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Sailboat fishing: expert tips on fishing from a sailboat

By Author Guest Post

Posted on Last updated: November 20, 2023

Many sailors don’t realize that sailboat fishing is really quite simple and can be a sustainable (and delicious!) way to supplement their diets.

This article explains how to fish from your sailboat (and dingy) and is an edited extract from The Hunter & The Gatherer, a cookbook and provisioning guide by Catherine Lawson and David Bristow.

Catherine and David are long-time, liveaboard sailors and are currently cruising with their 10-year-old daughter on their 40ft cat, Wild One . 

If the idea of harvesting your own seafood appeals to you, we recommend checking out their book The Hunter & The Gatherer, published by Exploring Eden Media . For every copy sold, one tree is planted! Check it out or order your copy here .

If you needed any more motivation to give sailboat fishing a try, Catherine and David have included a kickass recipe for Fijian Queenfish Kokoda (a conconut, lime, and chile infused ceviche) at the end of this post.

Waterborne is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Fishing from the back of your sailboat or yacht

Our boat Wild One really pulls its weight when we sail, and it’s a rare (or rough) day on the water when we don’t have at least one hand line out.

We regularly (fingers crossed) catch all kinds of tuna and mackerel, giant trevally, and maybe a mahi mahi (dolphinfish or dorado) or a wahoo this way.

I tend to keep the lines out longer than Catherine, but as long as we wind them in before sunset, we can usually avoid snaring sharks and the delicate mission of getting them off the line without harm.

Fishing tackle and equipment

On long, leisurely sails, we’ll often detour across sandy shoals or pinnacles where large pelagics (and the seabirds that give them away) tend to hunt.

We use large hand lines secured to the stern rails with bungy loops to take the shock load when a large pelagic bites down. Ours are wrapped with overpowered 350-500 pound mono to prevent big fish from snapping the lines.

I add a heavy-duty swivel, and trolling lures are crimped on for strength and to make the system more streamlined. I never tie knots, and we rarely lose a fish and never a lure (although they do get retired after too many bites).

My favorite lures are Halco’s deep diving, red-and-white ‘Qantas’ lures, but when big pelagics are around, I swap the standard treble hooks out for large singles.

There are a few reasons I choose hand lines over boat rods.

1. Hand lines are dirt cheap and available everywhere (we often beach comb them off the high tide mark).

2. They have no moving parts to break and are very quick to wind in when retrieving a catch, although you do need a bit of strength to wrangle in big fish.

Being on a catamaran, we can run out two lines without them fouling each other. But we do run them at different distances (one 25 meters, the other 40 meters) and with lures that swim at different depths.

Catching fish by boat is by no means a certainty, but it increases our chances of reaching an anchorage with protein ready to cook.

Dispatching your fish

I can’t stress enough how important it is to kill your catch swiftly and humanely, even when underway.

If the sailing conditions become too hectic to deal with a potential catch, I feel it’s better to pull the lines in rather than catch a fish that I can’t treat properly and respectfully.

There are lots of ways to bring large pelagics on board when underway, but here’s what I do aboard Wild One .

Once gaffed and safely on board, dispatch your catch humanely and swiftly by spiking its brain.

The brain is located in the middle of the fish’s head, just behind the eye, and you will know when you’ve hit it because your fish will spasm briefly, its fins will flare for a moment, and then the fish will then go limp.

Cleaning and fileting

To bleed the fish, lay it flat and cut behind the gills with your knife facing toward the fish’s head.

Slice from top to bottom until you see blood flow, then repeat on the other side.

Submerge or rinse the fish well in salt water, or if conditions permit, drag it by its tail for a minute or two to flush and clean it ready for filleting.

Slice off your fillets (don’t wet the fish again if you can help it), and place them in a large colander over a bowl (covered with a beeswax wrap or similar) to drain and rest in the fridge.

This resting helps drain the lactic acid that builds up in large, fighting pelagic fish. I usually drain fillets overnight, and whatever doesn’t get eaten while it’s fresh is bagged, labeled, and frozen.

Some sailors abhor the idea of sending fresh fish to the freezer, but when we’re cruising, especially in remote sailing grounds, fish provide an essential source of protein, and nothing is wasted.

Those species that are prolific and sustainably caught, prepared with respect, and fully utilized to reduce wastage, can help to feed you and your family when stores are a distant memory, and on all those days when the fish aren’t biting.

Shore Fishing

Boat life can get busy, but when I do have some downtime, you’ll find me holding the end of a rod while nursing something cold at day’s end.

When we jump into the dinghy to explore a new anchorage or to head ashore, I’ll always run a few lines out in the hope of snaring a fish before we hit the beach. If we have to use our fuel, we may as well turn every dinghy run into a fishing expedition.

When trolling in the tender along reefs, sand troughs, or mangrove-fringed shorelines, I use a scaled-down version of the hand reels on board or cast an overhead bait caster rod with smaller hard body lures or soft plastics.

This rod combo is extremely accurate when trying to land a lure into a tight location, or when chasing those ever-elusive barramundis, mangrove jack, and delicious varieties of cod.

These fighters demand patience and are all excellent eating, but if things don’t go your way, the mangroves are also great places to gather a feed of oysters at low tide.

In northern Australia, queenfish and trevally are regularly caught while dinghy trolling over sandbars, off river mouths, over inshore reefs, and sometimes by rod while standing on a beach with a beer.

Spearing reef fish

We spend a lot of time cruising in the tropics where coral reefs, and the trout, snapper, jobfish, and trevally they nurture, are generally abundant.

Anytime we can get in the water is an adventure, and while we are exploring a new reef, spearfishing provides a selective way to get dinner on board.

With a long enough breath-hold and plenty of patience, spearfishing can provide us with a meal in a manner that’s sustainable and respectful to the reefs.

This is really what got me into spearfishing because I can consciously choose a fish that is of suitable size and abundant in the places we drop anchor without harming any other fish in the process.

It’s also a great skill to learn, provides an excellent workout, and is one of the most authentic ways to take a fish.

I use a Rob Allen 1200 Sniper rail gun with dual bands and a 7mm carbon steel shaft. I find that the shaft stays true and is more accurate than other guns I’ve owned.

EDITOR’s Note: Some reef fish contain a toxin that causes a food-borne illness known as Ciguatera . It causes gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms and in very rare cases can be fatal. For this reason, many cruisers avoid eating reef fish altogether.

When you have to buy fish

Sometimes the fish just aren’t biting, and the reef fish are too skittish and too small to be speared. When we face a dry spell, we revert to our vegetarian ways, tucking into tempeh, beans, eggs, and lentils.

There’s always the option of buying fish as we go, from passing fishermen who visit our anchorages or in local markets where the daily catch comes with few food miles.

But bigger centers and supermarkets challenge conscious consumers who want to know just how sustainable their dinner really is. It can be difficult (and sometimes impossible) to know where and how a fish has been caught and whether a particular species is abundant in the location where it was taken.

These questions matter. 85% of global fish stocks are fully or over-exploited, depleted, or in recovery from exploitation . Thanks to our collective, growing hunger for seafood, all ocean ecosystems, including by-catch populations, are in peril.

The bulk of the guilt can be levied at large-scale fishing operations – trawlers, longliners, and gillnetters. But even at local levels, the stripping of coral reefs and continuing use of dynamite (blast) fishing has a devastating, irreversible impact.

When a blast went off in eastern Indonesia’s Kei Islands in late 2022, we thought our rigging had snapped and the mast was coming down.

We rushed out on deck, puzzled and perplexed, only to see a boatload of fishermen working with hand nets to scoop up fish. This desperate means to a meal is short-sighted at best, and the heartbreaking destruction of the reef and its minute and complex ecosystems will haunt these island populations for decades to come.

Fish farms or ‘sea ranches’ don’t always provide a better alternative and can be incredibly wasteful. Take, for example, Australia’s southern bluefin tuna.

This critically endangered species is caught from the wild and fattened in feedlots off the South Australian coast, primarily for export to foreign markets.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) reports that it takes up to 12 kilograms of wild-caught fish to grow one kilogram of southern bluefin tuna .

The maths just doesn’t add up, and wild-caught fish stocks used as tuna food are jeopardized further by the release of pollution from aquaculture farms back into the sea via uneaten fishmeal, antibiotics, and concentrated fish waste .

The good news is that you can wade through the confusion by downloading the Sustainable Seafood Guide app or check your choices at goodfish.org.au . In the USA, download the Seafood Watch Consumer Guide for a list of best buys wherever you live.

Recipe from The Hunter & The Gatherer

Queenfish kokoda.

Love it or hate it, raw fish gets a lot of people excited. When you land a beautiful fish (and it doesn’t have to be tuna), or someone gifts you a couple of fresh fillets after a day at sea, ceviche is a tasty, no-fuss way to get any meal started.

This Fijian-style ceviche, known as kokoda, balances out the raw fish perfectly and packs it with flavor.

To add crunch (and stretch the dish), stir through chopped tomato, cucumber, and fresh capsicum before serving, and dish it up in coconut shells, clams or, lettuce cups. Otherwise, savor it in its virgin state, slowly.

Ingredients

• 500g (1lb) queenfish (or any firm white fish)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 finely chopped spring onions (scallion)(or 1/2 red onion or 4-5 shallots)
• 1/3 cup finely chopped coriander (cilantro) and mint
• 1 fresh red chili, finely chopped(or 1 tsp dried crushed chili)
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• cracked black pepper
• extra fresh coriander sprigs to serve
• Optional: add 1 roughly chopped tomato, 1 small cucumber (diced), and ½ small capsicum (bell pepper), chopped

Instructions

• Trim and rinse the fish, pat dry, and cut into small cubes.
• Place in a mixing bowl and squeeze over 1 ½ limes.
• Season with salt, and toss to combine.
• Refrigerate for 2-3 hours until the fish turns opaque.
• When ready to eat, drain the fish, add the spring onion, chopped herbs, chilli, coconut milk, a generous pinch of black pepper, and any extra vegetables, and stir well.
• Serve with lime wedges and extra coriander sprigs.

Safety note: Citrus juice does not kill bacteria or parasites that may be in the fish. Always choose either commercially-frozen fish or high-quality sushi-grade fresh fish for ceviche. Avoid cod, swordfish, monkfish, and all freshwater fish as they are highly parasitic. When in doubt ask an experienced local angler or fisherman.

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This was an amazing tour. I'm traveling for 16 month now, and it was definitely one of the highlights. We sailed on Big Fish 1 - a small boat, with a chill, family-like vibe, produced by the amazing crew: Tilson (the captain), Maria (the cook) and Rey (who helped everyone of us with everything, all the time, and always with a big smile). Maria's cooking was varied and delicious - We ate very good and a lot. In this trip it happened that all tourists were aged 25-30, and all solo/duo travelers, which was really nice. The best part of the trip is the island hoping, where you visit, swim, snorkel, drink & chill on different beautiful islands. The open sea part, is a bit harder for seasickness, but it was still a good experience with the people, the views, the food and the books 🙂 this trip made me fantasize on doing a sailing license!

Fabulous 5-day trip, would recommend

Fabulous 5 day trip Panama to Cartagena with captain Tilson, Maria and Rey on Big Fish 1 with 9 other passengers. Spent the first 3 days island hopping on San Blas, lying on the deck and beam bags and snorkeling for hours. Maria made delicious and versatile food, all the crew were lovely, good fun and very reliable. Would absolutely recommend Maria, Rey and Tilson, the boat and also Blue sailing. be aware that this was not a „luxury“ cruise. you might not be able to shower for 5 days (however, you will be in the sea a lot) and there is not too much room on board. you will probably be sharing a rather small double bed, so you will be close to your new friends. This depends on the boat you travel with. On the last two days we were on open water and couldn’t swim, so we read a lot and slept and helped steer the boat. Sone people got quite seasick but for most it was not too bad.

Amazing trip!

I can only recommande this trip, crew, People, atmosphère and food was excellent on big fish! Thank Nathaly Tilson and Eric !

Big Fish II

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Big Fish is all about unique, thrilling, life-enriching experiences.

It’s about taking you places that no other luxury yacht has gone before in a level of style, safety and comfort never seen before in a true expeditionary vessel.

It’s about you and doing it your way.

Scuba dive the world’s most spectacular reefs. Explore remote islands of intense natural beauty. Experience remote cultures and see the ocean’s most magnificent creatures. Sail, kayak, kite board and water ski with your family in the most stunning locations the planet has to offer.

Big Fish was built and staffed to provide a window to our beautiful world and create experiences that will live long in the memories, in the heart and in the soul of your family and friends.

Chill in the jacuzzi in a secluded tropical bay. Enjoy delectable, lovingly prepared cuisine any time, anywhere…on your own private deck, the infinity terraces of the dining salon or even on the folding stern beaches as the sun sets and the underwater lights create a vista of marine serenity and attract myriad schools of fish to your feet.

Big Fish was designed, built and staffed to provide a true yachting experience, not the stuffy formality offered by most charter vessels, but the relaxed, adventurous, spontaneous kind of cruising that has always been at the heart of man’s passion for the sea. Big Fish can, and will, open up a whole new world of undiscovered pleasures.

If previous charters have left you wanting more, Big Fish delivers on every front. Stunning contemporary luxury, innovation at every turn, and a delightful, fun-loving, thoroughly professional crew who are focused entirely on your safety, your comfort, and your pleasure.

Their mission is simple…to ensure that you and your guests enjoy the time of your lives. You will.

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• Tender and Watersports

Tax Status:  Charter taxes, where applicable, will be due according to the rules and regulations of the chosen cruising destination Contracts:  MYBA – All agreements to be drawn up using the current MYBA E-contract Charter Agreement – Revised 2017 version

WATERSPORTS:

• 1 x 7.8m Custom M & W Tender (200+mile range)
• 10 x sets of dive gear
• 1 x 4.2m Explorer RIB with 40hp outboard
• 2 x wake boards
• 7 x paddle boards
• 1x Water Ski & Single Ski
• Snorkelling Gear
• 5x Under Water Camera
• 2 x Sea doo Jet Ski GTI130
• 2 x towing inflatable toys

FISHING GEAR:

• 4 x 80W Tiagra Big Game Fishing
• 4 x 30W Tiagra Big Game Fishing
• 2 x 50W Tiagra Big Games Fishing
• 4 x Cannon downriggers
• 4 x bait runners cast fishing
• Big Fish has a large supply of O2 on board for re-breathers and safety (3 x 120 [cubic feet] tanks plus DAN portable units)
• The commercial dive compressoror is “water cooled” for continuous service.
• 4 x Nautilus Lifeline VHF-GPS Radios for divers (www.divealert.com)

2 x DJI Phantom drones

TRAINING DVD’S

• Kettle Bell work out

• Hammer and Chisel (strength and cardio)

• Insanity (cardio)

• T-25 (Cardio)

• Yoga (Various styles)

• Pilates (Various styles)

• Stand Up paddle boarding

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GYM EQUIPMENT

• Dumbbells (2kg up to 20kg)

• Resistance and stretching bands (various)

• Kettle Bells (8-16)

• Medicine Balls (5kg & 3kg)

• Soft hand weights and angle weights 1kg & 2kg

• Heavy rope for cross training

• Rings for cross training

• Step platform for cross training

• Gin up bar fixed to ceiling (also used for rings and hanging swing)

• Pilates board fixed to wall

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• Massage and reflex balls

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• Bench with tilting back rest

• TRX and various attachments

• Various training books

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Set of three Sunfish mainsheet hanger clips. Made of durable PETG plastic. Fitted for the 1.5" diam..

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Big Fish Sailboat - Spars on Deck Top Cover

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Product Description

As shown in the picture, this Big Fish cover is a cross between a top flat cover and a mast up cover. This cover has the tail on the cover to allow the spars and sail to be stored on deck. It will also be cut wider to make room for the spars on deck. This cover has a large reinforcement at the bow to handle the extra chafe caused by having the spars on deck. This is a great option if you would like to leave all of the equipment for your boat, at your boat, but with the mast down. Our  Big Fish cover fits snugly below the rub rail of the hull to seal out dirt and water. It features a Velcro attachment around the aft section of the boom (the part that hangs over the back of the boat). The cover is held on through most conditions by the elastic cord in the hem and there are tie down points every three feet around the cover if you need to tie it down. You can upgrade your cover to include a bow eye cutout.  We offer this cover in three different fabric types, look over the fabrics in the drop down chart below.

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Top 10 Places to Fish in Cumberland Valley PA

Cumberland Valley welcomes anglers of all skill levels and ages to enjoy the scenic streams and lakes that make our area a fishing destination. The Valley is known around the world for fly-fishing, which is why the top three spots are also our best spots for fly-fishing. Plan your Weekend Easy getaway and cast away your cares.

Pennsylvania's statewide opening day for Trout Season in 2024 is on Saturday, April 6 . A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 30, 2024. See the PA Fish & Boat Commission stocking schedule for Cumberland Valley.

Discover what makes Carlisle a  Trout Town  in the article that appeared in American Fly Fishing magazine. See below for the top ten places to fish in Cumberland Valley.

1. YELLOW BREECHES CREEK

Beloved by anglers of every skill level thanks to abundant trout and a mile-long catch-and-release section near Boiling Springs.

• Yellow Breeches Creek Water Trail Map & Guide  provides boating and recreation info for approximately 22 miles of the creek, including two float trips
• ADA Accessible Fishing Piers:  Available in Leidigh Park and Spanglers Mill 
• Parking:  1559 Boiling Springs Rd, Boiling Springs 17007, Fisherman's parking lot located on the left-hand side of the driveway when entering the property; reference two locations in Boiling Springs on Map #1 below;  Leidigh Park, 1526 Leidigh Dr, Boiling Springs 17007; Spanglers Mill, 1425 Spanglers Mill Rd, Camp Hill 17011; Stuart Park, 519 Pine Rd, Carlisle 17015

2.  LETORT SPRING RUN

Copious reed beds and taxing currents make this spot a challenge, the wild brown trout here seem to be particularly wily.

• Handicapped Accessible:  Fishing platform inside LeTort Park, Nature Trail is ADA accessible but not paved
• Parking:  Reference two locations on Map #2 below for Cumberland Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited Land; LeTort Park, 260 E. Pomfret St, Carlisle 17013; S. Spring Garden St, Carlisle 17013

3.  BIG SPRING CREEK GREENWAY

World famous limestone creek that flows through woodland and farmland before emptying into the Conodoguinet Creek.

• 5th largest spring in Pennsylvania
• Parking:  Reference three locations on Map #3 below

4.  OPOSSUM LAKE

Fifty-nine-acre lake stocked with rainbow trout.

• Three boating access points of which one has a surfaced launch ramp, boating is limited to boats powered by electric motors and un-powered boats
• Handicapped Accessible:  Path
• ADA Accessible:  Fishing dock
• Species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, purebred muskellunge, black crappie and tiger muskellunge, are catch-and- release and must be immediately returned unharmed.
• Parking:  Open parking area at entrance on Opossum Lake Road

5.  FULLER LAKE

Located at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

• Common fish to be found include pickerel, bass, perch and stocked trout
• Parking:  Open parking area available near the lake 

6.  LAUREL LAKE

• Boat launch, 85 mooring spaces and boat rentals available
• Common fish to be found include pickerel, bass, perch and stocked trout 
• Parking:  Open parking area available near the lake

7.  CONODOGUINET CREEK

Fishing on the creek is accessible from 15 access points, all located within parks throughout Cumberland Valley. Click the link for locations.

• Conodoguinet Creek Water Trail Map & Guide  features access points along approximately 40 miles of the creek and outlines two float trips
• Fish for smallmouth bass, rock bass, sunfish and stocked tiger muskellunge fingerlings
• Parking:  North Middleton Park, 1770 Waggoner's Gap Rd, Carlisle 17013; Willow Mill Park, 80 Willow Mill Park Rd, Mechanicsburg 17050

8.  SUSQUEHANNA RIVER TRAIL

The river's fertile limestone water is one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the East. 

• Other fish include muskies, walleye, smallmouth bass, panfish, catfish and carp
• Boating access points and boat rentals are available
• Parking: West Fairview Point & Park, 50 Front St, West Fairview; City Island Parking Garage

9.  DOUBLING GAP LAKE

Located in Colonel Denning State Park.

• Stocked with trout
• ADA-accessible ishing pier 
• Parking:  Open parking area near the lake

 10.  CHILDREN'S LAKE

Spring-fed and stocked with trout.

• Fishing is permitted from a shallow-draft boat, electric-motored boat, or canoe
• Open to all ages for fishing
• ADA-compliant fishing pier that extends into the lake.
• Parking:  Street parking around the lake, parking lot near the back of the lake by the furnace

Other Places to Fish

Although they didn't make the Top 10 there are plenty of other places to fish in the Valley. View even more details about the  fishing locations in the Valley  or view our blog on Fishing Honey Holes.

Michaux State Park

Cold-water fishing, stocked trout streams and warm water fishing are available. Read More 

Native and stocked trout are abundant in many of the streams and lakes. Read More 

Mountain Creek

Access Mountain Creek in Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Mount Holly Marsh Preserve, fish for brown, brook and rainbow trout. Read More 

Middle Spring Creek

Spring-fed trout stream with tributaries including Branch Creek, Burd Run, Gum Run and Mains Run. Read More 

Green Springs Creek

Well-hidden, limestone stream, with headwaters starting at the Conodoguinet Creek, stocked with Brown, Rainbow and Brook Trout. Read More 

Fishing Guides & Attractions

Fishing guides.

• Angling Adventures
• Adventure Explorations
• Broken Pole Outfitters
• Tom's Fly-Fishing Service
• TCO Outdoors
• Precision Fly-Fishing & Tackle

Fishing Attractions

• Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum
• Huntsdale State Fish Hatchery
• Green Spring Trout Farm

How to Get Started

Make sure to take a few minutes to obtain a fishing license and/or launch permit and read over fishing and boating regulations before starting your trip. Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website  for information on boat registration, fishing licenses, water trails and  basic skills . 

You can purchase a fishing license online , by mail, or in person at 11 locations throughout the county including K-Mart in Carlisle or Wal-Mart in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg or Shippensburg.

A license, which must be displayed on an outer garment while fishing, is required of all people 16 years and older. A current Pennsylvania trout/salmon permit (stamp) is required to fish for trout and salmon in PA waters. These can also be purchased at the locations listed above.

Fishing Streams & Regulations

Check the PA Fish and Boat Commission website for Opening Day of Trout Season:   Big Spring Creek ,  Children's Lake ,  Doubling Gap Lake ,  Fuller Lake ,  Green Springs Creek ,  Middle Spring Creek ,  Mountain Creek ,  Opossum Lake ,  Yellow Breeches Creek

Year-Round Fishing:  

Laurel Lake ,  Mountain Creek  (from Adams County line downstream to the backwaters of Laurel Lake)

Catch and Release Fishing:

• Yellow Breeches Creek  - 1.17 miles; 0.17 miles of the Unnamed Tributary to Yellow Breeches Creek (from the outfall of Children's Lake to the confluence with Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs) and 1.0 mile of Yellow Breeches Creek from the confluence with the Unnamed Tributary at Boiling Springs downstream to the vicinity of Allenberry
• Opossum Lake - The lake is stocked with rainbow trout. All other species are catch and release.

Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only:

• Big Spring Creek  - 1.1 miles; from 100 feet below the source (Big Spring) downstream to the Nealy Road Bridge
• Green Springs Creek - 1 mile; from mouth upstream to near confluence with Bulls Head Branch
• LeTort Spring Run  - 1.7 miles; from 300 yards upstream of bridge on T-481 (Bonnybrook Road) downstream to the Reading Railroad Bridge at the southern edge of LeTort Spring Park

Must-See in Cumberland Valley

Discover and explore all the possibilities.

FISHING INFO

Fishing Report 8.20.2024

Outdoor adventures, parks & trails, faq's & articles.

Fall Hunting Opportunities…Beautiful Waterfowl

Maps & trails.

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ANNUAL FISHING TOURNAMENTS

MTT. Minnesota Tournament Trail

NWT. National Walleye Tour

AIM. Angler’s Insight Marketing

Chili Bowl, Border View Lodge

Arnesen’s, Summer Tournament

River Bend Resort, Ladies tournament

Zippel Bay Resort, Northern Pike Tournament

Fishing Report 8.27.2024

The deep mud is holding big numbers of fish.  30 – 35 feet of water is the norm right now for depth.

A two hook crawler harness with a spinner blade colored in gold, gold / pink, pink, orange, glow red, glow white, or a combo of these colors.  Use a 2 – 3 ounce weight to get it down.  Heavier in deeper water and in breezy conditions.

Sturgeon anglers are reporting good summer action.  Anchored up soaking some crawlers or frozen emerald shiners (or both) is the name of the game.

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'Why they call it Rocktober': Gulf waves have slowed early days of Destin Fishing Rodeo

It’s been rocking and rolling at the 75 th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo – literally. 

For the first three days of the October fishing event, the Gulf of Mexico has kept anglers bobbing with 3- to 5-foot seas, even some 6-footers. 

“It’s been rougher in the mornings, then the wind dies out, and it’s a big ground swell in the afternoon,” said Capt. Jim Green of the party boat New Florida Girl’s American Spirit. 

“That’s why they call it Rocktober,” Green said. 

Nevertheless, Green and his anglers braved the seas Tuesday and got on the leaderboard with a 3.4-pound and 2-pound mingo, both caught by Wes Haines of Tampa. The American Spirit also got on the board in the party boat division with a 9.4-pound Almaco Jack caught by Ted Anderson of West Virginia. 

Last year on the first day of the Rodeo, 84 fish were weighed, this year it was about half at 43. 

However, by day two, the Rodeo reached 66 fish entries and by end of day three the count was at 119. 

“It’s been a rough and slow start,” said Rodeo weighmaster Bruce Cheves. 

“I’ve had a Rodeo where nobody left the docks for the first two weeks because of the weather. But this is all going to blow through and we’re going to have plenty of time to catch fish. 

“And it’s already starting to get better,” Cheves said Tuesday afternoon. 

Out of the first three days, Tuesday was the biggest by far with the most volume and bigger fish. 

Capt. Mike Graef on the Huntress came in at 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday with several fish that made it on the board in the Charter Boat Division. They had the first- and second-place blackfin tuna, with a 22.4-pounder caught by Rick Vicenzi of Illinois and a 21.2-pounder pulled in by Dakota Brewer of Illinois. 

The biggest fish on the Huntress and the biggest fish of the day was a 46-pound wahoo pulled in by Samantha Vicenzi of Nashville, Tennessee. She also reeled in a pair of blackfin tuna, both weighing 22.8 pounds. 

Samantha said the wahoo was the best fight of all three fish. 

“We were trolling, and it just hit and went,” she said. 

Deckhand Carter Phillips said the wahoo took out 300-yards of line easily when it hit.  

Right behind the Huntress was Capt. Brady Bowman on the Bow’d Up. Ken Prellwitz of Arkansas got on the board in the Offshore Division with a 11.6-pound bonito. 

Not long after, Capt. Scott Whitehurst of the On the Bite Too pulled in with a couple of grouper that made the leaderboard in the 25-foot-and-under Charter Boat Division. Logan Kelley of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, reeled in a 13.2-pounder and Owen Suddarth of Gallatin, Tennessee had a 6.4-pounder for second. 

Whitehurst said he had tried to go out Tuesday morning, but it was too rough, so he waited until about 1 p.m. and he said it was “a lot better.” 

Just before 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Twilight with Capt. Robert Hill at the helm backed in with one of the bigger fish of the day. Anthony Goetzinger of Kentucky hauled in a 32.2-pound grouper to take first place in the Grouper Division. 

Hill said it’s been rough on the Gulf but “it should be a good day at the Rodeo docks on Friday,” hinting that it is getting better. 

Right behind him, the charter boat 100 Proof with Capt. Allen Staples backed in with a couple of first-place fish. Steve Gibicsar of Fort Walton Beach pulled in a 12.6-pound Almaco Jack and Ray Powers of North Carolina weighed in a 10.6-pound triggerfish. 

First fish Texas angler weighs in first fish of 75th Destin Fishing Rodeo: a 5.4-pound redfish

Before the scales closed Tuesday, Capt. Jason Rogers on the private boat Sea Ya came in with a 10.8-pound wahoo caught by Brian McKee of Colorado for first in the Private Boat Division. McKee also landed a 12.6-pound barracuda for a first in the Offshore Division and a 21.8-pound wahoo for a first in the Senior Division. 

Not only have fish been coming in but people as well and buying up the Rodeo merchandise. 

“If the first three days of the Destin Fishing Rodeo are any indication of how things are going to go for the 75 th annual event it’s going to be spectacular,” said Helen Donaldson, executive director of the Rodeo. 

Thus far, she has registered 123 private boats, 90 charter boats and 62 anglers in the Pier, Bridge, Jetty and Surf Division. 

“Rodeo T-shirts are flying out of the trailer; the fish are coming in finally that the weather has calmed down some. 

“If you miss coming down to the harbor and the Rodeo, you’re missing the heart of Destin fishing village tradition,” Donaldson said. 

The scales located behind AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar on Destin harbor are open daily throughout October from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. 

“And you never know what’s going to come in. And I like it when I don’t know, it just heightens the excitement,” Cheves said. 

Historic Susquehanna River home to variety of large fish, birds, and these unique objects

A river that’s been flowing through southeastern Pennsylvania for millions of years continues to have unusual sightings and findings.

The unique waterway that flows to the Chesapeake Bay can be a foot deep and a mile wide, and in other areas be close to 200 feet deep and fewer than 100 yards wide.

Devin Winand, deputy director of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association , in Wrightsville, has been following the current trends of the waterway and some of its history.

He said there are petroglyphs made of underwater serpents that may have been there centuries ago.

“It’s an ancient river. It’s arguably the oldest, but certainly one of the oldest rivers in the world, he said. "Some geologists are saying 300 to 350 million years old and others are saying even older than that potentially. So if you think about it in that context, there have been dinosaurs that have roamed the Susquehanna. 

“You think 350 million years, that predates flowering plants. … You can let your imagination go wild in terms of that timeframe and what could have lived here."

At the Samuel S. Lewis State Park high up on a hill in York County, Winand said there are rocks that have fossils of species that lived underwater.

Today, the river has a wide variety of fish including smallmouth bass, large flathead catfish and a few northern snakeheads.

There have been some unique finds as well by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission .

Geoffrey Smith, the warmwater unit leader for the agency, said unique fish like pompano and Atlantic needlefish have made it into the Susquehanna River as they made their way north from the Conowingo Dam in Maryland. Now, the dam has lifts in place for people to monitor what fish can go above the impoundment.

“One of my more curious finds over the years, we were doing a bass survey looking for melanistic smallmouth and we came across two four-foot grass carp. They came launching out of the water unexpectedly. We weren’t looking for those that day and it came as a shock. I found large striped bass a couple of different times during surveys, most recently one in the Conowingo Dam in the lower river,” Smith said. “It was a really big female. Who knows where she came from or how long she’s been around,” he said about the fish that measured more than 40 inches long.

More: Fisherman credits Swedish Fish, special holiday in catching Pa. record catfish

Big catfish

Flathead catfish seem to be the largest fish swimming in the river.

“We’re seeing them getting larger and we’re seeing them extend their range," Smith said. "We see them more and more places each year. I just caught my first one out of the west branch just a few weeks ago.”

The state record flathead was caught on May 14, 2023, in the river. Mike Wherley, of Fayetteville, reeled in a 66-pound, 6-ounce flathead while fishing in Lancaster County. The mammoth fish measured 55 inches long and was returned alive back into the Susquehanna .

“I do think you’ll see the state record go back and forth between Schuylkill (River) and the Susquehanna. It’s been kind of traded back and forth each year. Those fish moved into both rivers roughly the same time, a few years apart,” Smith said.  

“That’s pretty typical of an invasive species. When they move in, that first wave of fish grows really rapidly and gets quite large and most of these fish we are seeing were probably in that first wave to get through,” Smith said. The agency reports flatheads were detected in the Susquehanna in 2002 and in the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers in 1999. 

“So they’ve been here 20-plus years,” Smith said, and he believes the population will take off in these rivers. “They’ve got lots of food, great hiding places, it’s a great scenario for them. And they are pretty adaptable. They can live in just about anything and seem to have done so."

Winand has heard tales of large fish swimming near the dams on the river.

“There’s always those age-old stories of divers going down to inspect the dams and seeing these monster catfish. Whether they are just gigantic flathead catfish or some species that’s lived in the deeps for 100 years and nobody is really sure what they are,” he said with a grin about the tales being shared. 

Northern snakeheads

Northern snakeheads are another invasive fish in the Susquehanna, and they were first found in the river in 2020.

“As far as we know, they are limited between York Haven and Holtwood dams,” Smith said.

Snakeheads are long, dark-colored fish that can grow to 36 to 40 inches long and weigh up to 10 or 11 pounds.

“That’s a large individual that gets to 10 pounds. That’s kind of like the holy grail of snakeheads is something over 10 pounds,” Smith said.

Snakeheads are an invasive species and the Fish and Boat Commission would like anglers to remove or kill any snakehead they catch because they are competing with other fish in the water for food.

“Filet them, eat them; supposedly they are delicious,” Smith said.

The reason snakeheads are in eastern Pennsylvania, Smith said, is because people imported them from Asia because they taste good.

“People love to eat them. They got released from there,” he said.

Ted Evgeniadis, executive director of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, said hydropower projects on the lower end of the river in Maryland are preventing some of the invasive species from moving into Pennsylvania.

“From Havre de Grace up to the Conowingo Dam, you have all those species down there. You have blue catfish, you have striped bass, you have all those migratory species, snakeheads. That first 10 miles of river, you’re getting all those species that are coming up,” Evgeniadis said about the start of the river.

Unusual visitors 

The large river has hosted a variety of unique creatures over the years.

Winand remembers just a few years ago, in 2021, someone’s pet alligator in Wrightsville escaped and spent time in the river. According to media reports, the reptile, named Oscar, was captured by its owner.

There have also been pink-colored birds landing on the river.

“Over on the Conejohela Flats, which is a series of islands on Lake Clarke on the Susquehanna in the Washington Borough area, over the years we’ve seen roseate spoonbill,” Winand said about the pink colored birds. Other times they have seen loons that have been migrating through. 

He also recalled a pelican being there one time.

"You’ll see these migrating birds, whether they get off course or just took a detour, whatever the case may be, that end up in our area. Certainly, when you see a pink bird flying around the Susquehanna, it looks way out of place,” he said.

The river is known for bald eagles, but occasionally golden eagles and peregrine falcons can be seen there as well. Winand once saved a fledgling peregrine falcon that fell in the river from the Route 462 bridge.

“Right place, right time,” he said. Someone monitoring the nest noticed the bird in the river and flagged Winand down while he was driving with a kayak on his car’s roof. “I paddled out and pulled this peregrine falcon out of the water. I had it sitting on my lap as I paddled back to the shore, which was a very cool experience,”

The young raptor was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator for treatment and Winand was invited to watch it being released into the wild.

Unusual human-made items

The waterway experts said a variety of unusual things ranging from household items to vehicles have been found in the Susquehanna. 

“One of the most ironic ones was just a couple of years ago,” Smith said. He was helping on a bass project in Danville where there are bedrock ridges that have gaps and spaces. “I went over something with the boat and I’m like I got to go back and see what it was, it just caught my eye. And what it was, was a porcelain plate. Something you would eat dinner on. It was really old, but perfectly intact in one of those fissures in the rock. How does it get there and how is it intact?” he pondered about it not even having a chip or other damage.

Winand said his organization is planning to help with a clean-up effort in October and some of the larger items that people want to remove include a hot tub that ended up along the river and pontoons from pontoon boats that have been lodged in the waterway as well as other things. “Your full assortment of 55-gallon drums and all the single-use plastics and kids basketball poles. Basically, if it floats and is near the river, it’s made its way down there at this point,” Winand said.

“We do cleanups throughout the year, we get as many volunteers as we can and we partner with other organizations,” Winand said about physically removing the trash from the riverbed. “It’s unnatural. It’s not supposed to be there.”

Storm events have led to boats being abandoned and large pieces of docks floating away. Storms can even move whole trees out into the waterway. “It’s always impressive to see this massive tree with a whole line of seagulls or a bald eagle sitting, hitching a ride down the river as it’s floating by,” Winand said. “Some of that stuff is entertaining because it is natural, whereas the other stuff is a bit depressing when you see it,” he said.

Winand remembers in 2018, a major storm event on Otter Creek, a tributary to the Susquehanna River in southern York County, washed camping trailers and a pickup truck into the water. Volunteers had to disassemble some of the items to be able to get them out of the watershed. “Some of these end up being serious projects to try to remove out of there,” Winand said.

There is also an unusual human-made attraction on the river: a Statue of Liberty replica. “You’re driving along and all the sudden there’s the Statue of Liberty,” Winand said. The replica was placed by several individuals on a former railroad piling in the waterway in the Dauphin Narrows. It’s a unique attraction to people passing through the area. 

Pollution in the water

Evgeniadis said the river changes with different weather patterns.

“When you see the river, you can see it on a day like last week when you saw everything from the gallon drums floating downstream to the debris going downstream because we had a significant rain event. All that is visible,” Evgeniadis said.

“There’s a lot beneath the surface that you’ll never see, one because it’s invisible, sometimes it’s not, but a lot of times it is. Water can be crystal clear, but it could have issues with it. It could be contaminated with pollution and you’ll never know about it until it is tested and you found out there’s something wrong with it.”

He said the region has the same problems that other rivers have across the country with municipal stormwater and sewage systems overflowing during major rain events.

“It’s a third-world problem we have here in good old Pennsylvania. But that same problem happens unfortunately all around the country as well,” Evgeniadis said.

Smith said the PFBC and the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection are monitoring the water quality to make sure the water is safe for aquatic life and for humans. “We are collecting samples and analyzing samples kind of constantly,” Smith said.

Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at [email protected] and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website's homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors .

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Life-size dinosaurs, a candy store tour and more to do this weekend

Take a road tip to Wiscasset for art, food, car racing and a gargantuan amount of candy.

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One of many dinosaurs that will be at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest

Make no bones about it, it’s going to be a great weekend, starting with  Jurassic Quest at Cross Insurance Arena . Animatronic dinosaurs will delight the kids, who will also get a kick out of digging for fossils and riding on a baby dino. Another option in our weekly roundup is “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick.

‘Beautiful’ at Maine State Music Theatre, Pet Rock in the Park and Jurassic Quest

Some of the candy available at the Granite Hall Store in Round Pond. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

For an even sweeter experience, we’re sending you candy shopping. We’ve shined a light on five shops  with something extra to offer and created a nifty guide of 18 to look you can find  all around southern Maine and the Midcoast. From giant shops like Sweetz & More in Wiscasset to charming places like the Granite Hall Store in Round Pond, there’s a candy shop out there calling your name.

These 5 unique Maine candy stores are a real treat

The Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros compete Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Should your sweets-seeking adventure bring you to Wiscasset, we clue you into  several other things to do  in town, including car races at the Wiscasset Speedway.

A trip to pretty Wiscasset can also include art, history, speed

Bagel sandwich with eggs, cheese and pork roll from Dutchman’s Wood-Fired Bagels in Brunswick. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

Want to hit breakfast right out of the park? Make your way to Brunswick for an egg and cheese sandwich from Dutchman’s Wood-Fired Bagels . We’re particularly partial to the one with pork roll and bodega sauce. Your taste buds can thank us later.

Pork roll and bodega sauce on a breakfast sandwich? We’re not in Brunswick anymore

Ling-Wen Tsai, “Rising/Sinking Study Chair,” wood and milk paint, 12 x 12 x 5 inches. Photo courtesy of Corey Daniels Gallery

Farther south in Wells, check out “Life Forms,” a women’s sculpture collective at the Corey Daniels Gallery. You’ll see works by about a dozen artists as you make your way through the exhibit.

Women’s sculpture collective debuts work in Wells

U.S. Navy Band Country Current performing in Tennessee. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class April Enos

For some Sunday afternoon live tunes, head to Memorial Park in Freeport at 3 p.m. for a free performance by Country Current . The band is the only U.S. Navy country/bluegrass ensemble, and the show should be a foot-stomping good time.

See U.S. Navy band Country Current for free in Freeport

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