Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Stewardship


Cartoon by Matt Wuerker 12/11/12 http://politi.co/TSu9iP

More B.S. out of Omega Protein

During lunch today, FLTA Senior Editor Terry Gibson weighed in against Omega Protein spokesman Ben Landry, on the Hearsay Radio Show, broadcast by WHRV Radio in Norfolk, VA. Panelists included Landry, Chris Moore of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Peter Baker of the Pew Environment Group, Rep. Wittman (R-VA) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Chair Louis Daniel, who serves as director of North Carolina’s Division of Marine Fisheries.

Gibson called B.S. on Landry, pointing out that the most recent peer-reviewed stock assessment reflects what generations of anglers have witnessed. Menhaden have virtually disappeared from the edges of their range, especially in New England and off the southern states of Florida and Georgia. And Gibson made the case that it isn’t fair to risk thousands of responsible fishing and other tourism-related businesses on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Landry tried to judo-flip the argument for conservative management by pointing to “uncertainty” in the stock assessment as an excuse not to take action, even though the peer-reviewed stock assessment shows Atlantic menhaden are down to less than 10 percent of an un-fished level, and that overfishing has occurred in 32 of the last 54 years—due primarily to Omega’s intensive fishing practices. Landry said that they saw no need to support more than a 10-percent total reduction in harvest, since the stock had remained stable since the 1980s. The biologists on the call cut the knees out from under that argument by explaining that in fact menhaden populations began their steepest decline during those years.

Consider the source. Here’s a guy who represents a company that hires foreign fisheries biologists to bully American scientists and managers charged with assessing U.S. fish populations. Read the Public Trust Project report entitled Scientists for Hire: What Industry’s Deep Pockets are doing to our Fisheries.”

Landry also re-introduced Omega workers facing layoffs, in a year when Omega earned tremendous profits, executives took home huge bonuses, and while Omega hire hundreds of foreign workers. Click here for the Public Trust Project’s latest investigation into their hiring practices, which reports that, “Records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that Omega Protein has employed hundreds of foreign laborers through H2B visas, a federal program that allows American companies to hire foreign nationals to fill temporary jobs.  In order to be awarded H2B visas, a company must prove that “there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do temporary work.”
Stay tuned for news straight from the ASFMC meeting Friday in Baltimore.
--FLTA

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Stewardship



Stop the Menhaden Mismanagement Madness
By John Kelly

I’m encouraging every veteran angler to take a look at this graph, which shows the decline of Atlantic menhaden since the mid-1980s.


Think about your own fishing experiences along this timeline. The data it reflects match up exactly with my own observations across more than 40-plus years of fly and light-tackle fishing. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission needs to close the fishery or at least make sufficient cuts in the harvest, before it’s too late for bunker.

I have been fishing since I can remember. The first fish I ever caught was a weakfish at age four. Weakfish are an almost non-existent species these days in southern New England, no thanks to a combination of overfishing and poor menhaden stocks. Along with our current stocks of Atlantic menhaden their northerly and southerly range has shrunk.

When I caught that weakfish, I was with my grandfather who passed his love of the marine world and fishing onto me. He would revel in stories of massive schools of menhaden that would choke the Niantic River mouth and adjacent Connecticut beaches and all the large striped bass and bluefish that would feed on them during the fall migration. By the time I was old enough to learn to fish, menhaden had already declined.

But still what I enjoyed as a boy was impressive, compared to the sad state of things today. I remember the massive numbers in the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. Menhaden schools stretched from one side of Niantic Bay to the other. I stood at the point at McCook’s Beach in Niantic and all the water I could see, in every direction, was boiling with them as they were pounded by schools of 15- to 20-pound bluefish. I've not seen anything like that since the mid-1980s. The sad thing is how when I was a boy you heard stories of the “good ol’ days” and now with the situation worsening I find myself telling younger fisherman “good ol’ days” stories as I had witnessed. We are clearly headed in the wrong direction.

Of course, my boyhood days growing up on Long Island Sound in Niantic, Connecticut coincided with the mid 70's to mid-80's peak in the “modern” menhaden stock. Besides stripers, blues and weakfish, giant bluefin tuna also came within a short run to feed on bunker. Over-fishing of those predators was a major problem in those days, and I’m very concerned about the downward trajectory of striped bass, weakfish and bluefin that we’re seeing today. But, their declines in the 80s and 90s were also related to a lack of forage—namely menhaden. Nothing provides them with a better source of nutrition than menhaden, which they need to eat to have the energy to make long migrations and to reproduce effectively.

My fishing friends in Florida say the big menhaden pods have disappeared from southeast Florida while the pods are shrinking in size off East Central and Northeast Florida. Improved fish finding technology coupled with the recently increased demand for fish oil are strong contributing factors to the demise we see on the graph and on the water. The bait needs a break, plain and simple. It is time to “err on the side of the resource” and not some well-funded special interests with tremendous clout in the form of campaign donations.

Both recreational and commercial fisherman, as well as those who derive their income from the waters of America’s Atlantic seaboard, depend on healthy stocks of menhaden in order to be successful. It is time to take a stand and do what is right and what is logical. Protect the menhaden from overfishing, period. Enough of this boom-to-bust fishing. Let’s set and enforce science-based annual catch limits that prevent overfishing on everything subject to harvest in state and federal waters. That way, we can make the “good ol’ days” the near future.

John Kelly is a native of Niantic, Connecticut, and has fished in New England for more than 40 years. He has dedicated his life to fishing, and traveled extensively.

iCandy



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Stewardship


    Capt. Scott Wagner


Low Country Fisheries Suffer without Menhaden


If you want a small picture of what recreational fishing will look like along the Eastern Seaboard without menhaden, just come on down to the Savannah River and I’ll show you what we’ve lost here already. The “pogies” are gone. As a consequence, we’ve lost our striped bass fishery in the estuary, and the populations of our most popular inshore fish, speckled trout and redfish, are hurting. These species can and did stand a lot of fishing pressure when they could get the nutrition to reproduce successfully. But not now that the best source of nutrition—menhaden—are virtually gone.

About 15 years ago, when I cut my teeth as a fly and light tackle guide in this area, I learned quickly that I could count on the beautiful Savannah River for great winter striped bass fishing, even on the rankest days of winter. Any fishing guide that has such a spot will tell you how grateful they are to have protected water where you can catch trophy fish pretty much regardless of the weather Mother Nature throws at you. You don’t have to cancel nearly as many trips, or risk losing a client because rough water beat them up, they’re soaked, and the fish didn’t bite.

Scientists and fisheries managers will back up what I’m saying. The state of Georgia has spent tremendous amounts of time and money trying to maintain the Savannah’s striper population through stocking. But as usual, stocking hasn’t worked without the necessary forage to support the hatchery fish. I hope that the state will look into suing Omega Protein and/or the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission—the entity that’s supposed to manage coastal, interstate fisheries sustainably. They owe us big time. Omega has pillaged the ocean of these essential fish, costing us untold revenues, while the ASMFC hasn’t managed menhaden at all.

It’s sad to say, but these days, I don’t even bother taking customers up river for stripers, and there are far fewer trout or reds in those marshes either. Beyond all the lost charters that hit me hard in the wallet, it’s just tragic watching such a gorgeous ecosystem fall apart. The cormorants and other birds we enjoy seeing, and showed us where the bait was, are mostly gone as well. So if the bigger predators are disappearing, I shudder to think about all the ways their absence is impacting the food web. And I shudder to think about the future of great jobs like mine, and the jobs related to the tourism industries that fishing and wildlife viewing drive.


Fortunately, last year, ASMFC commissioners voted 14-2 to get serious about managing menhaden sustainably. They ought to shut down the fishery for a few years. A lot of other people, including scientists, coastal business owners like me, as well as individual anglers, wildlife lovers and citizens, have told them to close it or at the very least make major cuts in the allowable harvest. They received about 120,000 public comments weighing in on behalf of the fish. If that doesn’t send them the message that we’re not going to take any more excuses, I don’t know what will.

December 14, 2012, the day of the vote, is a gut check for those commissioners. Are you going to cave into political pressure from one bullying company that isn’t smart enough to develop a business plan based upon sustainability? Or will you save thousands of responsible businesses like mine, along with the magnificent ecosystems that they depend upon? Your vote will be a reflection of the strength or weakness of your character.

Capt. Scott Wagner is the owner of Savannah Fly Fishing Charters, and is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and successful guides in the Low Country. He will contribute regularly to FLTA.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Stewardship




Menhaden in Crisis along the

U.S. Eastern Seaboard

Editorial

On December 14, 2012, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will hold a vote that could determine the fate of recreational fishing and the ecosystems that our fisheries depend upon along the United States’ Eastern Seaboard. The vote is in regard to the future management of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), commonly called “pogies,” “bunker” or “moss bunker.” Whether you target tarpon in the Florida Keys, or stripers in Maine, or virtually any U.S. East Coast predators that feed primarily on fish, this vote will strongly impact your fishing future. Leading up to the vote, www.flyandlighttackleangler.com will publish perspectives from notable anglers from affected states, and post links to blogs and editorials provided by other outdoor enthusiasts and experts. This mosaic of perspectives demonstrates clearly how serious the situation has become, and how imperative it is for the ASMFC to take dramatic actions to restore this most essential of species.

The Situation Room

Atlantic menhaden stand at ten percent or less of the historic population and are at an all-time low, thanks mostly to a rapacious company called Omega Protein, whose Atlantic factory is based in Reedville, Virginia.
Omega” seines upward of 80 percent of the catch, and grinds it into dietary supplements, fertilizer, pet food, and feed for aquaculture, chickens and pigs. The publicly traded, vertically integrated company has largely caused overfishing of menhaden to occur in the population in 32 of the past 54 years. Overfishing is defined as the taking of a population out of an ocean ecosystem faster than it can reproduce itself.
The situation has become so dire that for the past two years it’s required “all hands on deck” advocacy by recreational fishing groups such as several Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) state organizations, for many Audubon Society Chapters, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Menhaden Defenders and a slew of the nation’s most respected conservation groups.
Hundreds of coastal businesses have weighed in, as did dozens of leading PhD scientists, and more than 90,000 individuals in 2011 and some 120,000 leading up to the December, 2012 vote. To rebuild the population and return the biomass to somewhere in range of what a healthy northwestern Atlantic needs, the commission must adopt a coast-wide annual catch limit and support measures that reduce the catch by at least 50 percent below recent levels. It should commit to meet that goal within five years.

The Facts about Atlantic Menhaden

Menhaden provide a most essential source of nutrition for a tremendous variety of predators. Notables include: striped bass, bluefish, most mackerels, all tunas, tarpon, cobia, many drums including redfish, spotted seatrout and weakfish, snook, billfishes including sailfish, whales, ospreys, eagles, gannets, and other seabirds. These are the species that drive the economies of coastal communities, supporting sustainable recreational and commercial fishing, as well as diverse wildlife watching opportunities, not to mention the massive tourism-related businesses that benefit from these industries.
Menhaden, which are often called “the most important fish in the ocean,” provide several profound ecosystem services. Foremost, they provide organisms higher in the foodweb with vastly superior nutritional elements, including proteins like Omega 3 fatty acids.
Without such nutrition, or even with less of it, animals struggle in many ways, from making long-distance migrations back to spawning grounds, to fending off infections, to actually having the energy to produce viable eggs and sperm.
Perhaps the most alarming direct impact is the impact on reproduction. But many striped bass, especially in the Chesapeake region, are suffering from skin lesions linked to weaknesses in their immune system caused by malnutrition. “Trophic cascades” are also being documented. For instance, weakfish have virtually disappeared, and it is likely a consequence of striped bass and bluefish eating them instead of menhaden. There are plenty of other examples. Finally, menhaden, as filter feeders, play vital roles in maintaining water quality.

Down to the Wire

FLTA Senior Editor Terry Gibson will attend the December 14 ASMFC meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, and keep us apprised of the proceedings via social media. If you are in the Baltimore area or care to travel, you’re encouraged to attend. The meeting is open to the public. Gibson will follow up with a thorough report on the implications of whatever the commissioners decide. The FLTA editorial board sent a letter to the ASMFC stating our position on the issue, which is that a moratorium would be the most appropriate action and that at minimum the harvest should be cut in half, with a fair allocation going to the bait industry. Stay tuned for on-water perspectives about the menhaden crisis.
--FLTA Editorial Board



Friday, November 30, 2012

On the Line


Misery Loves Company

By Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

A bad day of fishing can be more impressionable than a good one. After a bad day, you torment yourself over what went wrong, and what you could have done differently. On days that you flat out clobber 'em, you just chalk it up to your skill, don't you? Admit it.

And while you're at it, also admit that you get a twisted kind of satisfaction when your fellow anglers blank out on the days when you do. I will right here and now.

A few days ago, I fished my home water on the Indian River Lagoon, and hit at least 10 spots where I fully expected to find seatrout, pompano and a few redfish. After 7 hours of hard fishing and no distractions (I fished alone) well, I won't mention my tally, okay?

I went home at 4 p.m. with my tail between my legs. Just two nights before this trip, I had a banner night of fishing flies and soft plastics around bridges and dock lights. So what happened in 36 hours? I mean, come on! Two strikes in 7 hours, and shallows devoid of any life forms at all?

That night, a friend in Miami called to say he saw zero bonefish in 6 hours on Biscayne Bay that very day. ZERO! And this guy is an expert on the Bay. And a local guide buddy said his fishing for pompano, snook and flounder absolutely stunk, during the same hours, just south of where I fished.

Okay, I was feeling better now. Their collective failures and misery was salve for my wounded ego.

Just out of curiosity, I emailed a guide friend in Texas. "Redfishing on the flats was tough, today," he wrote back. "Didn't see squat until late in the day, and then only a couple."

Alright, something universal was afoot. Looked at a facebook post from a guy who I talk to occasionally in North Florida, and alas, he was floored that he failed to catch a mackerel in the surf that afternoon. They had been thick the previous day.

One more call--to a commercial hook-and-line surf fisherman in town. One pompano, 4 rods, 8 hours. Wow.

With just a little sunlight left, I grabbed a baitcasting rod from my garage rack and headed for my neighborhood pond. My wife said, "Haven't had enough, sport?" as I headed out the door. The pond's usually good for a few bass at dusk.

You know the rest of this story. I didn't get a sniff, even after casting well past dark as the moon rose.

But who cares? It wasn't me. I felt fine. Because misery loves company.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

On the Line


One Fish, Two Fish Grammar
By Mike Conner, editor-in-chief

Maybe I am thinking too much, but as a fish mag editor I obsess over the following:
Is it snapper or snappers when referring to more than one snapper? When do you add the "s" and when do you go without it?

Wait, don't laugh yet. Consider that there is no firm rule, and what sounds right to you may not jive with your fellow angler.  The English language is a mess in general, and inconsistent at best as far as usage.

Whenever an old fishing buddy would tell me that he caught five "snooks" on fly, or on lures, whatever the case, I would roar with laughter."You mean SNOOK!"  Five SNOOK. Snook is both singular and plural," I would explain. "And you say there were a dozen TARPON in that school. Not a dozen TARPONS. You follow?"

He responded with, "What about pilchards or crabs? You don't cast net a bunch of pilchard or buy a half-dozen crab, do you?"I was stumped. He had me there. But there has to be a rule, just not sure what that would be.

An editor of a highly regarded fishing magazine once corrected my use of SHRIMP as a plural. He preferred SHRIMPS. We talked about it, and both chuckled. But in my opinion, you chum for bonefish with fresh shrimp, not SHRIMPS!

And you can cast FLIES to them, and if you land one, you caught it on FLY. On the flip side, if you caught three bonefish (NOT BONEFISHES) on jigs, you couldn't very well say you caught them them on LURE, right? Sounds stupid.

Three GROUPERS? No. Two SAILFISHES. Hardly. A limit of SEATROUTS? Really?

But, "We caught a mess of GRUNTS, CROAKERS, PUFFERS, SKATES, SARDINES, JACKS, BLUE RUNNERS or STRIPERS" rolls off the tongue without offending the ear.

Think about it, go down your mental list of gamefish, and get back to me with your opinion. Email mike@flyandlighttackleangler.com.  I promise not to laugh--though I might have a few LAUGHS in private.





Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Eye Candy





What makes Fly & Light Tackle Angler different? Watch video of the free sample issue to find out more about navigation and Fly & Light Tackle Angler magazines features.

To download your free FLTA sampler and to purchase or subscribe to Fly & Light Tackle Angler magazine visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fly-light-tackle-angler/id567055298?ls=1&mt=8


STEWARDSHIP

Voters Take Conservation Funding Issues into their Own Hands
By Terry Gibson, Senior Editor

For sportsman and other outdoor enthusiasts, one of the most troubling aspects of the 2012 election race was the near absence of constructive discussion about the role that conserving and restoring our natural resources plays in economic recovery.

With a few exceptions, the presidential candidates, as well as those vying for office in U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, assiduously avoided the subject of our great outdoors and the health of environment. Worse yet, some thought that they could earn points with scared voters by blaming the recession and national debt on those of us who work to put sound, enforced policies and regulations in place—policies and regulations to protect the natural resources that sustain us economically, and in terms of our outdoorsy way of life.

Scariest of all, rule-makers around the country seem to think that the shortest road to economic recovery is to remove protections on some core economic engines—our fish, wildlife and the habitats they depend on—and slash the budgets of the agencies in charge of protecting those treasures. What a road to ruin.

Fortunately, they’re not getting away with it. In the months leading up to November 6, voters in many states took vital conservation matters into their own hands. Voters in 21 states approved ballot measures that will provide over $1 billion overall, including $767 million in new funding to support water quality protection, parks, natural areas and working farms and ranches. For anglers, the water quality component is really inspiring. It demonstrates that our community is profoundly aware that polluted water is the number one threat related to healthy ecosystems and recreational fishing access in this country.

Most of these ballot measures earned their spot on the ticket the hard way, thanks to Herculean petition-signature collection efforts that surpassed the respective state’s minimum number requirements. These are called “popular referendums,” essentially measures placed on the ballot because hundreds of thousands of registered voters felt strongly that the state’s citizens themselves should get to decide whether to accept or reject funding for fish and wildlife. The electorates responded tremendously in favor of dedicated funding in support of our resources. An 81-percent overall approval rate topped the long-term 76 percent approval rate for ballot measures. Now that’s government for the people by the people, and for the wildlife that can’t vote.

Props go to The Trust for Public Land and the Conservation Campaign, which funded and helped organize many of these ballot initiatives. Complete results can be found on The Trust for Public Land's LandVote website www.LandVote.org


Notable wins include:


Alabama Forever Wild: Alabama voters statewide approved a 20-year
renewal of the state's successful Forever Wild land conservation
program by 75 percent.  This will provide $300 million to for
conservation over 20 years.

Land for Maine's Future: Maine voters also approved additional
funding for the Land for Maine's Future land conservation program,
voting 62 percent in favor of a $5 million bond.

Houston, TX, Prop. B - Houston voters overwhelmingly approved a $166
million parks bond to fund completion of the city's bayou greenways
network, voting 68 percent in favor of the bond.

Gunnison County, CO - Gunnison County, Colorado voters approved
renewal of the sales tax supporting their land conservation program by
80 percent.  The sales tax will provide nearly $5 million for land
conservation.

Bozeman, MT - Voters in Bozeman overwhelmingly approved a $15 million
bond for land conservation, which will fund a key TPL project, Story
Mill.  The margin of victory was 73-27.

Bend and Willamalane, OR - TPL won both Oregon park district
measures in Willamalane and Bend.  Together, these bonds will provide
$49 million for parks and natural areas.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

On the Line

Now You Know Before You Go 

I've long used the saying, "You don't know unless you go" when it comes to fishing conditions. 

I once lived 20 miles inland, but could look up at clouds before dawn and tell if the wind was strong on the coast.  I could look at heavy the dew on my truck windshield and know that I may need a raincoat. 

That was way before sophisticated home computers, and the Internet. And smart phones. 

Weather was unpredictable, and still kinda is, but now there is less need for guesswork.
You're less likely to get blindsided, unless you're wearing blinders.
Every day, whether I am going fishing or not, I run through a quick check of  four or five web sites, and now apps, that tell me what to expect. Or, that tell me to go back to bed. 

From behind a cup of Joe and my iPad, I can remotely see the coast, the beach, the inlet, and even a main launch ramp in town every five minutes, thanks to web cams. Better yet, I can determine sea, wind, and other weather conditions thanks to Doppler, sea swell charts, you name it. If its a no-go today, well, what about tomorrow, or even a week out?  

These days, you can know, even before you go. 
 
                                                                                --Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

On the Line


By Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

We've Got "App-titude!"

Fourteen months ago we had an idea. The core staff of Mean Tide Media, publisher of Fly & Light Tackle Angler magazine--me, senior editor Terry Gibson and creative director Ron Romano--casually bounced around with the idea of re-entering the sportfishing magazine fold.

The first rule was no print. No way.

Been there, done that, we were all laid off by print magazine companies at a time when frankly, the public's taste for print was souring a bit. That trend continues, and many print pubs are gone. Those that refuse to embrace change are failing fast, drawing their few last breaths.

Don't get me wrong . There will always be a place for print journalism, because there will always be readers who prefer print magazines. But speaking for all of us, we have no desire to have a place in it. Not anymore.

When we decided that digital was the only way to go, and more specifically, full-blown, interactive digital on the revolutionary iPad, the fire was lit. We were enthused again.

Enthused, but intimidated. Could we actually build an app? It looked daunting. It seemed too technical.

So today, as I gaze at our first issue, just released for sale this week in the Apple app store Newsstand, I am proud.

I am also relieved, and not that we actually turned out a damn good first magazine. I am relieved that we were able to tackle the task of learning the process, and better understand the nature of this growing technology.

And we are blessed to have the talents. support and commitment of expert angler-writers and photographers such as Bob Stearns, Kenny Wright, Steve Kantner, John McMurray, Zsolt Takaks, Drew Chicone, Pat Ford, Scott Sommerlatte, Joe Mahler and a promising list of other vets whose bylines will grace our pages soon.  

Mobile content and delivery is here to stay.

And now that this team has "app-titude" chances are good that we are, too.


Saturday, September 1, 2012

On the Line




Florida Snook Slot is a Hot Topic  


By Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

In fisheries management, slot limits are a commonly used tool in both fresh and salt water. The main purpose is to allow a controlled number of specimens to be harvested by anglers while protecting breeding size females and juveniles so that they may reach spawning size. In many cases, these sub-slot juvies do get a chance to spawn at least once before going home in the cooler.

Anglers have mixed opinions on slot limits, and Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coast slot limits for snook are very much a hot-button topic, especially today, September 1st, as the 14-week fall season opens on the Atlantic coast. The Gulf coast harvest season will not open until September 1, 2013, to further protect stocks that were especially knocked back by the historic deep freezes of 2010 that killed millions of snook statewide.

The slot is definitely restrictive, at 28 to 32 inches on the Atlantic coast, and 28 to 33 on the Gulf. The bag limit is conservative, at one fish per person per day. It can be a tough nut to catch that slot snook during open season, and many anglers feel that a 27- to 34-inch slot would be more reasonable.  Many go as far as to claim that the snook have recovered to the point that even more relaxed regs are in order. The slot stood at 27 to 34 inches as recently as 2009.

Today, my local newspaper's outdoor columnist, Ed Killer, covered the subject, titling his column, "Time to Widen the Snook Slot." He claims he likes to eat a snook every now and then, and with the 4-inch window, the odds are stacked against that. He is not wrong about that.

Anglers may have a better chance of a payout at a Vegas slot machine than catching that coveted slot snook.

I have to ponder: Would doubling the 4-inch slot to 8 inches jeopardize the chances of this fishery's rebound to pre-freeze numbers? Some say yes, others say no. Fisheries biologists definitely say the current slot is necessary, and say only future stock assessments will provide the tale of the tape.

Here's what I especially wonder about: Does the current 4-inch slot limit, which makes it harder to land a "keeper," in reality force anglers to fish harder and longer, and catch and release, and thus handle (and stress) more snook in the long run?  This may have merit, when you think about it.

I will say this: On the surface, it would appear that snook are plentiful where they typically congregate, such as the spawning aggregations in passes and inlets, and around structure such as bridges, docks, jetties and the like. But, I will argue that there is far less "spill over," or the typically wide distribution to habitat such as grassflats, beaches and other places.

You can't judge the fisheries' health by observing a small segment of it. It is that simple.

In Martin County (Stuart/Jensen Beach area) many anglers I talk to say that they catch far fewer snook while fishing for seatorut, reds or other targets in the Indian River Lagoon since the freezes. I can attest to that--my personal fishing logs reflect that. And those smaller juveniles, which were especially hard-hit by the cold kill, are still thinned out. It is by no coincidence that we have had two of the best years of spotted seatrout fishing (both for numbers and size average) in this region in recent memory. When one predator declines in number, other predators flourish.

The snook will come back in time, though no matter how regulated the recreational snook harvest is, habitat health will probably be the ultimate deal-maker or breaker.

Visit the following link to read up on snook and current the stock assessment, and please leave comment here, or email me at mike@flyandlighttackleangler.com


--Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

Thursday, August 23, 2012

On the Line

Booster Shot Time for Fly Fishing Industry  

By Mike Conner, editor-in-cheif

Looks to me like the Fly Fishing Industry needs a booster shot, again.

A lot of water has coursed down the stream since the movie, "A River Runs Through It," hit the big screen. The major booster shot that the movie provided, like it or not, prevented a flyfishing industry free-fall for some time, but right now, manufacturers are looking for the next big thing.

Fly fishing recruitment and promotion has proved difficult to say the least, though companies such as Orvis (through an aggressive and well-conceived fly fishing introductory program) and Temple Fork Outfitters (by way of reasonably priced, quality gear) are holding their own in a bleak economy.

It wasn't so long ago that the big guns in the rod and reel making business ran big full-page glossy ads that typically depicted dream-trip images. You know, those permit, tarpon, bonefish and billfish catches halfway across the globe that damn few fly anglers can afford to take. Sure, that marketing approach works for the small number of well-heeled fishermen among us, who tend gravitate to fly fishing eventually.

But what about growing the ranks? Fly fishing is by far the oldest type of sportfishing. It can be very basic, and low-key, and guess what? You can catch just about every species of gamefish and "food" fish on a fly, in fresh and salt water.

Why doesn't the fly tackle industry tap into the middle-class guys and gals who hit the water with spinning and baitcasting gear and who just may be open to adding fly fishing to their fishing?

That's the approach we will take at Fly & Light Tackle Angler. Mix it up. Fish with all genres of tackle. There is no downside. We do it. We live it.

When was the last time you saw a fly fishing ad with a picture of a fly fisher beaming over a nice seatrout, or a jack, Spanish mackerel or a largemouth bass? For me, never.

I did take a look at a few fly fishing print magazines this week, and of the very few ads in those books, the majority of the companies used closeup photos of their products rather than on those scene photos of anglers and world-class fish in world-class destinations.  Is this a change of attitude? 


Could be--reports from the recent International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) trade-only show in Reno, Nevada strongly suggest it. Trusted sources tell me the thing was a dud, and retailer attendance was lousy as was the case in 2011 in New Orleans. And the show organizers did not announce next year's show location, going against tradition. Rumors are that IFTD will happen under the "big top" with ICAST next year in Las Vegas.

Hmmm....expose fly fishing to a throng of media and sportfishing industry folks? The purists and elitists may cringe at the thought, but I suggest they roll up their sleeves and take the needle. Shots only sting for a second. And they can heal what ails you.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

On the Line



Who's Fishing for My Vote?


While driving back home from my local polling place today it occured to me that I was more informed about the candidates than in years past. Today was a Republican primary for county commissioners, clerks, a sheriff and two congressmen. A pretty full slate that would likely draw good voter turnout.

It also dawned on me that despite the fact that all of the candidates vying to be elected have pretty good web pages with details about their missions and backgrounds, they were kinda sparse in the personal and lifestyle department. Sure, they all mentioned family, and there were some requisite mentions about "caring for the environment," I was hoping that someone running for office here in seaside Martin County, Florida would have said:  "In my spare time I go fishing." Or, even boating or diving. Something. Even a candidate running for Congress, whose son owns a local fishing rod manufacturing company, did not list fishing as a favorite activity. But I figure he has to fish, right? I mean, C'mon!

I voted for him, whether he fishes or not. Besides, the alternative was voting for an outsider, a true carpetbagger!

Most voters are looking for someone like-minded right? I want to put a bona fide "salt" in office. Sometimes those photos of the candidate with the kids and wife or husband walking on the beach wearing trendy beachwear seem so damn staged, you know? Especially when they are all pasty white.

My hometown is nuts about recreational fishing, and it is located on the St. Lucie River, which joins the Indian River Lagoon just a two-minute boat ride through an inlet to the Atlantic ocean. Recreational, and to a lesser extent, commerical fishing, pumps big bucks into our economy, as is the case throughout the coastal U.S.  The health of my local waters and fisheries suffer badly at times due to agricultural pollution, and there are always issues regarding suburban growth and its effect on our fishing habitat.

So yeah, I would probably give a candidate more serious consideration if he or she came out and said something like, "My aim as your elected official is to establish a balance between economic growth so long as it does not adversely affect our waterways because it is also my goal to catch plenty of snook, tarpon redfish and trout today, and I want my kids and grandkids to do the same for years to come."

I would wave signs on street corners for a candidate who made that kind of stand.

I just wish someone on today's ballot was really "fishing" for my vote. 




Friday, July 27, 2012

On the Line

Don't Feed your Fish to Fish

by Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

Predation in oceans, rivers, lakes and streams is a fact of life, or death, as the case may be. It is the rare angler who has not witnessed large apex predators, such as sharks and porpoises, or alligators in fresh waters, home in on the scene where he or she is catching fish. Like it or not, an appreciable number of released fish, and even fish locked in battle with an angler, fall prey to something bigger and badder higher on the food chain.

So, what to do when this happens? Keep hooking fish and hope for the best? Or, elect to stop fishing when and where the chances of your catch being "lunched" (particularly those that you plan to release, or must release due to regulations) are high?

Yesterday, I was fishing the surf near my hometown in Stuart, Florida. The surf is chock-a-block with juvie bay anchovies right now. There is a brown ribbon against the sand for miles, hugging the beach to escape the jacks, Spanish macks, blue runners, snook, and small and large tarpon feasting on the numbers. And, there are lots of big sharks, blacktips and menacing bull sharks in particular.

At one point, I cast a streamer fly to a rolling 30- pound tarpon, only to have it grabbed by a chunky ladyfish--naturally, right?  As the ladyfish struggled, the tarpon turned and attempted to eat the lady. The ladyfish jumped off, the tarpon slowed, but then panicked and shot out of there.

 "What spooked that 'poon?" I wondered aloud, until an 8-foot bull shark surged ahead right on that tarpon's tail. I doubt the shark caught the tarpon, but had I hooked the tarpon, the shark had an easy meal.

In the next ten minutes, I spotted at least a half-dozen more, cruising the same lane outside the minnows where the tarpon were. It was obvious what they were after. I stashed my fly rod at that point. Though I came to primarily jump tarpon on fly, I have no desire to feed tarpon to the sharks, as way too many anglers do, though not purposely in places such as Florida's Boca Grande Pass.

I wish every angler would make this decision whenever faced with a similar situation.

    

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

On the Line


Catch-and-Release-to-Survive

by Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

During an address to the sportfishing media during the week of the ICAST sportfishing trade show in Orlando earlier this month, American Sportfishing Association (ASA) President and CEO Mike Nussman announced the launch of a commendable public awareness program, FishSmart.
"In fresh water we've done a great job in reducing fish mortality with fish that anglers catch," said Nussman. "More than 80 percent of anglers who caught fish that they could have kept, reported releasing some of them. In saltwater alone, the number of released fish exceeds 200 million annually, and with increasing regulations such as size limits, bag limits and seasons this number is sure to grow."
"However," as Nussman noted, "One of the keys to successful catch and release efforts is having the right kind of tackle that improves the chance that released fish will live. The overall FishSmart program is designed to address this and other fisheries conservation issues, such as angler education, head on."
It is a message that anglers have heard before, if not from an organization that represents our sport. This outdoor writer, and many others, have hammered this message home time and time again, with the realization that it does fall on deaf ears all too often. Particularly the ears of anglers who chase world records or look for headlines, or claim that the lighter the tackle, the more a fish can "show its stuff."

Sure, a long slugfest with a tough gamefish is thrilling, but in the long run, not ideal for that fish if it is to be released. What I hear all the time is that using tackle that shortens the battle measurably "takes the challenge" out of cathcing a fish. I will cite examples such as the guy I know who refuses to use a fly rod heavier than a 6-weight and light tippet for big Florida bonefish. Or the sports I have come across who are dead-set on catching big tarpon on spin tackle more suited for redfish. I used to fish with a fellow who cast a 4-weight fly rod for tailing redfish in the heat of summer and then babied them on his light tippet forever. It took 10 minutes to revive them to swim away, barely, and I am convinced they were a shark's lunch soon thereafter. I do not fish with him anymore. And I hope he doesn't do that anymore.

It all boils down to what is essentially "stunt" fishing and what is responsible catch-and-release fishing. If you plan to put your catch on ice for dinner, by all means go as light as you dare. Although most anglers beef up on tackle considerably when out for meat, don't they? There is even some evidence that overly long, drawn-out fights build up lactic acid levels high enough to affect the quality and flavor of fish flesh, so keep that in mind.

If you plan to release your catch, tackle up accordingly to catch them as quickly as possible. Otherwise it's just catch-and-release-to-die.

This hefty dock snook, caught by angler Jon Macca, was landed on a 9-weight fly rod in under two minutes, held out of water for less than 10 seconds for a quick photo, and swam away in great shape.   

Monday, July 2, 2012

On the Line



Pick the Right Stick  

by Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

A trip to Flamingo on Florida Bay this past Sunday further solidified my fishing philosophy: Pick the Right Stick. Though my plan was to fly fish for tailing redfish, andI fact did hook and land the first redfish I spotted and cast to with my 8-weight rod, things changed in a heartbeat.

The wind died, and the flat looked like an ice skating rink--not a ripple. The sun was now high enough to light up our world, which makes fish-spotting easier, but in a tradeoff, fish see you better, too. The reds were all singles, and as my host Richard Kernish said: "They aren't tailing as much as yesterday. Yesterday they were "flopping over" standing on their heads. And we had some wind and a light chop.

Translation? Easier fish to approach and feed. "Dumber" fish.

We would pole silently to within 70 feet of a fish, and it would feel us and would move off irritably, pushing a wake as it did. After a dozen refusals on long, long casts, and showing them the fly pretty darn well most times, we knew what time it was: Spinning rod time!

I jumped on the poling platform and Richard tied on a nice, fat plastic jerbait, Texas-rigged. A single red tailed up 120 feet away. Richard launched a long cast just beyond the fish, which had no clue. Richard twitched the bait. The redfish pounded it. Richard's rod bent double. And he looked back at me with that look that said, problem solved. And we repeated the scene a half dozen times in the next 15 minutes until the water rose further and the fish dissappeared.

"We would have caught 20 fish if we made the switch earlier," Richard commented later. No doubt, we would have. But that's okay, we have scored big numbers many times on fly. But on this day, casting from even a full fly line's distance just did not cut it.

Do I prefer fly casting? Sure. But I also like to catch redfish after going to bed at midnight, rising at 4 a.m. and driving 170 miles to fish for maybe 6 hours. So, I will do what it takes without reservation. I pick the right stick. Every single time.

  

Sunday, June 17, 2012

EYE CANDY




Sneak a Peek at Fly & Light Tackle Angler 


Here is a sneak peek preview of the FLTA PROFILE department which will be a interview with Joe Mahler. The video shows some of the look and feel and the interactivity that will be available on the magazine app. 


http://youtu.be/l48hkkulZ8Q?hd=1

Thursday, June 14, 2012

On the Line



Nurture Your Young Anglers



by Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief

This morning as I read over the final proof for our first issue's GENERATIONS column--in which Kenny Wright offers his insightful tips for teaching kids to love fishing--my recent trip to the local WalMart fishing department came to mind. First of all, I always advocate giving your local tackle shop your business, but when my favorite shops don't carry something I desperately need, well, Wally World gets the sale.

While there, I came across parents and a boy of about 12 going through the rack rod spinning combos with puzzled looks. And dad gazed over the wall of lures while rubbing his chin. I gathered a few items, and as I walked by, the mom asked if the rod-and-reel their boy was holding could "catch a snook." It was a budget 12-pound outfit, spooled with what looked like 15-pound-test mono. I grabbed it, and told them it certainly would, but they would need to tie on a bite leader of 30-pound test at the least. And that just got me blank stares.

"Have you ever fished for or caught a snook?" I asked. They had not, and in fact, had little fishing knowledge, but said they witnessed an angler land a big snook at the beach that very morning while they looked for seashells, and their son badly wanted to do the same. "It fought like crazy!" the boy gushed.

They had no way of catching live bait, had never fished with lures, so I gave a short clinic right then and there, but what they needed was hands-on instruction. Dad told me they could not afford a boat guide, or expensive equipment, but wanted my help to pick out one or two good snook lures, and advice on how to "reel" them. I explained that to him, then suggested they go down the street to a particular tackle shop (and buy the test of mono leader that WalMart was actually out of) and ask my good friend behind the counter to show them a good knot to tie on a leader, and one to tie on the jig, spoon and plug that I picked out for them. They were happy, thanked me and prepared to head for the check-out. As they did, I told them that even if the snook did not bite, they might catch a jack, ladyfish or a bluefish, and the boy turned to me, smiled broadly and said, "I only want to catch one of those snooks!"

And his attitude is understandable, having witnessed a great catch, but I can only hope that he caught any fish at all, because he would certainly enjoy those as well. I am fortunate that my dad fished and brought me into fishing gradually, starting with bream and bass, and in time, saltwater species. Like the boy at WalMart, many kids have parents that do not fish at all, so they have to get "the bug" somewhere else.

Fishing Parents: The first "Generations" column, "Eyes Wide Open," is one you should read. Compare notes with Kenny Wright. He's a dad raising three young anglers.
Non-fishing Parents: Inquire about kids' fishing programs at local tackle shops or online.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

On the Line


DON'T Rip Some Lips


By Mike Conner, editor-in-chief


Last week during a quick afternoon fly fishing trip to a local beach, I was passed two young fishermen, with spinning rods rigged with swimming plugs in hand. They asked about my fly rod and asked if I had caught a snook yet. I replied that I had just started casting, and one of them said "Should be snook along here in these bait schools. I'm ready to "rip some lips!"

By now, you may have noticed that Rip Some Lips has become a favorite cliche if not a "battle cry" for some anglers. I think it is macho B.S. most of the time.

Well, in the case of snook, it is closed season now through the summer in Florida, and catch-and-release should be practiced with every effort to not rip some lips. A good start would be to avoid using treble hooks for fish you plan to, or must, release. You can still use that favorite lure that comes stock with trebles. I would suggest: replacing the trebles with single hooks. Or, at the least clip off one of the three "legs" of that treble, and then crimp down the barbs on the remaining hooks. Leave a bump; you will be surprised to see how well the hooks will hold in a fish's mouth (see photo for examples). Or you might just fish a single hook lure, like a soft plastic or spoon.

These measures will not only save on wear and tear on that fish. It will also allow you to remove hooks more quickly to get that fish on its way--a good idea especially in hot summer water.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012




On the Line 

by Mike Conner, Editor-in-Chief


Mulling Over Mercury


A close friend had a great bottom-fishing trip in the Dry Tortugas west of Key West in recent days, and keeping with tradition, he and his wife hosted a dinner party for my wife and our circle of friends last night. I was still thinking about that sumptuous yellowtail snapper this morning as I opened up the local section of my daily newspaper, The Stuart News,  to: "Mercury Level in Lagoon fish Higher?"

It referred to an ongoing study, and somewhat concerning statistics that show that hair samplings of individuals living around Central Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL) show elevated mercury levels.
It is well-documented that the Lagoon's dolphins, which are apex predators, have some of the highest levels of mercury in their flesh than anywhere in the world.

The sub-theme of the article was that the poor economy is driving more local anglers to the water to catch and increasingly keep Lagoon species such as seatrout, redfish, pompano, bluefish and snook, and nearshore species such as Spanish mackerel and kingfish to put meals on the table.

One gentleman who was interviewed while fishing on the popular north Jetty at Sebastian Inlet on Florida's Atlantic coast claimed that he ate fish "a dozen or more times a week," which is pretty extreme, but unemployment gave him little choice.

What is known is that methylmercury, the neurotoxin is generated by bacteria that thrives in oxygen-depleted environs common in the ground in Florida Everglades, Lake Okeechobee and the Lagoon. And some researchers believe that sulfates from fertilizers and fungicides boost the growth of methylmercury. And guess where that ends up? In stormwater runoff and even rainfall.

I just now estimated the number of fish servings I have had in the last month, from my personal Lagoon catches (trout, flounder, sheepshead and pompano) and sushi bar stops (tuna are reportedly mercury-laden) , and though I am not in that Sebastian Inlet angler's league, I eat a fair amount of fish. The photo I have included here is fresh flounder, a great eating fish that we target at this time of year.

And I am looking into getting tested, to see where I stand. For a detailed guide on how often how should consume particular fish species in various waters, visit www.tcpalm.com/fishnotice/
  

Monday, May 7, 2012

Send 'Em Off Strong

I walked outside this morning and it hit me like wall. Summer has arrived in Florida, the humidity is up, and as if on cue, thunderstorms are stacking up along the coast today. As it reached 89 an hour ago, I needed a longer break from yardwork, and that got me to thinking about fish that we release. From here on out, they need a little more resuscitation time as the water gets hotter this month and certainly through the entire summer.

The best practice is to use adequate tackle for the job, to shorten the fight time. No sense in fighting fish to exhaustion that you plan to release, or must release due to closed seasons, bag limits or sub-legal length.

Keep the fish in the water, and at most, take a quick snap shot in four or five seconds and get that fish back. We all need reminding of that, I am guilty not sticking to that at times.

Lastly, if predators are about, such as sharks or dolphins, that tired fish that you release is probably a dead duck. Release a fish into cover whenever practical, and in extreme circumstances, it might be time to move on and not fish when and where your released catch is sure to fall victim.  

-- Mike Conner, Editor-in Chief  

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

On the Line by Mike Conner

No Gators in My Pan

I know that many anglers struggle with the concept of letting the big ones go and keeping the small ones to eat.

But it makes perfect sense to do just that, in many cases. May is a top month to catch a so-called "gator" trout in my home waters of the Indian River Lagoon. Big spotted seatrout in the 5- to 10-pound-plus class seem to light up just as our spring bait run commences, and it is in full swing right now.

I made a quick wading trip yesterday on the lee side of the river (it was blowing at 20 knots plus) at 5 p.m. Had a big flood tide, so could not wade far from the roadside pulloff. And did not need to. Missed a good thump on my favorite trout plastic, a DOA Shrimp. By 6 pm finger mullet were so thick, every splashdown of my shrimp sent 'em showering. Things were slow, but just as I thought about heading home, I got another telltale thump and set the hook. Nothing spectacular at first, just a head shake and a momentary standoff before the fish wallowed on top before taking a little line. A half-jump convinced me it was a snook. As I got the fish closer, in the poor light, I realized it was a stud trout. Played her to my feet, a 30-incher as my rod measurement divulged later. "Great way to bring in May," I thought. Should have brought my camera.

As I walked the fish along to revive it, a guy down the bank called out, "That a trout?" I said yes, and he came closer and asked if I wanted it. "No, I release all trout over 18 inches. I just eat a few small ones now and then."

As I watched her go away strong, the guy commented that he saw anglers filleting big trout like mine earlier in the week at the cleaning tables. He commented that is perfectly legal, and I agreed.

"It's legal, but really not good in the long run," I said. Then we talked about the superior table quality of smaller seatrout, and the importance of big breeders in the water and so on.

Driving home, I got to thinking about the recent push by CCA Florida and other recreational angling groups to get the state of Florida to do away with our long-standing regional closed seatrout seasons. The state obliged, but also  increased the commercial hook and line catch limit in step. Hey, why wouldn't the commercial guys want more? Sport anglers shined a bright light on assessments that stocks were in excellent shape, right?

I think the short closed seasons benefit the overall numbers of trout. Now trout will be harvested year-round, and despite the conservative bag limits in the 5- to 6-fish range (depending on region) fewer will be released to become "gators," those prolific, genetically superior egg-laying females so vital to the fishery's future.

What I would suggest is keeping the current 15- to 20-inch size limit, but with only one fish in the bag allowed at the maximum of  24 inches in all Florida waters, rather than the current "one greater than 20 inches" allowance. How often do you catch one over 24 inches anyway? Well, there is a reason for that. Why not put the bigger ones on your memory card rather than in the pan?

Friday, April 27, 2012

Stewardship By Terry Gibson




By Terry Gibson, Senior Editor

About a year ago, my girlfriend, Teresa and I decided to align our conservation and cooking ethics with health needs. The rules are pretty simple. For protein, we only eat wild fish, fowl and game that we harvested, ethically and legally of course, or serve up what’s shared with us by friends. We try to abide by it as closely as possible, given Teresa’s work schedule at the hospital, and all my traveling. We eat everything we harvest. And we do our best to cook low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol dishes with nature’s bounty. 
Right now, there’s a wild turkey out back taking on the goodness of apple wood smoke. I’m planning on smoking a couple of wild hog hams for some weekend barbeque. And if we can catch some bluefish, I bet that a smoked fish and arugula salad will go great with lean, barbeque wild pork. 
Life is good.
We got serious about abiding by this ethic because of stern talking-to that my doctor gave me. But we quickly realized another great health benefit—a healthier relationship—thanks to the fun times we’re having fishing, hunting and cooking together. Plus, there’s some of that “sticking it to the man” satisfaction. A lot of meats that you buy in the grocery store are mass-produced, cause pollution issues or are imported seafood that’s farm-raised or caught with harmful fishing gear. We aren’t fans of large, corporate anything, and we aspire always towards self-reliance.
Fly & Light Tackle Angler Editor Mike Conner, Creative Director Ron Romano and I have spent many creative years together in the magazine business, in another type of  “kitchen,”  the editorial office. In designing FLTA, we spent a long time thinking about the key “cookware” and ingredients that will make each issue a savory, healthy, five-course-meal, with plenty of tantalizing tapas between issues, made available via the FLTA website. 
We want to help you get on great bites in beautiful places with the most effective tackle and tactics. We promise to keep you up on the latest fishing-related news. And through our blogs, as well as the Lab column reserved for guest scientists, plus the Stewardship column, we want to help you develop informed perspectives on the management issues of our time, and make informed personal conduct decisions on the water. 
Make sure you also check out Cuisine as well. You’ll find some surprising recipes for your favorite species and for species you never thought fit for eating. A lot of other species are really tasty if prepared right, and harvesting them will help spread out the pressure. 
Until next week, tight lines, and Bon appétit



Monday, April 23, 2012

On The Line by Mike Conner


This morning, April 20, it seemed that summer returned to Southeast Florida. Rainy weather returned and the morning air was thick. And sadly, so are many anglers and water lovers. How so? 

Well, I started the day pompano fishing with surf rods on the beach, at a spot that according to my intel, was productive 24 hours earlier. But this morning, seaweed was thick enough to pull surf rods down in their spikes. By 8:30, I took my lone fish home, and hooked up my skiff and headed back to the coast, to fish the Indian River. Landed two fair snook under docks, and the trout bite went off as the rain clouds piled up and got dark. It was only noon, but  I left the fish biting, because of the fast-building "cauliflowers" over the coast. Got back to the ramp just in time as a few flashes lit the horizon. Anglers in two other boats were launching with rods in the upright racks, rigged for the afternoon. 

One guy looked at me and said, "Been out since sunrise?" 

I told him, no, launched at 10 a.m. but the weather concerned me. 

"A little rain is not a big deal," he laughed. 

"No, but the sparklers comin' out of those storms are!"  To which he said that as long as you are a few miles from a thunderstorm, you're safe.  I just shrugged and said, be careful and good luck, as the skies darkened. 

On my drive home, I thought about how foolhardy those guys were, but nothing like the couple I passed on the beach last summer while I literally sprinted to the car lot with my fly rod as a hot thunderstorm sent bolts to the water a few miles up the coast. They were walking the beach toward the storm.  

When I warned them, the man actually said, "Oh, it's okay. We are wearing rubber-soled shoes." 

I see blatant disregard for personal safety on the water daily when weather threatens. Summer is coming, folks, keep your eyes on the sky. 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

About Fly & Light Tackle Angler Magazine


Fly & Light Tackle Angler is a bi-monthly publication covering domestic and international fly and light-tackle fishing. Our emphasis is on coastal saltwater and warm, freshwater fisheries with occasional coverage of top coldwater destinations. As an app-based digital publication, FLTA promises delivery of highly interactive content to mobile device readers.

Check out the FLTA staff and contributors–all veteran outdoor writers, photographers and videographers with life-long experience on the water. Our collective knowledge runs deep and wide across beautifully diverse fish habitats.

Our team offers you timely features supported by world-class photography and videography. You get concise where-to, when-to and how-to information. There’s travel adventure aplenty. Plus, specialized departments and columns are dedicated to all things technical: casting, rigging, tackle tricks and repair, fly tying, tips for angling parents and more. Others present new boats, tackle and accessories. Subscribers also meet our sport’s great characters through profiles, dig into thoroughly researched conservation investigations, and benefit from ecology lessons from leading scientists that help you fish smarter. Free, regional website-based fishing reports by local experts will help keep you on the bite.

Six interactive issues per year cost less than a pair of your favorite topwater plugs or a handful of flies, and will earn you major dividends in terms of excitement, education and success on your fishing adventures. The FLTA mighty app was made with the touch tablet in mind, and offers access to dynamic elements including dozens of action photo sequences and video clips. Fishing is a action-packed sport that print media can't even begin to convey. So if you are ready to deep-six those print fishing mags, hop aboard with Fly & Light Tackle Angler. Look for updates here on our first issue coming this spring.