The new Carnage ™ III series rods are constructed from carbon or an e-glass and carbon blend, for an extremely powerful rod that leaves fsh begging. Yet it’s light enough to keep a fisherman going until the battle is won. Spec’d with high-end components like Fuji ® K-Guides, Sea-Guide ® and Fuji ® reel seats, plus a mix of hypalon/rubber shrink tube handles, the new Carnage III rod promises to be as ruthless as the name implies. PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN ™ .
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Over the last few years, a burgeoning fshery has established the Gulf Stream out of Charleston as a big-time billfsh destination. Te ofshore trolling bite has been very good.
Capt. Mike Able keeps close tabs on the fshery. He and his brother, Graham, run Haddrell’s Point Tackle and Supply, a familyowned hunting and fshing store, which has grown to two locations and a fy shop in the Charleston area since their father, Mike Sr., started the business in 1983.
“Charleston has defnitely been put on the map with the billfshing we’ve had the last several years. It’s really been phenomenal,” Able said. “I mean, look at the Carolina Billfsh Classic. In the CBC last year there were outriggers full of sailfsh fags… we’re talking double-digit stuf. And not just the big boats. I mean, the big boats have an advantage, but guys are catching blue marlin from center consoles, too. You know the fsh are really chewing when the center-console guys are hitting fsh like that.”
Te Carolina Billfsh Classic (CBC) is one leg of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfshing Series. It is held out of Mt. Pleasant each June. Last year, with poor weather
conditions during the one-day shootout, 47 boats released nine blue marlin and 53 sailfsh. Te top boat released four blue marlin. Te second-place boat released seven sailfsh and a blue marlin.
Able said conservation eforts, particularly from the Governor’s Cup, have led to healthier stocks. He also thinks anglers are getting better at fnding and catching billfsh. Te run outside the ledge is still 50 to 55 miles, but these days captains can go straight to potentially productive water. Satellite services make it easy to identify blue water, weed lines, temperature breaks and color changes to make a solid gameplan before leaving the docks. Additionally, technology like Omni Sonar can pinpoint fsh with an efective range of 5,000 feet.
“You could mark a fsh from a half mile away and go over and drop baits,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you can make them bite, but you know they’re in the area.”
Peak season for blue marlin and sailfsh is May and June, but blues will be in the area all summer. Sailfsh can be good into October or November, when wahoo enter the mix heavily. Able said a lot of marlin they catch are 150- to 200-pound “rats,” but they see some 300- to 400-pounders and an occasional 500-pluspound blue marlin. White marlin might also show up in a spread.
One of the perks of trolling out of Charleston in spring is you’ll also likely fll the box with dolphin and blackfin tuna. Capt. Able hung up his charter captain hat a few years back.
By Nick Carter
Now he fun-fshes with pretty remarkable success for billfsh and meat fsh by pulling a mixed spread with dredges, squid chains and circle-hooked ballyhoo from a ’34 Regulator.
Check out Haddrell’s Point Tackle & Supply at HadrellsPoint.com.
Instead of going “bottom fshing” this season, I would focus on going “grouper fshing”… at least for gags while the season lasts. You can go ‘bottom fshing” for the next seven months, but let’s put some gags in the boat while the law allows it! Here are some tips to help you bag some gags.
• Having the right bait is a major part of this puzzle. A pinfsh trap in a productive area for just a few hours and an (otter-proof) foating bait pen at the marina are priceless.
• You must anchor up or use the trolling motor in “spot lock” to properly fsh any piece of good bottom.
• When I frst post up on a good-looking mark on the recorder, I have everyone else on the boat fre down whole frozen squid on a jig. At the same time, I use a sabiki to catch whatever baitfsh are available on the structure. Here’s how it works:
1) Te squid might catch a handful “bottom fsh,” and maybe a grouper or two.
2) Most importantly, it sets a nice chum slick on the bottom that attracts the real predators of the structure directly under
your boat, and they will be ready to eat.
3) Afer four or fve volleys of squid, everyone baits up with a beautiful baseball-in-diameter-sized live bait and sends them back down to the bottom together. Tese baits are too big for most bottom fsh to get their mouths around.
4) Now, the grouper appear on the scene, curious about all the noise and the good smell. What do they see? Tey see a pinfsh from the marina or whatever came up on the sabiki. I like to fsh these baits on one of my Crab Decoy Jigs, which makes it look like the bait is struggling in the grasp of a hungry crab or squid. A big grouper, and especially a gag grouper, sees this as a Happy Meal. Tey love crabs, squid and baitfsh, and with this rig they think they’re getting it all in one bite.
5) An added bonus is that this is clean tackle, free of excess hardware, that sends the correct signal to grouper and results in bites.
• Te downside to this style of fshing is it will attract sharks. It’s all fun and games until the man in the gray suit shows up. Ten it becomes hard work. Sharks of all kinds are drawn to struggling snapper.
For more info on the jig, tackle and/or bait, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
May 1 marks the reopening of Atlantic grouper season here in the Florida Keys. Over the past four months of season closure, a multitude of released catches taunted local fshermen, and now the hunt is ofcially back on!
While the Keys might not be well known for grouper, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be. Between the reef, wrecks and ofshore deep-dropping, the Keys are home to a plethora of grouper species. Te reopening of red, black, gag and snowy grouper vastly
increases fshing opportunities here in our Atlantic waters.
When fshing for grouper on the reef, keeping your rig from getting rockedup on the bottom is the biggest challenge. Do not overweight your rig, and keep an angler on or near the rod at all times. Grouper are notorious for grabbing a bait and taking it back into their homes immediately. When you lose a big grouper, especially with a mouthful of your tackle, they grunt a warning to the other fsh. Tis shuts down the grouper bite. It is best to keep the grouper rod in your hand when possible and be ready to crank them away from their hidey-holes. Tere isn’t much room or time for error on the initial bite.
Fishing for grouper over wrecks can also be highly productive. Amberjacks, which received a short closure in April, can be caught as bycatch while wreck fshing for grouper. Teir season also reopens in May.
Deep-dropping ofshore also expands greatly this month, as snowy grouper and blueline tilefsh reopen. Yellowedge grouper remains year-round, but even with large grouper hooks, tilefsh can be a frequent bycatch. Deep-drop rigs can be modifed this time of year to include smaller hooks that welcome the tilefsh bite and increase productivity of each drop.
Te abundance of mahi-mahi this month sweetens the deal for heading shore to deep-drop. Not only can you fsh for mahi-mahi on the route to, from and on your deep-drop numbers, you can also chase birds for a chance to read the bottom for new deep-drop spots. Tere is nothing quite like fnding a new fshing spot, and with so much in season right now, it is the perfect time of year to scout.
Remember to check fshing regulations, as there are ofen surprise closures on many species. Venting and descending tools are required when fshing for grouper and are especially important at the depths where snowy grouper are found. One look at the bug-eyed balloon face of barotrauma will tell you these fsh cannot return home safely without help. It is easy to go over a limit of snowy grouper by accident, so have your gear ready and know how to use it.
Sweet E’nuf Charters specializes in grouper and is already booking up quickly for the much anticipated reopening. Give us a call to get tight!
Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’nuf Charters out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 or Captainquinlyn.com. Find her on social @captainquinlyn.
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Julia Bernstein, 12, of Miami, had a record-setting day fshing of Key West on Jan. 5. She set two new state records in a day by catching a 20-pound, 15-ounce cobia and a 1-pound, 8-ounce mangrove snapper while fshing with Capt. Dale Bittner.
Bernstein’s records were the frst two fsh certifed in Florida’s new saltwater record categories, which were launched in January. Tey both set the bar in the new Youth All-Tackle Weight category. Florida is also now recognizing state records for Youth and Adult Length Categories.
“‘Are those all cobia?’ I couldn’t believe it, as we pulled up to the wreck, there was a dark cloud on the surface of the ocean. Sure enough, it was a large school of hungry cobia, and they were ready to eat!” Bernstein said. She quickly hooked up to two smaller fsh, but in her words, “Tird time was the charm; it was an even larger cobia! We had a great afernoon, we caught six fsh from that school, one of which became the Florida state record and one of which is a pending IGFA Junior Record.”
Bernstein already holds 11 IGFA world records. To fnish the day, they made one last stop, where Bernstein hooked up with her record mango.
“I worked hard to get it of the bottom and then reeled as fast as I could. Good thing I did, turned out to be a state record mangrove snapper!” she said.
Joseph Ingold set the bar for the redfsh length state record with an impressive 36.25-inch red he caught from a Kayak in Panama City in February. His story is of a slow day that turned exciting in a hurry.
“About halfway down, I hadn’t gotten a single hit, so I cast my paddletail and let it sink to the bottom while I grabbed a new lure to tie on. Once I got my new lure ready, I started to reel in my paddletail to switch it out,” he said. “About fve seconds afer I started to reel it back in, the redfsh hit.”
Ingold thought he had snagged the bottom, but then the fsh began to run.
“I got super excited and loosened up my drag at that point. I really didn’t want to break her of since I was only using 10-pound test,” he said. “When I landed the fsh, I honestly didn’t even think about submitting it for the new length record. I actively participate in the Catch a Florida Memory programs, so I just took pictures for myself and for the Reel Big Fish program. Afer I submitted for a Reel Big Fish, I was curious if anyone had submitted for the new length record and, to my surprise, it was still vacant. So, I took all the pictures I had and put in my application.”
By Mark Ambert
You know spring has ofcially arrived when the eastern seaboard welcomes the arrival of voracious blackfn tuna! What better way to shake of the winter doldrums than to get out and target these small but mighty speedsters.
May and June are great months to target these fsh. Tey enjoy a wide range from Cape Cod to South Florida, and during the summer they migrate to temperate waters that remain above 70 degrees. Tey inhabit the warmest waters of all tuna species.
Blackfns are a schooling fsh and feed on migratory baitfsh, squid and shrimp. Tey frequently hunt the deeper side of the ledges and reefs common to the eastern seaboard. Tey commonly range from 5 to 20 pounds, with the occasional 30-pounder blowing up your bait!
Live bait is best for bigger tuna. I prefer goggle eyes, which can be caught or bought. Due to their hardiness, they are worth the cost to have on hand.
For live baiting, I use a Shimano Baitrunner OC size 6000 reel spooled with FINS 40G Braid. With the diameter of 6-pound mono, this braid has a tensile breaking strength of 45 pounds. I pair this reel with the Shimano Terez model TZS69M, 6-foot, 9-inch medium action spinning rod. I use a 6-foot section of Seaguar fuorocarbon in the 30-pound range for leader and Owner SSW 6/0 or 7/0 cutting point hooks. Blackfn are leader shy, so start with a 30-pound leader and move up to 40 only if you are experiencing breakofs.
I combine live bait with jigging techniques when targeting tuna. For high-speed retrieval of lures through the water column, which these fsh prefer, I use the Penn Battle III 4000 HS (high-speed) spinning reel. I pair this with a 6-foot, 6-inch Shimano Trevala B. I start of using Rapala Williamson Kensaki jigs in the 120- to 220-gram range.
Pro tip: Switch sizes and colors until you fnd what best “matches the hatch” rather than switching jigs.
I fsh early mornings, as tuna can be both light and boat shy. During a full moon cycle, the bite can turn of quickly as the fsh have been feeding most of the night. Once on my target area, I set up for a drif just outside the frst reef system, past the drop-of in deeper water to avoid bonito, sharks and kingfsh. Tis is typically in the 225- to 300-foot range. I deploy two live baits—one in the bow and the other in the stern—then jig in the middle. Check your fshfnder ofen to identify “scratches,” or fsh moving through, and mark the depth they appear in the water column. Target these fsh while jigging.
Te food quality of blackfn depends on proper bleeding when they are frst caught. Make a small incision behind the pectoral fn on both sides of the fsh to ensure the highest quality meat. Catching these speedsters will quickly become an addiction, and now is the time to make it happen!
Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefshing_™; email: marksgonefshing25@gmail.com.
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Since early November, when the frst reports came in from the Florida Keys, scientists have been looking into reports of fsh exhibiting abnormal behavior referred to as “the spins.” Bonefsh & Tarpon Trust (BT&T) recently pointed its fnger at harmful algae as a likely reason for this phenomenon that has killed numerous endangered sawfsh and afected fsh of 30 diferent species.
Fish with the spins lose equilibrium and swim upside down in circles, ofen following a stressful or stimulating event. According to BT&T, a majority of reports for this behavior originated in the Lower Keys, between Big Pine Key and Sugarloaf Key, but there have been reports farther west toward Key West as well as in Miami north of Biscayne Bay National Park. Among the species afected are popular sport and food fsh such as tarpon, permit, snook, jack crevalle, mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, cubera snapper, goliath grouper and redfsh.
In January, BT&T and the Lower Keys Guides Association launched a study with the assistance of numerous other organizations to determine the cause of these events. BT&T stopped short of calling its results conclusive, because there’s still testing to be done, but they indicated occurrences of harmful algae blooms in the gambierdiscus family are the likely culprit.
Saltwater anglers will likely be familiar with ciguatera poisoning caused by the accumulation of ciguatoxin in predatory food fsh. Gambierdiscus is known to produce ciguatoxin and other neurotoxins that can have diferent efects on human and marine life. BT&T in not yet sure whether this variant of gambierdiscus is producing any cytotoxin that would move up the food web, but evidence indicates it is such a toxin that is afecting fsh.
Tese harmful algae are more common in reef areas that are environmentally stressed, according to BT&T. Testing continues and should hopefully provide more insight into this algae’s potential impact to the fsheries.
For more information, go to bonefshtarpontrust.org.
BY: WADE OSBORNE
Last month’s cold fronts had the water temperature seesawing all over the place which, in turn, made the fishing unpredictable. One day, you might have a lot of action, the next day, not so much. Fortunately, the latest cold fronts haven’t been as severe, and the water temperature is warming up.
By now, baitfish have inhabited most of the grass flats making the morning chore of catching bait much easier. Finally, it’s time to rinse off your heavy deep-water cast net and put it away until next Winter.
For any snook fillet lovers out there, you have until the first of May to enjoy a delicious snook dinner, then the season closes. Snook spawn from May through August and are protected from harvest during the mating process. Although you can still practice catch and release, I chose to pursue other species, unless my current client has never caught a snook.
Should you decide to still go after some of the large breading females, please make sure you handle them properly when you take pictures. Never hold a large snook vertically for a photo. Always wet your hands and put your thumb in its mouth, grip firmly, and support the weight of the fish with your other hand by placing it under its stomach. Holding a large snook or any other game fish vertically for that matter is a death sentence. To learn more about the effects of mishandling fish, google “Cryptic Mortality.”
The redfish action really starts to pick up as the water temperatures rise, so I prefer to target them instead of snook. One reason is that they are still in season and the other, pound for pound, they are harder fighters than snook.
Continued on page 21
BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA
Many consider the mighty tarpon to be the ultimate catch in the waters of Tampa Bay. Tarpon flood the Bay from May through late August every year as they prepare to spawn. They can be caught by boaters, bridge and pier anglers and even wade fishing or from the beach.
Tarpon will take a variety of baits and lures. They feed on live baits like pinfish and pass crabs free lined or under a bobber. They will also take threadfins or whitebait fished the same way. However, other days they want cut bait like shad and threadfins free lined in a chum slick.
When and where you fish will dictate what baits or techniques to use. Fishing the bridges or passes you will find that free lined baits work best. Feed out the line and keep your bait flowing with the current, if the line is tight the tarpon won’t bite. Whitebait and cut baits work best in these areas. The Skyway Bridge is a popular spot that will produce multiple fish days for boaters and pier fishermen.
Off the beach, fishing with crabs under a float works well; whitebait or pinfish also produce. Remember to have a pitch rod ready for any rolling fish. Popular beach areas are off any of the passes, Egmont Key and the Anna Maria area.
If you’re going to fish at night, Tampa Bay bridges like the Gandy, Dick Misner, 10 Cent Bridge, and the Skyway provide especially hot action at night in the shadow lines of the bridge lights. Tarpon will hit swimbaits and jigs readily in this scenario, fish lures in the one to three ounce range, you can’t go wrong with white. Work the lures against the tide and hold on!
A word of warning to the boaters- if you see a group of boats drifting an area DO NOT anchor in their drift zone, you will ruin it for everyone, just pony up in line and join the fun.
Tarpon tackle consists of spinning gear in the 6000-size range and conventional gear of 10 to 30-class reels on seven to eight foot 20 to 40-pound class rods. Load the reels with 30 to 60-pound braid depending on where you fish, type of tackle and your skill level. Attach five to six feet of 60-pound fluorocarbon leader and a 6/0 circle hook and you’re in business.
If you’re lucky enough to land a tarpon early in the day, this is a great time of year to go for a grand slam- a tarpon, snook, redfish and trout all in one day.
The flats are on fire with both baitfish and the predators feeding on them. Now is the time to take advantage of the hot bite before the heat gets too hot!
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— Capt. Anthony Corcella, Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charter 727-432-6446 www.pocketchangefishingcharters.com Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
When it comes to large freshwater turtles in Florida, there are really only two species that are common--the Florida Softshell Turtle and the Common Snapping Turtle. Both of these turtles can grow quite large on a diet of everything from fish to reptiles to insects.
The Florida Softshell Turtle is more common than the Snapping Turtle in Florida. They can be found throughout the state in lakes, creeks and retention ponds. The long neck and pointy nose make it easy to identify Florida Softshell Turtles. Females can be seen leaving the water in late Spring or Summer in search of a nest location on land. The females dig a hole in a dry area and lay a clutch of eggs. Oftentimes, predators like crows and raccoons will find the nest and eat the eggs before they have a chance to hatch. Some crows have even learned to follow the turtles when they leave the water.
Common Snapping Turtles are, as the name says, “common” but live secretive lives in bogs and creeks and are much harder to observe in the wild. The best time to find the Common Snapping Turtle is when they move from one pond to another. Snapping Turtles sit on the bottom and wait for prey to swim or crawl by and then they ambush them. Common Snapping Turtles have a much larger “beak” on their mouth that looks much like a sea turtle’s mouth. The head is also very rounded and larger than the Softshell.
Try places like Myakka River State Park, Boyd Hill Nature Park and Circle B Bar Reserve to see if you can find both species today!
— Captain Wes Tallyn was raised in Florida and is a fisherman, birder, avid outdoorsman, photographer, and environmental scientist.
Wes has a focus on conservation and education in the community and is the owner of Snook Jam Outdoors. You can find him on Instagram @snookjam or call 727-410-5853.
So, there’s tilapia, snakeheads, peacock bass, lionfish, clown knife fish, oscars and others that have made their way into Florida. They all have one thing in common – they’re not native to Florida. Some of these invasive species have proven to be quite the menace, the lionfish mostly, as it dominates our saltwater reefs and wrecks. Another invasive is the Mayan Cichlid, a super hard fighting fish, originating in Central and South America.
The Mayan Cichlid, or Mayaheros urophthalmus, scientifically speaking, is native to the Atlantic slope of tropical Mesoamerica, ranging from eastern Mexico southward to Nicaragua. It was first recorded in the Everglades National Park in 1983, moved its way up through Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie Canal, and is now commonly seen in the Tampa Bay region. You’ll see them in canals, rivers,
stiffer, four weight fly rod. Pound for pound, they proved to be the hardest fighting freshwater species I’d come across in years – maybe ever. I was addicted.
When I first discovered the angling joy this species provided, I fished them hard for an entire summer. I couldn’t wait to get back out on the hunt to find bigger and bigger Mayans. And the more I looked, the more I began to find them in places I’d been fishing for years. Typically, they’ll have a broken lateral line and turquoise ring on the tail, with 6 to 8 bars on the body that can be faint or dark. The body color varies greatly in intensity with bright red on the chin, throat and breast. They have both spiny and soft dorsal fins and a rounded caudal fin. At first glance, they sometimes look like small sheepshead.
My fly of choice for these small but feisty fish is a dark streamer. They’ll kill a small black or olive woolly bugger, but they also like topwater presentations. A small popper moved quickly in front of them can also entice a bite. Scale down your leader as much as possible, as they can be quite picky. And if you want a great meal, put some in the box. They have delicious white flaky meat and no bag or size limits.
— Joshua Broer, a Tarpon Springs native, is the Facility Manager for the College of Arts & Sciences at USF. His specialties include flats and bass fishing, fly fishing, and sea kayaking. Reach him at joshua.broer@gmail.com.
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to r e y ou r f i s h i n g a n d b o a t i n g
pl i e s E a s y , C o nv e n i e n t , a n d A f f o rd a b l e .
Ingredients:
• 2 pounds uncooked shrimp
• 2 dozen small red potatoes
• 4 corn on the cob cut in half
• 1/4 cup of Old Bay seasoning (or to taste)
• 12-ounce bottle of beer
• 1 tablespoon of salt
Instructions:
Bring 4 quarts of water, the beer, salt and the Old Bay seasoning to a boil.
Add the potatoes and boil for 8 minutes.
Then add corn on the cob and boil for another 7 minutes more.
Then add your shrimp and boil for another 2 to 4 minutes depending on size.
Load up your plate and enjoy!
Keep those rods rigged, as public outcry has led to a longer season for both red grouper and amberjack this year. Red grouper will extend beyond April, and amberjack will open in the month of May. This is huge news for all of us that fish offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. At their meeting in April, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council announced that red grouper will now be open until the end of June with the possibility of being extended even later, if catch limits are not reached. And, not only will we have our normal May amberjack season, but we should also get three more months in late summer. As expensive as it is to run far and fish deep, doing it for mainly one large species is hard to justify. Getting May to target both amberjack and red grouper and June for red snapper and red grouper makes fuel costs much more palatable when you’re coming home with a stuffed fish box.
Red grouper have always been a staple to go along with our jacks and snapper. This year, however, was set to be the first time that this would not be the case, based on what many in the industry deem extremely faulty Wave 4 data from NOAA on the stock assessment, as well as, overfishing at the end of 2023. Spearheaded by a few key individuals, word got out that “We the People” needed to speak up and stand together. And, that’s exactly what we did. It started back in November at the end-of-the-year Gulf Coast Council. Your phone calls, your emails, your efforts and involvement got us these extra days. Your loud voices forced the hand of the
Gulf Council, and changes were made.
Now, let’s talk about the fishing that we are going to do this month! It’s all about the AJs, which we have been catching and releasing for the last two months between 12 and 20 miles should still be there in May. We have been crushing them on the biggest live baits you can get; dinner plate size champaign porgys, lizardfish and blue runners don’t stand a chance. If you have a live well full of white bait or pin fish, toss full dip nets out to keep the smaller jacks busy, giving you a better shot at one of the bruisers. These fighters have been an absolute blast the last few months, and it will be nice now to be able to bring a few home for dinner.
This May will be an extra sweet one because of you. Without the power of the peoples’ voices, it would have been very different.
— Capt. TJ Shea. Owner/Operator 2 Shea Fishing and Diving Charters. TJ has been exploring
and
the Gulf of Mexico since he was 8 years
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May is a month of choices when it comes to what fish you want to target. Tarpon will invade the Tampa Bay area in full force. Look for them along the beaches, passes and the Skyway Bridge. One technique that is popular around the Skyway Bridge is to spot lock at the bridge and start cutting pieces of threadfin herring and dropping them overboard at a slow, but steady pace. The scent and flashing of the pieces as they sink will attract the tarpon into your chum line.
Cobia will also be making their appearance, and do not be surprised if you catch one while tarpon fishing. If you want to target cobia look for them around bridge pilings, range markers, channel markers, rock jetties and reefs. You can also find them on the flats, especially under or near large stingrays and manatees. On the flats, they like to stay very close, if not next to them, because they scare bait like crabs, shrimp and fish out of their hiding places, like the grass, as they go over them, which makes easy pickings for the cobia. Be ready with a live bait or lure if you see this extra shadow by the stingray or manatee, and make a good
cast. Many times, the cobia will not travel too far away from its host. Saltwater Assassins Artemis shad on a 5/0 to 7/0 jig head or weighted hook would be a good lure to have ready in light and dark colors to cover water color and daily conditions like overcast or sunny.
Snook will be under the mangroves, so good casts are a plus if you want to catch many of these fast-ambushing predators. You can also live chum to try to get them active and out from under the bushes. Scaled sardines, threadfin herring and pinfish are a few good baits that the snook like live or as cut bait. If you’re using a pinfish, you might want to put it under a cork so they cannot swim down into the grass or roots. If you like artificials, a white or crystal color jerkbait is a good option on a 1/8-ounce twistlock hook.
Redfish will be on the flats roaming, but they will also hide from the sun under the mangroves, so don’t be surprised while fishing for snook that you catch some redfish. They also like oyster mounds and, if you can find an area that has both you might be golden. They will hit the same live baits
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as the snook, but they also love cut baits like pinfish, threadfin, ladyfish and mackerel to name a few.
A shad tail in gold pepper on a ¼-ounce jig head or twistlock hook is also a good choice for covering ground and finding redfish. Trout will be hanging out on the flats near the drop-offs where the water just starts to get a little deeper like 4 to 5 feet or in deeper potholes. They will also be on raised grass flats with deeper water surrounding them. I like a 1/8 to 1/4-ounce jig head with a 4-inch fake shrimp or baitfish imitation like Saltwater Assassins shrimp cocktail or shad tail in white, molting, papa smurph and new penny.
So, get out there and fish. It is a great time “Tight Lines”.
— Capt. George Hastick of “Fish Hunter Fishing Charters” in St. Petersburg, Fl. is the co-host of Florida West Coast Fishing Report and co-hosts Fishing Adventures Florida which is on five streaming channels and You Tube. He has been fishing the waters of the Tampa Bay area for over 40 years and guiding over 20 years.
Choosing the right fly reel can really make your head spin. From basic drags to sealed-disk braking systems, the prices and quality vary dramatically. My gut always tells me to get the best that I can. Buy it once and you won’t be replacing it in a couple of years.
While this typically holds true for fly reels, there are instances when it can be overkill. If you are looking for an inshore 8-weight and will be typically chasing snook in the backcountry, the need for a reel with a silky smooth drag and 300 yards of backing is pointless. You will likely be fighting most fish within 50 feet of you. And much of the time, you’ll be hand-lining them and have no need for a fancy drag system. In these situations, the reel is more of a line holder and can be much less expensive than their highly tuned cousins.
A good starting point is deciding if you need a sealed drag reel. They are nice, and most are very well made with super smooth drags, but
By Will Robinsonthat comes at a price. A great advantage of these reels is that they are virtually maintenance free. The sealed drag keeps water out, so rinse them down well after fishing and, you are pretty much done. The negative is they are typically higherend reels and a bit pricey. For nearly two decades I have fished with non-sealed drags and have never had an issue, but I need to do a little more maintenance and cleaning on those reels. Also, if you primarily fish from a boat where dunking a reel is not likely, this could be a great way to save some dough.
Another important question is size, which often has to due with how much backing you think you will need. Since the tackle is lighter, it’s nice to have the line for long runs when fishing open areas, but again, if you typically fish tight spots
there might not be a need for 300 yards of backing. Conversely, if you are looking to chase large tarpon or go offshore, you need plenty of backing. Larger arbors are great, even with limited backing. They allow you to pick up line at a much faster pace, making life easier on both the fish and fisher. Finally, opt for ported reels, as they are lighter and allow your backing to dry much faster. This is important for the longevity of the line.
Smooth drags and plenty of backing are always nice. But be honest with yourself, this is an instance in which you can save a considerable amount of weight and money depending on the type of fishing you will be doing.
Will Robinson is a seasoned tournament angler and has been writing about fishing for more than two decades. His picks for the best reels can be found at Galvanflyreels.com and Nautilusreels.com.
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In an unexpected twist to the ongoing saga of fishing regulations, the Grouper regulation debate has taken a significant turn, thanks to the collective action of the angling community. The initial uproar began with the proposed regulations for Gag grouper, spurred by data that many found questionable, particularly, the reported catches from areas like the Skyway Bridge. This led to widespread concern among anglers, echoed loudly across social media platforms.
In a recent dialogue, Joe Simonds, Co-Founder of Salt Strong Fishing Club, and Captain Dylan Hubbard, VP and Co-Owner of Hubbard’s Marina in Madeira Beach, Florida, shed light on the power of the angling community’s voice and the positive changes that have emerged from their collective efforts.
Historically, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries have faced criticism for their handling of fishing regulationsnotably a 2021 stock assessment using data up to 2019, to manage gag grouper catches. This delay in updating data has led to restrictions based on conditions that may no longer reflect the current health of the gag grouper population.
In an unprecedented rallying from the recreational fishing community, to not only voice their opinions on social media but to take formal action by attending meetings and submitting comments through the proper channels whereas, reporting a noticeable increase in gag grouper numbers, which contradicted the assessments suggesting overfishing, the previously feared restrictions based on questionable data were reconsidered to a reevaluation of the proposed regulations.
This victory serves as a testament to the importance of anglers’ participation in the regulatory process. By engaging directly with fishery management bodies, submitting formal comments, and staying informed through reputable sources, the community has proven that it can influence positive change in fishing regulations.
This article was created from Episode #559 – The Truth About Gag Grouper Regulations, http://www.youtube.com/@fishingstrong
The Salt Strong Fishing Club is an inspiration for in-shore saltwater anglers seeking not just to enhance their fishing success but also to foster a sense of unity and advocacy within the fishing community. Salt Strong Chapters are located from Texas to Florida to the Carolinas and offer Club Members the opportunity to Meet Local Anglers, Learn from Informative Speakers, Participate in Fun Tournaments, and Win Awesome Giveaways. Go to SaltStrong.com to Learn More.
May is the time of year the Mr. Snook, a/k/a saltwater bass, makes his debut coming out from the creeks, rivers and marina basins ready to eat anything in sight. When this happens, the bite depends on the water temperature, so it could be anytime after midApril, but it will happen.
Snook are creatures of habit and, if you’ve done your homework over the years (keeping a fishing log of whenwhere-how), you will have a good idea where to start. If not, here’s some food for thought.
Early May, look for snook around the mouth of rivers. Little Manatee River is one good snook spot. You will find snook staged up around the bends where the water flow has formed some deep holes. They will sit and wait for the bait, as it is pushed by the tide. The start of the outgoing tide has been most productive for me.
Double Branch is another hot spot in May because, as the water rushes out, all the bait fish and small crabs along the oyster bars become a feeding ground for snook and nice redfish.
As the weather warms mid-April or later, they will make their way to the mangrove flats fattening up for mating season which starts around the first full moon in May.
Early May or late April, fishing the mouth of rivers or creeks, I prefer to use medium live shrimp free lined, unless the current is strong, then I will put a #4 split shot about eight inches above the hook to slow the drift of the shrimp. Cast up-current and let the shrimp drift into the deeper water and continue to feed line allowing the shrimp to act naturally until it passes the bend.
In May, the snook should have made their way to the mangrove flats and start feeding on live sardines (green back-scaled sardines) getting aggressive on their bite. Don’t overlook any structure like exposed rocks or around oyster beds, as they tend to radiate heat quicker and warm the water around them, which acts like a magnet for snook. Cool water slows their bite, and they prefer not chasing a fast-running sardine if they can. Some live shrimp sometimes can make your morning bite until the sun takes over.
Again, we are dependent on the weather and water temperature, as this can change their mood. If the weather stays colder longer than usual, live shrimp
BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES
will still be your best bait. Our climate is changing, and I have noticed that we have had cold snaps in midApril which dictates their mood.
Artificial Baits:
Top water plugs like MirrOlure skin series surface walker mullet work great in the early morning, once they move into the flats. I find they work best when the water temperature is above 75 degrees. Fish are always on the side that the sun’s rays hit the water first, as that is where they tend to get their morning heat and feed the best.
From mid-morning on, I will switch to Saltwater Assassin, either silver mullet split tail or my favorite Little P & V in Glow/Lime on a 1/8-ounce jig head. Worked along the edges of the mangroves, this technique catches snook, reds and mangrove snapper.
Dead Cut Bait:
As the water temperature increases, the big snook slows down and prefers fresh cut bait. To me, nothing works better than fresh cut threadfin sardines or pinfish. I use a 2/0 or 3/0 Kahle hook with a #4 split shot about 3-inches from the hook, and just let it sit on the bottom. Some drawbacks are that you will catch some catfish and rays but, if it’s a snook or redfish, it will be a big one.
Tackle:
• OKUMA SRT rod #761M 7 ½ ft medium action rod with a fast taper
• OKUMA Inspira ISX-3000 spinning reel.
• Fins Windtamer 15 -pound braided line.
• OHERO 30-pound fluorocarbon leader at least 30 inches long.
— Capt. Sergio Atanes is host of Florida West Coast Fishing Report on Facebook and YouTube. He also hosts Fishing Adventures Florida TV show airing on YouTube, Waypoint TV, Carbon TV, Outdoor Action, and Angling TV. Owner of Reelfishy.com Charter business covering the west coast of Florida with over 135 captains on staff. For information contact Capt. Sergio at (813) 973-7132 email: atanes@msn.com.
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Redfish can be found throughout Tampa Bay, but some of the hot spots are around oyster beds and grassy areas adjacent to mangroves.
If you see a few redfish as you’re moving about on the grass flats, Power Pole down and start chumming with live baitfish. If they’re swimming with a school, they may very well start circling your boat and feed for an extended period of time. Do the same if you encounter a school of mullet. Remember, redfish like to travel with mullet, so don’t assume it’s only a school of mullet.
The bonnethead and blacktip shark action has been insane. On a recent morning charter with three teenage spring breakers and their dad, we caught 13 bonnetheads. On the same day, while fishing in the same spot during a different afternoon charter, we continued to catch numerous bonnetheads and some beefy blacktip sharks. One blacktip probably weighed close to 45 pounds.
The cool thing about catching these sharks is that I wasn’t just fishing for sharks. I was using light tackle that you would use on any grass flat, and also catching Spanish mackerel, seatrout and sliver trout. Whenever I’m fishing for small sharks and Spanish mackerel, I use 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and a size 1 or 2 long shank hook.
I find the best areas to catch the aforementioned variety of fish is in about five to seven feet of water. The bottom is usually a mix of hard shell, sand and grass. To accelerate the action, I always start chumming with fresh cut bait. As for
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bait on the hook, scaled sardines or shrimp work just fine. As a matter of fact, the morning we caught the 13 bonnetheads, shrimp was the bait of choice. Never underestimate the allure of shrimp!
As we get further into May, look for the mangrove snapper fishing begin to pick up significantly. Mangrove snapper start staging up as we approach mid-to- late May, just ahead of June through August spawning season. A good place to look for these tasty specimens is around bridge pilings and any of the numerous artificial reefs scattered throughout Tampa Bay.
Tarpon continue to filter into the Tampa Bay and, by the first of May, they will be everywhere. The huge number of tarpon that move about between the Skyway Bridge and the passes of either side of Egmont Key is mind blowing! During May and June, the tarpon fishing rivals that of Boca Grande. The best part is that you don’t have to deal with the crowds or that dreadful drive.
Afishionado, “Always an Adventure.”
— Tampa Bay fishing guide Wade Osborne of “Afishionado Guide Services” has been plying the waters of Tampa Bay as a professional full-time captain, since 1997. Osborne has been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and writes for multiple publications. Osborne offers inshore fishing charters on light tackle spin, fly or plug. He also offers eco-tours with an emphasis on photography. For more info visit Afishionado.com or find Afishionado Guide Services on Facebook and Instagram. Email: wade@afishionado.com Call/Text 813-286-3474
May is a month of choices when it comes to what fish you want to target. Tarpon will invade the Tampa Bay area in full force. Look for them along the beaches, passes and the Skyway Bridge. One technique that is popular around the Skyway Bridge is to spot lock at the bridge and start cutting pieces of threadfin herring and dropping them overboard at a slow, but steady pace. The scent and flashing of the pieces as they sink will attract the tarpon into your chum line.
Cobia will also be making their appearance, and do not be surprised if you catch one while tarpon fishing. If you want to target cobia look for them around bridge pilings, range markers, channel markers, rock jetties and reefs. You can also find them on the flats, especially under or near large stingrays and manatees. On the flats, they like to stay very close, if not next to them, because they scare bait like crabs, shrimp and fish out of their hiding places, like the grass, as they go over them, which makes easy pickings for the cobia. Be ready with a live bait or lure if you see this extra shadow by the stingray or manatee, and make a good cast. Many times, the cobia will not travel too far away from its host. Saltwater Assassins Artemis shad on a 5/0 to 7/0 jig head or weighted hook would be a good lure to have ready in light and dark colors to cover water color and daily conditions like overcast or sunny.
Snook will be under the mangroves, so good casts are a plus if you want to catch many of these fast-ambushing predators. You can also live chum to try to get them active and out from under the bushes. Scaled sardines, threadfin herring and pinfish are a few good baits that the snook like live or as cut bait. If you’re using a pinfish, you might want to put it under a cork so they cannot swim down into the grass or roots. If you like artificials, a white or crystal color jerkbait is a good option on a 1/8-ounce twistlock hook.
Redfish will be on the flats roaming, but they will also hide from the sun under the mangroves, so don’t be surprised while fishing for snook that you catch some redfish. They also like oyster mounds and, if you can find an area that has both you might be golden. They will hit the same live baits as the snook, but they also love cut baits like pinfish, threadfin, ladyfish and mackerel to name a few. A shad tail in gold pepper on a ¼-ounce jig head or twistlock hook is also a good choice for covering ground and finding redfish.
Trout will be hanging out on the flats near the drop-offs where the water just starts to get a little deeper like 4 to 5 feet or in deeper potholes. They will also be on raised grass flats with deeper water surrounding them. I like a 1/8 to 1/4-ounce jig head with a 4-inch fake shrimp or baitfish imitation like Saltwater Assassins shrimp cocktail or shad tail in white, molting, papa smurph and new penny.
So, get out there and fish. It is a great time “Tight Lines”.
— Captain Rick Kirby 727-494-4666 | CaptRickKirby@gmail.com
Aiden Patterson nabbed this snook near the Dunedin Causway.
Personal best 27-inch jack crevalle for Cali Williams who said while topwater snook fishing along the Hillsborough River, a huge school of jacks were tearing up bait and absolutely destroyed his 5-inch MirrOlure Top Dog plug.
Aiden Smith landed this 38-inch snook near St. Pete and said it was a clean release.”Got revived in less than 5 minutes and let go of my thumb and swam off like a stud!‟
Nice 18-inch sheepshead caught in Clearwater by Paul Thompson.
Fishing at E.G. Simmons Park, Annie Harris said she was stoked to pull this bull red into her canoe, saying,”It put up an awesome fight and almost pulled me in once!‟
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Pasco County scallopers will get a 40-day season in 2024 afer the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a change to the management region during a February meeting. Te season for the Pasco County Zone will begin July 10 and run through Aug. 18, annually.
Tese long-term season dates were informed by the 2023 post-season monitoring results by FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute as well as input received from stakeholders at virtual public workshops, in-person meetings and public comments.
“Along with moving away from the Independence Day holiday, the longer season will increase both the public’s safety and access to one of our state’s most fun family resources,” said FWC Commissioner Preston Farrier. “ Tere will be many positive impacts for the local communities.”
Te Pasco Zone bay scallop region includes all state waters between the Hernando/Pasco county line and the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.
For complete regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Scallops.
By A. deGruchy
You’ll fnd some real giants lurking in Florida waters, ofen hanging out near wrecks, structures and mangrove roots. Te notorious Goliath grouper is a massive, territorial and iconic Florida fsh that has experienced a remarkable comeback in recent years, prompting the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to introduce a lottery system for limited harvest.
It’s been quite the journey for these giants of the sea. Back in the 1990s, they were critically endangered, and conservation eforts swung into action
to protect them. Trough the 2000s, Goliath grouper started reappearing in South Florida’s coastal waters in greater numbers. Some saw this as a positive thing, while others focused on the negative potential impact on the marine ecosystem.
With their enormous size, reaching lengths of over 8 feet and weighing up to 800 pounds, these beasts could easily throw of the delicate balance of fsh populations and reef habitats. Despite the initial concerns, strict conservation measures and protective regulations led to a remarkable population rebound. Tey once again rule as apex predators; some would even call them bullies!
We were lucky to receive one of the tags to harvest a Goliath this year. Tere were specifc protocols to follow. Te FWC divided it into Category I and Category II, restricting the fshing areas. Additionally, there was a stipulation to use non-ofset, non-stainless steel hooks to improve survival chances. Tere was also a research element involved. We were issued a kit for taking samples and instructions on where to drop of the carcass afer our fsh was cleaned.
Goliath grouper have big appetites, eating large quantities of food to sustain their massive size. Tese underwater monsters can consume up to 5 percent of their body weight in a single feeding, so an average adult weighing around 400 pounds might eat 20 pounds. Tat’s a hefy meal by any standard. Tey also eat pretty much anything that moves, and they love crustaceans, especially stone crabs.
With our tag, we managed to catch one that fell within the slot size of 24 to 36 inches set by the lottery. We gave it a try, and to our surprise, it tasted great, like a meatier version of traditional grouper: white, faky and juicy, probably due to their diet.
Goliaths are a lesson in how tricky the balance can be between preserving our marine life and using it responsibly. From nearly disappearing to bouncing back in a big way, these amazing creatures keep us hooked on their journey. Tey remind us how everything in the ocean is connected and how important balance is. Whether we’re rallying to protect them or frying them up for dinner, Goliath grouper are a signifcant part of what makes Florida’s marine ecosystem so unique.
To see the episode of our Goliath Grouper Catch & Cook, go to “Bean Sportfshing TV” on YouTube. For more information about FWC’s Goliath Grouper harvest program, visit: www.myfwc.com.
By Emily Hanzlik
Amberjacks are powerful fsh with a never-quit attitude that makes them prized among anglers who live for the battle. Tey are a widespread species, with a pretty much worldwide range and prefer depths from 60 to 250 feet. Typically, they live near reefs and shipwrecks in small schools. Tis is due to their diet being mostly smaller fsh, crustaceans and squid that live around these structures.
An amberjack might live its whole life around these structures and only move due to lack of prey or for spawning. Amberjacks broadcast spawn, but usually in smaller groups. A single female can produce anywhere between 20 and 50 million eggs. Afer spawning, these fsh participate in some sort of courting and will stay in pairs. Adults can weigh up to 200 pounds and grow to 6 feet in length with a lifespan of more than 15 years. Most angler encounters are with fsh up into the 40-pound range.
Ofshore and nearshore in appropriate depths, you’ll want to look for AJs around structure. Most depthfnders identify structure as dark red patches that jut up from the baseline of the ocean foor. Good structure will have plenty of life around it, which will be represented on the screen as yellow and green blotches of bait and baitfsh.
Once you fnd your spot, use a typical bottom rig with enough weight to keep your bait on bottom in the current. Both live and dead baits work. It’s a good idea to butterfy larger baits, which is cutting the spine and ribs out while leaving the head and skin-on flets intact. For live baits, fsh any baitfsh in the 3- to 5-inch range.
Jigging is another fun way to target these monsters. My friend Nick DeGannaro recently caught a giant AJ on a jig, and here are a few tips he provided.
“Dropping a slim-profled jigging spoon and ripping it back up towards the surface usually elicits the bite, which will stop all motion you had going as the rod doubles over and line starts disappearing of the spool,” he said. “It really is a thrilling fshery, but one you have to show up prepared for, as it will push your tackle to the limits.”
DeGannaro’s go-to outft for speed jigging is an 8000-sized reel flled with 30-lb. braid paired with an E-Fish-Ent Custom Rods Phantom Jigger 250. He fshes a 40- to 60-lb. fuorocarbon leader, depending on water clarity, and either a glow or shiny jig.
Amberjack regulations vary on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, so check the regs before you go. While some enjoy the buttery favor of amberjack, others are turned of by the tapeworms most AJs have in their meat. Whether you plan to keep one or not, these reef bullies sure are a lot of fun to do battle with.
Emily Rose Hanzlik has caught more than 60 IGFA world records in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
By Richard Matteson
Surf casting is a great and inexpensive way to catch quality fsh. I’ve landed big tarpon and snook from the beach and small panfsh like whiting and croaker. You can catch dinner or experience the thrill of battling some the top sportfsh in the world.
GEAR: I carry two rods, one for big fsh and one for smaller fsh, so I’ll be prepared for whatever I encounter. My lighter set-up is an 8-foot mediumaction rod with a spinning reel flled with 10- to 20-lb. braid attached to 12 inches of clear 30-lb. fuorocarbon leader.
For tarpon, big snook, sharks and big jacks, you need 40- to 60-lb. braid (200-300 yards) with a 60- to 80-lb. clear fuorocarbon leader. For big fsh, you need a heavier rod and 6000-8000 reel with a bigger spool for more line.
LURES: Tie your lures to your leaders with a loop knot. My favorite lures include 4-inch DOA paddletail (pearl white or silver sparkle) rigged on a 3/8oz. chartreuse jig head; a 1- or 2-oz. spoon (silver Krocodile or gold Johnson); topwater plugs (Skitterwalk, Zara Spook, or various chug plugs); and shallow running crankbaits. If it’s windy or rough, you might need to fsh heavier jigs or spoons.
BEST TIMES TO FISH: First light and an hour before dark are the best times to fsh. Te best tides are early incoming and early outgoing. Avoid slack tides. I also use moon phases, which regulate the amount of rise and fall during each tide.
FIND THE FISH: Find the bait, and you’ll fnd the fsh. Bird activity is the most obvious sign of bait in an area. Tis could be pelicans, gulls or even small terns nipping at baitfsh. You also need to be able to spot baitfsh. Identifying the little splashes or dark mass of a school is critical.
I walk the beach looking for bait. When I see bait, I stop and fsh. Birds aren’t always there, and the bait just pops up for a few seconds and you need to be ready. Go to a beach access, get out of the car and scan for birds. If you don’t see any birds, it might be worth going to another beach access, but remember that fnding bait is sometimes just a matter of moving down the beach a hundred yards.
TECHNIQUE: Identify the feeders. Bluefsh, jacks, mackerel, ladyfsh, kingfsh and barracuda are all aggressive feeders that like fashy lures and fast retrieves. If you’re fshing for tarpon, a slow steady retrieve is better. Snook will hit a slow retrieve and can also be caught in shallower water by jigging of the bottom around the frst cut. Whiting, pompano and croakers are all easily caught twitching a lure of the bottom, but you must get it out to them.
Richard L. Matteson is a long-time contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine who reports for the Stuart Rod and Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440.
The fight for an unforgettable catch begins here, where 100,000 square miles of deep blue waters play home to speedy blue marlin and wahoo, massive tuna and brawny mahi mahi. Deep sea fishing in The Out Islands is a battle of wits, a test of perseverance, and a chance to prove your angler’s instinct. See what could be waiting on the other side of your line.
John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote that you should never go to Alaska as a young man because you’ll never be satisfed with any other place as long as you live. From frst-hand experience, I believe this to be true.
is true for human visitors, too. Te summertime fshing in Alaska can be astoundingly good.
Imagine awe-inspiring natural landscapes cascading into a sea teeming with marine life. I’ve lived and fshed in Fiji, Te Bahamas, Hawaii and Florida. Tey are all spectacular, but there’s nothing like an Alaskan summer.
My own journey to Alaska began as a young man when I dreamed of one day fshing there. Like most young adults, I strived to get good grades and work jobs to pay bills and tuition. I took the mainstream approach of university studies. Shortly afer graduation, I obtained a position with a fnancial frm. I loved the work; I hated the monotony of a nine-to-fve work life. Afer a year and a half, I called it quits and fed to Alaska with no contacts or the faintest idea of what it would be like. It’s now been 12 years, and I still call Alaska home for the summer fshing season.
I operate Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters. My fshing partner, Jake Smith, and I consider ourselves lucky for the opportunity to provide topfight experiences for clients every day.
Te prime fshing season in Ketchikan is May through September, and we provide customized charters for any group, regardless of age or experience. You can expect to catch halibut, salmon, rockfsh, cod and even Dungeness crab. We ofer full-day and multi-day packages, with daily catches aggregating over hundreds of pounds. In addition, we ofer cruise ship charters for salmon and halibut to ft each visitor’s port times. With pick-up and drop-of from downtown ports, it’s the best way to fsh during an Alaskan cruise.
Alaska still holds riches beyond one’s wildest dreams. Hundreds of millions of salmon food into their native streams and rivers to spawn each year. Giant barn-door halibut scour the deep seas. Humpback whales migrate thousands of miles to feast on Alaska’s annual summer bounty. Eagles, bears and other wildlife abound and celebrate summer, when it’s a feast for all. Tis
Imagine riding to the richest Alaskan fshing grounds with humpback whales breaching on the horizon. Eagles soar overhead and swoop to pluck salmon from the sea. Te fshing is insane, with massive halibut and lightsout salmon fshing. It’s sensory overload in a good way, and an experience that should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list.
If planning a fshing trip in Alaska seems daunting, know that modernday Alaska is accessible to all. Tere’s no need for foat planes or dog sleds. Ketchikan is a two-hour plain ride from Seattle in a commercial airliner that touches down in a modern airport. From there, everything is at your fngertips.
Check out Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters at ketchikanfshingtrips.com. Contact them (907) 617-4717 or e-mail ketchikanfshingtrips@gmail.com.
The year is 2024, and technology is getting better and better. Whether it be the retail tech business or the fshing industry, there are tools now available that a few years ago we would have never thought were even possible. One of those technologies is forward-facing sonar (FFS). Tere’s a lot of debate about FFS in the fshing these days, but there’s no denying it’s an amazing tool when used correctly.
I have been using this technology since its earliest stages, and catching fsh while looking at my screens has become one of my favorite ways to fsh. It is extremely cool to watch a fsh eat your lure in real time, and it can also teach you a tremendous amount about what is happening under the water. Not only do I use this tech to fnd and catch fsh, I use it to pinpoint bait and areas with life, fnd sweet spots and diferentiations in an area, and eliminate dead water much faster ever before.
Figuring out how to use this new technology can be a little frustrating at frst if you don’t quite understand what’s going on. Spending time on the water, doing as much research as possible or getting someone experienced to teach you are the best ways to get an upper
hand. Fishing lakes where catching fsh isn’t very hard in general helped
me tremendously with deciphering what I saw using FFS. Smallmouth fshing in the north country was a big helper, as these fsh are aggressive and you get many opportunities to present baits and dial in your skills.
Another thing that helps you understand the picture on your screen is objects that are visible above the water. Point your transducer at a bridge, dock, tree or grass, and picture in your head what should be under the water while also watching your screen. Tis will help beginners dial in settings and get a better understanding of what is displayed. It takes time, patience and dedication to learn, but don’t get frustrated and try to have fun with it.
Tere are varied opinions on forwardfacing sonar and its place in the fshing industry, but it isn’t going away, it will only get better! Some of the coolest things I’ve witnessed and some of my best fshing days were due to the electronics on my boat. Spending the time to learn how to use FFS is well worth the efort. Te technology is dominating pretty much every tournament right now, and it absolutely revolutionized the way I break down a body of water.
Tere are many resources out there to help you in your learning process and people like me who are always willing to answer questions. Don’t be afraid to reach out, tight lines!
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfshing.com.
It’s well known that some of the best kingfsh fshing starts with a livewell full of frisky baits. Unfortunately, catching them can eat up much of your fshing time. Afer that, it can be hours of bump trolling waiting for a fsh to hit. Fortunately, for those who just want to head out for a couple hours of fun and blistering runs, it can be accomplished with artifcials. Besides getting you straight to the fshing, you can cover a lot more ground by pulling hardware, and it is not nearly as tedious.
Like using live bait, wire leader is crucial. Kingfsh have razor sharp teeth that will go through even stout mono with little efort. I prefer single-strand wire and usually opt for at least #7 (80-lb.). Single strand tends to kink afer just one fsh, but that’s not always a problem when pulling big plugs, as they will pull the wire straight. Also, watch your split rings. Tey can weaken the loop where it attaches to the lure, so be sure to constantly inspect your connections. I like to cover many diferent depths in the water column when trolling. I
start with a shallow runner like the Nomad 190 AT that runs 3 to 5 feet deep, which I set way back. I also like the Nomad Madmacs that run just slightly deeper. I run it 30 to 50 feet in front of my shallow long-bait to facilitate turning. Ten I like to go deeper with a DTX Minnow 165. I run that close to the boat and right under the prop wash. Tis is hands down my most productive bait. I fnd speeds of 6 to 8 knots usually work well. Tis allows me to cover a lot of ground and is fast enough to elicit a strike. I ofen fnd any slower and the fsh don’t seem interested. Te other great thing about these lures is the hooks are very large, and they stick once they make contact.
When you’re trolling the deeper-diving DTX 165s, you will need a reel with some signifcant drag, as these big-lipped plugs take a lot to hold in place.
Te Accurate BV600, with its dual drag system, is a great reel for the job. Te BV X76H matches perfectly with it and is a great multi-duty trolling rig that doubles as an awesome grouper rod. Even though you don’t need a super-light tip, like with live bait, a rod that gives is a plus with these sof-mouthed fsh.
As for spots, look for hard bottom that holds bait. Wrecks and reefs are great, too. It sometimes pays to make wider circles around these structures to get away from the barracudas.
With a few lures and some know-how, you can easily head out and catch some kings without dedicating an entire day to your eforts.
Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament anglers who has been writing about fshing for more than three decades.
The heritage of American Silver Dollars is rich and diverse, marked by stunningly beautiful designs, leading to an enduring desirability in the hearts of collectors around the world. In this iconic U.S. Silver Dollar set, spanning nearly 150 years, you’re getting FIVE American Silver Dollars issued over the last 15 decades that each reflect the history, culture and economic aspects of the United States.
Each of these U.S. Silver Dollars is sought-after by collectors individually, but this set includes every design of U.S. Silver Dollar in American history, issued from 1878 to 2024!
Morgan Silver Dollar: First struck 146 years ago in 1878, the Morgan has a historic legacy as the coin that helped build the American West. Minted until 1904, then again in 1921, this 90% silver coin with its iconic Lady Liberty design is the most collected vintage Silver Dollar in the world. Extremely Fine (XF) condition coin included in set.
Peace Silver Dollar: With a beautiful design memorializing peace following the end of World War I, the 90% silver Peace Dollar was intended as a one-year only release struck in 1921—but it proved so popular with the American people, it was struck until 1928, then again in 1934-35. Extremely Fine (XF) condition coin included in set.
Eisenhower Dollar: The last circulating U.S. dollar coin, the Eisenhower Dollar, aka the “Ike Dollar,” was prized by Americans, with its design featuring war hero President Dwight D. Eisenhower, backed by an image symbolizing the Apollo II moon landing. First struck with silver 1971-1976, the Eisenhower Dollar in this set was struck in 40% silver for collectors, and you will receive a coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition.
GovMint • 1300 Corporate Center Curve, Dept. YSL177-01, Eagan, MN 55121
Silver Eagle Type 1: The first-ever U.S. Silver Dollar minted in 99.9% silver, these coins were first minted in 1986 following President Ronald Reagan’s signing of the Liberty Coin Act into law on July 9, 1985, which authorized the U.S. Mint to strike America’s new silver bullion coin. This gorgeous Silver Dollar features the original, revered Type 1 “Heraldic Eagle” reverse design by John Mercanti, 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition coin included in set.
Silver Eagle Type 2: In honor of the popular 99.9% silver coin’s 35th anniversary in 2021, the Silver Eagle received a new, esteemed Type 2 “Eagle Landing” reverse design. This is the current issued coin by the U.S. Mint. Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition coin included in set.
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