Someone once told me that the more time I planned to spend in Montauk, the
less fishing I would actually do.

I didn’t get
it.

So here I am coming back from a long stay
in “M” over the 4th of July, but don’t ask me for a fishing report this time.

I didn’t.

Nope.

Not
for one minute.

The rods never made it to the
rack on the front bumper.

First time ever,
actually. Shocking.

You see, there was a time
when I would drive out to Montauk for a few days and live right out of the back
of my truck. A slide on camper was waaay out of my price range. And it didn’t
matter anyway. I would put on the wetsuit as the sun was setting, I’d fish most
of the night, until I was completely exhausted, then slog back to my truck. I
had two gallons of water in separate containers. I’d pour 1/2 of the first
gallon over my head, then I’d lather up with shampoo, then pour the rest over me
while I stripped off the neoprene in the night air. A quick towel dry and then
off to dreamland under a musty sleeping bag, sometimes with the rear gate open
if the bugs weren’t too bad. (We don’t need no stinkin’ camper!) And with any
luck I’d get some quality rest before the mid morning sun made sleep unbearable.
The rest of the day was usually spent sharpening hooks, replacing korker studs,
and trading information. Important stuff like
that.

Then came wife and kids (thankfully in
that order).

Initially, my wife was a saint
about my fishing addiction. But I should have known my life had changed forever
that first time she drove out to Montauk – unannounced – with our baby girl.

“I just felt like coming out, and we missed
you,” she said so innocently.

So then my
sleeping bag in the back of the truck gave way to a budget hotel room, and then
over time, to progressively more “female friendly” accommodations, and longer
stays.

Somewhere around 1999, she had taken
full control of booking our stays, and began encouraging other families to book
adjoining rooms. It all sounded good, at first.

It wasn’t long after that when she lobbed that
first grenade at me – “Can’t you just leave your fishing stuff home this
time?”

But I always held my ground. Some things
are sacred. You should never go to a football game without a cooler and
tailgating supplies, and you should never go to Montauk without fishing gear.
Never.

I got busted looking at my watch while
we dined with another couple on more than a few occasions. Plenty of nights
coming home after a full night of fishing and being awoken after 45 minutes of
sleep with the kids jumping in my bed, demanding to be taken to the beach. My
wife made plenty of offers to take so and so’s husband surfcasting. So a night
of wetsuiting was out – I had to scramble to “guide” a few newbies to fish on
the sand beaches – but I wasn’t getting paid for
it!

The fishing gear came this time too – but
it took 15 years to get me to the stage where the rod actually never did make it
to the water. There was full intention to go fishing, mind you, right down to
the fresh batteries I slipped into my mini dive lights.

But that was before the raw bar at West Lake
<maybe I’ll fish later> the frantic trips to get wood for bonfires
<maybe I’ll fish later> the lengthy attempt to tow a Honda Accord off the
beach (why they tried to drive on the beach, we will never know) <maybe I’ll
fish later> the drop off of the kids at Hither Hills to meet friends
<maybe I’ll fish tonight> the morning runs to the bake shop for jelly
donuts and iced coffee <maybe I’ll fish tonight> the 4 trips to IGA
<maybe I’ll fish tonight> the beer distributor <maybe I’ll fish
later> the shuttling of people back and forth to the beach <maybe I’ll
fish this afternoon> the pickups and drop offs at the train station <maybe
I’ll fish tonight> and then finally the restaurants and the sampling of
Montauk’s nightlife <maybe I’ll fish early
tomorrow>

Observation #1: And you think
Montauk is crowded during a daytime blitz in late September? Try getting a drink
at the Sloppy Tuna at 11pm on a Saturday
night!

Observation #2: After seeing the lines
to get into some of these places, we should all just be very very thankful that
for all those people who come to Montauk this time of year, only a tiny fraction
have any interest in fishing.

(I will be
getting back to fishing,
promise.)

I wrote in the past that to some extent we deserve criticism when it comes to high end gear. No, not pushing you to buy it, we would never do that. But writing about it almost exclusively. Why is that? Because until recently there was just few of us doing this and I wrote most of it. And I always told you that I won’t write about stuff we don’t try.

And also because I rather write about what I own. And after fishing for twenty years or so, I accumulated some decent gear. Nothing unusual about that. I know guys who have fished for few years that have better stuff than I do. But you have to admit, if I put you on the spot, asked you to review a reel you owned for five years, or the one you have to get acquainted in few months, which one would you chose? No one wants to write stuff and look like an ass later because they did not take time to test it.

Now that I have little less on my plate, I feel like I can give certain things more of a fair shake. Although I fished with St Croix Legend, CTS Vapor Trail and Century Stealth in recent years, this spring I fished with nothing but new St Croix Avid rods. More on them in September issue of SJ.

And although I am blessed to own zb,vs and PENN Torque , they were all shelved this spring in favor of a reel with a $159 price tag on it.

I always thought that “downscaling” the reel would be impossible thing to be fair about it, but I was wrong. What I never took in the consideration was that 90% of my fishing does not require a fully sealed reel that can often be tighter to turn than most reels because of its seals. I never really gave much thought that most of my excursions onto sand end up with reels being only splashed but rarely ever submerged.

And even if I did dip it, this $159 reel is designed to take it. What am I talking about? PENN Spinfisher V.

This reel has received criticism (way too much in my opinion) on the internet know-it-all boards because of its claims to be a sealed reel. Most of the criticism has come from those who claim that its seals are not as dependable as reels that cost 6 times as much. Now read this sentence again….it’s not suppose to be a reel that cost 6 times as much, its suppose to be a awesome $159 reel. You want a solid waterproof capabilities? PENN makes Torque for that. You want a solid reel for everyday use that won’t break the bank? Then Spinfisher V might be something you should look into. I am still fishing with it till fall so I won’t say what I like or dislike about it quite yet..

What did you say? You are not fishing with a stinking’ bailed reel? Your knuckles are too big?

Have no fear. In addition of 706Z bailess reappearing in the stores in September and Penn Torque also being available in bailess version, Penn is releasing a Spinfisher V Bailess Reel in November of 2013. It just happens that the reel we are testing is a bailess version. And by the way, only the 6500 model will be made in bailess version.

We are happy to say that they designed the whole bailess thing out of one piece, no manual conversion kits, no unbalanced wobbly results.

Take a look for yourself in this short video

[youtube]http://youtu.be/IYAro4uhGEY[/youtube]

The new issue of the Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine is up for your viewing pleasure, all 177 pages of it. It’s been up for few days so some of you might have seen it already.We just had to fix few things so now all should be well.

We have first column from our new Columnist DJ Muller,  in addition, DJ wrote a wonderful article on island hopping.

Angelo Peluso has a wonderful article on fly fishing the surf. If you get a chance, pick up his new book Fly Fishing the Surf at http://www.angelopeluso.com/books.html

Bill Jakob is back with article on catching big Montauk Stripers and Dennis Zambrotta chimes in with a way of beating summer doldrums. Dennis wrote a book that should be on your reading list too, Surfcasting around the Block, available at all The Surfcaster, Edge, Fisherman’s Headquarters, River’s End and other SJ supporters. Pick  one up . It will make that trip to Disney with three screaming kids on a plane much more pleasurable…lol

From the files of late Frank Pintauro comes a story on history of Needlefish lures.

You have questions about new PENN 706 Z reels? We got answers in an interview session with Mike Rice, Product Manager at PENN reels. All you wanted to know and then some.

Original videos

Montauk Time and Tide

Who is the best Montauk Surfcaster Ever?

Ron DiCostanzo will show you how to use a duplicator to make thousands of copies of your mojo lures and then you can go on EBay and sell them for hundred bucks each. A sure way to become a millionaire overnight!

just kidding dudes

Lou Caruso will show you a simple way to protect your rods on your truck, even when you remove your reels.

And that is just some of the stuff

you still have awesome columns by :

John Skinner

Al Albano

DJ Muller

Roger Martin

Russ “Big Rock” Paoline

Dave Anderson

Chef Andrew Chase

John Papciak

That is a lot of stuff for one issue ! If you are not a subscriber to the magazine, please visit our SJ resident physiatrist  Newb Googanhiem and have your head examined. Ok, I am joking but for $20 a year you not only get access to six issues and all original videos BUT access to all the issues we have put together for you for the last four years.

No, the sky is not falling.

As you know, I don’t care much about writing about other people’s opinions or experiences. There is so many ways to spin things these days, that it doesn’t matter what you say, someone will play a devil’s advocate and say something opposite. Which is fine, I’ve heard them all.

The water is too hot. Brown tide. Pollution. The fish are traveling with bait offshore. NY taxes are way too high for fish to take up residence. The seals are eating all the bass. Kate Upton rack is too large and wholesome. And on and on.

I can only tell you what I see, what I experience. We don’t preach gospel here, I am not going to tell you that you need a Lami and a VS either. Just because some “super sharpie” swears by it. And I am not going to lie to your face and tell you I am catching a shitload of fish because I wrote few books and can’t take the ridicule. It is what it is but it’s not pretty. And I am definitely not catching…

I had an awesome month of May by my standards, with bunch of fish over twenty pounds, all on bucktails. In fact, I am yet to toss or catch a fish on anything other than shad or bucktail this year. Call it personal choice. I am petrified of blowing out my elbow after all that pain last nine months and all that therapy and shots and therapy and more shots..and pain.

And I haven’t really fished anywhere but the stretch between Jones and Fire Island inlet other than a lousy trip to Cutty during some stupid tropical storm that turned water into mud. Somewhere in the mid June the bite shut off locally. Not gradually, it just shut down. We tried this tide and that, this time or that, nothing worked. In addition we just had , what, like 28 days of straight south to southwest wind? Is this crazy or what?

Silver Fox who is deservedly retired and has more time than I tried different thing, chunking in the darkest of night, jetty fishing at crazy hours. He even went to Mecca last night and did an all-nighter on the north side. How did he do? He is still waiting for his first bump.

You know what this feels like? Like listening to Fred Schwab talk over the years about how the fishing was during moratorium.

Now hold on, am I saying that bass stocks collapsed?

Not all. I know there is a really good bite off the boats at Block Island for weeks now. Surf is not bad either. CT and in particular RI rock hoppers and eel slingers are catching some quality fish. Montauk south side has rats in the white water and big bluefish too. NJ jetty jocks had their shot at bunker blitzes but it was fast and furious and done quickly. I think much earlier than they anticipated or hoped. Cape Cod Canal rats, had their innings too. Again, I think 9 out of 10 will tell you, fast and furious and done. Boaters were reporting crap load of fish off the Race a month ago, rolling on the surface feasting, but that did not last long. And how about boats from NY/NJ that target bunker schools? All you had to do in previous years is snag the bunker and wait..one, two, three and there was your cow. They are catching but are finding “happy” bunker more often than chased bunker.

What does these anecdotal reports mean? Is the world coming to an end? Are the bass stock collapsing? Will we be forced to listen to Billy Joel music in perpetuity as a punishment? Will Kate get a breast reduction?

I don’t know, I am hoping that this is just a weird season. I will make this statement with no reservations. The “run” ,spring and fall one as we know them, they are shorter than they used to be. Much shorter. Few weeks in spring and if you get that much. Fall has been spotty at best. What about Montauk fall blitzes? Maybe if you started fishing in last few years you think ” that was a lot of fish” last year. But it used to be so many more. In every cove. And it lasted for weeks and weeks. Now you get three days. Done. Are the fish traveling in deeper water with bait? I have no idea. I do know they are not traveling where I fished for years and where they used to.

How about Bob?

You remember Bob right? Bob is a resident striped bass that I can catch at will for the past 15 years in little rips around Jones inlet. He is always there, sometimes he is at 8 pounds, sometimes twelve but if the tide and winds are right, I never had to worry about a skunk, more or less. Till last year when Bob disappeared.. And I tell you what, he is not back this year. Did someone eat Bob?

Do I really have to answer that?

So here is the gist of my post. I have not seen a fish with stripes in about three to four weeks. If I am correct neither did guys I fish with. Does it mean that fishing is on the decline? No. It only means we suck as surfcasters. Like I always tell my wife, nothing my kids do is ever their fault. If I thought them better, they would not make the mistake they made. On the end of the day, it’s all my fault.  You might want to try this..it will drive your wife nuts.

Not catching fish is also my fault. Maybe I am too lazy to hit the beach at 3 am and then head to LIRR at 5. Maybe I should use plugs instead of jigs. Maybe I should chunk. Maybe I should drive to Montauk. Maybe, maybe, maybe

And yes, there is a good possibility that what we remember to be a “good spring run” is now just a memory, consisting of few good tides.

Like I said, I am not preaching. The point of a blog like this is for us to tell you about our experiences. Regardless how embarrassing they might be

What possesses me to peck at this keyboard, with this one index finger at 3 AM after yet another skunk?

A video from few nights ago where Bill Wetzel is driving home and he is reflecting on his night, season at Montauk , etc

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDgcKlzq1w8&feature=share&list=UUdPPiGBS0PxPb2F2JdklWjw[/youtube]

We going to give you a chance to win some neat stuff today but first few announcements.

The winner of Choopy Darter giveaway from last week is Gene ccgjj@netzero.net. You have 5 days to email us at info@surfcastersjournal.com with your shipping address. Congrats

The new issue of the Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine

It’s done….it’s been done for few days already. But we are having a hell of a time with some technical difficulties. Our web genius decided to take a walk three weeks ago from New York City onto Appalachian trail. Last we have heard he was continuing to walk and walk and walk……all the way to the woods of Vermont! Yeah, that kind of a walk. We managed to make contact with the extraterrestrials but our web dude, no way. He is off the grid totally…..Tommy did spoke to him on Tuesday via Skype or whatever , we thought we had issue resolved and then problem cropped up again. So just be patient, we promise its worth the wait, all 177 pages of it. I anticipate either tonight or tomorrow he will actually make contact with mothership. I know, it’s quite embarrassing and I do apologize for this slight delay.

So, let’s get back to something more uplifting, like a chance to win some cool stuff from SJ and Sebile.

Today we will give away a Sebile Magic Swimmer..but not just any swimmer. This is a fast sinking  giant 9 inch 5 ounce version for big fish. Retail around $40. You toss this bad boy off your inlet or breachway jetty or into the Canal and I would think that whatever you pull out won’t be small

By Lou “The Rod Guru” Caruso

The other night I’m on the beach and it was slow, real slow … I started reflecting on how fortunate I truly am. I was able to retire early from my job, (forced out actually after the new company took over and moved my work to Syracuse) and got the opportunity to do what I love. Build custom fishing rods full time. I still enjoy going into the shop, cranking up the rock and roll and spinning rods. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always peaches and cream. This time of the year gets nerve wracking as hell trying to get everyone’s rod to them, before the bite picks up, but we try.

I also thought about all the people I have met and built for. I have become friends with many of them. There’s my good friend Alan, “the flying Hawaiian” from Jersey. He is a very talented musician. How cool is that. One day we were chatting and I mentioned I like Kona Coffee. It’s hard to get the good stuff around here. About two weeks later I get a package from Hawaii. Its full of all different Kona’s and it’s the real thing! The man is a saint.

Then, there is Lee from California. Lee originally came from Long Island but relocated to the West Coast. I come to find out he is a weatherman at a local station out there. This past summer I had the opportunity to meet up with him out in Montauk. We got to fish a while and chat. What a great guy.  As it turns out he fishes with a crew out there that all fish for Stripe Bass. I wound up building rods for 5 of them now. One of the interesting ones was Mike Fixters fishing buddy. He was the first left coast customer I had. I told him how much I admired Mike’s plugs. He wound up sending me a some of them

The best though is a local from Queens. Mike was here one day discussing his build and we got on the subject of fresh water fishing. I mentioned I had a house in the Adrondacks. He said he also had a house up there. I asked him what exit he was off. He said 25 I almost fell over. I’m off exit 24 meaning we are very close. As we chatted more, it turns out he is less then 5 miles and on the other side of the mountain from me!!!!!!  Small world. I could go on and on but I wont bore you to tears. There are so many more.

I am truly blessed to have met so many fun and interesting people in the fishing community.

Now if I could just manage to catch some damn fish!

Editor’s note

[youtube]http://youtu.be/OWOb1kP9xl8[/youtube]

I just got back from visiting Syracuse University with my family. My son’s first choice has always been Newhouse School of Communication up there although I have to admit that it’s kind of boring to visit any school when classes are not in session.
While I was gone, Tommy was and still is working on a new issue which will be ready after the weekend. Looks like another solid effort on the part of all involved and I cant wait to read it myself.
I decided to feature a video segment on who is the best Montauk surfcaster of all time. No, there is no way there can be a definitive answer to that question, I am aware of that. I just thought that it would be interesting to hear from those interviewed who they thought was a surfcaster they knew that was “made for Montauk”. Or like Fred Schwab said, No one, no one loved Montauk more than …”.
Look for a Montauk Time and Tide segment in this issue.
Here is the video preview

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Ddmw4q5F0wQ[/youtube]
In addition there are articles from Dennis Zambrotta, DJ Muller, Angelo Peluso who has a new book out this month, DJ Muller, late Frank Pintauro on needlefish history, all your favorite columnists, bunch of things we tried and reviews, your favorite columnists, original video on duplicating lures with Ron DiCostanzo, original video with Lou Caruso on how to protect your rod while away from home. If that is not enough there is also a interview with PENN Business manager Mike Rice who will fill you in on everything you wanted to know about new PENN Z series of reels including original part, modification, why the reel was not redesigned and everything and anything you wanted to know.

As many of you know The Fisherman magazine has recently unveiled their TV style fishing show, exclusively for the subscribers of the magazine. If I am understanding this correctly, each new episode is available only to subscribers. Then once a new episode debuts the older episode becomes free to the public.
Anyway, from a video stand point, I am always amazed and inspired in some ways to watch pros work. This Fisherman TV production is all Tim Smith, who singlehandedly records, edits and creates each episode. I can only imagine how much work that must take. But although it’s a single camera show he makes it very interesting to watch. Good job Tim and the whole Fisherman crew
Of course, shout out to our boy Toby Lapinski, the editor of New England edition who is being a major sellout by fishing on a boat for blackfish…with BAIT!! Oh, Toby..how could you.
Just busting boys and girls, Toby is a hell of a surfcaster, good friend and now a new daddy. Congrats again Toby on all your success.
You can watch this video at http://www.thefisherman.com/index.cfm
if you are a Fisherman subscriber, just log in with your credentials and you can now watch Episode number #2 which is available to subscribers only right now

The Midnight Rambler

By John Papciak
Something for Nothing

Years ago I talked a work associate into a party boat trip.

A great guy, but not a fisherman. He was a nerdy computer programmer type, highly educated and exceptionally witty, which is probably why I enjoyed his company. He always had an irreverent and brutally honest one-liner to capture whatever situation.

His idea of the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning might have involved a trip to a museum, I suppose. But he wanted to do something “different” with his grade-school aged son, preferably some sort of a male bonding type thing.

Maybe fishing.

I reasoned that a trip on a party boat was a great way to give “deep sea fishing” a try. All you needed was money. They would supply the rods, and the bait, and even the know-how. I showed him where these boats could be found, and I even gave him a few names of boats that were thought to be “first-timer friendly.” Then I gave a little crash course on fishing etiquette – I told him about fares, and the pool, and tips, and to get there early to get a good spot at the rails.

The following Monday I got a full report on the half-day fluke trip that they decided on. I was told that they didn’t get any keeper fluke, but that they caught fish of much greater significance. They ended up catching dogfish, and “these very cool fish called sea robins.” To them, these fish were far more interesting than the “flounder” that others on the boat got to take home.

“My son went to school this morning telling his classmates that he went fishing with his dad, and that he caught a shark,” he beamed. “How cool is that?”

“And you know, this whole fishing thing is a very interesting concept.” he continued. “You catch a fish, and it’s like you’re getting something for nothing.”

He wasn’t factoring in the size limit regulations that prevented him from taking home a keeper, or about the price of gas, or the fare for his trip.

I suspect he would have spent about the same taking his son to a museum in New York City. But fishing offered the ability to interact directly with live animals, and potentially taking some home, if they so wanted.

Bob moved on, and his son is probably in college today, but his comment about fishing representing “something for nothing” is still with me.

I wish more people saw it this way.

I have to resist the temptation to get all kinds of righteous on you.

I don’t want to preach you into joining a conservation group – or take it to the other extreme – and join a “fisherman’s rights” association. At least not today anyway.

But it is interesting to note that for many people who fish recreationally, the more they fish, often the more they want or expect to be compensated for their effort. They want “point fish” or a “30” or maybe even a “50.” Only the rare bird can come off the beach after a skunk and honestly stick with the positives. Even if they were able to escape the daily grind for at least those few hours of casting it’s a big plus (and I am not sure I count my blessings after a skunk either).

If I learned something new about how the tide created some interesting seams about two hours down at a certain new spot, or that a worm hatch was going off despite it being a quarter moon, I am not sure why the night must be classified as a bust – just because I didn’t land a large striped bass.

I do understand the virtue of being “hungry,” and relentlessly hunting for big fish. It can be argued that you will never become really good at it unless you push yourself. And this is where competition, rewards and chest thumping helps.

But if I look back at those memorable trips, the ones that were off the charts fun, most started with very limited or zero expectations…Like my first 30, on a night when I was just killing time with a light stick and a couple of bucktails in my pocket. Or the days when I zipped over to the beach “just for a look” and found all hell breaking loose, or the night I decided to put on a wetsuit one month before the fish were supposed to arrive, mainly because there was nothing better to do, and nothing much good on TV.

Something for nothing.

There are very few people around who still fish regularly and who remember seeing hordes of Pollock and codfish in some places invade the surf line. I’ve listened to the stories of old timers over the years how Pollock would show up like clockwork every day at same time, just before the sunset. And they would be gone as soon as the darkness descended. Same thing in the mornings, at dawn and trough the sunrise, thousands of fish would turn the water to a froth and they were not shy about taking most lures tossed into a blitz.

Even the story about hooking up with a huge bass, “a sure fifty” under the Montauk Lighthouse that turned out to be a big Pollock always fascinated me. I did best that I could to at least to some extent preserve some information that will be soon lost forever. I would love to see someone interview guys that are still around and get a scoop on how it was in early fifties or forties.

Imagine how great it would be if we had Pollock, bass and blues on the same tide? Yes, I know this is the thing for historians to ponder and you can never go back in time. But the man can dream.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/u-2IbAiniaI[/youtube]

Enjoy

I should have done this awhile ago but it’s never too late to say thank you so today is the day.

All of us at the Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine extend our sincerest thanks to our friend Steve McKenna. As many of you know, Steve is not just an awesome writer but a hell of a surfcaster, and modest one to boot. I can honestly say that having him in my life as a friend is a reward that is hard for me to put into the words. Even although I see him once or twice a year he always made me feel like he is always just a phone call away if I needed something. I hope he feels the same way. After being a HUGE part of SJ family from the day one, Steve has decided to give his writing hand a break to enjoy other things in life. I am not privy to his plans but all of us at Surfcaster’s Journal wish him well and we thank him for believing in what we do when very few did. Steve will always be a part of extended SJ family.

With every door that closes another one opens up….

I am happy to welcome our newest columnist and another personal friend and awesome surfcaster, New Jersey DJ Muller. DJ and I kind of “grew up” together in this sport in a sense that we both came out with our first two books at the same time. DJ got me beat in the looks category as I was told I have a face for a radio while I have him beat in the gut category although I am working on slimming down 🙂

All kidding aside, I am proud to call both of these extraordinary men my friends and I am honored they both contribute to the Surfcaster’s Journal.

In this issue in few weeks we have columns by

Roger “I am still cool”  Martin

John” The Genius” Skinner

Al “The Hunter” Albano

John “The Fly Master” Papciak

Russ ” Big Rock” Paoline

Andrew ” The Swimming Chef” Chase

Lou “The Rod Guru” Caruso

Dave “The Plugoholic” Anderson

DJ “Island Hopper” Muller

With articles from

Beating the Doldrums – Denis Zambrotta

Fly fishing primer – Angelo Peluso

The Island Approach – DJ Muller

Montauk Madness – Bill Jakob

Needlefish History  –  Frank Pintauro

and then bunch of original videos, plus a crap load of reviews.

If you are not a Surfcaster’s Journal Subscriber, all I can ask is why ?

Go over that list again and you tell me that that is not an INSANE number of talent on that list.

New Book Release: Fly Fishing The Surf 6-1-2013

New York – Skyhorse Publishing (NYC) has released a new book title by fly fisherman, angling journalist and author,  Angelo Peluso. The book,  Fly Fishing the Surf, is a comprehensive and essential volume dedicated to surf and wade fishing along the entirety of the East Coast, from the rugged Maine coastline to Florida’s tropical flats. This book opens up the prolific world of fly-fishing the surf to seasoned and aspiring anglers and demonstrates the enormous promise this form of angling can offer anglers of all skill levels. A wealth of content, photographs, and images help to explore the waters of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic states, and the Southeast as the book guides anglers to discover a veritable gold mine of game fish and fly-fishing opportunities. Fly Fishing The Surf covers all aspects of tackle, techniques, strategies, game fish and baitfish, flies, and destinations. It will become an invaluable addition to your arsenal of fly-fishing tackle and gear.  Regardless of experience or skill level  there is something for every shore-based fly angler who casts to inshore coastal game fish.

Early praise for Fly Fishing The Surf  has come from some of the most iconic and distinguished pioneers of the sport:

“Fishing beaches, shorelines, and bays with fly tackle is a special experience. Angelo Peluso captures this magic in a book filled with solid information, great insights, and his love of the surf. I’m sure this book will kindle a spark in many anglers to discover water they never considered fishing.”

Lou Tabory, legendary fly fisherman, fly tier and author

“Angelo Peluso has spent many years fly fishing in many of the surfs on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, which certainly qualifies him to write this book.  He has been extremely generous with how-to tips and instructions.  I am sure you will find this enjoyable book easy to read and easy to use.  I certainly did.”

Stu Apte, IGFA Hall-of-Fame Angler and five-time winner of the Ted Williams Award

“Angelo Peluso is a solid fly fisherman and writes about what he practices.  I’m sure that if you fish the surf, this book will give you valuable information.”

Bernard “Lefty Kreh, an iconic and world renowned fly angler, fly tier, caster, author and photographer, and creator of the Lefty’s Deceiver.

“In my book, Complete Book of Surf Fishing, I devoted only eight pages to fly fishing in the surf, but in Angelo Peluso’s Fly Fishing the Surf, there’s an entire book’s worth of information by a master of the art.”

Captain Al Ristori, renowned angler, author, charter captain and editor at Saltwater Sportsman and the Newark Star- Ledger

Angelo Peluso is an award-winning outdoors journalist, book, photographer and lecturer whose work has appeared in numerous local. regional and national publications. He is a seasoned saltwater fly angler with a number of tippet class world records under his belt. Fly Fishing The Surf is his fourth fly-fishing book and joins his other titles: Saltwater Flies of the Northeast; Fly Fishing Long Island; and Saltwater Flies of the Southeast and Gulf Coast.

Skyhorse Publishing  is a premier publisher of angling, sporting and outdoor sports books.  Its other imprints cover wide range of reader interests.  You can find out more about their other book offerings at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.

Fly Fishing The Surf  is available at all major book outlets and online merchants or direct from the author at www.angelopeluso.com