Last Stop on the Mogan Tour for 2013

We're heading to Kendall, FL this weekend for the last stop on the Mogan Tour for 2013. Me, my wife Cari, Mr. Producerman and Trice will be at the Dick's Sporting Goods store in The Palms at Town & Country in Miami.  You've only got a few days left to pick out that perfect Christmas gift and we're heading down there on Saturday to help y'all pick it out! We'll be there Saturday (Dec. 21st) from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., so stop on in and shop with us! 

I had a great time last weekend in Jacksonville and Daytona helping Dick's Sporting Goods shoppers with fishing questions and presents. Seems like the hot seller this season is the Flats Pink rod. Fishermen who want to get their wives, girlfriends, Moms, sisters, or daughters into fishing know this might just do the trick. A fishing rod made just for her!  Not a bad idea for that last minute gift . . . I just don't think it'll make a great stocking stuffer, you'll have to get creative when wrapping it.  

After this last stop in 2013 on the Mogan Tour, all of us at AF are going to enjoy the down time, spend time with our families, travel a bit for fun, go hunting and get recharged and ready to head back out on the water. We'll get ready to start shooting 2014 episodes, spend some time in our new Skeeter boats and figure out what new Dick's Sporting Goods stores we're going to.  2014 will be another fun season of fishing and talking fish stories for sure. 

If you're not in Miami or can't make it out to see us on Saturday, then you can still get your dose of Addictive Fishing . . . don't miss this week's episodes:  Sails and Sam, Part 2 at 10 a.m. on Sunday where I'm fishing with Sam Heaton from Johnson Outdoors and we're catching bonito, cobia and sailfish.  Then on Monday at 9 a.m. and Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. you can catch me fishing in Southern California off of Catalina Island for calico bass, that trip was a first for me and a great time.  Make sure you tune in to the Sportsman Channel to watch Sails & Sam, Part 2 and Catalina Blue!  

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Merry Mogans and a Ho! Ho! Ho!

Are y'all in the Christmas spirit yet?  Got your lists checked twice?  Well, if you haven't even put a dent in the shopping yet, let me and the AF crew make it a bit easier for you. We'll be at the Dick's Sporting Goods store in Jacksonville (St. John's Town Center) this Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. just to help you find that perfect Christmas gift for that lucky fisherman.  Then on Sunday (December 15th), we'll be at the Dick's store in Daytona from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. to help y'all shop there too!  

Me and the AF crew were out at 3 Dick's stores on Black Friday to help shoppers shop. Although it sounded like a crazy idea at first and it was a bit crazy at one point, to be honest with you I had a lot of fun helping everyone find that perfect gift for the fisherman in the family.  I also got to get some shopping in myself for my wife Cari and son Drayden. So, I'll be in Jacksonville and Daytona Dick's Sporting Goods stores this weekend . . . get that list of fishing gifts printed out and head on in.  We'll get you shopped, checked out and heading home to wrap it all up in no time!  

Don't worry, you have time to catch this week's episode of Addictive Fishing - "Crystal Drum."  I'm up in Crystal River with one of my favorite people to fish with, Capt. Billy Henderson.  He called me the week prior to tell me the Mogan black drum were up there and to get the camera crew up there quick.  We did, and we had a great time fishing. Tune in on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on the Sportsman Channel.  Then on Monday morning watch the most talked about episode of the season - Sails & Sam 2" at 9 a.m. I'm using the Humminbird 360 to locate the wrecks off of Stuart, FL to catch bonito, cobia and sailfish with Sam Heaton.  

I know most of you are feeling the chill of the Winter season, but we're still sweating down here in Florida. For everyone that's complaining about the weather . . . come on down, let's go fishin'!!  

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Big Reds, Blue Marbles and Campin' out

This week, I've got another story for ya from our trip to Corpus Christi, Texas. Saturday we were there at DICK'S and a woman was looking for a new tackle set up.  She was tired of the bull reds breaking her rods at the Pier.  I showed her the strength of the Flats Blue rod, did my very own rod demo for her and she walked out to go fishing "cautiously optimistic".  We got back into DICK'S on Sunday morning, and the Lodge Manager there hands me a note with a photo on his phone.  The photo was this woman I had sold the rod to the day before, holding a 40 3/4" bull red. Here's the note she left at the store before I got there. Love stories like this . . . they make what I do even better!  

A couple of weekends ago I got to experience something awesome.  I got to see a hard-working awesome young man become an Eagle Scout.  I met Kenny years ago as a kid and he's grown up to be a fine young man. Kenny DiBiase of Scout Troop 101 in Sanibel, FL received his Eagle Scout badge on November 9th and I was there to see it, and to present him with the Blue Marble (from the Blue Marbles Project) for his outstanding environmental achievement. 

Kenny developed a program called Protect Our Waters because of his lifelong love of his home waters in Sanibel, and fishing, combined with is desire to help others and protect our fragile environment.  We have a lot in common, but I sure learned a lot from him.  This 17 year old sure has a bright future.  Nice work with the Protect Our Waters program Kenny and keep it up!   

Last weekend I came over to see some old friends, meet new fans and camp out for a night at Ft. DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida.  We had a little get together called - Mogan Maniac West Coast Campout.  It was a lot of fun catching fish, cutting up and telling stories around the campfire.  

There was a little camper there, her name was Lexi and she lit the place up! What a doll.  She is only 2 1/2 years old, but could hold a conversation with ya like she was 7.  She knew my name when I walked up and put a big smile on my face.  

Thanks to everyone who joined us.  A big shout out to Jody from Minnesota who drove his big rig down to meet me. His dad's a big fan, but for health reasons couldn't make it to see us.  Lounge Member Rich Leber took Jody out on his boat and hooked him into his first cobia.  He'll never forget it and we'll never forget how much fun it is to reminisce with our fans that have been around for so very long. Thank you!

I think I'm staying put for . . . oh, wait . . . nope, I'm heading back to Tampa Bay to shoot an episode on the water with Skeeter Pro, Capt. Chad Manning.  Then off to the woods for some hunting and then I'm home for Turkey Day.  Hope I wake up from that big meal because I'll be in 2 Dick's Sporting Goods stores on Black Friday to help y'all pick out the perfect Christmas fishing gift.  That's right, I will be in Clearwater and in Brandon at DICK'S on Black Friday.  I'll let you know which store at what time later, but if you're one of those shoppers that makes it out the day after Thanksgiving . . . I'll be there as your personal shopper with a big tackle sale!  

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Drum Solo

We're drummin’ on the West Coast this week with Capt. Billy Henderson. I had so much fun shooting this episode because Billy's one of my favorite people to fish with and Crystal River, Florida is such a beautiful fishery. Capt. Billy made his very first television debut on Addictive Fishing years ago when we just begun shooting the show. It's been so many years ago that I can't remember how we actually met? Billy, help me out here! Well, anywho, he called me up and said, “You’ve got to get up here, we’re catching

some big, fat black drum and it'll make for a great show.” So I called up Mr. Producerman and booked the shoot. We had fun, got some pretty cool lookin’ black drum to show you, and it was definitely good to catch up with Capt. Billy Henderson. Check out this week’s episode “Crystal Drum” on the Sportsman Channel, Monday at 9 a.m. (ET), Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. (PT) and Sunday at 10 a.m. (ET).

We just got done shooting our first episode for the 2014 season over in Cape Canaveral, and let me tell ya, it was nice to be back home on the Space Coast after being on the road for over a month. We gotterdun with Capt. Jim Ross. I got to get our Skeeter XS240 wet, fill up the live wells and put some fish slime on the deck. I'd say she's a fishin' machine for sure! Can't wait to see what Mr. Producerman does with this footage, but I'm sure it'll be good.

I'm enjoying the "throwback" photos on Facebook lately. The only thing I don't like is this getting older stuff. This one's from Mogan Mania in 2010 . . . it just doesn't seem like three years ago, feels like just yesterday. Time flies I guess, when you're having so much fun. Here's one of our dear friend and writer, Mark Bellotte (aka "Billbird"). He was a great fisherman, fun to be around and always knew how to put our crazy stories into a well written article. He is missed. 

I'm heading out to Texas to shoot a couple of episodes. We'll also be out there for the grand opening of a new Dick's Sporting Goods store in Corpus Christi. Come out and see me and the AF crew on Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. both days. There'll be a lot of grand opening deals to be had, pick up a $10 off coupon from us and check out the new store at The Shops at La Palmera on South Staples Street. Hope to see y'all there!

Until next time . . . tight lines,

Blair 

After the Fight

The leaves are changing colors, the weather's cooling off, football season has begun, hunting season is here and AF episodes are now on the Sportsman Channel. We'll be airing all of the epic episodes from the 2013 Addictive Fishing season on Sportsman Channel - don't miss this week's episode "The Goon Squad" on Sunday at 10 a.m. (ET), Monday at 9 a.m. (ET) and Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. (PT). Shooting this episode sure tested my patience, but we got'erdun! I was fishing my backyard, the Mosquito Lagoon with Capt. Tyler Vollmer, and we caught some big sea trout and really nice redfish. Check it out! 

Mr. Producerman has put together one of my favorite things to share with y'all . . . the "After The Fight" webisodes. This is a chance for Kevin and me to fill y'all in on what went into shooting an episode. Sometimes we have something happen on a shoot that may not make it into the episode or we didn't have time to tell you the full story, so we both get to sit down in the studio and tell you all about it. Producerman will release an "After The Fight" webisode each week, so make sure you check it out. Here's one from "The Good Squad."

We got to pick up our first of two Skeeter boats this week. Thanks to Ingman Marine in Port Charlotte for taking good care of them (and us). We came home with our new SX220 with a sweet Yamaha SHO250 engine, new EVERYTHING on it - check out that cool, red 12' Talon I'm sporting in the back. That's also a Humminbird 360 imaging unit back there . . . no doubt, this boat is a sick ride! 

Well, I've got to get my new Skeeter wet so if I see ya on the water make sure you say "hey!"

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Down Time

We wrapped up shooting the 2013 season just a few weeks ago when me and my wife, Cari headed over to Tampa to shoot my final episode of the season.  This week's episode is the Season Finale.  We take a look back at some of our favorite segments and Mr. Producerman always delivers your favorite, the bloopers.  Don't miss this week's episode Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox Sun Sports (replays Sunday 9:30 p.m. ET / Tuesday 6:00 a.m. ET).  

AF moves to the Sportsman Channel for the Fall and Winter months! While most of you will be shoveling snow, putting on more layers, and turning on the heat, you can watch me fishing some of the hottest spots and catching all the Mogans.  We'll be airing AF epic episodes from the 2013 season on Sportsman Channel - air dates and times will be on addictivefishing.com.   

I'm still in Louisiana hanging out with a few folks from Humminbird and Skeeter Boats.  We're taking writers out, learning some cool new things about electronics, and I've actually been fishing on a Skeeter bass boat in the bayou. I just fished with professional bass angler and Humminbird Sonar Guru, Doug Vahrenberg.  I learned a lot about imaging and using my electronics from him, and I taught Doug a thing or two about fishing in Louisiana (oh, and the bugs).  Doug was getting eaten alive by the flies all day and here's what I told him.  "Let them bite you and leave them until they're really biting you good.  Then you bang your ankles together, and they fall off dead!"  Works for me.  

We don't have much down time here in the "off season." We're scheduled to be back on the water shooting new episodes for the 2014 season in just a few weeks.  I need to get in the woods and do some huntin' soon! We've got a few Halloween treats coming up for you from Star Tron, and watch out Texas, we're heading your way in early November.  

Like I said, not much down time around here this year.  Not complaining, just trying to keep my schedule straight. Whew! 

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

That's all folks . . .

If I'm not fishing, then I'm hunting.  How many of y'all do the same thing?  It's a good time of year . . . kids head back to school, we wrap up shooting and get a break, and I head up to the woods to do some hunting.  We wrapped up shooting the 2013 season just a few weeks ago when me and my wife, Cari headed over to Tampa to shoot my final episode of the season.  This week's episode is the Season Finale.  We take a look back at some of our favorite episodes and Mr. Producerman always delivers your favorite segment, the bloopers.  Don't miss this week's episode Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox Sun Sports (replays Sunday 9:30 p.m. ET / Tuesday 6:00 a.m. ET).  

I can't wait to pick up my new Skeeter boats.  We get to show you the SX240 and the SX220 Bay boats this season on AF.  They just arrived from the factory in Kilgore, TX.  They're loaded, sweet lookin' and I can't wait to get them wet!  

Last week I told y'all we were playing hooky.  Well, Mr. Producerman and Trice just came down out of the mountains of Georgia.  They like to get away for a little recharge each year after we wrap the season.  This year, they went to Amicalola Falls to hike and do a little zip lining. Heard it was fun!  They've been a little busy in the off season though, so may have to do one more quick little trip before production of the new season starts up again.  

Me?  I'm headed back to Louisiana to spend some time on the water with the folks from Humminbird and a few writers.  I need to learn some more about the cool products and how to use them better.  I never get tired of learning new tricks and tips when it comes to fishing.  

Oh, and while I'm out there, we've cooked up a little surprise for my son Drayden who just turned 21 . . . don't know where the time goes.  Happy Birthday son!  (I'll share details of the surprise with ya when I get back.) 

We'll start up another contest soon, so keep fishing and keep snapping photos!  

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Chummin' with my Buddy

I just saw someone post a Pet TBT photo on Facebook and I think I really like that idea a lot better than looking at my face from years ago. Here's one of my little guy Buddy. He was just a pup here, now he's going on 5 years old. This kid makes me laugh and is one of the fastest dogs I've ever met. How many of y'all out there have some throwbacks of your pups? 

I'm fishing with an old friend of mine from Tampa in this week's episode, Capt. Chad Manning. Capt. Chad called and said he was on some snook, as long as we threw live bait, we'd get an episode. So I rigged my Flats Blue rods up, put on some fresh Seaguar leader (y'all who have fished snook a lot know that they can sure beat up your leader), and a new spool of FINS XS (8 strand extra smooth and strong). I also made sure I had plenty of Trokar hooks too.

Now I had thrown chum before, sometimes it's necessary, but I don't think I've ever seen THIS much chum thrown at one time. My producer gave him the alias "Chumley Mandingo" after about the 40th swing of the chum bat (not 40, just kidding). Capt. Chad is a good captain, I highly recommend him, he will put ya on the fish. He put me in the right spots, and I get to show you some sweet Tampa Bay snook in tomorrow's episode "Tampa Chums" (Friday, May 16th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.  Watch preview now

I'm heading up to Destin again, but this time without the cameras and my crew.  I'm still going fishin' though. I'm fishing the 9th Annual Old Nick's Redfish Roundup on Saturday, May 17th - (Click here for video and details).  My friends and Skeeter dealer, Legendary Marine invited me to fish the tournament and speak on Friday, May 16th for the "Fishing Like a Pro" seminar. Here's the info you need:

  
Join us and have some fun with some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. The food is always tasty, drinks are cold and the fishing should be a lot of fun. Even if you can't make it . . . have a great weekend. 

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

The Legend of Chumley Mandingo

Fishing with an old friend of mine from Tampa in this week's episode, Capt. Chad Manning. We had this shoot scheduled since the signing on with Skeeter Boats was official (Chad's a Skeeter Captain), and we were gonna getterdun no matter what.  Capt. Chad called and said he was on some snook, as long as we threw live bait, we'd get an episode. So I rigged my Flats Blue rods up, put on some fresh Seaguar leader (y'all who have fished snook a lot know that they can sure beat up your leader), and a new spool of FINS XS (8 strand extra smooth and strong). I also made sure I had plenty of Trokar hooks too.

Now I had thrown chum before, sometimes it's necessary, but I don't think I've ever seen THIS much chum thrown at one time. My producer gave him the alias "Chumley Mandingo" after about the 40th swing of the chum bat (not 40, just kidding). Capt. Chad is a good captain, I highly recommend him, he will put ya on the fish. He put me in the right spots, and I get to show you some sweet Tampa Bay snook in tomorrow's episode "Tampa Chums" (Friday, April 18th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.  Watch preview now

Me and the AF crew are up in Destin this week shooting episodes and I'll be fishing a cobia tournament over the weekend with some fine folks from Skeeter dealer, Legendary Marine. The weather has once again been a challenge and morale is getting low, we need to catch a break from Mother Nature, please. We're staying in one of my favorite places while here in Destin, the Emerald Grande and if anything helps sooth our weary fishin' bones, it's a sweet place like this.

Tampa Bay, get ready for the Grand Opening of the newest Dick's Sporting Goods store!! The new store opens up next weekend at the Westshore Mall. Me and the AF crew will be there on Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Come by for all the sweet deals on tackle, get signed up and entered to win a FREE Minn Kota trolling motor, Talon shallow water anchor or a pair of Costa sunglasses, sit in on my seminars, Calusa cast net demos with local captain, Chris Camps, and meet Skeeter Pros Captains Ryan Farner and Chad Manning from recent Tampa Bay episodes of AF. I'm super excited about the weekend event coming up, it's always a good time in Tampa.

Hey, until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Hogs in the fog!

I like this Throwback Thursday thing on Facebook. It gives me a chance to go through some old fishing photos and relive the great catches I've had in the past. Sometimes it's not just about what I'm catching, but what I've helped others catch. Here are a few from 2003 when I went snook fishing in Jensen Beach with my production crew and cousin. We were just out for fun one day and each one of us hooked up to a snook of a lifetime. The photo above is Mr. Producerman Kevin with his Mogan Snook. The next photo is Trice our Operations Manager with her impressive linesider. 

. . . and then my cousin Shane rockin' one for the photo album. The ride home that day was filled with lots of grins!  

Earlier this week we had a really small window of good weather over in the Tampa Bay area and Skeeter Pro Capt. Ryan Farner called to let us know he had a show idea for us - Hogfishin'. Now, I had never caught Hoggies on a hook before, I had only ever caught them spearfishing, so this was going to be a challenge but I was up for it. The only hesitation I had was we had to make sure we could catch 'em for the camera, and the pressure was on. You'll have to tune in to the episode when it airs this Spring, but let me tell you . . . I had a blast catching these crazy and beautiful looking fish. They sure are pretty (and pretty tasty). 

Hey Florida Panhandlers - we're coming back up and will be in Panama City Beach next weekend on Friday and Saturday (the 7th & 8th)!! I'll give you all the details on where to find us in next week's blog. My new Skeeter SX220 will be there for you to check out and Legendary Marine will be bringing out a new SX2250.  We'll be leaving right from Panama City on Saturday to head to Slidell, LA for some fun with y'all on Sunday, March 9th. After we spend the day with y'all on Sunday, me and the crew are heading to do some Louisiana fishing and shoot an episode for the new AF season. Going to be a long, but very fun trip. Hope to see y'all next weekend . . . I'll fill you in on the where/when soon! 

Tune in this week to AF and catch the last airing of "Tortuga Bank" on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. ET (Sportsman Channel). We've got some killer grouper and snapper action to show you from the Dry Tortugas. Then on Monday at 9:00 a.m. and again on Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. check out the "Bits & Bites" episode for footage you didn't get to see before, like blackfin tuna, grouper, redfish and tripletail. Don't forget, if you can't watch it on TV, you can always subscribe to the AF YouTube channel for full episodes anywhere / any time.

I've got to get the oil changed in my truck and get ready to hit the road again. Next stop, Panama City Beach! 

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

Bienvenido a Miami

So here's a Throwback Thursday photo for ya - how many of y'all remember this one from Biscayne Bay in 2001?  Time sure flies when you're having fun . . . and catching fish! Check out that earring I'm sportin'.  Ha!  

I'm here in South Beach and I'll be hanging in the Skeeter/Yamaha booth for the Miami Boat Show all weekend long. My schedule is 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and then 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday. Stop by to see me and say "hey!" Skeeter, Addictive Fishing and all of our sponsors have put together some killer Prize Paks that we'll be giving away during the Miami Boat Show. Come on by and to register for a chance to win a Minn Kota Talon, Humminbird Fishfinder, Flats Blue and Flats Pink Rods, Sabalos Reels, bucket of Star Brite boat cleaning products, Engel Cooler and much more! 

Our friends at DropCam have made a live video feed from the Skeeter Boats booth at the Miami International Boat Show their top "featured" cam for the duration of the show. You can check out the action from the Skeeter booth all weekend long and catch a sneak peak of my new SX240 bay boat. You can also peak in to see all the impressive stuff we're giving away! To view the live action from the Skeeter booth you can download the free app, create a username and password, then open "featured cams," here's the link => https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropcam/id351175162?mt=8. Or, from your desktop check out this link => http://dropc.am/p/xwc3KD    

We're looking forward to a great boat show and for y'all who can't make it down to Miami to hang out with me and the AF Crew you should check it out on the live cam. It's pretty cool beans! Wanna know what's not cool beans? I thought I was going to be able to drive out of Miami on Sunday with my new boat in tow. I just found out that I can't come back until Wednesday to pick it up! Don't they know it's like telling a kid at Christmas here's the present you waited all year for, but you can't play with it until next week? Oh, the torture!!  

This week's episodes on the Sportsman Channel are from the trilogy we shot on our trip to Key West with the crew of the Star Brite. We had a 3 day adventure aboard the 62' Viking with Capt. Chris Trosset and caught so many beautiful fish, we got 3 episodes. On Sunday's episode "Tuna Fly" at 10 a.m. (ET) I hook a black fin tuna on a fly rod. He takes me all the way around that boat . . . that's a 62 foot fight! Then watch on Monday at 9 a.m. (ET) and again on Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. (ET) for "One Hour Later." This episode has amazing kingfish and snapper action near the Dry Tortugas.  Check it out! If you can't watching on TV, you can always subscribe to the AF YouTube channel for full episodes anywhere / any time.

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair