Alaska Fisheries Board

It’s not that this kind of incident is that common. Actually, shark attacks are rare occurrences, and most of the time, the shark simply mistakes you for something else like a sea turtle. However, we scare every time we hear about a shark coming into contact with a human.

In this case, two commercial fisherman based in Hawaii thought that they had caught a 300 pound Marlin, which would have been a very profitable catch. However, they weren’t as lucky as they thought. The struggling Marlin left its own scent in the water, attracting a great white shark, who had a much easier time taking in a trapped Marlin.

The great white shark, or at least what was believed to be a great white, circled their boat for an hour off the coast of Hawaii, before they were able to return to shore. Addison Toki and Dominick Gaballo did experience some excitement to be fair, stating Talk about jaws, this is the real deal right here!

Great white sharks, especially around something like a boat, is a rare sight around Hawaii period, especially this time of year. Seeing them is rare, and one actually circling the boat is even more rare. This particular shark took a bite of the propeller, and many veteran fisherman consider this a once in a lifetime experience, if you ever experience it at all.

Obviously, this is a scary concept, especially if the shark decides to take more than a test bite. However, generally speaking, this is not as dangerous as you might think.

Cordova, Alaska, a small fishing town, is now the victim of one of the biggest snowstorms in years. In fact, the National Guard has been employed to help dig people out of their homes buried by avalanches. Cordova, like any other area of Alaska, is used to snow, but not like this.

According to reports from the Guard, more than 18 feet of snow has fallen in the past few weeks, though they do not have an exact measurement at this time. According to officials, “This is more quantity than can be handled.”

At least 3 buildings have collapsed or partially collapsed because of the snow, and six homes are severely stressed by the heavy, wet snow. It has been 3 weeks now of unrelenting snow, leaving some residents staying in shelters and others staying with family members. Some have also been staying with other residents. Cordova spokesman Allen Marquette has also stated that officials are ready to set up a pet shelter.

Mayor Jim Kallander has stated, “We have no alternative but to declare an emergency. It became a life-safety issue.”

There are no roads open to the town, in part because of the heavy snowfall and rain that has made road conditions extremely treacherous. Workers can only get there by boat or plane. No injuries have been reported so far luckily, but bad weather has prevented Guard from even flying in in certain cases.

Over 70 guard were able to get in by Ferry Sunday, and about 50 will clear roofs, boats, roads, and other areas. Officials say that guard will be there for 2 weeks to lend help where they can. This will continue to be an ongoing operation for as long as necessary though.

Today’s classes started later than usual to account for the weather. However, officials have stated that parents need only send students if they are comfortable venturing out into the weather. Most residents seem to be taking other approaches to transportation, walking, skiing, or snowshoeing to get from place to place.

A fishing tournament used to raise money for MS, Perchin for MS allows everyone to be a winner, and of course your time and money goes to a good cause. You pay in teams, $40 per team, and half of this entry fee goes to the Multiple Sclerosis walk under your name of course. The other half goes toward paying for applicable prizes.

Held for the first time on Lake Simcoe, the first official Perchin for MS was a huge success. Next year, they are hoping to see an even bigger turnout as the word gets out. It’s definitely a worthy cause, and you can help people in need. How can you really go wrong with that?

The first year got 78 teams from Ontario and the United States, and $4000 was raised for MS awareness and research. According to an avid angler and conservation officer who happens to suffer from MS, “I started this event because I wanted to promote education and awareness around MS and I thought what better way to do than through a fishing derby.”

This man, Poirier, knows the limitations of MS, and he knows all too well the need for supportive family and friends around you. He continues, “the goal of the event was also to raise a bit of money for MS, and I am pleased to announce that thanks to some generous monetary donations we raised almost $4000 that will go directly to the MS Society of Canada.”

Most of the anglers involved were from the GTA, but others came from Owen Sound and Niagara as well as Muskoka, Halliburton, and Ottowa. There were even a fair number from the US who were eager to participate and test their skills. Some were recreational ice fishers, and many from the US were actually competitive.

Whether you are an amateur or more of a professional mind, this anglers society wants you. They want your involvement, your help, and most of all, your money obviously. Companies are getting involved, far exceeding anybody’s expectations, and more people are coming together all the time.

A Massachusetts fisherman officially pulled up an 881 pound tuna this year, only to find out that he couldn’t keep it. Because of licensing issues, the fish was confiscated, and while it sounds ridiculous, all of this is completely true.

Mr. Rafael, the would be record breaking fisherman, and his crew used nets to catch bottom dwelling fish, and they inadvertently happened to catch this particular fish. When they docked though, federal fishery enforcement agents took control of the giant tuna. The reason was simple, despite what you may think.

The boat Rafael was on did not actually have tuna permits, and fisherman are only technically allowed to catch tuna with rod and reel by law. The fact that it was an accident had no bearing. Rafael didn’t need a bigger boat, just a better permit and a rod and reel with the intent to specifically fish for tuna. Going out on his particular expedition, anyone could admit that he had no way of knowing what was coming.

Rafael has been interviewed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) enforcement division, who state that he caught the tuna at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. He has disputed this idea. Rafael states, “They didn’t catch that fish on the bottom. They probably got it in the mid-water when they were setting out and it just got corralled in the net. That only happens once in a blue moon.”

However, the pride of catching a fish that big is not the only thing that Rafael has had taken away from him. Selling a fish like that would actually bring in quite a bit of money. A 754 pound tuna recently sold for $396,000. You can imagine how much a fish over 100 pounds heavier would sell for. Unfortunately, the NOAA has no responsibility or intention of sharing the profits of this fish with the fisherman who actually caught it.

Monica Allen, a deputy director with the NOAA fisheries has stated, “This rule is important to the conservation of this unusual fish that is severely depleted and managed internationally by more than 48 nations. Because they are slow to mature and reproduce, rebuilding this species population is a lengthy and difficult process.”

Guatemala is no Alaska, the fishing is something else entirely, but Guatemala is an up and coming area for fishing, and it’s still CHEAP! That’s a big draw. You can pay half the amount, get all the alcohol you can drink if you drink on fishing boats, and get a full set of fishing in with great availability. Guatemala’s fishing remains largely untapped, meaning the fish are more prevalent.

You do have to be careful about other predators. For example, while you might want to learn to respond properly to a bear when in Alaska, but when in Guatemala, you might want to worry a little more about alligators and crocodiles. These creatures can get into the thousands when it comes to weight, and there are villagers who believe that feeding them on a regular basis will keep them from eating people, dogs, or farm animals.

Unfortunately, this just keeps the land based creatures coming back and associating humans with foods. Actually, there’s not much you can do except for try to move in different directions a lot, as crocodiles and alligators have a harder time changing directions like that. However, if you try freezing like you would with a bear, you are going to become alligator/crocodile bait.

However, the fishing is something to be rivaled. If you make the commitment to go down and stay safe, Guatemala offers a variety of fish such as marlin, dorado, and many other species. The best part is that there are plenty of big companies and boats willing to give you a real deal that includes accommodations that really aren’t too bad for what you’re paying.

Even if you stay in lower accommodations or even the boat to save a little money, the reality is that it’s all about the fishing. If you are looking for the real bang for your buck, Guatemala is without question the place to go right now.

In Amarillo, TX, a group called the Fly Guys are specifically reaching out to war veterans, reeducating them and teaching them how to work in the area of custom fly rods. According to founder Kyle McAdams, “They’re actually constructing something that they’ll be able to use later on, on the river and then ultimately pass down and hand down to their kids and things like that.”

Veterans have been taught how to build lightweight fly rods so far, which they can use on a planned trip to Cimarron, New Mexico. Each veteran is given a beginner rod building kit, which comes with reel seats, grips, guides, threads, and other things that are necessary to build a basic rod. This gives them the feel of things, and it brings participating veterans together with a sense of community, giving participants something to be proud of according to custom rod instructor Austin McWhorter.

Veterans who have “graduated” from the programs with new rods have stated that it feels “gratifying” to catch fish with something that they made with their own hands, and many have reported being treated well by everybody.

It currently costs veterans a total of $80 to buy a quality tying vise and $125 to buy a whole fly rod kit. $25 buys fly tying materials, which may become more expensive or cheaper with experience, with many being able to find different shops. However, this is just meant to be a start. However, all of these materials can last up to a year for many veterans.

Currently, Fly Guys is being sponsored by groups including the Brown Automotive group, Amarillo National Bank, Budweiser Distributing Company, Top Notch Outfitters, Travelers Oil Company, Southwest Honda, Marble Depot Incorporated, and Dennis M Plunk DDS, all of whom McAdams states that Fly Guys and the veteran participants could not do without.

It was a day and a fishing trip that grandma Laverne Glover of Moorpark will never forget. Most fisherman are lucky to pull in a fish of this size, but this grandma was able to reel in a 380 pounds halibut on a fishing trip in Sitka, Alaska with her husband, Bob.

It measured a total of 7 feet and 4 inches, effectively bigger than Glover herself, who only stands 5’3 ¼. A retired receptionist who previously worked in a beauty salon, Laverne Glover used chunk bait with a 5’6 seeker hook and 80 pound spectra line. She wanted a big fish, but never knew she would get a monster, which apparently she knew right away when it started tugging.

“I was so shocked and I was trying to stay composed, you know, not just scream.”

LaVerne Glover used both hands and had to “really raise it up.” It took a total of 45 minutes, and she didn’t do it on her own. The whole boat had to help her to haul the fish in. However, it was close to making records. There have been bigger, but not by much. Technically, the scales were closed the day that LaVerne caught it, which can make a rather significant difference.

However, the Glovers aren’t protesting, just proud to have caught a fish so large. The Glovers have long been involved in fishing as a couple. LaVerne actually gave it up between childhood and when she married Bob. However, the Glovers have been able to bring back 150 pounds of fish, which will be feeding their small family for a while.

For years, ice fishing was one of those things on my bucket list that I had never actually done, but wanted to do at least once. Yes, I don’t necessarily like the idea of sitting on the ice freezing, thick or not, cutting holes in the ice and hoping to catch very warm blooded fish. However, it’s a unique experience that even experienced fishermen don’t necessarily try.

However, as little as some may know about it, one of the most important tools you can have in any ice fishing expedition is a fish finder. It makes your job easier, and you’re more likely to actually catch a fish while you’re sitting out there freezing.

The Types

There are actually two types of fish finders. One is a traditional flasher and the other is more modern and found in boating expeditions. The flasher is a simple depth and fish finder that gives you the bottom echo and depth of the area as well as echos from solid masses in the water, which you hope includes fish and the depth they happen to be at.

The modern fish finder on the other hand shows everything including the structure of the masses and fish, helping you to get a better idea of what you are actually looking at. These modern fish finders are becoming more and more popular, and it can run all day on one simple battery, which is fantastic.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Fish Finder

• Battery life – How long will it last? Do you need extra batteries just in case? How long are you actually planning on staying out?
• Zoom – Can it zoom into particular sections of the water? Is the zoom adjustable?
• Can it give readings before drilling?
• Is there a warranty?

Growing up in a fishing family, I learned early on how to create my own fishing gear. Yes, I used the snoopy fishing pole, but I never saw anybody in my family pay for a single fly or a single lure. Everything was homemade from scratch, and it literally saved us hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the past 30 years or more.

However, not everybody knows how to do it or can consider the cost difference. The fact is that if you want to tie your own flies, your best investment is if you are actually a dedicated fisherman and you actually want to take the time. There is equipment to buy in the beginning to stabilize your flies as you run the string around and around to get it right. You have to learn the best techniques to get better looking flies that are more attractive to the fish, and chances are, it won’t be perfect your first time around.

Over time though, not only could you save money on flies and gear, you could actually end up making money by selling to fly shops and online if you know how to do a good job. You make more money if you can find cheap deals on feathers, foam, and other important materials, but that’s for the more serious without question.

The simplest floaters can be something as simple as a twig tied to your line, though some prefer corks or certain types of foam. You could make a floater from a corn cob that you bring as part of your lunch.

While flies have become more of an art for some, there are tutorials online on how exactly to tie your own flies, and some have even started to build their own fishing rods. However, how far you go with all of this depends entirely on you and how invested you are in a regular fishing experience.

In the spirit of the moment and in light of Steve Jobs’ passing, we figured it would be the right time to go over some of the best fishing apps that can help you to find the right spots, know your fish, and be better at fishing on the iPhone. Some are games, some are more informational, and all tend to be made for amateurs and experienced fishermen alike.

Orvis Fly Fishing

Orvis is one of the bigger and older fishing companies, they know what they are doing when it comes to fishing. It gives you animated videos of everything from knots to basic fly casts to common casting mistakes. You have to pay $24.99 for it, but there’s a fair enough chance that it might actually be worth it. However, you do get a $10 gift certificate.

Animated Fishing Knots

It gives you exactly what the name suggests: animated pictures of fishing knots, how to tie them, etc. It’s basic information, and it only costs you $0.99. For what it provides, a lot of fisherman and amateurs believe that it is worth every single penny.

Flick Fishing

It’s a way of fishing on your phone. It gives you 7 fishing locations, 9 baits and tackle, 12 tournaments, and dozens of fish, both common and unique. This sells for just $0.99 on your iPhone or iTunes, and considering the fact that there have been something like 2.5 million downloads, makers have done something right.

Navionics 5.0

Considered to be the world’s best-selling marine chart, this sells for $14.99 on your iPad, iPhone, or iTunes account. It gives you a very basic navigation chart in your phone, and you can download new charts as you go if you want.