East Coast Angler

Catch Bluefish Now (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Bluefish are everywhere. Along the beaches , open ocean, bays and tidal rivers. Many party boats fish for them exclusively and will run trips during the day and night. They can run as small as 1-2 lb (Cocktails) or close to 20 lb. They are the most prolific fish in the area and for that reason are the most popular species to fish for. If you want to catch lots of fish Blues provide the best opportunity. It is not uncommon for you to catch 20+ fish per person.
Blues are noted for their great fight and fierce appetites. When a blitz occurs they will hit almost anything. Make sure to use a heavy mono or wire leader. These fish have sharp teeth that will make short order of 10 - 15 lb mono or your hand. Watch yourself when getting the hook out of the fish. It's best to use pliers or some type of hook remover.
Time of Year:
Blues usually arrive in late spring and will stay around well into October. Most of the larger fish are caught in the fall.
How to :
Diving birds are a sure sign there are Bluefish in the area. Cast a diamond jig or plug into a pack of working birds and your almost sure to get a Bluefish.
Chumming from an anchored boat is the most popular way to fish for Blues. Pay out Bunker chum to attract fish while dropping back pieces of cut bunker on your hook.
Trolling tubes, jigs, Bunker spoons, plugs or umbrella rigs work great. This method is highly effective for locating fish. Some sharpies will troll to locate the fish and then anchor or drift in the area with bait. In order to keep your trolling lures down at the right depth it is usually necessary to troll with heavy drail sinkers or wire line. Wire line trolling is the most effective. Some sharpies also use down riggers.
Jigging for blues works well when there is a large body of fish concentrated in an area. Diamond jigs tipped with surgical tubes are dropped to the bottom and reeled up quickly. They can sometimes be bounced off the bottom as well. Best thing to do is try and find out at what depth they are picking up the jigs and concentrate your jigging there. Many times larger fish will be underneath the smaller ones or at the edge of the school. When approaching a school of breaking fish in a boat slow down and let you boat drift into the school with the engine off. Running over the fish under power will send the fish down and break up the schools of bait they are foraging on. Read on.

Best Plugs and Lures for Catching Stripers (Fish on 8)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:58:00 +0000

Fish on 8 Scaled Series Plugs
Go back in time. Not way back, but, to October 5th. That, dear , avid and dedicated reader is the date that you became enlightened. I brought you into the light and made you, if you were not already, aware of Fish on 8 handmade wooden lures.
Fast forward to the present day and time and that beam of enlightenment is about to get a whole hella lot of brighter. Throw on those Ray Bans and get ready to have your world rocked just a little bit. The fine fellas at Fish on 8's just created a custom scaled wooden plug series for those lucky dogs at Fisherman’s World. How do those guys always score the primo deals?!
There are a multitude of colors and the photo running with this article can give you an idea of what’s out there. (Want a better look? Click on the photo to supersize those bad boys.) Every lure is handmade, and therefore; hand painted and unique. Uniquely a work of art to store in your collection. Remember, as I’ve said before, Fish on 8 is not a huge company. It is one man, one dream. His dream is these lures, and Bob takes the time to create and perfect each one individually. That alone should make them more valuable to a collector. I believe that Bob is one of the finest wooden plug makers in the market today. Make a savvy investment, score some scaled editions for your plug portfolio. The days of the DOW 10,000 may be fleeting. Commodities work for you in a recession.
Some of you out there say,”Psshh! Collector, schmollector! Gimme a lure that catches fish!” You are in luck. These exclusive scaled pattern plugs are the sweetest striper candy out there. All you surf rats go out and score some scalies, too. Call the boys and Fisherman’s World 877-643-6011, or go directly to their online store by clicking here. As of now, these plugs are exclusive to Fisherman’s World. We’re not name droppers, but drop our name, the Eastcoast Angler, when you order your scaled series. Act fast, because Bob is one man, and one man can only work so fast.

The Fall Run, Fishing at its Best! (Best Fishing Methods)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:02:00 +0000

This past weekend I was lucky enough to cross paths with and meet Mark Sedotti, a nationally renowned fly casting instructor. Otherwise known as a “Master Caster.” As I watched Mark’s casting lesson, many things were of value. A few of these little gems just stuck in this sea-water logged brain of mine. First, and foremost, Mark says, that every single year, for the past eighteen years, throughout the east coast waters, and especially in Montauk, there exists a natural phenomenon. It is something so cool, that even a non-angler would respect it – the sacred – cue harp music and golden beams of lights … wait, are you sitting down? Take a seat, here it comes, it is the, the … fall striper run. Let me allow you a few seconds to catch your breath and regulate your heart palpitations. I understand, I know, it is like God’s nectar. Even typing those words gets me weak in the knees.

Here is what I mean by “fall striper run,” it is basically peanut bunker and other baitfish smashing the surface of the water, and landing onto the beautiful shores of the east coast in a feeble effort to escape my beloved striped bass and other big game fish like albies and blues.
This season for me, has been a personal fishing best, and I would like to keep it going. We anglers have a limited time left to land those sought after species. Right now is the time to baton down the hatches and get ready for these next few weeks when it is as good as it gets and before our season fizzles down into being over for a mini winter hibernation. Over the next month, we here at the Eastcoast Angler would like to focus on the winning methods to score that catch of the lifetime. Those beasts are out there, lurking in our east coast waters, and as they say, if you got ‘em, smoke ‘em. Get those Fish – On 8s lures ready, clean out the Yeti cooler and get ready to fill it up with afore mentioned catch. Stay tuned for upcoming articles on the most productive methods of fishing to score big.
Think you have some pro – worthy tips to catch a beauty? Email us here to pass on the good word.

The Bluefish Blues- A Guide to Catching Bluefish (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:12:00 +0000

The Bluefish Blues - Paul Arbitman
Eastcoastangler.blogspot.com
Many a fishing report includes a geographic play of where the stripers are, sadly followed by the reports that, the stripers are at the bottom if you can get through the blues. While I love me some stripers, my adrenaline pumps for the fight of a blue. Soon the blues will be filling up our waterways until the fall. Read on, reader, to find out how to catch a bluefish.

First, a little blue-ology. Bluefish are a bottomless pit of burning hunger, consuming up to twice their weight in baitfish every day. They are the only member of the Pomatomidae family, the Pomatomus saltatrix, or bluefish, has a reputation for being the hardest fighter of any fish its size. The word ‘saltatrix’ means ‘leaper.’ And – they l-e-a-p, leap. A bluefish may dive into the depths, speedily wiz across a sand flat or jump clear out of the surface. It is strong enough to shake its head hard enough to throw a 6-ounce lead jig right back at the angler. Head’s up!

Bluefish often feed in large pods that gorge on schools of bait. When in a feeding frenzy, these voracious choppers will bite anything in their path, including floating soda cans and their own young. When a “blitz,” as this frenzy is know, occurs, a blue will hit almost anything. A soda can, a silver spoon, a sparkly diamond on a woman’s hand … On some occasions, they have even attacked swimmers.
Here is the first of some valuable info on catching a blue: Make sure to use a heavy mono or wire leader. These fish have razor sharp teeth that will make cole slaw out of 10 - 15 lb mono or - your hand. Cuidado when getting the hook out of the fish. (It's best to use pliers or some type of hook remover.)

On to bluefish fishing methods …
1. Chum, chum, chum, chum, CHUM! Chumming from an anchored boat is the most time honored way to fish for blues. Pay out bunker chum to attract fish while dropping pieces of cut bunker on your hook.
2. What’s my m*&%er f@#$ing name? Jigg-ah! Jigging for blues is most effective when there is a large body of fish concentrated in one specific area. Diamond jigs tipped with surgical tubes are dropped to the bottom and reeled up quickly. They can be bounced off the bottom as well. Find out at what depth the blues are picking up the jigs and concentrate your jigging at that depth. Larger fish will be underneath the smaller ones or at the very edge of the school.
3. More on jigging tactics … Some anglers tie 40 inches of 80-pound-test monofilament abrasion leader to their jigs. This setup handles the bluefish on the hook as well as other fish that graze the leader while swiping at the lure. When fishing diamond jigs, it helps to change treble hooks to singles to make unhooking blues simpler and safer, for your hand and the fish’s life. (I often will use a circle hook.) The rod types recommended are medium to medium-heavy action, fast taper, 6-foot graphite boat rods fitted with a medium conventional levelwind reel. The reels should be loaded with 30-pound-test superbraid.
4. The secret bunker. Another popular technique of fishing for blues is using bunker or even mackerel. Bunker is an extremely valuable commercial species. They are the primary forage species for striped bass and bluefish in the Northeast. Bunker 12 to 18 inches long. They are easy to find - massive schools dimple the surface in estuaries of southern New England, and many an angler can even smell the bunker by their oil. Bunker looks a large, deep-bodied herring or shad can be snagged with a big treble hook and spin-casting outfit. After snagging, cut the bunker into chunks; they make excellent bluefish bait. Some of the biggest blues are caught on bunker.
5. Trolling. Trolling tubes, jigs, bunker spoons, plugs and umbrella rigs work fine. This is a highly effective method for locating the blues. Some anglers will first, troll to locate the fish and then anchor or drift in the area with bait. To keep your trolling lures down at the right depth it is necessary to troll with heavy drail sinkers and wire line. Wire line trolling is the most effective. Some anglers also use down riggers.
Pick your poison; I gave you lots of methods. You want more? You want to score the big blue? Get out there and fish. Post your bluefish photos and reports here in the comment space.

Are you looking to find the finest fishing locations along the East Coast? This blog is for all of you Anglers from the Southern shores of New Jersey to the rocky coasts of central Maine, and every fishing hole along the way. Whether you like to fly fish or surf cast, you will always find exactly what you need right here at East Coast Angler. FISH ON!

Artist Spotlight: Robert Yudichak (Fish on 8 Custom Wood Plugs)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:41:00 +0000

EastCoast Angler: Artist Spotlight, Robert Yudichak

Fish on 8 Custom Wood Plugs- Best Striper Plugs for Fall '09

Thirty years of experience of general contracting plus a lifetime of fishing plus one stealthy antique wooden lure collection equals eight. What, you ask, in God’s name am I talking about? Fish on 8, and our latest Artist Spotlight Feature, Mr. Robert Yudichak. Robert is the brains, brawn and beautiful artistry behind Fish on 8 custom wood plugs. Here, my fellow angler is his scoop:
Everything is in a name and with this company that holds true. We all know the frenzied, ecstatic angler cry of, “Fish on!” Use these plugs and that will be your mantra. And speaking of things spiritual, the later part of this company name, 8. The number eight is considered an extremely lucky number in most spiritual and religious cultures dating back centuries. Fishing with a Fish on 8 brings the luck right to you.
Now, about the artist, Mr. Robert Yudichak. Robert, along with his two sons runs Fish on 8. They are, as their art proves, die hard fishermen. Bob began making his own lures and would fish them. He recalls losing his handmade plugs many times only to go back the next day to his favorite spot to see another angler fishing his plugs. He would tell his fellow anglers those were his lures, the anglers would ask where he got the lures and that got that little light bulb illuminated in the mind of another artist.

Back in 2006, faith had it that Robert came across an ad in which a wood lure maker was selling his whole wood lure building shop. Luckily for us anglers Bob took advantage and purchased the shop and the rest is history. Almost four years later, after bouts of trial and error Bob is now cranking out some of the finest custom wood striper plugs that this Eastcoast Angler has ever seen. By fine I mean they are fine on two fronts; aesthetics and practicality. These are some sexy old school wooden lures that actually land some big pesce.
I have the honor of chatting with anglers up and down the East coast, from Maine to Delaware. The most serious of the angling fanatic species know of and fish Fish on 8s. The feedback I hear most often about these plugs is that they cast further. When I asked Bob about their construction he explained that, “the tail section is weighted just enough to give even the novice surf caster a supernatural ability to cast them out like a bullet.” Wowza! Want more to the perfectness of the lures from Robert “Perfectionist” Yudichak? Here ya go …

Robert’s attention to detail is sacred. Every plug that he puts out is totally and completely constructed by him. He personally picks the wood, designs the body, carves the lure, turns the lure, attaches the wires, seals the piece, air brushes the paint, ties the tails, attaches the hooks, labels the masterpiece and bags each and every lure with his own hands. These lures are fully sealed, meaning the whole lure is salt water tight and through wired with stainless steel to ensure a reliable connection while hauling in that catch of a lifetime. They are also constructed using stainless steel custom lips, Krok swivels and Wolverine split rings. Want an apprentice, Bob? You’d make a grown man’s dreams come true.

Every lure must meet his specifications of the finest quality. Lastly, before any of the Fish on 8 plugs go to market they are tested, tested and tested again. A word to the wise, go out there and own some of these lures. Add them to your surf bag and you will land some big stripers. And most importantly to a kooky lure collector like yours truly, add them to your non – fished collection of art. Who knows one day these little pieces of wood could be worth some decent coin.

ures
Fish on 8s current lure styles include danny, diving danny, pikie, spook, needle, swimmers, jointed swimmers, pencil poppers and divers. All styles come in a myriad of different colors.

Click here for more information on Fish on 8 by visiting the boys at Fisherman’s World.

Best Fishing Pliers: Carbon Fiber Prolite-os

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:08:00 +0000

Prolite-os series Pliers;The Game Changer.
Over the years I have forged friendships with many very important people within the sport fishing industry. These people have been the tipping point for the products that become the next big thing in the tackle world. These products are the type of gear that make us lie, cheat and steal our way to ownership. This little piece of equipment is the future of fishing tools.

The story
I was recently introduced to a brand new product that just hit the market. CRC's or Composite Reel Company's carbon-fiber composite pliers called The Prolite-os Pliers. Allow me to explain what makes this tool so special: they are made of a proprietary carbon fiber; this allows them to become one of the lightest weight fishing pliers on the market. They are corrosion free and will stand up to even the worst of saltwater conditions that Poseidon and the rest of the sea gods could throw at us. They are so featherweight, you will not even know that they are clipped to your side. When the time comes to put them into action they always will preform above and beyond the call of duty. These are absolutly the best fishing pliers on the market.
We here at the Eastcoast Angler feel that the Prolite-os"TM" are the best new fishing pliers on the market. And that reason is their genetic makeup, their substantive technology: carbon fiber, my friends. Carbon fiber is the future of where fishing tools are headed and Composite Reel Company is at the forefront. Carbon fiber is a futuristic material that can be found in many emerging applications, from Lamborghini car bodies to the wings of a Boeing 787. This material not only looks good, but is extremely functional, due to it's light weight and immense strength. They are rated as the best fishing pliers on the market. The are the must have fishing pliers for any fisherman.
Prolite-os description
A new lightweight, corrosion free, 7 1/2", proprietary carbon fiber composite pliers, weighing 4¼ ounces is now available for anglers. The pliers are manufactured with 300 series stainless steel tips, bushing, spring, screws and grommets. The self adjusting cutter, located on the "fish" logo side of the pliers, and anvil are made of Tungsten Carbide. This provides clean cutting of various size braids, in addition to other materials. The easily replaceable cutter and anvil are secured with stainless steel screws and include crimping teeth and a groove for sleeves. The tip of the pliers easily grab lightweight braid and monofilament line. Included with the pliers are a lanyard and sheath. Optional heavy duty sheath available. Pliers & lanyard also sold separately. See PRICING page or click here for more details.

Eastcoast Angler's Artist Spotlight: James Roszel (Fish Art)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Artist Spotlight: James Roszel
Thanks go out to our avid reader, Alec, for bringing us the newest edition to the Eastcoast Angler’s Artist Spotlight series. Good looking out and nice find.

The waters of Massachusetts can be home to some pretty serious fish. As we found out, the land of Massachusetts is home to some pretty serious fish artists. In particular, James Roszel. He came up with the idea to portray his own beloved trophy catch in art form. Who wants a dead fish on your wall when you can have a brilliant and life size work of art showing your fish, rod, reel and plug? Now that’s the whole kitten caboodle. Here’s what he has to say about his work, “In each painting I try to capture the brilliant colors and live presence of a freshly landed trophy fish. I feel these life-size paintings really capture the excitement of the encounter with these beautiful creatures and celebrate them in a more monumental way than taxidermy or photography can.”

Mr. Roszel works on commission and likes to speak with his clients about the details of their catch. Here are the basics: you contact him and let him know what you want. Pretty simple, really. Jim also works with oils and watercolors. When we browsed around his site, we knew this artwork would be a great addition to any fishing fanatic’s home gallery. James Roszel’s art work is attainable at any price point. As of now, he offers commissioned artwork, fish portraits, watercolors, prints and note cards. He is, in our opinion, an artist with an uncanny ability to paint some realistic fish.

Here’s how you can score some fine fish art for your self: He sells his watercolors on etsy.com. Check out his blog here. Check out his website here. Contact him at jim@fishingartworks.com or call, 781-422-2244. Glad we could bring you the work of James Roszel in the third edition of our Artist Spotlight series. Here at the Eastcoast Angler we are always on the lookout for some talented fishing artisans, and the work of Jim Roszel is an energetic example of art we’d love to have framed on our beach house walls. (Note to my wife – see Mr. Roszel’s contact. Hint – hint.)

If you happen across any fine fishy artists, drop us a line for the Eastcoast Angler to review their work. Contact us here.

The Stripers are Coming! The Stripers are Coming! (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:16:00 +0000

“The Stripers are coming! The stripers are coming!”
Paul Arbitman
Eastcoastangler.blogspot.com
Any New England fisherman knows that cry and waits for it all winter and early spring. Our very own midnight ride, trekking out onto various bodies of water, the moon light casting a shadow over our Striper seeking faces. At last, the migration has begun and our summer compadres are on their way back to familiar waters.
It is that time of the year again, folks. If there is a coastal fisherman in your life, prepare yourself for his impending absence, the Stripers are coming! The trumpeted return of the morone saxatilis. The Stripers have already begun their run and numbers are being reported along the North Atlantic seaboard as I type. Pretty soon a Google satellite image will show numerous little dots - anglers - filling the beaches from Delaware to Maine chasing their old friends, the Striped Bass.
Striped Bass over two years of age make two migrations annually, with the fish hatched in the Chesapeake showing the most extensive migration patterns. The first migration is back to the call of nature, to their spawning areas far upstream in coastal rivers. Some Stripers even travel as far as 100 miles upstream to spawn. The second migration is the stuff we wait for all year, their return North; and what fishing legends are made of.
The whisper of “schoolies” in the area can send a tingle up any avid angler’s spine. By most, stripers are considered the premier New England game fish. The striped bass is highly prized for its size, fierce battle on the line, and culinary savory. Live eels are the preferred method of catching in many areas. Other methods of catching include clams, sandworms, bunker chunks and large wooden plugs. Stripers are most likely to be found in tidal rips, strong currents, or wave action that creates turbulent, "live" water.
For all needs striper, come back and visit the East Coast Angler. Post your striper questions, trophy catches and fishing reports in the comment space on this article. It will hopefully be a long striper season and we will relish these beauties together. “The Stripers are coming! The Stripers are coming!” Don’t be the last one to welcome them back. Work hard, fish harder.

Artist Spotlight: Derek DeYoung (Fishing Artwork)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Artwork Derek DeYoung

Welcome to a new series brought to you by the Eastcoast Angler, Artist Spotlight. Fishing is a lifestyle and there are, thankfully, endless aspects of the outdoor life to surround yourself with. In our new series, we will bring you artists whose work - plain and simple -rocks. If you know of an artist out there that can capture the beauty of what we love so much, send us a comment, we'd love to review their work. We reserved numero uno for, in our opinion, Senor Numero Uno in the angling art world, Derek DeYoung.

Derek DeYoung is a masterful artist working out of his Montana studio. Derek has done for the angling art world what Michelangelo did for some ceiling of a church in Rome. Derek may be best known for his vibrantly colored close-ups of fish, which is what I knew about him. But his work encompasses so much more. Read on, and be amazed by his talent.

His style encompasses realism, impressionism and the sense of abstract. As Derek's work indicates, he was born to be a painter and the Eastcoast Angler is pretty stoked he pursued his childhood dream, and the angling world gets to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Derek's two loves: fly fishing and art, combine harmoniously in his work. You can tell by the detail in the fish, that this guy has landed some serious fish. And you can tell by the feeling you get looking at his work, that this guy is infatuated with painting. Derek has said, “I’ve committed my life to being an artist, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. To be an artist is more then just painting a scene on canvas. An artist sees the world differently then most people. I am always seeking out the beauty in life and in the world, searching for that magical experience or vision that will inspire me to paint at a higher level. The act of pursuing trout and steelhead with a fly rod contains so many of these magical moments. For me the truly inspirational vision, both as an artist and as an angler, comes once I’ve landed a particularly beautiful fish. I hold it up, tilting the fish back and forth in the sunlight, allowing all the subtle colors and patterns to come alive.” Its all good, it works for us. We couldn't agree more, brother. Thanks for bringing those beautiful creatures we catch on a fly rod to majestic life on your canvas.
If you take a gander at Derek's work, like we have done for the first part of our Artist Spotlight series, his work may look vaguely familiar. After some detective work, we came to find out that Derek is the very same artist for those kick ass Abel reels. His paintings mirror the contemporary and unique style seen on his Abel work. Paint on, Derek, paint on.
Check out Derek's work at his website, http://www.canvasfish.com/. You can own a piece of Derek's artwork on any budget: from the Abel reels, to a commissioned piece; from the Simms water bottles donning his artwork to an original masterpiece - you can have some fine fish art of your own. Derek even sells his work on oar covers, note cards and decals. Come on - you know you want it - go out and get yourself a little Derek DeYoung flair of your own. Now that's some "fly" artwork.

Artwork by Derek DeYoung

Artist Spotlight Series: Stephen R. Smith (Fish Art)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Artist Spotlight Series: Stephen R. Smith
Our good friend and loyal reader, Rick, brought a truly mind boggling artist to the attention of the Eastcoast Angler. The artist is Stephen R. Smith. The art is painted fish carvings. His work is truly of the Ripley’s Believe it or Not stature. I peeped Stephen’s site and could not, I repeat could NOT believe these fish cravings were not real catches.
Here’s the dig on fish carving, straight from Stephen’s site: fish carved models originated in the 19th century. They are an artistic alternative to taxidermy. A fish carving is artfully produced in half relief and then painted on, as if a canvas, to be more precise, a three dimensional canvas. This artwork continued with artisans typically producing salmon and other game fish throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. In this pristine era of angling, carved trophy fish reigned supreme. As the ominous cloud of World War II loomed over the British Empire, the refined elements of angling sputtered into the past.
In steps Stephen R. Smith, encouraged and inspired by friends, he carved and painted his first fish and the angling art world will never be the same. Here’s how Stephen works. To honor the tradition of fish carving, Mr. Smith only produces a limited number of commissions annually. If you are interested in the possibility of your own commission, contact Mr. Stephen Smith here.
In all honesty, check out his work, and if you can’t swing a commissioned carving, simply appreciate his amazing work for the awesome magnificence it is.

Best Striper Lure Fall '09 (Best Striper Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:13:00 +0000

This fine Labor Day weekend, I took a "quick" pop into my local bait and tackle, Fisherman's World, with my wife and baby girl for a little stroll through. For "just a quick visit" I promised, well yeah right! I was enchanted by Mr. Rick Mola with a pandora's box so to speak. And what did my wandering eyes spy? Only my new favorite fall fishing lure! This one is surely in my all time top ten.

Well, you all know how I fancy the R.M. Smith lures, and as I've stated before Fisherman's World has plenty a bounty. Rick Mola, of Fisherman's World, brought out a box from the back room, lifted the lid and opened a cache of wooden, custom, scaled R. M. Smith Big Eye Swimmer lures crafted especially for the folks at Fisherman's World. The kaleidoscope of colors made a lure collector like me gasp in amazement. I could hardly speak, or breathe, for that matter. What gorgeous work, Ryan Smith. You continue to blow my mind.

Rick doesn't even have these beauties on the shelves yet, but if you dig the R. M. Smiths like yours truly, you'll call up Fisherman's World and beg. Rumor has it Rick may only be selling a few of these limited time lures a day - so get your best offer and log onto Fisherman's World. Maybe even throw in our name, EastCoast Angler, for a little sentimental connection. If that doesn't work, a tear or two never hurt. Real fishermen cry to score primo lures like these. Click here for more information on sizes and colors. Work hard, fish harder.

Fresh New Fish Art: Savlen Studios

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Fresh new fish artwork offerings from the studios of Eastcoast Angler Artist Spotlight, Mike Savlen!
Mike’s newest work pushes his fashion forward use of color to extremes even we couldn’t imagine. His new work is done in acrylic and his imagination runs wild in shape and color presentation of all of our favorite fish species. It seems as if Mike is on my wavelength. As the autumn air rolls in, the stripers begin their reverse migration and I put an extra layer on under my waders to head into the now chilly local fishing spots, my fall angling lusts turn to the albies and bonito thrashing my Northeast waters. Low and behold, Mike has painted the perfect fall tuna just waiting to be landed in the beloved Montauk waters.

This almost autumnal time of year also sends my wanderlust to the streams of the Northeast, think Vermont and a cutie pie Brookie. My mind drifts to those burnt oranges, russet reds, golden yellows and piney greens of the solitude of stream fishing as the leaves paint a kaleidoscope around me. Again, Mike Savlen is on the job. His Brookie portrait makes me want to pick up the phone and book a lodge up North pronto.

Many of Mike’s newest portrait series is so new, as of writing this, many originals still appear available. Limited edition prints are also offered. Contact Mike here; check out his new work here.

Best iphone Fly Fishing App (The Hatch)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:41:00 +0000

“The Hatch” is an application created and programmed by Cory Pratt out of Bend, Oregon. It is impressive, simply designed, and easy to understand must have in your pocket fly fishing guide for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Pratt lives in one of the greatest areas for the sport, and started mapping the program for his local rivers. He found his resource useful and thought others may as well; and he began working his way across the nation! Cory says,“I am constantly adding rivers, streams, states, and entomology photos. I want this to be the most comprehensive application out there. The feedback and requests from The Hatch users keeps me going.”

“The Hatch” provides a growing list of hatch charts for over 300 rivers across nearly 35 states in the US. Along with the hatch charts, the app reccomends fly patterns that are accompanied by a growing collection of entomology photos, recommended sizes, and links to additional patterns and instructions provided by http://www.flyrecipes.com/ The application is constantly undergoing additions. “The Hatch” can be purchased on iTunes for only $.99, and it runs off line so it can be used while on the river even without cell service.

To purchase the application simply go to: http://www.itunes.com/apps/thehatch Additional info regarding updates and included rivers can be found at http://www.corypratt.com/

New Fly Tying Scissors: The "Sixth Finger"

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:49:00 +0000

The Singlebarbed.com "Sixth Finger" Scissor is a by-product of an overactive imagination and a lingering dissatisfaction with existing fly tying scissors. 4.5" overall length and designed to be worn like a wedding ring for the duration of your fly tying session.
Scissors are no longer something you'll have to hunt for under piles of trimmed deer hair or debris, The Sixth Finger Scissor is always available to make a quick cut - simply by opening the palm and using the thumb on the spring loaded lever. Made of surgical stainless steel with faux-gold handles.
An article on their usage can be viewed at the Singlebarbed web site: http://singlebarbed.com/2009/09/14/singlebarbed-debuts-the-sixth-finger-scissor-can-fly-tying-be-improved-by-a-fellow-with-mud-between-his-toes/

Night Fishing for Fall Stripers (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Night fishing on the New England seacoast during the striped bass autumn migration is the best time for landing a trophy. Your chances of hooking into a monster bass of 40 inches or more is heavily in your favor during fall months. The reason is striped bass are nocturnal by nature and feed heavily late in the season to prepare for their journey south. It appears they have a sense of urgency when they strap on the feed bag during this time of year.
When and Where?
The keys to superb bass fishing in the fall is the critical timing between the weather, phases of the moon, the tides and your available fishing time. If you can find an evening in which all those parameters line up favorably, don't hesitate to head for your favorite striper hole. Chances are the fish will be waiting for your offering of an easy meal.
Dave and I saw our chance to head out one fall Friday evening to fish for stripers. We planned on fishing the Maine side of the lower Piscataqua River known as the back channel. This stretch of water was the original main Read On.

New iphone Apps (iphone Fishing Apps)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Learn to Tie Knots on Your iPhone
Fishing Knots provides easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for tying 16 of the most popular and useful fishing knots. The precisely designed and detailed graphics emphasize key steps and clearly show critical overlapping elements, arrows and other guides to help you tie tricky knots.[coffeeentertainment.com]

Hooked: Pocket Fishing

Hooked: Pocket Fishing is a fishing simulation game where you actually feel like you’re fishing. You touch the screen and do the hand motion like you’re were in a boat fishing. Just make sure you don’t let go of your iPhone or iPod Touch!
So you can pick the lure and the lake. . .which will determine what kind of fish you reel in. Touch the screen and throw the line. Then slowly spin it to entice the fish. Once you get a fish it prompts you to spin it fast and yank it in.
For some reason I can’t seem to catch a fish. While it’s good because the game isn’t too easy to play(which would make the game boring), but I guess until I do it just right, I won’t be able to catch one. Every time I try the fish escapes. I didn’t spend too long trying to get it though. . .maybe like 20 minutes, but I did try in different locations, and still no luck. I’ll get it eventually!

Check it out!

Lure a Fish – A lure colour picker

Everyone has their favourite lure colour. The basic rule is dark or fluorescent lures in dirty water, natural colours and clear lures in clear water. This app gives you our recommendation on what lure colour to use in the various water and weather conditions. These recommendations can be used for fresh and saltwater and are not species specific.
HOW TO USE Simply select the settings corresponding to your fishing environment. The app will give you our recommendation on a lure colour based upon your water and weather choices. This is not a hard and fast colour selection, experiment with similar colours to what we suggest, however, we have found over many years of experience that these colour selections really do work. Above all, have fun with your fishing and take your kids along!

Check it out.

Best Fishing Reels, ZeeBaas (Saltwater Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:53:00 +0000

Imagine using the same reel body and changing the spool sizes. Imagine switching from a single line roller to a dual line roller or manual bail system. Imagine changing handles when you need that extra performance. Imagine all this and the ability to ask the factory to convert your reel from a right-handed reel to a left-handed system. With ZeeBaaS, it begins with imagination and ends with quality products.
The new ZX-Series leads the industry in innovation and functionality. No other reel on the market offers you so much. Built to last. Designed to please. Performance proven. See what sets us apart. We're certain you'll understand that fishing is a true adventure. From the casual fishermen to the extremist...you'll appreciate the ability to change. Check them out.
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Tips for Catching Bluefish (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:49:00 +0000

Bluefish are gangster.
Rarely do these toothy predators swim and attack alone. They swim in gangs and their attack strategy is based on pack mentality, divide bait-fish and eat.
On Long Island's south shore in New York, bluefish show up at the end of April and leave in December, heading south along the East Coast seaboard.
Last year, I caught my first bluefish on April 30th, using bunker chunk off the rocks of Jones Inlet at Jones Beach State Park. A feisty three-pounder, the bluefish was on the prowl with his buddies searching for the huge pods of bunker or sand eel bait-fish.
I read about all of the bunker, so I used bunker as bait-fish - it was a match the hatch catch.
At the end of April, nevertheless, the full army of bluefish haven't yet arrived. It's usually around the second week of May when bluefishing sizzles.
When the bite turns hot, I turn to soft plastic hooked onto a 3/8-ounce jig-head. When the bite turns into an inferno, I could use up to a whole pack of soft plastics, sometimes white, sometimes red, sometimes sparkling green, because the toothy bluefish once hooked usually tear them up quickly.
When I plan to catch these gangsters, I move off the rocks and head for the sandy, slope edges of Jones Inlet. All I need is a 30-yard cast to reach 10-feet deep water. The quick drop off in the suds gives me two distinct advantages. One the bluefish come close enough to the shoreline to attack the bait-fish. Two, I could use light tackle, since I don't have to cast far because of the sloping waterway.
Light tackle works because most of the bluefish in early May are cocktails between one and three pounds. The 10-pound bluefish tend to stay more in the channel, a 100 yards away, chasing primarily bunker. This, however, is not true all of the time. The 10-pound brutes once in a while will come close to the shoreline to feed. Read On.

Top of the Line Saltwater Fishing Reels (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:50:00 +0000

ZEEBAAS SALTWATER REELS
Few lead...many follow. Years of experience have come together to offer a new mile stone in the evolution of the spinning reel. Robert Koelewyn and Kristopher Rydzewski introduce a combinations of innovative and time tested features in this new series of saltwater reels. Designed to withstand the harsh saltwater environment for a lifetime of hard use, with unmatched features:

The Reel: Solid, Strong, Silent, Supreme, with Scalable features and multi-flexibility built into the design, this reel in effect has a wider range of use that any other reel in the market. With an incredible strength to weight ratio to handle braided line up to 80lb. This reels weight is only 16.9oz.

The Components: Made from the strongest materials available, aerospace grade billet aluminum, 6AL-4V Titanium, 304 / 316 marine grade stainless steel.

The Gears: The high efficiency spiral bevel gears are made from hardened stainless steel, and designed using the latest Aerospace gear technology. We have consulted with a major aerospace gear manufacturer to help further develop our gears to run quiet and to handle the huge stress that now can be applied to this reel. Our spiral bevel gears are up to 15% more efficient (increased power) over typical hypoid gears that all other manufactures are using.

The Drag: Never before has a drag system like this been designed into any reel! This patent pending feature let's you adjust the drag with your thumb, wheeling the drag knob easily for tighter or looser drag settings. The ZeeBaaS reel uses (2) sealed drag plates in the spool combined with specially developed carbon fiber woven materials, resulting in super sensitive linear performance range putting out 25lb to 40lb of drag with optional high limit drag. No drag washers are used!

The Finish: The machined aluminum frame, spool, rotor and foot are coated (Z-Coat) with a special military spec. finish altered slightly to our own specification. It is ultra hard and has five times the corrosion resistance of other high end reels in the market. Reels are offered in Ti-Grey or Satin Black. Check out more top of the line reels at fishermensworld.net

Artist Spotlight Series: Randy Kadish (Best Fly Fishing Books)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:31:00 +0000

Artist Spotlight Series: Randy Kadish
We have been busy with our research for our newest Artist Spotlight Series feature on author Randy Kadish. Why, you ask, would we include an author in our Artist Spotlight Series? Well … in our humble opinion, Randy is an artist of the English language. Randy has occupied our thoughts for quite some time, and we have been delayed in getting the good word on his book out, because for this article we had to read a whole entire book – all while enjoying the summer waters of fishing – and in this angling Daddy’s case, changing a few diapers along the way! But honestly and truthfully, this book got into our fishy, salt water logged heads and even made us let our pole sit, untouched a little longer while we used our hands to turn the pages of Randy’s newest work, The Fly Caster Who Tried to Make Peace With the World.
Randy Kadish is an outdoor writer whose work appears in a multitude of magazines including Fly fishing & Tying Journal, Fishing and Hunting News and Fly fisher. Randy’s work often focuses on the techniques of spin and fly casting and about the spiritual aspect of fly fishing.
Here’s the Eastcoast Angler’s take on Randy’s wordsmithing. First and foremost, buy the book, you’ll dig it. If you want the perfect gift for the avid fly angler – search no more. This book is it. Here’s why – when we read the first page – we knew this guy was as crazy about fishing as us. Another reason this book made our hearts flutter was the setting – get ready for it – the one word that makes any fly fisherman’s heart skip a beat – the Beaverkill. That’s right folks; much of Randy’s new book takes place in the sacred Beaverkill. (In an uncanny coincidence this book takes place in the two locales of my being; New York City, where I pay the bills and the Beaverkill, where I dream.)
Without getting to 4th grade book reportish on ya’ll here’s the scoop on Randy’s book. The book is written as a manuscript and follows the lives of its main character, Ian Mac Bride throughout the early 1900’s. Ian finds the art of fly casting by chance through a few happenstances, a visit to the Tenement Houses on the lower East side and a fly casting competition in Central Park.
Ian’s life follows a tragic and magical path, the ups and downs of age, one that is easily identifiable to many. Love, loss, coming of age, it is all here. Paired with these typical page turning dramas are the tragedies of World War I and the effect of the war on Ian and the characters he meets. (This old Marine’s literary dreams have come true - war history and fishing together - printed in the pages of a book!) Ian encounters many characters, some transcendent, some patriarchal, some soul filling – and they all help to change his worldly perspective.
When reading this book and following Ian as he perfects his cast on the lawn of Central Park’s grasses, or when he feels the deep and unfathomable pain of loss of his loved ones, or even when Ian gains excitement while fishing the secret spots of the Beaverkill, it is easy for this reader to think of Ian as myself or any of my fly fishing comrades.
And if all this does not want to make you read this kick a%$ book, this will. My wife even loved it. (She loved it for reasons I have failed to mention, the character of Ian’s mother and the strong accuracy of the historical and geographic content.)
Do yourself a favor, read this book. Take it on the train; bring it to the doctor’s office waiting room, read it at night before you doze off to dream about the Beaverkill. Whatever, wherever, read this book!
Here’s how to get it. You can contact Randy directly here. You can buy it from Amazon here, it is even on Kindle for you train jockey commuters like the Eastcoast Angler. (You could even read it on the newest E – Book, Sony’s E – Reader Daily Edition.) All this being said; Bravo, Randy, Brav-f-ing-o.

Fishing Tips: Stop Losing Your Fishing Rigs (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Eastcoast Anglers Readers Respond:
Reader 1
Just to throw it out there, you might want to advise readers to becareful before slinging 3oz of lead attached to a rubber band. If that rubber band breaks during the casting motion, it could become a deadly projectile to others in the area. Don't mean to be a d&ck, but thats the first thing that jumped into my head. I know in distance casting competitions they enforce a rule where you must have a shock leader of a certain pound test attached to the casting weight, and I can pretty much guarantee the shock leaders are a whole lot stronger than a rubber band thats been sitting in the sun :) I've been subscribed to the blog for a while now and think its great, keep up the good work. I know it probably feels like a "thankless" job, especially with random people emailing you with complaints :)-- Tom
Dearest Reader Tom,
Not a d*ck move at all. We love feedback and yours is spot on. We'll heed your warning and only use the rubber band method while urban fishing in the hood. Note to readers do not, we repeat, do not use the rubber band method. As Tom points out lead sinkers are vicious little projectiles. Thanks for the remedy suggestion and read on, brother.
Fondly,
The E.C.A.
Reader 2
I was just reading the fishing tip about using a rubber band to help keep from loosing fish if you get snagged. I have another tip for the same problem instead of using a rubber band you could use a lighter line like #4 or #6 so that way the line with the weight will just break instead of the main line and you won't lose the fish.
Sincerely,
-Colin
Dear Brother Colin,
Glad to hear you follow my little fishing site, but not glad to hear you share my same problem. Thanks for the savy solution Fellow readers, heed this upstanding gentleman's advice and break out the lighter test. Thanks for dropping us a line, Colin, and no pun intended. Keep it tuned here to the Eastcoast Angler to voice your opinions in the future.
Yours in Waders,
The ECA
Alert! Alert, new Eastcoast Angler Feature: Aha! Aha Fishing Uses for Everyday Things
Here is a great tip that we received from avid Eastcoast Angler fan, Jason Leblang. Jay is a hardcore fisherman and a frequent reader of The Eastcoast Angler. Here it is: a great way to stop losing your rigs when snagging those wrecks and rocks - a rubber band. Please keep in mind this should only be used from a boat where there isn't any casting involved. The rubber band acts as your rig's weak link. The way it works: loop one side of your rubber band to the sinker weight and the other side to the bottom snap of your fish finder. When you snag the bottom try quickly raising and lowering your rod tip. This should provide enough bounce to free your rig. If not, the rubber band will break and only your sinker weight will be lost. Please remember to change the rubber band often as the salt water will corrode the rubber. Hopefully this simple tip will save you some money and make your fishing experience more enjoyable. Thanks for the tip, Jay. If you have any tips, tricks or fishing stories please share them with us by emailing them here, we'd love to hear from you.

Summer Striper Hotspots (Striper Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:33:00 +0000

My buddy Jack has caught some humongous landlocked stripers -- I was with him when a 48-pounder ate his prop bait one evening, giving an entirely new meaning to that phrase "a loud sucking sound" uttered by former presidential hopeful Ross Perot during a debate about NAFTA. But that fish was a mere minnow compared to the cow he hooked on a foggy morning last August.

We arrived at the river at daybreak, and I promptly caught some gizzard shad in a cast net. As they finned in the cool confines of my bait tank, we made a couple of drifts across a big stump flat where I'd taken many nice stripers in the past, chunking Red Fins in hopes of drawing a surface strike. Anticipation ran high as the big minnow plug sashayed across the surface, throwing a wake that telegraphed its presence. Unfortunately we hauled water, so as the fog began to dissipate, we broke out the heavy artillery: saltwater rods armed with 7000s and 50-pound mono. I ran to the next flat upriver, and started pulling shad behind planer boards.

Jack dipped his arm in the bait tank and pulled out the biggest shad either of us had ever seen, a real toad of a bait that spanned over 14 inches. "This oughta catch one!" he said hopefully as he ran the 9/0 hook through its lips.

We let out three boards and a float line, and on our first drift, Jack's big shad swam to the surface, a sure sign it was being harassed by a striper. Instantly a sloshing wave big enough to surf on closed in on the baitfish, and Jack braced himself for the strike. You could almost see the terror in the shad's eye as it darted this way and that, trying to escape the inevitable. Read on.

Squid + Hook = Fluke (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Fluke are very aggressive fish and will attack a wide variety of baits. Strip baits can be very effective as the shape of the bait provides additional action and can entice the fish to strike even when the rod is in the holder. Squid is usually the best choice should be cut into and long slightly tapered strips. It is important to hook the strips only once near the wider end so that the bait will not spin. Squid can also be used whole and once again hooked only once near the tip of the mantle. Two hook adjustable bait rigs are also available and will certainly increase the hookup ratio when using the larger baits. On this trip we chose to use the largest whole spearing that were available. The spearing is hooked once through the eyes. Other whole baits such as sand eels and snappers can also be used with great effectiveness. The angler has tough choices to make when selecting the size of the bait. Very large baits will discourage the smaller keeper size fluke (or make them very difficult to hook) but the larger presentation will attract bigger fish. If you are willing to sacrifice some action in pursuit of a trophy fish, use larger bait.

Picking the Best SurfCasting Rods (Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Surf fishing is a great fishing style that is done on the beaches of many states in America. One very important element that everyone needs to take into consideration is surf fishing rod selection.

If you want to get the best out of your surf fishing experiences you need to know how to select the best rod that is within your budget.

This page is going to talk about some tips when it comes to selecting a surf fishing rod. The rod selection process is very important because with a better rod you can expect to catch more fish.

Fishing rods are also very expensive so you are going to want to make sure that the rod you select is the right one for you. If you end up selecting the wrong rod you may end up costing yourself a lot of money as a result. This is a mistake that you will want to try to avoid.

Hopefully after reading this page you will be able to select a surf fishing rod that is right for you. Read on

Night Fly Fishing for Large Trout (Fly Fishing)

parbitman@westrockadvisors.com (Paul Arbitman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Safety must be your first concern
Fish in waters you know well at night
Use large patterns like the leech
Avoid back casts; use barbless hooks

Some of the most magical moments in all of fly-fishing are those spent watching a speckled brown rise from the depths of a stream to devour your dry fly floating blithely downstream. But if that magic doesn’t occur, night fishing can save the day.

The metabolism of trout rises as the water temperatures rise, but only to a certain extent. Even though daytime fishing may be slow, the trout are eating more and at a different time. The angler willing to fish “after hours” is often in for a treat. Fishing an over sized leech pattern in the shallows on a floating line is usually all it takes to make a believer out of you.

If permitted in your state, night fishing often produces some hot and heavy action. Of course, night fishing is not for everyone, and there are certain safety issues that need to be considered. But for those of sound mind and not afraid of the bogeyman, night fishing offers plenty of rewards. Watch out, though, for often snakes descend from nearby rocks and desert
areas to cool waterside in the evening. So be careful not to tiptoe at night!

Some hunters fish strictly at night and often float tubing on large reservoirs. Night fishing isn’t for everyone and there are certain obvious dangers. Common sense goes a long way here, and if you plan on fishing at night you must keep safety your main concern. Fish only waters you know very well at night. Tubing may be the safest way to fish after dark, with the least chance of error if you use common sense. Wear a life jacket and carry a good waterproof light. Read on.