Amazing TV show – 90-second demo clip from Shaun Rickard’s Urban Outdoor Adventures TV series. 13 episodes Shot each season in Canada. Musky, Bass, Pike, Salmon, Walleye, Carp, Trout and more… Website: www.hookmorefish.com Sponsored by Rapala and Princecraft Boat

We spent our last few hours in Scotland at the quaint coastal town of North Berwick, located 25 miles east of the Edinburgh. The harbour is lovely and peaceful, with the sound of the waves clashing against the rocks, boats rocking from side to side in the wind and the wonderful Scottish Seabird Centre next door where you can get a cup of tea and admire the views of the Bass Rock. Here is a panorama of this beautiful place. Filmed using the Sony HDR-HC9 HDV1080i High Definition Handycam.
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????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Bass???????????????(???) ???????? Bass?????????????????????????(*^-^)?!!
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At a recent Top Rod Bassmasters tournament at Lake X in New Jersey, club President Spencer Hatton and partner Joe Reiss had a career day. The team managed a bag of 5 fish for 18+ lbs. anchored by a 7.2 lb monster. In a distant 2nd place was Mike Sentore with a very respectable, and otherwise lock for victory, 11 lbs. Watch the video, I hope it gives you some idea of what an accomplishment it was for Spencer and Joe.
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episode #4 kingfish offshore fishing from port o connor texas.. SUBSCRIBE! CHECK OUT ALL OUR VIDS! -kingfish lures – free lineing live baits for kingfish – shark at the rigs -enjoy
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Changed up from jigging to bait fishing today and the bite was on!!

This week on Hooked On Utah we have the opportunity to spend the day bass fishing a Topwater event with Roy Hawk, who is one of Utah’s most successful professional bass fisherman. We have a great day, and learn a ton.

Join Ranger’s Keith Daffron as he previews Ranger’s 2010 Z519 Comanche

A recap of a days fishing in the Everglades.

Check out the new Pro-Lines
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A weekend camping trip to Lake Dixon 2010

Chincoteague Virginia Offshore Fishing

The waters off Chincoteague offer a variety of opportunities for offshore fishermen. Spring weather is usually very windy and boats don’t often get to fish outside the inlet in the early season. When a calm day presents itself, anglers can catch tautog or sea bass over local shipwrecks and artificial reefs.

By June, monster bluefish arrive and are often present in enormous numbers along the 20 fathom line. This fishing usually amounts to a 25-30 nautical mile trip from the inlet.

Days behind the bluefish are several species of sharks, the most sought after being the mako. Sandbar, tiger, thresher, blue, blacktip, bull, hammerhead and other sharks also begin to appear about this time. Local anglers attract sharks by chumming with ground fish, then using wire leaders baited with whatever bait can be attained. Fresh baits like bluefish, trout, mackerel, bonita, or false albacore are preferred.

By mid-June, tuna often appear off the coast. Bluefin tuna prefer cooler water and usually arrive first. In the early season, bluefin are caught among the vicious bluefish by trolling. By July, many anglers switch tactics and fish for tuna with cut butterfish. About the same time, yellowfin and dolphinfish begin to appear and many anglers troll for them as far out as Washington, Poorman’s and Norfolk Canyons. Some of these trips can exceed 70 nautical miles although good fishing is often just 25-30 nautical miles from home.

Late summer usually brings changes to offshore fishing. Better fishing is likely as tuna school up and develop a bigger appetite. Marlin, wahoo and large dolphinfish are also more likely. Another big factor is hurricane season. Some years we enjoy good late season weather and others we wait as systems work off the coast. Patient anglers usually get a few nice days and enjoy good offshore fishing into the fall.

By October, most ocean going anglers turn their attention back to sea bass, flounder and tautog. As the waters cool further, red drum and striped bass or “rockfish” migrate down the coast. By this time offshore fishing has ended and most anglers either retire, or begin fishing inshore for striped bass which goes on throughout the winter months.

For more on local fishing and outdoor recreation, visit Maryland and Virginia Saltwater Fishing.

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Went out shark fishing in the Delaware Bay last night off of Bower’s Beach, Delaware. At about 2-3a.m. Adam got hooked up with a huge skate and the fight was on. He put his St. Croix Tidemaster 7′ Heavy to the ultimate test. After about 40 minutes fighting the giant skate the rod couldn’t take it anymore… Check out the video and let us know what you think *** Please Subscribe, Thumbs Up, and Comment *** Follow us on Twitter @ www.twitter.com
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First mate Vinny in action. Local porgy fishing producing nice quailty scup & black sea bass.

Economic Impact of Sportfishing

As anglers, I doubt we even realize the impact we have on our nations economy. Hopefully this will give you some insight on the positive cash flow we create by just doing what we are so passionate about.

In the past I’ve designed a couple of websites for tournament anglers and in the process I wanted to collect data to present to potential supporters and sponsors to make them aware of impact and participation. I recently “re-discovered” that data and thought you might find it interesting. So below is some of the numbers I collected from various sources that paint a pretty good picture of how fishing has evolved in to a money making, national past time.

Right now, the only ripple of interest to your angling friend is the one made by the fish as it surfaces at the end of the line. But all around, the money spent to buy tackle, gas for the boat and film to record the one that didn’t get away, is having a tremendous, positive impact on the economy. On average, an angler spends over ,200 every year on the sport. Hidden, but none-the-less real, is a multiplying factor that effectively triples what you spend as the initial expenditure ripples through the economy. Take for example the plunked down by an angler for a new a lure. It spreads outward just like the ripples made after the lure hits the water. That revenue helps the store’s owner pay her rent, bills and employees. These individuals then use part of that money for other goods and services and the rippling effect further spreads and repeats. Of course, ten dollars isn’t very significant by itself, but when 44 million anglers spend .5 billion in a year, the result in jobs, wages, and other economic effects is an extraordinary pillar of America’s economic health. More focused on playing the fish at the end of the line, your typical angler gives little thought to how his hobby is helping provide his fellow Americans a boatload of benefits. The 1.1 million jobs, .3 billion in tax revenues, and billion in wages generated by recreational fishing are many times greater than those created by corporate giants like Ford, Microsoft or Nike. Generating more than 6 billion in total output, this remarkably simple activity of dipping one’s line in the water provides nine times the economic benefit of commercial fishing. ‘

“I like to fish because it is totally relaxing. I love the water. I can concentrate and forget all my worries. I count my blessings while fishing.’ George Bush, president.”

Participation:

44.4 million Americans ages 7 and older fish2 (An estimated 50 million fish including all age groups). One out of every six U.S. residents 16 and older fish. 1 25 percent of U.S. males fish, and 8 percent of U.S. females fish. 1 Excluding those who fished the Great Lakes, freshwater anglers account for 82 percent of all anglers. Anglers spend an average of 16 days fishing and take an average of 13 fishing trips annually. Anglers 16 and older took 365 million freshwater fishing trips in 2001 totaling 467 million days. Including saltwater anglers, 437 million fishing trips totaling 557 million days were taken. From 1991 to 1996, freshwater fishing days rose 13 percent. The average number of freshwater fishing days per angler increased from 14.3 in 1991 to 16.7 in 1996. Between 1980 and 1995, the number of Americans who fished increased 16 percent. Residents of the South provided the biggest increase in fishing (21 percent) in the United States between 1980 and 1995. The number of males fishing increased 14 percent from 1980 to 1995.

Popularity:

Fishing ranks as the 4th most popular participation sport in the nation. It ranks ahead of bicycling, bowling, basketball, golf, jogging, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, football and skiing. Only walking, swimming and camping are more popular. More Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined. More Americans fish than play soccer and basketball. The number of youths ages 12 to 17 who participate in freshwater fishing increased 10.9 percent since 1991 to 4.5 million. During the same period, the number of youths ages 12 to 17 who play baseball decreased 15.4 percent to 4 million. Basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball participation declined between 2 and 46 percent. Fishing ranks as the 2nd most popular water-related outdoor sport in the United States. Swimming ranks 1st. Freshwater fishing ranks as one of the top-five participation sports in 7 states. Fishing in general (both freshwater and saltwater) ranks as one of the top-five participation sports in 18 states. Fishing is the No. 1 participation sport in Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina.

Women and Minorities:

11.9 million women 7 and older fish. That’s more than the number who participate in jogging, basketball, volleyball, softball, golf or tennis. Freshwater fishing is the 10th most popular participation sport among women. 2 26.8 percent of all anglers are female 2 (representing 8 percent of the U.S. female population). 5 percent of all anglers are black (representing 7 percent of the black population). 5 percent of all anglers are Hispanic (representing 7 percent of the Hispanic population). The number of women fishing increased 19 percent from 1980 to 1995 compared to 14 percent for males. The region that experienced the largest increase in the number of females fishing was the Northeast. Women spend on average 6 per year for trip-related fishing expenses and per year on fishing equipment for a total of billion. Hispanics fish at lower rates than African-Americans and women, but they spend, on average, more money – 4 per angler for trips and 4 for equipment. Hispanics spent a total of 6 million per year on fishing trips and equipment. Fishing equipment expenditures among African-American anglers increased 43 percent between 1991 and 1996. African-American anglers spend on average 4 per year for trip-related fishing expenses and 8 per year on fishing equipment for a total of 4 million. African-American anglers spend more days fishing (22 vs. 18) and take more trips (18 vs. 14), on average, than all anglers. 64 percent of African-American anglers live in the South compared to 39 percent of all anglers. 43 percent of female anglers live in the South. 16 percent of African-American anglers live in the Midwest. 26 percent of female anglers live in the Midwest. 43 percent of Hispanic anglers live in the South. 38 percent of Hispanic anglers live in the West compared to 20 percent of all anglers. The number of days fished by African-American anglers increased 72 percent between 1991 and 1996 compared to 22 percent for all anglers. The number of days fished by female anglers increased 15 percent between 1991 and 1996. The number of days fished by Hispanic anglers remained constant between 1991 and 1996, but fishing trip expenditures increased 50 percent during the same period. 1.9 million persons 16 and older with disabilities took 33 million fishing trips in 2001, fishing for 41 million days.

Why People Fish:

33 percent of anglers fish to relax. 25 percent of anglers fish as a way of spending time with family and friends. 65 percent of non-anglers and 88 percent of anglers say that being asked by a child would make them want to go fishing or make them want to fish more often.

What People Fish For and Where They Fish:

Bass fishing is the most popular type of fishing in the United States. 38 percent of all freshwater anglers in the United States fish for black bass. 28 percent of freshwater anglers fish for trout. 28 percent of freshwater anglers fish for panfish. 27 percent of freshwater anglers fish for catfish. Bass are sought on 36 percent of all freshwater fishing days. 92 percent of freshwater anglers fish in their state of residence. 23 percent of freshwater anglers fish out of state. 85 percent of freshwater anglers fish in flat water, including ponds, lakes and reservoirs. 44 percent of freshwater anglers fish rivers and streams.

U.S. Anglers by Age Group:

17 percent of 16-to 17-year-olds fish, comprising 4 percent of all anglers. 13 percent of 18-to 24-year-olds fish, comprising 9 percent of all anglers. 19 percent of 25-to 34-year-olds fish, comprising 19 percent of all anglers. 21 percent of 35-to 44-year-olds fish, comprising 27 percent of all anglers. 17 percent of 45-to 54-year-olds fish, comprising 20 percent of all anglers. 16 percent of 55-to 64-year-olds fish, comprising 12 percent of all anglers. 8 percent of 65+ year-olds fish, comprising 9 percent of all anglers. Fishing among 35- to 44-year-olds increased 60 percent between 1980 and 1995. It was the largest increase of any group.

Economic Impact of Fishing:

Anglers spent .6 billion in 2001 to pursue their sport. They spent .7 billion for fishing trips, billion for equipment, and billion for licenses, stamps tags, land leasing and ownership, membership dues and contributions, and magazines. 1 If hypothetically ranked as a corporation, this revenue figure would put sport fishing at 32nd on the 2002 Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. Total economic output generated by freshwater fishing in 2001 exceeded billion, including the impact on retailers, suppliers of goods and services to retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, plus the indirect and induced impacts resulting from these activities. Including saltwater fishing, economic output reached 6 billion. The average angler incurs ,046 in fishing-related expenses. Freshwater fishing expenditures in 2001 generated more than .4 billion in wages. Including saltwater fishing, .1 billion in wages were generated (up 23 percent since 1991). 683,892 full-time jobs exist due to freshwater fishing. Including saltwater fishing, the total exceeds 1 million (up 16 percent since 1991). .07 billion was spent on fishing tackle in 2001. Fishing tackle ranks 4th in terms of consumer expenditures for non-team sports equipment. Golf equipment ranks first followed by exercise equipment and firearms for hunting. Florida anglers spend more than billion annually on fishing and related equipment. California and Texas anglers spend more than billion. Angler expenditures exceed billion in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Economic Impact of Fishing:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated Recreation. National Sporting Goods Association. Sports Participation in 2001. Future of Fishing project conducted by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Va. American Sportfishing Association. The 2001 Demographics and Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in the United States. Participation and Expenditure Patterns of African-American, Hispanic, and Women Hunters and Anglers. Addendum to the 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Black Bass Fishing in the U.S. Addendum to the 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. 1980-1995 Participation in Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Watching. National and Regional Demographic Trends. Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Web site, restorewildlife.org.

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Gary explains the differences between the 21′ and 18′ Tracker Tundra Deep V formed aluminum boats.
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On the lake at sunrise Triton in the Morning

Washington Freshwater Fishing Destinations

Anglers who know where to find great freshwater fishing make tracks regularly to Washington State. The lure of clear, blue lakes and rivers with abundant fish species are hard to resist.  Travelling there by RV keeps it comfortable and affordable.

Here’s a quick rundown of lakes and rivers that boast fantastic fishing in Washington. We’ve included information of interest to RV campers to help make vacation planning easy.

Washington’s Fabulous Fishing Lakes

Hundreds of lakes dot the Washington landscape. They make the perfect venue for a motorhome camping and fishing trip. We’ve gathered information on five spectacular fishing lakes for you to visit in the Evergreen State.

Lake Curlew – This gorgeous lake near the Canadian border in northeast Washington attracts bigmouth bass and trout fishermen year-round. Beautiful lakeside RV campsites allow you to dock your boat adjacent to your motorhome. What could be more convenient?

Banks Lake – Carved into the red rock canyons near Grand Coulee Dam, Banks Lake offers trout, walleye and largemouth bass worth traveling for! Full service RV campgrounds are located near the water, so plan to fish late and then sleep in motorhome comfort.

Spencer Lake – Largemouth bass, trout and crappie are waiting at Spencer Lake near Shelton on the Olympic Peninsula. Pull your RV into the pines, reel in a stringer full of fish and enjoy camping vacation memories for years to come.

Offut Lake – The perch and largemouth bass at Offut Lake equal family fishing fun on your vacation. Roll your motorhome into large RV campsites in the forest and enjoy classic Washington RV camping.

Lake Chelan – Come to the largest lake in Washington State to fish for kokanee, rainbow trout, burbot and lake trout. You might even land a landlocked salmon or two! Located within the North Cascades National Forest in central Washington, Lake Chelan is an awesome experience for RV campers and anglers alike.

Rivers Where the Fish Are Jumping!

We’d be leaving out some of the best fishing in Washington if we failed to mention its rivers! The mighty Columbia, of course, rolls from its beginnings in British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Washington. If you’re itching to fight a six foot sturgeon weighing in at over two hundred pounds, the Columbia River has plenty to offer! Chinook salmon are also stars of the Columbia, so don’t miss a chance to land one yourself.

Fortunately for Columbia River fisherman, abundant RV camping can be found in the towns and villages along the banks of the Columbia. That’s also true for another great Washington river, the Lewis, where quiet RV campsites near the river free your crew to fish steelhead in late winter. Whether you’re chasing trout, sturgeon, salmon or steelhead, great Washington rivers like the Cowlitz and Wynoochee offer year-round fishing experiences.

Just in case you have questions about special rules that apply to certain freshwater species, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a very informative website and a downloadable brochure to keep you up to date.

So why not come to Washington, where the fish are biting and full-service RV campgrounds are always plentiful? Once you’ve fished the clear waters of the Evergreen State, you’re going to want to come back soon, we promise!

Freshwater Fishing – Summer Creek Fishing Techniques

By early summer, river and creek fishing has undergone enormous changes. Gone are cool water temperatures and shortages of food. Most species of fish have finished spawning and develop a fairly consistent appetite.

For anglers, most creek fishing is limited only by access, weather and water levels. Shore bound anglers have much more vegetation to content with. This can be a considerable problem, especially in areas where trees, reeds or tall brush grows along the shoreline. Some shore anglers use waders to gain access, while others seek out open areas and avoid areas that include dense foliage.

Boaters and kayakers have more access but often find fishing to be best near the shoreline, especially near dense cover. Summer creek environments usually require less travel time and more fishing for boaters and fish occupy more areas. For small, shallow creeks, fishing kayaks are especially useful as they can go where other boats cannot.

Summer anglers find a wide range of species in local creeks and rivers. Species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, crappie, sunfish, yellow perch, catfish and pickerel are all very active in many American creeks. Depending on the species desired or personal preference, anglers rely on baits or cast artificial lures to entice fish.

For species such as sunfish, crappie, perch and other panfish, one favorite technique involves mimicking local food sources that fall from tree branches of shoreline vegetation. Casting small jigs near overhanging limbs will often draw strikes from predators that are lurking underneath, waiting for insects or other prey to land near the surface.

During the low light periods of early morning or late day, surface lures such as poppers, topwater plugs or other noisy, commotion-causing lures often work well. During these times, top predators such as musky, pike, pickerel and largemouth bass lurk near submerged structures such as fallen trees, stumps or dense cover, waiting to ambush prey struggling on the surface.

These summer tactics work in most small and slow moving bodies of water such as creeks, canals and minor rivers. Until fall arrives, fishing in these areas is consistent and action-filled.

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Kayak Fishing Takes to the Rivers

Kayak fishing has been rapidly growing in popularity over the past five years.  With origins in the coastal waters of California, Texas, and Florida, the sport is attracting paddlers and anglers alike.  Now the kayak fishing phenomenon is moving inland to the rivers of the Southeast.  With this year’s successful debut of the River Bassin’ Tournament Trail, river kayak fishing now has a flagship event.  Sponsored in part by NuCanoe, this event was the first of its kind and attracted attention in the Southeast and beyond.
The River Bassin’ Tournament Trail
This is an eco-friendly river bass fishing tournament.  Anglers fish in their favorite local rivers in the paddle-powered boat of their choice.   It is a catch, measure, photograph, and release tournament.  Anglers take photos of their catch next to a measuring device and the tournament team compiles results to determine the winners.  The 2010 tournament trail featured events in N. Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.    Prizes went to competitors in three divisions – Avid Angler, Casual Angler, and Young River Bassers.
The overall tournament 1st place finisher, Lance Coley, received a swanky outdoor support vehicle from True North.  Ben Adrien, the 2nd place finisher, won an all expenses paid peacock bass fishing trip to the Amazon courtesy of Amazon Expeditions. The 3rd place overall Tournament Trail finisher, Sean Brodie, went home with a 12′ NuCanoe Tandem Adventurer! The 2nd place finishers in the Avid Angler division at each tournament stop also received a 10′ NuCanoe Solo Adventurer. And NuCanoe sponsored the “Big Fish” awards at each stop, with a variety of prizes going to the competitor in each category who landed the day’s biggest fish.
“NuCanoe was very glad to be a part of the inaugural River Bassin’ Tournament Trail,” said Blake Young, Director of Business Development at NuCanoe, Inc. “The trail attracted attention from anglers of all ages during the tournament stops and will continue to grow as participation in kayak fishing spreads through the angling community.  It is such an easy, cost effective, and fun way to go fishing.”
Highlights From The Five Tournament Stops
ATLANTA, GA – May 1st, 2010
The 2010 River Bassin Tournament Trail kicked off in Atlanta, GA with 24 anglers from 6 different states. Jon Freeman of McDonough, GA brought in a 20-inch shoal bass, earning him a 3 fish total of 50.5 inches and a second place finish.  Up the River Outfitters of Budford, GA presented him a 10′ NuCanoe Solo Adventurer and he earned 90 points towards the River Basser of the Year award! 
SEIVERVILLE, TN – May 22nd, 2010
Next stop on the tournament trail was Seiverville, TN. 30 anglers from 7 states competed for over 00 in prizes and points towards the River Basser of the Year title. Justin Wallace of Bowling Green, KY won the 10′ NuCanoe Solo Adventurer, presented by Appalachian Outfitters of Murphy, NC, and 90 points for his second place finish. His three fish total of 52.75 included a very nice 18.75-inch smallmouth bass!
BIRMINGHAM, AL – June 5th, 2010
The Alabama leg of the trail saw 22 competitors in some brown, muddy water. Recent rains turned the bigger rivers into the consistency of a chocolate milkshake! But these anglers proved you can always find some semi-clear water, and that good river bassers know how to find smaller tributaries with fishable water. Riverside Fly Shop was present to send John Japuntich of Georgia home with the second place prize of a 10′ NuCanoe and 90 points. John posted a hefty 3-fish stringer of 53.25 inches. He caught most of his fish on a spinnerbait, but later went back through his same area with a 4-inch Texas rigged Senko to finesse that final kicker fish. 
CHARLOTTE, NC – June 26th, 2010
The NC stop boasted the largest fishing area in the tournament, as anglers could cast in North and South Carolina and parts of Virginia.  32 eager participants from 7 states turned out to vie for prizes and tournament points. NuCanoe dealer Frank Bandy from Tar River Paddle Sports made an appearance at this stop, and had the pleasure of presenting a 10′ NuCanoe to Caja Ormand. Ormand used a common strategy at these tournaments – fish big water first and have a backup plan on nearby smaller water. His three fish total was 52 inches – good for a second place finish and 90 points towards the big win!
MACON, GA (Tournament Finale) – July 10, 2010
The tour’s grand finale in Macon brought the biggest challenge for anglers on the tournament trail.  48 contestants from 7 states faced serious Georgia heat and humidity, making for tough fishing conditions all around. Ben Adrien from Johnson City, TN survived the heat to take 2nd and bring home the 10′ NuCanoe and 90 tournament points with a three fish total of 47 inches.

The Fiorito Ponds are located just south of Ellensburg and next to I-82. I believe it is one of the freeway ponds created when they built the interstate. It is stocked with trout and bass. The access is limited to small boats and has no designated launch. Many kinds of waterfowl live on the lake and the surrounding area. It is primarily a day use site. My special thanks to Paul Reece for contributing his music for this video.
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Fabulous Fishing at Fireside Lodge for Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Musky, Tiger Muskie in Pristine Wilderness of Northwest Ontario. New Cabins, Excellent Equipment, Service, Meals. Only Lodge on lake, 12 lakes available. Join Us www.firesidelodgefishing.com
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Cornish Cove- Penberth- boats on the granite slipway. Where men in open boats put to sea, longlining for bass and potting for lobster much as their forefathers did in centuries past.

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Last Friday night we went out shark fishing in the Delaware Bay. Adam hooked us up with some fresh bunker for bait. Kent got us some killer LED lights to help light things up. We went out late (around 11pm) and didn’t get back to the dock until around 5am. It was worth it though. Adam hooked into a huge skate (or ray) (that I estimated to be the size of a car hood). It was so big that it ended up breaking his fishing rod… It was a monster Do you think it is a skate or a ray??? Comment below *** Please Subscribe, Thumbs Up, and Comment *** Follow us on Twitter @ www.twitter.com
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Marine Battery Chargers ? The Basics

Did you know that one of the most important and complicated decisions you can make in marine electronics is choosing the correct battery charging system for your boat?  Charging your marine batteries is a simple process of driving electrical currents into your battery in the reverse direction as the discharge occurred. Although recharging batteries can be a simple process, many things do factor into your decision and play a roll in choosing the proper charger.

The goal of our experts is to help you make an informed decision when you replace or add an on-board charging system to your vessel. You are adding value to your boat by having an on-board battery charger. In addition, these chargers also offer you the convenience and the ability to charge multiple batteries at the same time. You no longer will need to drag out a portable battery charger every time your batteries need charging.  Maintaining your batteries will be as easy as plugging in your boat to any 110 volt outlet.

The first step in the process is to identify what type of batteries you have on board your watercraft.  You will need to look for some specifics about the batteries you are wishing to incorporate into the charging system. You will need to determine the following:

-Voltage

-Battery type

-Amp-hour capacity

Typically, in the marine world, you will be dealing with 12-volt systems. The battery’s capacity is usually listed on the battery as “ah” or amp hour.  Marine batteries will be one of the following types:

-Flooded/wet cell lead

-acidStarved electrolyte

-AMGMaintenance free

Once you know a little about the batteries you are wishing to charge, it is time to pick a charger. I know from my years of experience tournament bass fishing, picking a charger is not where you want to cut dollars. Starting and trolling system batteries are very expensive. A good quality battery charger, backed by a top manufacturer, will prolong the life of these batteries and ultimately save you money.

Chargers typically come in single, double, triple and quadruple bank systems and should have independent outputs to charge each battery separately. The battery industry recommends charging your battery at approximately 15-20 percent of its capacity. For example, a 100-amp hour battery would be best charged at 15-20 amps.  For your safety, be sure the battery charger you buy is UL listed to Marine 1236 standards and FCC compliant.  If you choose a charger that is too large or small for your batteries it could damage them and decrease the life by overheating, gassing and causing excessive water loss.

Depending on what type of boating you enjoy, you will need to make sure your on-board charger’s waterproof housing is designed for fresh and/or salt water. It is also important that you make sure it is vibration resistant and incorporates built-in reverse polarity protection. To prevent boil over or your battery over-heating, be sure the charger you purchase has an automatic temperature compensation, this feature adjust output depending on the temperature to assure a fast full charge in any weather conditions. We suggest getting a charger that will charge in three stages typically these stages are:

-Bulk or quick charge mode  - gets your batteries charged quickly

-Absorption stage  - brings your batteries to a full charge

-Maintenance or trickle charge  - keeps your batteries charged and protects batteries

I personally like units that offer on-board diagnostics and LED indicator lights to let you know the state of charge or condition of your batteries.

Once you have purchased your new on-board charger make sure it is securely mounted in your boat using stainless steel fasteners.  We recommend you clean your terminals, use dialectic grease and make sure all connections are tight. Following these steps will insure years of trouble free operations.  We take convenience a step further on our tournament boats, we install a receptacle plug. You are then able to plug your extension cord directly into the boat without even unlocking or opening a compartment.

Before operating your charger, be sure your batteries are not run down too far. In some cases, your charger may show you have a bad connection, even though you are confident they are properly installed, if this is the case it may be necessary to apply jumper cables from another battery to the one showing connection issues, this will allow your portable charger to recognize your batteries. Our professionals have informed us that this condition occurs often during very windy days, usually when they are operating the trolling motor for extended time on a high-power setting.  On these days, batteries typically are completely depleted by the end of the day. When they plug in the charger it will indicate a bad connection. Simply using a set of short jumper cables to connect the starting battery to the trolling battery for about 3-4 minutes the battery will be picked up by the charger and the bad connection light goes out.  They repeat this process until all the trolling batteries are recognized by the charger.

Happy boating

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Taylor Made Products Comfort Zone Misting: 12v Cooling mist system attaches to All Boat Bimini Tops and T-tops. 150 psi and only draws 1 amp. Quick disconnect connectors make it easy for putting up or taking down. Or have permantly installed by hooking up water supply line to onboard water source and wiring to on/off switch. Order Yours today at boatmisters.com

This young woman lands a big bass on some very light tackle. She’ using 8 lb. test line on a light action small spinning rod. This is not Miss Ewens first big fish but it’s this first bass on this light off a line. She’s fishing aboard the Stunmai II located at Rock Harbor fishing on Cape Cod Bay. www.capecodbaycharters.com stunmai@copper.net
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