CTS S7 Surf Rod

Posted on September 28, 2014July 3, 2016 by Julio Silva

When I first started skishing, I used a 10 foot factory surf rod. The most challenging thing during that trip was re-learning how to cast while defying gravity by floating in the water column with a 7 mm wetsuit and fins. The butt of the factory surf rod was too long and loading the rod was un-necessarily challenging. I shared my experience with Rich Hedenberg from RH Custom Rods. He listened patiently and recommend a custom 11 foot CTS S7 moderate-fast action surf rod rated for 1 to 4 ounces.

When you are “sitting in your chair” during your drift and trying to cast, you need to raise your arms up high above the water to cast. The range you have to load the rod is very limited. An 11 foot rod with moderate-fast action will load quickly and propel your presentation into the strike zone. When fighting a big fish, the rod will bend parabolicly— which will tire out the fish.

The CTS S7 exceeded my expectations during my field test. The rod is light. Casts “wicked far”. And has the power to land trophy fish. My friend Joe Gugino from Why Knot Fishing filmed my field test. When I view the video, I and still amazed at how quickly the rod loads! 😉

My custom CTS S7 rod built by RH Custom Rods is my second custom CTS rod, but it shall not be my last! The performance of these blanks are amazing!! The craftsmanship is second to none!!!

Montauk Confidential

Posted on September 5, 2014October 23, 2017 by Julio Silva

While on holiday in Maine I read Montauk Confidential by Paul Melnyk, founder of skishing. I have never skished. But, I have been fascinated by this method since I read about it in On The Run by David DiBenedetto.

Fish360 Montauk Confidential

Montauk is know as “The Surfcasting Capital of the World”. Anglers travel from near and far to fish Montauk. But, they go with the tide. The anglers who return with with each tide are the anglers you will find in Melnyk’s stories. The fish stories are some of the best that I have read, actually. But, there are also stories that speak to more than catching fish. That is, friendship, respect, trust, betrayal, money, glory, and rivalries.

In the last chapter, “Montauk’s Fishing Holes”, Melnyk provides an annotated map of Long Island with 57 hot spots. He groups these hot spots into regions and speaks to the experience level required to fish each respective region. Anglers who are worth their weight in salt will read this chapter like they work their needlefish: slowly. Dead men do not catch fish. Heed Melnyk’s advice.

I read a lot of fishing books, blogs, and magazines. And I can tell you that there are story tellers and there are people who tell stories. Paul Melnyk is a story teller. He knows how to employ language and word choice to paint each scene in the reader’s imagination without giving away the ending. I have not met Paul Melnyk in person, but after reading his book, I feel like I have.

Striped Bass Management Public Hearings ~ 2014

Posted on September 2, 2014July 3, 2016 by Julio Silva

The spawning stock bio mass (SSB) for striped bass has declining since 2004. A wise man once said, “United we stand. Divided we fall”. Stand with us and comment on the Striped Bass Draft Addendum IV. Here are the details:

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Email: Douglas.Grout@wildlife.nh.gov

MASSACHUSETTS
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Nantucket Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Email: jared.silva@state.ma.us

Tuesday, September 2, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Email: jared.silva@state.ma.us

Wednesday, September 3, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
MA DMF Annisquam River Station, 30 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, Massachusetts
Email: jared.silva@state.ma.us

Thursday, September 4, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Viking Club, 410 Quincy Avenue (Route 53), Braintree, Massachusetts
Email: jared.silva@state.ma.us

RHODE ISLAND
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
University of Rhode Island, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Email: nicole.lengyel@dem.ri.gov

CONNECTICUT
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Marine Headquarters, Boating Education Center, 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme Connecticut
Email: deep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov

NEW JERSEY
Thursday, September 4, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Galloway Twp. Branch of the Atlantic Co. Library, 306 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, New Jersey
Email: russ.allen@dep.nj.gov

Monday, September 15, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Toms River Town Hall, L. M. Hirshblond Room, 33 Washington Street, Toms River, New Jersey
Email: russ.allen@dep.nj.gov

NEW YORK
September 16, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Stony Brook University Wang Center
Room 201
Stony Brook, New York
Carol Hoffman at 631.444.0476
carol.hoffman@dec.ny.gov

September 23, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
NYSDEC Region 3 Office
21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, New York
Kathy.Hattala@dec.ny.gov

DELAWARE
Thursday, September 11, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware
Email: john.clark@state.de.us

PENNSYLVANIA
September 17, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Silver Lake Nature Center
1206 Bath Road
Bristol, Pennsylvania
elevis@pa.gov

POTOMAC RIVER
September 23, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
222 Taylor Street
Colonial Beach, VA
martingary.prfc@verizon.net

VIRGINIA
September 22, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
rob.oreilly@mrc.virginia.gov

NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, September 29, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dare County Government Complex, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo, North Carolina
Email: michelle.duval@ncdenr.gov