The Cruiser's Handbook of Fishing gives you everything you need to know about catching fish in tropical or middle-latitude seas—from a cruising boat underway or at anchor, from a dinghy, in the surf, and while diving reefs. Step by step this richly detailed guide walks you through: Choosing, using, and maintaining tackle, lures, hooks, leaders, and other rigging essentials Reading currents, wind, wave patterns, tides, water temperature, and atmospheric conditions Modifying vessels with cruise-fishing enhancements such as rod holders, outriggers, cleaning tables, bait wells, and platforms Tying the best knots for cruise fishing Avoiding and treating routine fishing injuries and poisoning—including vital information on ciguatera, venomous stings and punctures, and steering clear of dangerous predators Identifying hundreds of fish species Preparing your catch—including a range of easy and delectable recipes And much more

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Fishing Success under Power or Sail: A Preview Trolling in the South Pacific Adrift Way Offshore Anchored in Different Latitudes Dinghy Adventures Beneath the Waves and along the Shore What's Best for You? With Power Comes Responsibility 2. Gear, Tackle, and Connections for Hook-and-Line Fishing Handlines Rail-Mounted Reels Stand-Up Outfits Wire-Line Gear Spinning Tackle Fly-Fishing Selecting Tackle Connections Getting Started Gear Checklist 3. Offshore Trolling General Preparations and Perspective Rigging for Trolling Deploying Trolling Gear Safely Boating Your Catch Selected Trolling Specialities A Few Last Tricks and Tips Gear Checklist 4. Adrift or Anchored Attracting Fish to Your Boat Fundamental Techniques of Stationary Hook-and-Line Fishing Fishing Scenarios A Word of Caution Gear Checklist 5. Dinghy Techniques Getting Started Fishing from Shore Wading the Shallows Intermediate Depths near Shore Offshore Dinghy Specialities Rigging Tips for Dinghy Fishing Gear Checklist 6. Walking, Wading, and Diving Where Do You Start? Walking and Wading Diving for Dinner Gear Checklist 7. Hand Tools, Traps, Nets, and Other Assorted Gear Gathering by Hand and with Simple Tools Harpoons Shooting through the Air Stunning Methods Using Animals Hookless Line Fishing More Tricks for Attracting and Aggregating Single-Event Snares and Traps Catching Seafood in the Air Long-Handled Dip and Bully Nets Traps Dredges and Beam, Bottom, and Midwater Trawls Nets for Scooping and Lifting Seine and Encircling Nets Gill and Entangling Nets Cast Nets Making and Repairing Nets Gear Checklist 8. Modifying Your Vessel for Fishing Clamps, Mounts, and Lanyards for Line Dispensers Rod Holders Securing Downriggers, Upriggers, and Outriggers Superstructure Afterdeck, Bowguard, and Rubrails Fish-Cleaning Tables Small Conveniences That Make a Big Difference That All-Important Barbecue Dive Tanks (Mostly) Horizontal Racks and Holders Fish Boxes and Bags Interior Storage The Wide World of Live Bait Wells Cold Storage for the Avid Fishing Cruiser Fishing Electronics Gear Checklist 9. Processing Your Catch The Biochemistry of Seafood Quality From Ocean to Cleaning Table General Handling Tools of the Trade: Get 'Em and Keep 'Em Sharp Gutting and Gilling Fish Cleaning Fish Processing Invertebrates Preparing for Cold Storage Chilling, Freezing, and Thawing Canning Curing Seafood by Drying, Salting, and Smoking Alternative Seafood Processing Gear Checklist 10. Medical Considerations for the Cruising Fisher Common (and Not So Common) Fishing Injuries Other Ailments Caused by Fishing Review of General Fishing-Tool Safety Measures Diving-Related and Other Injuries Galley Injuries and Ailments Keeping Everything in Perspective 11. Getting the Most from Your New Cruising Skill Sink Everyone's Boat but Mine Respect and Conservation Revisited Replenishing the Cruising Kitty Survival Fishing Catch-and-Release and Light Versus Heavy Tackle Social Facilitation Intellectual Stimulation The Successful Cruiser-Fisher 12. A Guide to Edible Fish and Invertebrates Bony Fishes (Phylum Chordata, Class Osteichthyes) Sharks and Rays (Phylum Chordata, Class Chondrichthys) Sea Turtles (Phylum Chordata, Class Reptilia, Family Chelonidae) Invertebrate Seafood 13. More Seafood Recipes Starters Soups and Chowders Main Courses Construction and Use of an Umu, or Underground Oven The Simple Approach Appendix 1. Sources for Fishing and Related Gear Saltwater Fishing Specialists Major Boating-Supply Companies Commercial and Heavy-Duty Equipment Suppliers Unique Hand-Operated Winches General Outfitters Diving and Spearfishing Supplies Cold-Storage Equipment and Installation Custom Marine-Metal Fabrication And If You Just Happen to Be Out in the Middle of the South Pacific International Gear Sources by Country Sources for Miscellaneous Products Appendix 2. Further Reading and Information Books Periodicals Organizations and Associations Other Sources Appendix 3. The Wonderful World of Fly-Fishing Inexpensive Gear That Will Catch Just about Anything Assemble Your Gear and Load the Line Stretch Your Fly Line Practice Casting So You Want to Learn More Appendix 4. Fishing-Reel Maintenance and Repair Spinning Reels Penn International Big-Game Reels Other Reels and Winches A Few Last Tips Appendix 5. References Index