater
data services we all subscribe
to share a lot more than just
SST shots with us. Most also
map chlorophyll, currents
and altimetry for us, and yet
very few captains bother to
employ that information in
their decision making—either
because we don’t understand
what that information tells us
about the fishing conditions or
because we’re just too lazy to
be bothered with comparing
several charts to determine
where the fish are most likely
to be.
“We’re like bettors at a horse
race—we are looking for
combinations of favorable
factors that will tilt the odds in
our favor,” says Hilton. “Nothing
is absolute in offshore fishing,
fish have tails and they’ll go
where they please. You’ll catch
blue marlin in cold green water.
But you are going to increase
your success rate if you’re in
the places where the most good
conditions are lined up.”
CHLOROPHYLL
Chlorophyll is the best
understood and easiest to
interpret of the auxiliary charts
on SST sites. We all know that
when hunting for the yellowfin,
bigeye, marlin and swordfish
that are our main quarry in the
Northeast we want clear blue
water imported from the Gulf
Stream not the green dingy—
or turbid—stuff that’s native
to our continental shelf. The
difference is simply a function
of chlorophyll and the amount
of it in the water column.
Water is blue and chlorophyll is
green. This translates to more
chlorophyll, green water; less
chlorophyll, blue water. When
we’re looking at our temp
charts and identify the breaks,
our next step would typically be
to go to the chlorophyll charts
and see where the bluest water
is. Most charts will make this
easy to identify because they
show the charts in shades of
blue. Some will sprinkle charts
with data points representing
chlorophyll density in the
water which means the lower
the density, the more blue
the water. It may seem pretty
cut and dry, simple dimple
as they say aboard the Flying
Dutchman. But, of course,
it’s not. More chlorophyll
also means more food for
microscopic plankton and—
well, you understand the foodchain/pyramid-of-life thing.
So, if you’re looking for the
bait that is going to have tuna
and their brethren holding in
an area and feeding, you don’t
necessarily want to just go
charging off to the deepest,
Nor’East Saltwater
clearest blue water you can
find. You need to find the blue
water that overlaps areas with
the right amounts of plankton
and things that small prey
species are feeding on. That
means one of two things: either
you gotta find a place where
blue water is butting up against
nutrient rich and greener
(sometimes only very slightly)
water, or a place where the
nutrient loaded water from the
depths of the ocean is getting
pushed toward the surface.
ALTIMETRY
Temperature and chlorophyll
charts make identifying the
places where clear water and
more turbid water are coming
together fairly easy. Upwellings
less so. In its most simple
form, upwellings are why we
fish at the continental shelf,
where deep ocean currents hit
big rock walls and are forced
upward, spraying nutrients into
the warm water above like a
sprinkler system—the notches
13
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in the shelf wall that we call
canyons serving to focus the
upwellings like a hose nozzle.
But the laws of physics also
come into play with upwellings,
namely the bit we were all
taught in high school: for every
action there is an equal and
opposite reaction. That means
that for every place there is
water being forced upward in
an upwelling, there is water
being forced downward too in
a downwelling. This is critical
information to fishermen
because even more than areas
of upwelling concentrate sea
life, areas of downwelling will be
essentially devoid of any pelagic
life near the surface, no matter
what the other combinations
of favorable conditions might
be present. There could be
75-degree, cobalt blue water
parked right atop the Lobster
Claw and there won’t be a
sniff of tuna if the water is
downwelling.
“Even though that beautiful
cobalt blue Gulf Stream water
on the chart looks great it’s
going to be a dead sea,” Hilton
said while looking at a chart of
the ocean conditions off Virginia
in May.
Welcome to caring about
altimetry. Altimetry, as you
might have already deduced, has
to do with altitude, specifically
the altitude of the sea surface.
We’re not talking wave heights.
This is average overall height,
and they are measured in
millimeters. There are places
where the ocean surface bulges
up slightly and places where
there are slight depressions,
and these differences tell us
where upwellings are and where
downwellings are.
Just to complicate things a bit
more, altimEtry is a bit counterintuitive; the depressions in
the sea surface are where the
wellings are and the bulges are
where the downwellings are.
Don’t ask, nobody you know
can explain why this is the case,
just learn to read the charts
and avoid the areas (usually in
red) of downwelling. Like with
blue water and green water,
you’re going to generally want
to be working in areas between
the areas of upwelling and
downwelling, where nutrient
balances are just right to
concentrate bait and hold fish.
Because nutrient levels and bait
species are different in different
regions of the ocean, where the
fish will settle in between the
upwellings and downwellings
will be different in the Northeast
than in the Gulf of Mexico. For
example, Hilton says, one of
his customers went back and
compared where he caught the
25 blue marlin he caught over a
season to the archived altimetry
charts from the days he fished
and discovered that he caught
23 of the fish areas of zero to
–20 centimeters—well into the
heart of the upwelling—while
in the Northeast his customers
tend to want to be closer to the
edges, even into the regions on
the fringe of the downwellings,
at heights of zero to +10cm and
have caught fish in up to +20cm.
It may take a season of watching
the charts and comparing where
you caught fish to the altimetry
readings in the area before you
can narrow down your specific
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16
killzone but once you do it will
put you on more fish.
CURRENTS
Finally come currents. We’ve
all looked at current charts and
felt like we were going to have
a seizure from all the swirling
little arrows. But get used to it
because currents are going to be
the last piece of the puzzle that
will lead you to the parts of the
vast ocean that is going to be
most likely to hold fish. Ocean
currents are different than
tides and don’t find a regular
schedule. They swirl, slack and
peak nearly randomly, affected
by a vast number of factors right
down to that butterfly’s wings
flapping in China. But they can
be tracked and therefore we
can see where they conspire to
create the kind of conditions
fish like. Current will also
give hints about upwellings
and downwellings because
the Coreolis effect will make
them spin differently. Like your
toilet, a downwelling will spin
clockwise. Conversely, then,
an upwelling will spin counterclockwise, creating a current
that the satellites can see. That
counter-clockwise spin is what
you’re looking for in the arrows
on the chart, and if you can find
a place where the right side of
that counter-clockwise current
is spinning straight into the wall
of the continental shelf, you’re
home. “As a rule of thumb,
a counter-clockwise rotation
flowing into the shelf at a
90-degree angle, that’s pushing
everything up to the surface
there,” Hilton said. “You see
it’s at the edge of an altimetry
Nor’East Saltwater
change and there’s a temp break
and blue water. You’re going to
have a hard time getting me off
of that spot.”
LINES IN
Again, don’t just charge into
the heart of the beast, where
the arrows are the tightest and
have the longest tails (indicating
current speed). Now that you’ve
found your target area, look
more closely. Fish want moving
water but not moving too
fast, and not moving too slow.
Anybody who’s ever fished for
trout in a stream will tell you
the fish will be sitting where a
rushing current meets an area
of relative calm. The same goes
offshore. Find the stretch where
a strong current is hitting the
wall and brushing up against a
more mild or slack current. You
might have noticed a pattern in
all this, a common denominator
that probably jibes with what
you already knew: fish operate
on the fringes. The edge of
warm water eddies, the edges of
blue and green water, the edges
of upwellings and downwellings,
the edges of clashing currents
and, of course, the edge of
the continental shelf. It’s time
to start comparing them all to
each other and find the places
where they overlap. “What
we’ve learned is that when you
take all these different shots-your sea temps, chlorophyll
counts, currents, altimetry--and
you can find the combination of
the most overlapping favorable
conditions, you are going to see
a much higher rate of success
in those areas,” says Hilton.
Internet info and reports from
friends and just looking for the
warm water on the edge will
put you on fish a lot. But when
you find those fish, compare
the conditions of current
and altimetry to where you
caught, and see if you don’t
see correlations trip after trip.
Once you’ve started to plot
those kinds of patterns you’ll
be able to plan your attack
better on the days when the
fishing is not so easy. Hilton’s
Offshore is on the cutting edge
of comparing all this info to
find the spots where those
conditions overlap easier.
And the newest upgrade is
allowing captains to upload
the information found on
the browser directly into the
navigation package, which
can be uploaded straight
into an iPad, either through
wireless right as you fire up
the engines or even in realtime while in the canyon using
a satellite phone uplink. The
emerging technology will allow
boats with iPads mounted right
into their consoles to effectively
upload real-time satellite
images, plot courses and hot
spots and put the information
directly onto the boat’s GPS
chart machine. Hilton’s also
allows users to plot points on
one chart (say, the location
of a big temperature) and
follow that same plot line as
you switch to the chlorophyll,
altimetry and current charts
to more easily see where the
prime conditions are meshing.
For those of you already in the
advanced satellite imagery
class, Hilton’s also has a satellite
index, allowing you to only use
images from your most trusted
specific satellite, to ensure
continuity of the imagery. But
regardless of what site you’re
using, spending a little extra
time examining the conditions
of the areas you’re going to
fish will put you on fish more
often. Anybody can catch fish
when there’s a wide-open bite
going on for three days. It’s the
sharpie that finds the fish when
they are few and far between.
Catch ‘em up.
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Nor’East Saltwater
19
So You Want
To CaTch Sailfish?
By Captain Zac Grossman
T
an hour (352 inches per second), that means 44
he first thing to decide is whether you’re
spool revolutions per second, or put another way,
going to do this from your own boat or from
a whopping 2,640 rpms! As more and more line
a charter boat. Let’s cover the charter boat first
leaves the reel, the diameter is smaller and the
because that is the smaller part of the article.
revs get higher. Sails easily cover a 100 yards in
When chartering you don’t really have to know
10 seconds when running straight away. Enough
much other than where and when to go. The
said. Now for where and when in south Florida.
captain will supply the local knowledge (where
The when is primarily WINTER which should
they were yesterday, which is the best place to
start looking for them today). Your guide will also bring a smile to anyone who would rather be
fishing than sitting indoors near some source
know what method works best in the area you
of heat. The where is anywhere along Florida’s
are fishing and supply all the right bait, lures,
Atlantic coast but most famously from Jupiter to
and tackle. For many anglers, bringing their own
Key West. Charter boats are ready and willing to
tackle is part of the fun and that should be no
take you out for sails along that whole stretch.
problem. Twenty-pound test spinning outfits
are capable and exciting to use, if “up to snuff”.
Methods differ in each area. The further north,
the more trolling, the further south more live bait
Sailfish are great jumpers and very exciting, but
fishing in general. Trolling is usually done with
what many people fail to realize until attached
several bait/lure combos in the water, usually
to one, is that they are one of the very fastest
ballyhoo behind Islander lures or rubber skirts,
fish in the sea. This means the drag on your
some on the outriggers, some flat lined. Bait
reel will be tested. Quality makes a difference.
fishing however is done in many different ways.
I’m partial to my Shimano Stradic 8000 loaded
Drifting is most popular between Jupiter and the
with 20-lb. braid on a 7-foot Star Rod. Here is a
Keys, with kite fishing being the most preferred
little calculation to think about. The diameter
of my spool is 2½ inches when full. This means
method. While this is also done in the Keys,
sight fishing (which means casting a live bait or
almost 8 inches of line leaves my spool with
lure at a specific sailfish) is extremely common
every revolution. If a sailfish runs off at 20 miles
Nor’East Saltwater
20
there. So picking where to fish
depends on whether you’re
choosing the area based on how
you want to fish or choosing
an area because that’s where
you will happen to be, like on
a family vacation where fishing
is secondary (I know that might
not be how you feel about it,
but your vote might not carry
enough weight!). Beware, in
Florida, more than other places
I have been, there are a lot of
“charter captains” who only
look good on paper. The size of
their ad in a magazine or the
local paper might only indicate
the size of their budget but no
guarantee of their expertise. Do
your research (forums, articles,
etc.) or contact me. I will help
you book with a captain I know
is good and there is no charge
for the service (see my website:
www.captainzac.com or www.
makoexpress.com, for those of
you who remember me from
Montauk. Now let’s talk about
fishing for sailfish from your
own boat. There are launching
ramps throughout Florida and
the Keys and info on them is
located at http://flafin.blogspot.
com. This link lists the different
areas of Florida on the right
side of the page. Clicking on one
will lead you to the appropriate
map and listing for that area on
a Google page. Clicking on any
of the listed ramps will bring up
a box that tells you about the
ramp; its exact location, how
many lanes, whether it handles
big boats, etc. Find out where
the charter boats dock in the
area you’ve chosen and visit
that marina in the afternoon
(most boats return around
4 pm). Act like a prospective
customer (not someone who
will be fishing where they fish)
and ask some questions that
will help you, like how much
they charge, how far out is the
ride, what method they use to
catch sailfish and how are they
running. Remember, if you are
asking the crew of a 60-foot
Sportfisherman, they might only
be into trolling if their usual
clientele are people who hang
out in the air conditioned salon
or doze in the fighting chair
until something happens; better
to ask the crew of a “fishing
machine”. Asking customers
getting off the boat can be
helpful too.
If they all say trolling, then
that is what you should do.
The marina store or a local
tackle shop will have prerigged “naked” ballyhoo ready
for trolling. It is best to create
a spread of as many as your
boat can troll and have some
skipping on the surface (best on
the outside) with skirts in front
of the bait and some running
just under, being lead by bulletheaded lures like Islanders. Blue
and white are the preferred
colors. If you have dredges
(either baits, rubber lures, or
those holographic strips), use
them, but remember they also
have a downside. If fishing near
weed lines, for example, they
will quickly become covered up
and worse than useless. You also
need experience in using them
both for positioning purposes
and to avoid entangling a sailfish
when brought to the boat. If
the boats at the marina have
been using live bait (sails rarely
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22
hit a bait that isn’t moving, so
don’t bother with dead bait),
then they have been most
likely drifting and kite fishing.
You’ll need to have a good
live well and find out where
to get bait. Catching your own
(using Sabiki rigs) is great IF
you know where they are and
when, not something to count
on. The best bet if you are a
“visitor” to the area is to buy
them from a marina you can
pull up to after launching or
from a bait boat. Not all marinas
sell them but just about every
inlet has at least one bait boat
hanging around waiting for
you. Get on the VHF and ask
if anyone is “selling bait out
there”. The preferred bait for
sailfish is the goggle eye. They
are expensive, usually going
around $80 a dozen. If you have
experience kite fishing, then no
more need be said. If not, then
practice with the equipment,
even sitting in your boat on a
trailer to get used to how it all
works. Those really good at
it can suspend multiple baits
and fly two kites (a split shot
in opposite lower corners will
make them fly off in different
directions). Using one kite with
just one bait suspended from it
is still better than no kite at all.
Of course there are those few
days when there isn’t enough
wind to fly it. Then most serious
anglers carry helium tanks and
add balloons to the backside of
their kites. The bait will be on
the downwind side of the boat
in all cases leaving the upwind
side available for drifting out
live baits on multiple outfits.
The key to finding sailfish is
looking for some kind of change.
Nor’East Saltwater
A rip caused by two currents
clashing, water moving swiftly
over some bottom structure,
or wind against current are
all good starting places if you
don’t know specific areas that
have been holding these fish.
There are fishing maps available
at tackle shops that are pretty
good for finding starting spots
to look, like the famous Sailfish
Alley between Palm Beach
and Jupiter. This area saw
remarkable fishing this past
winter. Every January the West
Palm Beach Fishing Club holds
its Silver Sailfish Derby (since
1934). After all lines were in on
the final day of fishing Saturday,
46 boats had released a total
of 1,174 sailfish in three days
of fishing. Sails tend to not be
out in very deep water, usually
hanging out in 80 to 150-foot
depths (except for the Keys).
Another very good indication of
where to fish is where you see
a concentration of boats flying
kites. Respect their working
area and line up your drift in
the same depth. Remember
they will have lines out on both
sides of the boat and the kite
lines may be pretty far out.
You should have at least one
bait that just free swims out
there and another about 40
feet down, unless your depth
sounder shows something
significant at another depth like
a school of bait. One near the
bottom can provide a surprise
like a nice mutton snapper. Most
people prefer circle hooks with
6/0 and 7/0 usually used on the
goggle eyes. Another bait that
works is threadfin herring. They
are smaller and more fragile,
so 5/0 is better. All should be
of the light wire variety so they don’t hinder the
bait’s movement. Most people thread the hook
through the bait’s nostrils and drift it from a rod
in the holder, the exception being those hanging
from a kite. They should be hooked near the
dorsal. The kite bait must be constantly monitored
and line either brought in or let out so the bait
struggles right on the surface, sending out those
“come hither” signals. Of course when you get the
pickup, just wind like crazy as the circle hook finds
its way into the corner of the sail’s mouth. With
the kite bait there will be a lot of slack to pick up.
Water pressure helps set the circle hook. If you’re
fishing in the Keys, then the preferred bait is live
ballyhoo. These are pretty easy to catch. Just
motor out to the reef (you’ll see plenty of boats
there) and anchor. Chum with ground bunker and
toss oatmeal over as well. Use a light spinner and
small hooks (often a few single size 6 or 8 hook
works better than Sabikis) under a little float to
catch the ballyhoo that will gather in the chum
slick. Each one you bring in will bring the school
a little closer. If you’re good with a cast net, they
should eventually all be within throwing distance.
Be careful not to put more in the well than its flow
can keep alive and frisky. Sight fishing for sails
in the Keys is great. Many boats cruise around
looking for sailfish surfing along right on the
surface, moving in the same direction as the wave
they are on. While searching, troll a couple of
baits or lures (you never know when a nice mahi
or wahoo will come along and surprise you). Don’t
forget they’re out there when you hook up that
sail you’re targeting. When you spot a sail, get
parallel to it and stay at casting distance, matching
its speed. Hook a live ballyhoo through upper and
lower jaw with a circle hook and cast it in front of
the sailfish. When you feel the pickup, wind fast
and the rest should be history within seconds.
At many spots in the Keys, especially the middle
ones, an amazing occurrence often takes place.
Captains call it “running the showers”. Showers
are those incredible occurrences when sailfish
crash tightly packed pods of bait in the shallow
waters, like between Conch Reef and Alligator
reef well within sight of Islamorada. Many of you
readers of Nor’East Saltwater have experienced
bait showering due to the craziness of bluefish
working schools of big bunkers. Well, this is
basically the same thing, the main difference
being the players. When this happens, race right
over and stop within casting distance. Cast a live
ballyhoo into the melee and hold on. A sailfish in
such shallow water always goes ballistic! Under
these conditions you can also use pencil poppers
in blue and white, but often the jumping antics
will throw the hooks. I replace those trebles with a
single Siwash tail hook. The long distance between
point and barb seems to make a difference.
Sailfish are a special catch, often taxing your
tackle and your skill. Treat them with the respect
they deserve for providing such sport. They are
not considered good to eat and in fact anyone
bringing in a dead one to the dock is usually
shunned by everyone whose respect you’d rather
have. Fly a release flag instead. Make sure they
are properly revived after removing the hook (if
you can without causing further injury) by holding
on to their bill as you move the boat slowly ahead
until you feel the fish pulling away from you with
some force. This winter, instead of throwing
another log on the fire, come down to Florida
where sailfishing provides the heat.
Nor’East Saltwater
23
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Nor’East Saltwater
25
Tuna and Mahi
Canyon Companions
By J. R. Warnet
26
Nor’East Saltwater
A
s the end of the summer
fishing comes to a close,
many anglers get a familiar
nervous twitch. Between the
end of fluke and weakfish
season and before the big
bass run, anglers begin to prep
themselves for a big finale.
Serious anglers know that the
time for lightweight rods and
live killies is over. Before the
sand spikes and 12-foot rods
come out of hibernation, many
anglers get pumped for some
serious offshore action. I’m not
talking about a summer bluefish
or maybe a croaker in the wash.
The fish I refer to resemble
rockets with gills.
When the weather’s right and
the moon cooperates, various
types of tuna make their way
to the warm, blue waters of the
canyons. Warm Gulf Stream
water pushes into the offshore
grounds, bringing with it fast,
strong fish that can smoke
your reel without hesitation.
Multiple species of tuna migrate
into the canyons to chase
schools of mackerel, squid and
other species of deepwater fish.
Bigeye, bluefin, yellowfin, etc.,
charge the canyons in schools
of hundreds or more but they
don’t travel alone. One species
of fish is almost always found
mixed in with big schools of
tuna.
Dolphinfish, or mahi-mahi as
it's called in the Pacific, can be
found traveling with schools
of tuna 9 out of 10 times. In
Hawaiian, the name mahi-mahi
translates to “strong-strong,”
and mahi are extremely strong
fighters. On many occasions,
anglers coming back from the
canyons in search of tuna often
have a few mahi in their coolers
as well. Anglers who fish the
offshore grounds know that on
any trip you can find tuna and
mahi traveling together. It's
not a stroke of luck these two
magnificent fish accompany
each other in the canyons.
They may act like peas and
carrots but tuna and mahi have
common aspects that almost
guarantee a meeting between
the two species.
As I said before, if you’re
heading out to the canyons,
your chances of hitting both
tuna and dolphin are pretty
good. On many trips to the
canyons, I have seen tuna and
mahi swimming side-by-side
as if they were in the same
school. The two schools of fish
swim near each other before
they reach a bait ball. Once the
chase is on, they work like a
group to catch more fish. This
behavior is common among
predatory fish that hunt the
same food source. Both species
hunt together like stripers and
bluefish. The tuna will chase
down the bait and feed on them
fiercely (like bluefish) while the
bass pick up the scraps at the
bottom (dolphin). That is the
reason why many anglers catch
dolphin when they are targeting
tuna; their baits are close to the
bottom of the school.
Since tuna travel in larger
numbers, they often start a
feeding frenzy while the mahi
stick to the outer limits and
pick up what’s left. Great
numbers of tuna track schools
of fish at various levels in the
water column. Once a school is
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Nor’East Saltwater
located, the tuna will go in for
the kill and attack the center
of the school. Tuna can dart
in at high speeds to break up
the school while mahi, being
smaller and faster, pick off the
bait that strays too far from the
center. Mahi are smaller and
can turn on a dime better than
a 100-pound tuna. Tuna, being
larger both in size and schooling
numbers, attack the school in
the middle and disorientate the
unsuspecting bait.
Anglers can also find tuna and
mahi together because of the
seasonal migration patterns.
Mahi will follow the Gulf
Stream north in search of prey
at about the same time the
tuna make a yearly migration
to the canyons. Mahi follow
the warm Gulf waters into
the canyons in search of squid
schools and mackerel. Bluefin
and yellowfin do the same but
they travel greater distances
so the need for more food is
abundant. Both species travel
up from the south so in most
cases they track prey for miles
on end together. Since tuna
are near warm blooded, they
can travel into colder water
areas that mahi cannot, which
is the only time tuna and mahi
separate on their journeys.
A tuna’s circulatory system
retains metabolic heat very
well; which means they can
warm their bodies faster than
most fish. The more food they
consume, the faster their body
can move oxygen throughout
Nor’East Saltwater
their blood system. This allows
the tuna to stay warmer than
the ocean temperature and
therefore swim faster than
most fish. Mahi have a similar
system in their bodies so they
can swim just as fast as a tuna.
Any angler that has fished for
either species knows that tuna
and mahi swim fast! Bluefin
especially have the ability to
retain energy and heat well so
they can travel large distances
in a relatively short time.
Studies have shown that bluefin
tuna can travel over 1,000 miles
in a year.
Mahi are extremely fast
swimmers as well; most studies
have shown that they can reach
over 25 miles per hour. Other
species of fish, such as wahoo,
29
swordfish and mako sharks, are
faster than mahi but lack a well
defined streamlined body.
This combined with an
extremely fast growth cycle
enables the mahi to consume
a ridiculous amount of food.
Recent fisheries studies have
come to the conclusion that
mahi can double their weight
in a single season. Since mahi
only live 3 to 4 years, it would
be the equivalent of a human
eating 25 percent of its weight
every day. Both tuna and mahi
have fast metabolisms, which
enables them to turn food into
much needed energy.
When chunking in the canyons,
most of the productive fishing
occurs in the early morning
hours. The action starts in the
very early a.m. and can produce
a fairly good bite for several
hours. Most tuna and mahi
are caught in the canyons on
a nighttime drift for several
reasons. For starters, tuna and
mahi are highly active at night.
Since they can retain a good
source of heat in their bodies,
they can swim throughout the
day and not worry about the
sun heating their blood. Other
species rely on the sun to hunt
but tuna and mahi have enough
stored energy to hunt at any
time.
Tuna and mahi also have to be
active in order to catch two of
their favorite foods; squid and
mackerel. Squid in particular
are nocturnal feeders and
mostly come out at night. Tuna
and mahi dive deep into the
thermocline to hunt deepwater
squid and mackerel. Having
warmer blood enables tuna and
mahi to hunt in any condition.
It’s also important to note that
squid and mackerel are fast
swimmers in their own right.
Squid use propulsion to avoid
predators and can be quite fast.
Tinker mackerel are also fast
swimmers, in comparison to
their size.
Another key factor that anglers
often neglect is that tuna and
mahi have excellent eyesight.
When you look at both tuna
and mahi, their eyes are quite
large. They have the ability
to distinguish small details
much like a human’s eyesight.
Both tuna and mahi use their
good eyesight to find prey
in low light conditions like
the dark, deep waters of the
canyons, especially at night.
Offshore anglers know to use
fluorocarbon leaders as much
as possible to try and fool
elusive bluefin. Both fish can
pinpoint bait from far away,
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Nor’East Saltwater
which enables them to zero
in on schools of camouflaged
squid.
When chunking in the canyons,
the best thing to remember is
that bait presentation is crucial
for catching tuna and mahi.
Our canyons off the northeast
coast have a population of
large pelagics during the late
summer and early fall months.
Most of the fish come in during
the summer season and hit
bait schools hard. Pelagic fish
like kingfish, billfish and sharks
will hit bait schools hard and
leave thousands of chunks
of bait floating in the water
column. Cutting baitfish into
small, half dollar sized portions
is great for chunking at night.
Anglers will want to make all
baits; both chum and hooked
chunks, about the same size.
The bait should be big enough
for the hook to be buried into
the flesh of the bait; make sure
the entire hook is hidden. As
I mentioned before, tuna and
mahi have great eyesight and
won’t hit bait if they see the
hook.
It’s also a good idea to change
the location of your bait in the
water column. Most recent
studies have shown that bluefin
are hitting bait close to the
bottom. Since tuna and mahi
have a higher core temperature
than the surrounding water,
they can swim into colder
water without losing a ton of
energy. If your fish finder is
showing a school at about 80
to 90 feet, you want to get that
bait down to about 100 feet on
the first drop. This will allow
any patrolling bluefin to scoop
Nor’East Saltwater
up a single bait. You also have
the chance of catching a loner
mahi or even a tilefish near the
bottom. Be sure to alternate
your bait location in the water
column every so often. A range
of 10 to 20-foot intervals will
allow the tuna to hit baits just
outside of the school. If you
drop a bait in the middle of the
school, you may get more hookups but when tuna surge in a
feeding frenzy, your line will be
right in the middle of the pack.
Odds are that your line will be
cut if the school is in a heavy
frenzy.
If your bait is out in the open,
it resembles a dead or injured
fish; a quick and easy meal that
entices any fish. Once you get a
hookup, be prepared to lose a
ton of line right out of the gate.
Tuna and mahi can take plenty
31
of line in a matter of seconds,
so be sure to have a fresh
spool of 60 to 100-pound test,
depending on your preference.
Most party boats have been
using monofilament in the
canyons for the last few seasons
with fluorocarbon leaders.
Momoi line is one of the more
preferred lines this year, but
Berkley Big Game and Sufix are
also good choices.
As far as leaders go, many
anglers have been using Seagar
fluorocarbon exclusively. Circle
hooks give the angler a higher
hookup rate and an easier
hook removal process. Anglers
are also encouraged to have
a few other poles ready for
other fish species. If you come
across a small school of mahi by
themselves, a sturdy 6-foot pole
rigged with 40 to 50-pound test
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Nor’East Saltwater
should be sufficient. Make sure
the reel you are using is a highspeed reel with multiple ball
bearings and a high retrieval
ratio. You would also want
to have a smaller lightweight
rod with 10 to 20-pound test
for snagging squid and frigate
mackerel. Dropping down a
Sabiki rig or a squid jig to catch
live bait will give you an added
edge. Once you understand
your foe, your chances of
catching more fish on a regular
basis allows you to get the most
out of your trip. Knowing when,
where, why and how tuna and
mahi react with each other puts
the ball in your court. As the old
saying goes, “Now you know
and knowing is half the battle!”
Be sure to take advantage of
the offshore season, and I’ll see
you out on the deep blue!
Risa B
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Nor’East Saltwater
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33
Trophy Pages
Porgie fishing
posted by
CaptainAmanda
Bill611
with both
his Fluke.
User Bonafishark
Happy angler on
the Lady Frances!
Rhode Island
Back Bay Stripers
caught by user
FishScale
Big fish of the day,
posted by Jbtackle
MulliganCharters
out of Jamaica Bay
Headed out yesterday for a half day of fishing
and then for the annual Squaw Island Fishing
Club Family Day BBQ at Robert Moses Boat
Basin. My daughter Alexa took 1st place fluke
with a 23.5”, 4.8 lb’er and son John took 1st
place bluefish. What a great day for the kids!
34
Nor’East Saltwater
Trophy Pages
posted by
Primetime3
140 lbs. fluke posted
by user schoolman
pretty seas bass posted by
RodandReelChrt
Posted by Rockaway Fluke
Fluke
caught
aboard the
Sea Queen
VII
8 1/2-pound and
a 7-pound fluke
Lonebull and one of
the many Stripers he
caught on the trip
Nor’east user CARDINALS
and his dog Oreo with the
38-inch striper he caught.
Nor’East Saltwater
35
Treasure Trove
By “The Straight Shooter” Chris Grech
Tsunami Aluminum Pliers
Tsunami’s Aluminum Pliers are a necessity in every angler’s tackle box. Aircraft grade ultra-light
aluminum, which has been heavily anodized for greater corrosion resistance, makes this 7.5” tool a
perfect combo of light weight and durability. Titanium coated stainless steel jaws and replaceable
tungsten-carbide cutters mean these pliers are a must have for any situation. The handy coiled tether
and clasp mean they will always be handy when the going gets tough. I have been using a Tsunami
7.5” Aluminum Plier for years in a saltwater environment and it still remains rust free and cuts braid
with ease even after extremely heavy use and abuse. They remain a great value.
$34.95
http://www.biminibayoutfitters.com
AccuSharp Knife Sharpener
One of the most important and commonly overlooked aspects of fishing is a sharp knife. Most times
any knife will get the job done cutting bait or a line, but in order to properly clean your catch, a very
sharp knife is crucial. I’ve been using the AccuSharp Knife Sharpener for years and it does an excellent
job with everything from fillet knives, to serrated knifes, to just about every knife I own. It can even
put a super sharp edge on larger items like cleavers, axes and machetes. The sharpening is done via
Diamond Honed Tungsten Carbide sharpeners which provide years of use and are also reversible as
well as replaceable. Simply follow the included directions and you’ll end up with a razor’s edge in
about 10 seconds. The most important thing with the AccuSharp Knife Sharpener is to always use
light pressure when sharpening. Heavy pressure will still give you a great edge but will wear out your
knife much quicker. AccuSharp also produce, many other products, so their website is definitely worth
a look. A quality product at a great price with a Lifetime Warranty that’s made in the USA. You really
can’t beat that.
$9.49
http://www.accusharp.com
36
Nor’East Saltwater
Rugged Shark Bimini Sandal
The Bimini is a thong-style sandal that incorporates Rugged Shark’s exclusive Shark Grip outsole. It’s
the same non-marking, sure footed, slip resistant bottom used on their premium boat and fishing
shoes. The leather strap is padded where it contacts the skin for added comfort. The footbed is
textured with molded cushioned EVA, a soft, resilient material that will not absorb water or foot odor
and provides a comfortable platform for your foot. This footbed can be easily cleaned with a rinse of
freshwater after a hard day of fishing and boating. The Bimini is made using the finest materials and
available in maple Nubuck leather in sizes 8 through 13 (whole sizes only). Check out their website for
more info on the Bimini and other styles they offer.
MSRP $45.00
http://www.ruggedshark.com
Nor’East Saltwater
37
Galley
by: Sal Amendolia
I love to eat leftovers and as a matter of fact, I’m eating some leftovers for lunch right now. I don’t
deny it and I’m proud of the fact that I’m the king of eating leftovers in my household. My grandson
Justin calls me “Seagull Sal” because I’m the type of guy that has to make sure everything that we
cook is not wasted. Well, there is one thing that I noticed; whenever I make fish, there is usually very
little leftover, if anything at all. I especially notice this whenever I make the family some fresh caught
sea bass.
This month the sea bass season finally opens in New York and I can hopefully get out and catch some
of these great eating fish. I’m sure many of our readers will be out there too trying to catch some of
this wonderful bounty. If you get out for them and are successful, save this recipe to try. I’m sure you
will enjoy it.
Nutty Sea Bass
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds of sea bass filet
- Olive oil
- 1/3 cup of light mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup of finely chopped almonds or pecans or both
- 2 tbs. horseradish
To Prepare
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Dredge the fillets in oil, place them in a baking dish and set aside
- Mix the remaining ingredients in a small bowl
- Coat the fillets well with the seasoned mayonnaise
- Bake for about 15 minutes and then broil for a minute or until the crust is golden brown and the fillets
- flake to the touch
- Serves 3 people
38
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Nor’East Saltwater