Kurt Mazurek

Joined: Nov 5, 2024

Kurt Mazurek writes about all things fishing and the outdoor lifestyle for Fishing On SI -a division of Sports Illustrated. Before writing On SI he enjoyed a successful career in the fishing industry, developing marketing campaigns and creative content for many of the sport’s most recognizable brands. He is a dedicated husband and father, an enthusiastic bass tournament competitor, YouTuber, photographer, musician, and author of the novel "Personal Best: fishing and life”.

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies; California Beaches, Redwoods & Big Fish on the Fly; Why My Longtime Goal to Bass Fish Okeechobee Keeps Sending Me Somewhere Else

Gear Reviews

Thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift ideas for anglers, from practical upgrades to unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime. Field-tested picks they’ll actually use.

Bass Fishing

A new neutral world championship brings Bassmaster and MLF anglers together to settle the debate over who’s truly the best in pro bass fishing.

Bass Fishing

The 2026 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame ballot highlights the many ways anglers, innovators, and trailblazers have shaped the sport’s legacy.

Freshwater

How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?; Why Ciscoes are My Favorite Fish to Pull Through the Ice; and Why the Best Ice Fishing Is Where Other Anglers Won’t Go.

In Key West, the decision not to fish shaped the experience just as much as any day on the water.

Destinations

Key West looked like a fishing dream, but conditions changed the plan. Here’s why I chose not to fish—and how I’d approach a return trip differently.

It probably makes perfect sense that the last week of January was dominated by ice fishing stories.

Freshwater

Fishing Lake Superior Lake Trout All Winter—Despite the Risks; Extra Effort Rewards Anglers With the best Ice Fishing; and An Unlikely Species Saves the Day of Ice Fishing.

Fans gather for the final weigh-in of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series, setting the stage for a 2026 season shaped by schedule changes and new sonar limits.

Bass Fishing

The 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series begins with new forward-facing sonar limits, a diverse schedule, and unfamiliar challenges that could reshape the season.

Running across Lake Worth Lagoon, it was hard to believe how remote the water felt for a Palm Beach-area fishery.

Destinations

West Palm Beach surprised us with quiet water, a secluded campground, and a low-key day of fishing that revealed a very different side of Palm Beach.

Gear Reviews

In case they slipped by you, following are the most popular fishing stories of the week. Can AI plan a great day of fishing; MX star Malcolm Stewart has launched a fishing clothing brand; and a fly angler parasite in the Northeast.

Evenings like this made St. Augustine feel less like a stop on our big tour and more like a place we could really settle into and enjoy.

Destinations

Fishing, food, walkable exploring, and an easy rhythm made St. Augustine the perfect first stop on our Florida road trip, and raised the bar for every stop that followed.

Fly Fishing

From the Niagara River surprising a devoted fly fisherman, to a 30-day road trip fishing and camping across Florida, and the world’s youngest bait shop owner, these stories captured Sports Illustrated fishing reader’s attention on Fishing on SI this week.

Motocross and fishing may not seem connected—until you hear Malcolm Stewart’s story.

Bass Fishing

Motocross star Malcolm Stewart launches Rivell Fishing, a premium fishing apparel brand rooted in performance, individuality, and a lifelong passion for the water.

Kurt Mazurek

Joined: Nov 5, 2024

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Big-League Prizes. No Pros Allowed. The iKon Tailgate Tour Is Back

Why My Longtime Goal to Bass Fish Okeechobee Keeps Sending Me Somewhere Else

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Gear Reviews

Valentine’s Day Gifts Anglers Actually Want

Bass Fishing

What the New “The Champions” Tournament Means for Pro Bass Fishing

Bass Fishing

What Defines Bass Fishing Greatness?

Freshwater

Understanding What Your Fish Finder is Actually Showing You and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Destinations

Why I Didn’t Fish Key West — And What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Freshwater

Fishing Lake Superior All Winter—Despite the Risks and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Bass Fishing

What to Know About the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Season as New Sonar Limits Take Effect

Destinations

Fishing West Palm Beach Felt More Remote Than We Imagined

AI Fishing Day vs. a Bass Pro and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

We Left St. Augustine Thinking We’d Already Found Our Favorite Stop of the Trip

Fly Fishing the Lower Niagara River Isn’t What I Thought and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Why a Motocross Star Launching a Fishing Brand Actually Makes Perfect Sense