 >Back to Florida Keys Fishing Reports
Ocean City, Maryland Fishing Report
Capt. Mark Sampson - Fish Finder Adventures
Contact Capt. Sampson at 410/213-2442 or sharkmail@aol.com
Check out his awesome Mako photos at
bigsharks.com
Daily Times
Coastal Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
Last week I got a call from a client who had a
charter fishing trip scheduled with me in a couple days. He
wanted to let me know that he and the others in his group were
all experienced fishermen, so if I wanted to give my mate the
day off, it would be ok with them.
Folks who have fished aboard a charter boat or a headboat have
no doubt seen the mate (or mates), among other things; cutting
and rigging baits, setting out lines, netting and gaffing
fish, dealing with tangles, chum buckets, bags of ice,
measuring fish, cleaning the boat, as well as assisting and
sometimes entertaining the fishermen. Of course these are just
a few of the things the anglers see the mate doing while
they’re on the boat, and for the most part, much of it could
indeed be done by clients who have even just a little bit of
fishing experience. But what most customers on charter and
headboats don’t see are the many tasks preformed by crew
members before the fishermen arrive at the boat in the morning
and long after they left the dock at the end of the day – not
to mention the time spent getting the boat ready in the winter
and spring for the upcoming season.
Because it’s not exactly a “high-paying” job, captains and
mates typically choose to work on charter and headboats first
and foremost because they really love to fish. All the
“getting ready” work they do in the off-season as well as the
long hours of maintenance and repair done between trips is so
that the boat, equipment, and bait will be in top-notch,
trouble-free shape when everything is put to the test out on
the fishing grounds. For most crewmembers, the actual fishing
trips are the “easy” part of the job that makes all the
smelly, grimy, and sometimes backbreaking aspects of this
business worthwhile.
Since most crew members don’t make a dime for all their
troubles until they actually get out and fish, it should be
easy to see how telling a mate in the middle of the season
“hey, the gang tomorrow knows how to fish, so we don’t need
you, go ahead and take the day off,” might not be very well
received!
Besides all the work they do before and after every trip,
mates are a also great asset to have aboard if there is any
kind of problem because they’re going to know a lot more about
the boat and its equipment than any of the clients will. In an
emergency the captain doesn’t need the extra hassle of being
the only one aboard who knows how to operate pumps, inspect
for damage, locate equipment, drive the boat, talk on the
radio, make repairs, and possibly administer first-aid.
Some “experienced” fishermen are of the notion that if a mate
is working the deck he (or she) won’t let them bait or set
their own hooks, net or gaff the catch, or any of the other
routine stuff fishermen do when they’re fishing on their own.
But I’ve never known a mate that wouldn’t relinquish these
duties to any client who let them know they want more
involvement in the operation.
Like fishing reels, diesel engines, and fresh bait, mates on
charter and headboats are integral parts of fishing operations
who assist in promoting a successful catch, help ensure a safe
and enjoyable time, and are a real asset to for everyone
aboard. Whenever someone suggests that we don’t need a mate on
their trip I simply ask them, “so does that mean you’ll come
in the night before and prepare the baits and rigs, stay late
and scrub-down the boat, bleach the coolers, oil the reels,
clean the head, help change the oil, grind some chum, and
anything else that might need doing to be ready for the next
day?” If anyone would say “yes” to that I still wouldn’t leave
my mate behind. But so far - no one ever has
--------------------------------------------------------------------
March 16, 2006
Historically, man has done little besides take as much of
whatever he could from the sea and not worry much about what
he’s destroyed in the process. Technology has allowed us to so
efficiently pursue and harvest marine life around the plant
that we have driven many species to the brink, if not over the
edge of extinction. But just as sure as the good old days (and
ways) are behind us, there’s a lot of new stuff going on these
days that might just bring back at least some of the fishing
opportunities that have been lost over so much time.
I, no less than most other fishermen, gripe and moan when new
fishery regulations tell me that I can’t do what I want to do,
or keep what fish I want to bring home. But I cannot help but
wonder how much better the fishing might be if many (or any)
of our current regulations were in place 50 years ago.
Think about it, what would it be like for us today if our
grandparents had the foresight to conserve our marine
resources rather than exploit them in the way they did? Of
course that was a different time, and it’s easy to sit back
today and say “you should have…” when in reality no one could
have foreseen what the future would hold. The most important
thing we can do these days is learn from the past and work in
the present to make things better for the future. Instead of
always standing around the coffee maker and complaining about
how the good old days are over-and-done, more folks need to
jump in and be a part of the rebuilding process. A great way
to start such an endeavor would be by joining and actively
supporting local fishing clubs such as the Maryland Saltwater
Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) and the Coastal
Conservation Association (CCA). These are two organizations
that aren’t hesitant to take on the challenges of protecting
and improving our fisheries for the future.
Another worthy organization to support is our very own Ocean
City Reef Foundation. Since its inception in 1997 the Reef
Foundation has been working 12-months a year to strategically
position and sink reef building material far faster than
Mother Nature does it on her own. What’s so good about this
outfit is that they are not just working through legislation
to regulate the harvest of specific species of fish in hopes
that, over time, their populations will increase to
sustainable numbers. The foundation is actually building new
habitat as well as rebuilding old habitat that’s been
destroyed over the years by so much commercial activity.
This new habitat benefits not only the most desirable gamefish,
but also an immeasurable number of vital links in the chain of
life that exists off our coast. From the slimy alga and
hard-shelled mussels that grow on the structure itself, the
schools of tuna, bluefish, and jacks that circle overhead, and
every thing that swims, hides or crawls in-between, artificial
reefs create safe haven and an oasis of life that will
ultimately benefit both fish and fishermen long into the
future. To be sure, our grandchildren and their children will
be thankful for the hard work being done today by the Ocean
City Reef Foundation and its supporters. More information
including info on how to join the OC Reef Foundation can be
found at
www.ocreeffoundation.com.
Maybe things aren’t quite what they were back in the good old
days. But if enough people roll up their sleeves and get
involved to make things better, maybe future generations of
fishermen will look back at these times not with envy at how
the fishing used to be, but with happiness that those of us
that went before them had the foresight to help set the stage
for the recovery of our marine resources so that our children
and grandchildren could be the ones who live in the good old
days!
------------------------------------------------------
March 16, 2006 - Ocean City, Maryland - Fishing Report
Historically, man has done little besides
take as much of whatever he could from the sea and not worry
much about what he’s destroyed in the process. Technology has
allowed us to so efficiently pursue and harvest marine life
around the plant that we have driven many species to the
brink, if not over the edge of extinction. But just as sure
as the good old days (and ways) are behind us, there’s a lot
of new stuff going on these days that might just bring back at
least some of the fishing opportunities that have been lost
over so much time.
I, no less than most other fishermen,
gripe and moan when new fishery regulations tell me that I
can’t do what I want to do, or keep what fish I want to bring
home. But I cannot help but wonder how much better the
fishing might be if many (or any) of our current regulations
were in place 50 years ago.
Think about it, what would it
be like for us today if our grandparents had the foresight to
conserve our marine resources rather than exploit them in the
way they did? Of course that was a different time, and it’s
easy to sit back today and say “you should have…” when in
reality no one could have foreseen what the future would
hold. The most important thing we can do these days is learn
from the past and work in the present to make things better
for the future. Instead of always standing around the coffee
maker and complaining about how the good old days are
over-and-done, more folks need to jump in and be a part of the
rebuilding process. A great way to start such an endeavor
would be by joining and actively supporting local fishing
clubs such as the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s
Association (MSSA) and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA).
These are two organizations that aren’t hesitant to take on
the challenges of protecting and improving our fisheries for
the future.
Another worthy organization to
support is our very own Ocean City Reef Foundation. Since its
inception in 1997 the Reef Foundation has been working
12-months a year to strategically position and sink reef
building material far faster than Mother Nature does it on her
own. What’s so good about this outfit is that they are not
just working through legislation to regulate the harvest of
specific species of fish in hopes that, over time, their
populations will increase to sustainable numbers. The
foundation is actually building new habitat as well as
rebuilding old habitat that’s been destroyed over the years by
so much commercial activity.
This new habitat benefits not only the
most desirable gamefish, but also an immeasurable number of
vital links in the chain of life that exists off our coast.
From the slimy alga and hard-shelled mussels that grow on the
structure itself, the schools of tuna, bluefish, and jacks
that circle overhead, and every thing that swims, hides or
crawls in-between, artificial reefs create safe haven and an
oasis of life that will ultimately benefit both fish and
fishermen long into the future. To be sure, our grandchildren
and their children will be thankful for the hard work being
done today by the Ocean City Reef Foundation and its
supporters. More information including info on how
to join the OC Reef Foundation can be found at
www.ocreeffoundation.com.
Maybe things aren’t quite what they were back in the
good old days. But if enough people roll up their sleeves and
get involved to make things better, maybe future generations
of fishermen will look back at these times not with envy at
how the fishing used to be, but with happiness that those of
us that went before them had the foresight to help set the
stage for the recovery of our marine resources so that our
children and grandchildren could be the ones who live in the
good old days !
-------------------------------------------------------------
February 23, 2006
Market-gunning, and
market-fishing for that matter, came-to-be back in a era when
the New-World seemed to possess an endless supply of fish in
the waters and game in the fields, forests, and skies.
Generations of folks right here on the Eastern Shore made
their fortunes by killing and shipping waterfowl, deer and
even songbirds to the hungry markets in the big cities. An
entire industry sprang up to handle the killing, packing,
transporting, and processing of wild game.
Eventually the "inexhaustible" resources
that swam, flew, and crawled around this side of the Atlantic
were becoming so scarce that our government had to step in and
put a stop to it. Businesses folded, and livelihoods came to an
end, but it simply had to be, Mother Nature just couldn’t pump
out game animals fast enough to keep up with the incessant
public demand. It took a few hundred years, but we finally
figured out that certain resources simply cannot withstand the
pressure of being harvested by commercial interests and no
matter who it "puts out of business" sometimes ya just gotta
pull the plug on operations that derive revenue from the
destruction of public resources.
This came to mind recently when I
learned that a number of Maryland legislatures, including our
local Delegate Bennett Bozman have introduced House Bill 853
with the intent of; "prohibiting the use of a hydraulic clam
dredge, power dredge, or other mechanical means of clamming and
oystering in the Atlantic Coastal Bays".
If this bill passes, it will finally,
after way too many years, bring an end to the devastating method
of hydraulic clam dredging in our local bay waters. This method
of harvesting, whereby jets of high-pressure water are used to
blast away the bottom and expose the clams so that they can be
whisked up to the boat via a conveyor, has been liked to
"aquatic strip-mining". And for good reason, the damage done to
the bottom of the bay by hydraulic dredges is complete and has
been allowed to persist even though there’s been a lot of time,
effort, and money put-forth to restore the inshore grass beds of
our precious bay waters.
If House Bill 853 passes it will bring
Maryland up to par with our neighboring states of Virginia and
Delaware who outlawed the practice years ago to help allow the
re-establishment of sub-aquatic vegetation in areas that have
been so torn up by the dredges for so many years.
Imagine if you had a plot of land, which
you wanted to allow to grow "back to nature". All you’d have to
do is "nothing", because over time nature would reclaim her turf
by allowing grasses and trees to fill in and eventually wildlife
that likes to live in such places would return as well. Now
imagine if every month or so you ran a roto-tiller over your
property. I don’t think too much "growing back" would be taking
place, and that’s the tragedy of all these years of hydraulic
dredging in our bay waters
–
where they operate they destroy the bottom and wipe out any
chances that stretch of water will provide the kind of ecosystem
needed by so many marine organisms.
This aquatic strip mining has only been
allowed to go on as long as it has because the scars occur below
the surface and out of human sight. If the public were able to
see the effects they would have rallied to put a stop to it long
ago. Sure, the passing of this bill will put some folks out of
work, or at least force them to shift to other types of fishing.
But while I hate to sound cold, that’s
just the way it’s got to be.
Enough is enough; the time has come to
end the destruction of our bays by those who derive an income
while they destroy public resources. I suggest that everyone
consider contacting their own state Senators and Delegates and
ask them to support HB 853, tell them it’s TIME!
Information about this bill and contact
info for state Senators and Delegates can be found at
http://mlis.state.md.us/.
--------------------------------------------------------
2/19/06
As much as I liked bay-fishing from our 14-footer as a kid,
after a few years of drooling over the catches I’d see coming
off the offshore boats, I was eventually able to talk my
father into stepping up to a 19-foot center console with a 140
hp outboard and enough fuel capacity to allow us to go as far
offshore as the weather (and our courage) would allow us to go
in a boat of that size.
For the next ten years, every hour of the summer that the
weather was right and I wasn’t working, I was in that boat
being pushed around by the same motor. I don’t know how much
time I racked-up on that outboard but I know I milked every
bit of life out of it that was mechanically possible. After
ten years of faithful service the outboard certainly didn’t
owe me a thing, so I wasn’t surprised in the 11^th season when
little problems started cropping up here and there.
Offshore fishing is a passion that requires a safe and
reliable vessel.
Unfortunately for me, even though my boat was in great shape,
I could no longer leave the dock with a high level of
confidence that my old motor would bring me home without
incident. When I finally realized that I was running offshore
on friend’s boats more than skippering my own I knew I had to
make a change. But there was no-way I could afford a new boat,
and I didn’t want to run the risk of buying a used boat and
inheriting someone else’s problems. I also had to deal with
the issue of what to do with my old boat that, while it was
still in great shape, would be difficult to get a good price
for considering it had a cranky 11-year-old motor hanging off
the back.
It didn’t take me too long to come to the conclusion that my
best move would be to keep my old boat and re-power it with a
new motor. And that’s exactly what I did, after 11-years the
old 140 came off the back and was replaced by a shiny new 150
hp Mercury. While I was at it, I went ahead and replaced every
bit of wiring, fuel lines, battery, steering and control
cables. In other words every bit of mechanical or electrical
equipment on the boat came off and was replaced with new.
While some might question the decision to “re-power” rather
than “replace” an older boat, I know that when I was finished
with the project I was never more satisfied with the boat’s
performance or confident with its reliability. And for the
next 3 years I used that boat inshore, offshore, or anywhere I
wanted to go without mishap or breakdown.
After 14-years, I finally sold the boat to help pave the way
for the purchase of a bigger vessel to use for charter
fishing. I still miss that boat, and a couple years ago was
happy to hear from the fellow I sold it to that the 1973 hull
is still being used in New Jersey by the family he ended up
selling it to. Apparently since it left me it's been
re-powered three more times.
The moral of the story is that just because you’ve got a
tired, old, unreliable boat doesn’t mean that you have to rush
out and buy an entirely new rig. Strip it down to nothing but
a fiberglass hull, and as long as the vessel itself is “sound”
(meaning it doesn’t have problems such as structural damage,
rotting stringers, or anything else that might require major
surgery and expensive repairs) putting a new outboard on the
transom or a new inboard motor below the deck can literally
spark fresh life into an old friend that will live-on to
provide many years of safe boating experiences.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
6/29/05
Last week NMFS “finally” came out with the recreational
bluefin tuna regulations. I realize that determining what
the best catch limits and seasons should be is quite an involved
process with many environmental, social, political, and economic
factors to take into consideration. But come-on! It just
seems crazy that it’s not until less than two weeks
before the opening bell that we finally get the word about “when” and “what” we’ll
be able to catch in the way of bluefin tuna this season.
Worth waiting for? Well that’s probably going to depend
upon the platform you fish from. The good news was that the
season is apparently going to remain open from now until
May 31, 2006. But since they set the retention limit for
private boats with an “Angling Category” permit
at only one bluefin tuna per boat, there may not be a whole
lot of incentive for folks to pursue these fish in the first
place. Those who fish from charter or headboats will be able
to keep up to three bluefin tuna per day (no more than one
may be longer than 47-inches) from June 17 until the end
of July.
Even though I’m in the charter business myself, I
can see how some private boat owners might take exception
to the way these fish are being divided up. The only justification
I can see in it is that NMFS must figure that a private boat
owner might have the opportunity to land bluefin tuna on
multiple trips throughout the season, while the typical charter
customer will only fish once a year. Starting August 1st
it’ll be a moot argument because all recreational anglers
including charter fishermen will be limited to one fish per
boat.
Anyway, that’s the latest on this year’s bluefin
tuna season. I guess the word came out just in time because
the first decent catches of bluefin were made off Delmarva
just this past weekend. Fish were taken by anglers trolling
in the 20-fathom zone anywhere from the Lumpy Bottom all
the way up to Massey’s Canyon including the Jackspot
area. Most of the bluefins were in the 30-inch (25-pound)
range but a few anglers lucked into fish in the 50-60 pound
class.
Last week I described the process
for getting the HMS Permit needed to fish for sharks, tuna,
or billfish. To further
that discussion I should note that anglers should take special
care to get the right HMS Permit. There are three options
1) General Category – for commercial fishing boats
only, 2) Angling Category – for strictly private boats,
and 3) Charter/Headboat Category – for those who take
passengers for hire.
It’s imperative that anglers get the proper permit
for the type of fishing they do. I recently spoke to another
charter captain who mistakenly allowed someone else get the
permit for them. That person went online and applied for
an angling Category Permit instead of the Charter/Headboat
Permit and by the time the captain realized the error the
10-day period for correcting it had expired by one-day. He
immediately contacted NMFS requesting a change but was told
that because he missed the deadline that they would have
to review his case and he might not be able to get a different
permit until next year when he renews. If this captain is
not granted the proper permit then he cannot take passengers
for hire to catch billfish, sharks, or tuna and he’s
effectively out of business for a year. That seems like tough
penalty to pay for making a simple mistake!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
6/1/05
This week I ran a few inshore charters on my little boat
with clients who wanted to do some light-tackle and fly-fishing
for the stripers, bluefish, and the hickory shad that are
now so abundant down around the inlet and Rt.50 Bridge. The
action has been pretty good with the best of it happening
during the first or last few hours of daylight each day particularly
on an outgoing tide. The most consistent action has been
provided by the17-19 inch shad which will jump all over small
spoons, jigs, or Clouser flies.
Of course there is no season for
hickory shad in Maryland so the fishing is strictly catch-and-release.
When the action
is good it can translate to a fish on every cast, requiring
anglers to do a lot of unhooking and releasing - and herein
lies a problem. The quickest and best way to release fish
is to use a de-hooking tool that inverts the hook and allows
the fish to fall back into the water without ever being touches
by human hands. But, depending upon how the fish is hooked,
or what lure is being used, sometimes it’s necessary
to actually hold a fish down and carefully remove the hook
(or hooks) with pliers.
I always keep a fish-rag handy for
such instances and when we bring a fish that’s going to be released to the
boat I submerge the rag in water and wrap the fish in it
as soon as the catch comes out of the water. The rag is not
just “damp,” it’s totally saturated and
wringing-wet. The rag immobilizes and protects the fish from
injury while the hook is being extracted. Because it’s
so wet the rag won’t cause mortal harm to the fish
by rubbing off the protective slime layer.
With fish like striped bass that
have no teeth you can sometimes get away from the rag by
holding the fish by the lower jaw
while performing the surgery, but shad have such a small
and delicate mouth so that’s not an option. When working
on or around the snapping dental work of bluefish the wet
rag is by far the safest way for fish and angler. Wrap the
fish up like a pig-in-a-blanket with just his snoot showing,
extract the hooks, and slip him back over the side - a simple
procedure with no harm done to either party.
Ok, if de-hooking tools and wet rags
are such simple solutions to catch-and-release fishing,
what’s the problem? As
I see it, the trouble is that there are still a lot of fishermen
who won’t take the time to handle and release fish
in a manor that best assures the survival of their catch.
Some folks are so intent on getting the fish in, off the
hook, and their line back out so they can catch another one
that in the process they batter and abuse the fish so much
that it ends up dying from the ordeal. They drag them across
stone jetties, let them flop and bang around in the bottom
of boats and on the hot, dry surfaces of cement piers and
bridges.
In my book “real” sportsmen are the one’s
who plan ahead, have the proper tools, and take the needed
time to ensure that, if they are going be releasing fish,
they’ll be able to do it in a manor that provides the
best chance of survival for each one. In other words, real
sportsmen will do whatever it takes not to harm what they’re
releasing, even if means catching less fish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
5/11/05
Fishing and boating can be an expensive
combination. From sandpaper to stainless screws, battery
boxes to butterfish,
trailer lights to treble hooks, there’s so much “stuff” needed
to keep anglers out on the water and in contention for catching
a fish these days that it’s no wonder so many are always
looking to pinch a penny.
Of course, these days finding the
cheapest price on anything from spark plugs to sportsman’s pliers can be as easy
as surfing the waves of the internet, flipping through the
countless catalogues that choke our mailboxes each week,
or making a “road-trip” to a super-mega sporting
store in one of the big cities. But sportsman will also find
that the best price is not always the best value. In the
long run, saving a couple dollars on the initial purchase
might require incurring debts some fishermen won’t
want to pay.
Delmarva has more than enough tackle
shops, marine supply, and hardware stores to keep the area’s
fishing and boating enthusiasts well equipped and ready
for whatever
is needed for a productive season. But in these days of one-click
global shopping there seems to be an assertion that buying
from local stores means paying a premium price. If the catalog
has the reel at $29 and Internet store has it at $26, why
pay $32 at the local tackle shop?
Hey, I’m as much as a tightwad as anyone (probably
more) and spending money I don’t have to doesn’t
exactly help me to sleep at night. But I’ve come to
know that sometimes the couple-or-so extra dollars spent
with a local merchant is well worth the benefits that may
come later.
Look at it this way: Suppose I need
to buy a light spinning reel. If get it from a local shop
I pay for the reel, plus
tax - that’s all. And I have it today. Mail orders
require shipping fees and often there goes the price difference.
If I have a problem with my purchase I can send it back but
I’ll probably still have to pay the shipping fees,
and of course there will be more of a time delay before I
can use the reel. If I buy locally and have a problem I can
exchange the reel right over the counter and immediately
be back to fishing with it.
Buying locally also allows me to
see, hold, play-with, and compare the reel to others before
I buy it. Maybe “in
person” the reel isn’t what I thought it was
from the advertisements and so I have to consider a different
model. Most of the tackle shops will have one or more employees
who are very knowledgeable about the products they carry
and can be a great assistance in steering customers toward
making the right purchase. You surly won’t get that
from an Internet or catalogue sale!
Probably one of the greatest benefits
of supporting local stores is the appreciation and support
you’ll get back
from the establishment you patronize. Storeowners recognize
repeat customers and make the extra effort to help ensure
that their fishing and boating experience is safe and enjoyable.
They’re genuinely concerned about the wants and needs
of local fishermen and boaters because in the long run it
helps their business too. So if they can point you in the
direction to catch some fish, show you how to rig a lure
or bait, or explain how to properly apply a particular paint
on the deck of your boat, they’re happy to do it. It’s
good for you and good for them. Try to get any of that kind
of service from “operator-29” when you place
your catalogue order.
Finally, if you think that driving
three or more hours to one of the “Super-Size Have-All Outdoor Stores” will
save you some bucks, you’d better check the price of
gas first. I’ve got a feeling that the few dollars
that might be saved on a couple items will be quickly eaten
up by the V-8 under your hood.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
5/11/05
In effort to bring at least a slight
inkling of fairness to the otherwise lopsided amount of
media coverage so often
thrown at the high and mighty “glory” fish such
as tuna, rockfish, flounder, sharks, billfish, seabass, and
seatrout, this week I would like to take the opportunity
to highlight a long time resident of our coastal waters that
seldom, if ever, get any respect by recreational anglers.
The “lowly” spiny dogfish
shark (Squalus acanthias) is, for many months of the year,
one of the most available
fish off our coast, but the little 3-foot sharks miss the
masses of summertime anglers by waiting to arrive until our
waters cool off in the fall and then by leaving as soon as
the warm-up begins in late spring. Nobody said they were
stupid!
In earlier times the term “dogfish” as
placed on these sharks because they were often encountered
in very
large schools which, like packs of dogs, relentlessly pursued
schools of smaller fish. Many years of very intensive commercial
fishing has whittled down the numbers of spiny dogfish, but
cool weather anglers can still stumble upon seemingly endless
pockets of them and enjoy virtually nonstop action. Still,
since so few fishermen actually target spiny dogfish directly,
most are caught by fall and springtime anglers while bottom
fishing for other species such as seatrout, seabass, bluefish,
and tautog.
But accidental hookups are more likely
to be received with a frown than a smile by anglers hoping
for a bite by a more “glamorous” fish.
That is, unless a fisherman has actually had the opportunity
to sit down to a steaming plate of dogfish. Those willing
to give them a try will likely find that the fish they’re
hooking by accident are just as tasty as those they’re
actually trying to catch.
When filleted and skinned a spiny
dogfish will provide a long narrow fillet of white meat
that can then be crosscut
into perfect size portions. It can be cooked in just about
any fashion someone likes to cook fish, but folks should
know that in Europe this shark is often battered and fried
to make the popular “fish-and-chips”. If you
like to fry fish, this is the one to use!
Spiny dogfish will be available off our coast until about
the end of May. After that they’ll wiggle their way
north in efforts to remain in water that stays below the
60-degree mark. These sharks can be found on or around
most of the shoals 5-20 miles out and near most of our
artificial reefs and wrecks. They’ll happily snap-up
just about any cut bait such as squid, or bunker but will
also respond to jigs or other deep diving artificials lures.
It’s not usually necessary, but to enhance the opportunity
of catching these sharks anglers can do a little light
chumming by hanging a can of fish-flavor cat food over
the side of the boat. When the sharks are abundant, it’s
not uncommon to have a half dozen or more follow a hooked
fish right up to the boat. Hooking them can then be as
easy as dropping a bait right off the nose of the individual
fish you want to catch!
Spiny dogfish have very small teeth but unlike the smooth
dogfish (or sand shark) the teeth are quite sharp and will
easily cut an ill-placed finger or hand. Something else anglers
need to be careful with are the inch-long spines in front
of each of the two dorsal fins on the sharks back. These
spines are very sharp and can easily impale someone (even
right through a rubber boot) when the fish is freshly caught
and still thrashing a kicking about the deck.
They’ll probably never make
to the cover of a sportfishing magazine, and I imagine
that more of them will always be
caught by accident than on purpose. But despite their low
stature among anglers, the lowly spiny dogfish is an interesting
critter that provides early and late season fishermen with
the opportunity to land good quantities of a fine tasting
fish when there are so few other options to choose from.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
5/4//05
But just before, and right after last week’s windy
weather there were enough confirmed reports of fish being
caught to signify that, ready-or-not, the 2005 fishing season
is underway!
Reports have it that a few tautog
have been taken from the bulkhead along the downtown ball
field, and off the Rt.50
Bridge. If tog are in town they’re probably tooling
about the inlet’s jetties as well. Sandfleas and green
crabs are always the best bait for these fish. Anglers who
venture offshore will find even better tautog fishing over
most of the wrecks and reefs. Anglers should remember that
Maryland’s minimum size for tautog is 14-inches and
they may keep no more than 5-fish per person.
A few striped bass (rockfish) have
been landed off the Rt.50 Bridge and around the inlet jetties.
These springtime fish
typically favor lures, and anglers will find most of the
action comes by casting diving-type plugs, soft-bodied artificials
like “Tsunami” and “Storm” lures,
and white bucktails tipped with a rubber worm. Here on the
coast our anglers are only allowed to keep two rockfish a
day they must be at least 28-inches in length.
A sure sign that the season is upon
us is seeing anglers drifting for flounder in the bay.
An even better sign is
when they are actually “catching” flounder in
the bay. Particularly up in the Thorofare anglers have taken
advantage of some of the nice weather days and found a few
flounder willing to sacrifice themselves for a taste of live
minnow. It’s easy to see why they’re keying in
on minnows – the marshes and other shallow areas of
the back bays are loaded with them. I expect that soon we’ll
start seeing schools of shiners and anchovies moving into
the bay and the flounder might start favoring something else.
But at least now, at the threshold of the season, nice fat
minnows are the ticket to a flounder dinner. Remember that
the minimum size for flounder has changed this year and is
only 15 ½ inches and four fish per person per day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
3/28/05
Setting and then trying to achieve
certain goals has always been an important part of my fishing
career. In fact, as
long as I can remember, I’ve always had some sort of
personal goal that’s kept me both striving for, and
dreaming of landing something that I’ve never previously
caught.
Personal goals can be good for fishermen,
if for no other reason but that they help to keep the sport
interesting.
I know that a lot of anglers will be quick to proclaim that
they never have, or “will” ever have, a need
to “try” and make the sport interesting. And
hey – I know where they’re coming from. But,
even though beginning fishermen will probably have a hard
time understanding this, experienced anglers and certainly
a lot of my fellow charter captains and guides know what
I’m talking about when I say that when we find ourselves
in situations where day-after-day we‘re doing the same
kind of fishing for the same kind of fish, especially if
we’ve achieved a high enough level of proficiency that
catching the fish becomes almost too easy, our fishing adventures
can gravitate from “exciting” to “routine”.
Whether it’s bluefish, bluefins, or blue marlin, when
catching them becomes so easy that it no loner poses much
of a challenge, the thrill of the quest certainly begins
to wane.
Fortunately, once we start getting
really good at catching a particular species, we may only
need to change our tackle
or routine a bit to add a little excitement and certainly
some fun back into our endeavors. Switching from standard
to light tackle may be the easiest and most common way to
spice up a fishing program. Depending upon the species and
location, using thinner line can add an entirely different
set of challenges for fishermen to enjoy. Besides lighter
line, another way to spice things up can be accomplished
simply by switching to another type of tackle. Between conventional,
spinning, bait casting, and fly tackle, resourceful anglers
shouldn’t have too much problem finding a new tool
to use to catch an otherwise common fish.
Instead of switching tackle, fishermen
may also choose to switch techniques. Rather than trolling
for tuna - try chunking,
instead of live baiting for striped bass - try plug casting,
instead of drifting for flounder - try trolling. Whatever
it takes to break from the “same-old-same-old” ruts
so many fishermen get in, as long as it still provides a
chance for catching fish, why not give it a shot? A little
experimentation with techniques might even surprise anglers
by unveiling opportunities to land bigger ad better fish
than they had ever imagined.
Of course one of the most common
goals set by fishermen is to hook and land a species of
fish that they’ve
never caught before. The waters that surround Delmarva are
certainly filled with such a variety of fish that it’s
unlikely anyone will ever catch them all. Despite the variety,
most anglers focus almost all of their efforts on catching
the area’s most popular fish. But I would certainly
argue that there are a lot more fish in the sea, and anyone
who feels that their fishing fun just “ain’t
what it used to be”, might want to consider pursuing
some of the area’s less common varieties. The fish
are out there. Why not accept the challenge and give’em
a try?
To really get the most out of them,
personal goals should be just that “personal,” not set by the standards
of anyone other than the individual angler. Who cares if
your fishing buddies have caught cobia before? I you’ve
never caught one, set it as a goal and go for it! It doesn’t
matter if you’ve never heard of anyone catching a searobin
on fly-tackle, if that’s what you want to do – give
it a shot. An acceptable departure from this course might
be if one aspires to assist other anglers to achieve goals
of their own, like helping a child catch their first fish,
or aiding a senior in a quest to land some of their last.
Sport fishing has so many attributes,
and few anglers would rank them all in the same order of
importance. But certainly
at, or close to the top, of most fishermen’s lists
would be the inherent challenges of the sport. Over time,
as anglers gain experience they will see many of their beginning
challenges diminish, and unless they continually set new
goals for themselves, they may find that so too has much
of their original love for the sport.
As I write this I find myself in
the Florida Keys chasing permit with a fly rod. I know
that if I put a live crab on
a hook and drop it down to an ocean-side wreck I could probably
land one before my time here is up. But five years ago I
set a goal that my first permit would be fly-caught on a
shallow water flat. As it is, I probably won’t land
one this year either. But that’s ok, the challenge
of the quest is fulfilling enough, and each time I miss a
fish and blow another opportunity I have that much more incentive
to come back for more. And at least for me, that’s
what fishing goals are all about!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Fishing Report
By Mark Sampson
3/30/05
Obviously, as a fishing guide I get
to spend a lot of time fishing. Granted, most of my hours
on the water involve looking
over the shoulders of others who are doing the actual "catching".
But having done this for a while, I've learned to accept
and actually enjoy my role in the process. Time has also
taught me a few lessons about what other anglers enjoy in
the fishing pursuits.
The other day a fellow asked me, "Mark, if you had
to choose between fishing for and caching one or two decent
size tuna in a day, or catching a dozen or so offshore bluefish,
which would you prefer?" It might surprise some to know
that without hesitation I answered "bluefish".
But actually my answer had little to do with a preference
one way or the other for bluefish over tuna, as much as it
was about "big fish versus little fish".
No doubt that big fish are an exciting catch that sometimes
literally translates into the thrill of a lifetime for some
anglers. But by the very nature of the beast - catching a
big fish is a workout! Long boat rides that take anglers
many miles offshore, heavy tackle, harnesses, big gaffs,
heavy leaders, big hooks, bait and lures all must be brought
together at the right time and place to make a big fish adventure
come true. Orchestrating such a trip is a lot of work in
itself, if or when a big fish is actually hooked the lucky
anglers charged with fighting it to submission is likely
going to learn a few things about what sweat and sore mussels
are all about. It's not uncommon for me to have customers
travel hundreds of miles and spend thousands of dollars to
catch a fish that, while fighting it, they continually cuss
and swear at, and then part-way through it all hand the rod
off to someone else to finish the battle because they're
too exhausted to do it themselves.
Now let's look at "little" fish
that don't necessarily take so much trip preparation or
such a long boat ride offshore
to locate, that an be caught in a reasonable amount of time
even on light tackle, fish that won't make the anger feel
as though he or she are going to be pulled out of the boat,
fish that with each successive run prompt a cheer from the
angler rather than a foul word, and most of all, fish that
when the fight is done the fisherman is happy, energized,
and ready to cast out and catch another, instead of sweaty,
sore, and ready to go crash on a bunk for the rest of the
trip.
I know that of the millions of anglers
around the world, a good chunk of them would love the chance
to go one-on-one
with a deepsea giant, but maybe because of time, money, or
just the logistics involved in such a pursuit, their dream
ay never become a reality. I guess the point I'm finally
getting around to making is that if just plain "fun
and relaxation" is what someone is after, chasing big
fish may be a whole lot more work than what some might expect.
Small fish might not as easily make the front covers of fishing
magazines or take top dollars in the big offshore tournaments,
but they sure are fun to catch and they won't break your
back or your bank account in the process.
By the way, if you think I'm kidding then come fishing with
me sometime. You can watch me catch a bunch of bluefish and
I'll look over your shoulder and watch you catch a couple
tuna!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
3/16/05
As near as I can figure it, Ocean City’s charter and
headboat fleet numbers over 150 vessels. When you figure
that number represents 150 individual businesses conducting
operations in the area, and the subsequent commerce brought
to town by those boats including sales of lodging, meals,
fuel, equipment, entertainment, repair, storage, and other
expenses paid out by the captains and their clients, it’s
safe to say that there’s a full-fledged and very important "charter
boat industry" in Ocean City.
What’s so unique about this industry are the diversities
of the boats and the captains who run them. Local charter
vessels range in size from 18-65 feet. Some boats are at
private community docks, some in slips behind homes, and
others spend their "off-time" on trailers or in
storage buildings. They may be operated by their owners or
by hired captains, some of whom will run less than a dozen
charters a year while others run a few hundred. All charter
and headboat operators have varying levels of experience
and ideas about what’s the best way to run their business.
Unfortunately this diversity has often worked against the
industry, as independent captains have historically not been
inclined to organize in force for their common good. The
lack of unity in voice and purpose has kept the doors open
for exploitation by individuals and businesses that service
the charter fishing industry.
For a number of years the Ocean City Charterboat Captains
Association (OCCCA) has been in existence for the purpose
of looking after the rights and well being of local charter
captains and their businesses. To date this organization’s
membership has primarily been captains from the West Ocean
City area. Hopefully that’s soon to change.
At 2:00 PM on Saturday March 12th at Crab Alley Restaurant
on Golf Course Rd. at the West Ocean City commercial harbor,
the OCCCA will hold an organizational meeting. Professional
captains from all docks and marinas are encouraged to attend.
The intent of the meeting will be to discuss and plan-out
how the OCCCA can be restructured so that it will better
serve the wants and needs of Ocean City’s charter and
headboat industry, and how its membership can be broadened
to include more captains from other docks and marinas.
This is an opportunity for captains to make a difference
in how the "new" OCCCA will be structured in a
way that it will best serve the needs of Ocean City’s
charter fleet as a whole. Those who cannot attend the meeting
can contact me at 410-213-2442 or mark@bigsharks.com and
I’ll see that their recommendations and concerns are
presented and considered.
On a somewhat similar note, on Thursday March 31, from 9:Am
until 3:Pm the Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service
will be holding the 4th Annual Delmarva Charter Boat Operators
Workshop. This one-day class will cover the business end
of the charter boat business including marketing strategies,
accounting, insurance, business management, research updates,
fishery management issues, as well as Coast Guard updates
and safety requirements.
The cost is $30 and it covers lunch and all educational materials.
Walk-ins will be taken as space allows, but the registration
fee will increase to $35. Registration deadline is March
18. For additional information, contact Rita Baty at 302-645-4346
or email her at rbaty@udel.edu.
I regret that I’ll be out of town on the 31st and won’t
be able to make it this year, but I’ve attended this
workshop a couple times in past years and found it to be
very informative and well worth the money and effort to attend.
Heck - the first-class lunch they serve up is worth the 30
bucks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
3/9/05
I’ve always maintained being well educated about the
different fish we pursue not only makes us better fishermen,
but also gives us a better appreciation, and concern, for
the well-being of all of our marine resources. I found some
interesting facts in a recent draft of a Management Plan
from the National Marine Fisheries Service. Seeing this kind
of stuff coming from fishery reports and publications also
makes me feel a bit more confident that those involved with
managing our resources know a lot more about the different
species that we fishermen often give them credit for.
Here’s a few "fun facts" from the report:
Atlantic Swordfish reach a maximum
size of about 1165 pounds, and are one of the largest and
fastest predators in the Atlantic
Ocean. Like sharks, swordfish must continually swim with
their mouth open to keep water flowing across their gills
to maintain an oxygen supply. This process is known as "ram
gill ventilation" and is believed to conserve energy
better than the more common mechanism used by most fish where
water is pumped across the gills.
Because they do not have the ability to contract, swordfish’s
eyes produce heat when stimulated by the nervous system,
which in turn warms the eye and brain tissues. This allows
the fish to more effectively hunt in deep, cold-water environments
without experiencing a decrease in brain and visual functions.
Atlantic Bluefin are comparatively old when they become sexually
mature and can live to a relatively old age. The oldest age
recorded from a tagged bluefin was one that was about two
years old when tagged and was recaptured 18 years later.
Bluefin tuna from the western Atlantic generally reach a
larger size than those of the eastern Atlantic.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna are able to dive deeper than other
tuna and exhibit very extensive vertical movements. Bigeyes
become sexually mature at about age three and a half and
spawning takes place in tropical waters.
Small Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna will congregate near the surface
in mixed schools with skipjacks and juvenile bigeyes. Young
fish grow slowly at first but faster after they leave the
nursery grounds. Most of the large yellowfins caught by fishermen
are males.
Young Blue Marlin are one of the
fastest growing of the bony fishes. They can reach close
to 100 pounds after their
first year. Females grow faster and reach a larger maximum
size than males. Life expectancy is 20-30 years. Blue marlin
have relatively small stomachs which reduces the proportion
of the body needed for "guts" and allows more volume
for muscles. This translates into more swimming speed and
endurance.
White Marlin have a life span of about 18 years, grow quickly,
and mature females are larger than males. In July of 1995
a white marlin was tagged off Cape May NJ. It was recaptured
off West Africa in November of 1996. The track covered 3,517
nautical miles in 476 days and is the longest recorded distance
for one of these fish. Some of the largest prey found in
white marlin stomachs includes snake mackerel over 28-inches
long.
Sailfish are the slowest growing of the Atlantic billfishes.
The longest a tagged sailfish has gone from capture to recapture
is 16.1 years. Most caught off Florida are less than three
years of age. Adult sailfish have few natural enemies but
studies show that they are sometimes preyed upon by killer
whales, bottlenose dolphin, and sharks.
There is a lot still unknown about the natural life span
of Sharks, but for many species it is believed to be 30-40
years or longer. There are 73 species of sharks known to
live in the Atlantic coastal waters. Compared to other fish,
sharks have a low reproductive potential. Species such as
the sandbar, lemon, and bull shark do not reach sexual maturity
until 12-18 years of age. Since 1962, volunteer recreational
and commercial fishermen, scientists, and fisheries observers
have tagged over 128,000 sharks representing 40 different
species.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
3/2/05
If I’m not mistaken it’s been at least two years
since local fishermen had any kind of scrap with either the
National Marine Fisheries Service or Maryland’s DNR
over fishery regulations. Oh sure, there’s been a few
reports or surveys some of us have disagreed with, and maybe
a public meeting or two that left some anglers a tad hot
under the collar, but nothing like what most of us remember
when we were fighting the "tuna wars" or "flounder
fights". I have to say that, at least in these parts,
fishery management issues have been turned down to a nice
low simmer. It’s been kind of pleasant if you ask me.
But oh boy, do I ever see some dark
clouds forming on the horizon! Recently House Bill 1061
was introduced by Delegates
Cluster and Boteler (both from district 8) for the purpose
of renaming the current "Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing
License" to the "Maryland Saltwater Fishing License" and
expanding the tidal waters in which a person is prohibited
from fishing for finfish without a Maryland Saltwater Fishing
License to include all Maryland tidal waters. The bill is
scheduled for it’s first reading at an Environmental
Matters Hearing on March 3rd at 1:00 p.m.
It’s important that local anglers are aware that if
this bill goes through as it was submitted, it will mean
that, before anyone can fish in the Ocean City area, from
a boat or from the shore, they will have to possess a valid
fishing license. These waters include all of our coastal
bays and the ocean waters extending from the beach out three
nautical miles. License fees are currently listed at $9 for
residents, $6 for a short-term (5-day) license, and $14 for
nonresidents. Those who possess a charter or headboat will
be required to spend $240 to cover six or less customers
or $290 to cover seven or more customers. Private boat owners
may buy a $40 license to cover anyone who comes aboard their
vessel.
I recall back around the late 70’s or early 80’s
when a Maryland saltwater fishing license was first proposed.
Right away our local fishing community drew swords and took
action to block the license. When the dust settled the license
went into effect on the Chesapeake Bay but not here on the
coast. That was a quarter century ago, since then some have
claimed that here on the coast we’ve not received the
same level of services from the state as they do on the Chesapeake
because we haven’t been contributing to the pool of
funds used for improving angling resources.
This issue has already raised the hackles of not only fishermen
but also those directly involved in our local marine industry.
Interestingly enough, this time around I’ve heard locals
touting the virtues of both sides of the argument. I have
to agree that both camps have a list of very valid points.
At this stage in the game I’m no more convinced that
the new license will be a detriment to us here on the coast
than I am that it will ultimately be a good thing.
Right now I think the best thing we can all do is listen
to the arguments while staying conscious of the fact that
there are clearly two sides to consider. Certainly fishing
clubs and organizations will take formal positions and make
it clear which side of the fence they’re on. So will
local tackle shops and marina owners. As with any fishery
issue, everyone will need to look at the "big-picture" beyond
their own personal situation and decide what’s best
for the resource and the industry overall.
A tragic consequence of this proposed license is the controversy
it could create between locals who have opposing views. Hopefully
both fishermen and business owners will study the options,
come to an overwhelming consensus whether or not to support
HB 1061, and do what they must to inform our local representatives
how to vote on this important legislation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
2/15/05
Last June I had a fellow fishing with me who spent much
of the day talking about his 28-foot twin engine vessel that
he had spent more than one hundred thousand dollars on. He
kept it somewhere on the Chesapeake Bay and was really looking
forward to running it around to Ocean City in August. At
the end of the day as we approach the inlet he came into
the cabin and asked me about the red and green buoys stationed
just outside the jetties. He wanted to know how they marked
the channel and what the colors represented.
Now don’t get me wrong, I fully understand that everyone
has to start somewhere and there’s nothing wrong with
being unaware of something you’ve never been exposed
to. But this guy owned and had been operating a boat for
a few months but had no clue what the buoys meant. That’s
like driving your own car and not knowing what a stop-sign
means!
After explaining a little about the buoys I asked him if
he had ever owned a boat before, and he said "no".
Then I asked why he started his boating career with such
a large boat and I was surprised to hear that his decision
was made because he had taken notice that so many people
started out with small boats and then graduated over the
years to bigger and bigger craft. He figured that instead
of wasting his time messing with little boats; he’d
get something with some size to it right from the beginning.
If you ask me, such reasoning was not only a classic example
of "more dollars than sense", but also a great
argument for mandatory licensing of anyone who operates a
boat. It’s crazy that we’re required to take
a competency test and get a license to drive a car or fly
a plane, but anyone with enough money can simply to buy a
boat and "have at it". Imagine how safe it would
be out on the highway if all you needed to drive a car was
to own one. It’s scary to think that someone who has
zero experience on a boat can operate in the same waters
as hundreds if not thousands of other boaters. It’s
no wonder the Coast Guard and State Marine Patrols stay so
busy assisting boaters who have gotten into trouble!
With all that being said, I do acknowledge that at least
here in Maryland anyone born before July 1, 1972 is required
to have attended an approved safe boating course before they
may operate a boat on state waters. But that’s not
the case in all states, and even here in Maryland it leaves
a huge chunk of the over 33-year-old population free to run
our waterways without any formal training.
While I’m at it, I’m not going to reserve all
my ridicule to just first-time boat owners. I’m continually
amazed at how often I see so-called "experienced" boat
owners doing very stupid things with their boats simply because
they don’t know any better. These days there’s
so much activity on the water and so many new types of vessels
and high-tech marine products coming out each season that
all of us need some way to stay abreast of what’s happening
out there.
If you’re like so many folks who have been boating
for a lot of years and think you know everything you need
to know to safely do your summertime thing on the water,
see if you can answer the following questions:
What does a red and green banded buoy indicate?
If you anchor your boat at night you’re required to
turn on a white anchor light, what are you supposed to display
during the day to indicate you’re anchored?
At night, if you see the red running light of a boat in front
of you which way should you turn?
If you’re five miles out in the ocean and your motor
quits, will the Coast Guard come out and tow you back in?
If you’re at the Jackspot and your GPS quits working
are you capable of using a chart to plot a course back to
the inlet? How about a course from the Jackspot to the Hambone?
For anyone who operates a boat, the answers to these questions
should come as quickly and easily as if they were driving
their car down a road and saw a red flashing light at an
intersection. All boaters should know this stuff! With this
in mind, and with the Ocean City Seaside Boat Show happening
this weekend, I strongly suggest that anyone with a boat
or who is contemplating buying a boat consider taking a boating
course before the new season is upon us. Obviously, such
a course will get beginning boaters off to a good start,
but I also guarantee that even "seasoned" skippers
will relearn things they’ve forgotten and certainly
pick up on some things they never knew.
Almost no matter where you live, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
or some other organization probably offers boating courses
somewhere in your area. Whether you’re a boat owner,
a soon to be boat owner, or just a frequent passenger of
a friend or family member who has a boat, these courses will
provide at least the very basic knowledge that everyone who
shoves off from a dock should know to keep their voyage both
enjoyable and safe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
2/16/05
It may not be "boating" season but this certainly
is the time of year when a lot of people do their "boat
buying." In these times of quick credit where anyone
with a name and a pen can get a loan, buying a boat might
somehow seem too easy. But choosing the right boat, among
the thousands of sizes and types available, can be a whole
different story. Whether someone is mostly interested in
fishing, cruising, sailing, or skiing, picking the perfect
boat can be a daunting task. Considering the price of boats
these days, choosing the wrong one can be a very costly mistake
that no one deserves to make.
Naturally, without knowing the individual
needs of every reader I’m in no position to be recommending one boat
over another. But in contemplating some useful advise that
I might impart on the subject, I cannot help but consider
a few rather trite clichés that I’m afraid,
at least in this case, would seem quite appropriate.
"Every boat is a compromise." There are so many
recreational activities to do on the water that there will
never be a single boat designed that will allow its owner
to do them all. A boat that’s great for the bay will
probably not do too well on the open ocean, one that’s
built for the offshore waters will likely have trouble getting
around in the bay. Good water ski boats aren’t much
for fishing or cruising. Some boats will do a little bit
of everything, but no one boat will do a whole lot of everything.
To get the benefits of one feature requires giving up something
else. In other words "compromise." With this in
mind, those looking to buy a new boat should maintain a clear
understanding of the primary use they will have of the vessel.
Such thought will surly help maintain product satisfaction
by dispelling any unrealistic expectations.
"A boat is nothing but a hole in the water in which
you throw money." A overworked saying to be sure, but
certainly one for which beginning boaters should take heed.
The fact is, as steep as he initial coast of a boat may be,
the expenses involved in properly maintaining it can be absolutely
staggering. A lot of boaters eventually come to find that
even thought they can make the monthly payments, the annual
costs involved with such things as maintenance, repairs,
storage, fuel and so forth are just too much to handle. Boats
aren’t like cars that as long as they’re not
used they don’t require much out of pocket expenses
other than insurance. Even if you buy a boat and simply park
it on a trailer in your side yard, it’s still going
to be nipping away at your wallet every chance it gets!
"The happiest two days of a boaters life are the day
they buy their boat and the day they sell it." We've
all heard that one before! Fortunately this love-hate relationship
needn’t exist. Those who start by purchasing the proper
boat, and then treat it right by keeping it clean and in
good working order may come to enjoy owning it so much that
they never want to get rid of it. Those who neglect their
boats often end up with nothing but a big expensive headache
that they cannot wait to get rid of.
I know from experience that there
is nothing like owning your own boat, and with all the
shows that go on this time
the year, buying one couldn’t be easier. But no matter
what time of the season it is, choosing the right size and
type of vessel and also being able to properly maintain and
afford run it is the real challenge and the real fun of being
a boat owner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
2/9/05
Now that most fishing and hunting
are seasons are pretty much on hold for a few months, sportsmen
might want to consider
taking inventory of what’s inside their freezer. After
all, a lot of sportsmen probably started filling their deep-freeze
in the spring and by now some of the bounty is no doubt hiding
under or behind frozen peas, TV dinners, and quarts of Rocky
Road.
There’s another reason for taking inventory about this
time every year. I guess you could call it a little "reality
check" or maybe a "sportsman’s self-ethics
exam" the outcome of which would indicate a lot more
than simply what someone shot or caught over the past eight
months. I know this is getting confusing, let me explain:
As I was growing up my father didn’t inflict a lot
of rules on my brother or I when we headed into the woods
our out on the water, but "you kill it - you eat it" was
something he was adamant about. Fish or game, it didn’t
matter, if we chose to take a life - it could not be for
sport alone. The lesson had to do with accepting the responsibility
to make good use of any fish and game we would take - waste
was not an option.
What’s linked to this moral is the premise that just
because we "can" harvest fish or game doesn’t
always mean that we "should" plant the gaff or
take the shot. Besides the legal fish and game limits, sportsmen
must also assume the responsibility of not exceeding their
own personal limits of meat that they can properly process,
store, share with friends or consume themselves. It’s
a great feeling to return to the dock with a cooler full
of fish or out of the woods with a monster buck. But with
such bounty comes a lot of work in the form of cleaning,
cutting, wrapping, marking, and transporting. And there better
be enough freezer-space when you get back home!
I can’t even begin to guess how many times I’ve
released great tasting fish or let deer walk past my stand
for no better reason than I did not have the time or facilities
to properly handle the meat. There can be a lot of work that
goes into making for a successful outdoor adventure, but
anyone who thinks that the job ends at the crack of a gun
or the thud of a fish falling into a cooler didn’t
grow up under my roof. Operating under the premise of "let’s
just get the thing and we’ll worry about what to do
with it afterward" doesn’t cut it these days;
our natural resources are too valuable for that.
Most sportsmen do a conscientious job of limiting their take
of game. But some get a little carried away when the fish
are biting like crazy or the ducks are falling from the sky
like rain. Anyone who provides "food for the table" must
keep tract of how big their table really is. How many tuna
steaks can the family go through in the off-season? How many
ducks and geese? Can they really make use of more than one
deer? Did you freeze up too many fish? The answers to these
questions are waiting to be discovered on the shelves of
the family freezer. Are you running out of anything, or have
you found packs of fish that have been frozen so long that
they’re freezer burnt and destine for the trash?
Just by taking inventory of their freezers sportsmen can
easy to come to grips with what their annual needs for fish
and game really are. Then, as the new season unfolds they
can fish and hunt accordingly, in a responsible and ethical
manner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
1/29/05
It may seem to be way too early in the year to be thinking
about setting up a summertime fishing trip. But anglers who
traditionally use charter boats as their means of getting
out on the water will find some distinct advantages to booking
their trips even this early in the year that will certainly
be appreciated on the final days that lead up to a charter
trip.
Obviously by booking early you’ll have a better shot
of getting a particular boat on a particular day that you
want to fish. This is especially important if you’re
limited to fishing on weekends. As a matter of fact, in some
instances January is too late to book because some captains
will already have a lot of their weekend days taken by anglers
who booked with them last year. Charter clients will usually
find that Saturdays get snapped up first, then Sundays, Fridays,
and Mondays. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are usually
that last to be taken. So it’s almost always easiest
to find an available date during the middle of the week.
As a matter of fact, I always recommend that anglers who
have the option should book during mid week just to avoid
having to compete with so many other baited hooks out on
the fishing grounds. It’s a big ocean, but it can still
get crowded out there, particularly on weekends.
Because they will have a definite date to work with, booking
early will also allow fishermen to start the process of
getting all their other ducks-in-a-row for that particular
day. Motel reservations can sometimes be difficult to make
the closer we get to summer. Particularly if anglers are
looking to find a motel that won’t require they book
for a 3-day weekend. Having the extra time to find the
right room can save fishermen a lot of money and certainly
a good nights sleep the night before or after the trip.
Of course a lot of anglers will have to arrange for time
off work. While everyone’s jobs and responsibilities
are different, I can’t imagine how knowing months
ahead of time when they will need to take off wouldn’t
be anything but an advantage when coordinating time away
from the workplace.
Friends or family usually make up the average group of 4-6
anglers who go out on charter boats. Whoever books the
trip is usually burdened with the task of finding enough
people to go along and share the duties and expenses of
the charter. Here again is something that if left to the
to the last minute could create unneeded headaches, hassles,
and expenses for all involved if enough fishermen cannot
be found or if one or more of the group bails out a the
last minute. Give yourself time to choose your fishing
partners wisely!
Chartering is always less expensive than owning and maintaining
a boat of your own - but it’s still not cheap. Private
charters can run from $200-$2,000 a day. Naturally some
folks will find it a lot easier to put money aside over
time to pay for their trip rather than try and cough it
up all at once. Knowing in January exactly what they will
have to pay for a charter in July or August should be of
great assist to make sure that the lack of funds does not
stand in the way of an enjoyable day on the water.
Sooner or later you’re going to do it, so why procrastinate
any longer? Pick up the phone, call your favorite charter
captain, and reserve a date for that annual fishing trip
you know you’re going to take. Trust me, if you get
that monkey off your back now you’ll feel better about
the fact that you’re that much closer to being set
and ready for the upcoming fishing season. Make life easier
on yourself, do it now – why wait?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Report
By Mark Sampson
1/19/05
One of the perks of writing outdoor
columns and particularly "fishing
reports" is that I basically end up with a weekly journal
of how the fishing conditions have progressed throughout
each season. But even without looking up old fishing reports
I can rattle off some very basic predictions based of at
least how things "usually" go.
Safe to say that seabass fishing should be hot by the second
week of May, mako and blue shark fishing will be happening
in early June, and by the end of that month bluefin tuna
will be biting in 20-30 fathoms and yellowfin out in the
canyons. Dolphin and possibly king mackerel fishing will
be good by early July and the first croaker will be taken
in the bay before the month is out and they’ll be biting
offshore by the middle of August. Yellowfins will provide
decent action around the Hot Dog and Hambone during August
and September, and plenty of 3-5 foot sharks will be available
5-15 miles offshore.
Of course no such predictions are without a healthy dose
of uncertainly. At least for me, one of the things that keeps
the sport of fishing so interesting is the paradox of very
regular and irregular movements and habits of fish. Just
when you think that you’ve got the annual program figured
out, Mother Nature throws you a wrinkle.
Two years seasons ago we struggled to get the summer underway.
Throughout most of the spring and early summer it was just
plain cold and wet! The rise of water temperatures lagged
behind the normal rate and a lot of fish showed up two or
three weeks behind schedule. It seemed as though summer was
never going to start, and the fishing suffered from it! The
ripple effect carried right through the season. In 2003 about
the only fishing that really shined was wreck fishing for
seabass. We had a few days here and there when the action
was better than "good," but overall - offshore
fishing for tuna billfish and even sharks was way off.
Naturally we all hoped that 2004 would not be a repeat of
the year before, and it wasn’t. As a matter of fact,
last season was darn near a 100 % turnaround. The month of
May issued in summer-like temperatures that just never went
away. Wate |
