One of the best parts of putting together each issue of The Fisherman isn’t just the stories we tell—it’s the ones you send in.
Every season, our inboxes fill up with photos from anglers across Long Island and the Northeast, and it’s one of the clearest reminders of what this fishery is really about. It’s not just the big fish or the banner days—it’s the moments. A kid holding their first snapper off a dock. A sunrise striper from the surf. A quick after-work trip that turns into a personal best. Those are the shots that define a season.
We say it all the time, but it’s worth repeating—our readers are the backbone of this magazine. And nowhere is that more evident than in the photo gallery.
Flip through any issue and you’ll see exactly what we mean. Those pages aren’t staged or manufactured. They’re real catches, real anglers, and real days on the water. The variety is what makes it special. One page might feature a Montauk tuna spread, the next a trout from a local pond, followed by a back-bay striper taken on a quiet weekday evening. It’s a snapshot of the fishery as it’s happening in real time, and it only works because you’re sending those moments in. But the gallery is just one piece of it.
More and more, those same reader submissions are becoming a key part of our Weekly Video Fishing Forecast. If you’ve been tuning in, you’ve probably noticed we’re always looking to highlight what’s happening right now—and nothing does that better than photos and clips coming directly from anglers in the field.
A quick photo from a morning bite, a dockside shot, or even a short video clip helps bring the report to life. It adds a level of authenticity that you just can’t replicate any other way. It’s your footage, your fish, your experience—becoming part of the bigger picture each week.
And then there’s the one everyone has in the back of their mind—the cover. Every year, we receive a handful of submissions that immediately stand out. The kind of shot that makes you stop for a second. Clean composition, great lighting, a quality fish, and a natural setting—it all comes together in a way that tells a story without saying a word. Those are the images that have a shot at making the front of the magazine.
What many people don’t realize is that plenty of our covers start the exact same way as any other submission. Just an angler sending in a photo from a good day on the water.
There’s no secret formula for a cover shot, but there are a few things that always help. Clean backgrounds go a long way. Early morning or late afternoon light tends to produce the best results. And most importantly, keep the focus on the fish while still capturing the setting—it should feel natural, not forced.
You don’t need a professional camera either. Some of the best shots we’ve run have come straight from a phone. It’s more about timing, awareness, and taking an extra second to frame the shot properly than it is about the gear you’re using. And remember to shoot vertical with space about the photo for a logo and room for cover callouts!
At the end of the day, whether your photo ends up in the gallery, featured in the weekly forecast, or even considered for a cover, it all starts the same way—sending it in.
If you’re on the fence, don’t be. We’re not just looking for trophy fish or once-in-a-lifetime catches. We’re looking for the full story of the season. The early bites, the slow grinds, the unexpected wins, and everything in between. That’s what makes this fishery what it is, and that’s what we want to showcase.
So as the season gets underway and the action begins to build, keep the camera handy. When you land that first fish of the spring, put together a memorable trip, or just have one of those days that sticks with you—send it our way.
You can submit your photos directly to me at mbroderick@thefisherman.com.
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You never know—your shot might just be the one that tells the story of the season.
