My friend, Ned Bean introduced me to “Three Decades of the Derby” by Ron Domurat. I am grateful for the introduction. This book stands out on the striped bass book shelf because it recounts the adventures of great surfcasters: Don Mohr, Abe Williams, Bob ‘Hawkeye’ Jacobs, Ron McKee, Al Angelone, Marsh Bryan, Gordon Ditchfield, and Walter Lison. As you read the well written stories about these great surfcasters, you will also pick up information on where to target striped bass, blue fish, bonito, and false albacore along the shores of Martha’s Vineyard.

Surfcasting is a great sport. There are thousands of surfcasters on the East and West coasts. But, there are few great surfcasters. To become a great surfcaster, you need to do more than catch a trophy striped bass, blue fish, false albacore, or bonito. Mastering all the skills like casting, reading the water, and fishing the water column is not enough. You must also add something new to the sport and community. To do so, you must first learn what has already been contributed by great surfcasters before you. Hence, “Three Decades of the Derby” is now required reading for surfcasters. 😉

Several new moons ago, Ron McKee from Striper Maine-iac introduced me to “Caught” by Jeff Nichols. I finally got a chance to read it last month (during the hours that I should have been sleeping).

I found Jeff Nichols‘ writing easy to read and full of creative spellings, which I too am found of doing. His story is brutally honest. He communicates the real costs and tragic implications of becoming a striper addict. There is nothing romantic or glamorous about being a striper addict.

In addition to the threads, near death escapes, and sabotage, Jeff Nichols also shares some fishing tips. For example, he believes that large predatory striped bass feed during a 30 minute window and spend the rest of the tide digesting. And, according to him, the following tip is worth the cost of his book:

I generally like it when they predict thunderstorms. They tend to spook some percentage of the googan flotilla off the water. The trick is that a ‘slight chance’ of roughly 10% won’t cut it. What you want to hear is 30% chance of thunderstorms. Keeps people at the docks, and most of the time, if they crop up, the storms skirt well to the north of Montauk or Block Island.

Striped bass are a protected species. Each state on the East coast has it’s own regulations. Whether or not the current regulations, which vary from state to state, are effective is being vigorously debated. But, according the Jeff Nichols, the vast quantities of striped bass flooding the black market is the most significant threat to a sustainable striped bass fishery:

One thing’s for sure: if we do not stop recklessly slaughtering the striped bass solely in the name of commerce and ego, they will go the way of the buffalo.

I enjoyed reading Jeff Nichols‘ story. His story illustrates that fishing as a hobby, a competitive sport, or passion, has reward. But, fishing addition has no reward, only exponential costs to one self and the fishery.

I am often asked:”Where can I go fishing?” This simple question does not have a single simple answer. If you want to target saltwater and freshwater species in Massachusetts via boat, kayak, or canoe, then one answer is: Public Access to the Waters of Massachusetts.

This guide book has 200+ sites for freshwater and saltwater. Each site has practical information:

• Number of parking spaces
• Type of ramp (e.g. concrete)
• Number of launching lanes
• Rights of Access
• Predominant species

You can browse the sites by region:

• Southeast
• Northeast
• Central
• Connecticut Valley
• Western

Or you can “search” the sites via city or town (Appendix I) or via site name (Appendix II).

The guide has 90 full color maps. Each full color map is easy to read and clearly indicates the access point and the protected open spaces and recreational lands.

The easiest way to currently get a copy is to send a check via U.S.P.S. to:

Office of Fishing and Boating Access
1 Rabbit Hill Road
Westborough, MA 01581

If you fish Massachusetts, then Public Access to the Waters of Massachusetts is required reading. 😉

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.

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.

Fly fishing is an effective method for targeting striped bass, large and small. Like other methods, fly fishing requires specialized gear and technique.   Unlike other methods, the learning curve is higher and full of pitfalls.  But, fear not! Angelo Peluso‘s Fly Fishing The Surf clearly explains all you need to know.

The chapter on gear will you help select the optimal rod, reel and line for the species, locations and conditions you are fishing.  There is a chapter on how to cast your line and retrieve your fly in seven different ways.   With the proper gear and technique, you can then target the 21 species on the east coast that Peluso identified by learning about the 20 bait fish they eat and 13 fish catching fly patterns.   But before you head out, be sure to read chapter 11, which summarizes 229+ hot spots from Florida to Maine.

If you are thinking of picking up a fly rod to fish the surf, then Angelo Peluso‘sFly Fishing The Surf is a must read!

Have you seen an episode of Animal Planet’s River Monsters?  Jeremy Wade is a great story teller.  He hooks your attention at the begging of the episode and reels you in slowly until the very end.  In his book River Monsters True stories of the ones that did not get away, Wade shares his personal stories of chasing 16 different river monster species.  Yes!  16 species!!

I have seen many episodes of Animal Planet’s River Monsters.  But, reading the stories in Wade’s book has given me a greater understating and appreciation of the challenges of landing river monsters.  You not only need strong angling skills and top gear, but also a healthy appetite for taking risks. Jeremy Wade is a true scientist driven by a curiosity to learn what swims in our rivers.

In his stories, Wade is honest, open, and personal.  And at times, terribly funny.  If you target trophy fish, River Monsters True stories of the ones that did not get away by Jeremy Wade is a must read! 😉

Surfcasting Around The Block by Dennis Zambrotta is the newest addition to my fishing library. The book has three parts.  You can read each part independently, but I would suggest starting at the begging with the history, then wade through the fishing stories (which themselves are written in historical rigor), and conclude your journey with the chapters on gear and methods.

I enjoyed all three parts of the book.  But, my personal favorite was the chapters on gear and methods.  The chapters on needlefish and eels represent not only the best synthesis of knowledge on these subjects, but they also break new ground by speaking to methods not previously written about in the Surfcasting literature.

When I first fished Block Island, I wish Surfcasting Around The Block was published.  But, now after reading Zambrotta’s book, I have a new game plan.  Bass beware! 😉

When I started ice fishing, I only had a rudimentary knowledge of targeting fish through a hole in the ice. Several seasons latter, I am still a student of hard water fishing.  My go-to knowledge source is Ice Fishing The Ultimate Guide by Tim Allard.

The book is well written and comprehensive.  Allard covers gear, safety, and targeting fish.  There are five chapters on gear; clothing, augers, tackle, shelters, and electronics are all covered in full.  The chapter on safety is indispensable; it’s value exceeds the cost of the book.  The majority of the book (9 chapters) is focused on finding and catching fish like crappie, walleye, pike, trout, eelpout, and bass.

Whether you ice fish for fun, food, or competition, Ice Fishing Ultimate Guide by Tim Allard is required reading.

I just completed reading Fishing the Bucktail by John Skinner on my Nook.  If you want to master fishing with bucktails, then you must read this book!

In his book, John Skinner covers the science of bucktailing from a fishing point of view.  First, he speaks to the primary bucktailing parameters:

1. Profile
2. Weight
3. Head geometry
4. Trailers
5. Bouancy
6. Hook Size & Thickness
7. Retrieves Styles
8. Retrieve Speed

The recipe for success, however, is the understanding of how these parameters work together.  John Skinner explains this complixity using simple language.

Second, John Skinner describes how to select the correct bucktails for different types of water and structure (inlets, surf, back bays).  Thrid, he explains how to select the proper rod, reel, and line based on bucktails you will be casting.  And lastly, he addreses conditions and species.

John Skinner also has a chapter on making your own bucktails, which is absolutely the most comprehensive text I have read on the subject.  Many great tips for creating fish catching bucktails safely.

The bucktail jig is one of the simplest lures. Casting a bucktail jig easy.  Seducing fish to strike a bucktail jig requires knowledge derived from experience. John Skinner gives you this priceless knowledge in Fishing the Bucktail. The rest is up to you. Go fish!

When I first got my Nook, there were not many fishy books available for download.  Thankfully, that’s no longer the case!  I recently read Fishing on the Edge, by Mike Iaconelli,  the self proclaimed fishing freak.

Fishing on the Edge is an honest account of Mike Iaconelli’s story.  The good, the bad, and the ugly are all covered.  His story is unique and interesting.  I was hooked after the first chapter!

Fishing on the Edge also provides some great fishing tips.  For example:

1. Casting
2. Jigs
3. Spinner Baits
4. Jerk Baits
5. Crank Baits
6. Locating Bass via Seasonal Patterns
7. Bassy Waters
8. Electronics
9. Boat Positioning
10. How to go Pro

If you fish for large mouth bass, Fishing on the Edge is a must read.  “Never give up!” — Mike Iaconelli.