Salt Water

Catching fish on fly frequently requires you to cover some water, and drifting is a sensible way to do it. But unlike fishing with conventional gear and hardware, drift fishing with fly tackle calls for a bit more forethought and discipline to present your fly most effectively. You are dealing ...

When Capt. Mac Jank of Port O’Connor, Texas, started searching for a portable live well for his kayak and skiff, as someone who loves to tinker, he decided to make his own. The Zephyr Well is the result. Jank explains. “The Zephyr Well keeps croakers alive and frisky in circulating ...

Colbalt-purple, northward-flowing ocean water out front of Miami makes magic, especially in the spring. Terry Flora and I barely finished setting out a spread of live baits between Haulover Inlet and Government Cut before the first sailfish came to play. Flora fought the fish in 4- to 6-foot seas, earning ...

Minutes after dropping anchor and setting out a chum bag, assorted reef fish began congregating behind the boat. Ballyhoo soon showed up also, and Capt. Danny Hampson quickly put a dozen in the livewell with his cast net. Knowing big snapper and grouper love bally­hoo, I sent one to the ...

Along the mid-­Atlantic coast, there’s a 50-mile stretch — between the inshore bays and offshore canyons — that often gets overlooked. A handful of sharpies who don’t brag on social media or weigh their trophies at the tackle shop, however, know dolphin and other sought-­after pelagics patrol those waters, and ...

I met Mike DeFrancesco from Yacht Works, the Florida Keys Regulator dealer, and factory rep Bob Bissinger in Tavernier, Florida, for a tour of the new boat and some fishing with Capt. Tim Arce of Native Conch Charters. First impressions are lasting, and the 26XO did not disappoint. It’s a ...

The new version of Wellcraft’s flagship, the 352 Fisherman, is built for the rigors of unpredictable offshore waters. Equipped with the Offshore package, it gives anglers the upper hand in their quests to best challenging big-game species. Of course, the 352 isn’t strictly for blue water. Its maneuverability and 26-inch ...

If you could drain the ocean and look at the seafloor without ­water, you’d see every reef, rock, ledge and wreck. You’d find uncharted, overlooked outcroppings, holes, and shards of structure that attract gobs of fish. The smallest of spots — often the most productive — would become readily apparent. ...

With the prime fishing season getting underway, now is the perfect time to check the boat’s safety gear. Requirements vary from state to state on certain items, but having the essentials in good working order could mean the difference between a quick rescue or a long, uncomfortable soak. Here are ...

There are a lot of bait options when fishing for striped bass, and each angler you come across will have their own list of favorites. The best baits for striped bass largely depend on location and the time of the year you’re fishing, but usually all striper anglers have a ...