New York Boat Show Plenty To See

Story Reprinted From : http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localsports/ci_10997465

Fishing: New York Boat Show at Javits changed to December

By Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent

If you are planning to visit the 104th New York National Boat Show at New York City's Javits Center take notice. The dates of the show have been changed. This year the popular boat show will run from Dec. 13 to 21.

Show producers are expecting 80,000 boating enthusiasts and more than 1,000 of the newest and best in luxury motor yachts, cruising yachts, sport fishers, bass boats, performance boats, pontoon boats, personal water craft and inflatables. And that's not all. Also on display will be the latest in fishing gear, engines, and marine accessories. And since the economy is slow you should find the best deals of the year.

As always there are dozens of great attractions to see and experience at the show. On Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14 you will have a chance to meet the stars of Discovery Channel's Emmy-award winning series Deadliest Catch, Captains John and Andy Hillstrand. With a combined experience of 52 years at sea, the Hillstrand brothers haul in adventure as they operate the 113-foot house aft boat, Time Bandit, fishing the Bering Sea in the world's most dangerous conditions. The Hillstrands will be on site to meet fans and sign autographs. Time Bandit apparel and their new book, Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea and one of the World's Deadliest Job, will also be on sale.

I hear that Twiggy the Squirrel is going to be at the show starting on Dec. 17 and there will be a special Hudson River Anniversary celebration also. Next September

will mark the 400th anniversary of he river's discovery by Henry Hudson.

he Jacob K. Javits Center is located at Eleventh Avenue and 35th Street in Manhattan. Show hours are weekdays Noon-8pm; Saturdays 10am-8pm; Sundays 10am-5pm. Tickets are Adults: $15; Youth (13-15): $8 and Children 12 and under are free. Advance online ticket sales carry special discounts and are available now. To save some money go to NYBoatShow.com.

Next Saturday, Nov. 22, the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be meeting for a day of late fall trout fishing on the famed Farmington River.

The gathering place will be the picnic area in the Peoples State Forest, which is right past the hatchery in Riverton. Go over the bridge at the former Hitchcock chair factory (now a storage facility) and make a right, the picnic area is around a mile or two down the road on the right. Meeting time will be at 9 a.m. For more information or is some anglers want to get started earlier contact Ron Merly at rjmerly@yahoo.ca . The event will be held rain or shine.

Fishing on the Farmington should be good. The water temperature in the Farmington River is in the low to mid 50's.

To get to Peoples State Park take I-95 or the Merritt to Route 8 north. Stay on Rte. 8 for approximately 55 miles. Turn left (south) on to Rte. 44 (Rte. 183), turn right onto Rte 8 (Park Pl.) for 1.8 miles. Bear right onto Rte 20 (Rivington Rd.), which turns into Main Street after 2.2 miles. The old chair factory is at the intersection of Main and School Streets.

Last week was a slow one for fishing reports. There were two issues. The crummy weather was a minor issue but the bigger issue is that boat owners are pulling their boats out of the water for the season.

For those anglers who find themselves landlocked there are plenty of freshwater opportunities. Last week we got our first report of the season from the Kensico Reservoir. Frank Wasco fished Kensico early last week and was rewarded with a 5-pound brown trout. The fish measured 22-inches and was taken on a shiner.

Fishing is good at the Saugatuck Reservoir as well. Nick at Fisherman's World says that Mike Bach caught a 24-inch brown trout, a 19-inch rainbow trout, a 22-inch walleye and fishing up with a 20-inch smallmouth bass. All of the fish were taken on a Krocodile lure.

Nick Trocolla caught a nice walleye at the Saugatuck Reservoir. Using a shiner, he reeled in a walleye measuring 24-inches and weighing 6.5-pounds.

Traveling up to the Lake Ontario area last week was Mike Kalaman, Joe Fabiano and Alan Irkowich. They fished at Oak Orchard where they caught lots of steelheads and brown trout. They caught several fish weighing up to 10-pounds. The fish were taken on egg sacs.

On the saltwater scene blackfish is still king. Good catches are coming from Tod's Point, the Stamford Cows and reefs, Norwalk Islands and reefs and Penfield Reef in Fairfield.

The largest blackfish reported last week was an 8.8-pounder taken by Bob Lagano last Monday. He did not reveal where he caught the fish when he weighed the fish at Sportsman's Den.

Joe Horvath and his sister, Helen, have been doing well all week fishing mostly on Sound Reef. They are taking their limit every time they fish. Their largest fish last week was a hefty 8-pounder. They have been using green crabs for bait.

Paul McFarland started fishing for blackfish this year and has already discovered Sound Reef. Pete at Pete's Place Bait and Tackle says he taught Paul all the finer points of catching blackfish and that's why he is boating his limit on very trip.

Dave DeBoyer caught a limit of blackfish at the Stamford Cows. Several of his fish weighed 6-pounds and were taken on green crabs.

Peter Balsiger and his son, Devin, traveled all the way from Switzerland to experience the fall fish run on Long Island Sound. While fishing with Bruce Cross, they caught lots of bluefish weighing up to 10 pounds at 11B and some nice blackfish at Bud's Reef. They used jigs for the blues and green crabs for the blacks.

Ray Cook, Joe Letizia and Doug Beling caught a limit of bluefish up to 14-pounds at Can 13. They also caught several striped bass measuring up to 34-inches.

Rob Gardella, his 10-year-old son, Drew, Burt Malagese and his 10-year-old son, Mario, caught lots of blackfish while fishing off Darien. Their largest fish was a 5-pound black.

Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a life member in Trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.