“I don’t need any sunscreen, it’s cloudy, and the suns not out are the all time excuses for not applying sun protection. Don’t be fooled, cloud cover does nothing to filter the sun’s damaging rays”.
The last thing any angler or boater wants is “close encounter of the sun kind” resulting serious skin damage from those commanding and powerful rays. Long considered the badge of an outdoor sportsman a dark tan can and often does lead to premature aging and wrinkles but that’s not the worst affect caused by the sun. Spending extensive periods of time in the sun without protection will lead to more severe consequences including Melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, millions of cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, the most dangerous type being Melanoma. More common than the potentially lethal Malignant Melanoma are other, slower-spreading skin cancers, such as Basal Cell or Squamous Cell carcinomas. The risks are even greater if you are fair-skinned and even with increased awareness and protections Melanoma will strike hundreds of light skinned people this year.
Despite the alarming numbers, there’s no need to be unreasonable about getting out enjoying a day of boating or fishing fun. Still, it’s prudent to guard against the sun’s damaging effects. These steps on a regular basis may help save your skin… not to mention you LIFE!
Before You Go:
Early outdoor sun worshipers and anglers used little or nothing before heading out to enjoy their favorite activity. Today, medical and health advances have given us sophisticated and successful sunscreen products for blocking out the sun’s ultraviolet rays. However, not all are created equal. Experts, recommend the use of at least a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or a sunscreen that provides at least 30 times your skin’s normal level of protection. For anglers and boaters, the best sunscreens are the water resistant type because they are less likely to wash off during the day.
At least one-hour prior exposure, you should apply sunscreens liberally over all exposed parts of your body. This gives it time to effectively bond with your skin. Over time wind, water and body oils tend to wear away the effectiveness of even water resistant lotions. So boaters, swimmers and anglers should re-apply protection from time to time throughout the day.
Protect Your Eyes:
Don’t think that simply wearing a hat or visor will protect your eyes from the sun. Sunglasses are essential.
According to respected Ophthalmologists, it’s very important to protect not only your skin, but also your eyes from the damaging effects of the sun. Failure to do so can contribute greatly to the development of serious eye diseases, including cataracts and macular degeneration of the retina, the leading cause of blindness for Americans over the age of 55.
Boaters, anglers or anyone spending time outside and on the water should wear quality sunglasses that block harmful UVA and UVB. When purchasing sunglasses it’s key to give consideration to composition and design but first and foremost, polarization. Good quality polarized sunglasses provide protection from the suns harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays and eliminate glare and blue light. Quality sunglasses significantly increase a boater’s visibility; allow anglers spot fish, bait and current breaks. Available in various styles, sunglasses should be comfortable and provide effective eye protection.
According to the FDA and the Sunglass Association of America not all sunglasses offer the same level of protection. Beware of cosmetic cheap sunglasses as they generally only screen out about 70 percent of UVB rays, and 20 percent of UVA rays. On the other hand, quality polarized sunglasses appropriate for boating applications normally screen out at least 95 percent of UVB rays, 60 percent of UVA rays and about 60 to 92 percent of visible light. Many top of the line sunglasses will offer 100 percent protection against both UVA and UVB rays. “Read the manufacturers label”.
It’s Not a Fashion Show:
Remember, it’s not a fashion show out there… the goal is to catch fish, enjoy being out there, and at the same time limit your exposure to the sun. When selecting a hat, do it on functionality and comfort, not looks or a hip logo. While most anglers are devoted to their lucky fishing caps, these old favorites often do little in providing significant sun protection. The brims and bills aren’t long or wide enough to protect either your face or neck. Some newer styles are featuring longer and wider brims and some also offer built-in protection for the back of the neck.
Head for the shade:
Most fishing boats are either center consoles or open, designed to provide the most room for fishing. Unfortunately, these boats also offer little in the way of sun protection. One way to provide your self some cover is installing a T-top. These tops are somewhat pricey but offer excellent protection and also afford places to mount rod-holders and other useful accessories. Bimini tops on the other hand are less expensive but still offer good protection. Numerous styles, functionality and affordable models of both T-tops and bimini tops are available to suit a wide variety of boats. In addition to sun protection for the boat operator and passengers, T-tops and bimini tops also provide some shelter from the weather should it suddenly take a turn for the worse?
Have you ever wondered how those incredible fishing photos wind up on the covers of your favorite magazines? Many times it’s an element of luck, being in the right place at the right time. However when it comes to experienced photographers they are prepared, ready and leave nothing to chance when it comes to capturing the perfect shot.
In the same way you don’t have to be a photography expert to take premium pictures, but some pointers might help you capture some really nice photographs. However, there are no guarantees that your pictures will become cover shots but at least you can create a great looking outdoor photo collection.
Digital - the newest trend: A digital camera offers several advantages over film and thanks to technological advances the images taken with digital cameras have remarkably good quality. Shooting with digital, means you can instantly view the images and reshoot if necessary, you can edit your digital images and file them without any processing costs, and you have the option of storing your pictures electronically and sharing them online with friends and family.
Here are some things you should keep in mind when choosing digital for your picture taking. The shooting rate is typically slower than that of traditional cameras, causing a slight delay before the image is actually captured. Always getting better, higher-end cameras have eliminated this delay and are just as fast as film. Purchase extra memory cards, just as you would extra rolls of film if you plan on taking a lot of pictures. Since liquid crystal displays (LCD) features on digital models tend to eat up battery power so plan on taking some having extra batteries.
Some digital camera offers the option of using creative filters on the lens. One filter you should have is called a “polarizing filter used to cut down on sun glare. These act like sunglasses for your camera and greatly diminish the negative effects of glare.
Whether you use a digital or film camera the following guidelines apply.
Know the background: Be conscious of the background in any photograph. When people look at your photo, you want them to focus on the subject or fish, not rods and reels, tackle boxes, or chum buckets in the background. Many amazing photos can be ruined because you neglected to compose your shot. Also be aware of objects that can negatively affect the overall image like shadows or facing the sun.
Another angle or point of view: Should I take the photo horizontally or vertically? Before you snap the shot decide whether the image would look better horizontally or vertically. Scenic or panoramic views are usually better horizontal photos, others like an angler standing with a fishing rod and fish are better taken vertically.
Use your imagination and vary your shooting positions to add variety and creativity to your pictures. Taking pictures from different angles or levels can make your photos more interesting. Your techniques should always enhance your picture not misrepresent it.
Got to have light: On sunny days you generally you won’t need a flash. However, if overcast or low-light conditions exist, use a “fill flash” to ensure your shots obtain sufficient exposure. Most cameras have built-in or accessory flashes that reduce mid-day shadows, often cast by a hat or cap.
Avoid staged photos: Images should look like they were captured on the spur of the moment. A guaranteed way of producing a photo that looks staged is having the subject stare at the camera lens. Some really great photos happen when the subject appears oblivious they were being photographed. It’s important to have the angler focusing somewhere else (like at the fish they just caught) and not the camera. If it’s a fish have them look it right in the eye and flash big grin or smile.
Action shots are better: There’s nothing like an action shot to convey the true excitement of the moment. When fishing try taking candid shots of an angler with the rod bent while fighting a nice fish and try to capture the look of concentration and determination on their face. Once the fish is landed be ready to snap a couple of shots of the angler holding the freshly caught fish. There is one shot that’s always a winner and that’s releasing a fish. Get into position to take advantage of someone leaning over the side releasing the fish.
Clothing makes a character colorful: Avoid colors like blue, green or white especially on the upper body as these tend to get lost against the primarily blue and white backdrop of the water, sky and clouds. Clothing in red, yellow or purple is best and can inject a blast of color into your shots and enhance any photo.
Never photograph dead fish: If you want a terrible photo take a shot of a lifeless and drab fish. Fish loose their colors just moments after being caught so the best time to snap the photo is immediately after the fish is landed. This way, you’ll capture colors, capture the genuine expressions of happiness and excitement on the anglers face, and end up with a more appealing image.
Only fish or specific subject: If you want to snap a few shots of your fish by its self, that’s ok. However, focus the shot on a particular feature of section of the fish that characterizes its species or stands out as particularly prominent. For instance, you may want to focus on the teeth of a mackerel or sheepshead, the distinguishing protruding lower jaw of a snook, or the multiple spots on a redfish.
Nighttime is for sleeping: However, if you will be taking photos at night you should use high-speed film like 400 or 800 or night settings on your digital. Also be sure to use either an internal or external flash. When taking pictures of people at night, you’ll want to guard against red-eye and many cameras have built-in red-eye reduction features.
Use these guidelines and see you photographs improve.
Remove remaining shell or cartilage from oysters and crab and set aside. Cook onion, celery and garlic in butter until tender. Add salt, sugar, peppers, okra and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add oysters, shrimp, fish, calamari and simmer an additional 15 minutes. Add crab and heat thoroughly. Serve over rice.
Ingredients: 4 pounds of Cobia 2 pounds of Blue Crab Claw Meat
1 cup of Flour ¼ cup virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic 2 sweet onions
1 green bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper
1 bay leaf 1 lemon
2 15 oz. can of diced tomato’s 2 15 oz cans of tomato sauce
1 15 oz can of tomato’s & green chilies 1 small can tomato paste
Dash of lemon pepper, basil, parsley, cayenne, salt and black pepper
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove bloodlines and red meat from the fish, use white meat only. In a large pan, heat olive oil, add flour and brown lightly. Crush garlic, cut the onion and bell peppers into medium pieces and sauté for one to two minutes. Add the cans tomato, tomato sauce and chilies and simmer for 5 minutes adding and mixing the bay leaf, basil, lemon pepper, parsley, cayenne, salt and black pepper. Remove from heat and set aside. In large baking pan, coat the bottom with butter and add the fish, top with the sauce. Now add the crab meat pushing it lightly about ½ below the sauce. Place 4-5 lemon slices on top of the fish and bake covered for approximately 2 hours at 325 degrees. Serve over a bed of yellow rice.
