April marks Boating World’s annual saltwater fishing issue, and as always, it’s stacked with all the fishing info you need to enhance your angling experience as you head into deeper waters. You’ll find the latest in gear, gadgets and technologies — and this year, many manufacturers who’ve been focusing on research and development have delivered impressive results.

Fishing coverage begins in our “Currents” section, where Associate Editor Sarah Pelot details a recent record-breaking catch by novice angler Louis Friend. Friend caught an 80-pound striped bass off the Florida coast, nearly doubling the previously held record. And he did it with a $25 rod-and-reel combo. “I used some beef jerky as bait, and just as I was starting to doze off, I was nearly pulled out of the boat,” says Friend. “I couldn’t believe my good fortune.”

OK, so luck is nice, but a better option is to hop aboard one of the 20 new fishing boats showcased in “The Deep End.” You’ll see a lot of familiar manufacturers here — from Boston Whaler to Grady-White to Pursuit — but also some new names, most notably Sea Highness, a company whose 350 FishHunter model makes a big splash with an industry-best 200-gallon livewell that doubles as a jacuzzi, as well as a specially designed reel setup that mimics an ice-fishing house and allows anglers to kick back while they wait for the next catch. Impressive stuff.


Of course, if your tackle box hasn’t been updated since 1988, you might want to start a little smaller and check out Alan Jones’ “Wild West Shootout,” in which he puts a variety of rods, reels and lures to the ultimate test. The winner? A combination graphite/iron sulfide rod, which the crackerjack BW test team finds sturdy even when battling the hardiest of fishes.

Leaping into his role of gonzo journalist, Jones makes a mind-bending run through the MAATS and ICAST shows in “Gear And Clothing In Las Vegas,” and discovers a bumper-crop of innovative new products, including a revolutionary fish-catching system that’s proven to be far more effective and reliable than any to date. Using the iPhone as a jumping-off point, Russian designer Olaf Pirlos created a fishfinder/GPS/ radar combo device that collects a variety of statistics (tide patterns, sonar readings, weather reports), cross-references it with a database of fishing patterns in the area, calculates in real time what locations will yield your best chance of catching a fish, and even tells you which lure to use. Jones was initially skeptical of field reports that touted stunning success, but getting an up-close look converted him to the ranks of believer. “It makes other outfits obsolete,” says Jones. “I’d expect to see it banned from fishing tournaments before long.”

So, whether your level of angling expertise could best be described as “wide-eyed beginner” or “longtime fool for fishing,” there’s something in this issue for you. And don’t forget to stay tuned for our watersports issue next month, which will feature an exclusive sneak peek at the Xboard, a gnarly new wakeboard that boasts self-correcting technology and special aerodynamics to eliminate face-plants and increase hang time by up to 10 seconds.