Canadian pro Jeff Gustafson completed a wire-to-wire win at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River to become the first Canadian to ever hoist the championship trophy on the biggest stage in tournament bass fishing.
With a bite that cooled significantly on Championship Sunday, Gustafson brought just two fish for 6 pounds, 12 ounces to the scales on the final day of the threeday competition. His total weight of 42 pounds, 7 ounces was enough to hold off the competition and secure the Ray Scott Trophy and a $300,000 check.
Maryland’s Bryan Schmitt and Alabama’s Scott Canterbury finished second and third, with total weights of 40-14 and 40-1, respectively.
Gustafson built his early lead and held onto it with a pattern he used to win a 2021 regular-season Elite Series event wire-towire on the same fishery. He found schools of smallmouth bass in Tellico Lake and dropped a soft-plastic jerkbait on a jig head to them.
Forward-facing sonar was critical to the technique, which he called “moping.” He actually watched fish interact with his lure on screen. Most of the time getting them to bite was a matter of just “quivering” the lure like an injured baitfish. The technique has been compared to ice fishing.
The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota set another new record for fan attendance. It is estimated a crowd of 163,914 fans attended Classic events in Knoxville over the weekend. For more, go to bassmaster.com.
Cleaner motorwell, more reliable gear shifts and higher top speed. For the first time since it’s 2017 launch, Suzuki Marine releases a new model in its flagship DF350 range—introducing the all-new Suzuki DF350AMD.
The DF350AMD features three key feature updates you’ll want to know about. And what’s pretty cool about it is that Suzuki focused 100% on solving a few practical concerns with the new addition.
Suzuki put their engineering heads towards improving a key installation concern with the new DF350AMD. See, on some boat types, installing the DF350 requires you to use an external steering cylinder on the motor well to control the steering axis. And, in many such cases, if you had any trouble, it’s usually this external sterling cylinder that caused it.
So Suzuki set out to provide an elegant new solution with an all-new Suzuki Integrated Steering System. Plus, they used the opportunity to update the gear case and eke some extra performance out of the engine.
Here’s what’s new and improved on the Suzuki DF350AMD:
1. New Integrated Steering System
With the conventional external steering cylinder setup, you have an additional (often third-party) hydraulic system impacting your steering, which just leaves room for things to go wrong. So, Suzuki introduces the all-new Integrated Steering System which incorporates your steering axis and control internally, giving
you better, more reliable steering, control and operation.
The DF350AMD features a new oil circulation mechanism that lowers the oil temperature and reduces the amount of oil needed to operate the engine. Instead of using 3.2 liters of oil, the DF350AMD uses only 2.8 liters. And internal tests show not only better durability and reliability, but also 2% better performance. Plus, the new gear case also makes maintenance easier, because you no longer need to lift the boat when changing oil.
Not everything needs to be updated. The new Suzuki DF350AMD will feature the same craftsmanship you enjoy in the DF350A. It still comes with a dual prop, louvers, injectors and water intakes.
In short: The same looks and quality, with a few smart updates and extra performance.
To learn more about Suzuki’s DF350AMD or the company’s complete line of clean-running 4-stroke outboards from 2.5 to 350 horsepower, visit www.suzukimarine.com or call (714) 996-7040.
Located within two hours driving distance to all major attractions in central Florida, international airports and Florida’s beautiful beaches, Putnam County’s outdoor recreational choices are legendary. Between world class fishing, boating, hunting, cycling, hiking, golf, and more, Putnam County has it all. Whether you are seeking real Florida culture and heritage, recreation, or just relaxing in a small historic town, the residents and businesses of Putnam County invite you to Experience Real Florida.
visitputnamcountyfl.com
The St. Johns River flows north for 310 miles from Indian County to the Atlantic Ocean, and is divided into three basins— upper, middle, and lower. Putnam County is in the lower basin and centrally located to the river’s best fishing. Not only has it earned the title of “Bass Capital of the World,” but offers a list of other freshwater and saltwater or brackish-water fishing. Freshwater species include the largemouth bass, black crappie (speckled perch), bluegill, shellcracker, warmouth and catfish. Saltwater species include red fish, flounder, sea trout and tarpon. Shrimp migrate up the brackish water during the summer months. Striped bass can be caught mostly during the fall and winter months.
From downtown Palatka south to Lake George, some 42 nautical miles, the St. Johns tree-lined shores and extensive vegetation provide an excellent habitat for fish. Lake George is a 46,000-acre natural impoundment of the St. Johns. It is the second largest lake in the state, with three spring-fed tributaries, and holds acres of eelgrass beds, as well as old pilings, docks, and jetties. In between the big lake and Palatka, the Ocklawaha River flows into the St. Johns north of Little Lake George via Rodman Reservoir/ George Kirkpatrick Dam. Further north Dunns Creek connects a 5-mile stretch southeast to
Lake Crescent, a 15,960-acre lake bordering Putnam and Flagler County.
North of Palatka Memorial Bridge to Trout Creek there are plenty of drops, sandbars, docks, pilings, and natural structures to satisfy any anglers idea of a good fishing trip. The river and its connecting waters have numerous marinas, hotels, fish camps, ramps and launches for local and visiting anglers.
Putnam County and Palatka are recognized across the country as one of the favorite sites for the Bassmaster Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) professional fishing circuit. B.A.S.S. often returns to the Palatka riverfront to showcase their Elite event, where the world’s top 100 professional anglers compete. This exciting event which attracts hundreds of spectators, gives the community national recognition and a terrific economic boost.
Palatka’s riverfront is the site for the largest one-day bass tournament east of the Mississippi River. For over 30 years, the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament (WCH) launches nearly 500 boats annually, with anglers from all over the southeast. Rodman Reservoir, known for its big bass, is host to the Annual Save Rodman Bass Tournament.
Putnam fishing has it all. Whether it be a
family day in a boat, a dock, along the bank, or in the competitive atmosphere of tournament fishing.
Planning the perfect stay in Putnam County just got much easier! We’re excited to introduce the Visit Putnam widget, an interactive way to map out everything you will want to visit in Putnam County. You can explore our tourist destinations, select a specialized tour, see upcoming events, restaurants, lodging, things to do, services & much more!
OR DOWNLOAD THE VISIT PUTNAM APP TODAY!
One of the most anticipated times of the year has arrived in southwest Florida: tarpon season!
Guides from around the state and anglers from all over the world come down to partake in the abundant tarpon fishery on Florida’s southern Gulf coast.
The tarpon show up here each year to feed and spawn. Northwest of Fort Myers, Fla., Charlotte Harbor is particularly good for bait due to seemingly endless mangrove shorelines and extensive grass flats fed by two large rivers, the Peace and Myakka. With its large harbor and the deep Boca Grande Pass, Charlotte Harbor is also a good refuge when the tarpon spawn. It is not uncommon for tens of thousands of tarpon to migrate to the area starting in April. They’ll stick around even
after they finish their spawn in early July, and then they’ll have just one thing on their minds. That is to feed!
You’ve got to gear up to do battle with a silver king potentially weighing up to 200 pounds. A heavy spinning rod should be plenty, and you might even be able to get away with a mediumheavy depending on the area you fish. Couple this with a size 6000-plus spinning reel, something with around 30-pounds of max drag, spooled with 65-pound braided line. This is a fair-sized combo that allows you to fight the fish but still get it to the boat without overly exhausting it. A 50-pound fluorocarbon leader with a 7/0 circle hook will allow a clean hookset and enough strength and abrasion resistance to land the fish of a lifetime.
Where you target these fish will usually
dictate the baits you use. In the Charlotte Harbor area, I catch these fish using a dead mullet on the bottom up the Peace River or a half dollar-size blue crab off the beach. It all depends on bait in the area and the area being fished. Other baits anglers may choose are pinfish, shrimp and ladyfish or artificials. All of these methods work when applied in the right situation.
During the tides around the new and full moons, we experience what we call “Hill tides” or a “crab flush.” These are the most exciting times to tarpon fish. Millions of small crabs are flushed out of Boca Grande Pass, which sends the tarpon into a feeding frenzy. The thousands of fish that congregate in the narrow pass take every opportunity to eat passing crabs. Matching the hatch provides much success, which means
I’ll be using live crabs and drifting them as naturally as possible in the current.
Going back to tackle, you want a setup that allows you to land fish without causing them to be overworked or too exhausted. That’s because predators like bull sharks show up to take advantage of the congregated tarpon and the large amount of bait flushing through the pass. Injured or tired tarpon make an easy meal for a hungry
12-foot bull shark!
When you land one of these majestic tarpon, idle out of the pass and into shallower water to properly revive the fish before release. This will give it the best chance of survival so that we can ensure a healthy population for years to come.
With tarpon season here, if you do not have suitable equipment, I suggest hiring
local guide to take you on what will truly be a trip of a lifetime.
For more on tarpon fishing, look for upcoming seminars by following my Facebook and Instagram pages @hookedoncharters.
Capt. Scott Fisher is owner/operator of Hooked On Charters and operates out of Boca Grande Fla. Contact him at 941-258-5654 or hookedoncharters.com.
Salina spinning reels feature a hybrid carbonite and Japanese felt DFD drag system that outputs more than 33 lbs of fish stopping power. Constructed from advanced LITECAST body material that is 15% lighter than die-cast aluminum, these reels are built for both light inshore and heavy offshore use. With an interchangeable screw-in handle system and six available models from 4000 to 14000, Salina spinning reels are designed to maximize your success on the water.
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The newest edition to Grady-White Boats’ impressive Coastal Explorer Series, the 281 CE, made its debut at the Miami Boat Show. There, avid anglers got to check out the latest Grady-White innovations that make this boat primed for inshore and offshore fishing. Grady-White hit it out of the park with this unique new boat.
The innovation starts in the cockpit with a portside sport deck that is an electromechanically folding platform with an in-gunnel stowable ladder. An ingenious design at the transom adds to this boat’s versatility, allowing the area to transform from comfortable forward-facing seating, to casting platform, or lounge. Whether you’re riding to the fishing grounds, casting for trout, or spending the day at the sandbar, you have the right setup for the day’s activity. At the bow you’ve got incredible flexibility with a large casting platform that converts to a spacious sun pad with backrests that can be a table too. A lockable console with electric flush marine head and a 10-gallon holding tank adds to the amenities.
Loaded for fishing function, you’ve got two livewells, lots of rod storage, and abundant fish boxes–over 400 quarts! The deluxe lean bar also includes a rigging station, cutting board, and recessed freshwater shower.
From the plush helm seats with flip-up bolsters and footrest, to the full height scratch resistant acrylic windshield integrated into the
T-top, Grady thought of everything. You also get the choice of a single Yamaha 450 or dual 300 engine configuration, both with integrated digital electric steering. Other options include Helm Master EX® full maneuverability with autopilot, trolling motor pre-rigging with a swivel mounting bracket with quick release, a head stabilizer, 36V battery system and a 20-amp battery charger (trolling motor not included) and an outrigger kit.
All built on Grady’s superior SeaV2® hull
with capable wave cutting technology and continuously variable vee design means you get the ultimate ride wherever the fish are biting. But don’t be fooled by its fishability, this boat is equally luxurious, making it as comfortable for long rides to the fishing grounds, as it is for relaxing days at the sandbar with family and friends.
On the end of a line or wrapped up in a tortilla, dolphinfish are a worldwide fan favorite. Here are a few facts you might not have known about mahi-mahi:
• What’s in a Name? Mahi-mahi is the Hawaiian term for the fish historically called dolphin or dolphinfish in the mainland United States. In Polynesian “mahi” means “strong,” and “mahimahi” translates to very strong. Although most U.S. scientist still refer to the species as dolphinfish, the term mahi has become more prevalent in recent years, perhaps through food-fish marketing or to avoid confusion with the mammal also called dolphin. Spanish speakers typically refer to the same fish as “dorado,” which means “golden.” Obviously, this comes from the fish’s color, and dorado is also used widely in the Pacific as well as in English-speaking South Africa.
Dolphinfish are found in all the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans. They go by many names in many languages. They are Shiira in Japanese, goldmakrele in German, lambuka in Arabic… and the list goes on.
• All the Pretty Colors: Dolphinfish are revered for their gorgeous colors, which change according to their excitement level. They can change colors and even flicker from day-glow green and yellow with blue highlights to lighter blue and metallic silver over the course of a fight. As soon as you pull them out of the water, this brilliance begins to fade. These changing colors are due to cells called chromatophores in their skin. Chromatophores reflect light, contain pigment, and are controlled by central nervous system, which gives mahi their awesome chameleon-like abilities.
• Rabbit of the Sea: Part of the allure of mahi for anglers is their prevalence. When they are around, there are usually a lot of them around. They grow
quickly and reproduce prolifically, like rabbits. Dolphinfish can grow up to 3 inches in a week and reach sexual maturity in just five or six months. They spawn two or three times a year, and each female can release up to a million eggs during each cycle.
• Size Matters: While smaller “peanut” mahi travel and feed in giant schools, larger individuals cruise in smaller packs of two to five fish. The average dolphin only lives two or three years, and they have a lifespan of five to seven years. The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed 87 pounds and was caught off Costa Rica in 1976.
• Speed: Dolphinfish are estimated to swim up to 50 nautical mph, which allows them to feed on pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths. This includes their little brothers and sisters.
• Management: It’s usually bad news for anglers when the federal acronyms pay special attention to a species. However, years of declining catches have led Florida fishermen to call for tighter regulations for dolphinfish in the Atlantic. Currently, NOAA and SAFMC are looking at options.
fishing in the world. The sharp multi-year decline in the fishery is alarming. Last year, while SAFMC mulled potential regulations changes in federal waters, Florida preemptively
fish to five fish per person, with the vessel limit dropping from 60 to 30 fish per day.
SAFMC did not follow suit. With opposition to tighter regulations from North Carolina, where dolphin fishing appears to be getting better, the per-person bag limit in federal waters of the South Atlantic remained at 10 fish per person, while the daily vessel limit was modified from 60 fish to 54 fish. There is a minimum size limit of 20 inches in federal waters off South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. There is no minimum size limit off North Carolina.
Many Florida anglers were stunned by the decision to pretty much allow federal regulations to remain as they were. Changes, however, are likely on the way. NOAA/SAFMC have initiated a “management strategy evaluation” with a stated goal of annually determining dolphinfish supply before allocating harvest equally to different regions and user groups. We might get a look at what that means by 2024.
• Grocery Shopping: Most of the mahi-mahi you find in restaurants or at the grocery store comes from the Pacific. In the South Atlantic, just seven percent of the total
PHOTO CREDIT: SEBASTIAN SALTWATER MARINA PHOTO CREDIT: JON SLAY
A“double tackle” is what I call rigging two lures on the same main line. In certain situations, this appearance of a school of fleeing baitfish or shrimp is irresistible to predators, and I’ve got a clean and simple way to rig a double tackle.
This the time of year, a double tackle can be deadly in inshore fisheries. Spring brings huge schools of small, immature bait rolling up the creeks off the Intracoastal. They push into the shallow bays and up the rivers trying to find a place to hide from all the predators. Rigging two identical baits together can be irresistible to predator fish, and at the same it confuses them. I think fish look at this tackle, with baits zigging and zagging, and are forced to decide which one to eat, rather than whether or not to eat. There is always the possibility of catching two fish at a time using this tackle. It happens a lot.
Speckled trout, striped bass and American shad are a few likely candidates for this tackle. Spring trout sometimes key on juvenile shrimp, and this tackle is a dead-ringer for the job. American and hickory shad are complete idiots for this tackle, as they stage in tight schools and you often catch doubles. For the speckled trout, I like a 3-inch DOA Shrimp. For shad, I prefer small soft-plastic worms.
Depending on water clarity, I fish 20- to 30-pound fluoro for trout and 8- to 12-pound fluoro for shad. There is a very fine line between using a fluoro light enough to get the bite and heavy enough to withstand the force of two fish yanking against each other on the line. The knot that connects everything together is pretty simple, but it takes a little practice to get it just right. It is a must to moisten the fluoro when cinching the knot down tight, as it will cut itself if it’s not wet. Test your knots, pulling hard on them, before use.
I’m going to get sporty this year and make a double-squid tackle for the blackfin tuna. I may get two at once, but that’s a gamble I’m willing to take. Stay in touch to my YouTube channel for video featuring the blackfins. I think the blackfin tackle will be made with 50-pound fluoro.
Regardless of the lure, I use jig heads that make baits walk the dog underwater like a Got-Cha Plug. I fish the front lure with a jig head, and it zigs and zags with the same cadence of the trailing lure, which has no jig head, just a hook. Often the trailing bait gets the bite.
I’m not going into a lengthy explanation in writing about how to make this tackle, but will show an up-close detailed video that explains this simple knot and rigging completely.
For more, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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Knowing which fly to use is a tough decision at times.
Even when the skies over a trout stream are filled with mayflies, caddis flies and other bugs, knowing exactly which bug, or phase thereof, the fish are ingesting is usually a craps shoot.
That dilemma is exactly how and why I came to develop and fish a Hobo Hatch.
First, let me get this out. I was given the nickname “Hobo Joe” by a 6-year-old. It’s a long story, but that’s where the name of this technique came from.
The more important part of the hatch, the technique itself, came while I was frustrated one spring morning on the Hiwassee River near Reliance, Tenn.
There were flies everywhere, all sorts of mayflies, midges and caddis, but I couldn’t figure out which one they wanted. So, in honest laziness, I began tying on a new dry fly to the hook-bend of the preceding fly, hoping one would work sooner or later. Before long, I had six or seven flies tied on and was still casting away.
“What in the world are you doing?” my buddy Jeffery Turner, of Dahlonega, asked me. “Geez, Joe, you look like your fishing a whole hatch.”
Seconds later I was hooked up with a nice wild brown trout. And, the name “The Hobo Hatch” stuck.
If you’re laughing at me by now, thinking I’m a crazy man, well, you’re not alone. Most folks do… initially.
Crazy as it sounds to get out there whipping around so many flies, the truth is it works and is more effective than fewer flies at times. Also, I have had guide clients of all levels of experience who are able to cast Hobo Hatches as well as I can.
“If you can cast one fly without tangling it, you can cast two, can cast three, can cast four,” I’ve told clients.
The idea behind fishing more flies than say two
or three is two-fold. First, say you’re fishing five dry flies; it presents more bugs over a larger area of the water’s surface than fishing just a single dry. This sentiment also applies vertically to the water column when fishing a nymph rig. Or, you can combine the horizontal and vertical effect by rigging, say, two dries, an emerger and two nymphs.
of the hatch—on the next cast.
If you’re only seeing one type of insect but cannot figure out what phase of it the fish are after, fishing the hatch allows you to put a dry or two up top, an emerger then a nymph or two of any one type of bug.
I find there are a few things that make a crucial
difference in the number of tangles you encounter; the way flies are arranged, the size tippet used to tie the flies together, casting concentration and line stress.
What works and what doesn’t in fishing a hatch was a process of time put in on the water. There’s certainly no substitute for that. However, hopefully many of the things I’ve learned will help readers avoid some of the trial by fire I experienced as I developed the hatch. Now that you have a firm grasp of what fishing a hatch is and how it’s done, I’ll go into more details on how to build properly a hatch, where to and not to fish a hatch and more.
fishing the average dry-dropper rig.
When I got started developing the hatch, I’d often try to use the lightest tippets required. But, over time, I noticed an increased number of tangled hatches when I’d go any smaller than 5X tippet.
In general, here are the guidelines for rigging your own hatch.
up. But, when you are casting dries above beadhead nymphs, watching your timing and execution of the cast is more critical. If you get a little bit ahead of yourself or slack off on your timing, you’ll likely be retying the entire rig.
Most fly fishers are familiar with fishing two flies at once with techniques like the drydropper rig. But I’m not talking about fishing two or even three flies at once. My Hobo Hatches often include five or more flies fished at the same time.
Let’s start with dry-fly hatches. I almost always begin a dry-fly hatch with a large, bushy imitator pattern, like a Stimulator or Madam X. This large fly serves as an indicator for the smaller flies tied on behind it and also keeps other flies a little more buoyant. I typically go as large as 3X tippet to the first fly and tie 14 to 18 inches of 4X tippet to the next fly.
The second fly should be the second largest and second most buoyant in your hatch. Continue to assemble the hatch in descending size until completed. Step down your tippet size as you go. I try to go as large as possible with tippet when assembling a hatch.
Next, if you’re going to fish nymphs, I recommend using no lighter than 4X tippet and pretty well stick with one size tippet throughout the rig, without decreasing the size as in the other rigs I’ve mentioned. I’ve not noticed a particular difference in the number of hits I’ve had using a hatch made of all 4X tippet compared to one tied in 5X or 6X. The heavier line allows for a more forgiving hookset by a heavy-handed angler as well as allow you to land the fish as quickly as possible.
One of the first things most folks cock their heads at relative to fishing the Hobo Hatch is the idea that just about any skill level of fly fisherman can manage to fish a hatch with minimal tangles. If assembled right, a fivefly hatch is no more likely to get tangled than
Fishing a combo hatch of dries and nymphs should be assembled in a similar fashion. Start with the larger dries, followed in succession by an emerger and then the heaviest nymph, followed by the smallest nymph tied to the end. Especially when fishing nymphs, it’s important to pay close attention to how you’re casting. Poor or fatigued casting is the No. 1 reason I’ve found that anglers tangle hatches
Let’s look at a few examples of where and when to fish, or not to fish, a Hobo Hatch. A few of the places to never fish a hatch are relatively obvious. For instance, no matter who dares you to try it, don’t fish a six-fly dry-fly Hobo Hatch in a minuscule brook trout stream. Instead, just hang your flies in the mountain laurel before you tie them on your line.
In all seriousness, depending on the regulations where you’re fishing, the ability to freely fish a hatch that is as large as you choose may be impeded. Tennessee is a prime example of one such state. In Tennessee, fishing with a rig that has more than three hooks (flies) per fishing rod is not legal.
While the law was written and passed with the Alabama rig and umbrella rigs in mind, it effectively outlaws any Hobo Hatch in Tennessee with more than three single flies. There is a provision in the legislation which allows anglers to fish “sabiki” bait rigs with
one considers a trout a baitfish (Except perhaps striper fishermen).
Keep an eye on local regulations and be sure you comply.
A couple other situations that make fishing a Hatch difficult include windy conditions and periods of low-light. Any angler who is fatigued will likely be better served by finding the first bank or boulder to rest upon for a while if he hopes not to make a mess of the Hatch. Frustration or nerves can be equally as hard on a caster.
Enough about not fishing the Hobo Hatch.
Multi-species hatches that take place on Southern Appalachian streams in the spring are what led me to come up with the Hatch. So, it only makes sense to take your time with five or six dry flies. A couple caddis, a couple mayflies and an emerger of each species is a deadly way to assemble a hatch in the spring. Don’t forget to start the Hatch with the bushiest caddis of the two being used. There’s another perfect scenario for a Hatch that’s going on right now, and it’s all about nymphs. It doesn’t happen often on the Georgia’s Toccoa River tailwater that an angler can get away with using any fly bigger than a size 14. But there are some huge black stoneflies in the Toccoa, a size 10 Kaufman Stonefly is about perfect for the heaviest. Follow it up with a size 12 beadhead Hare’s Ear, tied with black dubbing and a set of rubber legs.
Next tack on a size 14 black caddis pupa and finish the hatch with a size 18 black zebra midge. If all of the flies have beads, and the two largest have lead wrapped in the body of the fly as well, you eliminate the need for that pesky splitshot.
The cold is done until fall. Make it your goal to gather up new fishing skills this year. Make one of those goals learning to fish a Hobo Hatch, and you will catch more fish than your buddies fishing single and double-fly rigs. That’s a Hobo guarantee!
Joe DiPietro is the owner/guide of North Georgia Trout Fishing LLC. Check them out for some great trout fishing in the north Georgia mountains. www.blueridgetroutfishing.com. fannintrout@gmail.com. (706) 851-4001.
ou don’t need an invitation to have fun in Upcountry South Carolina: Come kayak crys-tal blue lakes, hike to rushing waterfalls, dig into local cuisine, attend family oriented events and breathe fresh mountain air. But when you hold a South Carolina fishing license, it feels like an official ticket to enjoy the great outdoors.
Fish bite year-round in the lakes, rivers and streams of Upcountry South Carolina, which is located in the state’s northwest corner in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Devils Fork State Park in Salem is a great place to access Lake Jocassee, which holds state records for rainbow trout, brown trout, redeye bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and yellow perch. Or try your luck at Lake Hartwell, at Lake Hartwell State Park in Fair Play and Sadlers Creek State Park in Anderson, three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic.
The Chattooga River boasts healthy wild trout populations and is also regularly stocked by Oconee County’s Walhalla State Fish Hatchery. The Whitewater River above Lower White-water Falls is another great option for wild trout. Lake Keowee, at Keowee-Toxaway State Park in Pickens County, swims with largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, yel-low perch, catfish, brown and rainbow trout.
Pick up everything you need—including advice— at local fly shops or book a guided fish-ing trip. Sam Jones, of Jocassee Charters, puts anglers on trophy trout. Buster Green’s Guide Ser-vice reels in stripers, hybrids and bass on Hartwell and Keowee. Chattooga
River Fly Shop leads fly fishing trips on the Chattooga and Chauga rivers.
Even if you don’t fish, you can still get on the water. Jocassee Lake Tours offers tours of the lake and of Jocassee Gorges, which National Geographic called a “destination of a Lifetime.” Some amazing spots can only be reached by boat. Several tours are offered, so you can learn from a naturalist while riding on a pontoon or paddle a kayak through coves and under waterfalls.
Prefer to captain your own boat? There are several rental companies, including Tri-County Boat Rental, on Keowee, Jocassee, Hartwell and other lakes.
If you’d rather be under the water, Jocassee is a world-renowned freshwater diving desti-nation that boasts visibility of more than 50 feet at depth. Lake Jocassee Dive Shop offers lessons and guided trips to see “The Wall,” where a section of mountain was blasted to build the dam, or a 40-foot swim-through wooden sailboat.
From fishing to boating, hiking to camping, biking to bird watching and more, the Up-country’s state parks are a great place to play. Dip into the swimming hole at Oconee State Park. Hike to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains at Table Rock State Park. Explore the 13,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area at Caesars Head State Park. Or create your own adventure at any of the Upcountry’s 13 state parks.
Visit UpcountrySC.com to learn more.
Eat, sleep, fish, repeat. Although I would love to live this life, it is just not possible… yet. I recently saw a cartoon that listed things I like to do in my spare time. Go fishing, buy fishing tackle, research fishing and talk about fishing. This rang true to me since this sport consumes my thoughts as it does many of yours. Here are a few things that I do when I am not fishing that help me when I do have the opportunity to go. With the high winds of spring upon us, we all might have a little more dock time than water time.
I’m fascinated with weather. Not only do I look at the current conditions and forecast where I am, but I also look at it in areas where I travel to fish. This does a couple of things for me. First, it allows me to see possible great weather opportunities when I might be able to plan ahead and sneak away. It also keeps me from going on a day when the weather might be great, but the previous several days featured
winds blowing strong from an unfavorable direction. For example, here on the Texas coast, southwest is a detrimental direction for high winds. It muddies most bays on our coast. The previous days’ wind velocity and direction are good to know and determine where I head when I launch the boat.
I spend a lot of time on the road, and I like listening to fishing podcasts. Some of these give general information, and some are weekly reports covering current conditions and activity. These can be great to stay in tune with what is happening and to learn from new points of view on approaching certain situations. They might also cover new products I want to try.
Different social media platforms also keep tyou in tune. Find reputable anglers or guides in your area or an area you plan to go. Some frequently post how-to or what’s been working for them. They might also talk about
how to approach a certain area. If you like to travel to new areas, which I do, knowing how to approach an area can be key. In my local waters, we might approach a spot one way, but if I go to another state they may do the opposite. Knowing the local game plan can save the day.
Last but not least, I look at satellite imagery very often. One tip is to change the view and the year the image was taken for areas you fish. These images can be dramatically different than the current images, and they might offer a much-improved view of bottom structure to point you to a spot you’ll want to try next time you are on the water.
The weather is warm, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!
Yamaha’s product line of 22 FT FSH boats has made quite the splash since hitting the water in August of 2022. Building upon the success of Yamaha’s versatile 21-foot center console line that it replaced, there are three separate 22-foot FSH® models that come with Yamaha’s best center console technology and features.
This series begins with the value-minded 220 FSH Sport powered by twin 1L TR-1 HO (High Output) engines. Moving up the line is the feature-rich 222 FSH Sport, and the premium 222 FSH Sport E being the pinnacle of the series. Offering sleek lines, agile handling, and superb performance, the new Yamaha 220 and 222 Series center console boats are big, with twin Yamaha marine engines generating up to 360 horsepower.
Both 222 FSH models feature added performance delivered by twin 1.8L HO motors. All three models come with a fabric or fiberglassmolded T-Top with four “rocket launcher” rod holders. The new 22-foot platform continues Yamaha’s trend toward contemporary design with its deep cockpit and great freeboard, enabling a spacious interior and large bow and cockpit areas.
The center console is nicely finished with plenty of room for Yamaha’s Connext® 5-inch touchscreen that controls the boat’s entertainment and vital system functions, a glass windshield, stainless steel steering wheel, a locking glove box, and a 9-inch Simrad® marine electronics system. And for the first time on a Yamaha center console boat, all three models get a wireless-charging phone mount.
There’s nothing better than hanging out at a favorite cove listening to a great summer playlist. Yamaha has you covered here with its a Hertz® premium sound system that comes standard on the 222 FSH Sport E. This marine sound system comes with a Hertz® head unit, four deck speakers, and two speakers in the color-matched hardtop.
And all three 22’ FSH models come standard with mounts for optional swim-up seats. At anchor, two removable seats can be attached to the stern. These seats sit just below the water’s surface, providing comfortable in-water seating facing the transom of the boat. And since the reboarding ladder is located between both seat positions, egress
Understanding that fishing is the heart and soul of this product line, anglers around the globe have the below features to look forward to when purchasing a Yamaha 22FT FSH series boat:
• Storage for eight rods under the gunwales
• Storage for six rods on the side of the console
• Aerated 26-gal stern livewell
• Simrad® multi-function display
• Jet Wash® washdown system
onto the swim platform is a breeze.
Ultimately, Yamaha’s 22’ FSH models have set the standard in versatile luxury, while continuing to keep the end consumer in mind with its plethora of convenient amenities.
For more information on Yamaha’s 22FT FSH boats, visit https://www.yamahaboats.com/boats/categories/center-console-boats/.
Frustration is again mounting over federal management of the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. This time, the uproar is coming from the Alabama coast, where NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) slashed the state’s 2023 recreational quota by more than 50 percent.
This federally imposed catch limit is the latest point of contention in a two-decade-long power struggle between the Gulf states and the federal bureaucracy over management of one of the region’s most iconic and economically important fisheries. Recreational red snapper fishing brings millions of tourism dollars to the Gulf Coast each summer. In Alabama, officials say the quota cut will bring an early end to the season.
The cuts are the result of a complicated formula used by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to assess red snapper stocks. Federal regulators and
environmental groups are pointing to 2022’s reduced red snapper landings as evidence of a depleted fishery. In 2020, recreational anglers off Alabama caught 1.1 million pounds of red snapper. In 2022, that figure dropped to less than 500,000 pounds.
AL.com reported that Sean Powers, a leading researcher in the 2020 Great American Red Snapper Count, said the limited landings in 2022 were caused by reduced angler effort because of high gas prices and poor weather.
“The number of days people went out was half and we caught half of the quota,” Powers told Al.com. “That’s straight forward. I don’t think it reflects on the health of the stock.”
It’s worth noting that the Great American Red Snapper Count is the study that showed there were more than three times as many red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico than the figures NMFS was previously using to set quotas. For years, fisheries managers and politicians from all the Gulf states have been
speaking out against NOAA’s “flawed science,” and the Snapper Count seemed to prove their argument. Since the study, NOAA has come up with a new system it says melds the Snapper Count with federal and state surveys. There is plenty of skepticism over NOAA’s “calibration.”
“Red snapper fishing is a huge part of Alabama’s Gulf Coast economy, which is why I’ll continue pushing back against the Department of Commerce’s disastrous proposal to decrease limits for red snapper anglers based on inaccurate data,” said U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R/Ala.) to Al.com.
Alabama’s quota this year is 558,200 pounds, down from 1.1 million pounds in 2022. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets in April, and there is a possibility Alabama’s quota could increase slightly.
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The months of covering water with your favorite topwater are upon us, and what a wonderful time it is! In some parts of the country, bass are already done spawning. While in others, the move to the shallows has only just begun. No matter the circumstances of your fish, they are on the feed and will certainly bite your lure if the right situation presents itself.
Where I live in Florida, the bass have already finished with their spawn. They are roaming and chasing food to replenish themselves after a few hard weeks up in the shallows. One of my favorite ways to catch these fish is by covering water with a walkthe-dog style topwater. Not only is it just the coolest bite ever, but it is also a bait that can mimic a ton of different food options. This should be used to cover water at a fast pace. Once you locate groups of fish, slow
down with something else. Throw topwater around anything the treble hooks won’t get hung up on, and remember to stay near areas where fish just finished spawning.
In many other parts of the country, bass might currently be up in the shallows spawning. This is another awesome time to throw a walking topwater. Use it to find fish spawning, and then slow down and pick up a few more fish with a slower bait, if needed. The target options are endless. Grass flats, shallow banks, wood, points, anywhere bass might be spawning is the perfect place to throw a walking bait.
Up North, fish might be in the very early stages of prespawn or even still have ice over their heads. Whatever the case may be, fish will bite a walking bait when
the time is right… or when the water is in a liquid form. I have been very successful, especially on smallmouths, throwing a spook-style bait around spawning flats and points for very aggressive fish that are preparing to spawn. Some of the greatest fishing memories I have from those parts of the country are from the prespawn. Throw it over rocks or grass points where bass chase bait as they feed up ahead of the spawn. Walk it over open water or down the bank; they will bite it.
Topwater rod and reel setups can be fairly simple. I like a shorter rod, which makes it easier to walk the dog, with a moderate action, so you don’t rip the hooks out of the fish. The 13 Fishing 7’3” Medium Defy is an affordable rod with the perfect action. I pair this up with a 7:5:1 Concept A2 spooled with 40-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid for long casts and minimal stretch. The 13 Fishing Power Slide is an awesome topwater for these situations, and I always stick to natural baitfish colors. Grab one of these, get out on your favorite body of water and have some fun!
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
Situated riverfront and surrounded by the natural springs of King’s Bay, Plantation on Crystal River is an ideal setting for travelers of all ages and interests to enjoy endless outdoor activities. From boating and fishing to scalloping and wildlife encounters, visitors from around the globe travel to Florida’s Nature Coast to enjoy the organic assets of this dynamic destination. And before or after these unique activities, guests can enjoy the full-service restaurant, lobby bar and tiki bar conveniently located on property. For international travelers, transportation is convenient with nearby international airports, including Tampa International Airport only 70 miles away, and Orlando International airport just 90 miles away. To follow is just a sampling of the abundance of available outdoor pursuits.
Monday: The Key West Storm - $8 made with Papa Pilar sherry Finish rum, ginger beer & lime juice.
Tuesday: Tequila Tuesday - $8 for our featured tequila of the month (no substitutions). April's Tequila: Salt Chocolate.
Wednesday: Wine Wednesday - $10 off any bottle of wine with dinner purchase.
Thursday: Thirsty Thursday – Take $2 off any of Plantation’s Signature Cocktails or Glasses of Wine.
Spring is here, and so is our Spring Splash special! Book your stay with us on Sunday through Thursday between April 15 - June 22 and enjoy a 15% discount. Experience the beauty of spring and enjoy all the amenities our hotel has to offer. Don't miss out on this limited-time offer and book your stay today.
Louisiana’s Gulf Coast offers arguably the best red drum fishing in the world, but without intervention the fishery is in trouble. The state is considering changes that would help Louisiana’s redfish rebound.
According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), a recent stock assessment shows recreational landings of redfish at their lowest level observed since the 1980s. The current recruitment estimate is at the lowest level ever observed. While the spawning stock of mature reds offshore remains at acceptable levels, too few juvenile fish are surviving the inshore recreational fishery to join the offshore spawning stocks. This transition of fish into the spawning stock is called escapement rate, and it is estimated just 20 percent of Louisiana’s redfish are surviving to sexual maturity. There is no commercial fishing allowed for red drum in Louisiana, so recreational fisheries are the only tool available to manage the species.
Current Louisiana redfish regulations are the most lenient of any state on the Gulf of Mexico. They allow anglers to harvest five redfish within a 16- to 27inch slot limit, including one fish longer than 27 inches. LDWF says harvest must be reduced by 35 percent in order to rebuild the fishery.
To get involved, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/ hot-topic-red-drum and learn about the status of the fishery before taking the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TPKVLY2.
By TAM Staff
t’s the time of year when crappie fishing can get mighty easy. However, you can always strive to load the cooler with more and bigger fish. Here are a few tips:
Crappie are on the move this time of year. They might be staged up at prespawn or postspawn depths, or they might be right up on the banks in a foot and a half of water spawning. Knowing their cycles will help you find them.
Before and after they spawn, crappie hold on brush and structure just outside of their spawning areas. They move up into the shallows to spawn in waves, and this can go on for a month or more. So, while some fish are easy targets when they’re spawning or guarding fry on super-shallow brush, there are other, possibly larger, fish feeding a little deeper.
If you’re not catching the numbers or size you’d like to see in the shallows, get on the trolling motor and use your sonar to find the creek channels and first drops off the spawning areas. Find some good brush or search the fronts of docks. You might find big schools slab crappie. Pitch jigs or minnows to individual brushpiles or slow troll these deeper areas to find fish.
A minnow under a bobber is a traditional and effective crappie rig. It is not, however the most efficient way to catch them in most situations. During the spawn, male crappie are the ones that stay shallow and guard the nests. They are aggressive, and they are not necessarily feeding when they attack. These fish are particularly susceptible to gaudy, brightly colored jigs.
Crappie jigs are the best way to cover water both on spawning banks and on deeper brush. Even when
they’re feeding heavily, crappie on brush won’t chase their prey more than a few feet. A jig allows you to make numerous casts and thoroughly cover the water horizontally and vertically in the time it would take to hook and soak a single minnow under a bobber.
Move quickly until you find the fish. Then you can slow down and catch them all. If you still want to support the local live bait store, go ahead and buy some minnows and thread them through the lips on a crappie jig.
SCENT
You might not need it all the time to catch fish, but scent helps crappie find your lure and convinces them to eat. It doesn’t hurt to tip your jig with a minnow, and artificial attractants like PowerBait Crappie Nibbles or JJ’s Magic can sometimes make them bite when they’ve got lockjaw.
NETWORK
Make friends with other crappie anglers. There’s no shortage of available crappie in most lakes. Sharing information with other anglers helps everyone stay on top of the fish. You don’t have to tell anyone where you sunk your Christmas tree in January, but a little give and take doesn’t hurt when you’re talking about stages of the spawn or effective colors.
For more crappie fishing, visit www.coastalanglermag.com.
The Sea Eagle® FishSkiff™ 16 with a 138w solar panel and Torqeedo® Travel 1103C electric outboard allows you to get to the fish silently. It’s the perfect set up for trolling allowing you to sneak up on fish quietly, haul in your fill and stay out all day on the boat that is made specifically with anglers in mind. With the 138w solar panel attached to the sun/rain canopy, the batteries life is extended meaning your fishing time is extended.
The top-quality inflatable fishing boat is rugged and ready to take on different water conditions and fishing situations. Decked out with fish rulers, Scotty® mounting pads, full non-slip EVA foam foot bed, attachments for a canopy, a removable transom and more. The FishSkiff™ is made completely of drop-stitch construction allowing for low profile gunwales, and 15psi inflation pressure for rock solid construction. The ‘Skiff can withstand rough water conditions, rocks, and sharp objects, like fish spines and hooks.
The FishSkiff™ Solar Boat Package takes this boat to the next level. Because the solar panel is constantly recharging the battery it extends the range of the Torqeedo™ motor. It also recharges the battery the very next day without having to use an outlet & charging cord. The solar panel can mean the difference between a few hours on the water and a full day on the water. You can even go camping for a week and not have to worry about where to plug in, the solar panel will charge your Torqeedo™ battery using the power of the sun. Additionally, the solar panel is ecofriendly and does not produce any emissions, which makes it a great choice for anglers who want to reduce their environmental impact.
The entire package, including the 16’ long x 52” wide FishSkiff™ is very portable and easy to store. Since the boat’s inflatable, it can be deflated and stored in a small space, making it easy to transport. It can be carried in the trunk of a car or on a roof rack, which makes it perfect for anglers who like to travel to different fishing spots. Additionally, for a 16’ boat, it is lightweight, weighing just 92 lbs. with the detachable transom and 82 lbs. without the transom.
It’s also spacious and comfortable with enough room to accommodate up to three anglers and their gear. The boat comes with swivel seats for a full 360° view and a nonslip EVA foam foot bed. The boat’s wide beam provides stability and makes it easy to stand and fish. The low gunwales also make it easier to haul in your fish, catch & release, and to get on and off the boat whether from land or water – great for snorkeling or SCUBA diving.
If you want to fish in a bay one day and a lake the next, the Sea Eagle® FishSkiff™ 16 is ready. It’s very versatile and can be used in different water conditions, including lakes, rivers, oceans, bays, inland or further offshore. Needing just 6” of draft (watch your motor), the ‘Skiff is designed to handle all kinds of water and fishing situations, such as trolling, casting, and jigging. Additionally, the boat can be customized with different Scotty® accessories, such as rod
holders, anchor systems, as well as canopies, gas or electric motors, a bow mounted motor, and more making it even more versatile.
Lastly, the Sea Eagle® FishSkiff™ 16 is very affordable. It is a high-quality inflatable fishing boat that is priced lower than many other boats of its kind. There are 11 packages available starting at just $1999. With the 138w solar panel and Torqeedo® 11103C electric motor, the price is just $5999. This package also includes a canopy, two swivel seats, paddle, high-pressure piston pump, carry bag, and repair kit. No matter what your fishing needs, the FishSkiff™ 16 makes an excellent choice for anglers who want a reliable and versatile boat without breaking the bank. Overall, the Sea Eagle® FishSkiff™ 16 is a topquality inflatable fishing boat that is perfect for anglers who want a reliable and versatile boat.
The super sleek, super stable in atable FishSki ™ 16 is 20 pounds lighterand is now available with a 138W solar panel! Still as tough, still as stable, but easier to fold and lighter to carry due to the new ultra-light, ultra-strong construction that bonds two layers of reinforced PVC together.
Includes FSK16, Torqeedo™ 1103C Electric Outboard, 138W Solar Panel, Canopy, 2 Swivel Seats with Pedestals, 4 Scotty® Baitcaster Rod Holders, Adjustable Paddle, Piston Pump, & Carry Bag.
The new 138W Solar Boat Package o ers perpetual power at it’s best! Fish all day as your Torqeedo® 1103C motor continuously charges from the sun’s rays. This is the perfect package for long weekend shing trips, camping, or just keeping your boat moored and ready to go at a moments notice. *Plus applicable sales tax.
Madison County is located 15 miles north of Asheville on the North Carolina/Tennessee border in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia. There are many attractions in our 452 square mile area, of which 73 percent is forest. Nearly one fourth is public land managed by the US Forest Service.
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) tracks record fish catches around the globe. Their world record database is a great source to see some of the fish anglers are catching around the world. Here are a handful of catches recently approved for the record books. To see all newly approved IGFA records, visit igfa.org.
On Aug. 12, 2022, Ng Yam Pin landed this beautiful 28-pound giant snakehead in Rawang, Malaysia to set IGFA’s mens 20-pound line class world record. Pin was caught the big snakehead on a Duo Fangbait lure and released the fish after recording the weight and proper measurements. The IGFA all-tackle world record for giant snakehead was also caught from Rawang. It weighed 30 pounds. Bluch’s
On Nov. 5, 2022, Aussie angler Frank Bluch was fishing the Tekapo Canal, New Zealand, with guide Nicor Sutherland, when he landed this impressive 21-pound, 13-ounce rainbow trout. It set the new IGFA men’s 2-pound tippet class world record. The ate a fly Frank calls the “Orange Monstrosity.” The all-tackle world record rainbow was caught from Lake Diefenbaker, Canada. It weighed 48 pounds.
Joachim Ochmann caught this huge 140-pound, 10-ounce wels from Rio Ebro, Spain on Oct. 1, 2022. It took him nearly two hours to land the new IGFA men’s 16-pound line class world record. He released it after taking proper weight and measurements. The all-tackle world record wels was caught from River Po, Italy in 2010. It weighed 297 pounds, 9 ounces.
Fumiya Okuyama holds several IGFA world records for grass carp, and he recently set another with this 109-centimeter (nearly 43-inch) fish he caught on Oct. 20, 2022, to establish the new IGFA all-tackle length fly world record. The all-tackle world record by weight was caught at Piasuchnik Dam, Bulgaria in 2009. It weighed 87 pounds, 10 ounces.
By Emily Rose Hanzlik
With spring finally here, the ocean is open to many possibilities here in South Florida. One of my favorites is the arrival of larger bluefish, which tend to migrate this direction at this time of year.
Bluefish are a popular game fish in almost all the waters surrounding the United States. Smaller bluefish from 7 to 9 inches are sometimes called snapper. These fish have extremely sharp teeth, with prominent canines on both the top and bottom jaw.
Bluefish are common along the Atlantic coast of the United States, and range from Cape Cod down through Argentina. Their migrations are a tricky subject. Most people believe bluefish travel from Florida up to New Jersey, and then back down to Florida. However, this has never truly been proven. While doing some research, I found a few studies that never came to a clear conclusion.
What we do know is that bluefish spawn at the edge of the Gulf Stream off Florida in spring. The timing varies from year to year, but there is usually a three to seven-day window
when larger bluefish swim closer to shore. For Florida, this is the time when we catch our largest bluefish, and this week is normally sometime in April.
Most smaller “snapper” bluefish tend to hang around mangroves, estuaries and bridges to ensure their safety. This provides them with cover from predators and access to smaller prey also hiding in these “safe” areas. Once they get large enough, they move off the coast to feed on larger, more abundant prey. They are typically found in inlets, around piers and off the beaches, where large bait schools ensure a better hunt with less energy being exerted. When hunting for bluefish, you’ll want to start where the bait is. Most of the time you will see bluefish schools popping bait schools on the surface, and other bluefish will be cleaning up the mess below. For this situation, you can use any kind of spoon, X-Raps or jigs.
Normally, you’ll want to use a small piece of wire so that they don’t cut you off.
If you don’t see bluefish popping baits, you can look for oil slicks. Some experts say they can smell the odor from their oils. But, for those who can’t “sniff out” the fish, you can throw chunks of dead leftover bait and let it stink up the water to draw them in. Usually a 2-inch chunk of mackerel, jack or even dead baitfish like sardines will attract any bluefish in the area.
Currently, on the east coast of Florida, you can keep three bluefish per person, per day. Many people prefer to use bluefish as bait, while some will make a stew or cook them whole. The IGFA all-tackle world record bluefish was a 31-pound, 12-ounce monster caught out of Hatteras, North Carolina.
Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 56 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
Here’s the story of a 1,805-pound blue marlin caught out of Oahu, Hawaii in 1970. The record has stood for more than 50 years, and it’s one of those marks that will likely never be broken.
On June 10, 1970, Capt. Cornelius Choy and his daughter and deckhand, Gail Choy-Kaleiki, took a group of car salesmen from California out of Oahu on their boat the Coreene C for a day of sportfishing.
Trolling lures, they hooked into an enormous 1,805-pound blue marlin that later took the name “Choy’s Monster.” It is the largest marlin ever caught on rod and reel, although there is a set of circumstances that disqualified it from consideration for an IGFA all-tackle world record.
First off, through a fight that lasted less than two hours, the inexperienced anglers handed the fish off several times, which is not allowed under IGFA rules for world records. The rest is where the story of Choy’s Monster gets interesting, and some might say a little fishy.
According to the writings of the late Jim Rizzuto, who interviewed Gail long after the catch, a massive ahi tuna in the big blue’s stomach was a source of some controversy after the catch. If you’ve ever read “The Old Man and the Sea,” you know a two-hour fight is not usually enough to kill a big marlin. The yellowfin might be the reason they landed Choy’s Monster so quickly.
Gail told Rizzuto that the tuna, which was either 100 or 200 pounds depending on the source, was in the marlin’s stomach when the big fish ate their lure. She said the marlin had essentially choked on the tuna after trying to disgorge it during the fight. This would explain why it died so quickly. It also explains why they were still able to land the fish after the hook came out and they lost the marlin after it was initially gaffed. Gail said they just circled the boat around and gaffed the big marlin which was floating on the surface.
It is a catch that remains shrouded in mystery and history, but no one denies the monster
Pacific blue made it to the docks to be weighed. It’s the Hawaii state record, which outweighs the IGFA world-record of 1,376 pounds. The IGFA record was caught out of Kona, Hawaii in May of 1982 by Jay de Beaubien. For what it’s
worth, there are marlin caught by commercial anglers that reportedly weighed more than 2,000 pounds.
To read Rizutto’s account, visit luremakingkonastyle.com
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UltraTRX based out of Hilton Head, SC, recently unveiled several groundbreaking 2023 Fat Tire Electric Bike models at the Great American Outdoor Show, February 4-12, in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Attendees were astounded at the patent-pending innovations destined to change the electric bike industry for generations, overcoming many of the disappointing aspects of traditional electric bike manufacturing.
UltraTRX innovations include:
Plug and play and retrofittable components, allowing consumers to replace parts as needed. UltraTRX bikes are easily repaired and do not require a professional shop, technician, or inconvenient shipping to the manufacturer for repair. Retrofittable components means you can get parts for all year models of...keeping your bikes operational and not an expensive paper weight.
GenerTRX Power Generation System, a patent-pending coil/disc rotor system, charges the bike’s battery while you cycle, creating 3550% more distance. Perhaps the biggest concern
with electric bike owners, especially bike owners who take their bikes into the wilderness, is running out of power. 35-50% more distance will give the back country fishermen peace of mind, allowing him or her to go that extra two miles and still get back to the truck.
ThermoTRX Battery Protection System alleviates the well-documented problems lithium-ion batteries have historically had in frigid temperatures. ThermoTRX utilizes heat
strips inside the cells of the battery to maintain an optimal temperature of 32 F, ensuring the lithium-ion battery will maintain a charge in cold temperatures. At 20 F, your distance per charge can drop in half. You can also damage the battery if charging in sub-freezing temperatures.
UltraTRX uses only marinegrade 18-8 stainless steel nuts, screws, and bolts on all bikes. Other manufacturers use 15-5 stainless hardware, known to rust over time. The 18-8 hardware is more expensive, but demonstrates UltraTRX’s commitment to building high quality long-lasting electric bikes designed to provide more torque, power, speed and distance per charge than any other manufacturer in the industry.
UltraTRX electric bikes also produce no sparks...critical while riding in drought conditions. Sparks are the main culprit in starting many fires in our more drought prone world.
Why would you get any other electric bike?
Iget the springtime bass itch when the azaleas bloom. It’s the time of year when largemouth bass spawn on Lake Santa Fe. Bass spawn around the full moons of February and March on this 5,000-acre Alachua County reservoir. This year, I planned my annual Santa Fe trip for March 2-3, ahead of the March 7 full moon.
It was like entering another world that morning as my wife Kim and I motored onto the main lake. Mist rose through the lake’s ancient cypress trees. Wood ducks whistled and banked overhead. Ospreys squealed at us from nests high in the cypress, and loons serenaded us from open water.
Just being there made me feel so fortunate. I thought back to when I was 12 years old on my first Santa Fe trip with my dad and brother. We stayed at Griffins Lodge, which was a famous destination for speckled perch, bream and bass
fishermen in the 1960s and 70s. They had small cottages for rent and a fish camp run by an old man named Roy Griffin.
Ol’ Roy taught me to fish Santa Fe. Over the years, he kept telling me to get away from the shoreline and to slow troll. I never really understood why until sonar showed me the grass-covered humps and ledges holding congregations of bait and gamefish.
On the lake, Kim and I slowed to trolling speed to get lines out. I fish 7-foot mediumaction rods with Ambassadeur 5500s loaded with 15-pound mono. The rig is simple, just a #2 wide-bend hook tied directly to the line. I hook wild-caught shiners through both lips from the bottom up.
We pull baits very slowly with a three-rod spread. Using level-wind reels, I let baits out 50 or 60 yards behind the boat. I leave the spool in cast mode and tighten the anti-backlash knob to provide enough tension to keep the baits from pulling line. You know you’ve got a bite when the line starts running out.
We only got two lines out before our first strike. When the middle rig started paying out line fast, I picked up the rod and pointed it at the fish. After 20 seconds, I engaged the reel, took up the slack and set the hook hard with a sweeping motion. I reeled fast to keep pressure on the fish and kept the rod tip low to discourage the bass from jumping.
The first fish was a fat 4-pound female that was full of eggs. Kim landed the second fish, a gorgeous 5-pounder. We caught several more in the 4-pound range before I landed a fat 8-pounder to finish an action-packed three-hour morning with eight total fish. We released them all safely after admiring the beautiful dark coloration characteristic of Santa Fe bass. I believe this is caused by the clear but tannin-stained water.
We experienced a great nature show, and I told Kim the bass we caught were like a bonus.
Oh, how I love Ol’ Santa Fe!
Danny Patrick is co-publisher of the Northeast Florida edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.
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If there’s one knot to learn, it’s the Uni. Remarkably quick and easy to tie, the Uni creates a snug connection and can be used for everything from securing line to your spool to attaching a lure.
While not quite as strong as the Palomar, it will hold both mono and fluorocarbon very well. It’s also much easier to tie to large, treble-hooked lures where a snug connection is what you’re looking for.
This is as close as you’ll get to the “one knot to rule them all,” and it’s a first choice 90 percent of the time.
For more tips and tricks, check out https://usangler.com.
Ashore-based charter fishing group intended to catch the largest shark they could from Pensacola Beach, Fla. on Feb. 12. They did not, however, expect to crank in the estimated 13foot great white that picked up their bait.
John McLean, of Big John Shark Fishing Adventures, runs shore-based charter trips for clients who want to catch the fish of lifetime. On this particular trip, his clients wanted to “go big, or go home,” so they used a huge yellowfin tuna head for bait and enlisted the help of local charter captain, Capt. David Miller, who paddled a small kayak 900 yards off the beach in rough surf to deploy the bait.
Normally, McLean uses a remote-controlled boat to deploy his baits, but these baits were too large for the RC boat to handle. They had a big fish on before Miller even made it back to shore.
“As soon as his kayak had hit the sand, we were hooked up to a massive shark,” said McLean in a YouTube video documenting the catch.
“I’ve never seen one that fast before,” he says in the video as line rips off the spool of an oversized big game reel.
All four of his clients took turns cranking the reel while everyone else gathered around to help secure the rod rack Mclean drives into the sand and uses to battle giant sharks. Even with heavy gear, the torque of the fight with heavy braided line loosened the reel
from the reel seat.
“This shark was the strongest fish I had ever had on the line. It took all four of my clients switching in and out to land this shark,” McLean said. “This is the only time I’ve ever seen my fishing gear pushed to the absolute limit.”
It took a little more than an hour to bring the giant shark into the surf, and as soon as McLean realized it was a great white, his attention turned to releasing it as quickly as possible. They used a tail rope to control the giant white shark, and with the leader removed from its mouth, pulled it into deeper water to revive it before it swam away on its own.
White sharks are federally protected. They must be released immediately when they are caught, so McLean did not take measurements. However, he has extensive experience with big sharks, and he estimated this one at about 13 feet. A 13-foot white shark can easily weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
Great whites are a rare catch in the Gulf of Mexico, and especially from shore. This was not McLean’s first monster white shark, though. In early March of 2021, also on a shore-based charter in Pensacola Beach, McLean’s clients caught and released an estimated 12-footer.
Check out Big John Shark Fishing Adventures at bigjohnsharkfishingadventures.com.
Let’s grow with Florida together for another 60 years.
Trim tabs help level a boat in any situation, resulting in better control of the vessel for the skipper and a more comfortable ride for everyone onboard. In addition, a quality trim tab system will enhance overall boat performance and increase fuel efficiency by adjusting the vessel to its optimum running angle in various sea and weather conditions.
Trim tabs help get boats out of the hole and onto plane faster. They can also be adjusted to stop a boat from “porpoising” — the cyclic and rhythmic oscillation of the powerboat in relation to pitch and heave. Trim tabs also help keep a vessel on plane at various speeds, for a more comfortable and efficient ride. Lastly, trim tabs can help reduce listing, the roll or tilt of the vessel due to propeller torque or uneven weight distribution.
Any planing hull powerboat will benefit from the addition of trim tabs. A quality trim tab system can transform your boating experience and provide easy, confident control in a variety of conditions.
First, a vessel that gets on plane more quickly spends less time running at inefficient ride angles. Trim tabs can also allow a vessel to remain on plane at lower engine RPM. The
The intuitive dial controller makes both the Dometic Standard and Dometic Adaptive trim tab systems unique. The dial allows for easy and precise adjustment, removing any guesswork from leveling your boat. The controller allows you to easily adjust pitch and roll to get your boat on plane quickly and efficiently. The controller works by simply turning the dial in the direction you want to level the boat. The actuators respond quickly and precisely to adjust the ride. There are also single press Bow Up and Bow Down buttons for manual adjustment, and a Favorite Button
ability to “fine-tune” a boat’s running attitude and balance in the face of wind, waves and other conditions helps reduce hull drag and fuel consumption in various conditions.
to return to boat’s “sweet spot” ride position with the touch of a finger. The system’s Home Button quickly moves the tabs to home position. WWW.DOMETIC.COM
Dometic has redefined the ease of use and practicality of a basic trim tab system. Featuring an intuitive dial controller, you can easily adjust the pitch and roll to get your boat on plane quickly and efficiently. A programmable favorites button makes for effortless operation. While its innovative, rugged design and autoretract feature, ensure reliability and safety on the water, whatever the conditions.
In January, A British angler fishing Spain’s Ebro River for carp hooked and landed a 222-pound wels catfish. The 9-foot-long monster dragged the angler and his aluminum boat more than a mile over an hour-long fight, yet the fish is well short of the river record of 250 pounds.
“I was physically and mentally exhausted but had to give one last push to secure my prize,” wrote Ditch Ballard of his epic and miserable nighttime battle in sub-freezing temperatures. “It was the biggest battle of my fishing career, yet I wouldn’t wish it on anyone!”
Wels catfish are some of the largest freshwater fish on the planet. Every year, 200-plus-pounders are caught in European fisheries. With a lifespan of 50 years or more, they have a long time to grow. The IGFA all-tackle world record was caught from Italy’s Po River in 2010. It measured longer than 9 feet in length and weighed 297 pounds.
Fish like that are the reason hardcore catfish anglers are looking into European vacations. In U.S. waters, an angler might spend a lifetime pursuing a blue catfish heavier than 100 pounds.
Spain’s Ebro River, especially at Mequinenza Reservoir in the northeastern corner of the country, is renowned for good numbers of big fish. In northern Italy, the Po River and its delta on the Adriatic Sea, produced the world
record as well as some other huge fish over the years. In France, the Rhone River and several of its tributaries have earned a reputation for big catfish. A Google search will reveal guide services and “holiday packages” offered for all of these destination fisheries and more.
From an angler’s perspective, Wels are interesting species for more than just their massive size. Like all catfish, they are bottom feeders. They like stinky bait, and are
often caught on pre-made bait-pellet rigs. However, they are also voracious predators with giant mouths. Many anglers prefer to pursue them with large, loud lures. Wels have poor eyesight, so vibration and noise are important.
Their natural diet is made up mostly of earthworms, mollusks, insects and fish. As they grow larger, they begin feeding on anything they can fit in their mouths. Frogs,
mice, rats and aquatic birds are all prey items. In southwestern France, an isolated population of Wels has learned to ambush pigeons on land, like orcas attacking seals on the beach.
That should be the cue for some innovative fly tyer to twist up an ultra-realistic pigeon fly.
For more information, go to www.coastalanglermag.com
smaller chicken dolphins. If lures are your thing I prefer Yozuri Crystal Minnows and honestly color doesn’t matter. Pitch around the weed lines or patches and look deeper down for the bigger Mahi. As for Tuna with all the chumming going on, I like to send down a vertical jig on 60#-80# test at least 100’ below the boat. Working your jig through the water column is a good way to fire up any kind of fish that may be lurking around in the shadows. If you have a large diamond jig I’d put some heavy wire in front of it for a chance at a wahoo. Triple Tail are amazing fish on light tackle and I recommend 15#-20# fluorocarbon and #2 Owner hook. Live
If bottom fishing is your go to joy Vermillion snappers, Groupers, and Rock salmon is my target. For Vermillion snappers I like using a 2-3 hook chicken rig mixed with cut squid and Boston mackerel. Let your weight sit right on the bottom and wait for those 2-3 light bites. Rock salmon and Groupers like to hide out in the rocks and caves, so a slip lead is what I like to use. Heavier leader line for Groupers and larger baits close to the bottom. Feel the bite and start cranking. The first 20’-30’ are the most
When it comes to offshore fishing don’t give up. There’s a lot of trial and error. Figure out what works best for you and as always keep your lines out and keep them tight.
With the goal of stimulating the economy in the coastal areas of the nation through the protection of a marine species for tourism promotion, a new law protecting sailfish has been introduced in the Legislative Assembly. Costa Rican Deputy Eli Feinzaig presented Expedient 23,463, "Law to promote the economic development of the coasts: Declaration of sailfish as a national symbol in economic development, social and cultural of Costa Rica.” Feinzaig is a deputy of the country’s 57-member unicameral branch of the democratic government.
Sailfish are the main species that contribute to sport-fishing tourism, an activity that in 2021 alone generated $520 million for the Costa Rican gross national product. Protecting them from incidental fishing is necessary to maintain those levels of tourism that allow the economic development of coastal communities.
Data from the Costa Rican Fisheries Federation (FECOP), showed that the population of Pacific sailfish has decreased up to 70 percent within the territorial waters of Costa Rica, according to a recent study called "Trends and variability in local abundances of sailfish Istiophorus platyterus in Pacific waters of Costa Rica: Controls and effects on recreational fisheries.”
By declaring sailfish a patriotic symbol for the economic, social and cultural development of Costa Rica, the country would eliminate bycatch and its consumption, allowing the recovery of the species. Protected sailfish could then be used to attract more tourists for sport fishing. Current sport-fishing laws only allow catch and immediate release of sailfish.
Another study published by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) in 2021, highlighted that Costa Rica is among the first three countries that foreign tourists choose as a destination to practice sport fishing, coming mainly from the United States, Canada and Europe. The data showed that 49 percent of tourists coming to fish travel in groups of four individuals, who also participate in other activities. Visiting anglers spend an average of $13,450 and each of their companions spend $5,950 on other activities.
FECOP projections based on a group of five people, where at least one of them will sport fish and the other four participate in non-fishing activities, show potential impacts at the end of the trip could be worth $37,250. In contrast, sailfish meat is valued 500 colones per kilogram (0.95 in US dollars based on current exchange rates) in the national ports.
It is from this analysis that Deputy Feinzaig proposed the law to protect sailfish as a national symbol. Revenue generated by tourists not only benefits the sport fishing industry, but also businesses related to sun and beach activities, hotels, tourist transport, recreational and adventure activities, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, artisans, clothing stores and cultural activities, according to the ICT in an official letter sent to the legislator's office after a series of consultations on this issue.
"Sport fishing is a source of sustainable development for coastal areas. After many years of lacking favorable job opportunities, here we are presenting an alternative, a solution for these people who are looking to work with dignity. Just look at the example of Las Brujas del Mar in Chacarita de Puntarenas," Feinzaig said.
Brujas del Mar represents the type of impact a reformed fishing industry can achieve. The organization originally was a cooperative of women shrimp processors. The group began to develop artisanal sport-fishing lures after commercial trawling was prohibited. After a successful start in the sport-fishing industry, the organization is preparing to recruit more women from the area and promote the products domestically and abroad.
"We have really made coastal neighbors wait for a long time for concrete solutions,” Feinzaig says. “Other countries have already taken several steps forward in the protection of sailfish and the promotion of sport and tourist fishing, which, due to their high added value and enormous potential, generate greater profits in economies.”
Before introducing this proposal the deputy found that the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama have very well-defined legislation prohibiting fishing of sailfish for human consumption, reserving the species as an objective of sport and tourist fishing. Costa Rica is the only country in the region where sailfish are allowed to be marketed up to 10 percent of the weight of the total catch of a commercial fishing vessel; this proposed law would completely prohibit this practice.
"This is not just an economic development proposal for coastal regions. It is an example of how public policies for sustainable development can be generated. It is possible to protect the environment and foster the economic development of coastal and rural communities from this activity," Feinzaig concluded.
For more information, visit www.fecop.org
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