''On The Water'' is a monthly American
fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
and
boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...
magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
, covering both freshwater and saltwater topics. The majority of its articles are submitted by
freelance
''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
authors, usually local fishermen and charter-boat
captains
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
. ''On the Water'' publishes three versions of the magazine, a
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
edition a
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
edition and a
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
edition.
History
First published in May 1996, ''On The Water'' began as a local black and white magazine covering fishing and boating on
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer mont ...
,
. With a growing audience, the magazine expanded regionally to offer coverage for all of New England in 1998; taking on the subtitle "The Angler's Guide to New England" to reflect the change. The split to three editions occurred with the Nov/Dec 2017 issue.
Color printing
During the magazine's first seven years of publication only the cover was printed in full color, with the articles in black and white.
New York and New Jersey edition
In March 2009, ''On The Water'' launched a New York and New Jersey edition offering coverage of the New York and New Jersey area. With the expansion, the subtitle "The Angler's Guide to New England" was shortened to "The Angler's Guide" on both issues and regionally identified on the cover.
Television
With the success of the magazine, ''On The Water'' began taping a complementary television show in 2002. Titled "On the Water: Fishing New England," the first season aired in 2004. It has since been renamed "On The Water TV".
The show is filmed and produced by On The Water staff, covering both freshwater and saltwater fishing topics. Although the show features a wide range of fishing and locations, each episode is usually centered on a targeted species or specific location. The show will often feature guests with a certain expertise in the episode's topic, who provide informational tips and offer advice.
Striper Cup
In 2006, ''On The Water'' introduced its annual fishing
tournament
A tournament is a competition involving at least three competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:
# One or more competitions held at a single venue and concentr ...
dubbed "The Striper Cup," named so for its targeted species the striped bass. The 2006 inaugural Striper Cup ran from May 1 to September 17 and saw over 2,000 fishermen participate.
["Outdoor Notes by Tom Meade: Linesider Bass and Brew Club Captures Striper Title" 15 October 2006.]
The tournament begins in early May and lasts throughout the summer, culminating in the year-end awards ceremony known as "Striper Fest" in September. The aim of the contest is to catch the heaviest possible fish rather than the most, so as to prevent
overfishing
Overfishing is the removal of a species of fish (i.e. fishing) from a body of water at a rate greater than that the species can replenish its population naturally (i.e. the overexploitation of the fishery's existing fish stock), resulting in th ...
. Anglers can choose to participate individually or as part of a team in the shore division, boat division, or both. Prizes are awarded to weekly, monthly, and overall winners who catch and weigh the largest fish. In addition every participant is entered in a random drawing to win one of the grand prizes.
Notes
References
* .
* {{Citation
, surname1 = Meade
, given1 = Tom
, year = 2006
, title = Outdoor Notes by Tom Meade: Linesider Bass and Brew Club Captures Striper Title
, publisher = The Providence Journal
, url = http://www.projo.com/sports/tommeade/projo_20061015_note1015.3378f33.html
, accessdate = January 31, 2011
.
External links
OnTheWater.com
Sports magazines published in the United States
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Magazines established in 1996
Hunting and fishing magazines
Boating magazines
Magazines published in Massachusetts