Saltwater Christmas
ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Christmas features the "must do" saltwater fishing excursions along the coasts of the United States. Between now and year's end, we'll present a bucket list of fishing trips any angler would love to receive.
Caged on Christmas
Rob RussowThe author chases spiny lobster and gets thwarted by smart seals on a trip to San Diego.SAN DIEGO, Calif. — 'Twas the night before Christmas and the only thoughts dancing though my head were clever seals, Gerber jars and wet hands as I sat rocking quietly on a boat in the San Diego Harbor.
Planning a trip for spiny lobster about a month earlier had gotten me stoked to reach the ocean. My uncle, Steve Russow, lives on a sailboat and spends his free time in the winter hooping for lobster out of a small skiff he borrows from a friend.
My Uncle Steve was one of my childhood heroes and our family trips to the West Coast were always highlighted by a few nights sleeping in the bunks on his boat, eating fresh fish with parmesan potatoes and taking in the foreign smells of saltwater and pelicans. Story
Come sail away
Heidi StanislawskiA hooked sailfish off Islamorada flies through a jump trying to break off.ISLAMORADA, Fla. — Winter showers bring ... sailfish.
A "shower" of baitfish guides anglers to fish, and the first seen by the crew on the Blue Heaven set the boat into fast forward.
"Sail on."
The distinctive sound of a sailfish dragging line off the spinning reel sends Capt. Skye Stanley and first mate Daniel Attales into motion.
As Stanley, up in his fly bridge, gives the call and before Attales can even pull the rod out of the holder, another reel sounds off. Then another.
A slow day of trolling has turned to choas. With only four aboard, including two greenhorns who sorely need help, there's really not enough hands to effectively battle three of the hard-fighting, high-flying fish. Story
Fort De Soto diversity
Floridians rarely see snow for Christmas, but the beautiful white sands of Fort De Soto's North Beach more than merit the top rankings this area consistently receives. Bolstering this ambient attraction is a multiplicity of angling opportunity for those who like fishing on foot, in a boat or from piers.
A rustic old fort with cannons long retired attracts plenty of visitors, but the Southern Pinellas County destination known as "Fort De Soto" offers one of Florida's most photogenic, family-friendly fishing destinations. Story
Alaska Adventure
Keith SuttonThe author poses with a Pacific salmon, the third bucket list fish he checked off in Alaska.As Capt. Andy Mezirow of Seward guides his boat from Resurrection Bay into the Gulf of Alaska, I gaze in wonder at the beauty surrounding us. Story
Tampa Bay: Walking in a wading wonderland
David A. Brown When fish get trapped in backwater pools, the action can be nearly nonstop.Wading works year-round, of course, but one simple principle plays up the winter applicability — access. The chilly months see the year's lowest tides and when cold fronts bring hard north winds, water races off the flats and stays gone for the better part of a day. This leaves fish in isolated areas and makes them prime targets for an ultra-stealthy approach.
It's exhilarating, dramatic — the thrill of the hunt. Once you step out of a boat, your range and mobility decrease. That makes planning and site selection very important. No sense hopping in and out of the boat every 10 minutes, so carefully select your area and commit to a serious search effort.
When the bite's on, you'll be tempted to push farther and farther until you realize you're a mile from the boat. Avoid this by tying a bowline around your waist and towing the boat when working broad areas.
Once you get the vessel moving, the boat tracks easily behind you with minor tugs. Wading anglers may also extend their range and facilitate perilous crossings with a kayak. Sit-on-top models with rod holders are ideal. Story
Cape Cod: Hottest bluefin fall fishery
It's a bucket list trip not only because the success rate is high and it can be done within eyesight of land, but there is a legitimate shot at landing a bluefin over 6-feet long. Right now, angry bluefin tuna in the 200-300 pound class are consistently falling to jigs, live bait and even the fly, as a variety of techniques will catch this species. Story
No other pier: Fishing mecca Pacifica Pier
The pier in Pacifica, Calif., offers fishing past the surf line.Normally, salmon fishing in the ocean outside the Bay is very popular, with boats out of the East Bay, Marin County and Fisherman's Wharf. But the run of Chinooks the last two years has been so small that the ocean salmon season outside the Golden Gate has been closed, spreading sadness among resident and non-resident anglers. Story
Spend the new year in old Florida
Decidedly down home and comfortably casual, Homosassa is small-town USA with a collection of historical and recreational gems that make this Citrus County community an attractive destination for those seeking life at a pleasant pace. Rich with natural resources abounding in its namesake river and nearby Gulf of Mexico, Homosassa finds much of its past rooted in the fishing industry. Today, shrimpers, crabbers and commercial fishing boats share the waterways with sport-fishing vessels, as the sea remains the essential pillar of this community.
Fed by several rivers and creeks — principally the mighty Homosassa River — the region from Chassahowitzka Point, northward to the St. Martin's Keys, offers a potpourri of piscatorial potential. Story
Missile attack: Kingfish running wild on Florida's Gulf Coast
David A. BrownAnthony Cellemare and Joe Maisano often catch big kingfish by slow trolling live baits.Got the mental image? Great, that's a king mackerel.
Call 'em kingfish, kings, or even "smokers" when they grow to 30 pounds or better. Just know that these dudes are amped-up, streamlined killers that'll come in hot and put the chomp on just about anything they decide to eat.
Big kings certainly won't make the game easy. You can't just hit the water and hope for the best — bring your A game or don't bother. Story
Sturgeon fever: An obsession for Loch Lomond's 'Baitman'
Unspoiled wilderness embraces much of the Homosassa River system.In church, the afflicted can be seen with tide books tucked into hymnals. When the wife asks, "What time is it?" they reply according to next minus tide. As rains begin to fall, those possessed dip shrimp into cups of Starbuck's latte while chanting, "bite," bite."
No it's not, H1N1, these poor souls are suffering from "sturgeon fever." "There is no cure for this malady," counsels Keith Fraser, 72, of San Rafael — except to go sturgeon fishing. Story
Goliath!: Tangling with goliath grouper on top of bucket list
He crossed of a lot of fish in the past 40 years, and one big target on the list eluded him: the goliath grouper.
Imagine a steer-sized largemouth bass with mottled brown colors and you'll know what this brute looks like. He often saw photos of these big groupers in fishing books and magazines, and most were similar — a goliath grouper hanging above a dock with a triumphant angler standing beside it. The angler always was puny by comparison, a fact that fueled his desire to catch these incredible giants.
He finally did it. Story
Homer, Alaska: Halibut Capital of the World
Every once in a while he interrupts boy scouts, sports and school work and takes his kids fishing, but spending an afternoon untangling lines and baiting hooks is a different kind of fun than fishing trips with buddies.
Like most dads, this 47-year-old North Carolina father secretly aches for the old days when out-of-state fishing trips were a normal part of his annual schedule.
To fit a grand fishing trip into his schedule these days requires a little luck and the blessings of both his wife and boss.
It was a matter of good fortune that allowed him to end a hunt early and visit Homer, Alaska, the Halibut Capital of the World. Story
