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VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 379 OCT 2026 F R A N C H I S E
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The Magic Starts in October
T
his is the time of year I live for, especially for o!shore bottom fishing of numerous species. This year is going to be di!erent, however, thanks to regulations that have completely shut down our gag grouper fishing. October, November, December, and the first three weeks of January are the absolute apex of gag grouper fishing. In my opinion, flawed science and highly extrapolated data are the reasons we are now facing a zero creel limit for gag grouper for the rest of the year. The situation with the Atlantic’s American red snapper is just as bad. Divers report having to wait for the Americans to get out of the way before they can shoot other target fish, and hook-andline fishing is o! the chart. It’s common to catch and release 20 red snapper per trip, yet we are legally forbidden from keeping a single one, at least for the moment. Where did they get the data to justify shutting down and keeping the American red snapper fishery closed? I would love to take these decision makers out on the water, or show them the underwater video footage captured by my diving friends, because it completely contradicts
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OCTOBER 2026
TIM BAREFOOT
the flawed data they are using to make decisions. Despite the regulatory headaches, the beauty of October through January is the gags and snapper will be literally right up on the beach. Last year, some of our best trips were within eyesight of the beach and we caught a serious number of fish. The larger male gags are starting to congregate on the inshore edges now in anticipation of the females coming soon. They will gather enlarged numbers on traditional spawning grounds that typically have good bottom and schools of bait, like cigars and sardines, and the little known fact of it is the same places will hold squid. I always say, “Find the bait … find the fish!” Yes, it’s important to find pretty bottom with some type of structure. If nothing else, look for live bottom and vegetation, but the ultimate scenario is finding big stacks of bait right on top of it. Let’s face it. That’s where your fish are going to be. You wouldn’t hang around in a place with nothing to eat, and neither will they.
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It’s a simple recipe this time of year to catch everything on the bottom. I always make sure to grab two boxes of frozen cigar minnows and whatever live bait we happen to have in the traps at the marina. But one of the best things you could possibly do is put one person on the Sabiki when you get to where you’re going. In addition to the frozen cigars, catch some live snappers or live cigar minnows and/or sardines. A live sardine on the bottom has a life expectancy under five seconds. It’s easily one of the most e!ective baits, especially when attached to a Crab Decoy Jig. The beauty of the shallow water gag and American red snapper fishing in the fall is that almost none of the fish are injured with bladder inflation. You can release them at the side of the boat and they will take o! immediately back to the bottom healthy and unharmed. The biggest problem we have now is the sharks are on to us. Wherever we stop, they hear the trolling motor and the fish struggling, so they come to it. Chances are pretty good you’re going to get a gag bit in half. When that happens, you need to move right away, otherwise you’re just feeding the sharks. They start gathering in numbers - we’ve seen as many as six or eight full grown sharks under the boat at one time. Here’s your sign…it’s time to move. Above all, take your kids out on the water, let them experience these amazing resources, and teach them to be good stewards for the future. To learn more tips and techniques from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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AUTUMN IN APPALACHIAN BROOK TROUT COUNTRY
By Devin Davenport
W
hen people think of autumn in the Smoky Mountains, they think of crisp,cool mornings, bluebird skies, and the leaves changing into striking yellow, orange and red hues as they begin to fall. What many don’t realize, is that a spectacle just as remarkable is taking place under the surface as well. Southern Appalachian brook trout in autumn put on a show as they prepare for their coming spawn, which usually occurs in mid to late October. As the season approaches, larger brook trout begin to boast the most vibrant colors that they will have all year. Their fins and bellies turn bright orange. Fish also produce more pronounced red dots, blue halos—and aggressive attitudes. This is all in an attempt to attract a suitable mate. It is the best time of the year to catch one of the prettiest fish in North America. Brook trout are the only salmonid species native to the Southern Appalachian region, and a fish that has lost 70% or more of its historical native range. This is primarily due to logging in the 18th and early 19th centuries, as well as the introduction of non-native fish such as rainbow and brown trout. While they are not typically picky eaters, they can be di%cult to find, as they inhabit only the coldest, cleanest, and highest-elevation creeks in Appalachia. Over 99% of native Appalachian brook trout never reach 8 inches in length, so finding a truly large Appalachian brook trout is a real feat for most fly anglers in the Southeast. There are also some areas with stocked brook trout in the southeast, and even these fish in the fall can boast some very impressive colors, and o&en are greater in size. Appalachian brook trout are most o&en found in tributaries that exceed 3,000 feet in elevation. They inhabit creeks so thick with rhododendron that casting room is o&en very limited. They exist below this, but the best place to find them is above 3K as high water temperatures in the late summer months can play a huge role in their existence. In most areas brook trout are found, food sources can be scarce. Bug life is limited the higher
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up you go, and the fish are opportunistic when a fly or lure is presented in a natural manner. The purest way to target a brook trout is with a dry fly, such as an Elk Hair Caddis or Parachute Adams. These flies have withstood the test of time and are a staple when it comes to rising brook trout. It’s a beautiful sight seeing a large, orange brook trout rise from the depths to crush a fly on the surface. Flies such as pheasant tails and prince nymphs are also very productive. One of the best ways to target larger brook trout is with a small streamer or spinner, as they will attack smaller fish that come within range. They are a remarkable fish and we are lucky they still have some strongholds in the Appalachians. Devin Davenport, (@appalachian.trout on Instagram) grew up fly fishing in the Southern Appalachian mountains. He primarily fishes for wild trout, smallmouth bass, musky, and other fish found in western North Carolina and East Tennessee. While he lived in South Florida for several years and loves saltwater fishing, he now resides back in the mountains of East Tennessee.
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give our customers more opportunities throughout our day. One of the biggest advantages of fishing offshore from Topsail is the ability to adapt. We may leave the dock with wahoo at the top of the list, but the ocean doesn’t always follow a plan. Our job is to locate the best water, find the bait and structure, and put our crew in the best position possible to catch whatever is feeding there. Meet Capt. Dan Capt. Dan’s passion for offshore fishing started long before Badfish Fishing Charters. As a child, he spent time fishing the North Carolina coast with his grandparents, traveling to Carolina Beach and Topsail and getting hooked on the ocean from the very beginning. He always said that one day he was going to become a boat captain. That childhood dream eventually became a career. Dan started as a mate for a charter operation before moving into commercial fishing. He eventually earned his captain’s license and began running his own operations, combining commercial and charter fishing. Today, he specializes in offshore fishing, regularly running 10–60 miles offshore and offering both pelagic and bottom-fishing trips. Over the last few years, Dan has also expanded into tournament fishing and has placed in several tournaments, continuing to build his experience and knowledge of North Carolina’s offshore waters. Capt. Dan operates a 31-foot Luhrs Express Sportfisher out of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina. Badfish Fishing Charters offers anglers the opportunity to experience North Carolina’s offshore fishery firsthand.
W
ahoo are fast, aggressive predators and one of the most exciting fish an offshore angler can encounter. During the fall, we typically run anywhere from 25 to 60 miles offshore from Topsail, depending on weather, sea conditions and where we believe the fish will be holding. The goal isn’t simply to run to a certain number on the GPS. Finding fish is about putting together a puzzle. We are looking at weather, sea conditions, water temperatures and recent fishing activity. Once offshore, we pay close attention to temperature breaks, current edges, weed lines, bottom structure and, most importantly, concentrations of bait. Wahoo are often found where conditions come together and predators have an opportunity to feed. When targeting wahoo, We commonly use a combination of high-speed lures and rigged baits, including ballyhoo, with some running higher in the water column and others pulled deeper. Wire leaders and appropriate terminal tackle are essential when targeting these fish. We vary lure colors, sizes and running depths to determine what the fish want that particular day. While wahoo are a major target during the fall, they aren’t the only fish we chase. Depending on the conditions, our offshore fishing can produce blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, sailfish and other pelagics. We also regularly bottom fish, targeting species such as grouper, snapper and triggerfish. The ability to switch between trolling and bottom fishing allows us to adapt to the conditions and COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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From The Bottom Charters LLC • 336-693-7737
ishing the Atlantic Beach to Beaufort Inlet waters has brought us some very hot weather as of late with heat indexes around 108°F. We are looking forward to cooler temperatures, with any weather permitting chance we get with stable conditions that can offer a thoroughly planned trip around current conditions so that guests can have the best chance of success while still enjoying a safe trip when offshore fishing. We head out with high hopes to catch any types of fish that consistently come around depending on the season. With water temperatures sitting a little over 82°F, bottom fishing is only getting better from here with catch reports of grouper, snapper, triggerfish, wahoo and blackfin tuna coming in from ranges of 15-55 fathoms. Conditions offshore are always changing and I change with them. I put in the work to find the fish and adjust throughout the day. While using years of local fishing experience to my advantage, I do my best to make every trip count and bring in as many quality fish as we can. It started as weekend fishing with family at Oceana Pier with family and quickly progressed into my whole family being infatuated with the water. My two daughters even getting scuba certified
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through Discovery Diving in Beaufort and not long after, my wife and I as well. As a captain, I’ve been fishing for 3 years offering www.USHarbors.com family friendly charters to all age ranges with walk-on charters as Cape Lookout Bight, NC - Apr 2025 well as private booking. I fish on a 26’ Boston Whaler which handles High Low Date the water very AM e$ciently. trips with 4 customers so ft PM I run ft AM ft PM ft Rise Set everyone Moon 1 Tue 10:00 3.9 -0.4 6:51 7:28 is more comfortable. I 10:35 take 5.0 pride4:09in -0.3 being4:06affordable for everyone 2 Wed 10:58 3.6 11:35 4.7 5:02 0.0 4:58 -0.2 6:49 7:29 while still offering comfortable trip. Rather 3 Thu 11:58 a3.4safe and enjoyable 6:00 0.3 yet 5:56 0.2 6:48 7:30 4 Fri 12:35 4.4 12:58 3.3 7:05 0.5 6:47 7:30 it’s someone’s first or hundredth time0.6on 7:01 the water, I always enjoy 5 Sat 1:36 4.1 2:04 3.2 8:24 0.7 8:23 0.6 6:45 7:31 sharing excitement 6 everyone’s Sun 2:46 3.9 3:21 3.2 and 9:38 experience 0.7 9:43 0.6 with 6:44 the 7:32 fish they Mon 3:58 3.8 4:31 3.4 10:31 0.6 10:41 7:33 catch. 7I often customize each charter based on0.6 the6:42customers and 8 Tue 4:58 3.8 5:25 3.6 11:15 0.5 11:31 0.5 6:41 7:34 what works rather to 9 Wed best 5:47 for 3.8 them, 6:09 3.8 11:54the0.5goal is wanting 6:40 7:34 put meat Thu 6:28 3.7 4.0 12:19 12:32 0.4 6:38 7:35 in the10 cooler, catch a 6:47 trophy fish, 0.4 or just being introduced to 11 Fri 7:04 3.7 7:20 4.2 1:04 0.4 1:07 0.4 6:37 7:36 fishing. on are 12 Walk Sat 7:37 trips 3.7 7:52 posted 4.3 1:44regularly 0.3 1:40 through 0.4 6:36 my 7:37Facebook 13 Sun 8:08 4.4 2:20 0.3 2:12 0.4 7:38 for customers who3.6do 8:23 not have enough people to6:35book a private 14 Mon 8:39 3.5 8:56 4.4 2:54 0.3 2:43 0.4 6:33 7:38 trip. People as friends, 15 Tuefrom 9:13 all 3.4over 9:32have 4.3 come 3:28 as 0.4 strangers 3:15 0.4 and 6:32 left 7:39 Wed 9:50 3.2 10:14 4:04 0.5 3:49 0.5 and it’s16 definitely a great way 4.2for other fishermen to6:31 meet7:40each other 17 Thu 10:33 3.1 11:03 4.0 4:44 0.7 4:27 0.6 6:30 7:41 and share about Whether 18 Friinformation 11:24 3.0 11:54 4.0 fishing 5:28 0.8 topics. 5:11 0.7 6:28 7:41you’re an 19 Sat 12:15 3.0 6:16 1.0 6:03 0.8 7:42 experienced offshore angler or bringing family and6:27 friends for your 20 Sun 12:45 3.9 1:08 3.0 7:12 1.0 7:06 0.9 6:26 7:43 first offshore I am3.2ready you 0.8 on fish 21 Mon adventure, 1:39 3.8 2:08 8:17 to0.9put8:23 6:25 and 7:44 give you 22 Tue 2:40 3.8 3:14 3.5 9:17 0.7 9:35 6:23 the opportunity to make memories. Big fish are0.6great but7:45the laughs, 23 Wed 3:44 3.8 4:16 3.9 10:06 0.4 10:33 0.3 6:22 7:45 stories, are what truly makes 24 pictures, Thu 4:41and 3.9memories 5:11 4.4 you 10:51 take 0.1 home 11:27 0.1 6:21 7:46 25 Fri 5:35 6:04 4.9 11:36 -0.1 a charter worth it. I4.0do not have cookie cutter trips6:20 with7:47guarantees 26 Sat 6:27 4.1 6:54 5.3 12:24 -0.2 12:25 -0.3 6:19 7:48 of specifics, fishing. 27 Sunjust 7:16hard 4.1 work 7:43 and 5.5 honest 1:20 -0.3 1:17 -0.4 6:18 7:49 28 Mon 8:03 4.1 8:31 5.5 2:14 -0.4 2:07 -0.5 6:17 7:49 %e most e$cient way to book or inquire is through my Facebook 29 Tue 8:51 4.0 9:20 5.3 3:04 -0.3 2:57 -0.4 6:16 7:50 page at Charters by text. 336-693-7737. I 30 From%eBottom Wed 9:42 3.8 10:16 5.0 3:55LLC -0.2 or3:47 -0.2 6:15 7:51 am always happy to answer questions about trips, what’s biting, or weather conditions. 42 COASTAL COASTAL NORTH NORTH CAROLINA CAROLINA
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Pan-seared Triggerfish with Blistered Tomato Bruschetta over White Rice Black pepper, pinch Ingredients: Butter, unsalted, 2 teaspoons FILET OF FISH BLISTERED TOMATO BRUSCHETTA Triggerfish Filet, 7-9 ounce, 2 each Olive oil, 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, as needed 865 Red Rivit onion,St chopped, 1/4 cup Black Pepper, as needed Garlic, finely chopped, 3 cloves Olive oil, 2 tablespoons Greenville NC 27834 Cherry Tomatoes, halved, 1 1/2 cups Butter, unsalted, 2 tablespoons stroudsmarine@gmail.com Red vinegar, 2 tablespoons WHITE RICE Juice of a lemon, 1 each Water, 2 cups Fresh mint, chopped, 3-4 leaves Carolina Plantation White Rice, 3/4 cup Fresh basil, chopped, 5-6 leaves Coriander, ground, pinch Kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon
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Preparation Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Remove the fish from the refrigerator and place on a plate lined with paper towel. Pat the fish filets completely dry and allow to rest on the counter. Prepare your onion, garlic and tomato for the Bruschetta and set aside, keeping the tomato separate. Prepare your rice: In a small saucepot, bring 2 cups of water, coriander, salt, pepper, and butter to a simmer, then stir in rice. Bring the rice to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to a low flame, just enough to hold the simmer, cover, and allow to simmer for about 18–20 minutes until tender (it may be a little less time.) When it is ready, set aside covered. Fluff with a fork when you are ready to serve. In a large oven-safe skillet pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and swirl it around the pan. Allow the oil to get very hot but not smoking. Carefully wipe the pan with a few dry paper towels, making sure to completely grease up the pan.
This will season your pan and help the fish not to stick. With the pan still hot over a high medium heat, heat the remainder of the oil and all the butter until the butter starts to simmer. The oil butter mixture should not be turning brown or smoking, but it must be hot. Quickly, generously season the top side of your fish filets with salt and pepper and place seasoned side down. Then season the top side of the fish with salt and pepper. After about 10-15 seconds, with a turning spatula, gently slide under both fish filets and move a touch to make sure it is not sticking. If your pan was hot enough, a nice sear should already be started and you should not have any trouble. Once the butter starts to brown slightly, tilt your pan and start spooning the butter over top of the fish, about 5-7 times each. Let your fish cook for 3 minutes and then carefully flip. Spoon more butter over the cooked side. Allow to cook for 1 minute and slide into the oven to finish cooking the very center. Next, work on your Bruschetta topping. (While you are on step 5, check the fish
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for doneness, it may or may not be ready before the bruschetta is ready) **See Chef’s Note for tips about doneness. In a small, preferably nonstick pan, heat 2 teaspoons of oil, over a high medium heat and add the onions and garlic and cook for 45-60 seconds, until the garlic starts to brown. Add the halved tomatoes and season with a little salt and pepper and toss. Once the tomatoes start to blister (about 30-45 seconds) add the vinegar and lemon, tossing to incorporate, allow to simmer for about 3045 seconds. Add the basil and mint, toss then remove from heat. Once your fish is ready, separate the rice on 2 plates. Top the rice with 1 filet of fish each and then divide the blistered Bruschetta over top both filets. If you would like, chop up a little fresh basil and mint and garnish the top of the dish and add a little fresh cracked black pepper. **Chef’s Note: You will know when your dish is done when the center of the fish easily flakes apart.
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HEAD BOAT FISHING THE CRYSTAL COAST THE “NEW” CAROLINA PRINCESS 604 Evans St. Morehead City, NC • 252-726-5479
A
fter many years of fishing aboard the original Carolina Princess, the boat was sold and relocated to New York. %e business itself was also sold to a younger family from New York with extensive fishing experience. Tyler and Jessica now operate the business and do a great job taking care of both the operation and their customers. %e replacement boat is a 55-foot vessel. While it is smaller and a bit slower than the original, it is very comfortable and serves as an excellent fishing platform. %e cabin is top notch, and Captain Tyler has two very good deckhands, Raffy and Sammy, who both work hard to take care of you and your catch. I highly recommend tipping appropriately—around 20% at minimum. %ey truly work for it. I recommend booking the full-day trip. Reservations can be made online or by phone. A $25 deposit is required and is applied toward the ticket price upon arrival at the o$ce. One thing I especially like is that you choose your fishing spot when purchasing your ticket at the o$ce. Nobody leaves gear on the dock the night before to reserve spots. %e system works very well.
and place them on ice. If you are using your own equipment, they will also help set up the proper rigs for the trip. Light tackle setups can be used at the stern positions, although there are no rod holders for them—only for the heavier bottom rigs. Captain Tyler will occasionally fish alongside customers to test the bite. He is very knowledgeable and dedicated to putting fish on the boat. %e return trip is comfortable as well, and the approach back to shore is very scenic. When the boat returns to the dock, the crew passes around the tip box before everyone unloads. %e fish are distributed by your numbered ticket. Simply hand your ticket to the crew, and they will give you your catch. Ice is available at the o$ce upon request. I really think you will enjoy this family-run operation. Photos of customers and their catches are routinely taken as fish are reeled in, and you can usually find them later on the Carolina Princess Facebook page. I plan on supporting this boat often because it provides a wonderful overall experience. If you are prone to motion sickness, I strongly recommend getting a prescription motion-sickness patch ahead of time. It is a great option to help ensure you have an enjoyable trip. Tight lines, and I’ll see you on the “new” Carolina Princess. -Don Beierwaltes
You can bring your own equipment or use theirs. Spare rods are stored upstairs. %e ride is very comfortable, and they usually limit trips to around 35 fishermen, so there is plenty of elbow room. %e boat has one restroom, which is kept very clean. %e crew often trolls on the way out and back, giving customers an additional chance to catch fish during the ride. Bring your own food and drinks. %e boat does not have a galley, but there is a microwave available for use. Bait is provided, usually Boston mackerel and cut squid. %e deckhands will collect your fish
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Y
CAPT. MIKE SMITH
ou can !nd red!sh around oyster bars, grass %ats, mangroves, dock pilings, mud %ats and any other place where they can !nd crabs, shrimp, snails and !sh to eat. PRO TIP - Red!sh spend most of their lives looking down with their heads “literally” in the mud. &e best way to get their attention is with a lure that stinks and/or makes a lot of noise to maximize your catch. GULP SHRIMP - &at is why my number one lure choice for catching red!sh in every inshore scenario is the Berkeley Gulp 3” shrimp. I usually couple that lure with a 1/8 ounce jig head and a 20 pound leader. Cast it to your target and let it sink to the bottom. &en bounce it on the bottom back to you slowly and repeat. I think that many anglers !sh their jigs too quickly. You have to give the red!sh a chance to notice your lure and then come over and attack it. Another great technique is using a popping cork with 18 to 24 inches of line beneath the cork. You are using the same Gulp shrimp and jig head but you are dangling it just off of the bottom and popping the cork to get the red!sh’s attention. &is is a great combination because it lets the red!sh use its nose and its lateral line to !nd the bait. GOLD SPOONS- Gold spoons have been the gold standard of red!sh anglers for decades. &is simple lure catches the heck out of red!sh anywhere red!sh live. &ere are long time red!sh anglers who only use gold spoons to target reds. You will want to get a weed less gold spoon because you need to !sh them in the bottom part of the water column. &ey work the best when they are bounced on the bottom or when they are presented just off of the bottom. Cast your gold spoon and bounce it slowly on the bottom as you reel it back to you. &e spoons do not have any scent to attract the red!sh but they can see the %ash and feel the low frequency vibrations as the lure moves through the water. PADDLETAIL - A 3-inch paddletail catches just about every !sh that swims and it is very easy to !sh with. Red!sh prefer a slow and steady retrieve that bounces off of the bottom. Your best paddletail colors for red!sh are white with gold glitter for clean water scenarios or brown with gold glitter for dirty water scenarios. Choose a paddletail with lots of wiggle so the red!sh can feel your lure even if they can’t smell it. Bring the three lures mentioned in this article for your next red!sh trip and you will be very happy with your results. Go get ‘em. Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass Off Charters, has been fishing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass flats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact fishyourassoff.com or visit fishyourassoff.com.
Redfish Regs
F
all is prime time for targeting red!sh, but rules and regulations vary by state and often change, so always check with your state’s official Fish & Wildlife agency for the most current rules before !shing. • Texas: 3 !sh, 20-28 inches; special regulations apply to oversized !sh. • Louisiana: 4 !sh, 18–27 inches. • Mississippi: 3 !sh, 18–30 inches, plus 1 over 30 inches. • Alabama: 3 !sh, 16–26 inches, plus 1 oversized !sh. • Florida: Generally 1 !sh, 18–27 inches. Indian River Lagoon is catch-and-release only, with regional differences elsewhere. • Georgia: 3 !sh, 15–24 inches. • South Carolina: 2 !sh, 15–23 inches. • North Carolina: 1 !sh, 18–27 inches.
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ometic recently premiered “The Voyage,” a new documentarystyle film chronicling the development of its award-winning DG3 Gyrostabilizer. Featuring engineers, designers, and innovators at Dometic Marine, the film provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Dometic challenged conventional gyro technology to deliver significantly faster spin-up times, 40% lower power consumption, and broader accessibility for recreational boaters. With their ability to counteract wave motion and reduce side-toside boat roll by as much as 95%, gyrostabilizers have the power to make recreational boating more comfortable and enjoyable whether fishing, cruising, or relaxing on the anchor. With its new DG3, Dometic set out to overcome common obstacles to gyro ownership, delivering industry-leading spin-up and spin-down times, greatly reduced energy consumption, electric actuators with active precession for faster response and better performance, and maintenancefree design. The technology behind Dometic’s DG3 is so groundbreaking, it won both an NMMA Innovation Award at the 2025 Miami International Boat Show and the Dame Design Award at METS Trade 2025 in Amsterdam. This new film shares how the Dometic Marine team overcame engineering and design challenges throughout DG3’s development. It also explains the “why” — how Dometic designers and engineers set out to make the benefits of gyro stabilizing technology accessible to more boats and boaters around the world. The Voyage was filmed and produced in and around Dometic Marine’s design and manufacturing center in Vancouver, Canada — where many of the company’s award-winning boating products were designed, manufactured, and tested in one of the industry’s most advanced facilities. “We recognized early on that we needed outside-the-box thinking and bold adaptations of our core technologies to truly take gyro performance
to a “Whole New Level,” said Dometic Marine Segment President Eric Fetchko. “For DG3 to be truly revolutionary in terms of spin-up time, power consumption, ride-smoothing performance, and durability, we had to achieve things that had never been done. This film takes the audience into our design room, factory floor and testing facilities as we create what will be the first of many gyro systems in the future,” added Fetchko. To learn more about Dometic’s award-winnning DG3 technology, visit your nearest Dometic Marine retailer or go to www.dometic.com.
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he International Game Fish Association (IGFA) tracks record !sh catches around the globe. Here are a few highlights from their newly approved world records. To see all newly approved IGFA world records go to igfa.org.
Lytle’s Weakfish Rowan Lytle was !shing Long Island Sound in Connecticut on May 14, 2026, when he landed this 25.19-inch weak!sh. With this !sh, Rowan has set the IGFA AllTackle Length Fly World Record for the species. &e record weak!sh struck his Clouser and was landed after a short !ght. He then recorded the length on his official IGFA Measuring Device before releasing the !sh safely.
Wroth’s Skipjack Tuna
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On April 3, 2026, &omas Wroth was !shing Rottnest Island out of Perth, Australia, when he landed this 10.4-pound skipjack tuna. With this !sh, &omas has set the IGFA Junior Men’s 4-kg (8 lb) Line Class World Record for the species. He was trolling aboard the “Natraliste” when the record skipjack struck his lure. He was able to boat the !sh after a 30-minute !ght and returned to the Fremantle Sailing Club for an official weight on a certi!ed scale.
Taylor’s Bonefish Laura Ann Taylor was !shing the %ats of Molokai, Hawaii, on April 30, 2026, when she landed this 8.9-pound Paci!c bone!sh. With this !sh, Laura has set the IGFA Women’s 6-kg (12 lb) Tippet Class Record for the species. After an exciting !ght, she was able to land the bone!sh that had struck her shrimp %y, record the weight on her certi!ed scale, and release it safely.
Nechuta’s Walleye
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On May 10, 2026, Carter Nechuta, age 16, was !shing Big Eau Pleine Reservoir when he landed this impressive 27.17inch walleye. With this !sh, Carter has set the IGFA AllTackle Length Junior World Record for the species. Carter landed the record walleye on a jerkbait. He was able to record the length on his official IGFA Measuring Device before releasing the !sh safely.
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