In Skipjack, Christopher White spends a pivotal year with three memorable captains, each at the helm of a wooden oystering sailboat unique to the Chesapeake Bay, in what has become the only wind-powered fishing fleet in America.

Chesapeake is an Algonquian word meaning great shellfish bay, and for decades, the oyster was the undisputed king of Chesapeake Bay shellfish. Early settlers reported them to be as large as dinner plates, and the reefs or rocks in which they lived were large enough to be hazards to navigation. In 1884, fifteen million bushels of oysters were harvested and shipped around the world. The skipjack was the perfect vessel for sailing into the Chesapeake Bays shallow waters and dredging for oysters, and each winter, hundreds of these wooden craft set out across the bays cold waters. The oyster population of the 21st century is a fraction of what it once was, and the skipjacks have disappeared along with them. No longer economically viable, the boats have been left to rot in the marshes along the bay. Only 25 boats are still operational, and fewer than five still dredge.

Showcasing the evocative artwork created by John Moll for this special edition, James A. Michener’s The Watermen is a unique tribute to the adventurous seafarers of the Chesapeake Bay. Excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author’s classic Chesapeake, this enthralling novel has a unity and a spirit all its own, telling the story of the bay and its wildlife, but especially of the watermen, from their favorite pastimes to their rivalries in hunting, oystering, racing, and fighting. Gorgeously illustrated, brilliantly conceived, The Watermen is a narrative and visual feast from one of America’s favorite storytellers. Praise for Chesapeake “Another of James Michener’s great mines of narrative, character and lore.”—The Wall Street Journal “[A] marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages . . . an emotionally and intellectually appealing book.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Michener’s most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer “Magnificently written . . . one of those rare novels that is enthusiastically passed from friend to friend.”—Associated Press

In this classic novel, James A. Michener brings his grand epic tradition to bear on the four-hundred-year saga of America’s Eastern Shore, from its Native American roots to the modern age. In the early 1600s, young Edmund Steed is desperate to escape religious persecution in England. After joining Captain John Smith on a harrowing journey across the Atlantic, Steed makes a life for himself in the New World, establishing a remarkable dynasty that parallels the emergence of America. Through the extraordinary tale of one man’s dream, Michener tells intertwining stories of family and national heritage, introducing us along the way to Quakers, pirates, planters, slaves, abolitionists, and notorious politicians, all making their way through American history in the common pursuit of freedom. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii. Praise for Chesapeake “Another of James Michener’s great mines of narrative, character and lore.”—The Wall Street Journal “[A] marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages . . . An emotionally and intellectually appealing book.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Michener’s most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer “Magnificently written . . . one of those rare novels that is enthusiastically passed from friend to friend.”—Associated Press

Mexico has enough flyfishing opportunities to keep an angler busy for decades, and author Phil Shook breaks it down from Baja to the Yucatan and well beyond. Everything from tourist destinations like Cancun, Mazatlan and Acapulco, to lesser known locales such as Campeche, Ascension Bay, Tampico, Veracruz, Xcalak and much more, Shook has dedicated years of his life to researching Mexico's vast fisheries, and readers are privy to his insights in this all-inclusive book. If it's a viable sport-fishery, it's in the book. Shook guides anglers to the best tarpon, permit, bonefish and roosterfish fishing, while giving tips to steer them clear from potential trouble. Shook also details the best lodges, guide services and guides from his experience. Also covered are dorado, sailfish, mackerel, redfish, seatrout, snook, jack crevalle, marlin, ladyfish, snapper, tuna, barracuda, baby tarpon, needlefish, skipjack and more. Angler's need not avoid Mexico with the information contained in this guide. If you're a seasoned saltwater expert looking to expand your repertoire, you'll want this book. If you've always dreamed of getting wet in the tropics with targeting 100-pound tarpon or 8-pound bones, you'll want this book.