Author: BD STAFF

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced that it has kicked off its scholarship season. Accepting application until March 15, 2014, children of enlisted Coast Guard members, may apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year. Over the last 20 years, the Coast Guard Foundation has given more than $3 million dollars to 350 family members of brave Coast Guard men and women to help them achieve their dreams of higher education through its scholarship program. The non-profit’s commitment to education support has significantly…

A pending world record, Arizona style, was yanked out of Lake Havasu on Sunday. Hector Brito’s redear sunfish weighed 5.78 pounds. A steroid shellcracker, it was. If you’ve never seen a 6-pound panfish, it’s time to head to Havasu, where the redear sunfish are likely benefitting from the invasive quagga mussels as a food source. Brito (right) caught the redear sunfish at 11:30 a.m. and brought it to Bass Tackle Master in beautiful Lake Havasu City, where John Galbraith weighed it at 5.78 pounds on an Arizona Game and Fish-certified scale. It was 17 inches long. Brito caught the plump…

Imagine being surrounded by the warm, crystal clear saline waters of a tropical island. So blue they look purple, while watching your bait get nervous as a wide array of pelagic predators cruise by in the current. The panic of the bait is followed by the flash of a shadow and a large lingering boil in that same blue water, but you are now focused on the line melting off of your reel and the adrenalin coursing through your veins. This scene normally plays out from the teak-laden decks of multi-million dollar sportfish boats or at least the padded cockpit…

Shimano Curado K Today at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo in Birmingham, Alabama, Shimano will showcase the latest and most high-tech generation of the Curado, a long-time standard in low-profile baitcast reels. Since 1991, the Curado has set the bar as standard equipment for professional bass fishermen and family outings. Known for its durability during daily use, the Curado line has always been a favorite of many. The evolution of the Curado has been continual, previous models taking on the newest technological advances of the time. Todays Curado is no different and will feature three new advances in Shimano’s continual…

I cannot say this is relaxing, but it is amazing to watch. The ocean can dish it out when she is angry. It is amazing there are not more disasters at sea. This video captures various ships and vessels in big seas and the HD footage is impressive.

Considered good luck by the fishermen, the whale sharks in this local part of Indonesia’s Cendrawasih Bay have learned to suck the small fish from holes while being harvested in nets. Photo Credit: YouTube video capture

Baton Fred Hall Long Beach Show The team at Batson Enterprises is excited to be sharing their experience at this years Fred Hall Show in Long Beach, CA on March 5-9th. That experience is the art of custom rod building and they will have a 700 square foot booth, #1205, for the first time at Fred Hall. Batson is one of the premium builders of rod components in the U.S. Even if you don’t own a custom rod, you have probably been fishing with their quality products, as they are the component builder for many top name rod companies. From…

Diver Varren Murray and his dive buddy, David Malvestuto were witness to a breif encounter with a giant pacific octopus. Known for their shy demeanor, the octopus is not normally one to bold, but this one did not appreciate having its picture taken. The two were diving off Carmel, California when the encounter took place. Photo Credit: YouTube video capture Giant Pacific Octopus Grabs Divers Camera

Miami International Boat Show 2014 The 2014 Miami Boat Show was in full swing last week and the prevailing sentiment was optimism. There were so many innovations and tons of people exploring the latest and greatest new boats and accessories. Miami International Boat Show Convention Center The 2014 Miami Boat Show was in full swing last week and the prevailing sentiment was optimism. There were so many innovations and tons of people exploring the latest and greatest new boats and accessories. Intrepid Center Console Each of the many boat makers were showcasing their newest models adorned with all of the…

The crew from Kidcochiese Outdoors was fishing aboard the Fishizzle when they happen to capture this amazing video of a big blue marlin, estimated 500 to 600 pounds, chasing and leaping after a 25-pound dorado. The slow motion playback is incredible. They were offshore fishing out of Los Suenos, Costa Rica when they captured this rare sight on film. Photo Credit: YouTube video capture

A very large catfish species in Southwestern France has learned to beach themselves on an island frequented by pigeons. The catfish have learned to tap this food source and have become quite effective at snatching the birds as they get a drink. Amazing. Giant Catfish Picking Off Pigeons

This new hoodie from Aftco is perfect for those chilly mornings and nights when a shot of salty spray has a whole different feel than it does in the summer. These zip front, zip-off hood, sweatshirts are have a water resistant blend of 80/20 poly cotton fleece. Deep side pockets give you a place to keep your hands warm during the ride between spots. AFTCO Technical Zip Front Fishing Hoodie It also features thumbholes in the cuffs and handy storage pockets for accessories and electronics. It proudly carries the Aftco roller guide logo on the chest and back. On a…

San Diego Rockfish Derby There will be no better way to enjoy the opening day of California’s rockfish season than enjoying the friendly competition of the first annual Rockfish Derby while contributing to two great organizations that are helping our military veterans; Wounded Warrior Project and Heroes on the Water. The Rockfish Derby will be held on March 1st, 2014 and the tournament will cater to both kayaks and boats. Anglers can weigh their heaviest rockfish up to five total. Participants will be competing for cash and prizes as well as being entered into a raffle for many great prizes…

For 2014, Grundéns USA has added new camouflage versions of its highly popular Waterproof Gear Bags to its growing Gage Technical Gear line. Both the 105-liter Shackelton Duffel and 30-liter Rumrunner backpack now come in a choice of traditional Black or new Kryptek camouflage. This versatile camo pattern is attractive, distinctive and highly functional in a variety of environments. It is the perfect compliment to the “manly” styling and rugged, down-to-earth performance of these popular waterproof bags. Both of these rugged bags are tailored from 500 Denier PVC Tarpaulin Fabric with 100-percent RF welded seams and roll-top closures to keep…

Just in time for Spring Break 2014, Costa Sunglasses introduces three of its new styles for women: Isla, Blenny and Goby. Each one beautifully blends durable performance features with bright, colorful frames and an on-trend look. Boasting a big, round eye with a medium fit, Isla comes in stylish frame color combinations including shiny black + coral, white + topaz, retro tortoise with black temples and scotch + black with black temples. But Isla is more than just a pretty face. Its nylon frame construction, no-slip nose pads and flexible spring hinges offer a “forget-they’re-on” fit. Isla retails for $169.…

Prince Edward Island is the home of the impressively giant bluefin tuna, so it is only fitting that the host of a show named The Hunt For Big Fish would show up there. Larry Dahlberg has spent his lifetime chasing big and unusual fish around the globe. His laidback style of extreme adventure is vividly captured in his fishing shows. Larry joined the team from BDoutdoors and Tony’s Tuna Fishing to film the giant bluefin tuna experience first hand. We fished two of Capt. Tony’s fleet and they put us on the giants like only they can do. We had…

The CDFW is taking emergency action to protect fish in many Californian waterways due to sever drought conditions. Below are the latest closures and locations. Specifically, the Commission adopted the following emergency regulations: Closure of the American River from Nimbus Dam to the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park until April 30. Closure of the Russian River main stem below the confluence of the East Branch of the Russian River until April 30. Extension of the low flow restrictions angling closures for the north coast and central coast areas (above San Francisco Bay) until…

I’ve just recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the latest products being released by Simrad, Lowrance and B&G electronics. The parent company of these three major brands, Navico, put on a two-day demonstration and presentation at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys. We spent some time in the conference hall, but more importantly we spent a large part of our time on various styles of boats that are rigged with an array of electronics that spanned previous Simrad models, the very latest versions and even some of their competitors for comparison purposes. It was a…

An empty cargo ship lost power during a storm that is battering the coast of France, and was swept into a rock jetty. The waves pounded the ship into pieces, while rescure choppers airlifted the crew of 11, one at a time, from the heaving ship. Luckily no serious injuries were reported, but now fuel is beginning to leak from the severed ship. Air/Sea Rescue from Breaking Ship Photo Credit: LiveLeak video capture Air/Sea Rescue from Breaking Ship

Watch this pod of killer whales chase down a fleeing pod of smaller false killer whales. They litteraly flip a mother and calf out of the water. The video was captured by a whale watching boat in New Zealand. A prime example of Nature’s pure power and survival of the fittest. More Killer footage

Watch this awesome moment captured on film as Captain Rich Hellmuth was catching tuna aboard the Wani Kanati in Harbour Island, in the Bahamas. The marlin comes in lit up and stays around the boat forever. The crew scrambles to get it hooked up. See what happens.

Story Unfolding For The Man Lost At Sea As survivor (not the show) Jose Alvarenga reached Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, many gathered with many questions. The man swam ashore after being adrift in his broken down boat for 14 months. Originally reported as 16 months, but still no less amazing, his feat of survival is a testament to the endurance of the human spirit. Fairly feeble and with very limited memory of the epic journey, Jose told MailOnline: “I’m alive – I’m alive and I can’t believe it. I cannot remember much about my journey. It has…

BD: Where do you live? Mereidi Liebner: I have a storage unit and post office box in Girdwood, AK and if I’m around enough I sleep here too. I travel a lot but Girdwood is my home although I was born in a small village on Kodiak Island and grew up in Soldotna (on the Kenai Peninsula). BD: What do you do for a living? Mereidi Liebner: I have two jobs at the moment; one is a Contract Captain on boats less than 100ft and mainly in AK for commercial construction work or charter fishing. The other is a deckhand…

Rare Bowmouth Guitarfish Gives Birth The staff at the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky, was proud to announce the successful breeding of their extremely rare shark rays or bowmouth guitarfish. This endangered species from the indopacific region remains a mystery in many aspects. The display at the Newport Aquarium was the first in the western hemisphere to exhibit these fish that look like the head of a ray and the body of a shark. The aquarium began their Shark Ray Breeding Program in 2007 and over time added shark rays to the current total of two females and two males.…