World Record Pacific Bonefish from Honolulu, Hawaii

Triana holds seven all tackle and line class records for Pacific bones, including one 10-pounder.

“Pacific bonefish on ultra light tackle in Hawaii has been the most challenging record to break,” notes Triana. “It’s difficult to find a Pacific bonefish large enough to eclipse an existing record, because those
larger specimens are few and far between, and spook so easily.”  

World Record Yelloweye Rockfish from Seward, Alaska

Triana has captured 19 IGFA records in this small town two and a half hours south of Anchorage. Among the record-breaking species: yelloweye rockfish and Pacific cod.

“These species are some of the oldest fish on the planet, reaching 80 to 100 years old,” says Triana. “Having the opportunity to fish for large specimens gives you multiple chances to encounter that perfect fish.”

World Record Grass Carp in Miami, Florida

Triana’s hometown has provided him access to myriad oddball species including hornet tilapia, Orinoco sailfin catfish, Oscar, and a record-breaking 48-pound, 12-ounce grass carp caught in the suburb of Palmetto Bay.

“Grass carp were introduced into the South Florida canal systems decades ago to control the rapid growth of hydrilla weed that completely choked the waterways,” Triana explains. “They are the largest member of the minnow family, and grow to massive proportions.”

World Record Andalusian Barbel from Portugal

As Triana does for all his travels, including family trips, he researches species that are unique to the area. The Andalusian barbel record came in the summer of 2022 during a family vacation to Portugal, where they spent a good chunk of their time in the southern region of Algarve.

“The barbel is a common and popular freshwater game fish in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe,” Triana says. “They belong to the carp family, and can be found in river systems and reservoirs.”  

World Record Talang Queenfish from Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Before it was the megalopolis of today, Dubai was a fishing village, and Triana’s research revealed that Talang queenfish is a popular game fish in the Persian Gulf. Triana made the trip with his family in March 2022.

“I rigged a Clouser fly with 6-pound tippet, and waited for the chance to cast,” he says. “Like a light switch, schools of talang queenfish appeared all around the boat chasing small minnows. A queenfish attacked the fly. It fights down and dirty like a jack crevalle, but jumps like a tarpon. After multiple loops around the boat, I landed the fish.”

World Record Black Durgon from Varadero, Cuba

Triana wanted to explore the untapped reef fishery, but Cuba only allowed government-run fishing vessels that troll outside the reef line.

“We anchored in the clearest water I’ve ever seen, and I break out my light spinning rods with 6-pound-test line, and diced-up lobster for bait,” Triana recalls. “I can see the school of black durgon on the bottom.” He caught a 2-pound fish, topping the existing record of 1 pound, 14 ounces.

World Record Tiger Trout in Salt River, Wyoming

Call it world record by bycatch. While fly fishing along the banks of the Salt River in search of brown trout, Triana caught a baby tiger trout. He quickly made his way back to his car to reference the IGFA yearbook he always travels with to check the tiger trout records.

“I saw there was only a 2-pound fish as the existing record on 6-pound-test line class. I quickly put together my 6-pound spinning outfit and began casting a fly. It wasn’t too long before caught another tiger trout in the same exact area.” Except this time, it was a much larger specimen.

World Record Collared Large-Eye Bream from the Great Barrier Reef

Triana traveled to Australia in 2001 hoping to catch a black marlin. After the liveaboard anchored up one evening, “I rigged up one of my light tackle rods and began bottom fishing, catching a multitude of species,” Triana recalls. “One of them was a very big collared large-eye bream. I kept it on ice until I had a chance to do some research the next day.” It turned out he had caught an IGFA world record.

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“Straight ahead is Poland and to the left is Estonia,” said Capt. Björn Persson, as he navigated the calm waters en route to the Baltic Sea. We were on our way to catch Baltic salmon, which are the same species as Atlantic salmon — ray-finned fish in the Salmonidae family. The Baltic’s Atlantic salmon are known for their massive size, with world records caught in Sweden, Denmark, Poland and Russia. And we were targeting the big ones: 30 pounds and up.  

We left minutes prior from the port of Trosa, located about an hour southwest of Stockholm. The boat ride through the Stockholm archipelago (Skärgårdens in Swedish) was calm and picturesque with World War II cannons visible on several of the small islands. This area forms the second largest archipelago in the world, containing approximately 30,000 islands. On this day, there were just as many sailboats as motorboats on the water.

Within 20 minutes, we arrived at the deep waters of the Baltic Sea. Persson switched over to the trolling motor. One by one, the captain let out line on his Abu Garcia Alphamar LC level winds, line-counting reels with large artificial spoons rigged to them.  

Unsure of the exact depth of the Atlantic salmon, we set out eight lines at depths of approximately 130, 165 and 195 feet. The captain used fluorescent planer boards to ensure the lines did not tangle and to help stagger the lines at different depths. Four more lines were set deeper, clipped to a pair of downriggers off the stern of the 21-foot center console. With twelve lines out in total, we were optimistic.

Soon enough, a rod bent over and the captain uttered something in Swedish that probably meant “fish on.” I grabbed the rod. The fight was fun, but I quickly reeled the fish to the boat. The captain looked at it and immediately flipped it off the line. We were on a mission for giant salmon, and Persson wanted a 2-plus-footer to keep, not what we had landed. Not the fish we were looking for. No time for pictures.

“You should have been here last week,” summed up the reminder of the day. Eventually time ran out, and the captain cooked up hamburgers and hotdogs on the bank of a small island. He told stories of giant Baltic salmon he caught in these waters, the size of the fish only limited by the length his arms stretched.

When to Go

Baltic Salmon season in Sweden is from June through August. It’s also a great time to catch northern pike and hundreds of European Perch in the many lakes in Sweden. If you are looking to make it a family trip, or want to do some sightseeing, I recommend going during the festival of midsummer that marks the summer solstice. That’s when one of the earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun and thus the longest day of sunlight in the year. Midsummer also happens to be one of the biggest holidays in Sweden. The locals dress in traditional Swedish outfits and sing and drink throughout the day.

Where to Go and How to Get There

The New York airports typically have several direct flight options into Sweden’s capital of Stockholm. If your bucket list is to see a pristine 196-foot, 400-year-old Viking warship, visit Vasa Museum in Stockholm. From there, take a car or train to Trosa, a lovely fishing and coastal town about an hour southeast of Stockholm. The area offers local markets to buy fresh seafood and produce from vendors and plenty of restaurants. 

What to Expect

Visiting Sweden in the summer is similar to going to the Great Lakes or Canada, so bring plenty of layers in case a hot summer day turns cool. A good day trolling for Baltic salmon might result in one or two keepers. Mix it up by scheduling a day of catching lots of perch and large pike at nearby lakes. Don’t worry, most of the locals speak English and are happy to point tourists in the right direction.

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Around two million years ago, the massive glaciers that once blanketed much of North America retreated for the last time. In present-day central and western New York State, what was left behind can only be described as heaven on earth for freshwater anglers. Covering almost 9,000 square miles and spanning 14 counties, the Finger Lakes Region is made up of eleven glacially carved lakes in total.

A quick scan of Google Earth will reveal that the lakes run north-to-south and are strikingly narrow, perfectly described as fingers. The region locally is referred to as the “banana belt” of upstate New York as the massive amount of water helps keep winters slightly warmer and summers cooler than nearby areas. From East to West, the lakes are positioned as follows: Otisco, Skaneatles, Owasco, Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Honeoye, Canadice, Hemlock and Conesus.

As temps begin to dip and fall bites grow red hot, hook up the boat, and take part in some of the finest multi-species fishing along the East Coast.

Top Species to Target at the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes read like an Eagles album with a collection of the greatest hits of freshwater fish found in North America. To add a dose of local insight, I caught up with Kurt Hoefig, a local guide and fixture in the area’s fishing scene.

“I tell my clients all the time, there are not a lot of places in the country that have access to all the natural bodies of water that we have in this region,” said Hoefig. “The DEC does an exceptional job managing our fisheries, there is no off-season when it comes to fishing in the finger lakes.” 

By and large, all eleven lakes support booming populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass as deep rock and expanses of shallow structure exist in ample quantities. The same can be said with panfish opportunities as yellow perch, crappie and bluegill are found in impressive numbers region-wide.

The fun does not stop there, as select lakes offer golden shots at lake trout, brown trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. While there are plenty of productive northern pike fisheries in the Northeast, many lakes lack the forage and open water necessary to grow large specimens. The Finger Lakes kick out true monsters in the 20-pound class year after year. Also, as an added Esox bonus, there is consistent tiger muskie fishing to be had for those willing to put the time in.

The gem of the Empire State, the mighty walleye is also present in large numbers and they grow to impressive sizes in multiple lakes. Other species that should be on your list of species to target include include channel catfish, longnose gar, bowfin and freshwater drum.

The Best Finger Lakes for Fishing

With eleven lakes in total, keying in on desired species and techniques is critical to maximizing time. For the bass crowd, Cayuga Lake is a must-fish as the lake has become a consistent stop on high-level tournament trails. It is home to the New York state record smallmouth bass of 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and it recently produced the state record largemouth bass, a brute that tipped the scales at 12 pounds, 6 ounces. It is not just a warm-water fishery, as Cayuga’s populations of trout and salmon greatly benefited from the introduction of round gobies. Hoefig mentioned that “in 2013, gobies were first found in the lake. It did not take long for lake trout to key in on the new food source and feed on them in relatively shallow water areas. This has created world-class opportunities to cast for big lakers.”

For a truly unique angling experience, Seneca Lake, the self-proclaimed, “lake trout capital of the world,” reaches depths of more than 600 feet. The impressive depths and rare instances of ice coverage also make Seneca Lake home to the sonar testing facility of the U.S. Navy. This is where the sonar units used on nuclear submarines are put through their paces. In addition to a thriving lake trout population, landlocked salmon are ubiquitous and susceptible to downrigger fishing year-round.

My favorite, located half an hour from the city of Syracuse, is Otisco Lake. Essentially, it can be fished as two different lakes, as a causeway splits the lake on the south end. The lower basin is chock full of dirty water and weed beds, perfect for largemouth and panfish. The upper end is clear and deep with endless structure and great populations of smallmouth and walleye. Be warned, tiger muskies roam the entire body of water and can show up out of nowhere. Otisco is also one of the more consistent bets for safe ice for ice fishing on an annual basis.

About the Finger Lakes Region

If I am on a fishing trip, I rarely pay any mind to other available entertainment options in the area. This is not the case with the Finger Lakes region, as the temperate climate creates an amazing lineup of breweries and wineries along with a deep selection of restaurants showcasing the fresh ingredients grown and produced throughout the area. For fans of speed, Watkins Glen International Speedway boasts world-class racing action all summer long at an affordable price. If you need a good leg stretch after a long day on the trolling motor, trails leading to scenic summits are numerous and worth the hike. For more information on the area, check out visitfingerlakes.com.

The post New York’s Finger Lakes: A Multi-Species Mecca appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Although Capt. Shane York is a regular at his local gym, at least a portion of his body-builder’s physique can be attributed to an annual run of bull redfish at an expansive bay near his favorite south Louisiana port. Every year in the late summer stretching through the fall, mature reds invade the flats in the lower Barataria Basin, and absolutely engorge themselves on bait stocks that must be seen to be believed. York is always there to greet them, armed with soft-plastic paddle tails under corks.

“You can throw whatever you want, and they’ll hit it, but that cork makes it pretty much a guarantee,” he said.

York has been kind enough to invite me to experience the bull-red blitz the last two seasons. Last year, we left predawn out of Myrtle Grove Marina, and caught them until neither of us could bear the thought of reeling in another fish. That was at 8 a.m. All the reds were pushing 40 inches.

“The smallest bull we’ve caught out here so far this year was 35 inches,” York said that morning.

Two years ago, I absolutely wrecked my biceps reeling in bull after bull, including my personal best, a 44-inch fish. Although mature redfish conduct their spawning duties in deep passes along the coast, that’s not where York finds the fish when they’re in feeding mode. He hunts for extensive flats of uniform 3- to 4-foot depths that hold bait, and when he finds one, success is almost assured, regardless of water clarity.

“We catch them out here in absolute chocolate milk,” he said.

The run coincides with the migration of white shrimp leaving Louisiana’s marshes this time of year. York releases every bull he catches, but if you were to cut open one’s belly, it would be jammed full.

Bull Red Drum Eat Speckled Trout

“You would find a lot of shrimp, but you’d also find some speckled trout,” he said. “They feast on those little speckled trout.”

In fact, the trout are such a significant part of the bull reds’ diet that York knows he’s in the right area when aggressive specks and white trout are the first to yank down his cork. Many of the specks are under Louisiana’s 13-inch minimum size limit, but some are solid keepers. York doesn’t mind putting those in the box if his clients want to take some fish home.

Often, diving seagulls give away the location of productive flats, so York said it pays to always be observant. He had just recently discovered the flat that produced so many fish for us last year.

“We were fishing one area, and we were moving to another area,” he said. “As we were driving across the flat, we saw two huge blowups right next to the boat. We stopped, put the Power-Pole down, made two casts and immediately doubled up.”

York’s favorite color lure is black with a chartreuse tail, but he also has success with white and straight chartreuse. He will be putting all those colors to use for the next few months. Once the fish show up in late July or early August, they stick around for a while.

“They’ll be out here really good through October or November, but you’ll still have some stretching into December,” he said.

By then, York will surely look even more ripped.

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Red drum is a highly sought-after species up and down the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. Many anglers have formed a special bond with redfish in large part because of their willingness to take a baited hook, artificial lure, or fly. Throughout their range, the strong fight of a redfish keeps anglers’ hearts pumping and adrenaline flowing.

Luckily, anglers in North Carolina have access to some of the largest red drum in the world. In August and September, mature “old drum” come inshore to spawn at the mouth of the Pamlico and Neuse rivers before moving off Outer Banks beaches where they can be targeted in October and November. People from all over the country travel to isolated destinations like Cedar Island, Swan Quarter, Ocracoke and Cape Lookout to try to catch and release a “citation” fish. North Carolina’s Saltwater Fishing Tournament, also known as the Citation Program, recognizes exceptional catches of North Carolina’s most popular sport fish. A citation red drum must measure at least 40 inches. The all-tackle world record, a 94-pound, 2-ounce giant, was landed in Cape Hatteras back in 1984.

Historically most old drum were caught by bait fishermen using large pieces of fresh cut mullet or menhaden late in the evening or at night. Anglers can also have success catching huge redfish during the day using a variety of different artificial lures. As the fishery has evolved, it has led to increased fishing pressure and sometimes very finicky fish. Capt. Mitchel Blake, of FishIBX Charters, grew up fishing the area over the past several decades and has seen the changes.

Where to Find Reds

Pamlico Sound is a large body of water with lots of depth transitions and different bottom compositions. There are no real hot spots — what was good yesterday may well be dead water today. Capt. Blake reminds anglers that the fish are always on the move, and they are significantly impacted by boat traffic. Some studies have shown that drum travel more than 25 miles a day, advancing along submerged edges and ledges in different depth ranges searching for bait and preparing to spawn.  

Successful anglers get on the water early to locate them when they are feeding in 2 to 4 feet of water. Sometimes it is obvious, as reds move a lot of water when they are feeding aggressively. Search for pushes and wakes as you move into skinny water; busting mullet and shrimp popping in the shallows are also good indicators of feeding drum in the area. As the day moves on, especially in areas where there is a lot of boat activity, reds tend to move into deeper water. But they can still be found feeding on large schools of menhaden at the surface. It’s the subtle things Capt. Blake sees that keep him on the fish as he slowly dissects the river each day, not the run-and-gun style so prevalent in the age of social media and Internet reports. 

As you approach an area that seems to have the right conditions, stealth is critical to success. Blake’s biggest piece of advice is to slow down and pay attention to the surroundings. Shut off the big motor early, before you push into the zone, and use the trolling motor as sparingly as possible to hold your position. If possible, use the wind to push you within casting range. Don’t just zoom from spot to spot, as you might be running over the fish while you stare at your phone or navigation screen. Things tend to materialize fast, so you want to be ready with several rods rigged with a couple of different offerings.  

Reviving Red Drum After the Fight

For artificials lures, there are several options that work well. I prefer to fish topwater lures, as I can make repetitive long casts with a big surface popper. Walk-the-dog-style lures work well, too. Both choices make great search baits, as they are designed to imitate the sounds of struggling baitfish. When a fish hears the commotion on the surface, they tend to rise and look for an easy meal. Having a big 50-pound redfish explode on a surface lure is about as exciting as it gets. Large popping-cork rigs work well, too, especially if fish seem skittish or are hesitant to eat a surface plug.

We need to do everything we can to care for these fish, as they are the breeding stock for the entire population. Be mindful and use appropriate tackle to land fish quickly, so they do not exhaust themselves during the fight. Tagging data is clear; red drum survive well when released if they are handled properly. Many fish I catch are released without bringing them into the boat, but I admit I love to hold them in my arms for a photo. When landing a fish, never reach into or attempt to support the fish by the gill plate or mouth. Hold them horizontally and support the weight of the fish evenly as you cradle it like a baby in your arms. Have your camera ready beforehand. Enjoy the moment you have with the fish, but return it to the water as quickly as possible.

Spend time reviving the fish after a hard-fought battle. That means forcing water over its gills by inching the boat forward. If fishing in moving water, the water does the work for you, so hold that redfish face-first into the current. Moving a redfish forward and backward in the water doesn’t help much — no matter what the TV shows say. Watching a red drum regain its strength and kick away is rewarding, almost as much as tricking them into biting your topwater.

The post Keys to Catching Carolina’s Red Drum appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Of all the Caribbean flats species targeted by anglers, permit are arguably the most coveted species for many fly and light-tackle fishermen, and when it comes to consistent and productive permit destinations, the tiny Central American country of Belize sits at the top of the list.

While Belize has always been a well-known destination for anglers wishing to pursue these elusive and — at times — difficult fish, the permit fishing throughout Belize has arguably improved over the last 10 to 15 years. With increased pressure and a significant bump in angler numbers, how could this be possible?

There are three main reasons for this uptick in permit production, with the first (and most important) reason being mandatory catch-and-release regulations and nationwide protection of permit, bonefish and tarpon implemented in 2008. Since that time, fish numbers have stabilized and gradually improved. To date, Belize is still the only country in the Caribbean to enact this type of protection.

The second reason that Belize is such a permit hotspot has to do with a nationwide gillnet ban that became law in 2019. In tandem with mandatory catch-and-release fishing, the removal of indiscriminate gillnets has had an immediate positive effect. The third and final reason for an overall increase in permit productivity? The guides are spending more time focusing on and targeting the species, and their knowledge, techniques, and understanding of the species has radically evolved as a direct result.

Permit Fishing in Ambergris Caye, Belize

Running parallel to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Ambergris Caye is the largest of the more than 200 islands that dot the coast of Belize — and by far the most popular tourist destination in the country. Long a famous tarpon destination, over the past 10 years the permit fishing in the waters that surround Ambergris has ramped up considerably — both with numbers as well as the average size of permit. The shallow lagoon on the back side of Ambergris is home to large schools of smaller 5- to 10-pound permit. When spotted, the speedsters will readily chase large shrimp and Gotcha-type fly patterns. For anglers seeking larger permit, the fish found in the Bacalar Chico area, north to Rocky Point, and south to Long Caye can be quite large. A guide is crucial for this part of Belize, as most flats are soft mud and difficult to wade.

Fishing for Permit at Turneffe Atoll, Belize

One of the most undeveloped, unvisited and pristine regions in all of Belize, Turneffe is home to an exceptional population of permit, which is why many seasoned traveling anglers will tell you that the atoll offers one of the best chances in the Caribbean to hook and land a “black-tailed devil.” On the outer flats of the atoll, most permit are found as singles or in small groups, feeding their way across the shallows in search of crabs, shrimp and other food sources. In the interior of the atoll on the muddy mangrove flats, more aggressive schools of permit are found on a regular basis, cruising the lengthy mangrove shorelines in schools that at times number 100 or more fish.

Permit Fishing at Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda (known throughout the region as “P.G.”) is the southernmost town in Belize and the capital of Belize’s Toledo District. Small, quiet and almost completely untouched by tourism, this has long been a popular destination for anglers serious about catching permit. The classic flats scenarios found in this area revolve around permit that feed and tail in skinny waters on shallow reef flats. It is not uncommon for the P.G. guides to poll the edges of the flats in search of tailing fish and nervous water. When fish are spotted in the shallows, the guide and angler will usually slip out of the skiff and approach the feeding fish on foot for the optimal shot.

Belize’s Hopkins and Permit Alley Fishing

This area has become world famous for its permit fishing, with hundreds of shallow, turtle-grass-covered, classic-style permit flats that are found just offshore in pristine waters surrounding Belize’s barrier reef. In this specific marine area — thick with tiny cayes and islands connected and joined by countless flats — good numbers of permit can be found year-round: often-times tailing, cruising and feeding in clear, shallow waters. These flats typically consist of hard-packed sand, mottled with patches of turtle grass and crushed coral. The shallower flats are ideal for wading, although a boat is still required to move from area to area.

Long Caye and Caye Caulker Permit Fishing

In addition to offering a healthy tarpon fishery, this central Belize destination offers great permit opportunities in the area surrounding Caye Caulker. The permit fishery is rapidly evolving here, as protection of the species continues to improve the population. This fishing differs from other areas in Belize (where permit are often found in super-shallow waters that are fished according to the tides) in that permit here are usually found in three to six feet of water, cruising and feeding over a variety of different bottoms including shallow grass, hard bottoms, and even submerged rock structures and caves. And while a moving tide is important, it is not as crucial as it is in other areas. 

When Traveling to Belize to Fish

• MAJOR AIR HUB: Belize City, Belize (BZE)
• ENTRY DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Valid passport
• LANGUAGES: English and Caribbean Creole
• LAND SIZE: Approximately 8,867 square miles
• TIME: U.S. Central Standard Time
• FISHING SEASON: Year-round, with peak permit time March-July, October and November
• IDEAL FOR: Couples, families, first-time permit anglers, and seasoned veterans

The post The Best Permit Fishing in Belize appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

It’s a long way offshore to the Texas rigs, but those who make the trip put up very respectable numbers of blue marlin and yellowfin for the Gulf of Mexico. Consider the results of last summer’s Texas Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. In the tournament’s first year, teams caught 14 blue marlin in three fishing days. The biggest blue, landed by team Synchronicity, weighed 726.3 pounds.

“The marlin seem to move off the Panhandle during the summer and come here,” says Texas offshore legend Dee Wallace, who is the tournament director at Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas. “In late summer, the Domes reef area and the Colt 45 reef come alive with white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin. It’s just a little farther run than other places.”

That is to say, Texas blue marlin fishing isn’t like Tongue-of-the-Ocean in the Bahamas, where you duck out in the morning for the day and get back in the afternoon for drinks at the cabana, nor even like Venice, Louisiana, where pre-dawn departures get you back that night. No, in Texas, boats might leave on a Thursday and return two days later.

“You can cover three or four of the deep rigs in a long one-day trip, but most people go out for a couple of days,” says Wallace. “It’s Iron Man stuff.”

Runs into the Gulf might be 100, 250, 300 miles or more, targeting promising oceanic set-ups at oil rigs, floating platforms and drill ships that act as fish aggregating devices (FADs). It is a high-stakes, boom-or-bust sport, with plenty of tournaments in the summer for those who want to compete for big money. The Texas Gulf Coast Billfish Classic is one of the newest.

“Up and down the Texas coast, a lot of people keep their boats at their own docks,” says Robbie Carter, director of the Texas Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. “We wanted to have a tournament that lets them leave from their docks, wherever their homes are. They go out to the rigs at the tournament’s start Thursday morning and don’t have to return until Saturday afternoon. It’s a marathon. This year we’ll have two weigh-in locations, Surfside and Port Aransas. There’s catch-and-release divisions, too, and we use Starlink for live scoring by video and updates.” After a delay from Hurricane Beryl, this year’s Texas Gulf Coast Billfish Classic is set for Aug. 15-17. Other upcoming tournaments include the Texas International Fishing Tournament (July 31- Aug. 4 at Port Isabel) and the Texas Legends Billfish Tournament (Aug. 7-11 at Port Aransas).

Technology has Changed Marlin Fishing

“The days of pointing your bow offshore looking for rips and slicks are over,” says Tom Hilton, owner of Hilton’s, the fishing charts and services company. “Now, with these deep-water rigs all within range of sport fishers, and with the technology, these fishermen are checking all their charts and understanding not only where to go fish, but just as importantly, where not to go fish. The key to using charts is to find the area where you have the most overlapping favorable conditions.

“Seakeeper, omni sonar, Starlink, and what I’ve designed with Sat2Nav with our charts and also with Roff’s, all of it has changed how people fish,” Hilton continues. “Also, the introduction of more deepwater floating platforms, known as SPARs (single point anchor reservoir), has increased offshore destinations. Also, live baiting with small tunas and rainbow runners has radically changed strategies. People still pull plastic, but live baits are bringing in a lot of big marlin.”

More Texas Deepwater FADs Coming Soon

Because it is so far offshore, Texas billfishing and tuna fishing might not be as well known as other Gulf locations out of Florida’s Panhandle, Venice, and Biloxi, Mississippi, but that may soon change. Tom Hilton and his colleagues have been organizing deployment of fish aggregating devices (FADs), and Hilton says he’s close to getting approval for installation, which would change Texas offshore fishing entirely.

“Alex Fogg of Okaloosa County in Florida worked hard to install deep water FADs off the Panhandle, and it’s been a resounding success,” Hilton says. “Those were the first ‘legal’ FADs ever deployed in U.S. waters. There’s white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and all kinds of species are attracted to those FADs.”

Hilton has 14 FADs ready for deployment from 60 to 80 miles offshore in waters 1,100 to 1,600 feet deep. The project is a collaboration between Hilton Marine, the Houston Big Game Fishing Club and the Gulf Research Institute for Highly Migratory Species.

“These FADS would bring bluewater fishing in range to a lot more center consoles and charter boats off the Texas coast, among other benefits,” Hilton says. “Right now, we’re mired in red tape, but it’s going to be big once we get them out there.”

Another Option is Texas Inshore Fishing

For those not quite suited to the rarified air of Texas oil rig fishing, either by temperament or finances, Texas fortunately has a rich estuary system with vast and varied options for beach, bay and backcountry fishing. Major bay systems include the Laguna Madre in the south, Matagorda Bay on the central coast, and Galveston Bay south of Houston. Smaller bays like Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi Bay add more wading and boating locations. On the ocean side, beaches, piers and jetties see clean, green water in summer, with redfish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and seatrout along the shores and surf.

Capt. Charlie Paradoski has fished the Texas bay system for close to 50 years, focusing on Matagorda Bay for the last three decades, both by wade fishing and boat. Matagorda Bay covers more than 350 square miles, so there’s a lot of fishy structure to get to know. Among other species, West Matagorda Bay is known for summer tripletail fishing. Paradoski also takes to the beaches when the surf is right, and there’s nothing more beautiful than sunrise over a big Texas beach.

“People like to come down and catch seatrout, and the slot limit is now between 15 and 20 inches, but most of the fish we catch are over 20 inches,” Paradoski says. “The bag limit is three trout, and as much as people don’t like that lower limit, it’s a good thing for the resource and the future to ensure good fishing.”

As good as the fishing in summer can be, it’s even better when the water cools. “October through February, that’s when the fishing gets easy,” he says. “Redfish, flounder, seatrout, they love that cooler water.” Texas coastal fishing is nearly endless, consistently productive and highly accessible. Vehicles can even be driven onto some beaches, like part of Matagorda Beach. Waders and kayak anglers can drop into stunning sight fishing with ease. Perhaps best of all, many locations along the coast still feel as if they belong to the wild. That’s a privilege worth preserving, and Texas anglers know it.

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Capt. Hugh Harris, of True North Outdoors in Portland, tells me that a chinook salmon can smell one drop of its ancestral stream in 50 gallons of water. In Harris’ home waters of the Columbia River, chinook might get that scent as they ride tides between the ocean and the river early in the season. By summer, many fish stage in the ocean near the Columbia River’s mouth before surging upriver past Buoy 10. In summer’s warming river waters, they find respite in cold-water sanctuaries. Late summer rains bring the scent of their home waters into the river’s flow, drawing the salmon to their spawning grounds upstream. Through the seasons, Capt. Harris targets chinook and coho as they move from nearshore waters off the beach to the fast currents near Buoy 10 and those cold-water refuges upstream.

Kayak Fishing for Salmon off Oregon Beaches

A seasoned kayaker before his days charter fishing, Capt. Harris’ top beaches for kayak fishing along the coast are:

1. Pacific City (north coast)
2. Depoe Bay (central coast)
3. Seaside (north coast)
4. Social Security Beach (mouth of the Columbia River, north coast)
5. Long Beach, Washington (south coast WA)
6. Sunset Bay (southern Oregon)

“Ocean salmon off the Oregon Coast feed aggressively. They’ll bite a variety of offerings if presented correctly,” Harris says. “When I’m heading off the beach, I’ll look for temperature changes, temperatures around 50 to 55 degrees F, salinity changes, and currents that corral schools of prey fish for the predators. Rips, slicks, changes in water surface texture, and actively feeding birds will get my heart racing.”

A properly cured or partially frozen anchovy or herring for bait with a tight spin “is money,” Harris says. He wants the bait’s scales intact and the bait firm, so that its action looks like an injured bait. An anchovy or herring helmet will help a bait last longer without “blowing out,” and losing its perfect roll, especially at faster trolling speeds or currents.

“My second go-to rig is a hoochie spinner with a small chunk of bait (herring, sardine, or anchovy) on the hooks. Place a dodger or flasher 24 to 40 inches above the bait to attract fish’s attention and even give the bait some action.” In addition to salmon, kayak fishermen off Oregon’s coast target Dungeness crab, halibut, greenling, flounder, cabezon, sablefish, ling cod, and rockfish, among others.

Never underestimate the dangers of kayaking in a cold ocean. Even with extensive safety equipment, knowledge, and necessary precautions, Harris has hit a few storms miles offshore that had him riding the swells. Though he still kayaks, starting a family years ago and having children shifted his focus to sharing his time on the water with friends, family, and clients on his boat, a 26-foot aluminum River Wild sled, built in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Buoy 10 for Chinook and Coho Salmon

The famous Buoy 10 fishery is a 40-square-mile estuary at the gateway to the Pacific Ocean. Buoy 10 marks the demarcation line for recreational fishing at the mouth of the Columbia River. Beyond it stretches about six miles of jetty for the Columbia River bar, one of the most dangerous waterways in the world.

The Buoy 10 season usually begins around August 1 and lasts into the first week of September, though that depends on state regulations influenced by projected returns of salmon. Chinook salmon make up the majority of the early August returns, with cohos (silvers) coming in later in August and September and salmon fishing lasting into fall. This 2024 season, it looks like the limits will be one chinook (hatchery fish) and one coho (hatchery fish) per person. Please double-check local regulations.

“Last year, ocean conditions were good at the start of the season, so I ran across the bar where the majority of the fish were staging,” Capt. Harris said. “You have the option to do that under good conditions. You can be out there for an hour and limit the whole boat, it’s that good. You have a lot of opportunities at Buoy 10.”

The Buoy 10 area can be difficult to navigate with its strong tides over shallow river bottom. Rapidly changing currents and tides, coupled with crowds of trolling boats, lead to actively changing conditions.

“When a boat captain is familiar with the tidal influences of the river’s anatomy, avoids the crowds of boats, and understands the dangers of hydrokinetics over a shallow mass of water,” Hugh says, “they may avoid the inherent dangers of this fishery. There are fish to be caught everywhere throughout the system and avoiding the pack mentality can pay off with safety and success.”

Harris uses Talon Rods, handmade in Woodland, Washington. He likes a 9- to 10-foot, 6-inch rod rated for a 10- to 40-pound test line with parabolic action, a forgiving tip and strong backbone to set the hook and withstand heavy trolling weights. For reels, he uses Okuma Coldwater SS Low Profile Line Counters and Daiwa Lexa 300 Line Counters. He’ll spool 60-pound braid for mainline and 40- to 50-pound Maxima Ultragreen mono for leaders.

Fishing Techniques for the Columbia River Tide

“The aspect that makes or breaks Buoy 10 is understanding where the fish hold on the tidal flow,” Harris says. “Thousands of fish are rolling through there, but you have to understand the tide and current, not only for safety’s sake but to get your gear in front of the fish.

“Around high slack tide we can target fish suspended or just off the bottom by mooching bait while drifting at the speed of the current. The fisherman provides the tight spinning action by short lifting and dropping the tip of the rod. This is an active method of fishing that’s exciting when you set the hook on a big one.”

In another method, the angler presents the terminal gear just off the bottom during a fast ebb on days with severe tide exchanges. During a strong outgoing ebb, Harris says, the boat and presentation will be moving way too fast at 4 to 5 mph speed over ground.

“Boat maneuverability is key because you need to move at the slowest speed possible to keep your gear on bottom while still working. The warm fresh river water will be ebbing with the boat at a fast pace, while the colder, dense saltwater will be slower moving at 20 feet down. Initially, the angler’s line will drop straight down and tangle as it’s being pushed with the outgoing fresh water. If deployed painstakingly slow at 1 foot per second or less, the line will eventually begin to angle out away from the boat as it reaches the cooler ocean water below. The captain positions the boat perpendicular to the current to slow down the drift and match the current’s speed. Fishermen position their rods on the upstream side of the boat, finding the bottom and reeling up once. The captain maintains the position of the boat to match the speed of the current. This method is extremely effective when the trolling speed cannot be maintained at less than 3.5 mph SOG (Speed Over Ground) even with the trolling motor in idle.”

It’s that kind of careful approach that takes fish in big water.

Summertime at the Columbia River

It’s about a two-hour drive from Portland’s airport (PDX) to the Lower Columbia River area. Harris moors his boat in Warrenton. Other towns near the mouth of the Columbia include Astoria and Hammond and on the Washington state side, Ilwaco and Chinook. It’s a rich, wonderful scene in summer with seafood, fresh produce, ample sunshine, and plenty of places to visit off the water. Plan and reserve lodging in advance as vacancies are limited during the fishing season.

Astoria has a vibrant nautical history. There are state parks like Fort Stevens and Fort Canby nearby and other scenic spots. The Peter Iredale shipwreck is at Sunset Beach, Oregon. Ilwaco is a bustling commercial fishing marina at the gateway to the Pacific Ocean, with plenty of fresh seafood available.

Harris suggests a hike up the stairs of the Astoria Column, “to review the history of the area with an amazing view of the Columbia River estuary. There are local breweries, like Fort George Brewery and Buoy Brewery, and great restaurants and shops. The Maritime Museum is very interesting and highlights the history of the Coast Guard and mariners in the region. All told, it’s the best of our Pacific Northwest fishing culture.”

The post Oregon Bound for Chinook and Coho appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

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.

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