Albie Season!!

Oh, this may be my favorite time of the year for fishing! Striped bass are fun, Tautog put up a great fight and tuna well, they are in a different category, but where else can you get 100 yards of line ripped out of your reel in less than 30 seconds and still be 3 minutes from the boat ramp? No Where!!  For those of you that follow this or if you are a first time visitor, this is the best light tackle rod hands down. They are challenging, fast, picky, and test your patience to no end. Plus, they train you for Blue Fin.   They are up and down from RI to MA and my time is limited this time of the year.  Albies feed during the day so even if you can't do an early morning trip, evening are very much a possibility until dusk. Call me if you have any questions or want to book a trip!

This one was a HUGE Albie landed with an 8 weight Orvis H2 and 250 grain line on an Abel Super 8.  What a fight it gave... and it gets to go home afterwards!

So Much Fun!

After a little break in July (awesome Montana trip my wife got me for my 40th Birthday present), some business personal stuff, I was able to get back into motion and on the water.  My good buddy E.G has been doing great on the ledge and was keeping me informed of his successes.  We had several great trips at the Block and some big bass up in the 40 + lb range.  If you were fortunate to get on that bite, good for you! If not, you better learn the lesson for next season that when someone says its hot at Block, you go.
What I love about RI is that when you get tired of one thing, you can move to another.  Lately, I have had the great fortune of taking out some fine folks. One trip was for a young man that has never caught anything beyond a sunfish in freshwater.  Over the weekend, he was able to land scup, sea bass, fluke and even his first ever striped bass! It was a special trip for many on board, including me. Despite a disability, he hammered fish all day.  That did not stop him from placing bets with the other anglers on board on who was going to catch the next fish!  This is just the beginning this guy.

On Day Two, we took a long...long day of fishing.  The goal was to go look for Tuna down south and maybe fish for Mahi while we were waiting. Upon arrival, it was dead. Some gents did well further south at first light but that was a tad beyond my comfort zone for my boat. We mad the call to head NE toward the Vineyard and fish for Bass and the rumored Bonito. We got to the grounds and just hammered Bass with light tackle. I mean hours of big bass with topwater and metal. Bass were busting on snapper blues at one point!  We fished the backside of the Elizabeths working our way through Woods Hole up to Sippiwissett and over though and to Newport again. Yeah, it was somewhere around 140 miles covered but it was worth it. P.S, only one shot an what may have been Bonito all day. If you don't mind catching 100 blues working for them, have at it. There is tons of bait along the shorelines for Bass, Blues and heck, we even had a sea robin blitz! Go figure.

Newport, Block and everything in between

Upper Bay: you will be limited to school sized stripers at dawn and dusk (still awesome on light tackle)! Small patterns and lures will be best. There are also some mid range blues to be had throughout the day.  Scup can also be taken on the fly but rigs will be your go-to.

Newport: Bass are there, dawn and dusk being your better bet but can be taken mid day with extra effort and some patience. EP flies. Sand eel patterns, poppers, deceiver and clousers are must haves. Spin gear, use some swimmers and metal, and if you have fresh bait, you should do fine!  Fluke and sea bass continue to be a great daytime fishery out to 100ft depths.

Block: big bass, some days were great, other times nights were best. Call for the inside scoop as this changes daily. If you want your chance at big bass, this is where you want to be.  Average fish is in the mid 30 lb range with many over 40 being caught.  My schedule is limited for these trips and I am only booking up through the end of August.

Cape cod: best bet is to get in on a local captain for a half day trip if you want stripers. I will be doing full days in September for the Albacore and Bonito but for the limited hours, I recommend you call the Laura-Jay (if they are even still open for available charters) for half day trips.

I am also still taking names for tuna trips when they get in striking distance. The stick boats have had a great season with giants so let's hope their little brothers show close for some top water and jigging action! They were in off block a couple weeks ago so now it's just a matter of time!

In other words, pick your species and lets get after them! Remember, if you have larger groups, I can help arrange for other quality captains to get involved so you have the best day on the water!

Summary and next steps

Well we enter July with great expectations; Fish are moving south out of the bay (although there are sill some being caught), Newport has been doing extremely well with certain techniques and now Block Island is the place to be.  The Block has been getting a great run of 40+ lb bass and with most of them released, there is a great chance for the next person to land one.

Fly: There is a great mix of small baits as well and the old standby fly patterns will work just fine. Intermediate lines up to 350 on windy days works great. Bring some old flies too, as the Blues are mixed in the schools. Deceivers, Clousers, sand eel patterns and EP flies work great.

Swimmer and small topwater plugs have produced decent fish. As the sun comes up, getting deeper is the ticket.

Bottom fishing is great right now as well as long as you can find new waters. The popular spots have been worked over pretty well and the quality is not as good.  Either way, a day on the water is still a great day so don't delay!

Call me if I can get you on the water!

Capt. Brian

Getting through the 4th with all the Works

This has been my company's best early season thus far. To have fish as close as we did, for as long as we did was just remarkable. If you were one of the lucky ones to have been on a local trip and saw what we saw, put it in your journal as I am going to do. These seasons don't happen often and when they happen to another person, you shake their hand and ask them to send the fish your way next year. We were that person this season.
The temperatures are creeping up to the point where we start to look further south (although there are still great reports of mid bay fish - passed along from friends so they are off limits to charters). Newport and Block Island are heating up so all those boats that had to travel to us now get a fuel break and we will switch spots.

The good: Lots of smaller baits working the area so the fish have a wider diet to choose from.  The winds are dying down this weekend so we can all get out and explore a little more.  Things will start improving in all areas such as fly, light tackle, spin, fluke, blues and the early morning striper bite.  Block got its first flurry of 50's so that is the go to spot for the consistent fish. If you want in on that trip, I am out to August already so please call ASAP!

The cons: Temperatures keep creeping up and the fishing reports in some otherwise steady spots are not staying to steady.  You must move and stay on top of them, learn the tides and the the wind and you will increase your chances.

On a side note, my albie and bonito list is now up to 27 people so if you want to get that phone call when they show, you better get me an email or a phone call so I can get as many of you on them before the weekenders find us!

Just in time

Early morning, first on the water, hours spent finding where the bass went- It paid off for this crew as they now have in two charters caught over 21 striped bass (14 last trip and 7 this trip) averaging 21.7 lbs.  The fish are there, but you need to put in a lot of time to get on top and stay on top of them.  There are tactics that work and some that don't.  These guys learned last time and kept with it. Nice job fellas.

Tough/Love

Well it had to happen at some point. We did not fair too well on Saturday. Finding fish was easy. Getting them to eat... different story. We worked our tails off too only get a few knockdowns and quick run off maneuvers. Ah well, fortunately for me it was with a charter that has booked me 3 times in the past where the finished like rock stars every time so they too knew it was not always a "great day". Now, Sunday was a different story.
I am typically the first one on the water. That is not a boast, it is is just that I like some "me" time. Plus, being fathers day, I am now making it a tradition to spend it with the memory of my father. I do believe he has been with me for the past two years on this day.  I made 14 casts at bait and got 12 menhaden. Northwest wind, easy call. Fish, fish and more fish. Done by 5:30 am.  Got some of my friends on the fish. They ran out of bait in moments. Winds cranking, did not matter. Just a fishy kind of day. Thanks Dad.
Spent the rest of the day with my son and hopefully next year it will be the three of us.

Incredible weekend of fishing

I have not experienced a fishery like I have this year. I hope it continues but for now it is nothing short of amazing.  All of the stripers so far have been from 18-38 lbs and with the amount of menhaden in the bay, they will get heavier quickly.  Water temps are creeping up to the low 60's ( surface) so our window is as open as it gets.  I have not seen many small bait blitzes in the upper bay so we continue to focus on the large baits for live/lure and fly.
This weekend was just incredible: 9 fish on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. The best part was seeing 16 released for another angler. Great sportsmen have battled stripers this weekend and each caught their largest stripers to date, some even their first stripers ever!  Thanks to both charters for a great weekend!

Big, strong and picky

The big boys and girls are in and they are the largest class of bass I have seen in the upper bay in years! We have not caught Any bass below 20 lbs ( I am sure that will have just ended that streak).  We have put in countless hours finding and working these fish and even learned what techniques work best. Last years methods have caused more lost fish so adaptation is key.  Hopefully you have had your chances and got to know your neighbors in the fleet.  Unfortunately I only have two days left open in June so if you want in on this action, time is limited.  I can't even take my own friends out with how the calendar is filled.  I am considering 2 hour pre work trips if I can get the interest. Let me know as this will only be good for the next two weeks. The cost will be $200 for the boat (3 anglers max)

That Just Happened!

I say some people are just fish magnets. AJ jumped on board and I have to say his quote of the day was "if we can't get to Block Island I am going to bring Block Island to us!". Yeah, that just happened.   We were able to pick out a gorgeous 37.5 pound bass out of the upper bay this morning on what appeared to be acres of menhaden.  Random, yes. Lucky, no. This guy knows how to fish and did everything right to assist in the landing of this prize.  Patience is key with this type of fishing. There were some other boats getting good bites with 11-20 lb fish on a key tactic that has been happening the past few days. All the more reason to make a call or two.  May is full, June has a handful of days.  This could be you!

Game on!

Keepers are coming! I am sorry my post is a few days late but yes they are in and so is the bait the bass are feeding on.  In fact, there is so much bait that it is the main problem finding the fish; no need for the bass to surface.  Get on the water and have at it, the game is on... If you know where to go. There are also many school fish up to 28 inches blitzing so top water plugs and flies will do the trick. The next few days will make the long winter seem like a distant memory

Let me know if I can help.

Its beginning to look a lot like fishing

While we all expected a little later start than normal due to the long winter, we are actually only 5 days later than last year.  There is lots of bait, there is an extremely large amount of squid in the south bay area now (some say the most in 10 years), numerous school size bass and now a mix of blues. Yes, it is the beginning of a great season! Now, we do have a couple of days of winds and rain that will keep my boat off the water but there is always shore action! School stripers are being taken up in the bay readily on both fly and spin. Gotta love it when I see charter guys from other areas of RI in my waters- shows I picked the right spot to live and fish! Anyway, Its getting better each day.

My sources from the south tell me that the consistent fishing is on fire right now, and I am so happy for those guys as they needed a light at the end of the tunnel after Sandy.  The point is... Its go time.

As always, call me if I can be of service.

Capt. Brian

All Systems Go!!

To say that I am excited for the season to get underway is an understatement! I have upgraded my already upgraded gear, streamlined some parts of my business, focused on what I love to do and rewarded those that have stuck with me year after year.  This year WILL be extraordinary for many reasons. I hope to get some of you into the fish of your dreams (and what I love is that fish may just be a keeper bass, a tog on a fly, a bluefish state record, an Albie in September and/or a first time tuna)!  I decided to not chase the decisions of other boats, but rather stay true to what I do best, fish hard and try my hardest to give the customer a trip that I, myself would want to be part.

With that said, the boat is getting wet this week, looking for fish in the upper bay and for those that sent me an email for early bird fishing options, phone calls will be on their way!  I have a couple of days left in May and the same for June.  I am not stressed, because if I am not booked, I get to finally fish on my own to try to break some of my own records.   Either way, this year is going to be about fun, fish and experimentation with new tactics.   So for those of you that are reading this and are as passionate about this sport as me, lets get this shindig started and put some pounds on our lines.   Good luck to each of you and if I can help, I am just a phone call away.

Share with me your goals, I think a little inspiration goes a long way!

Fish on,

Capt.  Brian

Home Stretch

The shows are over.  The time to prep your gear should be almost done. New line is spooled, reels oiled and greased, boats are getting prepped and the chatter begins!

I have my email lists loaded, the "emergency" list sits in front of me as I type and the calendar is filling up quickly for early season stripers.  There are still some spots, but it is on a first come first serve basis.

No worries if you don't have a full party as there is also a running list of open boat members that are willing to share the cost upon your request.

If you signed up for my email list, you will be getting the early alerts for the fishing reports (one of the benefits of seeing me at the show).  So lets get our game faces on and start to be extra nice to our significant others.  Dinner, movies, special date nights... whatever it takes! They need to be ready to not see too much of us for the next 7 months!  Game on.


Capt. Brian

Last Show and Then Game ON!!!

Just a reminder to those that are planning on attending this weekend:

This weekend is the 2014 New England Saltwater Fishing Show. Come visit me at booth 1205! This winter has been long and cold and I'm sure you feel the same excitement as I do regarding the upcoming season. Stop by and lets discuss how I can help you create more memories on the water - Fly Fishing - Light Tackle - Casting Lessons, PGS is the place to look. I will have Lowrance units on display, authentic Fish Prints, Gift Certificates for a limited number of guests and a whole lot of excitement for turning your next fishing trip into one of your greatest experiences.

Here are some things that are not posted on other sites (i.e FB)

Gift certificates just for joining the Fish Report List

Open Boat dates

"Fish Emergency" short list

Fish Prints done for your trophy fish... By me. Examples will be at the show.

I encourage you to visit other booths, check them out and ask a ton of questions. Then come and visit me.  At the end of the day, I know I work harder and offer you more which is why I love my job!  

New! Saltwater Sportsman's Show 2014 Providence RI

O.K, so you have seen the overly redundant presentations offered that give you the tidbits, the "enter a raffle for a free trip" gig, the "show Special thing" and so on and so on.  Well, I am not going to do that. Thanks to all of my great clients of the past and thanks to their referrals, my company stands behind its quality and productivity moving forward.

However...

You are going to have to stop by booth 1205 on March 28-30 to find out!! This is fun, big and worth your price of admission to the show! If you know anyone who is into fishing, have them stop by, say they saw the post on my site and get the benefits!  Everyone who mentions this will get a nice surprise to say the least.

The only reason I am not posting it on here is that there are too many followers. Trust me, it will be worth your time to stop by and just say hello.  That I guarantee.


Sincerely,
Capt. Brian

Fly Rod is done!

Here are just a couple of shots of the completed fly rod. This kids gonna have one unique rod when he is older!

Rod Building time!

So as part of my blog, I figured I would take you through my journey of building my son's first Fly rod and Spin rod for his first birthday in April. Yes, I know he will be too young to use them but this is kind of a tradition in our family so I wanted to continue it. With this being my first rod build, I am sure I will be making some mistakes along the way. I am not going to bore anyone with how to build a rod, rather just share some photos of the progress.

The Fly Rod will be a 5'7 small stream rod (just like my dad made me). I chose the St. Croix SC2 Graphite, fast action 4-8 lb blank.  It is a solid blank that I won't mind putting some split shot on if he wants to dunk a worm every now and again! This rod was purchased from Anglers Workshop.

The spin rod is a Batson Rainshadow (IS661) in 5'6" 2 piece. Rated for 2-6 lb test, this will be a dual fresh and saltwater rod so the components will match.  I purchased this rod from CMS tackle in New Bedford with the help of Eric (great guy to work with and very patient with new builders).

If you have any questions on any of the photos, let me know. Otherwise, just enjoy the images of the progression as I am sure I am going to!

Bryce, the soon to be owner of my first custom rods. I am hoping to have them completed in time!! 

Sounder Setting on the Lowrance Gen 2

So a great follow up question came in after the structure scan blog went out. How about some general information on the Sounder settings?
Good Idea. I think the best way to show this is by example.  I will use two of my screen shots to discuss this topic.

In the above photo, taken from Mt. Hope Bay, you can see on the screen some of my settings. I am at 200 KHz, common for fishing. I also keep my sensitivity at -2% to -3%. To me, this gives the best clarity on screen to "weed" out background noise and pull fish images clearer. Since the fish were in depths of 70 ft (you can actually see my sinker bouncing at 75 ft prior to the strike on live Pogi... the point where all of the fish converge), I needed to get a gauge on their exact location as we were in a channel. So I combined my sonar with my structure scan/downscan to identify they were moving to my starboard (towards the edge of the channel on an incoming tide).  If I showed you my other images of my chart (which I won't for secrecy purposes), this will all confirm this point.

Here, we identified the Pogi/Bunker ball in the middle of the channel. On my structure/side scan you can see clearly the ball, where it is on my boat and the depth of it. This goes along with my last blog as to why you absolutely need structure scan if you want to find fish.  This ball is over 25 feet in depth, yet on my sonar, it barely shows up. Why? Well, looking at my side scan, you can see that the ball is off to my port side. The image you see on my sonar is what is captured "underneath my boat". The bait however is NOT underneath my boat so all I am seeing is the last edge of the ball! Remember, the side scan uses a different transducer so the cone angle is different on each one.

One of the biggest areas to play around with is your sensitivity and Palettes. Find the best one for your environment. When I bass fish, I like the sepia color with -2%. Tuna fishing, I switch to the blue palette and go to -1% or 0 as I want to pick up as much as possible.  

I hope this shed a little more light on your sounder settings and can get you into fish with your new Lowrance Gen2 unit.  Remember to hit up the boat shows and speak to a pro staffer in person. Nothing beats hands on training!

Thanks for the great feedback on the blog. I hope I am helping at least one of you!

Capt. Brian

Providence Boat Show Article by Dave Monti

I have to admit it always feels nice to be quoted by a reporter and have it done correctly. Dave Monti did a nice job with the article and actually quoted me word for word on how to use and learn your new electronics. Thanks Dave!  If you buy new equipment, don't wait until the season starts. Hook it up, grab a drink and learn it! You Tube is a great resource. For us, Navico has some very helpful videos and we will be putting out more this year. With the great deals going on now and the cold nights, there really is no excuse not to learn your equipment.

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/content/20140205-fishing-report-boldwater-tv-is-new-window-to-all-things-on-water.ece

Structure Scan settings

So I had a lot of questions at the recent Providence Boat show while I was working at the Lowrance Booth.

One of the biggest questions was around the structure scan.
Structure scan covers both Down Scan and Side Scan on the Lowrance units.

I use my down scan to verify what I am seeing on my sonar and I use my side scan to know which way I need to move or cast to get back into the fish or bait.  All three screens are usually up on one unit at any given time.

Side scan settings are pretty clear from the factory install.  If you need to adjust anything, it may be the palette or distance. I tend to use the sepia and only go out as far as 80 feet either side. This gives me the best clarity and ability to pick up fish.

I won't go in and say that there are not units that can be good for you but I will say is that Lowrance is head and shoulders above Humingbird (I know several tournament fishermen that have left them to go to Lowrance), Garmin (mainly navigation but horrible on sonar), Raymarine (I had the C90 series and found it just miserable to navigate around and the sensors kept seizing up on me).  So I guess I would say that is is the best unit out there!

Keep them coming!

Capt. Brian Patterson

Choosing the right fly- Keep it simple

This question can cause just as many arguments and has been a topic in many of articles and even books!
I am speaking to the beginner for this one (and if you dare listen as an avid fisherman) so the key takeaway is this. You don't need to carry every fly box you own each time you fish. Keep it simple, spend less time tying on a new fly and more time fishing.

I basically use the same flies year after year.  Here are the must haves in your New England fly box:
1. Deceiver - sizes vary upon baitfish, but to me, 2/0 or 3/0 is my choice
2. Clouser
3. Sand eel pattern ( I have a few variations, sizes and lengths)
4. Crease fly - for those topwater bites and bluefish
5. Cinder worm ( if fishing salt ponds)

Specialty flies are geared towards certain fish in specific locations. I love varieties of EP peanut bunker and Cowen's magnum for stripers as well as Surf candy for whitewater. Also crab patterns and squid may be mixed in but for only a minimum amount of time.

Freshwater:
The best option is to go to your local tackle shop, take a look at the fly bin and see which ones are empty. That gives you a pretty good idea of what's working!  For the most part, you will have a variation of the following:

1. Prince Nymphs (or other Stonefly pattern. Stoneflies are the most prevalent insect in most NA rivers)
2. Pheasant tails
3. Hare's ear
4. Wooly bugger
5. Muddled minnow

Dry flies:
1.Adams
2. Dun/Sulphers
3. Spinner
4. Stimulator
5. Caddis

Now, if you open up any magazine, you will see hundreds of variations and choices. The next few sentences are crucial: the best fly will be the one you fish with confidence.

To have confidence, you must first educate yourself on the water you are about to fish. Before you even step into the water, lift a rock or grab your binoculars and search for bait or insects. When you find one, do your best to match that pattern with a fly either on you or at the store.

90% of a trouts diet is on Nymphs so you would be smart to start there. Saltwater is about what bait is getting balled up. Sometimes we need to rely on the birds to help us here. See what they pull up and go for size.

Remember, Never ever touch a fly after you just put sunscreen on! That is a surefire way to put away many fish!

Tight lines and great questions!
Capt. Brian

Fly Reel Selection

With the latest Marlborough Mass Fly show, I had a few questions about fly reels (as well as before the show). Here is my brief synopsis:

Fresh water:
You don't need to spend good money on a disc drag reel. I have taken large brown trout from one side of the Yellowstone river to the other on a click and pawl reel.  Make sure the reel feels comfortable in your palm as this will be your drag.  The bigger factor is if it balances with your rod. Some manufacturers make reels that actually fit either too big or too small for rods even though they classify them as a 3, 4 or 5 weight. I have had to play around a bit but try before you buy is a good rule of thumb. Also, don't feel as if you need to spend $500 on a reel nowadays. I have one of my favorite freshwater reels (bought 3 of them retail) for under $80.  I only spent that much because I wanted it in silver!

Saltwater reels: WAY different story.
Drag is important. Very important. I don't want to be near the business end of a handle when an Albie or small tuna is ripping line quicker than I can react. Bonefish will also cause a low quality reel to become scrap metal in no time.
There are so many reel manufacturers now and it gets hard to choose one over the other. I will say this once. I bought Abel reels retail for many years before I got on their pro staff and now that I have them, I never look back. They are bullet proof, easy to clean and can handle fast running Albacore Tuna and Bonefish to Blue Fin Tuna.  That is one investment I will say is worth the price tag. My reels are scratched, dinged and look like hell. Just the way I like it.
Other quality reels on the market today are the Orvis Mirage series, Ross Big Game, Van Staal and Sage.  I use them all and for different species.  If you charter with me, ask me to bring one of each so you can try them before you purchase them. The price of a charter is still less than most of the reels so not only do you get to fish, but you also just saved some coin from not having to buy twice.

Keep them coming!

Capt. Brian Patterson

Fly or Spin Rod Selection

The first question came in and of course it can be one of the most person specific of them all (next to reels which I am just going to make my next tip).   I am going to cover the basics in this section. Since there will be a lot of shows coming up over the next few months, there will be a lot of tackle shops and individual rod builders trying to sell you their stock.   Here are a few tips to get you going and not waste your money on something you don't really need.

1. Think about what species you are going for and only shop for that class of rod. For example, if you need a fly rod for striped bass from school size up to 25 lbs, limit your rod selection to 8 - 10 weight rods. If you need a spin rod to throw soft plastics, look at fast action rods with a light tip.
2. Demo as many rods as you can.  This is the only way to really know if the rod does what you need it to do.  Actually cast the rods at the shows or in the dealer parking lots. That is why they have these areas and you should take advantage of them.  If they don't let you, guess what, there are others that will and will appreciate your business.
3. Don't grab a rod, wiggle it and look down the guides.  It cracks me up that this is what almost everyone does as I people watch at the fishing shows. This tells you nothing.
4. Do ask the rep if you can test the spine of the rod.  To do this, find a carpeted area. Gently place the rod tip on the carpeted floor (or be extra kind and lay down your jacket) and bend the rod in the direction the rod should bend when fighting a fish.  If the rod wants to roll the other way, it was not built properly and you should move on. This rod will break under pressure of larger fish.
5. If there is no carpeted area, ask the rep to assist you with a two person test. Here the rep will grab the tip an you will stand back as if you were fighting a fish. Test where the backbone of the rod will be.  On lighter rods, the rod may bend all the way to the grip, heavier rods, only the top two guides length may be bent.  You have to like the feel.  This bend will also be a major part of how much effort you will need to cast a lure as well as work the lure once in the water. Me personally, I do not like soft rods that flex to the handle.

Specifics:
Fly Rods
If you enjoy long casting strokes and are just starting out- check out mid flex rods as they are most forgiving on your cast and protect lighter tippets. Fast action rods are less forgiving, require a more powerful cast but can throw big flies into stiff winds.  Fast action rods are a favorite of mine for saltwater species, while mid-flex rods are a great choice for freshwater.  I have never suggested a certain brand of rods before as I felt there are so many great companies out there that make fine rods. This is why I insist on carrying choices on my boat so you can decide for yourself. My new personal favorite is the Orvis H2 in a 9 weight. This rod covers almost 90% of my fishery.  Sage Xi3 rods are also great rods and have been on my boat for many years.  Be careful of less expensive rods for saltwater as they tend to break easier on big fish, not something I like to see on the water.

Spinning rods/ Casting rods
There are a ton of choices out there.  Check the hardware on the rod. Is it made for saltwater? If not, you will be paying someone to replace it within the year (added cost). Does it have a warranty? Sometimes the price is high because they expect you to send it in at least one to replace a broken part.  Custom rods are great, but typically there is no warranty.
It is really hard to get a saltwater rod to cover all of your species.  I have a light rod for Albacore and Bonito to throw 1/2 to 1 oz lures. I have a fast action rod with a light tip to throw my Hogy soft plastics, lighter plugs and metal and yet another to throw 2-3 oz plugs.
I am not telling you to get 5 rods. I am saying that you should get a rod to do the job you need it to do.  If your budget only allows you to get one rod to fish, well that is reality. I will say to err on the side of caution and go bigger rather than lighter. For example: if you need a striper rod that can also catch Albies than look at a Quantum Blu in 7'6 Medium/Heavy inshore spin rod. This rod is a staple item on my boat as it can cover all species (and only costs about 70$).  It is a little overkill for smaller fish, but I would rather have that than be too light for a bigger fish.
I can tell you what rods I use for each of my species but that is my personal choices and ones that I have found my customers to enjoy. You may be different.  If you need direction, I tend to look at what companies are focused on for certain species. For example. If I want a tuna rod and just starting out, I will go to the Van Staal or Fin Nor website (Zebco company) and check out their equipment. They are focused on this species and have been doing it for years.  It does not mean you need to buy one, but they will let you know what rods are meant for that species.

If I missed something, I apologize. I am hoping I answered the basics for this question. If you want more specific information, let me know and I will do my best. This along with reel selection has been covered on literally thousands of forums and continues to be the discussion of personal choices. I wanted to take a general stance so that you can find the rod that suits you best.  I hoped I accomplished that!
Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
Capt. Brian

What would help pass the winter blues?

Hello fellow fishermen and followers,
I welcome each of you to 2014 and here is hoping for a safe and healthy year for each of you!

As I start to think fishing, I start to realize there are a lot of basic things people want to ask but don't. I am now going to ask each of you to help us with this!   I am asking for you to either give me ideas on what tips or techniques you would like to receive via my blog (Fly fishing questions, light tackle, stripers, albies etc) OR what questions do you have for me that I may be able to post up and help out you and other fishermen.
I am not going to even venture to say that I will have all of the answers, but I will share with you my tips on everything from leader length for different species, knots to tie, weather conditions to keep an eye out for and how the best way to keep you fish a secret so you don't get jumped by other boats!
If you have a tip to share with a posted question, feel free to send that to me as well and I will make sure it gets out there to the community.  We all had to learn at some point.  I am always learning..

So let the emails fly and don't be shy about it!
I hope to hear from you soon and stay warm on this frigid January evening!

Capt. Brian