Starting the Day Right When I wake up, the first thing I do is plan my day by checking various apps. I look at the wind forecast, live wind speed and direction and predicted tide times. If the forecast calls for more than 10 mph winds, I focus on wind direction and plan my day for an area where I can get some shelter. A sheltered location just makes fishing easier and much more fun[...]

Our family spent summers on the Eastern Shore. I learned the size of a keeper Blue crab was as big as a Coca cola can. I baited fat minnows on hooks to catch flounder. I sat next to Mallard nests in the springtime, praying the eggs would hatch and the yellow down ducklings would follow me home. Maryland provided a world class education in the outdoors, but I was never exposed to hunting. As an[...]

Oceanic Adventures Make Maryland a Tuna Steak State There was a day and age when mid-summer was considered the best of the tuna action off the Maryland coastline, but those days are long gone. In recent years spring and early summer have proven to be prime times, and many boats will be rigged and ready by the time this edition of FishTalk comes out. But what many people across the nation don’t realize is that[...]

Now I could use this article to cite numerous data on how being in the woods lowers your blood pressure, reduces stress, triggers endorphins, improves sleep, and boosts your immune system. But you don’t need data. You need to head out, set up a tent, grab your fishing gear, head out to the closest body of water, and see what’s biting. After the third breath, you’ll feel like a kid again making your first cast[...]

Hunting is a wonderful way to get the whole family outside together and to see some naturally beautiful parts of Maryland. Youth Waterfowl Hunting days in Maryland offer a great chance for young outdoor enthusiasts to master their skills. Saturday, Feb. 10 is one of two days offered each year with this special designation for ages 16 and younger. An added bonus to this month’s Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day is that at this time of[...]

As the water begins to cool, northern snakehead start to move from the shallow waters to find deeper holes for the winter. You’ll need to switch up your baits to catch them. The baits I lean on heavily in the winter are simple but effective. They include chatterbaits and in-line spinners, as well as spinner baits and live bait. Always be sure to use the right baits for your location and purpose. I use the[...]

Included in that wide span of surf is Assateague State Park, located on Assateague Island. This is the only oceanfront park in Maryland and is a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Sinepuxent Bay on the west. This park is a great spot for weekend camping. Its 300 pet-friend sites fill up fast so be sure to book early. Assateague’s two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing[...]

White Marlin As anglers in the “White Marlin Capital of the World,” we know a thing or two about these big, strong, exciting billfish. White marlin, who primarily stick to the deep waters of the Atlantic, are famous for being fierce fighters when hooked, engaging in what’s called “tail-walking” on the water’s surface and high-flying acrobatic jumps. For those who don’t have their own boat or are seeking tips on how to catch their first[...]

Growing up in a family full of avid hunters, being in the outdoors was just a normal everyday thing to me. I can remember like it was yesterday, going with my father on my first-ever out of state hunt as a child in Alabama at a place called Bush Creek Plantation. That hunting trip is just one of the many reasons I picked my career path as a hunting outfitter. Everyone wants to be an[...]