We received the below report and picture from Kevin Crum who runs the Striped Bass World Championship Tournament each year in Virginia’s tidal waters. We thought we would pass it along, it’s one kick butt Red Drum, way to go Zach!
(you can click on the picture for a larger version)

“My 12 year old son Zach Crum (Chesapeake, VA) caught his first trophy Red Drum on Sunday. He caught a 46” Red Drum from the surf of Virginia’s eastern shore on hard crab. Zach and I have been surf fishing together since he was 5 years old and has seen the “big guys” have some exceptional fishing, so he had paid his dues. It was an exciting day for him and a proud day for me. Fortunately, we were able to capture the whole thing with some high quality photos I thought I would share.”

Some good news on the fish habitat front, more fish habitat means cleaner water, more fish and better fishing.

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Maryland’s Bay Grasses Increase in 2008
Susquehanna Flats continued expansion drives 20% Increase

Bay grasses, a favorite home to the blue crab, increased 20 percent in 2008 in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  The majority of the 7,221-acre increase resulted from a continued expansion on the Susquehanna Flats, home of the largest bay grass beds in the Chesapeake Bay. While the new number — 42,237 acres (up from 35,016 acres in 2007) —  marks a significant increase, Maryland bay grass acreage remains far short of the 2010 restoration goal of 110,000 acres.

“Whether they fish, boat, swim in its waters, or simply enjoy its world-class seafood, the waters of the Chesapeake Bay are a vital resource for Maryland families… and bay grasses are vital to a healthy Bay,” said Continue Reading »

I have had Lenco Trim Tab trolling motors installed on my boat (Parker 21SE) for about eight years now. A lot of people ask me my feedback and I have answered many emails with a lot of questions so I figured I would post a list of questions with my answers here for those that might be looking to purchase them. To be fully disclosed I did receive a outdoor professional discount on them when I bought them, however I am not paid by Lenco or anything. In addition the Lenco company has changed hands since I originally bought them so I can not comment that much on the new ownership other then to say when I needed a part here or there or needed my transformer box replaced they were very nice and resolved the situation.

I am currently selling my Parker 21Se and replacing it with a Jones Brother 23 Cape Fisherman. I am not sure if I will be going with the Lenco’s or trying the new Minn Kota Trim-n-Troll package. I like to try new products so I may go with the Minn Kota’s, but I am still doing research. When I make a decision I will post.

Questions I have been asked with my answers. If you have other questions feel free to email me.

1. Are you satisfied overall? Continue Reading »

It has long been talked about that mycobacteriosis (myco) can cause death to Striped Bass in the Chesapeake Bay, but given it has not been that long since it appeared there have been no definitive study results saying exactly if it does kill stripedbass or it just looks aweful.  A recent study by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science has confirmed that mycobacteriosis can kill striped bass.  I tried to get the study, but was lead to a site that wanted to charge me $29.99 for it so I will have to order it from the library, however until I get it here is a good article that summarizes the findings.

Well the weekend is about upon us and for many that means it’s time to go fishing! The weatherman is calling for temperatures in the 80′s here in the Chesapeake Bay region which means the bay is sure to be packed with anglers chasing the elusive monster spring striped bass. For those that make it out fishing this weekend, good luck!

If you read the Lateral Line blog from time to time you know we call it like we see it. When it comes to out stance on fisheries, we believe in sustainable fishing. When a fish is in trouble that means that if fishing needs to be curtailed we’ll vote for the reductions of both recreational and/or commerial harvests, whatever makes sense to make sure we have fish for the future. We are not against commerical fishing, although we do believe certain methods that commerical anglers use can and are destructive. If you want to see the long version of our stance on sustainable fishing see our past blog post titled Anti Sport Fishing or Smart Sport Fishing.

When it comes to striped bass we believe that the big stripers are being harvested at much too rapid rate and are in fact, probably in some trouble (when we say big stripers are are talking about striped bass bigger then ten pounds). The reason is that we and a lot of other recreational anglers as well as fishing guides up and down the east coast who hunt and chase these big stripers, are all seeing the same thing, less big stripers. In addition, fisheries management has no real way of telling how many of these striped bass are really out there because of the way they sample the fish. We’ll save that discussion for another day. Now to the point, today we received a note from Stripers Forever. We have supported their organization because we like the grass roots effort they represent, we think making stripers a gamefish is not a bad idea, and we like the tight ship they run in the way of managing and raising money; really their idea is to put themselves out of business by accomplishing their goal. However Continue Reading »

Since Mother Nature is providing us with intermittent blustery weather, many anglers are making the most of inshore opportunities. Protected areas are providing decent catches, with flounder at the top of the list. Captain Steve Wray at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports that anglers working the Lynnhaven River are finding good numbers of keeper flatfish on the moving tides. When folks can get out, they are still finding good numbers of keepers at the bend at the third island of the CBBT and along the Baltimore channel. Nice fish are also coming from the buoys along the bayside of Cape Charles, near the HRBT, and from inside Oyster. The top bait is flounder belly paired with a gudgeon. A few citation doormats are also mixed in with the masses.

Puppy drum are still a mainstay in the shallows and inlets, with Rudee Inlet and Lynnhaven Inlet the best locations to try your luck. A few speckled trout are still available in Rudee Inlet, as well as the Elizabeth River where interest is beginning to give way to newly arriving species. The folks at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center report that Taylor bluefish are also showing inside Rudee Inlet, as well as along the ocean front.

Croaker are hitting in the usual haunts within the lower Bay and along Continue Reading »

Nico Trochine of Faraway Fly Fishing was spotted on a small spring creek in central Patagonia (south of Esquel) with this nice brown trout he caught on dry fly sporting the Lateral Line Miles T-shirt.

Nico is a friend that we met while fishing the Irigoyen River in Tierra del Fuego a few years ago. The Irigoyen River sports some of the best sea run brown trout fishing in the world and is probably the furthest south fishing lodge on the planet. If you are looking for an adventure wit hgiant sea run brown trout, the Irigoyen is a cool place to check out.

As for this brown trout Nico, well, its a great one to be caught in a spring creek!

Nice brown Nico, thanks for sending in the picture!

I get a weekly report from the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association in New Jersey and figured I would share them in the blog this year so we all know what is going on with the striped bass along the coast and what other species the charter boats are catching along the Atlantic in the Beach Haven Area. Here is this weeks report:

“We have kicked off the 2009 fishing season with some mixed results.
Captain Frank Camarda had some eager anglers out Saturday on the “Miss Beach Haven” for a day of bottom fishing. Camarda termed the fishing in 60-80 feet of water “a slow pick” although some nice Continue Reading »