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Editors’ Top Story Picks for 2021

2021”what a year it’s been. We’ve seen some incredible teams on the water and we’ve also learned a lot, from tying better knots to better boat maintenance. To take a trip back memory lane, and give you some holiday reading, our editors have picked a few of our favorite stories from this past year. We hope you enjoy and have a wonderful Christmas weekend!

How the Newest Texas Bluefin Record Came to Be

Mid-April and the guys in Texas are already at it again, this time with yet another pending Texas state record giant bluefin tuna. The giant was caught just one year after the previous record was set raising the bar for anglers once again in the Gulf.

The story, retold by Capt. Justin Drummond, starts early on Tuesday, April 14, on the 64² Spencer Quantified as the team headed out of Port Aransas in search of a very specific fish”the bluefin tuna.

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A Captain Guide to Making Money with your Boat

blue sportfishing boat on blue ocean ITB Staff Youve heard them. You must have¦ After all, there are just so many¦ How do you wind up with a little money in the fishing business? Start with a lot¦ BOAT bust out another thousand. If you have to ask how much it costs, you probably cant afford it. The ability of boats to eat money is legendary. It has spawned jokes, t-shirts, and bumper stickers of all kind. Rather than being simply fairy tales made up out of thin air, these sayings reflect a level of truth boats can certainly be expensive. There are, however, a select group of individuals who are able to consistently use their boats to generate income. The following is a look at several strategies used successfully by boat owners to make money with their boats.

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How to Tie a Better Snell Knot

snell knot The earliest known inhabitants of the Pacific crafted eyeless hooks from bone and shell with impressive elegance and ingenuity. A variation of the primitive methods employed in lashing hooks to line, the snell knot is widely favored across global fisheries. Creative anglers keen on advancing their collection of skills continue to perfect the craft with the latest iterations preventing tackle failure at traditional breaking points. As a consequence of the snell knot inherent arrangement, and our particular preference in selecting hooks with straight eyes, leader material passing through the hook eye forms an acute angle around potentially sharp edge that can compromise the line durability. On the well-traveled Jaruco, a 90-foot Jarrett Bay, first mate Kieran Pullman has a unique use for a common implement we have all become so familiar with.

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Steering You Straight: The Scoop on Steering

2 2 It often an emergency that prompts a look at a boat steering system. While routine maintenance of modern steering systems is usually simple, an at sea steering issue can quickly and easily result in rudderless steering and an oily bilge! While I have witnessed many captains maneuver a boat with amazing skill using just the engines, having a properly operating steering system is prudent and allows safe operation in all conditions.

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The Benefits of Offshore Fishing on Center Console Boats

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Contender Boats 44ST

My entire fishing career has revolved around fishing center consoles. One of my earliest memories of saltwater fishing was on the back of an old Mako 258 catching spanish and king mackerel with my granddad and uncle out of Mexico Beach, Florida. Technological developments in the past 20 or so years, such as the realization of reliable 4-stroke motor technology and significant advances in marine electronics, have turned today center console fishing boats into efficient, fast, and reliable fishing platforms that far surpass the abilities of their predecessors.

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