Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - May 2022

FISHING WITH HELM MASTER ® EX by writer and angler Gary Caputi

when we pulled into casting range and used our secret weapon—the Helm Master® EX system our Yamaha-powered Pathfinder® 2700 installed at the Maverick® Boat Group factory in Fort Pierce, Florida.

As we approached the abandoned lighthouse that stands on a manmade rockpile along the western edge of the thoroughfare leading into New York Harbor, our boat was lifted by a large swell. Solid eight footers broke on the rocks creating a profusion of white water that cascaded around the back side and down the jetty rocks that, in bygone days, protected the lightkeeper’s boat. The conditions were ideal for striped bass and bluefish to use to their advantage when hunting. The closer we got, the more excited we became about casting into the swirling maelstrom because we knew the fish would be there. Anglers on two other boats had the same idea, but the wind, waves and current hampered their ability to hold position near the rocks. They ran their boats close enough for a quick cast but were quickly swept away. Even when the operator tried to hold the boat in position for an angler to cast, their attemptswere short lived. Conditions like these can make fishing good structure nearly impossible. We held back and watch the other boats make several attempts only to drift out of range almost as soon as they got into position. The frustration on the faces of the operators was evident, especially

If you’re not familiar with Yamaha’s remarkable Helm Master EX system, you should be, especially if you’re thinking about a new boat or repowering an existing boat. It’s quite literally artificial intelligence for your boat, and a game changer for fishermen.