Press Release

"Whether you want to travel to tropical waters in warm southern climates, or you prefer the colder climates in the north for ice fishing, my book has photos and tips on using the right types of equipment for a whole range of species," said Schultz, who is fishing editor of Field & Stream and a member of the Fishing Hall of Fame.

Here are ten species and destinations Schultz recommends for anglers' winter pursuits with some excerpted text from North American Fishing:

1. Bonefish

Though comparatively few North Americans have actually caught a bonefish, most are familiar with them. Their reputation as a premier saltwater gamefish precedes them, because of their scorching runs when hooked and overall cautious nature. In North America, they can be caught in the Florida Keys and on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
2. Largemouth Bass

Largemouths are more widely spread than any other major freshwater gamefish and they can be pursued in the southern U.S. and northern Mexico throughout the winter months. Their primary habitat includes lakes, ponds and large river systems.
3. King Mackerel

A relative of tuna, mackerel are open-sea schooling fish with streamlined bodies and crescent-shaped tails. They are much smaller than tuna overall, but just as swift. In winter, king mackerel can be found in temperate open water round reefs, wrecks and inlets along the East Coast down to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico the Yucatan Peninsula but are generally further offshore in winter.
4. Sharks

Some 370 species of shark exist worldwide, although only a relative few are either encountered by anglers or are of interest to them for sportfishing purposes. Nevertheless, angling for sharks has increased markedly since these relics of the past have received so much attention in the news and in feature films. Winter fishing for sharks is most likely in south Florida and Mexico.
5. Dolphin

In nearly every respect - especially edibility, coloration and fighting ability, the dolphin is a premier gamefish. Many people know dolphin by its Hawaiian name, mahimahi, or by its Spanish name, dorado, both of which are extensively used in restaurant menus. If only it inhabited the nearshore waters of a greater portion of the U.S., it would be the hands-down-favorite saltwater target. This acrobatic and delightfully aggressive fish is highly esteemed and fervently sought, and is most likely to be found in warm tropical waters, especially the Florida Keys and Mexico. Although in winter, North American anglers have to go to the Pacific side of Mexico to catch them. He points out that non-anglers frequently refer to this fish as dolphinfish to distinguish it from the mammalian porpoise, which is commonly called a "dolphin."
6. Tuna

Collectively tuna may be the most valuable fish in the world, particularly in light of the commercial demand worldwide for the various species. Most tuna are also great gamefish, although in North America, because of the migratory habits of tuna and the distances from the coasts that they are found, only a small number of anglers annually actually catch them. They can be found on the East Coast to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico and on both coasts of Mexico, although in winter, North American anglers have to go to the Pacific side of Mexico to catch them.
7. Tarpon

A fish of warm, tropical waters, the tarpon is one of the gamefish that is most associated with saltwater angling, thanks to its profound acrobatics, large size and tough demeanor. In North America, it is primarily found in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It is fairly abundant thanks to the fact that it has no significant commercial value in North America, and is largely caught and released by anglers. Many people target this species which appears on shallow flats, and all anglers appreciate the drama that ensues when a tarpon is hooked and its large silvery form rockets many feet out of the water. South Florida, particularly the Florida Keys are your best bet for winter tarpon fishing.

The next three species on Schultz's list are popular for ice fishing in Northern New England, the Upper Midwest and Canada:

8. Yellow Perch

Yellow perch are widely available in North America, they are fairly easily caught, and they are an important forage species in small sizes for large predatory gamefish. All of this makes them VIP fish, even though they do not get as much press as fellow panfish species like crappie and bluegill. They can be found in coolwater lakes coast to coast in the northern U.S. and southern Canada.
9. Lake Trout

Lake trout are one of the largest-growing species of gamefish in North America, but one that is little known to a large number of anglers, especially in the U.S., because of its predominantly northern range and preference for cold, deep waters. Others know it in somewhat skewed terms, having used excessively heavy tackle to dredge smaller fish up from great depths and therefore think of it as not much fun to catch. In winter, however, they are invigorated by cold water, and are much fun to catch. Lake Trout can be found in all of Canada and Alaska, plus the northernmost U.S., including the Great Lakes.
10. Northern Pike

Why the northern pike is not simply named pike is often something of a mystery, since there is no "southern" pike species. Often called simply "northern," the pike is a coolwater fish of the northern latitudes of the U.S. and much of Canada, and one of the most aggressive freshwater gamefish.

North American Fishing was published in September of 2001. As a handsome coffee table style book loaded with full-color photos, it's ideal for holiday gift giving. Published by Carlton Books ($40), it is being distributed nationally by the National Book Network and can be found in bookstores nationwide as well as online retail book Web sites. It can also be ordered from stores using ISBN number 1-84222-259-7.



This information provided by PR Newswire.com