The fish covered here can be caught in other locations too. For example, black marlin are regularly targeted and landed off Australia. But when the conditions are right, the hot spots listed below can’t be beat, especially if you’re there at the right time with the proper presentations.

Best Place to Catch Tarpon

• Where: Gasparee Island, Tobago
• When: Fall
• How: Live baiting Spanish sardine or herring

Diehard tarpon fanatics need to add Trinidad to their travel itinerary. That’s because double-digit days are a routine occurrence for guests of the Monsta Tarpon Lodge on Gasparee Island. Located near the mouth of the prolific Orinoco River, anglers often release up to 40 large tarpon per trip, many 100 pounds or heavier. Stout spinning tackle with braided line and circle hooks is the ideal arsenal for these deepwater fish.

With an abundance of bait during the wet summer months, Spanish sardines or herring are the bait of choice. Tarpon are located by spotting rollers on the surface of the green, nutrient-rich water. The tarpon spawn in the deeper channels between islands and return to the rocks and remote shoreline to feed. Trips are scheduled around the prime windows, typically early mornings or late afternoons when feeding is more active. Rising tides are another favorable condition since the tarpon don’t have to swim against the hard outgoing currents. 

Best Place to Catch Trout and Redfish

• Where: Lower Laguna Madre, Texas
• When: Late winter and early spring
• How: Casting Bendback, Deceiver and EP Minnow flies

Sight-fishing enthusiasts need several conditions to successfully pursue their targets: clear water, light winds, bright sunshine and cooperative quarry. For those hunting trophy seatrout and redfish on light-tackle and fly, that describes the Lower Laguna Madre in South Texas perfectly. 

“Late winter and early spring are the best months for big trout on lures,” says Capt. Eric Glass, a long-time guide in the South Padre Island area. “But I prefer the summertime when the winds aren’t as strong and we have bright sun for better visibility. Any tide is good as long as it’s moving. Redfish are our bread and butter here on real shallow flats, 12 inches or less. Trout can be as shallow, but they prefer flats with deeper adjacent water. Soft plastics rigged on a ¹⁄₁₆-ounce jig head are the top lure choice. “Big trout on fly are our permit. They are very difficult to catch and one 28 inches or larger is a true prize.”

Glass starts by stalking reds, but if trout are around he’ll try to entice one into eating a weighted crab fly. Trout-specific flies include weedless baitfish patterns like Bendbacks, Deceivers and EP Minnows in chartreuse/white or olive/white on an 8-weight outfit with floating line and 12-pound fluorocarbon leader without a shock tippet.  

“It’s a challenge to talk a trout into eating a redfish fly,” he adds. “My client caught a 29-inch-plus fish this summer and it was one of the most memorable of the season. If we find both species in an area, I’ll put the reds on the back burner for an hour or so and try to catch a trout. But I’m scared to death of getting skunked so we typically pivot back to the reds,” he says with a laugh. 

Best Place to Catch Spearfish

• Where: Kona, Hawaii
• When: Springtime
• How: Trolling skirted bullet lures

Spearfish are one of the more difficult species to record for anglers trying to complete an IGFA Billfish Royal Slam. That rare accomplishment consists of tallying Atlantic and Pacific blue marlin and sailfish, white, black and striped marlin, swordfish and one of the three sub-species of spearfish over a lifetime. The best chance for scoring the latter are shortbill spearfish out of Kona, Hawaii. Known as Hebi in Hawaiian or chuckers among the locals, shortbill are only found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are a consistent catch among the charter and private boats fishing the calm, lee side of Hawaii’s Big Island.  

Sleek, acrobatic and strong for their size, Kona’s spearfish can get up to 50 pounds but average 30 to 35. If you’re prepared to lose tackle to monster blue marlin or yellowfin tuna in the same vicinity, light conventional gear is the perfect match for spearfish. They are typically caught on heavier outfits, however, which subdues the sport and fighting spirit of the fish. 

Late winter through early summer are the peak times to target spearfish in the Aloha State. Skirted bullet lures with either jets or solid bodies in blue/white or pink to mimic flying fish and squid are the top offerings. 

Best Place to Catch Permit

• Where: Lower Florida Keys
• When: March
• How: Bucktail jig tipped with shrimp

Permit are one of the flats trilogy (with tarpon and bonefish) and the Lower Florida Keys are one of the top permit spots on the planet. Longtime Conch guide Capt. Steve Impallomeni targets these challenging targets from early February through March when water temperatures range from the mid- to high 70s after a front to the lower 80s. Moving water, the last two hours of the incoming and first of outgoing, are preferred. 

“I look for floaters off the flat edges at lower tides,” he says. “The reef lines with sea fans and ledges that hold crab and shrimp are good, too.” 

Tan, white or pink bonefish bucktail wiggle jigs tipped with a fresh piece of shrimp are an excellent offering for permit in shallow water. Small live blue crabs are deadly or Impallomeni will use the largest live shrimp he has if bait-stealers aren’t around. For fly-anglers he ties on a Gotcha in tan or pink or a Merkin crab if the water is deeper. 

Best Place to Catch Milkfish

• Where: Seychelles
• When: Year-round
• How: Flies with large, bushy profiles in green to match the forage algae

Adventuresome anglers looking to tussle with the Pacific equivalent of tarpon should pack their gear and jump on a plane to the Seychelles. Once there, Chanos Chanos or milkfish await those with patience and a 10-weight fly rod. Featuring a long, slender body with large forked tails and equally large eyes, milkfish have silvery sides and white bellies. These toothless omnivores can top 50 pounds and live up to 15 years.

Milkfish are easy to spot on the crystalline Seychelles flats. When feeding, they often tail like bonefish or swim in schools, creating wakes as they move. The heads and collagen-like lips can be spotted as they work the surface. Neap tides are preferred with more uniform water on the flats. New and full moon tides when invertebrates spawn are good also. 

With algae and associated tiny marine life their primary forage, milkfish are ideal targets for the long wand. Since they aren’t predatory, the fly must be nearly stationary on approach. The only initial reaction should be long, slow strips to eliminate slack. Once the line changes direction on a pick-up, a steady strip-strike will seal the deal. Strong, powerful runs and gravity-defying leaps mandate medium fly tackle to win a milkfish battle, which can be lengthy. 

Flies with large, bushy profiles in olive and green to match the forage algae fill the fly boxes of Seychelles anglers. Some patterns add pink or red highlights to simulate crustacean eggs or strands of crystal flash for other tiny marine life. Milkfish can be targeted year-round on the remote Seychelles flats. 

Best Place to Catch Striped Bass

• Where: New Jersey
• When: October
• How: Trolling live eels behind planer boards

Once a near unicorn catch, 50-pound-plus striped bass are now not quite as rare due to a harvest moratorium in New Jersey. Devotees looking to etch a half-century cow mark in the rod blank have a couple options for a release, though. “We now have the best big striper fishing that I’ve seen in years,” says veteran New York/New Jersey guide Capt. Frank Crescitelli. 

“The deadliest method for scoring a 50 is by trolling live eels behind planer boards,” Crescitelli says. His personal best so far is a 52-pounder, taken by that method. “Those big fish are mostly in deeper, open water up to 60 feet. There’s not a lot of structure along our shoreline, so by trolling you can cover more ground and work the bunker pods. It’s all about the bunker. Sixty-degree water is ideal and the big ones tend to stick together. Prevailing northerly winds are best, especially on the back side of the full moon starting about the third week of October.” 

Crescitelli says anglers tossing artificials and flies have ample opportunities for trophies as well. “Working in close to the shore on the trolling motor will offer shots at big fish in the shallows,” he adds. He ties on bunker flies on sinking lines for a quiet presentation and works transition points with bait and rips/eddies. He also keeps one live bait in the water to send off distress signals to feeding stripers. 

Best Place to Catch Black Marlin

• Where: Piñas Bay, Panama
• When: January and February
• How: Slow trolling live bonito

With hundreds of IGFA line class records on its ledger, Tropic Star Lodge, located on Piñas Bay on Panama’s remote Pacific coast, consistently ranks as the top big game fishing lodge in the world. It is also a reasonably accessible destination for those looking to cross black marlin off their checklist. Western novelist and angler Zane Grey is credited with discovering the area’s most prominent underwater feature, subsequently named in his honor. The Zane Grey Reef is a trio of rocky columns that jut to within 125 feet of the surface. Only a short run from the lodge, it intersects a major migratory path for marlin and other pelagics. 

Live bonito are caught, bridled and slow-trolled around the reef to entice a strike. Because of the likelihood of encounters with large fish, heavy conventional tackle is used. January and February are the peak months for black marlin, along with big blues, plus triple-digit yellowfin tuna and sailfish. Grand slams (blue, black and sail or striped marlin) are possible in February. Black marlin are also around in good numbers in April and May.

The post The Best Places to Fish appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Big kingfish can be caught year-round in Key West, but in January and February more smokers migrate south from the Gulf of Mexico. With the right timing and tactics, anglers can catch the biggest kings of the year.

“It’s just so cool,” says Key West captain Casey Hunt, who grew up fishing in Pompano Beach, Florida. “Catching 20-pound kingfish here is like catching 5-pound kingfish out of Hillsboro Inlet. They’re so plentiful.”

And these big macks grow really big. A few years ago, Hunt caught a monster that weighed 71 pounds in his boat. He notes that the same fish, gutted, actually weighed 72 pounds on a fish house scale. In a fairly recent Key West Kingfish Mayhem Open Tournament, the winning fish came in at 51.7 pounds; seven other kings topped 41 pounds.

Kingfish Haven

Capt. Ron Mitchell, a well-known Florida angler who has fished Key West king mackerel tournaments for nearly 30 years, has caught many kings over 50 pounds, including a 63-pounder. He also got a firsthand look at a 78.66-pounder caught by another tournament team in 2015.

“There’s so much life there [in Key West], why would the fish leave?” says Mitchell, a member of the Southern Kingfish Association Hall of Fame. “It’s a big old ecosystem that’s holding tons of fish. It just seems like they get a little bigger and maybe they’re feeding a little differently, there are more in an area this time of year.”

Mitchell also thinks that improvements in boats, motors, electronics and tackle contribute to the increase in the number of big kingfish caught in Key West. For example, his boat Bandit, with quad 400-horsepower outboards, allows him to cover much more water. Mitchell says it takes him one hour to get to spots that used to take him three hours, allowing him to fish longer. His boat features six livewells, each with two pumps in case one pump breaks or if he wants to increase water flow to accommodate hundreds of baits.

Smoker Kingfish Tactics

To target big kings, Mitchell emphasizes making the extra effort to select the liveliest baits. “I tell my guys to always find the best baits in the livewell. Look in there and find that bright-eyed, crisp blue runner or goggle-eye or speedo or whatever and put him out. He’ll get hit quicker than anything you’ve got in your spread,” he says.

Hunt uses his Simrad sounder to find bait and slight changes in water temperature. He also uses CMOR mapping on his multifunction display to find wrecks and other structure. “Sometimes the current hits the reef differently and there’s bait that’s balled up there,” he says. “Sometimes the water will get really cold, and when you find it bump up a little bit, even if it changes a half a degree, it can mean fish there.”

Winter weather also plays a role as front after front rolls through. “If you go down there for a week, you’re going to have a couple good days and you’re going to have a couple horrible days,” Mitchell says. Before the front arrives, the kingfish start feeding, and then they shut down. After the front passes and the weather calms the fish start eating. “But I always think that if you put a beautiful bait in front of a kingfish, no matter what’s going on — they might not even be hungry — they see that thing and they’ve got to hit it.”

Finding Key West King Mackerel

Hunt, who runs CN-It Adventures, charters with his 26-foot Twin Vee and also guides anglers on their personal boats. He catches most of his big winter kings about 40 miles south of Key West along a ledge that drops from 60 to 120 feet.

“The bait is holding right where the ledge starts to drop down, and the kingfish are shooting up to eat the bait,” Hunt says, adding that yellowtail snappers also hang on that ledge. “You can fish for yellowtails there as well and hook a big kingfish. Someone caught a 61-pound king on a 12-pound outfit while yellowtailing. There are plenty of wahoos there, too, when the water is clean.”

Mitchell adds that most of his prime spots lie 40 to 45 miles out of Key West. Among his favorites include Tail End Buoy, the Rockpile, the Rocket, the Critter, eastern and western Dry Rocks, Cosgrove Shoals and the current hotspot, the Banana Bar.

Kingfish Tackle and Bait

When targeting big kings, Hunt prefers a 3- to 5-pound live blue runner (his 71-pounder ate a runner) or yellowtail snapper. He bump-trolls the baits, taking the engines in and out of gear to keep the bow edging forward, and fishes only three flat lines at a time. He staggers the lines 30, 60, and 100 feet behind the boat. “The bite is so fast and furious; if the fish are there, they’re going to eat,” he says. There’s no waiting around.”

He doesn’t employ a downrigger line, usually a popular tactic for kingfish anglers, because a deep bait mostly likely will catch a black grouper (grouper season is closed most of the year), an amberjack or a jack crevalle.

Read Next: King Mackerel Fishing Tips

Mitchell prefers to fish five lines: a big runner or bluefish 300 feet behind the boat, two flat lines, and two downrigger lines at different depths. However, when seas grow rough, he might not even set two baits. And when the bite goes off: “You throw a bait out the back of the boat, and it gets hit immediately. It can get that good.”

Like many kingfish tournament anglers, Hunt uses very light drag settings. Still, his 71-pounder took only 10 minutes to land. “We let them zip out 200 yards of line and wear themselves out, then we go after them with the boat,” he says. But even if a king bites through the leader or otherwise breaks off, chances are the fertile Key West waters will deliver many more opps to smoke one.

The post Winter Hotspot: Key West Kingfish appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

I’ll never forget my first kiss, the first time I got punched in the face or my first blackfin tuna on a jig. During winter 2006, I heard a rumor that Hatteras skipper Scott Warren was catching blackfin tuna on vertical jigs. In those days, few people fished Hatteras in winter, hardly anyone used vertical jigs and big blackfin were an anomaly. A few phone calls later, I was scheduled to fish on Warren’s legendary Big Tahuna.

Windblown and sea-smacked in the cold months, Hatteras is a seasonal ghost town. The tourists have long since left the isolated island off the coast of North Carolina, most of the charter boats are perched on blocks or visiting southern seas, and even the commercial fishing fleet is quiet.

The parking lot at Teach’s Lair Marina was empty that February morning when I pulled in a few hours before dawn. Only one boat was lit up at the dock, diesel engines already rumbling. I struggled to make out the faces of Warren and mate Kenny Koci (who later captained Big Tahuna) wrapped in sweatshirt hoods.

A few minutes later, Big Tahuna‘s anglers for the day piled onto the boat, and we were off through the pre-dawn twilight.

Known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Hatteras Inlet is no joke any season of the year. Winter is especially exciting. In addition to howling winds, a strong Gulf Stream current and huge rollers, the days are short and temperatures can be frigid. We started the day layered in fleece and nylon.

The 50-foot sportfisher rolled through the slop without complaint, carrying us to the fishing grounds — a series of seamounts that the locals call “rocks,” 22 miles southeast of Hatteras Inlet. Shortly after we passed over the color change from dirty-green inshore water to the deep-blue Gulf Stream, Warren slowed the boat, and the party emptied out of the comfort of the cabin.

Fishing Vertical Jigs for Blackfins

Big Tahuna motored in circles while the captain watched the fish finder. Six anglers lined the covering boards, 6-foot rods dangling foot-long metal jigs over the side. We waited for the signal to drop the lures as the boat rocked in the choppy seas. A sharp wind drove whitecaps into the side of the boat, dousing those in the cockpit with showers of warm spray on a cold day.

“Try this, six colors!” Warren called from the bridge. Six colors equates the depth at which he marked fish on the sonar to the regular changes in color on our braided lines. I flipped my high-speed conventional reel out of gear and watched the color on the depth-indicator line change six times, knowing that each color measures 30 feet.

I kicked the reel into gear and started jigging. Sticking the rod butt under my left arm, I turned the reel handle as fast as possible while jerking the rod tip. Three jerks into my retrieve, the jig was whacked in a fierce strike.

The slight rod tip bent to the water as line shredded off the spool. I moved the rod butt to my lower gut as the fish made its first run. When the line slowed, I began to retrieve. The fish continued to buck and run while I used every resource to gain line. As I jammed the rod above my groin, my forearm burned, and every run produced grunts and groans as the fish beat my ass.

One by one, the other anglers had hooked fish and now struggled similarly to gain line. In minutes, we were bobbing and weaving through crossed lines and quickstepping to stay standing. Koci raced from angler to angler while Warren called the dance from the bridge.

By the time I spotted the first silver flash of my tuna 10 feet below the boat, the whole bunch were cursing and laughing while slipping and sliding. Koci moved in to gaff my 20-pound blackfin and flip it into a fish box already bloody with spastic tuna.

The protocol was repeated for the next five hours. Make a drop; hook a burly blackfin; fight for your fish; dance, slide, yell and holler. The beefy blackfin were a perfect match for our medium-action jigging gear. The fish box began to fill up amid the fast-and-furious action. Bouncing around the mosh pit had me sweating and peeling off layers.

By the end of the day, the winds calmed and the chop turned to a rolling swell. Warren turned Big Tahuna toward Hatteras, and the crew ­shuffled into the cabin to lick wounds. I sported purple-and-black bruises; every muscle ached, and my hands were hamburger. I felt great.

Blackfin Tuna in the Atlantic Ocean

Blackfin tuna are the smallest member of the genus Thunnus (the true tunas: bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye and others); the world record stands at 49 pounds, 6 ounces, taken off Marathon, Florida, in 2006. The North Carolina state-record blackfin, taken in 2011, weighed 40 pounds, 11 ounces.

They might smaller than other tunas, but they’re prolific and tasty. Each winter, blackfin gather in the warm Gulf Stream water as it swirls over the rocky edge of the Continental Shelf, gorging on huge clouds of baitfish caught in the considerable current.

Also during winter, the cold Labrador Current pushes down the Atlantic coast from the north, colliding with warm, clear Gulf Stream water from the south. Where the two currents meet, the water temperature can differ up to 20 degrees.

On the cold side of the break, the water is dark, dirty green; the warm side appears clear blue. The current and waves are calmer on the cold side. In the stream, the current can run to 4 knots, whipping the sea into a frenzy.

Where the Gulf Stream pushes over offshore rocks and ledges, bait and predators line up to play out the food chain. Amberjack, false albacore (little tunny) and huge sharks mix in the melee, in addition to blackfin tuna. Amberjack and albacore put up a good fight, but they aren’t locally favored for eating. Most are released.

To avoid sharks, tuna anglers need to work fish to the boat quickly. That can be tough to do with a blackfin as they pull and run without mercy. Dally on the retrieve, and a man‑eater will eat the tuna.

Tuna in Changing Conditions

As Hatteras boats explored the winter blackfin bite, they discovered more than one way to skin that cat. Over the past 20 years, blackfin jigging has waxed and waned. Some years, the bite is hot; other years, it’s cold.

Changing conditions also affect how anglers target tuna. Capt. Andy Piland on Good Times, a custom 47 Carolina sport-fisher, has made a science of catching blackfin tuna. His former partner Capt. Tim Hagerich, who now owns Black Pearl Charters, insists: “You have five ways to catch a blackfin, and you’d better be ready to use each.” On any given day, Hatteras skippers might troll ballyhoo, work a greenstick, fly a kite, drop jigs or throw topwaters.

Fishing over the years, I’ve done it all with these captains. Sometimes we fish three or four tactics in one day. Changing tactics allows the crew to stay on the blackfin bite through winter and into spring. As the season progresses, the tuna seem to get more finicky.

Early in winter, blackfin feed deep in the water column, where a vertical jig matches the menu. The best jig bite starts in January and runs through March, when the water is dingier.

Read Next: Tunas of the World — An Illustrated Guide

In early spring, the water over the rocks clears and the fish turn their attention to chasing flying fish, and local skippers switch to trolling baits. While jigging for blackfin tuna has a certain maso­chis­tic appeal, the biggest fish often come to a trolled bait. “We catch blackfin up to 30 pounds trolling, when they won’t bite the jig,” Hagerich says. “The tuna will jump clear out of the water to grab a flying fish 5 feet in the air.” The key to fooling the tuna is getting a bait into the air.

“When it’s rough as hell, we catch blackfin on ballyhoo,” Hagerich says, trolling Sea Witches with medium ballyhoo at 6 knots so the lures leap and splash from wave to wave. When it’s calm, the fish respond to a rubber squid dangling from a greenstick. By late May, the water is clear and warm, and the blackfin become pickier. “The kite works best in the clearest water,” Hagerich explains.

Suspending two rubber flying fish from the kite line is the sneakiest way to fool blackfin. Hagerich cites many days when he spent hours jigging, trolling ballyhoo, and even fishing the greenstick until the crew put up the kite, and trophy blackfin suddenly exploded out of the water.

Battling a Monster Blackfin Tuna

Excited by the prospect of a near-world-record-size blackfin, I enthusiastically jumped aboard Good Times. Riding in the bridge, my teeth clenched tight and hands gripped the hardtop as Piland navigated the boat through the shallow shoals and crashing breakers of Hatteras Inlet.

Like professional guides, weekend warriors can’t pick their days, so I found myself rolling and pitching an hour and a half to the fishing grounds. Choppy, windswept rollers are tough on fishermen, but tuna treat rough water like an amusement park as they leap out of the water, chasing flying fish through the air.

Seconds after Piland slowed the boat, Hagerich deployed a dozen rods pulling Sea Witches with ballyhoo. In minutes, chunky blackfin began exploding on the baits. Piland continued to troll as line after line went down. Before he pulled back the throttles, most of the rods were bent over and bucking.

While the anglers cranked in big blackfin, Hagerich worked to keep the lines straight, gaffing fish and rigging baits. When I spotted tuna skying out of the water 10 yards off the stern, Hagerich grabbed a hefty spinning rod and shoved it into my hands. “Cast!” he ordered.

I launched the popper off the stern, somehow managing to clear the lines, outriggers, teasers and halyards. The 8-inch popper splashed down in the middle of the tuna air show. I pulled the rod and cranked the handle. The plug chugged, throwing a cup of water. I cranked; the lure popped again. On the third turn of the handle, a burly tuna flew out of the water to descend on the plug.

Excited, I hauled back on the rod — and yanked the plug out of the tuna’s mouth. “You got to let him take it,” Piland said, laughing from the bow. Feeling the pressure of 16 eyes watching my moves, I chugged the plug again, and the fish attacked.

This time, I slowed and dropped the rod tip to the fish. The line came tight, but I gave the fish a breathless pause before lifting the rod and putting on the pressure. The blackfin responded with another blistering run, jabbing the rod butt into my armpit and forcing me to cross the deck until my thighs slammed into the covering board.

The rest of the crew cleared the trolling lines, leaving me to battle a big blackfin tuna. As Hagerich shouted orders, Piland worked to keep the boat straight and my line in the clear. I put on the pressure, wedging the rod butt into my groin and stretching my forearms for maximum power to winch the stubborn fish from the depths. I got my first good look at the beefy tuna at the same time the fish had its first good look at me. My muscles had redlined, but the tuna found more fight in the tank; it turned and rushed for the darkness, line again disappearing from the reel.

Eventually, with the silver-and-black missile boatside, Hagerich reached out with the gaff, and swung a 25-pound blackfin tuna over the gunwale and into the fish box. My arms were like Jell-O and pudding filled my legs as the tuna continued to kick its tail like a jackhammer until the lid was closed. Piland quickly pushed the throttles forward, and Hagerich deployed the rigs.

No rest for the weary, but there’s no better way to stay warm in winter off Hatteras than pulling on blackfin tuna.

About the Author
Ric Burnley is an angler, editor, author and teacher who lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. When he isn’t fishing or writing, he’s in the classroom teaching at-risk teenagers that the pen is mightier than the sword.

The post Catch Big Blackfin Tuna Off Hatteras appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Determined to test the legendary winter wahoo fishing out of Venice, Weston and I had been planning this trip for more than two years. We struggled to find fishable weather during the short time window of January and February, when big wahoo are found at Gulf of Mexico oil rigs some 15 to 30 miles off Venice.

Deepwater Rigs in Sight

Finally, Mother Nature was on our side, with a forecast of 2- to 3-foot seas. As we crossed into the Gulf through the Southeast Pass of the Mississippi River, a significant chop, seemingly left over from the previous week of windy conditions, greeted us.

Nonetheless, the ride in the high-bow catamaran was surprisingly comfortable, and with four 300-hp Yamahas pushing the boat at a cruising speed of 45 knots, we found ourselves approaching the first rigs within 30 minutes once outside the mouth of the Mississippi.

We found conditions marginal for wahoo at those first rigs, with greenish-brown water at 58 degrees F. Wahoo normally appear around Gulf rigs where water temperatures run at least 62 degrees and less than 86. Within that range, significant temperature breaks attract wahoo, which often frequent the colder side of such breaks.

“I look not only for temperatures more than 60 degrees,” McKnight says, “but also signs of baitfish on the big Simrad sounder. Some rigs are better at holding wahoo than others, so I spend most of my time on those.”

Despite the cool water at the first rig, McKnight felt it was worth a shot, and we set out a trolling spread consisting of two 30-wide Shimano Tiagras and two Shimano Talica II 25s, all spooled with 60-pound braid and 100-pound mono top shots. The skipper ran Rapala X-Rap Magnums, deep divers designed to reach 25 to 30 feet at 7 to 8 knots.

Most large diving plugs with large lips, designed to run consistently deep, will catch wahoo in the Gulf off Venice. Many pros favor Rapala X-Rap Magnum 30s, as does McKnight. “I find that these perform most consistently in catching wahoo here,” he says. Other popular diving lures include Mann’s Stretch 25+ and 30+, Bomber’s Saltwater Grade Certified Depth, Nomad DTX Minnow, and Yo-Zuri’s Sashimi 3-D Magnum.

Got Jacks? Move On!

It seemed that McKnight’s hunch paid off when, during the second pass, we hooked a fish that made a spirited run, though not with the characteristic drag-melting pace of a wahoo. After a 20-minute tug of war, we released a bicep-building brute of a jack crevalle, a good 30 pounds. We quickly cranked in the lures and moved on to try several more rigs with little success.

When we moved to rigs farther offshore, we found water conditions that were significantly better. Water temperatures here were around 68 degrees and offered the clear, deep-blue color we had hoped for. As we rolled up on a high, narrow rig, McKnight pointed to the depth finder, saying, “That’s what we’re looking for.” Lighting up the screen were long, slender images of fish stacked like cordwood in 80 to 150 feet of water.

As soon as our plugs passed the first leg of the rig, the right long rod whipped down and began vibrating violently as the reel screamed, the mono top shot disappearing in an instant.

I jumped from the back of the center console, where I’d been leaning, to grab the rod from the right gunwale holder, then watched braid melt away — 100, 200, 300 and approaching 400 yards. I glanced back at McKnight, a quizzical look on my face, silently asking if we might have to chase down this fish. The captain, with the calm voice of experience, said: “That’s a nice fish! Let’s get him away from the rig.”

Day’s First Wahoo is a Whopper

McKnight sped up slightly, angling away from the rig, until we had cleared the fish. Pulling fish at a slight angle away from the structure keeps them from reacting violently, as they’re likely to do when pulled at a severe angle away from the path they’re swimming.

McKnight’s maneuver kept the line pressure moving the fish’s head away from the rig and discouraged it from swimming into rig structure and cutting the line. Once we’d coaxed it away from the sharp legs of the platform, it was up to me. As I regained line, I could feel the strength and weight of the fish. Knowing wahoo are famous for vicious head shakes, and that they can easily unbutton themselves from treble hooks on plugs, I tried to bring the fish to the boat as smoothly as possible.

I could not imagine this fish having the energy to do anything more after the long first run of the fight. After 15 minutes, I had it within 100 yards. I thought the end was in sight, but the wahoo had other ideas, and scorched another run of 150 yards or so.

But this run proved different from the first, neither as fast nor as sustained; I could tell the fish was wearing down. With the same steady pressure, I continued to gain line until the wahoo appeared from the depths, about 5 feet from the boat. McKnight smoothly gaffed the fish and, in a single motion, lifted it over the rail.

Break Out the Bright Lures

On the second pass by the same rig, we hooked up again and landed another wahoo around the century mark, which hit the deck and found its way to an ice bath in the fish box. The skipper decided to change the trolling setup slightly, adding a pink Yo-Zuri Bonita on the right short.

Heavy, lipless, fast-vibrating lures like the Bonita and the Braid Marauder are designed to troll at a wide range of speeds, and McKnight wanted to give the wahoo a slightly different presentation with a tightly vibrating lure in the spread. Pulled on a spread close to the boat, just outside the prop wash, such lures make a great complement to long lines pulling lipped lures.

Capt. McKnight says: “Generally the brightest colors catch the most fish. It’s best to vary color patterns and types of lures to find the most effective combinations. If you’re in an area where you’re marking fish or where you know wahoo frequent due to current and structure, don’t be afraid to change color and lures to find what works best.”

At the end of the day, the long lines with Rapalas and similar lipped plugs caught the most fish. McKnight trolls these at a speed slower than I’m used to while fishing for these speed demons. Our trolling speed never topped 7 knots. “High-speed trolling just hasn’t proven to be as successful in the Gulf as it seems to be in the Atlantic,” McKnight says.

When an angler hooks a wahoo on a plug, it’s important to judge how the fish reacts to pressure and, if possible, discourage the violent head shakes for which these surgically toothed critters are famous. When some of the wahoo I hooked that day fought straight up and down, I could feel them opening their jaws and viciously shaking their head. Luckily, most stayed connected.

An Expert Trolls the Rigs Strategically

Combine the experience and skills of a seasoned captain with a little luck, and you can enjoy a phenomenal experience fishing winter wahoo out of Venice. McKnight fishes the rigs methodically. He starts by carefully determining the areas of a rig that hold fish and trolls plugs over them.

“Wahoo are ambush predators,” McKnight explains. “They like to attack from below, so something swimming directly overhead triggers that instinct.”

In terms of where wahoo are likely to be around a rig, I noticed we marked them mostly on the up-current side stayed on the up-current side of the structure. “Wahoo are definitely affected by current and feed more aggressively in faster current,” the skipper explains. He focuses his efforts where the current changes direction laterally, such as around the structure of an oil rig, or vertically, such as around significant depth changes that force currents upward.

We trolled around several other rigs without any action before returning to the rig where we had caught the largest fish of the day. As the Simrad “chirped” away, images of the wahoo we had seen earlier reappeared, though the fish now seemed more spread out. On multiple passes, we failed to get bit, so McKnight decided to change the direction and angle (relative to the rig) of the troll. Sure enough, on the next pass over the area, pulling lures in the opposite direction at a 30-degree angle to the side of the rigs, and passing within 25 yards of the up-current leg, we hooked up to wahoo and even some bycatch — a nice yellowfin tuna.

End of a Great Trip

Weston and I ended up with a fish box full of wahoo. One unusual aspect of our trip was an almost unheard-of 100 percent success rate in landing hooked fish. The trip back to the dock was quick. We made it back to the Southeast Pass of the Mississippi in 30 minutes, cruising at 48 knots. Unfortunately, we hit something just under the surface while running, knocking out the lower unit on one of the four outboards. The boat still made great time on three engines.

The great staff at Venice Marina cleaned our fish, setting aside a few wahoo steaks. We took them upstairs to the restaurant, where the chef grilled the wahoo to perfection — a fitting culmination to a fantastic day of winter wahoo fishing in Venice.

Tips for Planning a Winter Wahoo Trip to Venice

Give Yourself Time

The key to fishing in the winter, with the weather so unpredictable and many days unfishable, is to be flexible. I had cleared my schedule to have a six-day period in total to find a weather window. Secure at least a three-day booking with a charter captain in Venice who will target wahoo. We decided to book four days to ensure we could get at least two fishable days.

Look for a Package Deal

Venice is rather remote; there are houseboats available in Venice proper (the Lighthouse Lodge is about 10 minutes north of town). Most captains will book a package trip that includes lodging in a houseboat, condo, or one of the nearby lodges.

Stop En Route for Food

There are limited grocery options locally, so it’s best to buy essentials you’ll need before you arrive in Venice.

Stay in Contact with your Captain Beforehand

I called McKnight four days prior to our trip to get an idea about the weather and texted or called every day up to the first day of the trip. Because of unfishable offshore conditions, we moved the trip two days ahead and made it happen. When the weather offshore isn’t cooperating, you can experience some great inshore fishing for redfish. Many captains can substitute an inshore trip for a blown-out offshore one, many times at a lower rate.

How to Bring Fish Home

You’re likely to bring back wahoo from days you do get offshore. The Venice Marina folks packed the fish in flight-approved, insulated containers with cold packs to check on our Southwest flight from New Orleans. We neatly taped the boxes shut to keep the contents from opening in handling and flight. However, the TSA folks dismissed our handiwork, cutting the tape to check out the contents. We couldn’t talk them out of it, but they were kind enough to retape the containers. If you plan to fly fish home, make sure you allow additional time for the TSA screening. For us, the additional time was a small inconvenience for great wahoo steaks we had when we arrived back home.

Louisiana’s Wahoo Season

Areas like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and San Salvador, in the Bahamas, have gained attention for the size of their wahoo, but what about the best bets for wahoo in U.S. waters? A National Marine Fisheries Service study showed that the catch rate for wahoo was the highest by far off Louisiana’s coast, with one wahoo caught for every five hours of offshore trolling. That rate is five times higher than catch rates off the North Carolina coast, and six times higher than off South Florida’s coast.

Venice wahoo are typically caught in the largest numbers during January and February, when they average 50 to 60 pounds, which is larger than in the spring months. You’ll find most charter captains who fish out of Venice recommend January and February as peak months for targeting wahoo, although the fish are also caught with some frequency from March through June, but only sporadically after that, until winter.

The post The Gulf’s Wintertime Wahoo Wonderland appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

With so many great new saltwater fishing boats on the market today, deciding which new model to buy is not always simple. Researching, shopping, and narrowing down the field takes time and energy. Yet, once you’ve made your selection, deciding how to power your new dream machine should prove simple: The top choice among many boating anglers is Yamaha outboard power.

Yamaha’s full line of outboards incorporates state-of-the-art saltwater engineering, quality, styling and integrated control systems, making Yamaha one of the most popular outboard brands on the transoms of tens of thousands of saltwater fishing boats around the world. 

Two of Yamaha’s new state-of-the-art outboard series—the F350 V-6 and the redesigned VMAX SHO® inline four-cylinder outboards—serve as prime examples of how Yamaha engineers and manufactures the world’s most advanced, easy-to-operate outboards. Let’s take a look, and if you want to learn more, visit yamahaoutboards.com. 

Yamaha F350 V-6 Outboard

The powerful new Yamaha 4.3-liter F350 V-6 is ideally suited for a wide range of today’s saltwater fishing boats. “Boaters asked for it, and we delivered,” says Ben Speciale, president, Yamaha US Marine Business Unit. “The F350 is the perfect big-power lightweight option for a wide variety of applications.” 

Yamaha’s new F350 boasts larger intake and exhaust valves than the ever-popular F300, and uses the same diameter electronic throttle valve as the top-of-the-line XTO 450. This is combined with Variable Camshaft Timing, intake manifolds that offer 40 percent larger surge tanks than the F300, and an electronic throttle valve that’s 8 percent larger, all enhancing smoother airflow and power delivery. The compression ratio is 11-to-1, and a new crankshaft offers a longer stroke, enabling more torque at lower speeds. 

The F350 also features Yamaha’s Digital Electric Steering and Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust for more responsive performance when backing down. The use of iridium spark plugs results in more-efficient ignition, and Yamaha’s new fuel-injection control mapping produces a longer injector duration than that of the F300 for more power. A larger oil cooler capacity than the F300, along with Yamaha’s sleeveless, plasma-fused cylinder technology, reduces friction and enhances heat distribution. 

Yamaha’s new V-6 is offered in 25- and 30-inch shaft lengths, and in 25-, 30- and 35-inch for late-stage customized lower unit models. LSC models are equipped with an intermediate driveshaft and shift rod. A new cowling incorporates a water-draining air duct and a new cowling exhaust port combined with a new stator fan to keep everything under the cowling cool. 

Used in concert with Helm Master® EX boat control system, the F350’s Digital Electric Steering provides cleaner rigging and extra bilge real estate. The new Yamaha F350 V-6 also incorporates the same TotalTilt® technology used throughout all of the Helm Master EX-capable DEC outboards. 

The 25-inch shaft version of the F350 weighs 629 pounds, 642 pounds for the 30-inch, and 653 pounds for the 35-inch model. The F350 also boasts a bigger gear case but uses the same propellers as the F300. The new outboard is offered in Yamaha’s Pearlescent White, Traditional Gray, and the new Classic White.

Yamaha V MAX SHO Inline Outboards

Yamaha has modernized the look for the popular V MAX SHO inline models in the 90 through 175 hp categories. The new outboards boast more of the signature shiny-black coloring and an updated cowling style along with new raised graphics, striping, and Yamaha tuning-fork emblems.

“Customers continue to appreciate Yamaha’s inline SHO outboards for their lightweight power, ease of rigging, and suitability to cable-driven foot-pedal acceleration,” says Speciale. “Bass, bay, and flats boaters alike reap the benefits of the V MAX SHO’s incredible hole shot and outstanding fuel economy.” 

The VF175 and VF150 outboards are matched with V MAX SHO® propellers engineered to transfer maximum engine torque for quick acceleration and top speed. VF115 and VF90 models featuring props with Yamaha’s Shift Dampener System eliminate the shock commonly associated with shifting gears. In addition, V MAX SHO 90 through 175 horsepower outboards can use Variable Trolling rpm to allow the operator to adjust the engine’s trolling speed for a stealthier approach when fishing.

Yamaha’s new VF150 and VF175 model inline SHO outboards also now have an added tilt stop lever for ease of maintenance and extended storage situations. 

Siren Connected Boat® System

Siren Marine, a Yamaha Company, and its Connected Boat system allow you to keep tabs on your boat’s location, battery levels, bilge water levels, bilge pump activity, engine parameters, shore power status and much more, from anywhere at any time. The Siren 3 Pro system and the Siren Connected Boat mobile app enable connectivity through a mobile device.

Engineered for boats of all sizes, Siren 3 Pro main unit features built-in GPS tracking, LTE-M cellular connectivity, and works with a wide range of advanced wireless and wired sensors. It also features built-in NMEA 2000® networking that can enable remote digital switching, allowing you to turn on and off functions, including cabin lights, onboard air conditioning systems, and even a gyrostabilizer—to name just a few—from virtually anywhere.  

If your boat is powered by a Yamaha outboard, the Siren app can serve you even more. “Through the app, Yamaha and Siren offer never-before-seen innovation and benefits that allow boat owners to ‘be’ on board their boat even when they can’t be in person,” says Andrew Cullen, director, connectivity, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “The app is designed to put everything a boater needs to know about his or her boat at their fingertips, while also enjoying all the benefits of remote connectivity, security and monitoring.” To learn more, visit sirenmarine.com. 

This document contains many of Yamaha’s valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement. © 2025 Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA All rights reserved. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal flotation device and protective gear.

The post The Power Behind Sport Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Albemarle says that its ­customers explain their ­loyalty in four components: superior ride thanks to the Carolina-style hull; fishability, especially in harsh conditions; unmatched quality in design, construction and components; and solid customer relationships.

Albemarle’s classic, dry-­riding hull with a wide Carolina flare busts through head seas, landing softly in the troughs. Helms provide unsurpassed visibility from within a huge, clear wraparound windshield and enclosure, using superior ­Strataglass and EZ2CY materials.

Albemarle hulls are hand-laid with premium components and processes, including hull-to-deck joints that are fiberglass-bonded and mechanically fastened; bronze and stainless-steel underwater gear and through-hulls; color-coded, tinned stranded copper wiring; heat-shrink terminal connections; and detailed recordkeeping throughout construction. 

Albemarle 30 Express

The outboard-powered 30 Express combines the offshore performance of center-consoles, with a well-appointed cabin (including galley with solid surface countertop, and a sink, microwave, and refrigerator) and protection from foul weather. That full galley, stand-up head and V-berth offer superb comfort. Optional side bunks make for great overnighting.

The helm area has face-­forward seating for three with a captain’s chair and a double companion seat within a standard, rigid acrylic enclosure. A hardtop is optional, as is a marlin tower. Mezzanine-style seating faces aft, where a folding transom bench seat in turn faces forward, framing the wide-open 64-square-foot cockpit, which features a rigging station—unless a cockpit galley is optioned in its place.

The deck contains two macerated 56-gallon fish boxes. Cockpit features include a 30-gallon transom livewell, a tackle center, tackle/storage cabinets with drawers, and a transom door for access to the Armstrong outboard-engine bracket.

Fishing options include ­additional rod holders, electric-­reel outlets, outriggers with telescoping poles, and coaming pads. General options include a Seakeeper 2 gyrostabilizer, a diesel generator, and Flexiteek decking for the outboard bracket, helm, and cockpit. A teak and cherry sole is available, as are underwater lights.

Base power is twin Yamaha 350s with options of triple Yamaha 300s or twin Mercury V-10 400s available.  With Yamaha power, Helm Master EX electronic steering is standard, and the full-maneuverability upgrade is available.

Editor’s Note

The hull of the 30 Express features solid, hand-laid fiberglass, with the stringer grid built from closed-cell foam and encapsulated in fiberglass, tabbed into the hull, and fully glassed in. The transom is Coosa Composite-­cored—no wood to rot. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Yamaha F300 outboards
• Test Props: Yamaha 15″ x 20″ SWS II 3-blade stainless steel
• Test Load: 200 gal. fuel, 3 people, and safety and test gear
• Test Speed: 31.9 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 331 miles (with 10% reserve)

Specifications

Albemarle Boats – Edenton, North Carolina; albemarleboats.com

The post Albemarle 30 Express: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Batteries aboard today’s saltwater fishing boats prove more critical than ever, relied upon to power an ever-growing number of onboard systems, as well as starting the main engines.

While marine batteries have morphed into a wide range of types, sizes and applications, most still rely on the same lead-acid chemistry invented more than 160 years ago. Today, however, advanced ­lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry provides boating anglers with greater electrical power, and your next new boat may well be equipped with this ­revolutionary new technology. 

Marine lithium batteries offer amazing advantages, but they also require new thinking when it comes to cost, installation, applications and charging. Let’s look at how these jibe with saltwater fishing boats. 

Deep-Cycle vs. Starting

Most marine lithium ­batteries are designed to serve in deep-cycle applications, not as starting batteries. Marine starting batteries are purpose-built to crank engines, for the most part, using lead-acid technology, which is good for short bursts of high energy. Most lithium batteries are not designed to produce these kinds of high-energy electrical bursts, but rather lower levels of energy over long periods. So, with a few exceptions, lithiums are relegated to the role of deep-cycle-house and ­trolling-motor batteries. 

Lithium batteries also might damage marine engines if employed in starting applications. And engine alternators can’t produce the special charging profiles that lithium batteries require (more on this later), which means that it is a good idea to completely isolate these new-age batteries from the engine starting circuit. 

Run Times

Unlike deep-cycle lead-acid batteries that taper off in power delivery and go dead at about 50 percent capacity, a lithium battery delivers full power for nearly its entire discharge cycle. If you’re running an electric trolling motor with lead-­acid batteries, the power will gradually fade after a few hours and the motor will lose its initial oomph. With a comparable lithium battery, however, the motor will pull strong for nearly its entire discharge cycle.

Weight Comparison

The most obvious ­difference between lead-acid and ­LiFePO4 batteries is weight. For example, a 31-series lead-­acid deep-cycle battery that offers 105 amp-hours weighs around 60 pounds, while an X2Power SLIL31-125DC-BT 12-volt deep-cycle battery that provides 125 amp-hours weighs just 33.6 pounds. This can make an even bigger difference if, for example, you’re assembling a bank of three 12-volt batteries for a 36-volt saltwater trolling motor—that’s 180 pounds for the three lead-acid batteries versus 101 pounds for the three lithiums.

Weight savings can become even more remarkable because many companies offer single lithium batteries in 24, 36 and even 48 volts, as well as 12 volts. A case in point is the ­Dakota Lithium 36-volt 100-amp-hour battery that weighs just 32 pounds, saving 148 pounds when it replaces three lead-acid 12-volt batteries.

Life Expectancy 

Lithium batteries offer as much as 10 times more battery life than lead-acid systems, some providing up to 4,000 cycles versus 400 cycles for a comparable AGM (absorbed glass mat) lead-acid battery. On the other hand, lithium batteries are more expensive. The X2Power SLIL31-125DC-BT, for example, currently retails for $599.99. Compare that to a Duracell Ultra 31-series 12-volt, ­105-amp-hour lead-acid AGM battery, which retails for about $319.99. Yet, with the greater longevity of lithiums, they pencil out as better long-term buys.  

Charge Times

Don’t try using a conventional charger on a lithium battery; LiFePO4 chemistry requires a special charging profile to bring it back to full capacity safely and without damaging the battery. Many lithium brands offer compatible chargers as accessories, and buying a new charger can run up the cost of switching to lithium. That said, a LiFePO4 battery charges four times faster than a comparable AGM lead-acid model. 

Monitoring Methods

Because lithium batteries ­provide full power throughout the discharge curve and stop cold once out of juice, boating anglers need a reliable ­method for monitoring the state of charge. Many LiFePO4 models resolve this with a built-in ­Bluetooth monitor that connects to an app on your mobile device to keep you informed about available power. There are also aftermarket monitoring systems that connect to the battery and display the state of charge and other parameters. 

With lithium batteries of the past, there were concerns about flammability. However, those have largely dissipated with the advent of reliable LiFePO4 cobalt-free technology. Marine lithiums provide many benefits to boating anglers in proper applications. At the same time, lead-acid batteries—particularly today’s AGM models—still have a place aboard today’s saltwater fishing boats, especially when used for starting engines.

The post The Marine Lithium Battery Revolution appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Over the course of a little more than a year, ­brushless technology has permeated the ­market for saltwater trolling motors. Offering improved efficiency, stealth and ­durability, brushless electric motor technology is becoming available from a growing list of major trolling-motor brands, and appears to be ensconced as the future of electric propulsion when it comes to positioning anglers to catch more fish. 

All of this advancement raises an interesting question: Is there any reason to opt for a ­conventional (old-fashioned) brushed unit when it comes time to buy a new trolling ­motor? No…­unless you’re someone who just doesn’t need the benefits of brushless or if cost is a primary concern.

By removing the friction and electrical waste of a mechanical brush in contact with commutator plates to spin the armature, brushless technology has achieved marked efficiency improvements leading to increased power and decreased battery drain at the same time. Without friction, a brushless motor is also a quieter motor. The only claimed benefit yet to be tested on these new units is improved durability, and that’s only because they haven’t been on the water long enough. Theoretically, without physical contact from a brush, there is less wear and tear taking place during operation.

Garmin, Minn Kota, Power-­Pole, Lowrance and Simrad have all introduced brushless saltwater trolling motors within the past couple of years. They all feature GPS guidance, rugged marine-grade construction, sophisticated technology, and advanced system integration. Here’s a quick look at their features and capabilities.

Power-Pole Move

The Move PV series saltwater trolling motors from Power-Pole feature pivot mounts, brushless motors, GPS guidance, wireless controls, and virtual anchoring. Move’s brushless motors are engineered to deliver power at lower rpm. A super-strong titanium shaft carries a lifetime guarantee. Advanced electronic technology includes built-in GPS navigation with features such as Anchor mode and Active Vector Heading navigation. 

Move PV motors are available in 24 and 36 volts, ­delivering 78 and 100 pounds of thrust, ­respectively. A ­variety of user-friendly wireless controls include a ReelFeel foot pedal, which provides the ­sensation of cable ­steering and the ability to put it ­anywhere on the boat. There are also wireless foot buttons available to activate the Anchor and Active Vector Heading modes. Power-Pole’s ProNav app can enable a mobile device to become the ­trolling-motor controller. 

The PV series is available in 45-, 52-, 60- and 72-inch shaft lengths, and comes in black or white. It starts at $4,999.99. For more, visit power-pole.com.

Minn-Kota Instinct

Minn Kota’s top-of-the-line Instinct models feature Quest brushless motor technology and push-button deploy and stow. The Riptide Instinct operates either on 24 volts for 90 pounds of thrust or 36 volts for 115 pounds of thrust. Shaft-length choices include 60, 65, 87 and 100 inches.

These motors also have beefy composite shafts and pivot points, and the motor incorporates real-time ­battery monitoring with a “time until empty” indicator, which prompts anglers to switch to Eco mode when reserves drop to 20 percent. Features include built-in i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link GPS-enabled guidance functionality such as Spot-Lock virtual anchoring and Drift mode, which works like a virtual drift sock. 

Control options include a GPS wireless remote to drive the motor from anywhere in the boat. Riptide Instinct offers compatibility with the One-Boat Network for easily networking with and controlling via a ­Humminbird multifunction display. Available in black or white. Starting at $4,399.99 for a 60-inch-shaft model. For more, visit ­minnkota.johnson​outdoors.com.

Garmin Force Kraken

Garmin’s Force Kraken ­brushless saltwater trolling motors are engineered with a pivot-style mount for easy installation on boats where bow space is limited. With manual deploy and stow, they offer anglers seamless, wireless integration with Garmin sonar systems, multifunction displays, and smartwatches.

The Kraken features a brushless motor and high-­efficiency propeller to produce 100 pounds of thrust as a 36-volt system or 80 pounds as a 24-volt system. Anglers can also easily install live sonar thanks to a cable-­management system that routes the transducer cable inside the trolling-motor shaft. With the Kraken LiveScope mounting bracket (additional purchase required), any Garmin LiveScope transducer can be installed and operated in all three modes: Forward, Down and Perspective. 

The Force Kraken series includes 48-, 63-, 75- and 90-inch shafts to accommodate most boats from skiffs to larger center-consoles. The included wireless remote gives anglers control of the trolling motor with precise virtual anchor lock, autopilot functionality, heading hold, and point-and-go gesture steering. Kraken is available in black and white, with suggested retail prices from $3,599.99. For more info, visit garmin.com.

Simrad & Lowrance Recon

The new saltwater trolling ­motors from Lowrance and Simrad share the same model name—Recon—and possess the same design, including a brushless motor that operates on either 24 or 36 volts and produces 90 and 115 pounds of thrust, respectively. 

These manually deployed, electric-steered trolling motors boast a unique joystick remote called Freesteer. Incorporating a color LCD display, the remote is lightweight and wearable, providing 360 degrees of manual steering, as well as activation of automatic functions. With the Lowrance version of Recon, the remote can be combined with a wireless foot pedal with programmable keypad and seamless display integration via an NMEA-2000 network. The Simrad version grants full ­integration with a Simrad multifunction display via an NMEA 2000. 

Recon trolling motors also feature GPS-guided virtual anchoring that holds boats within a 3-foot radius. A unique jogging function allows anglers to execute diagonal moves in eight directions. There’s also the ­option to move virtual anchor positions in almost any direction. The carbon-fiber-­infused shafts carry lifetime warranties, while the motor carries a ­three-year warranty.

The Recon trolling motors integrate sonar technology and are available with a sonar nose-cone option. Recon models are available in 54-, 60-, and 72-inch shaft lengths, and start at $3,499. To learn more, visit ­lowrance.com or ­simrad-yachting.com.

Rhodan

Rhodan is one of the few saltwater trolling-motor brands that has not yet switched to brushless electric-motor technology. 

However, it has been a pioneer in building big, tall and tough motors for the brine. The HD GPS Anchor+ saltwater trolling motors feature pivot mounts and digital pulse width modulation circuitry to maximize efficiency, minimize heat dissipation, optimize power, and extend battery life. A wireless and waterproof floating remote-control fob controls the trolling motor from anywhere on the boat. 

Available in 12-, 24- and 36-volt models delivering 80 to 120 pounds of thrust, these motors also have the unique ability steer the boat while the main engine is at low power, allowing trolling at higher speeds and anchoring in heavy current. The Anchor mode -automatically compensates for wind, waves and crosscurrent. 

The Rhodan integrates with Raymarine Axiom MFDs to adjust thrust and motor direction, and to activate Anchor mode. This -system enables Axiom to steer the trolling motor when it is active and control a Raymarine Evolution autopilot when the motor is stowed. The HD GPS Anchor+ is available in black and white, in shaft lengths ranging from 36 to 108 inches, and starting at $2,399. Visit rhodanmarine.com to learn more.

The post Why Anglers Should Consider a Brushless Trolling Motor appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Today’s big outboard engines offer more than just ample horsepower. Many now feature ramped charging power from the engine alternator. This ensures plenty of juice for the growing number of electrical ­accessories such as livewell pumps, marine electronics, electric trolling motors, air-conditioning systems, and gyrostabilizers. Yamaha’s big outboards, including the 450 hp XTO Offshore V-8, deliver ­significant charging power thanks to a three-phase, simultaneous charging system. The XTO 450 produces up to 96 net amps per engine (at 12 volts). With multiple outboards, amp output is multiplied by the number of engines. In the case of quintuple XTO 450s, that’s 480 amps.

Mercury Marine has also made strides in delivering improved outboard charging capabilities with the new 350 and 400 hp V-10 Verado series, as well as the 600 hp V-12 Verado. The ­standard alternator on these outboards will deliver 150 amps (at 12 volts) of charging power at an rpm as low as 1,500.

New alternator systems prove so powerful that they can eliminate the need for onboard generators. Ancillary systems redirect charging power to a “house” battery bank to power accessories once the engine is turned off. Yamaha’s Smart Charging system redirects charging power to the house bank once the engine-starting bank reaches 100 percent.

While nearly all outboard alternators generate amps at 12 volts (direct current), one outboard alternator system generates amps at 48 volts. It’s optional for the Merc V-10 and V-12 outboards to complement Navico’s Fathom e-power system that uses a marine lithium-iron-phosphate house battery bank to replace an internal combustion generator.  

Fathom can bypass the house bank and direct alternator power to 12-volt accessories through a voltage converter. It can also directly power 48-volt appliances and accessories, thus preserving the energy stored in the batteries. What’s more, the system will seamlessly maintain the house bank, which in turn can charge the starting-battery bank. 

Boating anglers can also use the Mercury outboard alternators to recharge the house bank while the boat is at rest. If the house batteries discharge too low, Fathom will send an alert on the boat’s multifunction display or through the Fathom app. You can then engage Power+ mode through the MFD touchscreen. This will throttle up the outboards to 2,500 rpm in neutral so that the 48-volt alternator charges the house batteries. 

Today’s outboards provide boating anglers with a number of ways to charge ahead. 

The post The Benefits of Improved Outboard Charging Capabilities appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

It was a rough ­wintertime crossing of the Gulf Stream as we powered to the fabled fishing grounds of the Bahamas aboard a pair of Sōlace 41-foot center-­consoles. The 41 CS was powered by four Mercury 400 outboards. The 415 CS featured twin Volvo Penta D6 DPI diesel ­sterndrives. One boat made a better time of it. 

This trip was the latest in a string of “Outboard Versus Sterndrive” stories I’d produced over my decades working as a boating and fishing journalist. As in the past, we had planned to compare, out on the water, the different power choices available to boat buyers so that a better-informed purchasing decision could be made. The biggest challenge in producing these “versus” stories is getting access to two of the same-model boat powered by different engines. In Sōlace Boats, we had a great common denominator: These 41-foot hulls are designed and built to the highest standards and can be had with your choice of gas outboard or diesel sterndrive power. Giddyap!

Most of you will recognize that beyond propulsion type, this story also compares fuel type. The outboard Sōlace 41 CS burned gasoline, while diesel fueled the sterndrive-powered 415 CS. Here’s what we discovered regarding seakeeping, fishability, and ownership issues such as maintenance, fuel ­economy, and price.

Speed and Acceleration

We loaded both boats to the hilt with people, gear, camera equipment, and provisions for a week among the islands. The DPI-powered 415 CS hit 50.6 mph at wide-open throttle. Accelerating to 30 mph took 12.2 seconds. Each DPI turns a stainless-steel H8 Duoprop propset (Volvo Penta does not reveal Duoprop prop pitch) consisting of two ­contra-rotating propellers spinning through a 1.69-to-1 reduction. So this Volvo Penta D6 DPI diesel propulsion package spins four propellers—two inline pairs.

The outboard-powered Sōlace 41 CS hit 62.7 mph at wide-open throttle and reached 30 mph in 14.5 seconds. Each of the four outboards spins a 14.6-by-21-inch four-blade prop through a 1.75-to-1 reduction. That’s four individual propellers for this outboard-propulsion package.

“Exhilarating” describes the outboard-powered boat’s top speed, a result of more power and more available bow trim. “Surprising” describes our initial reaction regarding the superior acceleration of the boat powered by the Volvo Penta DPI diesels. We attributed this off-the-line performance to the D6’s high torque at low rpm and the Duoprop’s ability to transmit that diesel torque to the water better than conventional props. Finally, the reduced drag of two versus four gear cases helped. Still, if the need for top speed is strong with you, then the outboards win. 

Efficiency and Range

Because the power and torque characteristics of gas and diesel engines—as well as inboards and outboards—vary, it is helpful to make efficiency comparisons using boatspeed as well as rpm.

At 25 mph, the outboard boat netted 0.53 mpg and the ­Volvo Penta boat netted 1.13 mpg. At 30 mpg, the gas boat netted 0.6 mpg and the diesel boat 1.28 mpg. At 40 mph, we recorded 0.63 mpg and 1.2 mpg, respectively. ­Basically, the ­diesel boat featured twice the efficiency.

Note that the outboard-­powered 41CS carries 681 gallons of fuel, and the 415 CS carries 457 gallons. Also note that each D6 engine with a DPI drive weighs about 1,760 pounds dry, whereas each Mercury 400 Verado weighs in at 670 pounds dry. Bear in mind that an outboard’s power rating describes prop-shaft power, and an inboard’s power rating describes crankshaft power. Each Volvo Penta D6 DPI ­delivers 422 hp at the prop.

It became apparent the ­minute we arrived at Abaco Harbor Resort that the Volvo Penta 415 CS offered much more range than the Verado-­powered 41CS. The 415 CS still possessed plenty of fuel after making the ­215-mile run from Palm Beach. The gas-powered 41CS needed to fuel up so as to have enough fuel to safely conduct our tests over a ­couple of days. Diesel power lends this boat some 40 ­percent more range.

Seakeeping

We headed offshore from the Florida coast into the teeth of a stiff headwind that generated 4- to 6-foot seas right on our nose. Both Sōlace models handled the waves safely and with confidence. But our test teams agreed that the Aquamatic-powered 415 CS made easier work of it. Unlike its outboard-powered counterpart with the engine weight aft, the D6 diesel engines turn the DPI drives using jack shafts, which allows installing the engines forward of the transom, under the cockpit sole. Moving the center of gravity results in the 415 CS running more level and with less pitching. The 415 CS handled rough water better.

On balance, we also discovered that the outboard-powered boat offered more bow trim for those times when one wants to optimize the ride for running in a following sea or ­trying to maximize speed. And the outboard-powered boat proved quieter (65 versus 68 decibels), especially at trolling speeds, though the Volvo Penta boat was by no means loud.

We test for minimum planing speed because the ability to slow down while retaining the maneuverability and dynamic stability provided by planing allows for better control and more comfort in rough conditions than having to slow to trolling speed. The Volvo Penta-powered boat netted a slight edge here, holding plane at 15 mph versus the Mercury boat, which held plane as slow as 17 mph. Know that both are excellent numbers.

Docking

Both Volvo Penta and Mercury offer joystick systems for slow-speed close-quarters operation of the boats they power. Both systems worked well in gusty, tidal Bahamian winter conditions. Do note that as we went to press, Volvo Penta introduced Assisted Docking for DPI, an updated version of its joystick system that uses DPS and special software. I sea-trialed the system (aboard the exact same 415 CS detailed in this story). The big ­takeaway? It takes the “drift” out of joystick maneuvering and sets a new bar in close-quarters-­maneuvering systems. 

The Mercury outboards tilt completely clear of the water. Additionally, the outboards are made from a corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, bonded to control the electrical potential, and feature a multistep coating process called MerCathode. Their successful operation in salt water is long-proven.

“These are not your daddy’s marine engines,” Volvo Penta’s Arjen Steegstra states. The DPI drives are made from a special alloy, bonded to control electrical potential and fitted with sacrificial anodes. The stainless-steel propsets are isolated to prevent corrosion, and a special coating protects the drive. Furthermore, an impressed current anti-corrosion system, the same one that has protected Volvo Penta IPS for years, thwarts the ravages on water-stored boats.

The D6 diesel engines are freshwater-cooled, made from a corrosion-resistant alloy, protected by sacrificial anodes, and specially painted. Volvo Penta D6 diesel engines boast a long history of saltwater service.

Effect on Layout

From the console forward, both of these Sōlace boats are the same, offering private overnight accommodations for a couple, and a comfortable head and shower belowdecks. A large multipurpose bow cockpit forward combines seating with stowage, and functionality for fishing, anchoring and docking is as good as can be found. Aft is where the layout changes. With four outboards mounted on the transom, the cockpit of the 41CS affords a tremendous 83-square-foot unobstructed cockpit. Highlights include twin livewells in the aft corners, and a huge transom fish box to complement those in the aft cockpit sole and the bow space. There is mezzanine seating atop the tackle station/entertainment center, with its stowage, sink and optional grill. There’s hideaway bench seating for three at the transom, and with the huge cockpit and stowage space below the sole—which swallowed provisions for six for a week—the 41CS boasts plenty of room to stow folding chairs and beanbags. The solid transom provides great security for fighting a fish in rough seas. Water access for crew or hauling aboard a big fish is through a generous portside door. This is a fishing cockpit. 

The Volvo Penta-powered 415 CS sports twin D6 diesel engines installed in the cockpit, leaving two broad walkways to a transom that is wide open for water access or easy dockside boarding and entertaining. The actual engine box is a plush convertible lounge that allows guests to recline, sit facing forward or aft, or lie completely prone. Unobstructed cockpit space is smaller than that aboard the 41CS—about half the size between the entertainment center and the base of the lounge. You must add in the walkways, though, because they provide another 24 or so square feet of usable space on both sides of the lounge; we had no trouble working rods in the aft corner’s rod holders while trolling. 

I will say that the doors that close off each ­walkway on the 415 CS are less ­secure compared with the solid bulwark found aboard the 41CS. ­Excepting the transom livewells and fish box, the fishing ­accoutrements are the same. The in-sole stowage is smaller aboard the 415 CS, but still plenty big. In short, this is a multiuse cockpit optimized for entertaining and ease of water access that can fish too.

Key Takeaways

There’s little question that the gasoline-fueled outboard engine currently ranks as the most popular power choice for large center-consoles. They run quietly and virtually smoke-free. They deliver outstanding power for their weight, along with low drag and trimmable thrust, all of which contribute to their great efficiency. 

That said, I not only fished the Volvo Penta D6 DPI diesel-­powered Sōlace in the ­Bahamas, but also fished it during another multiday trip to the boisterous waters of Nantucket Shoals, Massachusetts. (We absolutely slammed the striped bass!) From these experiences, I can say that diesel sterndrive power is an option that offshore anglers seeking more range and improved seakeeping should seriously consider.

A Tale of Two CCs: Sōlace 41CS and 415 CS

Sōlace is a company founded on open-minded adoption of new materials and processes, many of which have set new industry benchmarks. This is tempered by decades of experience in fiberglass boatbuilding, what the company calls “The Dougherty Difference,” a reference to the current -president, Stephen Dougherty, and his late father, Bob Dougherty. In short, a Dougherty has helmed four different award-winning and iconic boat companies.

With the 41CS and the 415 CS, all of that imagination, vision, experience and expertise is wrought in molded fiberglass. These boats ride a twin-stepped hull that we have experienced to be seakindly, efficient, fun to run, and free from quirks—from New England to South Florida and beyond.

• LOA: 44’3″
• Beam: 12’3″
• Transom Deadrise: 22 degrees

The post Outboard vs. Sterndrive appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.