Saltwater Fishing: Most Popular Articles

Goliath Grouper (Jewfish)
Goliath Grouper (Jewfish) on a Party Boat

The Blumbergs Red Snapper
The Blumbergs and their Texas Red Snapper Catch

Surf Fishing
There are quite a number of fishermen and women who either by choice or by circumstance do not fish from a boat. Let's deal with some surf fishing tips and all that goes with this unique form of angling.

Flounder Methods
Fishing methods, baits and rigs that work for catching flounder

Fish Hook Selection
Fish Hook choice depends on several factors. Obviously, the smaller the fish, the smaller the fish hook required. What most anglers miss is, that line size, fish species, type of bait, and fishing structure play a major role in fish hook selection.

115 Lb Sailfish
115 Lb Sailfish Caught aboard Smokin' Em Charters, out of St. Lucie Inlet, Stuart, FL Captain Gil Coombes

Pier Fishing
But there are those shore bound souls who have chosen another lot in life. They choose not to be left out of the fishing scene, and as such they have developed a style and following all their own. These are the pier fishermen and women. Some are affectionately referred to as "Pier Rats." They came in all sizes, all ages, and both sexes. They come with a variety of tackle, some expensive, some worn and taped together. But come they do, with a very special camaraderie.

It's Time for a New Boat
Some anglers buy one boat and it becomes their fishing platform for many years. Others trade boats almost yearly, always looking for that something different. I guess I fall at least partially into the latter category, because I recently did just that. I traded boats – actually I sold a bass boat and bought a new boat – because there was something new that I wanted.

Surf Casting Techniques
Long-Distance Surf Casting Techniques and Surf Casting

Flounder Cleaning Instructions
Many people ask just how to clean these flat fish. Here is a step by step method with pictures to help you clean your flounder.

Redfish - How to Catch a Redfi
Here is a profile on redfish - also known as red drum

Before You Buy a Spinning Reel
Of all the reels made, the spinning reel is by far the most popular. Easy to use and virtually backlash free, these reels come in all price ranges. Prices vary, determined generally by the number of ball bearings contained in the reel. Choose a spinning reel according to what kind of fishing you plan to do.

Guide Picks - Top 4 Light Tackle Spinning Reels
Light tackle spinning reels are reels that are ideal for inshore angling. Line capacity and strength in the 8 to 15 pound test range make them good for a variety of fish.

Deep Jigging
Somewhere along the way one of the most versatile fishing lures ever devised received the name "jig". Probably either because the molds they are made from or the mechanism used to hold them while they are being tied, are called jigs. Either way the term has come to mean a particular style of fishing with a particular type of lure - fishing with a jig.

All About Flounder and Fluke
Learning how to catch flounder and fluke is easy. These articles and tips provide that knowledge. How to catch a flounder. Fishing for Flounder.

Dan Uelk's Roosterfish
Dan Uelk's Costa Rica Roosterfish - from a Kayak! Dan was fishing with Ralph from Costa Rica Wild Fishing

Casting Rods
Casting rods are perfect for top water plug action with comparatively heavy line. Their shorter length and heavier backbone allow wrist action to make a plug walk. The best fishing rods will have a fast taper and comfortable hand grip.

Drop Shot Fishing in Saltwater
The drop shot rig is a relatively recent innovation in the freshwater fishing realm that is now making its way to saltwater. Named for the way the rig goes straight to the bottom, it is similar to a ‘fish-finder’ or ‘chicken’ rig currently used by many bottom-fishing anglers. The difference is in the placement of the hook.

What Kind of Fishing Leader
What kind and size of fishing leader line you use can make a difference on how many fish you catch.

Billand Dan and Their Shad
Bill Stall and Dan Rushing of Brooklet, Georgia show off an early season catch of Ogeechee River American shad.

Fish Hook Selection
Fish Hook choice depends on several factors. Obviously, the smaller the fish, the smaller the fish hook required. What most anglers miss is, that line size, fish species, type of bait, and fishing structure play a major role in fish hook selection.

Which Rod and Reel
I receive a lot of email asking me for advice on which rod or which reel to buy. It seems that people are somewhat convinced that there is a perfect rod or perfect reel, and that someone out there knows the brand.

Run in a Following Sea
a simple how to on run in a following sea, fromyour about.com guide

Learning to Fish
Here is what a beginner can do to start learning how to fish

Fishing Rod Buying Basics
Here are some basic fishing rod facts that you need to know before you head out or go online to purchase one.

Kayak Fishing
Kayak fishing is growing at an amazing rate. This relatively new fishing sport is becoming more and more popular every day. Areas where I used to fish and have the water all to myself are now being regularly sought by kayak fishermen

How to Tie a Bimini Twist
A simple 'how to' on tying a bimini twist, from your About.com guide

ONO's Sunglasses
ONO's Trading Company Polarized sunglasses with bifocal readers are ideal for fishinermen with eyesight problems.

Dr. Sam's 119 Pound Halibut
A braggin Board to post all those fishing pictures you want everyone to see!

40 inch snook
Here is a 40" Snook caught while fishing a skitterwalk on Smokin Em Too fishing the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Quickly Rig a Ballyhoo
a simple how to on rigging a ballyhoo, fromyour about.com guide

How to Tie a Wire Leader
a simple how to on removing twist from your line, fromyour about.com guide

Ultralight Spinning Reel
Ultralights are usually reels that handle six pound test line or less. Some reels are actually designed for 2 pound test line. Prices vary for these little guys, as does quality and saltwater resistance.

Huge thunderstorms are dangerous events when fishing offshore
Huge thunderstorms are dangerous events when fishing offshor

All About Grouper
Grouper and the entire grouper family have become probably the most popular saltwater food fish in the United States. While there are Pacific varieties, the largest fishery is in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast. Grouper are a bottom fishing charter boat captain’s big ticket item. Most catches are over ten pounds with some well over 100 pounds. Following is information and some stories about grouper fishing that can help you become a better angler.

The Right Terminal Tackle
Bottom fishing, whether inshore or in deep offshore waters, necessarily means making a choice on the terminal tackle you plan to use. Many anglers catch fewer fish as a result of a poor choice or no choice at all.

Captain Gil Coombes Snook
Captain Gil Coombes Snook

Product Review - Shimano Symetre Spinning Reels
This is a mid-price range reel from Shimano that really works as well its higher priced cousins.

Light Tackle Spinning Reels
Light tackle spinning reels are reels that are ideal for inshore angling. Line capacity and strength in the 8 to 15 pound test range make them good for a variety of fish.

Beginner Dolphin Trolling
Owning a boat, maybe for the first time, and deciding to head offshore, maybe for the first time, a number of readers ask about getting into dolphin fishing. That’s dolphin fish, mahi mahi, not dolphin porpoise! I have answered some specifics, but now it is time to lay out some basics on fishing for these prolific, blue water acrobats.

Top 3 Ultralight Spinning R...
Ultralights are usually reels that handle six pound test line or less. Some reels are actually designed for 2 pound test line. Prices vary for these little guys, as does quality and saltwater resistance.

Filet of Hardhead
Hardhead is the name used for saltwater catfish from Texas to the Florida panhandle. Most of us consider them to be a real pain to deal with. And that pain is meant to be both the aggravation of catching them and real pain you feel if one ever fins you.

Fishing with the Tide
Being in the right place at the right time is perhaps the most important part of a successful fishing foray. If you aren't where the fish are, you can be assured you will not be catching anything. Water level, water movement, and movement direction - in other words tide - all play a vital role in where the fish will be located.

Blackie's Fluke Long Island
Blackie's Fluke West Long Island Sound

Setting the Hook
Many fish are lost becuase the angler fails to set the hook properly. Just how hard is hard enogh? And how hard is too hard when it comes to hhok sets?

All About Tackle
Tips, suggestions and how to information about saltwater fishing tackle and accessories

Saltwater Fishing - HowTos
An index of HowTos for the Saltwater Fishing guide site.

blacktip001
Blacktip Shark - 125 lbs - Offshore Freeport,Texas Troy was the Angler Caught with Capt. Bill Curry aboard Workingman Charters

Saltwater Catfish
Saltwater catfish are found from Texas to Virginia and even farther north on almost any kind of inland water, even in offshore water in depths up to about thirty feet. They are exactly like their freshwater cousins. In fact, if they are lying side by side, it is virtually impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Top Picks - Top 5 Bait Casting Rods
Bait casting rods are perfect for top water plug action with comparatively heavy line. Their shorter length and heavier backbone allow wrist action to make a plug walk. The better rods will have a fast taper and comfortable hand grip.

Guide Picks - Top 3 Heavy Spinning Reels
Heavy spinning reels are used in a variety of fishing situations, from surf fishing to trolling blue water. They are made tough and will stand up to a reasonable amount of abuse.

Night Flounder Gigging
In most states, gigging is a legal method for taking flounder or fluke. Usually done at night, it is more for the adventurous angler, but any of you can go gigging and and come home with some great table fare!

Bluefish Smorgasbord in the...
With the spring migration of baitfish and the always-following predator fish comes an opportunity that happens only twice each year. Baitfish move south in the fall and north in the spring. As they move up and down the coast, surf anglers have a heyday casting and catching a smorgasbord variety of fish that feed on this bait.

15 lb Jack Crevalle
Here is a 15 lb Jack Crevalle caught in th St. Lucie River aboard Smokin' Em Too caught by Kathi Coombes

Spring Red Drum
Up and down the Atlantic coast, inlets are beginning to get crowded. Crowded with fish that is. Specifically, redfish – red drum – are coming through the inlets and are eating almost anything thrown their way.

Casting to a Tailing Redfish
There are many anglers who claim to never have seen a tailing redfish. I think it turns out that these anglers may have actually seen some, but just didn’t know what they were seeing at the time. They can generally be found in a low water condition, either on an outgoing or an incoming tide, moving along the edge of oyster or bars. The crabs and other crustaceans that inhabit these areas are a favorite food source.

Effects of Water Temperature
Water temperature plays such an important part in fishing that every angler needs to pay attention and react to even subtle variances. Fish are no different than a lot of animals when it comes to heat and cold. They want to stay comfortable.

South Florida Dolphin
Leave it to me to create a controversy in areas I never meant to wander. Many of you wrote me concerning dolphin fishing, several of you very upset that we would fish for and eat this "wonderful mammal". So before I go into our dolphin excursion this past week, let me clear the air.

Kahle Fish Hook
Hook Gallery of Pictures - Types of Hooks

Night Fishing Tips
Night fishing can be very easy and a lot of fun, or it can be a perfectly miserable experience. The difference comes in how you prepare for the trip. I have fished more times at night than I can count, and I learned quite a few tricks to make it easy and successful.

Mazatlan, Mexico Pompano
Bear with a Mazatlan, Mexico "pompano" caught trolling mullet imitation stick baits.

Bass Pro Shops Barrell Swivel
Bass Pro Shops Barrell Swivel

Ed's Fluke Raritan Bay NJ
Ed's Fluke from Raritan Bay NJ

New Fishing Floats
Floats and bobbers. As a kid we all learned to “watch the bobber” for a bite. The excitement was almost unbearable as we waited for that float to go under. For some reason we always had to wait until the cork went all the way under the water before we set the hook. That was a lot of years ago for some and as close as last year for others. The teachings have not changed during that time, but the bobbers sure have.

Bass Pro Shops Crane Swivel
Bass Pro Shops Crane Swivel

Bluefish and Mackerel
In the spring, bluefish and Spanish mackerel begin making their way north up the easy coast of the United States. From Florida to New York, over time they will come up the coast and migrate into each inlet and river mouth.

Beginner Dolphin Trolling
Owning a boat, maybe for the first time, and deciding to head offshore, maybe for the first time, a number of readers ask about getting into dolphin fishing. That’s dolphin fish, mahi mahi, not dolphin porpoise! I have answered some specifics, but now it is time to lay out some basics on fishing for these prolific, blue water acrobats.

Circle Hooks to the Rescue!
As a catch and release fisherman I am always concerned about the welfare of the fish I release. So it is with a great deal of interest that I fished this last trip using circle hooks. These hooks have been around for a long time, but only recently have they been used to rescue and improve catch and release survival.

Flounder Fishing Fool!
I followed a local angler around this week, watching as he looked for flounder. The name on the side of his boat was [i][b]Flounder Fishing Fool[/i][/b]. His methods, similar to a lot of flounder angling methods, helped me find some doormats as well!

Grouper Fishing Basics
The most classic bottom fish for most anglers is the grouper. Whether red, gag, black, yellowfin, or Warsaw, a good grouper in the ice chest means a successful day for lots of folks.

Is There a Best Boat to Own?
Those of us who live along the coast face a dilemma when it comes to choosing a boat. Either we are well enough off to afford two or more boats, or we try to choose a single boat to serve all our needs. Is there really a best boat to own?

Tie a Float Stop
How to tie a stop knot for slip floats in deep water.

Before You Buy a Casting Rod
Buying a new rod can be an exercise in futility if you don't do your homework before you shop. Whether you are looking for the best rod or the cheapest rod - and they are not necessarily mutually exclusive - you need to think about how the rod will be used. Here are some ideas to consider as you search for the rod you need.

Weakfish Raritan Beach, NJ
Weakfish from Raritan Beach, NJ

Joey's Blackfish Stamford, CT
Joey's Blackfish from Stamford, CT

Illegal Netters Ruin Fishing
It appears to me that these two boats were, under cover of darkness using illegal gill nets along the jetties and taking sheepshead in large numbers. Needless to say, we caught very few fish that morning.

Fishing a Jig Head
There are a lot of terminal tackle choices on the market. Some are simple; some are complicated. All can be as expensive as you would like them to be. My personal choice for most of my inshore fishing (with natural bait or with a grub) is a jig head.

More Weakfish from NJ
More Weakfish from Raritan Beach, NJ

Maverick Charters Giant
A braggin Board to post all those fishing pictures you want everyone to see!

Kim Canaday's Ling Cod Again
Kim Canaday's Ling Cod Again

Raritan Bay Weakie
Raritan Bay Weakie

Redfish in the Surf
Spring is the time for the fish to begin showing up in the surf. Schools of baitfish make their way north up the Atlantic coast, and predator fish follow right behind. It’s sort of like a moving cafeteria to these predators – food on the hoof so to speak. Menhaden and mullet, the two big “M’s” of the baitfish world, are followed by a variety of fish. Cobia and tarpon are arguably the most sought after. Redfish are mostly ignored during this time of year.

Trolling for Grouper
The Southeastern United States provide the best grouper fishing in the world, and they can be taken by any number of means. From gag grouper in at little as ten to twelve feet of water to the mighty warsaw grouper in several hundred feet of water , all grouper tend to like the same types of baits and presentations whether they are presented on the bottom or by trolling. Just remember, big bait, big fish, small bait, small fish.

Jigs, Molds, Sinkers and Buckt
To save money and keep me from counting pennies while I fish, I pour my own sinkers and jig heads, and usually wrap my own bucktails. I remember growing up watching and learning from my father just how to pour lead with a sinker or jig mold. His method won't work for me today, and you'll see why as I explain it.

Kim Canaday's Ling Cod
Kim Canaday's Ling Cod

Bass Pro Shops Snap Swivel
Bass Pro Shops Snap Swivel

76 pound wahoo
Tony Simone of St Augustine, Florida with a 76 pound wahoo

Manuel Cordoba and his Snook
Manuel Cordoba with a Panama Canal Pacific Coast Snook

Flounder on Artificials
It would appear that a flounder, lying on the bottom waiting for food, would not be a very aggressive fish, one wiling to reach out and grab a lure. I spend most of my time looking for flounder with live bait, but I was surprised at their aggressiveness when presented with an artificial bait like a grub.

Night Time Flat Fish
Now is the time to begin seeing the flounder as they move inland from their winter offshore homes. Miles of intracoastal waterways, tidal creek shorelines and flats can be found from the Northeast coast , down around Florida, all the way to Texas. Flounder can be taken with a gig and a light using this method in all of these areas, but check your local laws and regulations before starting out.

The Right Hook
Knowing the sizing and naming conventions of the major categories of hooks can help make your selection an easier task. Yes, Virginia, the type of hook you select does make a difference, and hook selection depends on the species of fish being sought.

Circle Hook
Hook Gallery of Pictures - Types of Hooks

Making Custom Fishing Rods
There are a lot of places to get quality parts for building your own rod. Lots of them are here on the Internet, and I've linked to a number of them for you on the Custom Rod Building Page. Try building one for yourself. Start by rewrapping the guides on an "old but good" rod. Perfect your wrapping skill there and take on a whole rod. Even if you don't want to get that involved, it's really nice to have people look at the butt wrap on your rods and drool!!

Roanoke River Striped Bass
It’s that time of year in North Carolina. Stripped bass, rockfish, green backs – whatever the local name, the spawning run is making its way north from river to river. Along with many other rivers up and down all three U.S. coasts, the Roanoke River is bursting at the seams with stripers.

Line Size Makes a Difference
You can catch more fish on smaller line if you know how to do it!

Gifts Under 15 Dollars
Here are gifts for the holidays for all those saltwtaer anglers. These are gifts that are under $15.00. Great stocking stuffers!

Let's Catch Some Sheepshead
Got your bait? Got your tackle? Ready to go? Ok! Lets get crackin' on those sheepshead! One reader did ask last week whether these were Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus), or the California variety (Semicossyphus pulcher). These that I am writing about are the former, the Atlantic variety.

How to Catch a Gag Grouper
Gag grouper are the most common grouper up and down the east coast of the US. Here is a profile on gag grouper

Grahham and the Whale
A braggin Board to post all those fishing pictures you want everyone to see!

Steve York and His 628lb Shark
thresher shark steve york maine fishing shark fishing

Sebastian Inlet Snook
Sebastian Inlet is located about half way down Florida's East Coast. It is the only inlet from the Atlantic to the Florida Intracoastal Waterway for many miles in both directions, and as such, it becomes a gathering place for both baitfish and predator fish. And on September 1, every year it also becomes a gathering place for snook fishermen.

Penn Slammer 460 Spinning Reel
The Penn Slammer 460 is one of Penn's top spinning reels with six ball bearings and an all metal housing.

Shrimping Season
Dog days mean hot, sultry afternoons that more often than not end up with rain. They also mean that shrimp are on the run, and recreational shrimping can help cool off those hot days.

Buy a Boat
Someone once said that the two happiest days of a man's life are (1) when he buys a boat, and (2) when he sells that boat. Buying a fishing boat.

Fishing Under a Float
Fishing under a float is easy and can be very productive if you know the basics.

Gulf Grouper Fishing
Fall is time for gag and red grouper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Savvy anglers catch limits every day.

Fiddling for Bait
So it was that we devised a way to catch our own bait this particular day. We actually drew up plans and constructed a method that we had both heard about but never attempted. We were going to catch our weight in fiddler crabs! Yes, those little sideways running dudes that roam the sandy flats at low tide were prime bait at this time of year. The sheepshead bite was on and fiddlers were like a steak dinner to them.

Mangrove Snapper
On the Florida Keys, I have a sure fire method to find fish and make even your first trip out a roaring success. You can and will catch mangrove snapper if you will follow this simple method, and the only thing extra you need is a good Coast Guard chart of the upper and lower keys.

O'shaunessy
Hook Gallery of Pictures - Types of Hooks

Do Fish Feel Pain
Do they fish really feel pain, or is this just a hidden agenda for PETA?

Acres of Bait
Catching Bait, Buying Bait, What Kind of Bait to Use, Fishing

Cleaning a Redfish
Here is step by step pictoral that shows you the basics of cleaning a redfish.

In the Chum Line
Chumming for fish will increase your catch. Try some chum next time you go. Put a chum bag over and see the results.

Martha La Marre with Marlin
Martha La Marre and her Kona, Hawaii, marlin weighing 673 lbs

Keep Bait Shrimp Alive With...
A simple how to on keeping bait shrimp alive without water, from your About.com guide

Live Bait Hook
Hook Gallery of Pictures - Types of Hooks

Power-Pole
This anchoring system apparently evolved from the guides who pole their boats, then stake the boat out with their pole to hold it in one place. The Power-pole uses hydraulics to actuate the pole and can anchor your boat in water up to eight feet deep.

So You Want to be a Guide
Here is what it takes to obtain a Coast Guard captains license

40 pound kingfish
Eric Nessler and a very nice 40 pound kingfish caught on the Workingman Charter out of Freeport, Texas

Blues to Take Away Your Blues
The bluefish! Now there is a fighter from the word go! These voracious feeders can either ruin your day or make it, depending on your expectations. Fishing for bluefish is a year round activity. Only thing is, the activity migrates as the fish do.

Abu Garcia Cardinal C3
Product Review - Abu Garcia Cardinal C3

Aberdeen
Hook Gallery of Pictures - Types of Hooks

Gifts Under 100 Dollars
Here are my picks for holiday gifts for the anglers in your life. Thes are all under $100.00.

Not-so-Secret Fishing Spots
Secret fishing spots – some call them honey holes – often get passed from father to son through generations. Of course the reality is that our secret spots probably aren’t as “secret” as we think they are. We may only get to them every few weeks while other anglers visit them in between without our knowledge.

Artificial Lures for Seatrout
Artificial lures for seatrout. I am quizzed quite a bit about how I use artificials to catch trout. While live bait will almost always catch fish, I can usually catch as many fish on artificials as I do on say, live shrimp. And, at the price of live shrimp lately, artificials are far more economical. For around $12.00 I can get enough live shrimp to fish for a day. For much less than that I can buy a lure that I can use over and over.

Mitchell 300X Spinning Reel
I had the opportunity to try one of the 300X reels out on some sheepshead. These fish are hard fighters and on eight pound test line, a five pound sheepshead puts up quite a fight. The drag system works extremely well, as witnessed by many long hard runs on these powerful fish.

Tide Runner Seatrout
I was fishing with artificial lures on a mud and oyster flat at high tide. Normally I pick up a few what I call “tide runners”. These are usually really big fish that feed right at the high tide for about an hour. They are usually also spotted seatrout.

Caine and Ron Sigel
Ron and grandson Caine Sigel with two nice Delaware flounder

Full Product Review Mitchell 300X Spinning Reel
Mitchell 300X Spinning Reel Product Review

Shrimp Boat By-Catch Mean Fish
They are the shrimp boats that spend the night dragging their nets for pink gold. By night they work the nets, and by day they rest and clean. The by-catch from their nets often litters the deck and holds, and it must be done away with to keep the catch pure. So the morning ritual includes sweeping and hosing down the decks, and washing all the by-catch overboard.

All About Redfish
The redfish or red drum has become one of the most sought after fish on the Gulf and Atlantic shores. Primarily an inshore fish, it became popular as a food fish after being offered as blackened redfish in New Orleans restaurants. It became popular as a game fish as more former bass tournament anglers got turned on to inshore saltwater fishing. It now is the target of numerous professional redfish tournaments. Here are some articles and information on catching these beautiful spot tail bass.

Catch Striped Bass
good action with big striped bass up to 44 inches was happening at the Horseshoe (general area: 27200/42820) in upper Delaware Bay by chunking bunker. Other good locations to chunk outsized striped bass include the upper end of 20-Foot Slough (27157/42828) and the north tip of 60-Foot Slough at Loran C 27173/42800.

Tackle Cleaning Tips
Tackle Cleaning Tips. Cold weather and no fishing means its time to go through and clean tackle. Get ready for spring with these tips

Garmin GPS 12
Garmin has put a lot of product in a small package. The GPS 12 is arguably the most popular hand held GPS unit. It comes with a nice array of add on options, including a small plastic console mount and a cigarette lighter power cord to save you on batteries.

Dan Uelk's Mahi Mahi
Dan Uelk's Costa Rica Mahi Mahi - from a Kayak! Dan was fishing with Ralph from Costa Rica Wild Fishing

Sharp Filet Knives
Having a sharp filet knife can make short work of cleaning your catch. Keeping the filet knife sharp is the secret.

26 pound ling (cobia)
Captain Bill and Tommy with a 26 pound ling (cobia)

Live Bait is the Key
Catching a lot of fish means using live bait - it is better than any other.

aa060815a
We left May 26th on the Q-105 boat out of San Diego. John Kline and John Grabosky, two of the best captains around, were in command of a six-day long range yellowtail trip to Cedros and Benitos Islands. Thirty-three people were on board plus the crew; all but three were fishing. John and I were part of the fishing group of thirty.

tunapic.jpg
A braggin Board to post all those fishing pictures you want everyone to see!

Springtime Beach Bonanza
It’s springtime up and down the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and redfish are migrating from their winter haunts on near shore wrecks and reefs. They are moving into the passes and inlets after their offshore spawning, and they are hungry. These big reds work the beach under a school of menhaden, feeding at will.

Edie Burgin Salmon
Edie Burgin and one of her New York salmon

The Versatile Jig
Jigs are the most versatile lure in your tackle box.

Reds on a Flood Tide
Flood tides mean experiencing some fishing methods that are only available once or twice a year. Areas that previously were inaccessible by fishermen seeking redfish are suddenly, albeit temporarily fishable.

Take What the Tide Gives You
I believe that if these people knew a little more about the tides and fish habits relative to the tides, they would catch many more fish. I have places that I fish only on an incoming tide, because I know the fish will be there as the water moves in. I also have places I fish on an outgoing tide for the same reason.

All Knotted Up
Have you ever hooked a fish, I mean a good fish, only to have your line apparently break just when you were about to land him? I have, and it is one of the most frustrating events a fisherman can experience. Most of the time when this happens, if you look at the end of the line carefully, you will find the line really did not break. Rather the knot came undone! And when you realize that fact, you become even more frustrated.

Venting a Deep Water Fish
Over the years I have caught many fish from water deeper than about ninety feet that come to the surface with their stomach protruding from their mouth like a big balloon. Not doing my research, I though it was an air bladder, and while I knew it had to be vented, I never really studied the best way to accomplish the task.

First Boat
I still remember the day my Dad brought home an old wooden twelve foot boat. To most people it was a piece of junk, but to me it was a passport to fish...

35 lb wahoo
35 lb wahoo within 20 miles of Freeport,Texas

Safe to Fish Offshore
I have received a number of questions recently about offshore fishing in small boats. My first reaction to the questions was “don’t do it!” But then I had to stop and think about just what a small boat is and what it is not.