That's a wrap!

Just shot the Season Finale of Addictive Fishing 2014! Had a great time last night shooting it, sitting around with the Mogan Music Boys, crew and a few of the 4-legged staff members. It was a tough season, one of the toughest we've had in the history of AF, but we made it through and we're not looking back. I think we put in all our dues to Mother Nature this season, so the 2015 season will be smooth sailing, right? Achem . . . right? 

I say it every year and mean it every time I say it, THANK YOU to our sponsors for supporting us, without them we couldn't bring you rod bendin' drag screamin' television like we do. I've just gotta call 'em all out too . . . thanks to:  Dick's Sporting Goods, Skeeter, Star Brite, Wright & McGill, Trokar, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Talon, DOA Lures, Mirrolure, FINS Braid, Seaguar, Engel Coolers, Altas Jackplates, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, and Florida's Spacecoast. Proud to be part of such a fantastic team! 

THANK YOU to all of the Mogan Maniacs out there who continue to tune in whether it's on television or online . . . we appreciate you and look forward to having more fun in the future!

Speaking of 2015 season, we're heading out next week to start shooting in North Carolina. I'm going to be fishing with an old friend from my FLW Redfish / Kingfish days and can't wait. The reason we're up there in the first place is to kick off the week in Cary, NC at the grand opening of the new Field & Stream store. Field & Stream is a new specialty retail concept that'll be carrying all the best brands that hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts could ever want/need. You've probably seen me this past season wearing those cool lookin' Field & Stream shirts in all the "Rig it Right" segments, well you can pick those up there too! Me and the AF crew will be celebrating the opening of its new store in Cary, NC on Sunday, September 7th from noon - 4 p.m. (Parkside Town Commons 1048 Parkside Main Street, Cary, NC 27519 - O'Kelly Chapel Road/Exit 66B)

Then we'll be heading South to North Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, September 13th to celebrate the opening of a new Dick's Sporting Goods store (Coastal North Town Center, 1536 Highway 17 North, N. Myrtle Bch, SC 29582). Me and the AF Crew will be there from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and trust me . . . get in, get shopping and save big! There will be some sweet deals happening and you don't want to miss it.

Cheers to "that's a wrap" for the 2014 season, we're already fishin' for 2015! I'll keep you posted on new things to come.

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Got More To Show Ya!

We're breaking out some footage you haven't seen yet this season! This stuff is the stuff Mr. Producerman can't fit into an episode, but it's good stuff, so he puts it all together in the "Bits and Bites" episode each year. This episode you'll see me hooking into snook, redfish and fishing with another "first" on AF. First time in 15 years of shooting Addictive Fishing Television we've had a lady angler on the show. And, what a better way to do it than with Engel Pro and model, Miss Darcie . . . she's fishing with the Flats Pink rod, rigged with FINS Pink Windtamer and decked out in Pink to catch her first Mogan Redfish, ever.  

You'll get to see some footage of me fishing with Capt. Ed Zyak from Jensen Beach that you didn't get to see from the "Baitbuster Bridge" episode too. Fishing with Ed is always fun. He knows the fishery, knows DOA Lures and knows all things Humminbird / Minn Kota too. Never a doubt that I learn something when I fish with this guy!

If you saw last week's "Baitbuster Bridge" episode then you saw the snook both Capt. Greg Snyder and I caught, but there was a lot more footage to be seen. We'll get to show you some more in this week's episode. Tune in tomorrow, Friday, August 15th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports for this week's episode "Bits and Bites." Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Been traveling a bit again lately, this time I'm on the West Coast of the U.S. - California. My wife, Cari is from Orange County and we're back to visit family and go to her high school reunion. I've fished out here a few years ago for Calico and Vermilion Snapper and had a blast. 

Trying to get some fishing in this trip between Angels Baseball games, reunions and family, but not sure I'll get to it. No worries, I'll be back in March for a tradeshow and to do some fishing then . . . and I've seen a lot of Skeeters out here too. Besides, when I come home to Florida I'm back on the water immediately shooting episodes up in the Carolinas so a break out here in California is just fine with me. 

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

Skunked!

Y'all ever have one of those dry spells on the water where the fish just aren't biting every time you go out? Maybe the wind's kicked up, the tide's too low, too much rain has made the saltwater too fresh, not enough rain has made the salinity level go sky high, moon phase was wrong time . . . you name it, it went wrong? Well, it feels like we've been proving ourselves to Mother Nature all season long and working extra hard for our dinner every shoot. We went out to shoot episodes more than a couple time this season and came home without a show. Here's one for ya, I had Bass Legend, Bill Dance on my boat again this year and the conditions and wind were so rough that we just couldn't put Bill through the abuse and called it an early shoot. We caught a shark and then went in for lunch and interviewed Bill about getting "Skunked". We didn't get enough footage for an entire episode, but still had fun. 

Also went out to fish one of the most incredible lakes in Florida, Lake X with Skeeter Pro, Chuck Pippin and it was supposed to be like fishing in a barrel. Nope! The bass had shut down because we were fishing on the wrong moon phase and not many of them wanted to "smile for the camera." Another trip that had the hopes of making an epic episode that never came to be. 

Went up to Destin for a week-long shoot, thinking we would come home with at least 2 episodes. Nope! The rain moved in just as we arrived and never stopped. Too much fresh water in the places we were fishing and our targeted species moved out. The complete opposite happened in Corpus Christi earlier in the year when we traveled out there to shoot an episode . . . not enough rain for weeks had caused too much evaporation and the salinity level was sky high. Our fish moved out to cleaner water. 

This week's episode is a look at all of those shoots. We had at least one fish from each shoot that Mr. Producerman could piece together into one episode. I explain to you at the beginning of each segment what challenge we were up against and what we did to try to make it happen. 

Yes, even on television we get "Skunked!" Tune in tomorrow, Friday, August 1st 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

Fishing for the 4th?

Mr. Producerman and our new editor Sam were over at the music studios today making soundtracks for upcoming episodes when Mr. Producerman had an idea for the Mogan Music guys to play the Star Spangled Banner in honor of our great country's birthday coming up. So . . . here's a 15 second Instagram video. <<Click Here>>

We spent a week on the Emerald Coast this past April and although it may have been one of the toughest shoots we've had in our 15 years due to the weather, we still were able to get out and fish and get an episode for you with Skeeter Pro and Captain, Pat Dineen. I love fishing those emerald waters, the people up there are some of my favorite folks to fish with and the hospitality is awesome. We'll definitely be back to do it again next season! Um, can we get some better weather for next time please?! Tune in this week to "Panhandle Permit" (Friday, June 6th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

This past week was a busy one for us. I was over in Tampa shooting some cool stuff for the new Star Tron "Enzo" commercial spot. Y'all have seen the killer spot my producer put together with that nice vintage truck and 3D animation, right? Well, Star Tron liked it so much they asked for the same kind of spot but with a boat this time. So, we shot that in the middle of the week. 

We also shot some stuff for a special episode coming up. It's definitely been a tough season for us with the weather and this special episode tells you all about it. After we wrapped shooting, I headed home to prefish for an upcoming episode shoot off of Cape Canaveral and then at Dick's in Clermont, FL to kick off another grand opening of a new store. Had a great time meeting some new folks and getting up on the bass tank outside to share some fishing tips. 

I'm ready for a quick break over the 4th Holiday and then we're back at it. Hope y'all have a great weekend. Be safe on the water and shooting off all your fireworks. Whatever you do over the weekend - have fun! (Thanks to our Eagle Claw sponsor for this awesome flag image. One of my favorite.)

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 

Watch this Week's Episode now - Panhandle Permit

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Panhandle Permit

It's Thursday and here's another Flashback photo for y'all. This one's from my days on the water as a charter captain (circa 1995). I was working on the water about 340 days a year back then. Whew! Look at that Costa Del Mar hat I'm sportin' too. Sort of a a double flashback by the looks of that nice hat! Nice Mosquito Lagoon redfish though . . . still love catching those fish. I'm happy to have followed the path I journeyed all these years. My life has been spent on the water, and I can't think of any place else I'd rather be. 

This week y'all finally get to see the episode we shot while we were up in Destin, Florida. We spent a week on the Emerald Coast in April and although it may have been one of the toughest shoots we've had in our 15 years due to the weather, we managed to get a show shot and produced with Skeeter Pro and Captain, Pat Dineen. I love fishing those waters, the people up there are some of my favorite folks to fish with and the hospitality is awesome. We'll be back to do it again next season . . . can we order up some better weather for next time please?!

Tune in this week to "Panhandle Permit" (Friday, June 6th at 10:30 a.m. ET on Fox SunSports). Check the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday. Some of you may say "I didn't think Permit got all the way up there in the Panhandle?" Well you'll just have to tune in tomorrow to see why we're calling this episode "Panhandle Permit." 

We're in between shoots right now and I'm soaking up the brief downtime. I'm just getting caught up on my boat, gear and tackle maintenance, not to mention a little R&R and maintenance of my own. I've stocked up on Star Tron for all my engines, cleaning my hull and deck with Star Brite's Sea Safe boat cleaner and taking care of any funky smells coming from my truck - ha! Life on the road this time of year can sure take a toll on your equipment, so make sure you're prepared and take care of your stuff. 

Until next week . . . tight lines,
Blair

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

Slammin' the Cape!

I know I'm not starting off this week's blog with a fish, but I knew this throwback photo would catch your eye anyway. Can't believe I was 20 years old when this photo was taken. Feels like a lifetime ago. I never dreamed back then that I'd be doing what I am now - fishing for a living. I bet I'm not too far off in saying the military gave me the confidence to chase any dream and work ethic to make it happen. Happy and proud to have served my country in the Air Force all those years ago. 

Tune in tomorrow for another episode of Addictive Fishing - "Canaveral Slam." We shot this episode in my backyard, on the Space Coast with Capt. Jim Ross. We knew where we were going fishing, we just weren't sure what we'd be hooking into, so we had to be prepared for anything. Good thing we were . . . we hooked into cobia, tripletail and some serious flatties - flounder. Capt. Jim's been fishing the Cape about as long as I have, and we always have a good time out there together. While on this trip something happened to us that was a first for sure. Check it out in this week's episode tomorrow (Friday, May 2nd) at 10:30 a.m. on Fox SunSports. Visit the AF website for replay times on Sunday and Wednesday.

Thank you to Tampa Bay Mogan Maniacs for rolling out the red carpet and coming out in force to see the newest Dick's Sporting Goods store this past weekend. A special thanks to Skeeter dealer Central Marine for bringing out some new Skeeter boats to check out, Capt. Ryan Farner and Capt. Chris Camps for donating fishing trips and being on hand to answer any Tampa Bay fishing questions, Minn Kota for giving away a Talon and trolling motor and to Costa Del Mar sunglasses for donating a pair of cool new shades to give away as well. There are going to be some happy winners notified very soon! What a cool looking store too . . . that two-story store will surely keep a lot of shoppers busy. 

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