Chummin' Around

All over the place again. Hunting, fishing, photo shoots and grand openings . . . it's a crazy, busy world for me but lovin' every minute of it! Just wrapped up a photo shoot for Skeeter this week. Had beautiful weather, caught some fish and hung out with some of the coolest Skeeter Pros out there. In fact, I was fishing with Capt. Chad Manning again. Tomorrow's episode of AF just happens to be "Tampa Chums" from Tampa Bay with Capt. Chad. Had a blast fishing that episode. Caught snook, grouper and redfish in one day. Can't beat that! 

This week though, we were snapping photos and catching kingfish on a "floatilla" of about 6 brand new Skeeter boats. What a good lookin' group! Here's a shot of our early morning sunrise, getting ready to head out. Gorgeous!

This weekend I'm heading to Orlando to kick off the opening of another Dick's Sporting Goods store. Ya know that the holidays are right around the corner, right? What a great way to get ahead of the shopping madness than to come in, see me, get a coupon for $10, save on great "grand opening" deals and check some presents off that long list! Come see me on Saturday, the 25th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the new store:  Fashion Square Mall 724 Herndon Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803

Here's another cool piece of news for y'all . . . AF sponsor, Star brite's CLO2 generator technology, is soon to be helping people, pets and livestock stay healthy near you. President and CEO Peter Dornau stated, "Performacide® is perfectly suited for use in outlying areas to help control viruses as well as to sanitize and disinfect."  I'm impressed and proud to be part of a team like Star brite! Read the entire press release here:  

Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc. To Donate Performacide® to Countries Facing Ebola Virus

Check out "Tampa Chums" tomorrow morning on The Sportsman Channel and then on Sunday tune in for "Keys Chronicle" where I'm fishing with the fine folks at Star brite. It's truly rod bendin' drag screamin' television this weekend! Check the website for times and replays. You can always catch AF on YouTube too! 

Until next week . . . tight lines,

Blair

It's that time of year . . .

Me and the AF Crew are heading to Orlando next week . . . getting ready right now for one of the biggest fishing industry events of the year, ICAST. All week, manufacturers, vendors, Television Networks, and fishing legends walk the tradeshow floors to buy, sell and plan for the next fishing season. It's a fisherman's candy store I tell ya and it's hard for me to concentrate on stuff. Ha! Something always catches my eye, each of my sponsors' booths are filled with the newest products, gadgets and doohickeys, and it's all I can do to not sneak out and go fishing with them. Plus, it's amazing how many of my fishing heroes I get to meet and see. Should be an interesting week. To kick off the start of the week, I'm taking the McGills (of Wright & McGill) out fishing. They're making the trip from Colorado for ICAST and it's my pleasure to show them a little of the saltwater world before we all have to suit up and work for the week. Hope to have some photos and a nice update for you next time. 

My schedule at the convention is usually a little crazy and all over the place, but I do know a couple of locked down times and booths where I'll be. So if you're at the show this year, and you want to stop by to say "hey," come see me on Wednesday at the W&M/EagleClaw/Trokar booth from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. and in the same booth on Thursday from 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. After that on Thursday, I'll be in the Engel Coolers booth at 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. They're testing out their coolers to show you firsthand how good they really work. When they load in on Tuesday, Engel is filling a couple of coolers with ice and beer, not touching them again until Thursday at 4 p.m. I will be ready for an "Engel cold" beer by 4 p.m. on Thursday . . . stop by for one too! 

I'm going to miss next week's blog because I'll be at ICAST, so stay tuned for reports and updates on Facebook and the following week in my blog. Gotta go meet with all my wonderful sponsors to see what's new for next year and how soon can we put it on TV. Can't wait!

Tune in tomorrow for this week's episode . . . "Lyin' Hawaiian." I'm fishing with Capt. Tony DelosSantos in the backcountry waters of Key Largo. Had a great time catching snook and redfish, and finally getting to fish with Tony. Watch tomorrow, Friday July 11th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports. Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

The Chokoloskee Kid

Just got back from the DOA Lures Writers Fest in Jensen Beach. Mark Nichols and DOA crew sure know how to put on a great time. Always fun to hang around River Palm Cottages, Mark Nichols and other fishing friends for a couple of days on the water. First day I fished with River Palm's very own Rufus Wakeman and we were catching some nice cobia and bonita. I had to get home though so I could get myself cleaned up, get the boat back and washed, and head over to Tampa today. We're shooting cool stuff for Star Tron and then some stuff for a special episode of never-been-seen-before footage that's coming up this season. 

This Saturday I'll be at Dick's Sporting Goods in Clermont, Florida (Sandhills Commons). They're opening a new store there and I'll be there to kick things off from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 28th. Can't wait to see y'all and answer any fishing questions, tackle questions or listen to your fish stories. Make sure if you've got a good fish story, you have a photo to show me. You know, show your Mogan! There are some cool summer deals going on this weekend at Dick's too. Buy one, get one 50% off on MirrOlure, and buy one get one FREE on Eagle Claw and Lazer Sharp terminal tackle. 

After that, we'll be heading out again on the water to shoot some more episodes. It's been fish, fish, fish for me lately and I love it! Hope y'all have been fishing a lot too. Whatcha been catching? Show your Mogan on Facebook, Google+ in the Mogan Lounge or Instagram.

Check out this week's episode, "Deadwood" where we're catching redfish and snook deep in the Everglades with the "Chokoloskee Kid" Capt. Brian Sanders. The area where he has us fishing was once devastated by hurricanes and all of the swamp trees have died there. The local captains call the area "Deadwood," and it's turned the area into an amazing fish habitat though so that's where we were fishing. Tune in tomorrow to see "Deadwood" (Friday, June 27th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair 

Deadwood - This Week's New Episode

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE BELOW

This ain't a spaghetti western folks!

Hey, I'm all for this "Throwback" photo sharing and every week I post one I say to myself, I can't believe I'm going to post this. I love seeing all my friends' photos and I'm not scared to share mine. Here's a beauty from 1987/1988 when I was still in the Air Force. I was stationed over in Germany and a few of my buddies and me went skiing in Austria. Skiing the Alps in shorts will certainly go down on my list of top memories, we lived on the edge back then. Don't think my knees could handle skiing these days, let alone the runs we did in the Alps. Oh, where have the years gone?! Enjoy this one folks!

Y'all have seen my new Skeeter boats on the show this year and I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how they've been working for me. I couldn't be happier with both the SX220 and the SX240. The Yamaha-owned boat company sure knows what they're doing and they make a fine product. From the dry ride, to the live well capacities, the reliability and all the extras, it's a sweet machine from bow to stern. Another new piece of equipment I'm running for the first time this season is the Atlas jack plate (by T-H Marine). It's quiet, smooth and gets my boats in and out of skinny water whenever and wherever I need to be to catch fish. I've always talked about the importance of having reliable equipment and a jackplate is an essential. The Atlas hydraulic jack plate raises my Yamaha engine with little effort and keeps me from ever leaving a prop scar on the fishery floor. Check 'em out . . . they make a lot of boat accessories that improve your boat's performance. 

So, are y'all ready for the next new episode? This week we're down in Chokoloskee with Capt. Brian Sanders. Some of y'all probably remember Capt. Brian, he's been on a couple of episodes in the past seasons. He's always a go-to and a phone call away. We know he'll put us on the fish and have a good time. Check out this week's episode, "Deadwood" where we're catching redfish and snook deep in the Everglades with the "Chokoloskee Kid" Capt. Brian Sanders. The area where he has us fishing was once devastated by hurricanes and all of the swamp trees have died there. The local captains call the area "Deadwood," and it's turned the area into an amazing fish habitat though so that's where we were fishing. When I hear the word Deadwood though, I think of those old spaghetti western movies with Clint Eastwood . . . not quite, but you'll have to watch this week's episode to see what I'm talking about.

Tune in tomorrow to see "Deadwood" (Friday, May 27th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

I'm over in Tampa Bay again with my crew, looking for Tarpon today. Hope to bring you a great tarpon fight on an upcoming episode. We'll see if the fish gods cooperate!

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

Hog tied!

In 2010 we celebrated 10 years of Addictive Fishing at our annual Mogan Mania event. Back then I remember thinking, "I can't believe it's been 10 years" . . . now, I can't believe we're on our 15th season of AF. We'll have to celebrate it nice and big coming up at the next Mogan Mania. Big news to share for all y'all who have joined us in the past at Mogan Mania events, and for those who haven't, this will be the year to start! 

Tune in this week to an encore presentation of "Hogs in the Fog." One of my favorite episodes yet this season (maybe from all seasons). I got to do something I'd never done before - catch hogfish on hook and line. I've only ever spearfished for hogfish in the Keys and off of reefs, but this was Capt. Ryan's specialty and so off we went! It was a really, eerie, foggy start to the day that day. Our guest guide, Skeeter Pro Capt. Ryan Farner had his buddy "escort" us out to the spot because his big offshore boat had radar. I was excited though because I was about to do something new in a fishery I really don't know much about. I've got to say it was a great day, super cool looking fish and probably one of the tastiest I've had too. 

Tune in tomorrow (Friday, May 9th) at 10:30 a.m., Sunday at 9:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. on Fox Sun Sports to see "Hogs in the Fog." Set your DVR's if you can't tune in on time, or go to YouTube for the full length episode.  Click here for a preview.

We're shooting a lot this month, getting shows in the can and fish on my line! Tomorrow I'm going out to film with a television and industry legend. I think I'll leave you with that tease and tell ya who it is later. Bah!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom Linda and my wife, Cari. So lucky to have such great women in my life. A special Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mother's out there. You don't have an easy job, you often don't get any glory, but we appreciate you and we love you!

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Destined for rough weather . . .

I can't seem to outrun, escape or get away from the weather!! Bah! We have NEVER had such a challenging season as this one. Last you heard, we were in Chokoloskee shooting with Capt. Brian Sanders. Luckily we got a show shot in one day because the weather gave us no choice but to pack up and go home the next day. Then, we head up to Destin because the reports of cobia all over were pouring in, plus we were invited by our good friends and Skeeter Boats dealer, Legendary Marine. We never pass up an invite from those folks. We head out on day one of the shoot and the weather gods do NOT want to cooperate. We were patient that week though and did get an episode. Stay tuned this season and I'll get to show you some Mogan redfish in this episode from Destin.  

Me and the AF crew were even socked in one day on land . . . never stepped a foot on the boat, we found other ways to entertain ourselves at the Harborwalk Village and Emerald Grande. Great place to be stuck inside, I tell ya! I may have gained a few extra pounds from all the great food too. Might have to head back up there soon just for another plate of oysters! 

The other positive was we got to spend time with some very cool anglers and military folks. Legendary Marine and Skeeter Boats put on a killer dinner Friday night to kick off the Royall Rumble - a cobia tournament with the Wounded Warrior program and local captains. Earlier that evening I was introduced to a young man, Chance Roye who was fishing the tournament with his Dad. His Dad said, "My son met his hero!" and I thank you for that, thanks Chance. My heroes were all in the room that night. What an honor to meet these folks and given the opportunity to thank them all for their service and sacrifice. Everyone in the Captain's meeting jumped to their feet for a standing ovation when introduced to our Veterans. Thank you! 

This weekend is a pretty exciting and big weekend for Dick's and for the AF Crew. We'll be in Tampa kicking off the newest store in the Westshore Mall. Can't wait because Dick's is really going all out to welcome Tampa Mogan Maniacs to this new location! I'll be there on Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day. I'll be doing some seminars on inshore and offshore fishing in Tampa Bay. We just aired two of the episodes we shot in Tampa this season, and I'll be talking about those cool lookin' hogfish too! 

Come out and get registered to win a Minn Kota Talon, trolling motor, Costa sunglasses and a couple of guided fishing trips inshore with Capt. Chris Camps and offshore with Capt. Ryan Farner. The sales are on! Come out and get geared up for your next fishing trip too. 

This week's episode we're doing something a little special for our friends at Star Brite. Last season we went to the Dry Tortugas and Key West on the Star Brite (62' Viking) and caught some amazing fish. This year we were scheduled to go again and do something a little different, but they had to postpone due to a "family member" having surgery and treatment coming up. We decided to do a look back to that Key West trip, put in some footage you haven't seen and dedicate it to the speedy recovery of "Jake." We're cheering you on Jake and can't wait to see your tail waggin' again soon! 

Tune in tomorrow to see "Keys Chronicles" (Friday, April 25th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.  

Heading outside to make sure the weather doesn't change just because I'm out there. I'm starting to get a complex! Is it me? 

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

That's a hawg!

Have you ever been out on the water in fog so thick you can't see the bow of the boat from where you stand at the console? Well, that's how foggy it was the day we went out in Tampa Bay to shoot this episode. Our guest guide, Skeeter Pro Capt. Ryan Farner had his buddy "escort" us out to the spot because his big offshore boat had radar. It was a scene from "The Fog" really, eerily quiet and a little strange. I was excited though because I was about to do something new in a fishery I really don't know much about . . . hogfish on hook and line. I've only ever spearfished for hogfish in the Keys and off of reefs, this was Capt. Ryan's specialty and so here we go! I've got to say it was a great day, super cool looking fish and probably one of the tastiest I've had too. 

Tune in tomorrow (Friday, April 11th) at 10:30 a.m., Sunday at 9:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. on Fox Sun Sports to see "Hogs in the Fog." Set your DVR's if you can't tune in on time, or check back sometime next week online, Mr. Producerman will have the full length episode up on YouTube for y'all to watch soon! Click here for a preview.

We just got back this week from Chokoloskee shooting another episode with Capt. Brian Sanders. We caravaned down to the Everglades with both Skeeters (SX220 and SX240) to shoot this episode just in time before the latest weather front moved in on Tuesday with rain, WIND and cool weather. Man, the wind sure does blow! Anyway, we got a snook episode, fishing with the Mirrodine. Can't wait to show y'all this pretty 28 inch snook I caught and released. I said I wouldn't keep another snook for at least 5 years since our freeze of 2010 that killed so much of the population. It's nice to see them making a comeback, but it's a slow process. Glad we have the folks at Mote Aquaculture Park and Project Snook doing their thing.  

We're heading to Destin to shoot a couple of episodes next week and also fish a cool Cobia tournament with some of my favorite Skeeter folks from Legendary Marine. If you're in the panhandle, you should come see us and check it out!

After Destin, I'll be heading back South to Tampa for a weekend of fun on Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th. Lots to tell you about, but can't get to it right now. Tampa Bay just mark it on your calendars to come out and see me, the AF crew, our new Skeeter boats, Capt. Chad Manning and Capt. Ryan Farner from the AF episodes, and lots, lots more. Details coming soon!!

I'm heading out to wash the boat, re-rig and get ready for more fishing!!

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Wanna See My Skeeter?!

It's boat show season and what a better way to spend the weekend if you can't be on the water . . . around boats, Skeeter Boats that is. I'll be in Orlando this Saturday, February 1st at the Central Florida Boat Show. I'll be with Sonny's Marine Center hanging out with the Skeeter Pros from 10:30 a.m. to around 3:30 p.m. that day. I'm planning on doing a seminar at 11:00 a.m., so come on over and ask me anything you'd like to know about fishing the flats, inshore, offshore, fly and deep dropping. I'll share my experiences catching redfish, trout, snook, tarpon, grouper, snapper and cobia with you using Mirrolure topwater plugs, DOA soft plastic lures, TroKar circle hooks, flies and live bait. Hang around and share some of your own fish stories with me and if you're like a lot of us out there, I'm sure you've got a Mogan pic or two on your smartphone. 

Skeeter's got a smart deal running until the end of March, so now's the time to at least check 'em out! If it's not in Orlando this weekend, I'll be hanging in the Skeeter/Yamaha booth for the Miami Boat Show February 13th - 16th.  Addictive Fishing has teamed up with all of our sponsors to create some killer Prize Paks we'll be giving away during the Miami Boat Show. Stop by the Skeeter booth to say "Hey" 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! My new Skeeter SX240 Bay boat will be there too . . . I can't wait to tow it out of the show at the end of the week and dunk her in some saltwater. 

If you can't make it to the boat shows this time, make sure you like us on Facebook so you can find out where we'll be next. We've got a busy schedule coming up and look forward to seeing new faces, meeting new anglers and sharing lots of fish stories! Oh yeah, and giving away a lot of cool Prize Paks too.  

This week's episodes on the Sportsman Channel are sort of a double feature from California. Sunday is the last airing for "San Clemente" at 10 a.m. (ET), I'm fishing with a friend of my wife's family, Justin Reynolds, off of San Clemente Island.  Then on Monday at 9 a.m. (ET) and again on Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. (ET) I'm hooking into Calico Bass fishing with Eric Dent right around Catalina Island in "Catalina Blue."  If you can't watching on TV, you can always subscribe to the AF YouTube channel for full episodes anywhere / any time.  Check it out! 

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