Did you know that more than 50 million Americans go fishing at least once every year? Men and women, kids, amateurs and professionals, hobby anglers, and more can all be found on the water, tossing in their lines. That’s a lot of people fishing, resulting in a lot of fish caught. With so many anglers out there and a limited number of fish, we can’t afford not to fish responsibly if we want future generations to be able to enjoy fishing as much as we do. Here are 10 tips that everyone who loves fishing can use right now to make sure the fishing is still great when we’re old and gray:

1. Fish mindfully by using barbless hooks and learning proper catch and release techniques to give fish a better chance at survival.

2. When fishing for your supper, don’t take more than can be eaten or stored.

3. Practice proper fishing etiquette by keeping clear of other boats, steering clear of private waters unless permission to fish has been granted, and treating others out on the water with respect and courtesy.

4. Watch your speed and your wake, and always keep a reasonable distance from anglers on shore, jetties, and swimmers.

5. Never use a boat to herd fish on flats or to spook fish so it will reveal itself.

6. Follow fishing regulations, including obtaining licenses when necessary, and report poachers.

7. Educate yourself about coastal habitats, local fish species, fisheries operating in your area, and environmental protections in place related to water-based conservation efforts.

8. Protect your local fishing spots by taking your trash home with you, never dumping oil or fuel, and making an effort to leave sites cleaner than you found them.

9. Never use live bait fish that aren’t native to the waters you are fishing to avoid contamination by invasive species.

10. Engage in and support science-based advocacy geared toward creating better conservation strategies.

In commercial fishing, the need to balance the expense of business ownership can mean that gear is designed to capture as much fish as possible in the least amount of time. Much of the commercial fishing gear out there today is designed to catch any fish that gets in the way. In other words, bycatch. What’s bycatch? Undesirable fish that’s swept up in nets or captured on hooks, and tossed aside to live or to die. Bycatch can have a hugely negative impact on ecosystems and results in a lot of waste.

Avoiding bycatch isn’t always easy, both on a large commercial scale or even for small scale operations. But there’s one simple way to avoid bycatch that’s not only ecologically sound, but also pretty awesome. We’re talking about harpoon fishing. Harpoons were probably used for fishing long before hooks and rods made the scene. While harpoons are mainly associated with whaling, the fact is that this tool has ancient origins and was likely one of the first types of tackle.

Harpoon fishing today has certainly evolved, however. Instead of antler tips on wooden shafts, there are metal harpoons hooked up to electrified lines that can instantly kill a harpooned fish. Though the harpoon has somewhat of a negative image in many people’s minds because of its association with the whaling trade, the fact is that modern harpoon rigs can actually be more humane than other forms of fishing.

But the main appeal of harpoon fishing, as we see it, is the excitement of the catch. Standing out on the long gangway off the bow or sighting giant tuna and swordfish from the height of the crow’s nest… running out onto the bowsprit with harpoon in hand… driving that harpoon home. It’s a method of fishing that pits man against fish. Harpoon fishing is certainly a matter of skill more so than patience; it requires a keen eye, a strong arm, and an understanding of animal behavior that is akin to that required by the hunters of prehistory.

As for harpoon use in commercial fishing, you may be asking yourself how the men and women who specialize in harpoon fishing can possibly make a living. Here’s how: Many people regard quick-killed harpoon caught fish as a higher quality product and a more humane product, so the fish brought in via the harpoon tend to fetch a higher price than fish who lived out their final moments floundering in a net or struggling against a hook.

Fish isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when the cook in the house is considering a rich and hearty dish, but fettuccine with fresh tuna sauce definitely hits that mark. Fresh tuna is paired with flavorful plum tomatoes and zesty garlic to create a dish that will have everyone walking away from the table full and happy.

Ingredients:

• 3 tsp. olive oil, divided in two
• 12 oz. fresh 1″ tuna steak cut into small cubes
• salt and white pepper, to taste
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, very finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, very finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 28 oz. can skinless plum tomatoes
• 3/4 c. chicken or vegetable broth
• 3/4 c. dry white wine
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
• 2 strips lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon grated
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
• 12 oz. whole-wheat fettuccine

Directions:

1. Heat 1 and a half teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tuna and sauté until brown outside but pink inside (about 2 minutes). Once done, remove the fish from the pan and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Reduce the heat to medium, and add the remaining 1 and a half teaspoons oil to the pan. Next, add the onions, carrots, celery, and three teaspoons of the chopped garlic. Sauté these together until the vegetables are softened (about 3 minutes).
3. Add tomatoes to the pan and mash with the back of a spoon or a potato masher. Then add the broth, wine, thyme, strips of lemon zest, and bay leaf.
4. Bring the sauce that results to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook until slightly thickened (about 15 minutes).
5. Add the tuna to the sauce, and then reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the fish is opaque in the center (about 5 minutes). Remove the lemon zest strips and bay leaf, and then adjust seasonings to taste.
6. Finally combine the parsley, grated lemon zest, and the remaining teaspoon of chopped garlic.
7. Serve tuna sauce hot over the freshly cooked fettuccine sprinkled with the parsley mixture.

Enjoy!

Tarpon fishing is an experience. Imagine battling with a 6′, 150+ pound fish that’s putting on an unforgettable aerial extravaganza while you hold the line. The fight is spectacular. Tarpons do an impressive job of trying to throw the hook and are surprisingly successful. Tangling with a tarpon is, for many, a once in a lifetime event, making this monster fish highly prized. Catching one? Now that’s something to celebrate!

For those unfamiliar with the tarpon and tarpon fishing, we’ve compiled a list of fish facts about this very cool species.

• Marine biologists believe that large female tarpon can lay up to 15,00,000 eggs. During spawning, dozens of fish will swim in tight circles as the males fertilize the eggs released by the females.
• Tarpon, in a pinch, can breathe surface air.
• Catch and release is the way to go when fishing for tarpon. While the flesh of this fish is quite tasty, it’s also very bony, and permits are often required to keep a tarpon catch.
• Tarpon rise to the surface periodically to gulp air. This is called rolling, and it’s a sure giveaway that there are more tarpon under the surface. Sometimes hundreds of these fish can be seen rolling near river mouths.
• There are two species of tarpon, though most people think of the huge Atlantic tarpon rather than its smaller Indo-Pacific cousin.
• Tarpon is the official state saltwater fish of Alabama.

• When stressed, tarpon will bite. Combine this with their tendency to jump and you end up with a unique problem. A tarpon minding its own business may accidentally jump into a nearby boat – and when it does, watch out!
• Juvenile tarpon, which generally weigh about 20 pounds, make for a fun catch experience because they jump aggressively in protest when hooked.
• Tarpon fishing requires quiet because as soon as these fish hear you coming, they’ll book and you’ll have to hunt them all over again.

Walk into any sporting goods or fisherman’s outfitter store and there will be an immense fishing tackle section. You will see, among other fishing equipment and accessories, rods, reels, lures, tackle boxes, nets, and boots. A woman or man who’s been bitten by the fishing bug could spend an entire year’s earnings without leaving the aisles!

All of which brings us to the natural question: How is the fishing enthusiast supposed to take it all in and then make an informed decision about what she or he needs? There’s no one perfect answer, of course, which is why we’ve written up three tips to help you get your money’s worth when you’re shopping for fishing equipment.

Tip 1: Know what type of fish you want to catch. The type of equipment you will need to catch a small mouth bass while standing at the water’s edge will be quite different than what you need to land Bluefin tuna on a boat. The small mouth bass will be happy to bite on a bamboo pole, stationery line, and a wiggly night crawler. The tuna… she’ll take some more planning and some heavy duty gear.

Tip 2: Know where you will find the fish you want to catch. Whether it’s standing on the bank, standing on the boat, sitting on a rock, or wading knee deep in the stream, you’ll be shopping for gear that’s venue-specific. Some scenarios require live bait, some artificial, some light-weight flies for casting. Specialty clothing is sometimes involved. If you can’t answer the question of where you will be, you need to head to the library before you buy any tackle.

Tip 3: Know your budget. Once you have figured out what fish you will be after and where you will be when you catch it, sit down and calculate exactly how much you’re willing to spend and on what. Do you need waders? Do you need a casting rod and reel? Will a charter boat supply some of the gear you need? List everything. Go online and estimate the cost of each item you are considering buying. Keep in mind that each piece of tackle comes in several quality levels. Choose wisely and within your budget.

When you have done your homework, go to a fishing outfitter that specializes in the type of fishing you want to do. Ask questions and listen to the answers. The specialists there can give you the advice you need to have everything in place before you ever put a hook in the water.

If you are in New England and you make the decision to tackle the tuna, you will probably be going out for Bluefin. Bluefin tuna are huge, fast and beautiful. They can grow up to 10 feet long, and weigh more than 1,000 pounds. In fact, the largest ever caught weighed 1,496 pounds and was landed off Nova Scotia in 1979. Why tackle the tuna around our neck of the woods? New England is actually one of the best areas for finding Bluefin.

This species has a seasonal feeding migration that takes it to the Gulf of Maine. Massachusetts has been the top Bluefin tuna state since the 1940s. If you can believe it there is so much money spent in Massachusetts on tuna fishing tackle that it is tracked as an economic force.

But as much the Bluefin is a big part of tuna fishing in New England, tackling this monster fish is still a challenge. They are real fighters. Rod and reel catches requires the largest high quality reels fitted with 200 pounds test line. But never fear! Trolling with rigged natural baits or artificial squids on spreader bars and bait fishing on anchor with live baits or chunks of local prey are also effective methods of landing this magnificent fish.

As for how to go about tuna fishing in New England, we recommend you charter a boat as the Bluefin tuna can travel scores of miles from shore. Finding schools of Bluefin in the open ocean is a skill that takes decades to learn. Sure, you could rent a boat and go hunting on your own, but having a guide who knows the ins and outs of tuna fishing can make your excursion a bountiful one.

The Pineapple Gang takes their cod fishing charters seriously. So serious, that this is their 8th year cod fishing aboard Tuna Hunter. Every year they are well prepared, well-dressed and have great success. They are all good anglers, and passionate about their fishing.

This year’s trip was no exception, and the fish cooperated – a non-stop blitz of large cod, all day long, with a breather at the slack.  Fish hit on a mix of jigs and clams. The usual. So why such a blitz? Good people, good times, plus Pineapple = Good Fishing.  Through the years this crew has mastered techniques, so very few fish get by. If they bite, these guys hook ‘em.

Tuna Hunter has August openings – come out and cool off, enjoy great fishing and have a great time, call 978-407-1351 or email captain@tunahunter.com

Captain Gary & Karen Cannell

TUNA HUNTER FISHING CHARTERS

captain@tunahunter.com

978-407-1351 captain

978-546-7992 land

http://www.tunahunter.com

Please call us at 978-407-1351

as we are at sea fishing this time of year!

Trout is popular in fish dishes, even among those who might usually eschew fish. And yet many people avoid cooking fish because they’ve heard that cooking fish is difficult and best left to the experts. We disagree! Cooking fish doesn’t have to be difficult, and the results that even an average home cook can achieve can be pretty extraordinary. It all depends on the recipe, and today we want to share a fish recipe that is as simple as it is delicious. Baked Trout Saratoga takes this humble and common fish to new levels with flavorful tomatoes, fresh parsley, and of course, garlic.

4 lb. whole trout, cleaned

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for pan

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 c. white wine

1 lemon, cut into wedges

4 sprigs fresh parsley

• Preheat your oven to 400F, and prep a 9×13″ baking dish with olive oil.
• Season trout to taste on both sides with salt and pepper, then transfer the fish to your baking dish.
• Combine tomatoes, olive oil, fresh parsley, and garlic in a bowl until well mixed.
• Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the trout, and then pour half the white wine over the trout.
• Bake trout for 35 minutes or until the fish’s flesh is flaky, basting with the remaining wine at 15 minutes into the cooking time.
• Before serving, garnish the trout with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs.

Enjoy!

The annual Nivens family reunion typically includes a Gloucester fishing charter aboard Tuna Hunter, and typical both sessions produce loads of fish, plenty to feed the extended family back home.  The 2011 bash was no exception.

This year the morning team outshone with striped bass – over ten keepers to 40 inches. Hard to beat! The action was busy all morning, making it hard to leave to swap out for the afternoon crew.

In the afternoon, the striper action slowed, but the cod action picked up. Drift rigs for striped bass fishing where exchanged for bottom rigs for cod fishing, and soon everyone was contributed large codfish to the fish box.  Gloucester fishing at its finest!

Join Tuna Hunter with your family for great fishing, and great fun. We look forward to fishing with you!

Captain Gary & Karen Cannell

TUNA HUNTER FISHING CHARTERS

captain@tunahunter.com

978-407-1351 captain

978-546-7992 land

http://www.tunahunter.com

Please call us at 978-407-1351

as we are at sea fishing this time of year!

Fish long enough and you’re bound to end up with a fishhook injury. It’s just plain old probability – every time you fish, you’re stacking the deck against punctured fingers, snagged skin, and other unpleasant situations caused by fishhooks ending up somewhere other than in the mouth of a fish. Are fishhook injuries funny? We’ll let you draw your own conclusions in that regard, but we will say that fishhook injuries are definitely painful for those who are experiencing them.

In a best case scenario, fishhook injuries are avoided altogether by sticking to safe practices and paying attention to what you’re doing at any one time. Concentration while casting and care when picking hooks out of tackle boxes will go a long way toward never having to deal with fishhook injuries like a fishhook through a finger.

But even when someone is handling hooks with skill and care, accidents can and do happen. It pays to know how to remove a fish hook from a finger or other body part BEFORE you find yourself in a situation that requires such knowledge so you can calmly deal with the problem in front of you and a minor injury doesn’t become something more frightening for those involved. That’s where we come in. Below, you’ll find our guide to removing a fish hook from a finger or other body part.

1. Analyze the hook structure and its placement in the body. A fish hook in or near the eye is a serious medical emergency, and you should not attempt to remove it on your own. Go straight to the nearest emergency room or call an ambulance. The same goes for a fishhook embedded anywhere else in the face or very complicated hooks with multiple barbs. Don’t attempt to remove it yourself.

2. No matter what method of removing a fish hook makes the most sense in your situation, wash your hands with soap and water, and also cleanse the injury site before doing anything else.

3. If the person who has been injured is frightened or nervous about fishhook removal, take a moment to explain what you are going to do and reassure them that while extraction of the hook may hurt a little, it will only hurt for a short time. Some people find removing a fishhook basically painless, while others report the experience as much more uncomfortable.

4. In some cases, a fishhook can simply be backed out of the injury site without much effort or pain. If you can simply remove the fishhook – if it’s not a barbed hook, for example, or if only the tip is embedded – it’s better to do so than to attempt any more complicated removal methods below.

5. The push and cut method is useful for hooks with one barb or barbs only at the end and involves pushing the hook further in until the barb has come all the way through the skin. Next, cut the barb off using wire cutters – making sure to clean any tool used for this purpose thoroughly. Finally, pull the shank of the fishhook back through the original hole and clean the injury site with soap and water, applying antibacterial ointment if possible.

6. The string pull method involves tying a length of fishing line or string to the bend in your hook and pushing the shank of the fish hook down parallel to the injured tissue. This disengages the barb inside the wound site. Then the string is pulled, hard and fast, in the direction that the hook entered the tissue, removing the hook with minimal pain and damage to tissue.

7. For hooks with multiple large barbs or barbs on the shank, consider seeing a medical professional rather than attempting removal yourself because the risk of tissue damage and the chances for bacteria to enter the wound site are greater.

8. Avoid attempting to remove fish hooks near joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, or arteries – those are best left to professionals. When in doubt, leave a fishhook where it is because removing it yourself may cause more damage than simply waiting.

9. Always watch the site of a fishhook injury for signs of infection, like swelling, redness, pus, or skin that is hot to the touch. Fish hook injuries are almost always minor, but the bacteria that can enter a wound when the fish hook goes in or comes out can cause problems that go beyond a simple wound.