I have never killed a man for stealing my secret fishing spot, but I know a guy who might have.

We’ve all been subjected to the absurd question, “So, where’d you catch all those fish?” This should always be met with an equally ridiculous and sarcastic answer, such as “In the water,” “From my boat,” or “It’s none of your darn business.”

We protect what we love. Our significant other, our children, our pets, our boats, and our coveted honey holes. We hold these truths to be self-evident. I tell you all of this because I’ve never seen such a display of secrecy as when I traveled to Spain to dabble in the rivers and streams of the Pyrenees mountains. The operator, who discovered I was writing a fishing article, made me swear an oath of silence. My respect and intrigue grew immediately. All I can legally say is that I was somewhere in Spain, and also near France.

The whole trip materialized because of my dear wife. Just another reason to love her. One day, out of the blue, she asked me if I wanted to walk 500 miles across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. That is not a misprint. It’s 500 miles of walking. I made a mental note to check her antidepressant prescription.

After three seconds of careful thought I said. “You know I’d love to do that with you, but my right knee still hurts from that accident at the corn hole tournament last year.”

“I figured you’d say something like that,” she replied, with a crooked smile. “That’s why I asked our daughter. She said yes.”

When I got the chance, I snuck into the bathroom with my computer and googled “fly fishing in the Pyrenees.” If she was going to walk for 36 days — and burn a hole in the credit card on wine, hotels, and myriad varieties of ham and queso — I was going fishing for at least a week. Like many of you, I had no idea what kind of fishing the Spanish mountains offered but I knew that the Pyrenees were serious montañas — a 270-mile range of steep rocky terrain with hellacious rivers and peaks breaking 11,000 feet. Google kept serving up a company called Salvelinus, so I ran through some YouTube videos. I noticed that none of them revealed even the slightest hint of the fishing locations, except they were in Spain, and also near France.

I reached out to the owner, a meticulous and affable Spaniard named Ivan Tarin . He invited me to come along as long as I signed his non-disclosure agreement. “Seriously?” I asked. “Deadly serious,” he replied. I’ve learned never to cross dudes named Ivan.

Fishing in Spain for Barbel

My wife and daughter blasted off to trek over the rivers and through the woods and across rugged mountains and hot plateaus for six weeks of grueling walking (average 15 miles per day), while I landed in Ivan’s plush lodge in a picturesque medieval town for fishing. I must also mention the drinking wine, getting massages, doing spas, and eating some of the most orgasmic cuisine I’ve ever tasted. 

What I can reveal is that Ivan and his team of expert fishing guides have spent 24 years scouting more than 1,500 miles of rivers in eight mountain valleys. As a result, they’ve created a master compendium of off-the-beaten-path fishy havens. As I mentioned, these places are somewhere in Spain. Oh, and also near France.

As fortune would have it, I arrived in late May. This was an opportune time to begin the Camino trek and also barbel spawning season. If you don’t know what a barbel is (I didn’t either), it’s in the bonefish family and looks like the offspring of a carp, bonefish and mullet. The fish is strong and rips out line like a bonefish — it will take a dry fly if properly presented.

“You have to slap it on the head,” Ivan told me. “Huh?” “Like this.”

Ivan raised the rod tip straight up to noon, held it for a beat, then whipped it down to nine as he gave the line a short, rapid strip. Sure enough, the beetle fly slapped the water with a splash and got the barbel’s attention without scaring them. Spooking them was indeed possible but the method of whacking the water with the fly just inches in front of their nose worked like magic. In a few hours I caught a half dozen angry barbel in the 4- to 7-pound range.

Exploring the Mountains for Mediterranean Trout

The next day, Ivan introduced me to guide extraordinaire Pierre Ancelin, who lives in Spain in a house near France. Pierre took me 90 minutes by car into the high mountains for native Mediterranean trout. Other than the thousand-year-old medieval ruins scattered about, I’d have thought we were in Colorado. The original plan was to fish a river where 6-pounders sneak about, but a late-May snow storm had the water raging. I could tell that Pierre envisioned this hapless journalist plummeting down the rocky rapids and wisely took me to a tamer river.

Naturally, I wanted to tangle with beasts, but I heeded Pierre’s good judgment. In a few hours, we caught about 25 trout in the 6- to 14-inch range. Overall success, especially when Pierre prepared a proper Michelin Star lunch of chickpeas, braised turkey, cheeses, bread and red wine.

After a few days of fishing until 9 p.m., followed by mouthwatering cuisine at Juan Antonio’s Restaurant, and then getting to bed after midnight, I left the mountains behind to catch up to my family on the pilgrim trail. The fabulous high-speed luxury trains transported me 600 miles in less than seven hours. That was more than enough time to hang out in the cafeteria car, drink more wine, and wonder why Amtrak is so freaking pitiful. Face it, America is not better at everything, including protecting our favorite fishing holes.

So, if you’re looking for a truly unique angling journey and rivers of such beauty that they invoke fairy tales, all you have to do is travel to Spain, somewhere near France.

The post The Secret Stash appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Scotland is widely regarded as a premier destination for Atlantic salmon fishing. And it’s easy to see why, with its multitude of rivers and lochs (lakes) to choose from when chasing this anadromous fish. From the intimate, small streams of the Scottish Highlands to the larger rivers like the Tay, Tweed and Spey farther south, there’s a body of water for everyone. Scotland is also the birthplace of the famous double-handed Spey cast, originating as the name suggests, on the River Spey.

Scottish Salmon Fishing Seasons

The salmon fishing season in Scotland runs from January until November. During the early part of the season, anglers target “spring” salmon. These fish are known for their size and fighting qualities, ranging from 10 and 30 pounds. Most anglers fish for spring salmon with fly tackle. During the summer months — especially June, July and August — Atlantic salmon are more plentiful, but smaller in size. Toward the end of the season, larger fish show again when the autumn run starts, although fall numbers have diminished in recent years.

Fly Fishing Tackle for Scottish Rivers

In terms of angling, the vast majority of Atlantic salmon fishing in Scotland is fly fishing with a double-handed rod. However, some rivers do allow spinning gear. Each river has its own set of rules. On rivers like the Spey, Tay and Tweed, fishing from a boat is a popular and practical option.

Fly fishing tackle often starts with a 13- to 15-foot double-handed salmon rod. Smaller rivers with shallow water are where anglers can utilize single-handed fly rods. The fly rods are paired with floating or intermediate fly lines, terminating with a 10- to 15-pound-test leader.

For fly selection, anglers have a host of options. A few famous salmon flies in Scotland include the Willie Gunn, Cascade and Stoats Tail. These flies are usually tied on a double or treble hook, or even in a tube fly style. Fly choice and size depends on the water depth, temperature and time of year.

Spin Fishing for Salmon in Scotland

However, fly fishing is not the only option for anglers targeting Scottish silver. Some rivers, mainly located in central and southern Scotland, allow spinning gear. When it comes to spin fishing, a 10- or 11-foot spinning rod is a favorite. For lures, cast a spoon weighing 18 to 30 grams. The weight of the lure depends on the water depth and current strength. Other popular lures for salmon include lipped crankbaits like those from Rapala or Megabass.

Fishing from a Boat in Scotland

Angler can fish from a boat — not just land — on Scotland’s larger rivers. On the River Tay, there’s a specific method of fishing called “harling.” This tactic involves having three or four rods out at ounce with lures behind the boat. The boat then moves from side to side across the river whilst gently floating downstream. Harling is effective, especially when trying to cover expanses of water. There’s also available loch fishing for salmon in Scotland. On many lakes, anglers drift in a boat while fly fishing. On some of the larger lochs, anglers troll along the banks to effectively find fish.

For plenty more about salmon fishing in Scotland, check out a resource and fishing provider such as Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland. Anglers and tourists traveling to Scotland can really shorten the learning curve by setting up a guided trip.

The post Chasing Scottish Silver appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Streaking bonefish. Tailing reds. Rolling tarpon. Fishing shallow-water flats is the stuff of dreams. Countless destinations across the globe provide striking diversity and opportunities to fulfill any angler’s fantasy-fish wish list. In many cases, flats-fishing allows anglers to single out a specific species, eliminating much of the luck and boiling down success — or failure — to split-second decisions and actions. Choosing which flats to target and when can take some research. But some areas, including the following eight destinations, maintain world‑class fisheries.

Throughout the decades, each has attracted its share of world-record seekers and globe-trotting anglers, who spread the fame throughout countless tackle shops, watering holes, and marinas around the world.

Cuba’s Everglades

A national park framed by mangroves and backcountry thicket featuring a treasure trove of inshore species—sounds like that famous chunk of Earth in South Florida we all know about. But this is no river of grass; it’s a peninsula of lagoons, islands, rivers and bocas in western Cuba known as Ciénaga de Zapata National Park. This is rarified air for anglers, a place where landing mutton snapper, bonefish, tarpon, permit and snook in one day isn’t unheard of. (It’s fly-fishing only, by the way.) The limited number of anglers allowed and the lightly pressured fish ensure that even greenhorns have a good chance of success. Yellow Dog Outfitters is one of the few American travel companies that can make it happen. —Shawn Bean

Contacts

Yellow Dog Outfitters
yellowdogflyfishing.com
888-777-5060

Quadruple-Layover Flats (Africa)

Pack the Dramamine and don’t forget your charger. On the other side of Earth, African Waters runs fishing camps and liveaboards across the African continent, including some of the world’s most remote and unpressured flats. Here’s its current menu of destinations.

Nubian flats liveaboard, Sudan: Seven nights on the gin-clear Red Sea flats of northern Sudan chasing triggerfish, giant trevally, bonefish and permit.

Faro River, Cameroon: This package includes six days wading through the Faro River and habitats of the West African savannah to cast flies at Nile perch up to 40 pounds.

Mnyera and Ruhudji rivers, Tanzania: It’s freshwater fishing for tigerfish done on the drift, searching out river structure like fallen trees and rocky outcroppings to target tigerfish in the 10- to 25-pound range.

Sette Cama, Gabon: West Africa’s most pristine coastline boasts monster tarpon. Other wildlife sightings include lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest buffalo roaming the beach. —Shawn Bean

Contacts

African Waters
africanwaters.net
+27 33 342 2793

Seadrift, Texas

Seadrift, Texas, is a sportsman’s paradise on stilts, a salty community an hour’s drive from Corpus Christi known for its 365-day, 360-degree redfishing—a fishery that exists all year, in every direction. Bay Flats Lodge, the homespun hideaway with accommodations for 30, is the ideal home base.

Bay Flats sits on the front stoop of San Antonio Bay, a healthy ecosystem with ample bait and boundless opportunities for one highly sought-after, sometimes bronze, rarely silver and never-red gamefish. Skiffs and airboats depart the Bay Flats ramp at first light, with fly and spin anglers sight-fishing flats that shrink to less than a foot. At day’s end, a dinner menu featuring Black Angus ribeye, double-boned pork chops, fried quail legs and frijoles charros is the recipe for deep sleep deep in the heart of Texas. —Shawn Bean

Contacts

Bay Flats Lodge
bayflatslodge.com
888-677-4868

Turneffe Atoll, Belize

Mandating catch-and-release fishing only since 2009 for tarpon, bonefish and permit, Turneffe Atoll is the largest and most biologically diverse coral atoll in the Western Hemisphere. As such, extensive flats here offer a prime target for anglers who want to fly-cast their way to a flats-fishing grand slam by catching all three of these headline species in a single day.

The diverse selection and size of fish that reside on these flats make them unique, according to fishing guide Edison Gabourel of Turneffe Island Resort. “Seeing these flats is like looking at a nice slice of apple pie — you feast your eyes. You’ll see singles, doubles, and big schools of tailing bonefish, permit and tarpon. People who come here are thrilled with the fact that you can see schools of fish for hours; you can see your targets in the crystal-clear water, and then make your cast and do it right. After they fish Turneffe, people always say they’re coming back.”

Turneffe is relatively accessible for American travelers, only two to two and a half hours by plane from several southern U.S. airports. Anglers fly into Belize City, which features a large international airport, and take a 30-mile boat ride to the atoll. Several resorts lie on Turneffe; most offer pickup (some even via helicopter) from Belize City.

The height of the season is summer; June, July and August offer the best shot at catching a grand slam, but bonefish and permit prowl these flats year-round. Although there are some resident tarpon, most migrate away from the flats in winter.

Top tactics include wade-fishing and stalking, mostly while sight-fishing with fly-fishing gear. Seven- and 8-weight fly tackle is recommended for bonefish and permit. Reels should be spooled with at least 200 yards of 20-pound backing plus weight-forward floating line. For tarpon, size up to 11- or 12-weights and use 30-pound backing. Size six to 10 unweighted flies such as Crazy Charlies, Gotchas, and crab patterns work best for the bonefish and permit; use 3/0 to 4/0 Deceiver patterns for tarpon. Anglers can also use 10- to 20-pound spinning gear to cast plugs or live bait. —Lenny Rudow

Contacts

Turneffe Island Resort
turnefferesort.com
800-874-0118

Turneffe Flats
tflats.com
888-512-8812

Lower Laguna Madre, Texas

With low rainfall and little freshwater inflow, the Laguna Madre of south coastal Texas is one of just a half-dozen or so lagoons holding reliably hypersaline water. Add to that a shallow average depth of just over 3 feet and abundant sea grass, and you generally find gin-clear water. In the Lower Laguna Madre, on the east side in particular, white sandy flats intertwine with grassy areas. The area is best known for big schools of tailing redfish.

“The cool thing about the Lower Laguna Madre is that it’s unique,” says native Texan and captain Ben Paschal, of Laguna Madre Outfitters. “The water’s so clear that sometimes you can spot fish 200 feet out. When sight-casting, you often get multiple shots. And you can target species people don’t usually sight-fish for, such as big speckled trout.”

Because wildlife refuges or protected seashores comprise 75 percent of its shorelines, many of the best fishing areas are far from access points, and area lodging is fairly concentrated. South Padre Island is the most popular place to stay, and offers a number of good options.

The nearest commercial airport is in Brownsville, about 25 miles from South Padre. There are limited accommodations to the north in Port Mansfield and slightly inland at Raymondville. Some guides, including Paschal, commonly prearrange lodging for their customers in nearby rental houses, which are closer to the fishing, in areas such as Arroyo City.

Paschal says spring is his favorite time to fish the Lower Laguna Madre, but through the heat of summer, the fish continue biting. March through November provide top-notch flats-fishing. Many anglers cast from shallow-water skiffs and flats boats, but others prefer wade-fishing.

Anglers mostly sight-cast from skiffs along with wade-fishing, while using either fly or conventional gear. Popular flies include EP fiber crabs, gurglers and Clousers. The clear water dictates stealth at all times. When fly-fishing, use long leaders on 7- to 9-weight 9-foot rods, and limit false casts. Use 8- to 12-pound ­spinning gear to cast soft plastics rigged to jig heads, or bucktails (often tipped with shrimp). —Lenny Rudow

Contacts

Laguna Madre Outfitters
lagunamadreoutfitters.com
214-704-3158

Getaway Lodge
getawayadventureslodge.com
956-944-4000

Seabreeze Beach Resort
seabreezebeachresort.com
800-541-9901

St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius

Ah, 2023. It was the year of Barbenheimer, the Chinese spy balloon over Oklahoma, the coronation of King Charles, and the year that (finally) St. Brandon, the 40-island archipelago roughly 300 miles east of Mauritius, reopened to international anglers. There’s good reason to rejoice: St. Brandon’s Atoll is the “finest bonefish destination on the planet,” according to Gerhard Laubscher, CEO of FlyCastaway guide service in Johannesburg. Giant trevally, triggerfish, Indo-Pacific permit, and bonefish up to 15 pounds roam St. Brandon’s flats, and its nominal tidal changes mean hours of uninterrupted tailing fish. Sure, you’re in transit for 24 hours to get there, but sometimes good things require three layovers. —Shawn Bean

Contacts

FlyCastaway
flycastaway.com
27-11-234-1450

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures
yellowdogflyfishing.com
888-777-5060

Tourette Fishing
tourettefishing.com
27-84-622-2272 (mothership)

Florida Keys

It should surprise no ­enthusiast to find the Florida Keys on this list. And while anglers might continually bicker about the best flats in this string of islands, the Islamorada area south into Marathon often takes top honors. Tremendous diversity highlights this region’s fishing, and while species such as bonefish, tarpon and permit get most of the headlines, you never know what will end up inhaling your bait or lure. Jacks, barracuda, several species of sharks, snook, redfish, seatrout, ladyfish — the list goes on.

“Options are what make this area so great,” says Capt. Ted Benbow, who runs Skins and Fins Fishing Charters in Islamorada with his son Donnie, a third-generation Florida fishing guide. “I can run to the Intracoastal; I can fish around the islands close by; I can run to Everglades National Park; I can fish north; I can fish south; and I can enjoy some of the best bonefish and permit ­flats-fishing around.”

Capt. Benbow explains that no matter which way the wind blows or what time of year it is, fishable flats lie within reach. Thanks to the countless mangrove islands scattered throughout the area and the innumerable sandy flats between them, clear, sheltered water can always be found.

Fall offers anglers their best shot at bones and permit on the flats, particularly on days with a northwest wind when the Atlantic-side flats are sheltered and calm. Spring is usually the top pick if you have tarpon in your sights, although they can be caught any time of year.

Although the Florida Keys isn’t exactly remote, getting there usually requires a flight into Miami, followed by a two-plus-hour drive south. Anglers can also fly into Key West and drive back north. Traffic, particularly during weekends, on the Keys’ Overseas Highway can be tricky, with speed limits bouncing between 35 and 55 mph. But once you reach your destination, you’ll find plenty of hotels, resorts and offbeat lodging to choose from, ranging from five-star accommodations to rental houseboats.

Peak seasons include bonefish and permit in the fall, spring for tarpon

Anglers in the Keys typically cast from skiffs, with some wade-fishing and stalking, while using either fly or conventional gear. When targeting bonefish and permit, an 8- to 10-weight rod is appropriate; size up to 11- or 12-weight for tarpon. Use floating fly line with 12-foot leaders. Tie 12- to 20-pound tippet for smaller species and 20-pound tippet with a 60-pound shock leader for tarpon. Muddlers, gurglers, shrimp, and crab patterns are all popular and effective. Anglers casting spinning or conventional gear often use bait (most commonly shrimp) or cast plastic shrimp or grubs. —Lenny Rudow

Contacts

Skins and Fins Fishing Charters
skinsandfinscharters.com
305-393-0363

Bud ‘N Mary’s
budnmarys.com
305-664-2461

Hawk’s Cay Resort
hawkscay.com
888-395-5539

Ascension Bay, Mexico

If there’s a single sight-fishing nirvana, Mexico’s Ascension Bay tops the list. It’s a blissfully remote showcase of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, accessed mostly via a narrow road to Punta Allen and points well beyond the Cancun tourista traps. But the ride is absolutely worth every bump and pothole.

What awaits are massive schools of spunky bonefish eager to take a tan skimmer jig or a pink Crazy Charlie. Cooperative permit cruise the outer edges, while tarpon roll happily around the island moats.

Read Next: Fishing’s Most Amazing Dream Trips

A dozen quality lodges dot the bay’s perimeter, yet their limited capacities also limit the pressure. Guides are friendly and osprey-eyed, with a working Spanglish vocabulary. Peak months are March through June, with light winds; summer’s heat wave brings schools of big shiner tarpon transiting across the bay. —Capt. Dave Lear

Contacts

Red’s Fly Shop
redsflyshop.com
509-933-2300

The Palometa Club
palometaclub.com
888-824-5420

Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge
pescamaya.com
888-894-5642

The post World’s Greatest Flats-Fishing Destinations appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

As we all know, everything is bigger in Texas. This includes slabs of slow-smoked brisket, NFL stadiums, and largemouth bass. The Lone Star state boasts many blue-ribbon bass fisheries. Still, over the last few years, O.H. Ivie Lake has risen to the top of the heap thanks to a reputation of Jurassic Park-sized bucketmouths. A big part of that are the innovative fisheries management techniques used by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The History of O.H. Ivie Lake

Created in 1990 when the S.W. Freese Dam was erected to impound sections of the Colorado and Concho Rivers, the 19,149-acre lake is the primary source of drinking water for the nearby city of San Angelo, Texas.

Once the lake began to fill, aggressive amounts of fry and fingerling-size Florida strain largemouth were stocked in addition to bluegill, crappie, and species of catfish. For those not aware, Florida strain largemouth are the fastest-growing variety of largemouth, capable of hitting the 14-inch mark in two years. Under the right conditions, they can add up to a pound of additional mass every season. Today, it is estimated that 75 to 85 percent of the bass in O.H. Ivie have Florida strain genetics.

There is no doubt the lake was already on its way to being a productive fishery, but in 2018 a very wet fall season after an intense drought brought the lake up over 30 feet. This expanded habitat gave bass practically endless forage and room to roam, resulting in a turbo-charged period of growth.

How the Bass Factory is Created

As if Florida strain largemouth and an intense growth cycle were not enough, Texas Parks and Wildlife have been busy behind the scenes ensuring that bass fishing in O.H. Ivie (and throughout the state) will be world-class for years to come.

Built on a base of scientific research, the Toyota ShareLunker program partners with Texas anglers to enhance and promote bass fishing throughout the state. The program relies on fishermen donating DNA scale samples of bass over eight pounds for genetic analysis. This process gives fisheries biologists a glimpse into the genetic diversity, lineage, and reproductive patterns of trophy-class largemouth. To add incentive to the project, anglers who opt to register their trophy catch receive a prize package depending on weight class and entry into a prize package drawing.

Still, it gets better. During the spawning season of January, February, and March, anglers who catch a female bass weighing over 13 pounds can donate the specimen to state biologists and qualify it for the Lunker Legacy Class. From there, the fish is brought into state-of-the-art labs where it breeds with a male originating from two prior ShareLunkers. Since spawning is done in a controlled environment, more eggs hatch than they would in the wild. Once the fry grows to stockable sizes, they are returned to the lake the female was caught from, continuing the spread of trophy genetics.

So far in 2024, O.H. Ivie has produced 35 bass of ShareLunker status with 12 breaking the 13-pound mark needed for donation. The largest bass weighed in this year was a staggering 15.82 pounds. During the 2023 season, the lake was responsible for 75 entries in total, with 15 fish earning Lunker Legacy status. Full insight into ShareLunker archives can be found in the archives.

Techniques for Largemouth Bass on O.H. Ivie

Interested in the best techniques to land big bass at O.H. Ivie lake? Listen to Rick Harris, a staple in the Texas bass fishing tournament scene and a seasoned guide running the bulk of his client trips on O.H. Ivie. Harris encourages folks to swing for the fences when planning a trip to the lake. That means to steer clear from ultra-finesse presentations known for producing numbers of bass, instead focusing on keeping everything big and bulky. Baits like magnum swimbaits, heavy-cover jigs, and plus-sized crankbaits all have their place and can be fished effectively through the standing timber that holds bass throughout the lake.

The best time to visit the lake in pursuit of a giant is in early spring as the bass transition from pre-spawn into the spawn. During the spawn, classic sight-fishing tactics are brutally effective for hunting down the large females guarding their nests along the shorelines. The only issue with this plan is that it hinges on the weather, as chop-producing winds and dirty water conditions can make fish impossible to spot. During these times, Harris utilizes forward-facing sonar in perspective mode as it allows him to scan likely spawning zones for active beds when they cannot be spotted due to water clarity issues.

The post The Best Big Bass Lake in the Country appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Ireland offers wild opportunities for traveling anglers, from big-city river fishing in Galway to sight fishing in isolated, rural streams to trolling lakes (loughs) for sea-run fish. The country has some of the best Atlantic salmon runs in Western Europe and over 80 rivers open to fishing this year, and most locations can be reached within a few hours’ drive from Dublin or Shannon airport. Two Irish angling pros, Munster Blackwater River guide Conor Arnold and Myles Kelly of Inland Fisheries Ireland, gave their top salmon fishing destinations for visitors to Ireland.

Irish Salmon Pro Picks

Myles Kelly is the Angling Advisor at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources. IFI runs a valuable online resource, basically a one-stop shop for Irish angling, including lists of tackle stores, guides, charter boats and more.

River Moy, County Mayo

“The Moy is Ireland’s most productive salmon river,” Myles says. “There are lots of fisheries with plenty of water to suit everything from fly to worm. Best of all there is good availability of permits. You can buy these online (East Mayo Anglers and Ballina Salmon Anglers). The river runs peak when the smaller grilse arrive in June and July. If you book early you can get on the Moy Fishery in Ballina where the pints of Guinness are within casting distance of the salmon pools.”

Munster Blackwater, Counties Waterford and Cork

“There have been years when this mighty river surpassed the Moy in numbers of salmon caught. The majority of the fisheries are between Fermoy and Lismore. Depending on floods, this river can get going earlier in the year and fishes well through to September, as long as there’s rain to get levels up.”

Galway Fishery, Galway

“The Galway Fishery is part of the Corrib system. Lough Corrib is Ireland’s biggest lake and famous for its brown trout, but its productive rivers crank out a lot of salmon smolts. It is in the heart of Galway city and probably the single most productive fishery in the country. Booking early is essential. The evening sessions are often overlooked and can be wonderfully productive.”

River Laune, County Kerry

“This system consistently features in the top five fisheries for salmon angling catch year in, year out. A good number of salmon are taken on the troll in the lake, but there is also plenty of fishing in the Laune (outflowing) and Flesk (inflowing) rivers. Permits are easy to get and there is a good network of guides.”

Smaller Irish Waters

“I get great satisfaction fishing smaller waters in wilder places. Some are parts of Ireland’s angling heritage and can be fancy enough, while others are just plain wild and rugged. My wild card list is as follows – Carrowmore Lake in Mayo, Erriff Fishery and nearby Delphi Fishery in Connemara (or Inagh, Ballinahinch, Screebe, Costello – any fishery in Connemara!), Lough Beagh in Donegal, Caragh system in Kerry (spring salmon), or Dingle’s Owenmore fishery (summer salmon and sea run trout).”

Top Spots for Salmon in Ireland

Conor Arnold has fished for salmon throughout the Western hemisphere. He owns the Arnold Angling Centre on the Blackwater River in southern Ireland where he guides, teaches, and runs his day ticket salmon fishery, along with his work for Loop Tackle, a flyfishing company. For any locations in Ireland, Conor can give detailed fly tackle and fly selection advice.

Delphi Lodge Fishery, Connemara County, Galway 

“The Delphi Lodge fishery, located in the heart of Connemara in the west of Ireland, consists of the Bundorragha River and two lakes, Finn Lough and Doo Lough. The fishing is completely private and nestled in stunning countryside. There is also a hatchery program where 50,000 smolts are released into the river each year. These fish are fin-clipped and may be harvested on being caught. The accommodation, also on the estate, is a beautiful Georgian house.”

Cloghan Lodge in Donegal, Northwest of Ireland

“Cloghan Lodge is located mid-river on the River Finn. It has the spectacular salmon leap falls toward the lower end of the fishery. Just above the falls, the river splits into the Finn and its major tributary, the Realan. Both rivers meander through farmland and open moorland and mountains. Cloghan Lodge has fishing on both rivers. Peak season would be from mid-May until mid-August. The Finn is catch and release so single barbless hooks only are permitted.”

River Owenmore, Bangor Erris, County Mayo

“The River Owenmore is only about 10 miles in length but the angling club in Bangor Erris has approximately four miles and sells day tickets from the pub in the village. The river is catch and release and has some of the nicest fly water an angler could wish to cast a line in. Salmon arrive late March with peak time from May to the end of the season.”

River Owenmore, Castlegregory, County Kerry

“The river is situated in the west of County Kerry, right underneath the Conor Pass with stunning mountain and sea views. Even though the season opens on the first of April, the main runs don’t enter the river until around the end of May. The fishery has two lakes which are both equipped with boats for salmon and sea trout fishing. The whole system is quite intimate and will stay with you long after the trip is over.”

Upper Bridgetown Salmon, River Blackwater, County Cork

“My own fishery, based mid-river on the famous Munster Blackwater, is basically two fisheries managed together. It comprises four beats in total, spread over approximately six miles. One of its most endearing aspects is that it restricts the number of anglers to three rods per beat. This allows the visiting angler to have the freedom to fish at their own pace and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside. The fishery operates on a catch-and-release basis. Some of the largest fish are caught from mid-May until the end of June. July and August see predominantly grilse entering the river. The Blackwater is very user-friendly and has mostly a gravel bed with easy wading. Accommodation is available on site in Ballyhooly Castle or any number of B&Bs or hotels locally.”

Irish Rules and Regulations

“In terms of keeping a salmon,” Myles says, “we advocate 100% catch and release. But our science supports the limited harvest of fish where a surplus allows. This means we can have a sustainable fishery and if an angler wants to keep a fish or two across the season, they can do so knowing that they will not be having a negative impact on stocks.”

On most rivers, the season runs through September. Access to fishing is very open. Anglers do need licenses, and most fisheries are controlled by private owners or clubs but have day tickets available. For licensing details, check out https://permits.fishinginireland.info/.

The post To Ireland for Salmon: An Angler’s Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Many years ago, Kona skipper George Parker made ­headlines around the world when he caught the first certified, world-record grander Pacific blue marlin. Since that 1,002-pound giant in November 1954, Hawaii’s lee eddies have churned up a stream of 1,000-pound blues that continues today. Kona waters usually average two or three granders per year, along with more Pacific blue marlin IGFA records than any other sport-fishing hot spot. That parade of records continues. In March 2013, Alex Nuttall boated a 958-pound blue marlin with Capt. Chip Van Mols on the Kona charter boat Monkey Biz II to claim the IGFA women’s 130-pound-class record.

Kona’s consistent billfish success sparked a worldwide revolution in big-game fishing because these big fish were caught on lures pioneered and developed in Hawaii waters. Meanwhile, big-game fishermen elsewhere had been saying you could catch billfish only with bait. Even those doubters caught the Kona wave and started catching marlin on Kona-style lures. Kona is also the perfect starting point for novices who have never caught a fish in their lives. It happens every day, 365 days a year. Newcomers are well served by a well-maintained fleet of top-of-the-line boats and expert captains.

Plus, Kona’s big fish hunt in deep, calm waters near shore. The 100-fathom line is a 10-minute run from Kona’s two main fishing fleets at Honokohau Harbor and Keauhou Bay. What’s more, the biggest fish of any week is usually a marlin in the 500- to 900-pound range caught by a complete newcomer on a four- or six-hour trip. On any day of the year, a visitor can find a suitable charter and hope to catch one or more of Hawaii’s mighty four: billfish, ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahimahi (dolphinfish) and ono (wahoo).

Billfish of Every Kind

Blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, sailfish, shortbill spearfish and broadbill swordfish — Kona’s waters are home to every billfish found in the Pacific. But each has a different story, and you should know those stories when you make plans.

Big blues are the billfish that pay the bills in Kona. Blues of all sizes are here year-round, but they are usually most common during the summer tournament season, from June through early September. Mid-Pacific currents can supply a fresh run at any time, however. For example, sometimes April surprises offshore trollers with fish heavier than 500 pounds on every day of the lunar cycle. Catches like these show that the lunar cycle has little, if any, influence on billfishing in Kona (unlike the effect different phases might have in other fishing areas).

Kona granders have also been landed in January, March and July. March, which might otherwise be considered the offseason elsewhere, has turned up more of Kona’s historic granders than any other month, and that includes the 1,649-pound Kona all-time record in 1984. The 1,376‑pound IGFA record for 130-pound class was caught in May 1982. Indeed, granders have been caught in Kona waters every month of the year. Licensed commercial fishermen are allowed to sell blue marlin in Hawaii, but professional skippers prefer tag-and-release for clients who want to let vital fish go. In any given week, more of Kona’s blues are tagged than kept. Visitors should make their wishes known when setting up a charter.

Hawaii’s Striped Marlin

Striped marlin cruise through Kona water’s year-round, but the big run extends from December through March. The Hawaii state record, 212 pounds, turned up here at the end of March 2011. That’s big for a north Pacific stripe, which is noteworthy because South Pacific stripers max out at more than double the weight of their northern cousins. Striped marlin are most attracted to Kona when winter waters cool down into the mid-70s. During those “chilly” times, the luckiest trollers might get up to a dozen striped marlin bites, and hook about a third of them.

Those same striped marlin ­conditions also attract shortbill spearfish of world-record size. Kona’s frisky shortbills ­presently hold 16 IGFA marks for tackle as light as 4-pound-class, and even on fly gear. Record-seekers troll hookless teasers to draw a spearfish within range, and then present a lure, fly or bait on the most sporting gear available. For most visitors, however, the spearfish is a surprise catch when trolling for blues and stripes.

For black marlin, Kona is outside the normal migration range. The entire Kona fleet sees only a handful each year, and these are much smaller than the giants of the Great Barrier Reef far to the south. Old-timers will remind you that the state record weighed 1,205 pounds, but that once-in-a-generation fish was caught in 1980.

Broadbills are the secret sensations for fishermen who know when, where and how to catch them. Most of Kona’s rod-and-reel swordies are caught at night during ika-shibi (traditional hand line) trips that target tuna. With its giant staring eyes, the broadbill is readily attracted to lights at night and to the squid schools that gather in the glow. The state record 503-pounder took the bait in June 2006 at the start of what are usually the three best swordfish months. Only a few boats cater to the night-fishing trade.

Hawaii Tuna Fuel Jet Revolution

More than fifty years ago, Hawaii troller Henry Nishikawa ignited the jet revolution when he caught a world-record ahi on a metal-headed lure drilled through and through with holes. His 269-pound yellowfin didn’t last long in the record books after anglers in the eastern Pacific discovered a tribe of bigger tuna off Mexico. Yet the IGFA record book is still overwhelmingly Kona on the ladies’ side: Kona catches made by women hold the 16-, 20-, 30- and 50-pound-class marks.

Though Kona waters attract ­resident schools of yellowfin year‑round, ahi are most abundant in late spring and throughout summer. As schools migrate west to east through the islands, the big runs reach Kauai first by Mother’s Day in May and Kona by Father’s Day in June. When the action is wide open, lucky boats can catch as many as 10 a day, all in the 100- to 220-pound range, by trolling or live-baiting with aku (skipjack tuna) or opelu (mackerel scad). During the rest of the year, ahi specialists target them with green-stick gear, and continue to catch a few each trip.

Hawaii’s state record ahi (a July catch) of 325 pounds is unusually large for central Pacific yellowfin tuna. Kona’s biggest ahi each year normally hits 250 pounds (258.5 in 2013). The state record bigeye (277 pounds in July 2013) and the biggest albacore (89.2 pounds in April 2011) both were caught on the Big Island’s windward (eastern) coast. The albacore weighed more than any on the IGFA record list but did not qualify for world-record status because it was caught on commercial-fishing gear. Kona ­fishermen regularly catch albies (tombo ahi) in the 60s and 70s on sport fishing tackle.

Mahimahi, Hawaii’s Gift to the World

Almost 70 years ago, Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club official George Perry set the 130-pound-class IGFA world record for dolphinfish with a 72.5‑pounder. That record didn’t last long, but the name “mahimahi” is Hawaii’s gift to the world, because it replaces the confusing name “dolphin” on restaurant menus. Though Hawaii has no current IGFA mahimahi records, the state-record 82-pounder confirms the potential. That record fish was a September Kona catch, but mahimahi are available any time the current drags a “floater” within trolling distance.

Mahimahi live up to their name (it means “very strong”), and the brightly colored, agile acrobats do their muscular tricks in Kona waters year-round. Occasionally huge schools gather around flotsam and jetsam for a wide-open bite that can go on for days. Then, skippers gear down to match the catch with sporting 20- and 30-pound-class rods. Unless a Kona skipper finds a floater, mahi are incidental catches on marlin and tuna trips.

By the way, the mahimahi record aside, Perry went on to catch the largest blue marlin in each of the first two Hawaiian International Billfish Tournaments (HIBT). The HIBT became an annual Kona fishing feature in 1959 and soon inspired dozens of other Kona tournaments. During the most popular tournament months of June, July and August, events compete with each other every week

Ono Blitzes, Summer Phenomenon

A Guide to Big Fish off the Big Island

Ninety years ago, a mysterious fellow known only as “J.B. Stickney” caught a 124.75-pound wahoo in Hawaii waters to set the world record. That was five years before the IGFA was founded, a time when records were compiled by Van Campen Heilner of Field & Stream and Francesca R. La Monte of the American Museum of Natural history. Ono — what wahoo are called in Hawaii — average 30 to 40 pounds, which makes J.B.’s catch even more extraordinary.

Big ones do show up now and then — state-record-holders Tom Brandt and Sky Mullins surprised their 133.2‑pound ono off the windward coast of the Big Island in December 2000. The major ono run reaches the Big Island in May of each year and hangs around into early September. Some ono are caught year-round, with early morning being your best chance. Kona skippers typically troll the 40-fathom line at the start of each trip to pick up any ono that might be harassing the nearshore bait schools.

To ward off the ono’s sharp teeth, skippers rig their special ono lures with single-strand stainless leaders. Ono slash at heavy-headed subsurface lures like weighted jets and lead-head feathers. On a typical trip specifically for ono, a successful boat might catch three or four fish. In years when ono blitz the summer currents, boats are known to hook as many as 40 on a single trip.

Other fishing areas might see the diversity of big-game fish that Kona has, but few have them in the sizes regularly seen here. In Kona, your next strike could come on any day of the year, in any phase of the moon, at any turn of the tide, on routinely comfortable seas, and be one of the Pacific’s biggest and most exciting game fish.

Shore Fishing off the Big Island

The post Kona Hawaii Offshore Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

You’ll find anglers on bridges and beaches, bait shops open long before dawn, big tackle stores that carry enough gear to outfit a fleet of sport-fishers, and a line-up of fishing tournaments year-round. Numbers tell the story, too.

Jacksonville has the highest rate, per capita, of fishing license holders of the four biggest Florida metropolitan areas. That beats Tampa-St. Pete, Orlando, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale. Jacksonville takes the crown for the hardest-fishing big city in Florida.

The region’s rivers, maze-like marshes, bays, the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), jetties, beaches, and offshore grounds form a network of waters unlike any other in Florida. Two spring scenarios to target are shallow-water redfish and trout, and offshore, schools of migrating dolphin swarming at the Ledge.

Catch Seatrout and Redfish in Jacksonville

Big tides breathe life into Jacksonville’s extensive marsh-and-creek system.

“We have a 5-foot tidal swing, on average, every 6 hours, so the locations to fish are constantly changing,” says Capt. Buzz Brannon, who’s guided anglers in Jacksonville for more than two decades.  He runs an 18-foot Beavertail Vengeance in the shallows, stalking reds, trout, flounder, and other species on spin and fly. One of his favorite bites is for “hillbilly bonefish,” what some folks call redfish when they get them in the grass on big tides, he says.

For seatrout, Brannon likes dusk and dawn, low-light times. In the spring, when the finger mullet show up, both trout and redfish take topwater lures. “Anything with a hard edge along the St. Johns will be holding mullet,” he says.

Fishing the city’s infrastructure — bridges, docks, seawalls, and industrial installations along the water (where legally accessible) — produces a variety of species. Both natural and manmade habitats hold good fish in Jacksonville, one of the city’s many surprises for visiting anglers.

It’s been the best year of redfishing Brannon has seen for quite some time. In 2012, an increase in the redfish bag limit to 2 fish per person took a toll on the redfish. In September 2022, the bag limit was lowered back to one redfish per person, and since then, the fishing has been steadily improving, Brannon says.

The nourishment of those rich waters flowing in the St. Johns generates and draws abundant life to the nearshore and offshore waters, including a pelagic fishery that’s been a standout hotspot in recent years— the Ledge.

Big Dolphin off Jacksonville

About 55 to 65 miles off Jacksonville, depending on the marina’s location, the continental shelf slopes down from 120-foot depths and then drops off to 175 feet deep — the Ledge. The Gulf Stream runs nearby, and when its warm waters or any of its warm eddies circulate over the Ledge’s structure, prey, and predators get drawn into those dynamic flows. In winter, these waters hold good numbers of big wahoo, ranging up to 70 and 100 pounds, often caught high-speed trolling and more recently, Capt. Tim Altman of Hoodoo Charters says, by live-baiting.

“Guys are having incredible days for wahoo at the Ledge slow-trolling live baits like blue runners and bonito,” says Altman, a multiple-time wahoo tournament winner and a fanatic for those fish.

Capt. Altman runs 11-hour charter trips to the Ledge for pelagics including wahoo and dolphin aboard his Saltwater Challenge, a 36-foot Contender with triple Mercurys. In April, the game switches to catching big dolphin.

“We’ve crushed it the last few years for big dolphin at the Ledge, lots of them,” he says. “We’ll start going out for them between April 12 and 15, and the biggest fish are early in the year. We get a good month and a half of solid dolphin fishing.”

His good news about dolphin fishing may surprise people who’ve heard about a lack of fish in recent years around South Florida and the Keys.

“I’m aware that South Florida has seen a real decline in their dolphin fishing, especially around Key West, Marathon, and Miami. I can’t explain the difference in Northeast and South Florida fishing,” Altman says. “The old-school guys say the migratory pattern for yellowfin tuna has changed, so maybe that’s the case with dolphin, too, or maybe the currents have changed.”

Dolphin at the Ledge

Altman and his crew leave his Amelia Island marina at 5 a.m. and head out to the Ledge for an 11-hour trip. He’ll check RipCharts on his phone and screenshot the image of the temperature breaks at the Ledge. On his Simrad he also has SirrusXM weather for sea surface temperature readings offshore. He’s looking for temperature breaks with ocean water temps 76 degrees and warmer, weed lines, and edges.

“During dolphin season, as we get near the Ledge, I’ll put out small Nomads or a horse ballyhoo skirted with an Ilander on a planer with wire to target wahoo. Beyond the Ledge, we’ll run everything on the surface.

“Some days skirted stuff works, but I don’t believe there’s anything more effective for dolphin than a properly rigged, chin-weighted, split-bill ballyhoo,” he says. “When you see that big dolphin coming, or if you get a hit, you free spool it for 15 to 25 seconds, and I’m telling you that works.”

The dolphin come through in packs, and between times Altman and crew can also bottom fish for triggers, snapper, grouper, or whatever’s in season. They’ll likely have sardines in the livewell and they’ll chum dolphin by their boat with cuttlefish or squid, keeping a lookout, ready to throw a live bait to any big fish coming to the boat.

“You’ve got to be ready for those big fish. You’ll have a bunch of schoolies, the boat’s kicked out of gear and you’re live-baiting. The fish get all around you. Then you’ll see the dolphin scatter and that’s indicative of a shark or a big dolphin coming in to tear them up. I’ll tell you it’s incredible when you see that big dolphin coming through the water to you. Man, that’s fun.”

Jacksonville Florida Fishing Captains

• Capt. Tim Altman, Hoodoo Charters, (904) 859-6314, www.hoodoocharters.com
• Capt. Buzz Brannon, Northeast Florida Angling, (904) 570-7878, www.northeastfloridaangling.com

Bait Stores

•             B & M Bait & Tackle, Jacksonville, (904) 249-3933
•             Brown’s Creek Bait & Tackle, Jacksonville, (904) 757-1600
•             FishBites Trading Post, St. Augustine, (904) 217-8012

Note: Special thanks to the FWC and its licensing department for the analysis of its data on fishing license holders by municipality across the entire state of Florida.

The post The Hardest-Fishing City in Florida appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Still sipping Starbucks, we ease out of the New York Skyport Marina, the primary seaplane base for Manhattan, tucked in next to FDR Drive at East 23rd Street. It’s a gorgeous summer morning, just one day before the July Fourth holiday — the sort of morning when one wouldn’t mind a long run, but that’s just not necessary. In fact, in little more than five minutes, Capt. Tony DiLernia is anchoring up his boat in the East River.

Although we’re there to fish, we out-of-towners can’t stop gaping at the magnificent skyline view of the Big Apple against the clear blue sky. Meanwhile, DiLernia has idled down in the gentle current in one of his favorite go-to spots, just off the United Nations building. As he ties off the anchor and the boat swings tight, he points to the top of one of the skyscrapers. “That’s where the big fight scene in Spider‑Man was filmed,” he says.

But immediately, he turns his attention to the task at hand, chunking up fresh bunker (menhaden) and threading them onto circle hooks. The fact that DiLernia’s been doing this for not years but decades is evident: Within an hour or so, we have missed a strike and had two good fish on, one coming off midway through the fight and the other right at the boat. Fortunately, our fourth time was the charm, giving us the chance to admire in the net a striped bass just south of 30 pounds.

Pogy Pointers

DiLernia’s Rocket Charters offers anglers a unique experience both by virtue of its prime location (the dock is accessible to anglers via a short taxi ride from most of Manhattan; then, the fishing grounds are but a very short ride away) and by its skipper. No one knows the busy, current-swept waters around New York — after so many years of navigating and fishing them by day and night — better than DiLernia.

DiLernia is not only a consummate skipper, but a savvy master of striped bass fishing as well. On that basis, I thought I’d see if I could pick up a few pointers on how DiLernia connects with some very hefty bass (he’s caught them better than 50 pounds).

Bait accounts for roughly 80 percent of the stripers taken on Rocket Charters. When we fished with DiLernia in early July, the options were menhaden, menhaden or menhaden. The oily baitfish remains his offering of choice until eel fishing starts in the fall. And it was very fresh. That, says DiLernia, is key.

“Frozen bunker’s okay for blues, but not so great for bass,” he says. You can, however, use your fresh bait a second or even third day by putting them in a brine with kosher salt.

Breakaway Baits

The skipper prefers chunks to whole fish and, at that, always likes the head best. His hook of choice: an Eagle Claw 10/0 circle sea hook. What DiLernia especially appreciates about circles is that they allow him to fish with reels in gear. Often currents get strong enough that the coefficient of friction of a reel in free spool with clicker on isn’t enough to keep lines from running out. With circle hooks, that’s not a problem, nor is hooking fish, as a rule. DiLernia runs the circle hook through the top of the head where it was sliced from the body.

“Lots of guys will put the hook through the lips,” DiLernia says. But when a fish grabs the bait, he explains, it’s likely to stay on the hook. DiLernia hooks it to come off and get out of the way. “It ought to tear out easily so the hook comes out of the bait’s head when the striper is swimming away with it. Then the hook should slide into the fish’s jaw hinge,” he explains. “And that’s just what usually happens.”

When no head is available, he’ll go to a body chunk — but his pièce de résistance is adding the pogy’s heart onto the hook. “I’m convinced the blood in the heart attracts stripers,” he says simply.

Timing the Tides

According to DiLernia, spring through midsummer is prime time for bunker fishing. Tides are always a prime factor for him, and in this case, he wants to be anchored up and fishing about a half-hour after the high slack tide: The next couple of hours, with boat and baits sitting still in the moderate current, will produce the hottest bite.

Then, well into the ebb, the current will be running too fast to hold bottom without ungodly amounts of weight. “That’s when we drift and bounce lead-heads on the bottom until late in the ebb when the current slows. Then we’ll go back to fishing bait at anchor.”

Once the tide nears slack, and the boat starts swinging on the anchor “so the baits slide all over the bottom,” it’s time to troll deep divers. DiLernia’s choice of lures: big Mann’s Stretch or Stretch Plus and Yo-Zuri Hydro Magnum Deep Divers. Usually, he’ll do this just until shortly after the tide turns: Then the cycle begins again with a couple of hours fishing bait.

DiLernia notes that tides vary tremendously around New York. For example, depending on the tidal pattern, he might fish the East River for the first hour and a half of the ebb, and then run quickly down to the Hudson River to fish off the Statue of Liberty, catching the early ebb there. By the time the current’s starting to get too strong there, the East River is just ­beginning to slow down again.

DiLernia proudly holds up the big, complex-looking watch on his wrist. “It’s a Reactor Graviton,” and he says it’s been a huge factor in maximizing his efficiency fishing the area per tidal flow. It’s programmed to tell him just what the tide is doing at any day, any moment, in the East River, the Hudson, Sandy Hook and West Sound.

Fall for Eels

Though early July is a great time to fish the Big Apple for bass, DiLernia’s season continues through early November (after which it’s too cold and “time to go hunting,” he says). As summer wanes, DiLernia drifts mostly eels. “They’re migrating then, so it’s a good time to match the hatch.” This is a drifting show and somewhat less tide-critical. And not anchoring allows DiLernia to fish productive areas that include shipping channels.

DiLernia offers eel fishermen a tip regarding the inevitable struggle to get a hook through a writhing eel: “Snap its tail on the rail. For whatever reason, this disables it momentarily but doesn’t kill it.” Some anglers give that love tap to the eel’s head; that will disable it, but sometimes for good.

“This area around New York is highly productive because it’s at the nexus of some stripers’ ­migration routes, and it’s ecologically productive in its own right,” says John Waldman, professor of biology at Queens College (and author of Heartbeats in the Muck: The History, Sea Life and Environment of New York Harbor). “Also, adult spawners of the Hudson stock, which winter in the open ocean, come into the Hudson to spawn, and so are available in New York Harbor.” Bass from Chesapeake and Delaware Bay stocks migrate north in spring and also enter the mix, Waldman says.

The post NYC Striper Hunt appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Costa Rica is a must-visit destination for saltwater anglers, offering a variety of inshore and offshore species all year long. Interested in breaking a line-class or all-tackle world record? The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) documents anglers fishing in Costa Rica have set close to 200 world records, including bottom fish and pelagic species such as Pacific cubera snapper and sailfish.

One Pacific hotspot is the fishy coast off Nosara. Given its remote location and limited infrastructure, the fishing pressure is low compared to more popular fishing communities like Los Suenos, Quepos or Crocodile Bay. And unlike other Costa Rican fishing spots, the fishing grounds off Nosara are just six miles from the beach. Fishing along this northwest region is truly for diehard anglers. You won’t find mega-million-dollar fishing machines or fancy night clubs, but it is a place where world-class fish roam.

Costa Rica Inshore Targets

I stepped onto the small wooden skiff that transports clients from Playa Guiones to our 27-foot super panga called the FV Explorer. We were fishing with Fishing Nosara, a top sport-fishing operation that also offers a great vacation stay. Morning excitement was building, even if expectations weren’t too high. We were visiting in August, the end of peak season. After navigating the surf zone — including three sets of head-to-overhead waves — we made it to the mooring area.

Captain Antonio and mate Raffa greeted us. Antonio quickly asked me, What species do you want to target today? Familiar with the area, I answered, “Let’s spend the morning inshore, targeting roosterfish or cubera snapper and the afternoon targeting offshore species.”

A few minutes later, we were trolling small metal lures and catching foot-long skipjack tuna and bonito for baitfish. Once the tuna tubes were filled, we hit the local fishing hotspots, spending a hot, hazy morning in search mode, tossing surface plugs for roosterfish and bottom fishing for cubera snapper. But the fishing was slow and we didn’t hook a fish. Our spirits were low until the VHF radio started chirping loudly and a Spanish voice shouted, “Fishing Vessel Explorer, can you read me?”

A Spotlight on Dorado

When Antonio got off the radio, he eagerly asked us if we wanted to chase dorado. He told us his colleague had spotted a homemade fish aggregating device (FAD) about 10 miles south of our location. It was swarming with dorado. FADs are manmade structures that are commonly deployed or anchored throughout the Pacific Ocean to concentrate marine life. Fish are attracted to these manmade objects just like natural floating debris, such as seaweed, logs and coconuts.

“Sure,” I answered to Antonio, but with less enthusiasm than he would have liked. I hadn’t flown to Costa Rica to catch school-size dorado.

My mahi-mahi fishing experience dates back to my days as a federal fishery observer aboard commercial pelagic longline vessels in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. As a fish biologist in the late-90s, I measured numerous mahi-mahi that were caught incidentally on longline gear. Plus, I landed plenty myself on hook-and-line along the weedlines where we often set commercial fishing gear. During my time on the high seas, I learned mahi-mahi are pretty easy to catch in large numbers. Despite being an acrobatic flyer, I had never battled a large one. The biggest mahi-mahi I landed weighed 15 pounds, and the largest I recorded was maybe 30 pounds.

In my opinion, dorado are the most colorful fish in the ocean — bright yellow, blue, green, or other electric tints on their sides. They change color dramatically as soon as they hit the deck. I’ve seen schoolies change from bright yellow to blue to grey in less than a minute. Although both sexes have similar vibrant displays, their body morphology is much different. Females (called cows) have a sloping forehead; males (bulls) have a blunt, vertical forehead. Unusual for the fishing kingdom, males grow much larger than females.  

Hot Costa Rica Dorado Action

“How big are these dorado?” I asked Antonio, as we reached the homemade FAD. Raffa was rigging 50-pound-class boat rods with large live baits. Terminal tackle included an 8/0 Eagle Claw circle hook tied to seven feet of 50-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. “Grande!” he said. Apparently, the light-wire circle hooks were the key to hookups in the clear Costa Rica waters.

First tossing frisky large baits into the blue abyss and reaching a slow trolling speed, we approached the FAD from the south. The captain yelled “Listo!?” Almost immediately after passing the small FAD, our two stout rods doubled over. The reels started to scream.

My wife and I quickly grabbed the rods and held on. Handling the rod with a tight grip, I was confused by the sheer power of the fish. These fish couldn’t be dorado. They were both digging down like a yellowfin tuna or billfish. Glancing over at my wife, she too had a look of excitement and shock. I could feel the power of every head shake. When the fish hesitated, we pumped and retrieved as much line as possible.

About 10 minutes later, both fish launched toward the surface at full speed, going airborne like missiles fired from a sub. Twisting and turning out of the water, it became apparent our fish were not majestic sailfish, but iridescent bull dorado. With each crank of the reel, our fish came closer to the gunwale. My wife’s flamboyant green-blue beast was first to the gaff. The fish was so big that Antionio had to help Raffa heave it over the gunwale. About a minute later, my dolphin met the same fate. Thrashing on the deck, the colorful fish began to change colors like LEDs synchronized to music. With our hearts pounding and sweat dripping off our faces, the adrenaline rush left us wanting more.

Big Dorado Want Big Baits

I was shocked the dorado attacked such large baits given their relatively small mouths.

“This is the only way to catch big dorado,” Antonio told me. “The bigger, the better. If you want to slay schooling dorado you can sight-fish with small jigs, plugs or natural baits. But if you’re after large bulls, you need to troll large marlin-type plugs or live tuna at least 12 inches long.

“The bigger dorado are often found below the smaller ones, so you have to troll slowly to allow the baits to swim deep. Obviously, small dorado are found year-round in our area, but if you want to catch the big bulls, then you need to fish during June through August.”

How deep do the baits swim? I asked.

“Our baits are probably 30 to 40 feet down,” explained Antonio. “Also, if you noticed, we started trolling about 100 yards before the FAD. If we throw the baits out next to the FAD, they will just get attacked by the smaller dorado first.”

With the hot sun beating down and calm seas, we continued hooking, fighting, and landing dorado until the bait was gone. The cooler was full enough to feed a village, so we called it a day and headed back to the mooring area. Later, we brought our fresh catch to La Luna, our favorite local restaurant, where they cooked us a feast while we sipped margaritas and watched the sunset.  

The post Costa Rica’s Mega-Sized Dorado appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

“HOLD ON!” yells Capt. Shane Jarvis, and you’d better listen because he’s spotted diving birds and spinner dolphins on his Simrad radar. That means just one thing: surface-busting yellowfin tuna. He points the boat in their direction and guns the twin outboards in search of sashimi.

Jarvis has established an island retreat in Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí, 30 miles from the Costa Rican border. No purse seiners are allowed in Panamanian waters, so the fishery remains fertile. Anglers can chase billfish, mahi and inshore species, often in the same day, but the marauding tuna are typically the biggest draw. Massive schools thunder around and anglers who can intercept them reap the benefits. His base on Isla Parida, 10 miles offshore, puts him closest to the action.

“The tuna are here year-round, but the bait really moves in with huge pods of dolphin from April to August,” he said. He’ll locate the action with his radar, and attempt to cut it off. “You want to figure out the direction they’re moving. When they’re in super-tight groups, you can do that, but some bait — like flying fish and squid — can’t be herded. They’re more erratic.”

Upon arrival to the action, anglers try to launch a Yo-Zuri Bull Pop or Mag Popper into the midst of the frenzy. At first, some are too awed by the airborne tuna to act. If the fish go down, it’s time to start all over again, searching the radar for action that could have moved miles away in the blink of an eye. All too often, though, one or more anglers hook up.

“The key is to loudly pop the lure one or two times so the fish can hear and see it,” Jarvis explained. “Then move it faster … pop-pop-pop-pop. When you hook up, apply as much pressure as you can from the get-go. It pays to be in good shape.” That’s because while the tuna tend to school up by size, a 200-pounder can suddenly appear in a group of 20- to 60-pounders.

Jarvis, as part of Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, has outfitted his three World Cats and one Freeman with custom front casting platforms and protective rails. The latter prevent anglers from going in the drink when casting or battling a giant yellowfin. He uses specialized popping rods from Blackfin and Shimano Twin Power 14000 spinning reels spooled with 65-pound test Yo-Zuri Superbraid and a shock leader of 80-pound test Super Fluoro.

At night, anglers return exhausted to the lodge’s compound on Isla Parida, and the biggest decision for the following day is whether to go on another hunt for tuna, or to focus on billfish and inshore species. Fortunately, it’s not a single decision that must be made. In fact, while this may be tuna popping paradise, and there’s nothing wrong with chasing them exclusively, variety is the region’s true calling card. Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the other species will give you a rest. Befitting the Jurassic Park-style scenery, everything here is prehistoric, mean, and willing to fight to exhaustion.

Planning a Trip

When to Go

The yellowfin are in the Gulf of Chiriquí year-round, and can be caught on surface lures any month, but prime popping takes place from early April through the beginning of August, when the bait is bunched up the best and the seas are calm. The rainy season starts in late summer and runs through the end of October, plus Jarvis closes down the lodge in September and October. The fishing is still good, but it may be uncomfortable to be out there. Opportunities to catch billfish and mahi increase on the edges of the rainy periods. Inshore fishing for species including roosterfish and cubera snapper is good all the time.

Where to Go and How to Get There

Getting to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge. Anglers fly into Panama City’s Tocumen Airport, the largest in Central America, which is served by numerous major airlines and has direct flights from over a dozen North American cities. From there, the package includes expedited immigration, all transfers, and a night at the Hilton. The next morning, anglers fly to the city of David on a Copa jet, take a five minute ride to the airport, and an hour boat ride through the estuary to Isla Parida.

Panama City is exceptionally cosmopolitan and safe. During the stopover, tours can be arranged of the Panama Canal or Casco Viejo portion of the city. Isla Parida is in a national park, which includes World Heritage Site Isla Coiba, known for its incredible diving and whale watching.

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