Proper releases save future fish
May 2008
I hate to crawl on my soap box, but what I saw recently on television stuck in my craw too much to overlook. I’m referring to some of the fishing shows and how much stress alleged “professional” anglers put on fish by incorrectly handling them.
Find good water in the ocean
April 2008
Other than a report about where fish were yesterday, the one piece of information that helps offshore anglers locate their targets is knowing where to find water the fish prefer.
Oh, say, can you see that fish?
March 2008
During the past couple of months. North Carolina Sportsman Magazine’s staff has attended boat and fishing shows. At many of them, I’ve noted to seminar students about how polarized sun glasses are a valuable tool.
People later visited our booth with specific questions about sun glasses.
Gentlemen, choose your anchor
February 2008
When it comes to fishing, anglers often need to have skills and knowledge other than casting and retrieving in order to be successful.
Some skills, such as the ability to throw a cast net to collect live bait, are apparent, while others, such as the ability to anchor quickly, quietly and successfully, aren’t always at the forefront of what fishermen are thinking.
Have boat, but will trailer?
January 2008
An apparent increase in the enforcement of state and federal laws regarding towing trailers, specifically boat trailers, in the fall of 2007 was a shocking wake-up call to many fishermen, hunters and other boaters.
Fishing for sportsmen’s gifts
December 2007
Last December I wrote a column about Christmas gifts for sportsmen and the response was overwhelming. Wives, family members and girl friends stopped by the Sportsman booth during January and February boat shows to thank me for the suggestions and to ask I be sure to do it again.
Tides and fish wait for no angler
November 2007
Most coastal fishermen understand that tides rise and fall each day and times change, but they rarely take the time to learn enough to really understand the tides.
A few fall secrets for big macks
October 2007
During the months since I was honored by the membership of the SKA and elected to the organization’s Hall of Fame, I’ve had many congratulations and some good-natured heckling from angler friends.
The latest round of heckling has been to give up the goods on the rigs and spreads I use to catch big fall kings. In trying to appease my friends, here are some of my ideas from over the years.
Honoring king fishing’s pioneers
September 2007
Internet chat boards have been buzzing recently with conversations about several of the pioneers of king mackerel tournament fishing.
It made me think about some of the anglers who got me involved in the sport and were trend-setters when I first began tournament fishing almost three decades ago.
To use live baits or not to use?
August 2007
Before you finish this month’s column, some readers may think I jumped on their breakfast table and sat down in their corn flakes — on purpose.