Ron Ballanti

Ron is an award-winning journalist living in Southern California where he can live the best fish stories every week. Let Ron open your eyes to the best ideas in sport fishing and power boating today. Ron is currently president of Strike Zone Communications. 
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New "C-Map 4D" to change the way boaters see the world.

Saturday, October 24, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Boaters lucky enough to be at the 2009 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show will be the first in North America to experience Jeppesen Marine’s new C-MAP 4D cartography — the latest advance in electronic charting technology that will change the way boaters see the world.

This innovative approach to electronic charting gives boaters control over their navigation solutions in ways never before possible.   Using one cartridge, customers can select the coverage area and the content segment that best meet their boating needs. Customers can select the Max segment which includes all the popular features of the existing C-MAP MAX product, or they can choose the 4D segment of C-MAP 4D which includes a variety of breakthrough features, including:

“4D” Charting — Take the most advanced 3D land and ocean mapping database in the world and add the 4th dimension of time.  Based on a continuous update process, C-MAP 4D gives boaters access to a personalized navigation experience with up-to-date data for safe navigation.

True View & Photos — C-MAP 4D includes a realistic navigational perspective with satellite photos and hi-resolution coastal imagery that can be overlaid on accurate and up-to-date 3-D vector data, plus thousands of extraordinary photos of popular marinas and areas of interest.

Nautical Paper Charts — For boaters who enjoy the traditional look of paper charts, C-MAP 4D delivers the exclusive ability to overlay electronic versions of raster charts onto multi-dimensional shaded relief cartography for a new boating experience.

This revolutionary charting technology will be available for use as soon as chart plotter manufacturers are able to implement it onto their units.

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It's Showtime!

Friday, October 23, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Check Out New C-MAP 4D and Other Charting Products at 2009/2010 Boat Shows.

Boat shows are a great way to catch up on all the latest gear, whether you’re looking for a new vessel, the latest electronics or the best boating and fishing accessories.

As usual, Jeppesen Marine will be out in force at some of North America’s biggest boat shows.  Starting this fall and running through spring 2010, we’ll be busy showing our wares and meeting with boaters like you to help with your electronic navigation needs. 

We have some big news to share with navigators across North America and around the world.   The 2009 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will be the North American public premiere of Jeppesen Marine’s revolutionary C-MAP 4D cartography. 

This advanced C-MAP cartography will change the way boaters see the world.
C-MAP 4D will be available as soon as chart plotter manufacturers are able to implement it onto their units. Visitors to the show can experience the 4th Dimension at kiosks in the Jeppesen Marine booth, which is located in the marine electronics tent, booth M21.

If you can’t catch us in Fort Lauderdale, we’ll be showing C-MAP 4D at other key boat shows, along with the entire line of Jeppesen Marine electronic charting products and accessories.   Stop by and visit us.  We’ll be happy to teach you about this exciting new charting technology, discuss the easiest way to update your charts (Club Jeppesen Marine) and help you with any electronic navigation questions you may have.  Find us at the following shows:






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Better Freshwater Fishing with Electronic Charts

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Most serious ocean fishermen wouldn’t dream of heading offshore without their high-tech marine electronics, especially their electronic chart plotter and digital cartography.  Why?   Because they count on their marine chartplotter and electronic charts for a wealth of information that helps them find and catch more fish.

In growing numbers, freshwater anglers are also “tuning in and turning on,” spurred by increasing availability of smaller sized, affordable electronic chart plotters and fishing charts for popular freshwater lakes and rivers.  For about the cost of a high-performance stainless prop, freshwater anglers can install a GPS/chart plotter and add satellite boating navigation and detailed waterway maps to their arsenal of weapons.

Today’s best marine GPS receivers can pinpoint your position to within three meters anywhere in the world, allowing you to navigate with accuracy and – most importantly – return to “fishy” areas.   And with the proliferation of inexpensive, hand-held GPS units that can fit in a tackle box, many fishermen are “steering by the numbers” to do just this.

Using an electronic chart plotter, however, adds a whole new dimension.    Electronic chart plotters add marine map technology capable of showing your boat’s position and movement over a digitized map of the lake or river’s bottom.  Depending on the level of detail, this digital cartography can include submerged creek channels, drop-offs, points, brush piles, sunken islands and other structure items that are critical to fishermen.

With a little imagination, it’s easy to see how a real-time representation like this can help the freshwater anglers.   By really knowing the layout of the lake and where your boat is positioned in relation to key structure, you can spend more time fishing where the fish are.  And by correlating what you see on the electronic chart plotter with information from your depth-sounder, you won’t have to wonder what’s under your boat.  In fishing, knowledge is confidence.  And confident anglers catch more fish.

Of course, an electronic chart plotter can only provide as much detail as is contained on the digital cartography it is running.   Companies like C-MAP have come a long way in the development of extremely detailed electronic charts for the nation’s most popular freshwater fishing areas.   The company’s MAX Lakes catalog of specialized freshwater fishing charts was developed with one purpose in mind — to help freshwater anglers catch more fish.  Today, C-Map MAX Lakes fishing charts are available covering  thousands of popular lakes and waterways in every U.S. state.

There are many ways savvy fishermen use this electronic chart data to their advantage.  For example, walleye anglers can use their electronic chart plotters to focus and fine-tune their trolling presentations.  Successful walleye trolling is based on precise boat positioning, boat speed and bait presentation, and a plotter gives you an extra high-tech tool.   If the fish are hanging along an edge or suspended over an underwater riverbed, you can position your boat precisely, track your progress on the map and make adjustments for wind and current.

Say you’re a bass fishermen, and you’re working a steep drop off a submerged point with a pig-and-jig or live bait.  Same idea – you can monitor your boat’s progress in relation to the shoreline and the bottom, and make small adjustments as necessary.   And with the accuracy of today’s marine electronic GPS, you can keep working productive water by marking where you hookup and returning to this area through subsequent drifts.

These are just a few of the ways an electronic chart plotter and specialized fishing charts can make a wizard out of any freshwater fisherman.   Whether the name of your  game is largemouth, walleye, trout, crappie or stripers,  C-Map charts will help you catch more fish.    Visit your boat dealer or electronics store and get turned on to the world of electronic charts.  

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Electronic charts keep you on the right side of the line – and the law.

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Electronic charts keep you on the right side of the line – and the law.

Anybody who fishes ocean waters off California is aware of the state’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and what this law means to recreational anglers. In a very complex process, various groups have been working on ways to achieve the conservation goals of the act, which was passed to protect the state’s marine resources. What this will mean to the layman is a growing network of no-fishing and/or restricted fishing zones up and down California’s 840-mile coast.


Southern Californians are familiar with this already; Marine Protected Areas have been in place around the Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands for several years. Closures are on the way for the rest of the state, as well as an even greater network of no-fishing zones for Southern California islands and coastline areas. Battle lines are being drawn right now, with a variety of competing marine maps vying for the approval of the state Fish and Game Commission.

However these marine maps end up coming out, it will be the fisherman’s responsibility to know and obey the law. There aren’t any floating warning signs telling you where you can or can’t fish, and printed charts with GPS boundaries of closed areas aren’t much use either. 

Without a doubt, an electronic chart plotter with updated digital cartography is the best way for anglers to remain inside the law — and outside closed areas. A marine chartplotter will allow boaters to graphically see their GPS position relative to specific closed areas (most electronic GPS units allow users to customize the electronic chart display to mark general boundaries on the marine map.

Since the first closures were put in place around the Channel Islands several years ago, C-Map charts by Jeppesen Marine have had existing no-fishing zones clearly marked in red. This means that boaters can fish with confidence that they won’t accidentally cross into areas that could cost them a hefty fine. By using the electronic chart plotter’s proximity alarm feature, they can be alerted if they get too close, even if they are off the bridge and busy fishing in the cockpit.

Another advantage C-Map charts offer is the confidence to fish in close proximity to these closed areas, while remaining legally outside. These areas were selected because they are productive fish habitat — and anglers without this electronic edge are often too concerned to take their boats anywhere near them. I’ve experienced this first hand, catching quality bottom fish in an area adjacent to (but safely outside) the Carrington Reef closure area at Santa Rosa Island while other boats chose to steer clear of the whole area.

Closures like these will begin expanding up and down the state in 2010. Additional Marine Protected Areas totaling as much as 400 square miles are in the works for the Southern California region alone, depending on which marine map gets approved. Other coastal states, as well as the federal government, are also looking at similar networks of protected areas and fishing closures to manage marine resources. Don’t think this trend only applies to the Golden State. 

Like it or not, more closed and restricted areas are in our future. Having a marine electronic GPS and quality electronic cartography will become increasingly important as the wide-open ocean becomes less open to anglers.  This is why I’m glad that Jeppesen Marine updates its navigational charts and fishing charts at least twice each year.  As a law-abiding boater and fisherman, I want to be sure I’m navigating with the most accurate electronic chart data available.
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Jeppesen Marine striper showdown nets some big Cape Cod stripers.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Successful Tournament “Brings ‘Em Back Alive” for Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT
 
Mashpee, MASS., September 25, 2009 — The Jeppesen Marine Striper Showdown September 19th saw some impressive catches weighed in at the host Osterville Anglers Club, including the winning 37.30-pound striper weighed in by Captain Bryan Pieros from Team Michael’s Bait & Tackle.    
 
Winning 37 pound striperThe top fish, reeled in off Block Island aboard Pieros’ 27 Contender, was big enough to win both the tournament and the 1st Place Calcutta in this American Striper Association (ASA) sanctioned event. Captain Greg Nunn of Team Hapi Daze rolled in with his 32-foot Fountain and weighed in a very respectable 29.30-pound striped bass that was good enough for 2nd Place in the tournament. Captain Bob Fitzgerald of Team Comstock Regulator placed 3rd with a 26.95-pound striper, fishing aboard his 26-foot Regulator.  Captain Ken Zwirko of Team Bunker Down used his 21-foot Contender to catch and weigh in a 24.75-pound striped bass, which was good enough to land 4th Place in the tournament.
 
What made this event special — a side from the nice weather, good overall fishing and jumbo stripers weighed in — is that the four largest fish were brought back alive and donated to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut. The collection of these large adult stripers played an important role in the facility’s ongoing program of live exhibits and other interactive efforts to educate people about the marine life and unique environment of Long Island Sound (striped bass are a prevalent species there, as well). The fish were kept alive at sea and cared for by Jack Schneider, Curator of Animals/Director of Education for the Maritime Aquarium.  

Schneider was on site with a specially equipped truck to transport the four stripers from the Osterville Anglers Club on Cape Cod to the their new home in Connecticut.   Schneider reported later that the fish had survived the journey, were actively feeding and were adjusting well to their new surroundings in the Maritime Aquarium exhibit. 
 
“We were honored to sponsor this event and to host all the activities at the beautiful waterfront facilities of the Osterville Anglers Club,” said Jeppesen Marine Business Development Manager Ken Cirillo — an avid local striper angler himself.   “Fall is a great time to fish the waters off Cape Cod, as evidenced by the large winning fish brought to the scales. The fact that we were able to help the Maritime Aquarium with its striped bass collection efforts made this tournament all the more rewarding. I hope to get down there to visit them sometime soon,” added Cirillo.
 
For more information about Jeppesen Marine’s electronic charts for cruising, sailing and fishing, visit www.jeppesen/lightmarine. To learn more about the Maritime Aquarium, visit www.maritimeaquarium.org.   
 
About Jeppesen Marine
Jeppesen Marine is a market-leading provider of vessel operations services and digital navigation solutions, based on worldwide vector chart data type approved to ISO19879, meteorological information and transmission technologies. Jeppesen Marine offers a wide range of navigation and operations products and services to both light and commercial marine markets. Safety-conscious boaters and operators, that range from inland and coastal towboats to SOLAS class vessels, rely on Jeppesen Marine, which is chartered with the same underlying values that launched Jeppesen in 1934 – improving safety and efficiency through innovative navigation solutions.
 
For 75 years, Jeppesen has made it possible for pilots and their passengers to safely and efficiently reach their destinations. Today this pioneering spirit continues as Jeppesen delivers essential information and optimization solutions to improve the efficiency of air, sea and rail operations around the globe. Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, a unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Jeppesen corporate information is available online at jeppesen.com. 
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“BUG” ME, PLEASE

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
October Marks Opening of Southern California’s Recreational Spiny Lobster Season; Electronic Chart Plotter With Detailed Digital Cartography Helps Find The “Bugs”
 
When the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder in Southern California, many boaters put away their fishing rods and head out into the darkness in search of the Pacific Ocean’s ultimate night stalker – the spiny lobster. Chasing these tasty bottom dwellers — affectionately referred to as “bugs” by recreational fishermen — has become somewhat of a craze along the coast and the waters off Catalina Island.  A lot more people are doing it, and it’s gotten a lot more competitive. Still, those with good marine electronics and the knowledge to use them have a definite edge.
 
Diving for lobsters with scuba gear has been going on for decades.  It takes a special breed of person to don a wetsuit, jump into the cold winter Pacific waters and feel their way along the bottom in the dark, peering in to cracks and crevices with flashlights for these scary looking creatures.  There’s a reason they’re called “spiny” lobsters — their shells (and especially their muscular tails) are covered with sharp points. And one more thing, you have to grab them with your hands. Even with diving gloves, they’re quite a handful.
 
For the rest of us who are not that hearty breed of sportsman, there is another method of catching lobsters that is much more civilized. The activity of lobster “hoop netting” has also been around for years, but it has seen a boom in activity over the last five years or so.
 
Netting lobsters involves lowering special weighted hoop nets baited with cut mackerel, bonito or other oily fish and placing them on the bottom around breakwaters, jetties, wrecks and other structure in 20 to more than 100 feet of water.  Just drop your nets (think oversized basketball hoops) on the sand bottom near the structure, wait about 15 minutes and pull ‘em up.  If you’re lucky, you’ll haul a net full of flopping bugs over the gunwale. 
 
Hoop netters and divers must have a valid California sport fishing license and an approved lobster measuring device to ensure that all bugs meet the minimum size (3-1/4” from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear end of the body shell).  Each person must have his own measuring device with him. 
 
Whether you dive or take them in a net, finding good lobster habitat is always the first step. These structure loving creatures spend the day hiding inside rockpiles, reefs, wrecks and any other kind of structure, crawling out only at night to look for food. Finding hidden structure spots can be the secret to success, particularly as the season goes on and boat pressure takes its toll. A marine chartplotter with quality electronic charts is an important tool to help anglers find and focus on structure spots. The C-Map charts I use contain valuable data on rocky outcroppings, natural and manmade reefs, shipwrecks and other bottom structure where lobsters like to hang out.
 
My electronic chart plotter also provides an excellent visual record of where I “net” my best lobster scores, by allowing me to mark the locations of the most productive nets. Over time, I’m able to see, for example, that one particular end of a reef produces best during an incoming tide.  
 
Spiny lobsters don’t have claws, but they can reach upwards of 10 pounds and provide a huge, meaty tail. With a recreational season lasting more than five months (October 3, 2009 to March 17, 2010) and a daily bag limit of seven lobsters per angler, it’s easy to see why chasing lobsters is so popular.   Pass the butter! 
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USA. Jeppesen Marine provides electronic navigation cartography for Around Americas expedition

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
The sailing vessel Ocean Watch, which just left New York City and is making its way to Charleston, S.C. as part of its mission to raise awareness of the effects of climate change, is relying on C-MAP MAX Pro cartography from Jeppesen Marine for safe navigation.
 
The Around the Americas expedition has just completed the first leg of its historic voyage – a west-to-east transit of the Northwest Passage above Alaska and Canada – and is currently sailing down the U.S. East Coast. Their route will take them down the Atlantic Coast of North and South America, around Cape Horn, then back up the Pacific Coast of both continents to its starting point in Seattle, Wash.
 
“The performance of the C-MAP by Jeppesen cartography on Nobeltec’s Admiral software has been impressive,” said Mark Schrader, captain of Ocean Watch and Around the Americas expedition leader. “The Northwest Passage transit was a difficult and often nerve-wracking navigation challenge. We were constantly having to recalculate routes and passage plans to deal with dynamic sea ice conditions. The highly accurate electronic charts were critical tools in our successful transit.”
 
“We chose Jeppesen Marine as one of our key partners because of their worldwide coverage, highly accurate and trustworthy electronic charts and feature-rich functionality of their cartography package,” added Schrader.
 
“We are pleased to acknowledge Ocean Watch on the successful completion of this important milestone,” said Michelle Buckalew, senior marketing manager, Jeppesen Marine. “Their safe transit of these difficult and remote waterways is a strong testimony to the skills and perseverance of the captain and crew.”  VIEW ENTIRE ARTICLE 
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Catch Your Drift.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
 Tips for More Effective Drift Fishing

It doesn’t matter if you’re in freshwater or salt, East Coast or West, drift fishing can be one of the most effective ways to get hooked up with your quarry. It’s certainly one of the easiest ways.   After all, fishing from a moving boat allows you to cover plenty of ground in your effort to find fish and present your baits/lures.
 
Don’t get the idea, however, that all that’s required is to randomly pick an area, drop your lines and wait for a bite. Just like any other style of fishing, there are subtle tricks and techniques that separate top “drifters” from everybody else.
 
Remember that your boat is an extension of your rod, reel and terminal tackle, and plays a key role in your presentation. This is true whether you’re drifting over soft bottom for halibut or fluke, or working a piece of structure for bass. It’s important to analyze how your boat drifts. Even under similar wind/current conditions, vessels can behave differently based on factors like length, beam, draft, windage and weight distribution.    
 
Ideally, every vessel would drift sideways to the wind, providing a slow speed and plenty of room to spread out lines.  In reality, many boats drift bow first, stern first or anywhere in between.   Using your GPS will provide an accurate drift speed over ground based on given conditions.  
 
What can be done to change the drift characteristics of your vessel? To slow down, cut down on your vessel’s windage by putting down Bimini tops or removing canvas enclosures on your flybridge. You may also be able to change your drift angle by turning the outboard motor, outdrive or rudder.
 
If more adjustment is needed, a sea anchor can be deployed to both slow your vessel and alter its drift angle. Sea anchors work like underwater parachutes, catching water to create beneficial drag. How it effects your boat depends largely on placement. Tie it off to the bow and the boat will ride bow into the wind/swell. Tying off to the windward stern quarter will help the boat drift in a more sideways fashion, more desirable for fishing. If you tend to drift stern to the wind, placing a sea anchor off the bow quarter will help you remain more sideways.
 
Once you have a feeling for how your vessel behaves, you’ll be better at setting up each drift. There are two key factors that cause your boat to drift — wind and current. You have to take into account the speed/direction of both. A piece of ribbon or light fabric tied to your VHF antenna acts like a tiny wind sock, helping you predict the effect wind movement will have. If current isn’t visible on the surface, try dropping a shiny nickel over the side to gauge which direction it flutters.
 
Precise drift positioning is very important when drifting over a wreck, rockpile or reef. If you don’t start far enough upwind/current of the spot, you’re likely to drift past before your lines enter the strike zone. After you make a pass or two, check the track lines on your boat’s GPS/chart plotter and see how they relate to the bottom contour/structure you’re fishing. Having this graphical representation allows you to fine tune your drift over an area, making minor adjustments that can result in major payoffs.
 

 
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Mako My Day — Experiencing Southern California's Trophy Shark Fishery.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
For several years now, Capt. Steve Quinlan has been successfully targeting trophy mako sharks in Southern California waters aboard his 29-foot Pro Line Super Sport Strike Zone. A shark tournament veteran, Quinlan has caught seven makos over 700 pounds and three over 800 pounds, including an 1,175-pounder that stands as the largest fish ever caught on rod and reel in California waters. Quinlan recently retired from the tournament scene to focus on running catch-and-release trophy shark charters (www.trophyfishcharters.com).
 
I’ve written about Quinlan’s unique sight-fishing shark techniques previously in the pages of Pacific Coast Sportfishing and Salt Water Sportsman magazines, but until recently never had the chance to experience the excitement first hand. I took that chance on August 28, when I set out with the goal of getting some good action photos while getting my 15-year-old son Greg his first trophy mako shark.
 
My earlier articles detailed just how important navigation electronics are to Quinlan (he’s sponsored by Jeppesen Marine and Simrad). On our trip, we ran about 20 miles out of Marina Del Rey Harbor to an offshore high spot known as the 270. Using his Simrad CX44 chart plotter and bathymetric C-MAP Fishing Contour Charts, we ran to an area several miles upwind of the 270.   We “power chummed” (idling forward while dragging a chum bucket) back towards the 270 for a couple of miles, then set up to precisely drift back over the high spot.   When we added a stream of fresh chum using Quinlan’s homemade “chum churn,” we soon had a nice slick behind the boat that eventually reached 8 miles in length.


Over the next several hours, nothing but two large blue sharks came into the slick. This is why Quinlan never puts a line in the water until he sees the fish he wants. You don’t want to be goofing around with a blue shark when a fired up mako charges the boat. Finally, around 3:30 in the afternoon, a fat male mako came to the back of the boat, aggressively attacking a nearby blue shark. My son baited up the mako with a light stand-up outfit, and the game was on.
 
Quinlan had often told me that sharks have individual personalities, and that sometimes a particular mako will seem to be demon possessed. Long story short, this was one of those sharks. It put us through the ringer for more than two hours, refusing to come to the surface where we could handle it. Still, by using the stout rod and stand-up harness, my son did a great job wearing the fish down. The fish gave his all during the fight and because of its exhausted condition, we decided to take it (mako is an excellent eating fish on par with swordfish). While not a giant by Southern California standards, my son’s first mako was a very respectable fish of 200+ pounds.
I was able to get some great photography “in the can” for a future magazine article and my son put an exclamation point on a great summer. I know there are much bigger makos prowling the coastline of Southern California. I’m looking forward to hitting the water again soon with Captain Quinlan in search of a monster, and reporting back to you with the results. 
 
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Be my guest.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
10 Steps Towards Being a Better Boating Buddy
 
I am at the moment, boatless. A person who depends on the kindness of friends and family to get his fishing fix and time on the water. In less civilized circles we’re known as “boat ho’s,” — but I wear the label proudly. 
 
When I owned my own boats, I quickly learned the value of buddies who could share in the fun and make boat ownership easier and less expensive. Now that I’m on the other side of the fence, I work hard at being on the top of my friends’ call list when they’re putting together inshore or offshore fishing trips off Southern California. 
 
Here are 10 easy ways to be a better “boating buddy.” If you follow these general rules, you’ll probably be invited back again and again. 

1. Pitch in for expenses. Owning and operating a boat is a serious expense. Not just trip-related costs like fuel, food and bait, but also insurance, registration, slip fees, maintenance, etc. that come up all year long. Guests who ask up front how and how much they can contribute usually rise to the top of the list when putting together fishing trips.  
 
2. Get involved in the planning. Help with planning the trip, whether it’s researching where the bite is, picking up needed tackle or equipment, or getting the boat ready. There’s also nothing wrong with being proactive and suggesting outings. Some of my best trips happened because I picked up the phone and called my boat-owning friends. Most of the time, they’re looking for a good reason to get out on the water and your call may just be the right incentive.
 
 
3. Be punctual. Nothing gets a trip off to a bad start like waiting around for somebody to arrive. Be sure you know exactly when and where you’re supposed to meet, and be there 15 minutes early. If you’re not familiar with the marina/launch ramp, get directions the night before (or use your vehicle’s GPS). Make certain you have the skipper’s cell number, so you can call well ahead of time if you are unavoidably detained.  
 
4. Don’t bring too much “stuff.”  Don’t be the guy who shows up on a 21-foot center console toting 10 fishing rods, a tackle box, ice chest, boom box, video camera with tripod, etc. Make sure you discuss in advance how many rods the boat can accommodate and what gear you really need to bring. I keep a soft-sided tackle bag that I pack with the basics and bring on other people’s vessels.
 
5. Be a crew member. Ask the skipper what you can do to help in managing the boat and the day’s activities. Having a role is part of the fun, even if you’re just stowing the dock lines or hosing off the deck. The more trips you go on, the more of a “well oiled” machine you become (and the more responsibilities you’ll have). When you’re asked to take a turn at the helm or help in setting the anchor, you’ll feel some of the same pride you felt as a boat owner.  
 
6. Hands off the electronics. As a rule of thumb, I don’t lay a finger on my friends’ electronics without asking first. The captain may have them set up a certain way and will not appreciate your changing the gain on the echosounder, adjusting the radar settings or playing with the VHF.  As you become an accepted crewmember, you may need to do these things (such as jogging the autopilot to avoid an obstacle), but it’s always best to take an “ask first” approach.
 
7. Respect the Captain’s authority.  —As a member of the crew, it’s your job to respect the captain’s authority and do what you’re asked. This includes obeying the captain’s rules regarding smoking, drinking and general personal conduct.
 
8. Bring your fishing “A game”. The boat owner/captain generally feels great pride when his crew catches fish.  It’s a sense of accomplishment that can’t be matched, even by catching fish himself. As a member of the crew, you’re expected to bring your fishing “A game” every trip.  This means having all your gear prepped and in good order, being well rested (not hung over) and fishing hard all day.
 
9. Be supportive. As crew, you can provide input as to the fishing plan for the day, but ultimately, it’s the skipper’s call on where to go and what to fish for. Sometimes his choices pay off, sometimes they don’t. It never pays to “second guess” the captain’s choices.  Instead, be supportive and express appreciation for a day on the water. “We’ll get ‘em next time!” is a good motivator and lets him know you’re ready to sail with him again.
 
10. Help with clean up. The fishing day isn’t done until the fish are cleaned and the boat is washed up and put away.  ‘Nuff said.
 
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Time To Go Fishing

Friday, September 4, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Over the last two decades, one company has been at the forefront of enhancing safety at sea around the world. Over one million navigators have used C-MAP electronic charts by Jeppesen. Jeppesen's electronic charts have helped make the sea safer and fishing more enjoyable.
 
How do they do it? Their C-MAP charts offer the best navigational details while ensuring compatibility with most brands of electronic chart plotters and PC-based navigation systems. 
 
Now MAX brings navigational charts to life.  Surpassing the success of previous 
C-MAP NT+ electronic charts (voted Best Electronic Charts 6 consecutive years), C-MAP MAX’s Flashing Nav Aid feature lets you see navigation aids on your screen exactly as you see them through your pilothouse window. 
 
So what are you waiting for? Get equipped with Jeppesen's Electronic charts and go fishing. 
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Fishing For $5000

Friday, September 4, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Here’s an event for avid striper fishermen. Top anglers from across the country will be heading to Mashpee, MA September 19, 2009 to compete in this high-profile fishing competition - the Jeppesen Marine Cape Cod Striper Showdown. This American Striper Association (ASA) sanctioned event awards $5000 to the first place winner ($2500 if not a member of ASA) and the top 5 winners are assured of a cash prize.
 
This competition is sponsored by Jeppesen Marine, a market-leading provider of navigation solutions, including C-MAP electronic navigational charts, C-Marina charts, bathymetric Fishing Contour Charts and marine GPS navigational software. For more details about the Marine Cape Cod Striper Showdown, visit ASA's website at www.fishasa.co
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Winning The End Game

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
How to Handle Big Fish at The Boat
 
The annals of big game fishing are filled with heartbreak tales where giant fish are lost after exhausting battles.  Most often those fish are lost right near the boat, when the fight is tantalizingly close to over and the crew can just taste success. If you’re tournament fishing, this sort of defeat is doubly crushing and can really make for a long ride home.
 
There are several good reasons why fish often say “sayonara” right near the boat.  For one, the angler and crew can be mentally and physically exhausted at this point, which leads to shortcuts and/or mistakes.   The longer the fight goes on, the greater the chance hooks can pull out or that weak knots, frayed line and other equipment failures can come back to bite you.  And you, your tackle and your crew are under the greatest strain when a big fish is  connected by only a few yards of line.
 
Here are some handy tips to improve your chances of winning the all-important end game when tackling billfish, tuna, sharks and other big game:
 
• Don’t “freeze up.” Many anglers “freak out” when they get a first glimpse of a huge fish. They instinctively back off the drag and reduce pressure on the fish to avoid a breakoff. This can result in long stand-offs with the fish right in sight. Keep up the same pressure you used  to get the fish to that point. The longer the end game portion of the fight goes on, the greater chance it will end badly.
 
• Keep the boat moving. Whether you’re going to gaff or release a large fish, keep the boat moving slowly ahead as you grab the leader and draw the fish to the boat. Keeping a fish swimming keeps it calmer and gives you more control.
 
• Be properly equipped to finish the job. You wouldn’t hunt buffalo with a BB gun, so don’t expect to handle offshore big game with inshore equipment. Depending on your target species, this could mean a large flying gaff (1/2-inch diameter hook with a six-inch gap), rigged with plenty of 5/8-inch rope, as well as a tail rope.  Those involved with handling the fish should be prepared with gloves and wire cutters.
 
• Plan ahead.  Discuss with your crew who will handle what duties, so that when the time comes, you can go right into action — knowing who will drive the boat, who will leader the fish, who will gaff the fish, who will stand by with a second gaff, etc.  Have all your equipment out and readily accessible before you put lines in the water.
 
• Act decisively.  To sink the flying gaff, place the gaff across the center of the fish’s body with the point down. This makes gravity your ally. Bring the hook towards your body and hit the fish in the “hump” – the meaty part near the dorsal fin.  A second fixed-head gaff can then be used near the tail to subdue the fish and tail rope it.
 
• Release ‘em right.  If catch and release is your goal — as it is with more marlin and shark anglers these days — you need to be prepared.  To release a billfish, have a partner grab the leader while you grab the bill and extract the hook (if the fish is hooked deeply, cut the leader close).  Wear protective gloves and always place your palm on top of the bill with your fingers above and thumb below. This keeps your arm between the sharp, abrasive bill and your face. With sharks, put your rod in freespool with the clicker on and assist the leader man in clipping the wire as close to possible to the shark’s mouth. Remember to keep the boat slowly moving ahead.
 
• Revive tired fish. Before releasing your grip on a billfish, revive it by motoring forward and running fresh water over its gills.  You’ll feel the fish “kick” when it’s ready to go — and you’ll feel great when it swims away towards the depths.  
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Updated Charts Help You Steer Clear of Trouble in Many Forms

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Most navigators are aware of many of the reasons why it’s good to keep your electronic charts up-to-date. Having the most current information on Nav Aid placement, shoals and underwater obstacles are obvious examples of how up-to-date charts can help keep you and your boat out of trouble and off the rocks.
 
There are other ways boaters can get in trouble, however, and they can be even more costly than running aground. For a variety of reasons ranging from national security and public safety to endangered marine wildlife, our waters are governed by a growing network of exclusion or security zones. These are areas where recreational and commercial vessels may be under speed or operational restrictions, may not be able to travel at all, or may be restricted from anchoring or even fishing.   
 
There are a couple of important points for boaters to remember: These zones are being changed, moved, and added all the time around our country. And unlike on land, there are rarely posted speed limit or “No Trespassing” signs on the open water to alert boaters to these restrictions.   The fines and penalties for breaking these rules can be costly — from hundreds or even thousands of dollars per incident — and can even include prison time.  
 
For example, a recent bulletin issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami outlines Cruise Ship Security Zones in effect whenever two or more cruise ships are docked at the Port of Miami. No vessel, recreational boat or personal watercraft is permitted to transit through or anchor in this zone without express permission from the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP). This document also outlines a nearby Manatee Zone designated to protect these slow-moving marine mammals, limiting transiting vessels to Idle Speed/No Wake travel in this area of the Intracoastal Waterway. The maximum civil penalty for violation of a security zone is up to $32,500 per violation. The maximum criminal penalty for knowing and willful violations of a security zone like this is up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Coast Guard takes this quite seriously, as evidenced by the fact that it recently raised first-time recreational operator fines for security zone violators in Prince William Sound (Alaska) from $250 to $1,000 ($2,000 for commercial operators). Repeat violators receive immediate fines of $5,000 to $10,000. 
 
The California coast currently has a network of Marine Protected Areas that restrict or prohibit fishing — and more are on the way in accordance with the state’s Marine Life Protection Act.   Cast your line where you’re not supposed to and you might catch more than you bargained for — like potentially hefty fines from the Department of Fish and Game. 
 
These are just a few examples of how a small boating mistake could cost you big.  Of course, one of the best things sailors, power boaters and anglers can do to avoid trouble like this is to update their electronic charts at least once per season. Jeppesen Marine is constantly monitoring not only Notice-to-Mariner notifications, but also new exclusion zones, security zones and fishing regulations. It’s an ongoing effort to integrate these important changes into our electronic chart database. Seeing these boundary lines and the precise GPS position of your vessel gives you the information you need to steer clear of potential trouble. Jeppesen Marine is the only electronic chart provider that issues updated versions twice per year — in the Spring and Fall — to help navigators stay on the right side of the channel AND the right side of the law.
 
With Club Jeppesen Marine, boaters automatically receive the updated chart of their choosing, when and where they want it.  It’s easy, affordable (less than the cost of purchasing an update), and automatic — plus Club members receive a boatload of additional benefits and discounts.  To learn more about the Club and electronic chart updating, visit www.jeppesen.com/lightmarine.
 



















Miami Area Security Measures

http://www.uscg.mil/d7/sectMiami/pdf/MIAMISecurityZoneFlyer.pdf

Valdez, Alaska
Coast Guard Imposed $1,000 fines for Boaters in Port Valdez

For more information on safety zones and regulations check out the United States Coast Guard

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JEPPESEN MARINE SPONSORS 16TH ANNUAL JOE CRONIN FISHING TOURNAMENT BENEFITING THE DANA FABER CANCER INSTITUTE’S JIMMY FUND

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Jeppesen Marine’s Linda McAndrews Takes 3rd Place in Ladies’ Bluefish Division Aboard Ken Cirillo’s C-MAP Equipped Blackfin Magic

On August 7, Jeppesen Marine put its best foot (or is it fin?) forward at the 16th Annual Joe Cronin Memorial Fishing Tournament, contributing a Silver Level cash sponsorship and demonstrating the angling prowess of Marketing Manager Linda McAndrews, who reeled in 3rd Place in the Ladies’ Bluefish Division. In addition, Jeppesen Marine Business Development Manager Ken Cirillo donated the services of his 29 Blackfin Magic, providing his boat, fuel, mate, lunch, equipment and angling expertise to take out a team of anglers (including McAndrews) participating in this tournament.
 
This popular event featured 50 boats from around the Cape Cod area and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund, an organization dedicated to the fight against cancer in children. The tournament was headquartered at the Nauticus Marina in Osterville, Massachusetts. Hundreds of anglers made a donation to participate in this challenging event, pitting some of the area’s best captains, fishermen and boats in fun competition for trophies and bragging rights (majority of money raised goes to charity). Exact figures for the 2009 tournament aren’t in yet, but last year’s event raised $350,000 and donated $300,000 to the Dana Farber Institute. 
 
Proving that Cirillo has a way with Cape Cod’s big blues, another angler fishing aboard his boat (Mike Yorstin) took Second Place honors in the Men’s Bluefish Division. Of course, Cirillo counts on his C-MAP electronic charts to help him find and catch big stripers, blues and fluke in the waters around Cape Cod. His boat is based out of the Osterville Anglers Club (OAC), where he is currently serving a term as president. Joe Cronin Memorial Fishing Tournament Chairman and event organizer E.J. Jaxtimer is also a long-standing OAC member.

This tournament is named after Joe Cronin, who was a player and manager for the Boston Red Sox, as well as Commissioner of the American League. Along with teammate Ted Williams and Red Sox Owner Tom Yawkey, they initiated and fostered a strong partnership with the Jimmy Fund that continues.  
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Safety Tips for Fishing at Night

Friday, July 17, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
I recently saw an online report by a private boat angler who, after hitting the bunk during an all-night fishing trip for white seabass at Catalina Island, was startled awake by a proverbial “bump in the night.”   His first thought was that his boat had dragged  anchor and had drifted into the rocks on the weather side of this popular Southern California island.   
 
As he and the rest of his crew stumbled topsides to spring into action, it quickly became clear this was not the case.  To their disbelief, they soon realized their vessel had been rammed by another boat trying to navigate the crowded “minefield” of boats anchored up on Catalina’s backside squid grounds, soaking baits and waiting for schools of the giant croakers to swim through.   After the initial shock wore off (they were properly lit and had a man on watch), they quickly assessed the damage to both vessels.  Fortunately, the captain of the other fishing boat was traveling slowly enough that the damage, while costly, was only cosmetic and did not endanger either boat.
 
Situations like this remind us that boating, particularly at night, is a sport with inherent dangers. Fortunately, by exercising a little common sense, learning the rules of the road and taking advantage of today’s modern technology, we have the power to minimize these dangers.  Here are some quick tips for fishermen who like to fish at night:
 
Maintain A Sharp Lookout — In the scenario above, the anchored fishing boat correctly had one person awake and on watch, yet as the saying goes, “he never saw what hit him.”  Being on watch means just that — scanning the horizon for lights, watching the radar and listening to radio traffic.  It’s easy to “veg” when its dark and everybody’s asleep, so rotate the man on watch at least every two hours.  You can use a watch clock to help stay awake. 
 
Use Technology — It’s not enough to have radar, or even to have your radar on, if it isn’t being used effectively.  Or worse yet, not being watched at all.  Train yourself on your boat’s radar during daylight under controlled conditions.  And learn to use important features such as Guard Zone Alarm that can alert you to vessels coming within a set perimeter.  Many GPS/chart plotters feature an Anchor Watch Alarm that can alert you if your boat swings too far or breaks loose when anchored at night.  The increasing affordability of Class B AIS (Automatic Identification System) equipment can alert you to approaching commercial vessels — such as when drift fishing at night in the shipping lanes. 
 
Get Lit.  This seems obvious, but the better illuminated your vessel is, the more visible it will be to other vessels.  Make sure your running lights and all around anchor light are operational.   If possible, keep your spreader lights or additional lighting on for additional visibility.
 
Slow Down.  Maintain safe speed when traveling at night and/or in weather that limits your visibility.  An extra set of eyes (or two) at the helm helps provide an added margin of safety.   
 
Use your head, your technology and your better judgment when fishing or traveling in the dark, and you’ll stay safe to fish another day. 
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Give your Onboard Electronics a Pre-Season "Tune-Up" With C-Map PC Planner

Monday, June 22, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
You’ll Be Amazed at All You Can Do With Your PC and a MAX or NT+ Compatible Chart Plotter

Many conscientious boaters prepare for the summer boating season by giving their vessel a thorough “once over.” As they should, they carefully check their boat’s batteries, wiring and connections, monitor critical fluid levels, examine through-hull fittings and replace dirty fuel filters, to name just a few. The reasoning behind this is sound; nobody wants to start the first day of the long-awaited boating season with problems — or worse yet, a breakdown.
 
Boaters can achieve this same peace of mind with their marine electronics as well, provided they have a GPS/chart plotter that’s compatible with C-MAP electronic charts. Using Jeppesen Marine’s C-MAP PC Planner software and a home computer, boaters can make sure that their electronics are “tuned up” and ready to optimize boating enjoyment this summer. 
 
Developed as a computer voyage planning tool for sailors, power cruisers and saltwater anglers, PC-Planner opens the door to accomplishing much more. Of course, it’s great way to spend time planning the navigational aspects of future vacations cruising tropical shores or trolling fish-rich waters. You can load and view your C-MAP charts on your PC and create and edit marks and routes, just as you would on your chart plotter. You can view embedded aerial photos of inlets and harbors you plan to visit, check out marina facilities and layouts and even check tide and current predictions for safer and more efficient cruising.  But this just scratches the surface.
 
Here are some other “nuts and bolts” ways PC-Planner can help streamline your fishing and cruising time beginning with the season’s very first trip:
 
Fishermen, Does This Sound Familiar?  You see a fish sign on the sounder, so you hit mark on the chart plotter.  A little while later, you see some more signs and hit mark again.  This goes on, day after day, trip after trip. Before you know it, your chart plotter display looks like one giant black spot when you zoom out. Using PC Planner during the off season makes it easy to eliminate the clutter of old and un-needed user marks, while editing and saving those that are important.
























Go To BassRip, Not WPT0034. It’s always better to save a user mark with a name that explains what it is and what it means. Most boaters, however, never get time to go back and edit these generic marks with names that actually make sense and will help them later. With PC Planner, you can make use of your downtime by going through your best fishing spots, naming them and organizing them. This is also applies for anchorages, great dive spots - anywhere you want to identify for the future.























Log Important Data. Most chart plotters can be interfaced with your echo sounder’s depth output and temperature sensor, so every mark you save can also include water depth and temperature, as well as the time of day. This is great way to create a log of each fishing hot spot, along with important depth/temp information to help you establish a pattern for the bite. Saving this data for future reference and study using PC Planner can help make next fishing season more productive.
 
Clean Your Screen. PC-Planner is the ideal way to clean up screen clutter of all kinds. At your computer, in your home or office, you can also clear out old track marks and routes, further de-cluttering your chart plotter display and opening up needed memory.  When the next boating season comes, you’ll enjoy the benefits, which also include an organized waypoint list that makes it easy to find what you want. Once you make the changes you want, you can use the optional memory card to easily transfer data between your computer and compatible chart plotter.






















 
 
You’ll do it When it’s Easy. Even though you can perform most of these “tune up” functions on your chart plotter, they’re often neglected. Why? Because it’s time consuming and let’s face it, when you’re on your boat you usually have better things to do.  PC-Planner makes it easy. Rather than “navigating” through keypads and on-screen alphanumeric menus to name and edit waypoints, you can use your computer’s keyboard.  It’s as easy as typing a letter.
 
Print Out a User Point/Route Log. Once you’ve finished editing your way points, another great feature of PC Planner is that you can print out hard copies of these user points for safe keeping. Or if you want, you can “loan” them to a really good fishing buddy!
 
Print Out a “Chartlet.”  On the subject of printing, another great utility of PC Planner is being able to print out a chart screen with your user points and routes overlaid on top of the chart. This is a great way to keep your own hard copy of your activities from past seasons’ trips or your favorite fishing spots.  If you have a little experience with basic graphics programs, you can even paste favorite photos (like big fish) alongside these same user points on the hard copy.
 
Back Up Plan.  With your computer, PC-Planner and a memory card, you can perform another very important—and often neglected—tune up service for your marine electronics.  After editing and naming important waypoints — favorite fishing areas, dive spots, anchorages, etc. — you can quickly and easily back them up and store them safely. This is a also a great way to create and update a permanent digital log of your best fishing and diving spots.  Backing up your user points and routes is also useful prior to updating your chart plotter’s software.  Most manufacturers provide updates on a routine basis, not only to fix “bugs” but also to add new features.  Contact your chart plotter manufacturer for further information. If there is a software update, you can use PC Planner to accomplish this task during the off-season.
 
Have Fun. Instead of being a chore, tuning-up your electronics and planning future trips with PC Planner is fun. And everybody knows that prior planning makes for a smoother trip on the water, whether fishing, cruising or sailing. Organizing your fishing spots, using your C-MAP charts to check out potential new ones, mapping out your big summer cruising vacation— all this is a great way to get ready for the year’s biggest boating adventures.
 
At only $149 (or $179 with memory card), PC-Planner makes a great gift and an important accessory for any avid boater. Call Jeppesen Marine’s Cape Cod, Massachusetts office at 800.424.2627 or visit www.jeppesen.com/lightmarine to learn more about PC requirements and chart plotter compatibility.
 

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C-Map Charts Created by Fishing Club

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
The Coastside Fishing Club Chart is another in the series of C-Map charts created from expert sources outside of official HO channels. In this case, the officers of the 10,000-strong fishing club volunteered to provide local knowledge of area fishing grounds in order to promote the recreational fishing experiences for members and non-members alike.
Coastside Fishing Club
The Coastside Fishing Club Chart is a unique combination of navigation data, bathymetric data and local knowledge of the top fishing minds in Northern California.

A perfect example of making the most from fishing contour charts is the collaboration between Jeppesen Marine and the Coastside Fishing Club of California in creating a custom electronic chart for the Northern California recreational fishing community. Any interested angler may purchase this unique chart in keeping with the Coastside mission to enhance the recreational fishing experience of all who fish that area's waters.

This specialty chart combines coastal navigation data with detail offshore ocean-floor contour data. It features approximately 100 charted areas that the Coastside leadership with its vast local knowledge and experience has identified as the region's most productive grounds.

Chart Coverage Area
The coastal range is from Coos Bay, Oregon, to Point Conception, California — approximately 600 miles of coastline. It includes San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Delta and the Sacramento River to a point just south of Colusa, California.

The average limits of east-west offshore area coverage is approximately 300 miles overall. Bathymetric data (detail bottom contours) are maintained from the shoreline to an average offshore area distance of 100 miles.

General Specifications
The Coastside Fishing Card (CFC) is available in both MAX and NT+ charting lines: MAX for electronic chart plotters that are MAX compliant/MAX upgradeable and NT+ for electronic chart plotters that pre-date MAX. It is available on all standard  MAX and NT+ chart plotter card formats.

Exclusive MAX Features
The combination of a MAX class chart with a MAX-compatible electronic chart plotter means a suite of additional features beyond the special characteristics of the CFC chart. 


They include:
  • Dynamic surface currents
  • Flashing NavAids
  • Reference images
  • Photographs
  • Perspective view
  • Shore-based value-added data and more
 

Chart Updates
New releases of the CFC fishing card will produce updated charts that include new identified areas and expanded information for existing designated areas. They will also include additional bathymetric data (if available), all new aids-to-navigation that occur in the chart coverage area since the previously released version and all state-mandated Marine Protection Areas (MPA) at the time of the new release.

Custom Specifications
The Coastside Fishing Card features five categories of custom information:
  • Recommended fishing and crabbing areas
  • Fishing guidelines for each area
  • Habitat and regulation information
  • Marine Protection Areas
  • Use of popular local names and references
  • Local navigational guides
CFC Area Designations
The approximately 100 charted CFC areas include recommended fishing, crabbing and cautionary areas such as bottom trawling zones. Each selected area is identified by a fish symbol. Each area is entirely outlines by a border consisting of inverted T symbols. Multiple areas are identified for tuna, salmon, striped bass, rockfish, halibut, sand dabs and crabbing.

California MPAs
State Marine Protection Areas as of March 2009 for the 12 counties within the CFC chart coverage areas are identified by boundary markings.

Supporting Area Information
Each area name and type of catch is identified on the chart. The chart also lists additional information such as special CFC fishing guidelines. MAX charts also contain images of the species plus history and regulations whenever possible.

Local References
Local names commonly associated with each of the designated fishing areas and other points of reference are maintained in the charts and displayed on the chart plotter.

Special Navigation Guides
The chart contains several CFC navigational guidelines for areas that the CFC has identified as difficult or potentially hazardous to navigate and are not shown on standard charts. One example is the Pillar Point Reef area.

The 2009  CFC chart retails for $199 regardless of product class. Contact your local dealer.

Jeppesen Marine (1-800-424-2627) alos offers several cost-saving exchange programs for qualified C-Map customers.
  • Upgrade an NT+ CFC chart to the 2008 MAX class chart for qualified electronic chart plotters
  • Update older NT+ versions to the new 2008 NT+ version chart
  • Exchange an existing NT+ or MAX chart for the special CFC chart

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Fishing Contour Charts

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 by Ron Ballanti
Wouldn't it be nice to know where the fish are likely to be beforehand, so you can spend less time searching and more time catching? Jeppesen Marine's Fishing Contour Charts put more data at the fingertips of recreational and commercial saltwater fishermen to help them target the drop-offs, ledges, canyons, sea mounts, shoals and ledges where fish congregate.


















Developed from NOS surveys, Fishing Contour Charts deliver the bathymetric information you need to find more fish, whether near shore or offshore.  Canyons, sea mounts, ridges and other subsurface bottom structures create upwellings, concentrating bait and the resulting game fish.

Focus your efforts around these shaded contours and you'll fish more efficiently and with greater success.

Key Features:
  • Contour lines show up vividly on color electronic chart plotter displays
  • Displays locations and popular names for top fishing spots
  • Shows precisely where your boat is in relation to prime structures
  • Provides large coverage areas from Maine to Alaska

Popular names given by professional skippers over the years appear right on the charts, making it even easier to fish like a pro, even if you aren't one.

Order a Fishing Contour Chart for $129.

The same Fishing Contour Chart sells for only $99 when purchased with any navigation chart.

Call Jeppesen Marine today at 1-800-424-2627.
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