Thursday, May 29, 2014

NEW Coastal Tripping article by Donna Bozza.

Check out the latest on Coastal Tripping. This Talbot County MD feature will also be highlighted on Jim Baugh Outdoors TV Click the link below.
CLICK HERE
 http://dbozza.wordpress.com/tripping/

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Sugar is Sweet, but an Old Salt is Sweeter

By
Jim Baugh
edited by
Donna Bozza

It is no secret I love the feel of the tug on a fishing line. 

Whether it’s freshwater or saltwater as long as I am on it, in it, or near it, I’m smiling. Filming so many adventures on the water over the last 25 years has been amazing. Yet, it’s not my favorite thing about producing Jim Baugh Outdoors TV.

It is certainly a blast to set the GPS on uncharted territory, but the real treat is the folks we meet. We have filmed with a vastly diverse group of people over the years but the one common denominator is their true enthusiasm for promoting outdoor recreation. It doubled the fun of filming as we hit the beach, fished, biked, canoed, got into whitewater rafting and even snow skiing with an inspiring assortment of sportsmen/women.

We are currently wrapping up the filming for our 25th Anniversary Specials. Just hit homeport after exploring a brand new area for Jim Baugh Outdoors –Talbot County, Maryland.

It was great fun, along with one heck of a surprise.

On our first day in Talbot County, we headed to Tilghman Island where we checked into Harrison’s Chesapeake House. We found comfortable accommodations and a whole lot more. Their stellar location right on the Choptank River provides a country-cooking restaurant that never seems to close, two bars including an outside crab picking bar, and charter fishing tours. Am I in heaven?
Captain Buddy
"He's our man"
Sitting down to the “Chesapeake House’s Surf and Turf,” that would be delicious crab cakes and killer fried chicken –we heard tell of the infamous “Captain Buddy.” Looked like we might even get to meet him the next morning when we hit the Chesapeake Bay to find those Rockfish.

Up before the rooster crowed, while enjoying fresh coffee and eggs, a seasoned gentleman came up to me.

“Good morning, I’m Captain Buddy,” he said shaking my hand. “You must be Jim.”

I took a long look at him, thinking he sure looked familiar. But this was my first trip to Tilghman Island and Talbot County. Then it hit me. I couldn't believe it!

“Captain Buddy!” I said. “Yes, I’m Jim Baugh and you may not remember but we featured you on our show almost 25 years ago when we were featuring fishing out of Baltimore, Maryland.”

He kept looking at me; obviously, he has met many fishing groupies in his day.

“Captain Buddy, we went out on your head boat and caught a boat load of Rockfish,” I continued. “My son Ben was with me and at that time he was only five years old. It is such an honor to have you on our show today and so fitting because we are filming our 25th Anniversary Series –and you’re here!”

Captain Buddy shook his head and said, “My, you have got a GOOD memory!”

We laughed and headed to his boat to go out fishing with three generations of Harrisons, his son Captain Chuck and his grandson Bo. Of course, in these waters we limited out on Rockfish pretty darn quick.

While I was on the boat with Captain Buddy, we talked about everything; the days that he fished out of Baltimore where he had a hotel and of course his extraordinary life on Tilghman Island. He gave me interesting insights about the successful Harrison’s restaurant, a family operation. I shared my Jim’s BBQ tales and how much I learned hauling pork butt and running my own smokehouse for two years.
Sara and Captain Buddy

We both agreed that the restaurant business is among the hardest work there is especially when you are also running a charter business and a hotel. Captain Buddy has done it all and done it well with his own Tilghman Island “je ne sais quoi”. You gotta respect that.

A true blessing that we got an encore with this legendary captain for our 25th Anniversary! What an unforgettable character.
Jim Baugh with a couple of Rocks

If you want to go fishing, Talbot County, MD is hard to beat. Give Harrison’s a try, it has everything you could need and offers very reasonable packages that include fishing, meals, and accommodations.

A big shout out to the Captain and everyone at Harrison’s for making our stay so memorable!

……………………………………………………………………………………………

People, people who meet people… we’re the luckiest people in the world!

I always enjoy working with the tourism staff of the areas we feature. For the most part, we have the same goal, promoting the outdoor activities and attractions in their neck of the woods.

It’s the nature of the business that folks who work in this field are consummate “people persons.” Always entertaining, they have energy that makes a Jack Terrier look comatose, and a pick-up full of professionalism.

The results? Their successful Destination Marketing Organizations and happily by default, great JBO TV.  

After a quarter of a century producing JBO I can say with no fingers crossed, its never been a bore or a bad time working with tourism industry folks including captains and guides.

Normally I would not single out any DMO folks since all have been gems. Yet, there was a special thrill for both Donna and me when it came to meeting the tourism director for Talbot County, Maryland, Cassandra Vanhooser.
Donna and Cassandra
You will recognize her name if you ever picked up a Southern Living Magazine. That’s because her byline graced its pages for 15 years.

As writers, we admired her past vocation as the consummate travel writer/editor of Southern byways in the ultimate glossy extolling the only side of the Mason-Dixon Line worth a hoot.

Cassandra waxed poetically about hollows and coastal havens including our own, VA’s Eastern Shore. With a twist of her wordsmith wit she paid homage to the seemingly ordinary places and people and spotlighted them for the life celebrating -hootenannies they were.

If I weren’t already a Southerner, I’d get my passport stamped right quick after reading this Tennessee gal’s yarns.

Cassandra puts that same creative fire into promoting Talbot County. If you want to keep up hold on tight –she is the Mario Andretti of mini-vans!

Upon arrival, though technically we weren’t scheduled to start shooting until the next morning, we filmed right up until the sun sunk below the Chesapeake Bay. I finally convinced Cassandra there wasn’t even enough sun light to cover an orange soda can.

But while we filmed out of two cars, (I rode with Ms. Andretti as Donna bravely attempted to follow in George our VW Bug) I loved asking Cassandra a million and one questions about her many travels and her work as tourism director.

She first discovered Talbot County on assignment. Since Tennessee gals see no reason to waste breath BS-ing, we believe that this is indeed her favorite place on the planet. Certainly, after several days of working with Cassandra it was evident where her heart is. These are lucky folks to have her at the helm.

Setting aside the Yankee thang, Donna felt a kinship with Cassandra. Both have been/are professional writers and interestingly both share being tourism directors of tiny staffed but awesome DMOs.

Donna was the first director of tourism for Virginia’s Eastern Shore back in 2005. She had a blast comparing notes with Cassandra. We both did. Working together there was a salty-fun synergy.

It inspired me to scribble this down today, a salute to all the incredibly talented, hardworking, and generous people who make the places we film on Jim Baugh Outdoors TV the places you list on your Coastal Bucket List. Though, most you never see in front of the camera, it’s their dedication that makes us look good.

Included in our thanks –our long time sponsors –Suzuki Marine and Carolina Skiff, along with the various tourism agencies that sponsored us over the years. Because of them, we have been able to take you, our viewer friends along for the ride. And what a ride it’s been highlighting the best in recreational fishing, and outdoor and indoor excitement.

Here’s to 25 more years of seeing the places and meeting the faces that inspires us on JBO TV.

Thank YOU for following us!

** Posting soon Donna Bozza’s travel log on Talbot County MD. Savor St. Michaels –Oxford –Tilghman Island –Easton. See it here, on our social media hotspots, and of course Coastin’ with Donna Bozza.
http://dbozza.wordpress.com/

Godspeed,

Jim Baugh
JBO TV
author of HOOKED

Sunday, May 18, 2014

On Location: Talbot County Maryland Chesapeake Bay

On Location: JBO TV will complete its 25th anniversary filming in Talbot County Maryland. This week we will film just about everything there is to see and do in this pristine beautiful area on the Chesapeake Bay. Look for Donnas’ feature on her Coastin blog about this awesome place. Our tourism host will be none other than the county’s tourism director and past Southern Living Magazine columnist Cassandra Vanhooser. We are very much looking forward to this trip!
 http://www.tourtalbot.org/
Also check out Donna's article in this months issue!




Tuesday, May 13, 2014

On Location: OBX!!

ON LOCATION: Jim Baugh Outdoors TV is close to wrapping up its 25th anniversary features with a BIG visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is the land of top shelf recreational outdoor activities! All the best in fishing, boating, biking, cooking, surfing, kiting, arts and crafts, museums, heck just anything beachy! JBO TV will be filming the entire length of the Outer Banks and will be highlighting many of the new attractions. The finished program will included our best offshore fishing segments filmed of the last 25 years. We are very much looking forward to highlighting OBX and hope that everyone will make plans now, if you have not already, to head to OBX for some R & R. As good as the summer is, a lot of time for me has been spent during the fall and winter. Both surf fishing and fishing for King Mac’s has always been among our favorite things to do in OBX. That and the brewery. We got to feed the crew ya know. See yall in OBX! NOTE: After the program broadcast we will post the edited show with no commercials on You Tube and it will stream all year.


Thursday, May 1, 2014

On Location Update: Smith Mountain Lake and Franklin County

Smith Mountain Lake

WOW!!! There are so many new things to see and do in the greater Smith Mountain Lake area. Most of my time at Smith Mountain was about 15 to 20 years ago when Jim Baugh Outdoors was producing a fair amount of inland striped bass features. My kids spent a lot of time at the lake and we found it was also one of the best lakes for crappie fishing anywhere.
Smith Mountain Lake
JBO TV was filming in the area as a part of our 25th anniversary series to air later this spring. First up there was a big Oakley Bass tourney being held out of Bridgewater and boy did these anglers catch some Bass! Great event and turn out. There was also a festival being held at the New Moneta that had some darn good BBQ, some of the best!
Oakley Bass Tourney SML
Bridgewater
Moneta
Things have certainly changed over the years. The old campers paradise which was sort of an old fisherman’s hangout where you could go for a breakfast platter, buy oil for your boat, and also get a bucket of minnows to your liking. Now the place has been totally overhauled, or almost rebuilt as the new “Jakes”. One fantastic restaurant and bar complete with scenic outside Caribbean patio dining. The place is truly gorgeous, very well done and we can't wait for a return visit.

"Jakes" SML
On the cooking front we had the pleasure of working with the Landing Restaurant and interviewed owner chef “Bruno”. This chef is both artist and craftsman when it comes to cuisine. All homemade recipes with a strong flair for the original and delightful. This has become a very popular restaurant and has a beautiful view of the lake.
The Landing Restaurant, Bernards Landing.
Other stops during our filming included the home of Booker T Washington which will be featured in Jim Baugh Outdoors “Lure of the Shore” with Donna Bozza. Moving southward we filmed some art stores in Rocky Mount as well as Ferrum College.
Booker T. Washington
The Grainery in Rocky Mount

We based our trip out of Bernards Landing where we enjoyed bucolic views of the Lake. This is also an amenity rich place complete with workout room, sauna, steam, indoor and outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs. The Landing Restaurant is also on the premises. Now is a good time to book your summer vacation at Bernards Landing, the place is awesome. We will be back!

Bernards Landing
Once the show is finished post production, we will broadcast the show and also stream it online 24/7. This feature will be broadcast along with our feature on Talbot County Maryland. We are filming there later this month.


Stay tuned!!!

Below results from last weekends Oakley Tourney.

Godspeed,
Jim Baugh

 Overall Leaders- SML Oakley Tourney

Rank
Angler
Weight
1
LONNIE GIVENS
7.37
2
TOBY PETERS
6.46
3
ELLIOTT ROBERSON
6.45
4
BAILEY MILLER
6.11
5
GREGORY AARON SCOTT
5.91
6
BOBBY MCDANIEL
5.85
7
DENNIS HILL
5.79
8
TIM BOOTHE
5.65
9
RALPH HOLIFIELD JR
5.63
10
PHILLIP COX
5.60

Also....Just out and now available in Stores!
The latest article by Jim Baugh Outdoors very own host of the "Lure of the Shore" segment, Donna Bozza.


Check out Donna's Lifestyle Blog, "Coastin"




Wednesday, April 30, 2014

JBO TV On Location: New River Valley Part Two!

Here is the second part of Donna's behind the scenes look at filming the New River Valley. Awesome trip and will be one GREAT show!
 http://dbozza.wordpress.com/tripping/
Jim Baugh at Base camp New River Trails on the New River. Smallmouth central! Great facilities in awesome location.


Jim Baugh Outdoors TV Donna Bozza's latest article in Coastal Virginia Magazine May-June Issue! In stores now!

Donna’s Latest column in Coastal Virginia Magazine! “Kayak Karma” Don’t miss this May –June special issue, get your favorite summer mag read on now! Also check out Donna’s “Lure of the Shore” segments on Jim Baugh Outdoors TV and her recent on the road post featuring the New River Valley, Smith Mountain Lake and Franklin County! Great Stuff!! JB

 http://dbozza.wordpress.com/


Thursday, April 24, 2014

JBO TV On Location!! The New River Valley

We are in the middle of one awesome week of shooting kicking off with a tour of the New River Valley. Check part one in a two part filming update on Coastin' with Donna Bozza, “Going with the Flow” on Coastal Tripping. Also we have the latest updates on social media Facebook and Twitter. We have filmed some awesome attractions and the smallmouth bite is on!! Great float trip. Check the links below.





Monday, April 14, 2014

My Dad, the best. Judge Baugh April 12 1934 - April 12th 2014

Pete Baugh –“The Judge” was both mother and father to me. What a huge challenge to raise two young sons while in the midst of building his law practice and dealing with numerous personal trials. My dad managed to pull it all off in his own inimitable style.

Yet even as a young boy I recognized the heavy burden of stress my dad carried. I started praying back then and never stopped that the man I loved more than anything else in the world would be blessed with a long life and a great marriage to a beautiful lady.

I am always grateful that my prayers and then some –were so awesomely answered. I especially ponder these miracles today.

For this Saturday, on his 80th birthday my father passed. Dad lived a very full life and had the love of many. In my eyes and theirs, he was a great man.

Even though in declining health these last few years, he still wanted to contribute and remained an active judge. Much of the credit for this goes to his dedicated wife of thirty years, Clarice Baugh, an angel on earth.

Clarice took wonderful care of a proud Southern Judge who did not take a hankering to having to depend on anyone. Hell hath no furor like the Judge having to give up one iota of independence. I thank Clarice with all my heart, though there are not enough thanks worthy for what she did for my dad. She literally kept him going and the beauty of it all, even as difficult as my father could be –he appreciated it. He loved her very much.

Dad blessed me with endless wonderful and profound memories. Starting as a little boy listening to him preaching to our Methodist congregation, to my teen years sitting in on one of his hearings first as an attorney, then later as Judge.  

My passion for boating and fishing comes from Dad. That it turned into a lifelong profession I love is in large part due to him. He was there at the beginning as co-founder and CEO of Jim Baugh Outdoors TV. We traveled together, spending great times on the water filming and fishing. I am forever grateful for his guidance, leadership, and advice. Without his support, our fledging program would not have survived and I would not be celebrating its 25th year.

My dad always told me, “Jimmy, you can grow up and be anything you want to be, anything, even a ditch digger. But just make sure of one thing –you are the best dam ditch digger to ever be!”

It stuck with me. Whether with my music, producing, writing, raising kids, cooking, whatever, I remembered his words to give it your all. A simple but profound lesson, it helped me through tough times.

Compassion for others was something the Judge also taught me and in quite an amazing way. As a young boy, my dad took my brother and I Christmas shopping to pick out things that we liked. He then loaded all the toys in the car and we hit the grocery store. When we got home, we wrapped all the presents. I was thinking this was all a little weird, now we knew what we are getting for Christmas!

After baking the Christmas turkey, Dad told us to get all the presents and help load the car with the food too. I did not understand what the heck was going on but you don’t question the Judge. We arrived at a tiny, dismal house. The three of us walked up and rang the doorbell. A woman with five kids hovering around her waist answered the door. She was shocked to see us. Dad instructed us to get all the food and presents out of the car and bring them inside.

The presents and turkey were not for us but for a destitute family who had no food, and no Christmas, until Judge Baugh showed up. What a lesson in helping others. What a GREAT father!

Dad was also an Eagle Scout so he recognized the important lessons scouting taught boys. Pete was proud of all his grandchildren and especially happy when my son Ben Baugh achieved Eagle Scout. His funeral instructions asked that instead of flowers folks might consider donating to the Boy Scouts of America.

I want to give a special thanks to Ms. Donna. Saturday we were getting ready to leave the Eastern Shore and head over to see Dad and Clarice for his birthday when we got the call I always dreaded. Donna has been a Godsend in helping me through this difficult time.

During my six-hour walk on the beach Saturday, I realized that the good Lord took my father on one of the most beautiful of days. In true Judge-style, Dad made a notable departure on the morning of his 80th. It was a graceful exit from his beloved home on “The River” and his dear Clarice with him. Instead of mounting health problems, pain and suffering, my dad now knows only peace and joy.

He dearly missed the many friends and family that passed before him. Now, he is joined by his father (my grandfather) also a Southern Judge –Emerson Daniel Baugh, my grandmother Maggie Lee, Uncle Tom, Pierce, and “The Crew” that I grew up with on the docks of Sara’s Creek. Surely, they’re all in heaven causing quite a ruckus.

Shout out to Pete:
Dad, you, and “The Crew” try to stay out of trouble up there! When it is my turn to come see you, I promise I will bring that sailor sandwich from Chioccas. Sorry, you left before we had a chance to go back. It will be the ultimate “To Go” box.
                                                                                         
Thanks for being the best Dad a son could ever pray for in this world. Your family and friends, we already miss you terribly. No one can ever replace you.

With great love and affection –your son always,

Jimmy

For Donations Boy Scouts
Heart of Virginia Council (Formally Robert E. Lee Council)
804-426-9241 




Wednesday, April 2, 2014

New article in Coastal Virginia Magazine by Donna Bozza April Issue. Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Turns 50!

Donna Bozza host of Lure of the Shore on Jim Baugh Outdoors TV


http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com/

Donna’s latest article in Coastal Virginia Magazine in stores now, April Issue! Read all about the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Turing 50! And oh what a great fishing structure it has been. I understand some people actually use it for transportation as well. Donna is my favorite writer, extremely talented and knows her stuff. Great magazine and a wonderful issue. I will post a link below to the web site, picked up my copy at Barnes and Noble while book browsing. Also posting a link to Donna’s “Coastin” web site/Blog. Lots of great stuff there too!! Congratulations Donna on another great article!

JB

http://dbozza.wordpress.com/