All Posts

Glory to God … it was a great morning

We all remember those first sensations of fall – cooler air, a decision to wear a sweatshirt, the question of whether or not to winterize the boat or get it ready for chilly fishing trips. But these days, with all that’s going on in our country and the rest of the world, other thoughts join the mix. The future. What…

Read more

A surfing legend

Was it the big, bright, seemingly 24-7 smile? Maybe the bright, charming, respectful attitude? Was it the beach-style shirts, shorts and flip flops – the constant sand between his toes? Think it could have been the boyish way he approached life? What do you think about his love and respect for Mother Nature and his passion about the ocean? However…

Read more

White Marlin Open finishes its 50th season in record-setting fashion

Talk about a huge day. John Ols of Laytonville, Md., landed a 640.5-pound blue marlin while fishing on the Floor Reel to capture the title in the 50th annual White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Md. The fish was 118 inches long and Ols’ team pocketed a billfish tournament world record $6.2 million. It was the third straight year…

Read more

White Marlin Open 50th anniversary

They might want to change the name. The White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Md., has never gone without a weighed-in billfish in its 50 years. But heading into today’s final day of fishing, that’s exactly where the event stands. No white marlin, no blue marlin, no swordfish. That leaves Street, Md., resident Chris Mentlik in the running for…

Read more

Hurricane prediction’s a real bummer

Thanks for nothing, El Nino. The measured surface temperature in the Eastern Pacific was supposed to help deliver a below average 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season. But the beast has been slower than predicted to take form. That’s why we’ve already had five named storms, forcing the National Hurricane Center to increase its predictions for the year from average to above…

Read more

White Marlin Open

It’s called by many “the biggest billfish tournament in the world.” It’s also known as the fishing event with the most prize money. But it seems that someone forgot to tell the billfish – at least, the bigger ones. The 50th annual White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Md., has entered its third of five days of angling and…

Read more

Time for some fishing flea market

On any given day, in rural countrysides or the suburbs, a slice of true Americana can be found just about anywhere. Arrows point the way, balloons mark the spot, rows of cars speak to the fact that you’re late. People old and young search through boxes – seeking to find the best of another person’s junk. The flea market. Spring…

Read more

Menhaden regulations thrown a curveball

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Tuesday made changes to the menhaden reduction fishery for the Chesapeake Bay and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. But they weren’t what fisheries division staff recommended – a rarity. A battle waged by the recreational fishing industry for decades, the changes went from being a big step for the effort to one that holds…

Read more

No other fish so small has ever caused more uproar in the fishing industry

The forecast for Tuesday is a high of 65 degrees, cloudy skies, southeast winds around 10 mph and, truth be known, a whole lot of heated debate. The epicenter for the morning will be the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in Hampton, along the shores of Fort Monroe. The source will be a public hearing on a VMRC proposal to keep…

Read more

It might not be a whale of a good time

Ever been on one of the whale-watching trips out of Rudee Inlet? Seeing whales in the wild truly is a thing to behold, a marvel of Mother Nature that’s hard to fathom unless witnessed in person. Whales always have tugged at the hearts of humans for a variety of reasons. They’ve also helped feed people for centuries. Whale hunting along…

Read more

Keepin’ it real … very real

The pheasant rose from the scrubs, its wings in full flare as it tried to escape to the sky, thinking that there it would be safe from a predator. Alas, a hunter was just feet away, gun at the ready to harvest a tasty meal from a moment of a successful hunt. The memory no doubt burned into the mind…

Read more