Sea Level: Adventures of a Saltwater Angler [Hardcover]

Jeffrey Cardenas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002

Sea Level, by Jeffrey Cardenas, author of the acclaimed Marquesa, is a collection of vivid essays on saltwater fly fishing written over the past twenty years.

This book is a pure delight--so filled with fresh original language that it forms a unique portrait of an artist, a writer, and an expert angler and naturalist.

And it is the author's quiet, observant and steady hand that guides us on a wide range of adventures: from the Gulf Coast to Cuba; from the Florida Keys and Bahamas to the North Atlantic. Sea Level exudes the highest level of angling skill and will be required reading for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fly fisher will enjoy this book as one of the best he's ever read. -- Art Scheck - Saltwater Fly Fishing

A marvelous achievement, this blend of comprehensive angling information with perceptive insight and a keen sense of place. -- John N. Cole

I found myself relaxing in these stories, looking forward to ending the evening with another. -- Seth Norman - Fly Rod & Reel

Jeffey is an eloquent and reflective writer who brings his passion for saltwater game fishing to life on each page. -- Jack Nicklaus

Jeffrey's skiff is warmed up and waiting, and this book is a vacant seat. Jump in . . .enjoy the ride. -- Jimmy Buffett from the Introduction

Product Details

• Hardcover: 186 pages
• Publisher: Meadow Run Pr; Slipcase edition (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188696713X
• ISBN-13: 978-1886967137
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,643,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tells it like it is, May 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sea Level: Adventures of a Saltwater Angler (Hardcover)

VFR and low altitude over the Atlantic from Montauk to Chesapeake Bay made yesterday's down-and-back aerial commute to our partner-shipyard a perfect backdrop . . . I devoured Sea Level. The 26-essay collection (compiled over 15 years) conveys Jeffrey Cardenas' eclectic adventures in saltwater angling - from both ends of the skiff, knee-deep, and up to his neck. Bonefish to bluefin, the author has experienced it all.

Tropical environments, oceanic wildness, and the right attitude to face these elements are misunderstood by many anglers. Cardenas' naturalist's perspective is a constant in his writing; he provides fascinating windows through which the harsh, complex and often subtle world where we pursue game may be glimpsed. Among vast, seemingly disconnected fragments of natural phenomena Jeffrey draws understandable constellations. It's fascinating, entertaining prose.

The essay "Barracudas" will make you laugh. "Survivor" will make you think - really think. You'll feel a raw seascape in "Bonefish Wilderness" (my favorite). His words on bonefish (woven through many stories) are collectively as enlightening as texts devoted entirely to that species.

I recommend Sea Level to fly-rodders of all backgrounds; it's a great read that tells it like it is.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Catching Fish, August 22, 2004

By 

E. Deaton (Okatie, South Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sea Level: Adventures of a Saltwater Angler (Hardcover)

The thing I love about this book is that it puts things in perspective. I love to salt water fly fish but it is the fishing and being around others who love the sport that makes it special. Catching and landing the fish is just the icing on the cake! I really like the way the author uses his real life experiences as a guide and fisherman. These are great stories and I like the look of the cover. It is a little pricy but it makes a great coffee table book...I feel it will be a collectible some day. I just hope Mr. Cardenas writes more to add to the collection.

8 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars change the title!!, December 29, 2002

By 

robert gunderson (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sea Level: Adventures of a Saltwater Angler (Hardcover)

While the writing is good and the stories are interesting, saltwater fly fisherman share a "snootiness" that is a bit off-putting to us guys who are quite content with our "boat rods".

The title of the book and/or cover ought be changed to indicate it is a fly fishing book, in my opinion. Of course, the market is much smaller and no doubt the author and publisher considered this when deciding on a title. And, the price ... is a bit out of whack as well.