The Angler Video Magazine | August 2022 ICAST Edition

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BEST OF PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN IZQUIERDO YOUTUBE: RYAN IZ FISHING IG: @RYAN_IZQUIERDO VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1

F R A N C H I S E

AUGUST 2022

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

See obstacles large, small, and unbelievable.

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With SIONYX Nightwave, seeing in the dark is your new superpower. Stay out later, get home safe. Nightwave takes the darkness out of night. Now, obstacles in the dark are no longer obstacles. Debris in the water is no longer a hazard. With SIONYX Nightwave you can see it all — even in moonless starlight — without white light or expensive thermal cameras.

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Learn more at SIONYX.com/Nightwave

950-POUNDER WINS BLUE MARLIN WORLD CUP

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WATCH

near-record field of 157 boats competing in the 2022 Blue Marlin World Cup were vying for a new tournament record of $1.178 million in prize money for a single day of fishing around the globe. My Victoria, a 45 Bertram based in Cape Verde Islands off northwest Africa, emerged triumphant after boating a 950-pound blue. The team earned a $628,000 payout for that catch.

Angler Sergei Sitnikov was in the chair for the approximately 1.5-hour fight. The blue ate a Moye’s Big Game Bushmaster lure. Capt. Marc Noakes runs the boat. The hook-up was reported via an Instagram message at 3:45 local time, or 15 minutes before lines had to be cleared.

The Blue Marlin World Cup is a one-day fishing tournament conducted globally. Blue marlin weighing more than 500 pounds are the only eligible species and competing teams fish in their respective time zones from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entries are weighed on certified government scales in their respective locales. The payout is a winner-take-all format. This year marks the 38th anniversary of the World Cup. The Tournament entry fee for the World Cup is $5,000 per team. The optional Big Blue Challenge (BBC) is an additional $8,000. There is a winner for the Tournament and the BBC. If the team with the biggest blue is entered in both categories, they take home all the money. Eighty-six teams entered the optional BBC division this year.

Done Deal, a 70 Viking based in Houma, Louisiana, used home waters advantage to win the option Big Blue Challenge for an unprecedented third time. Angler Mike Lee and the team weighed a 586.5-pound blue at the Cypress Cove Marina in Venice to record the catch. That fish was worth $550,400. Done Deal won both the World Cup and Big Blue Challenge in 2017 and the BBC again in 2020. Jon Gonsoulin is the boat’s owner.

Hawaii was again the top destination in this year’s event, with 46 boats competing. Bermuda was the second-most popular launch point with 41 boats, followed by 19 in Cape Verde. The Gulf of Mexico had 17 teams fishing and Madeira, another big-fish hot spot, fielded 13 teams.

Using a text messaging app, teams were provided updates on the action every two hours as a way to keep them informed and the proceedings transparent.

Although the overall number of contestants fell just shy of an all-time record, participation was robust due to the potential prizes and travel less restrictive after the pandemic years.

The 2023 Blue Marlin World Cup will be held July 4, 2023.

For more information or to register, visit www.bluemarlinworldcup.com.

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THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2022

5

The Art of Artificials: GO DUMBER FOR SUMMER

By Tim Cutting

D

ummy lures. That’s the word my old bassfishing partners use to describe a certain class of lures. These lures simply need to be reeled in steadily to be effective. I’ll give you a few that get eaten pretty good, in freshwater or salt, all over the country when the water is warmest.

The Rat-L-Trap has been around for a long time. It was designed to fish at varying depths, and there are now many different makers of what has become known as a lipless crankbait. Its slow sink rate allows you to “countdown” to the depth you desire. With a sink rate of about 1 foot per second, the angler simply needs to count about one second for every foot until the desired depth is met. One of my favorite ways to fish the “Trap” is on deeper grass flats of about 6 feet. The strikes on this bait are usually aggressive. There’s also a floating Rat-L-Trap that allows the angler to work shallow flats.

This lure, while called a floater, actually runs about a foot or so below the surface. It’s a great tool for covering water, as both models cast a mile.

The spoon may be one of the most well known but lesser used baits on the market. It is manufactured in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors. I pretty much have gone solely to the Capt. Mike Hakala Aqua Dream spoon but still keep a few Johnson Silver Minnows on standby. The Aqua Dream spoon comes in some really amazing color patterns to match most forage and water conditions. Both of these spoons are weedless and will also cast a mile. They are an awesome tool in grass, timber and weeds.

Another lure that works quite well is the paddletail soft plastic. Different versions are made by hundreds of manufacturers. They can be rigged in a variety of ways, both weedless and with the hook exposed. Two of the more common presentations are on a jig head or a weighted extra wide gap worm hook. These are good baits in flooded grass and timber.

The spinnerbait also deserves mentioning. This bait

is no stranger to bass fishermen, and coastal fishermen are throwing it with huge success, as well. While speckled trout, snook, redfish, stripers, bass and many other species will all attack these baits, the spinnerbait has been particularly effective for east-coast anglers targeting flounder and fluke. Over the years, it seems inshore anglers have gone to the single Colorado blade with a soft-plastic paddletail as the trailer.

While “dummy bait” is pretty harsh language, it’s fairly true. Simply throw the bait and begin a steady retrieve. That said, there are tweaks and techniques that can often trigger more bites.

These baits can be “burned,” which is speeding up the retrieve, or “slow-rolled,” which is simply slowing down. Another technique is to “kill” the bait, which is just to stop retrieving and let the bait fall. As a rule, remember how you were working the bait when you got bit. The fish will tell you what they like.

Capt. Tim Cutting operates Coastal Georgia Inshore Charters out of St. Simons Island, Ga. See his website at fishthegeorgiacoast.com.

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LATE SUMMER FISHING ACTION DEMANDS A DIP IN THE WATER

T

he late summer in Florida brings many adventurous alternatives for outdoor enthusiasts both above the waterline and below it. A hot summer day spent sight fishing, working a reef for snapper, diving for lobster, or spearfishing are some of the best outings the Gulf State has to offer.

This time of year, sweltering Florida temperatures require proper protection and an occasional plunge into the water to cool off. With your GILLZ GEAR on, you can be ready for every adventure.

If you’re fishing above the waterline, make sure you have a GILLZ Pro Series UV Hoodie featuring our proprietary GILLZTEC® fabric and UPF 50+ UV protection. This versatile long-sleeve shirt lets you keep your sights on your target rather than fumble for sun protection as you change position throughout the day to optimize your cast. The 3-piece hood construction ensures ample ventilation mask lets you protect your face as needed.

The high-performance design for and breathable protection for your head and neck, while the hide-away mesh sun serious athletes features our pioneering

360-degree ventilation for ultimate cooling and our unique modified raglan shoulder that eliminates awkward seams for maximum allday comfort. For similar ventilation, performance construction, and sun protection without the hood, opt for the Contender LongSleeve UV T-shirt. All GILLZ GEAR is designed with a generous fit and drop-back 2” hem.

Whether you’re missionfocused on finding a keeper or just looking for a quick splash in the ocean, the GILLZ Pro Series Board Short is a multi-tasking hero. They look good, dry fast, and feature no-sew internal taped seams to eliminate chafing and promote daylong wet-to-dry comfort.

When the long summer afternoons finally loosen their grasp and allow the sun to set, it’s nighttime before you know it. Good thing GILLZ is also designed to look good in any situation.

With your GILLZ GEAR on, you’ll be ready for any moonlit escapade the universe brings your way.

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THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2022

11

WATCH

VIDEO

Your Grouper Grounds

By Will Schmidt

F

inding new spots to fish has been one of the biggest issues facing us since… well, since fishing started. For years inshore fishermen have used satellite views to find points with cuts, oyster bars and other features that can be seen from above in the shallows.

The good news is offshore anglers can now take advantage of similar imagery to make finding new spots feel like you’ve got it made in the shade.

High-definition relief shading like that in the new Garmin Navionics Vision+ package gives anglers insight into spots they would have never known about unless they just stumbled across them. There are countless examples of offshore spots where I’ve marked and caught fish without knowing that just a few hundred feet away were even better looking spots. It’s hard to know every ridge or well-defined bottom feature, so getting a view of what is down there can be extremely beneficial. Of course, not all spots that look good hold fish, but it’s a start.

Once you find something of interest, spot lock trolling motors make it easy to move and drop baits to see if anyone is home. For larger areas, such as long ridges, sometimes trolling makes a bit more sense to cover more ground.

When chasing bottom fish such as grouper,

12

AUGUST 2022

Just a few hundred feet away from where the author has marked and caught grouper is a massive ledge that holds even more fish.

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

there are a few techniques that work well.

Downriggers and planers with jig heads and large paddletail baits work well, but I find deep diving plugs to be even better. There are a host of deep divers out now that provide an accurate depth to which they will dive. The Nomad DTX Minnow is one of my favorites. It is deadly on grouper and does double duty with its highspeed capability for chasing pelagic species as well. I also love the fact that they come rigged with single hooks versus treble hooks. The key is to just graze the sandy bottom next to the rocks to get the groupers’ attention. They have keen sight and will charge out quickly to grab a meal, and the bonus is you start with them already away from the rocks.

The great thing about using high-definition relief shading and trolling for grouper is you might have one spot that quickly turns into four or five locations to drop baits in a relatively small area. Sometimes the spots are within a few hundred feet and sometimes farther. Regardless, this technology is a gamechanger, and by covering new ground quickly it can make finding new productive spots much easier.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades.

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THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2022

13

SEPTEMBER 8-10, 2022 ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER WEST CONCOURSE ORLANDO, FL

Shop fishing & marine apparel and accessories at Surf Expo.

REGISTER AT SURFEXPO.COM. A Trade-Only Event. Qualified Retailers Attend For Free.

The Best-Kept Secret for Fishing & Marine Apparel and Accessories

S

urf Expo is the industry’s best-kept secret for fishing & marine apparel and accessories.

Surf Expo is a lot more than surf. As the largest and longest running watersports and beach lifestyle tradeshow in the world, the show is about watersports, it’s about boating, it’s about everything that has to do with the coastal lifestyle.

Surf Expo’s “Bluewater” category caters to the fishing lifestyle that is an inherent part of the “waterman” lifestyle of today’s water sports enthusiast who lives on, in and for the water or just aspires to the lifestyle. The newest are of the show, “Shoreline” features products to enjoy a day on the beach, shore, trails and water! With these great buyer-focused categories, Surf Expo caters to all things water- surfing to fishing, and paddling on a SUP, kayak, or canoe, or just a day at the beach or on the lake.

For buyers, it’s the ideal way to conveniently shop top fishing apparel and accessory brands and source from the show’s ten other water-related categories to fill shelves. From sunglasses and sunscreen to towels, footwear, and sportswear. Tackle dealers who don’t take advantage of the crossover between fishing and the overall watersports lifestyle are missing out on a powerful revenue stream.

Owner of Sarasota fishing and boating landmark CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Aledia Tush adds, “We’ve been attending Surf Expo for many years. We’re always looking for new products, T-shirts, sportswear, suntan products, towels, sandals, shoes, and sunglasses. Being a Florida retailer, Surf Expo is a show not to be missed!”

Sharon Miller, owner of Goin’ Coastal Outfitters in Texas, added “Surf Expo is the best one stop location to find new dealers to stock your store.

It is the #1 source we use to simplify sourcing new dealers for our growing beach shop.”

For apparel and accessory brands and manufacturers, Surf Expo the ideal place to promote products to a new audience of buyers searching for products to cater to the “waterman” customer.

“Surfers are waterman and waterman do more things on the water than just surf and coming to Surf Expo allows us to be exposed to retailers that we would never see elsewhere - they come from all over the world,” says Vince Stegura, Skinny Water Culture.

Brands you’ll find at Surf Expo include ATX Float, AVID, Beach and Barn, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Bluefin USA, CHUMS, Dark Seas, Deep Blue Gear, Duck Camp, Floats Eyewear, Guy Harvey, Hook & Tackle, HUK, Jeep by Buck Wear, Jetpilot, Jimmy Styks, Kanga Coolers, Lake Time Supply Company, MANG, Pirani Life, Preston 1947, Red Bobber, Reel Legends, Reel Skipper, REELSKINZ, Ronix, Salty Crew, Sand Cloud, SEATEC Outfitters, Sun Bum, The Wave Hut, Thunderhawk Lures, Tormenter Fishing, Unsalted Coast, What The Fin, WOW Sports/ Big Mouth, YETI, ZEP-PRO and HUNDREDS more!

Surf Expo upcoming show stages September 8-10, 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center’s West Concourse in Orlando, Florida.

Registration is free for qualified retailers at surfexpo.com or contact steven.fisher@surfexpo.com for more information.

BEST OF

R

ecreational fishing’s future continues to look bright, as the industry’s largest trade show, ICAST, returned to form July 19-22. More than 12,000 exhibitors, buyers and media converged on the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. to showcase the widest array of fishing gear, tackle, accessories and apparel available in one location.

ICAST is produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), a national, non-profit trade association made up of more than 800 member companies and organizations who share a stake in promoting sportfishing for community and commerce.

“The show was fantastic,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes. “The show exceeded our expectations, and most importantly exceeded exhibitors’ expectations. Everyone I spoke with said how wonderful the show was and how the energy is as good as it has ever been. The fishing tackle industry is alive and well and looking strong for the future.”

Exhibitors at this year’s ICAST entered more than 900 new products into the show’s revered New Product Showcase for a chance to be recognized with a “Best of Category” and ultimately the “Best of Show” honor.

The Angler Video Mag team was on-hand at ICAST 2022 to cover the show and give you a first-hand look at some of the cool and innovative products that will make you a better angler this year.

AWA R D FIRST TIME EXHIBITOR WINS TOP HONORS AT ICAST 2022 Startup Company Backed by Trauma Survivor

Takes Home “Best of Show” in Upset for the Ages

U

pstart product developer Brian McKinnon is the new king of ICAST after PacBak, a self-designed portable cooler and vacuum sealer out-dueled more than 900 entries in the New Product Showcase and some of the biggest brands in fishing.

Just weeks ago, the 38-year-old from Anchorage, Alaska was still scrambling to find a spot on the show floor in Orlando. Ultimately, he landed with a 10x10 booth tucked away on the outer edges of the Orange County Convention Center for ICAST 2022. But he didn’t need the spotlight or prime placement to capture an award that is the current culmination of

2022 ICAST Best of Show award recipient, Brian McKinnon (center), shows off his trophy and award-winning PacBak P88-MK Combo with Phil McKinnon, (left) and Jac Arbour.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ICAST

WIN N E RS an incredible journey to the top.

On October 1, 2017, McKinnon and a large crowd of fans gathered in Las Vegas to hear country music star Jason Aldean. While McKinnon survived the traumatic event, his best friend, Adrian Murfitt, did not.

The events that night altered McKinnon’s life forever.

After surviving the Las Vegas massacre, McKinnon decided to return home. Rattled by the trauma of watching his best friend die in his arms, and the effects of substance abuse, McKinnon found himself homeless for a year following the shooting.

“I went to a couple of different counselors and they couldn’t explain what was happening,” said McKinnon. “I would be walking into Walmart and something would trigger it. I would see people bleeding through their shirts.”

Without steady income or a place to live, McKinnon looked to work in the Alaskan oil fields to put a roof over his head. With counselors unable to help him process trauma, he turned to American veterans to help him understand what he was experiencing.

“I got invited to the VA hospital for post traumatic stress disorder, and those war veterans were able to explain to me what was happening and how to deal with it,” McKinnon said.

For four years, McKinnon lived paycheckto-paycheck while scrapping together funds to build today’s ICAST “Best of Show” winner. PacBak was designed to be used far afield in the Alaskan wild. It was born from McKinnon’s childhood dreams and the need to refocus his life after Las Vegas.

“Me and my brother grew up on the river,” said McKinnon. “We would fish all summer

long, and pretty much out of necessity we would take two coolers to separate the wet and cold from the dry and warm. We would take a table and a vacuum sealer and go up river until we couldn’t see footsteps. Then, we would take salmon right out of the river and throw them on the grill.”

The flavors of that fish stuck with McKinnon his entire life. In travels around the country, he realized the flavor was almost impossible to capture unless it was captured immediately at the source. Thus, the concept for PacBak was born.

Product development meant researching rotomolds, batteries, layouts and marketing ideas, all of which came together this week at ICAST. Now, Brian McKinnon’s Alaskan startup PacBak will forever hold a place in the industry record books.

Learn more at pacbak.com

NOVELTIES & WELNESS Garmin USA quatix 7 Smartwatch Sapphire Edition garmin.com

LIFESTYLE APPAREL FOR WOMEN AFTCO / American Fishing Tackle Company Women’s Reaper Softshell aftco.com

LIFESTYLE APPAREL FOR MEN AFTCO / American Fishing Tackle Company CocoBoardies Boardshorts aftco.com

TECHNICAL APPAREL – WARM WEATHER

SOFT AND HARD COOLERS PacBak P88-MK Combo pacbak.com

BOATING ACCESSORIES Pure Fishing, Inc. / Frabill ReCharge, Deluxe Aerator frabill.com

BOATS AND WATERCRAFT

Simms Fishing Products SolarFlex Guide Cooling Hoody simmsfishing.com

TECHNICAL APPAREL – COLD WEATHER AFTCO / American Fishing Tackle Company Barricade Rain Suit Acid Camo Colorway aftco.com

CUTLERY, HAND PLIERS/TOOLS Bubba Saltwater Multi-Flex Fillet Knife bubba.com

FISHING ACCESSORY

BOTE Rackham Gatorshall + APEX Pedal Drive boteboard.com

Pure Fishing, Inc. / Frabill WITNESS Weigh Net frabill.com

ELECTRONICS

ICE FISHING

Hummingbird MEGA Live Imaging TargetLock humminbird.com

Garmin USA LiveScope Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI garmin.com

EYEWEAR

TACKLE MANAGEMENT

Baijo Roca Sunglasses bajiosunglasses.com

Pure Fishing, Inc. / Plano EDGE Frog Box planomolding.com

FOOTWEAR

CUSTOM TACKLE & COMPONENTS

AFTCO / American Fishing Tackle Company Ankle Deck Boot aftco.com

Mud Hole Custom Tackle RBS Pro G2 Power Wrapper mudhole.com

TERMINAL TACKLE

SALTWATER SOFT LURE

ROD AND REEL COMBO

Z-Man Fishing Products Diezel Eye Jigheads zmanfishing.com

Z-Man Fishing Products Kicker CrabZ zmanfishing.com

KID’S TACKLE

SALTWATER HARD LURE

Simms Fishing Products Kid’s Tributary Wader simmsfishing.com

LIVETARGET Lures LIVETARGET Live Shrimp livetargetlures.com

FISHING LINE

FLY FISHING ROD

Pure Fishing, Inc. / SpiderWire DuraBraid Hi-Vis Yellow purefishing.com

Bull Bay Tackle Company Banshee Fly bullbayrods.com

Pure Fishing, Inc. / Hardy Fortuna Regent Saltwater Fly Reel hardyfishing.com

FRESHWATER SOFT LURE

FRESHWATER ROD

FRESHWATER REEL

Pure Fishing, Inc. / Berkley PowerBait PowerStinger www.berkley-fishing.com

St. Croix Rods Legend Tournament Bass Rod stcroixrods.com

FRESHWATER HARD LURE

SALTWATER ROD

Pure Fishing, Inc. / Berkley Slobberknocker www.berkley-fishing.com

Pure Fishing, Inc. / Ugly Stik Carbon Inshore Rod purefishing.com

Shimano Spheros SW Combo fish.shimano.com

FLY REEL & FLY FISHING ACCESSORIES

Shimano STELLA FK fish.shimano.com

SALTWATER REEL Pure Fishing, Inc. / PENN Authority Spinning Reel pennfishing.com

AFTCO Quadruples at ICAST 2022 New Product Showcase A merican Fishing Tackle Company, better known as AFTCO, is proud of another successful release of all-new gear for anglers around the country, as well as the accolades their products received at the 2022 New Product Showcase at ICAST. AFTCO is no stranger to best-in-category products, and 2022 is no different, having added four new product showcase awards to their repertoire. This year they won awards in Cold Weather Technical Apparel, Men’s Lifestyle Apparel, Women’s Lifestyle Apparel, and Footwear. In the last five years, AFTCO has won 14 out of 17 New Product Showcase awards in the apparel categories. That brings the total to 15 New Product Showcase awards with the addition of this year’s footwear category, which is a new award for AFTCO.

Footwear: Ankle Deck Boots Designed from the ground up to fulfill the demands of AFTCO’s pro team, guides, and customers, the Ankle Deck Boots deliver a heightened level of comfort via an eco-friendly neoprene inner liner that dries quickly and is fully flexible. Paired with a custom compression-molded anti-microbial insole, these boots offer the right amount of cushion, rebound, and support season after season.

Cold Weather Technical Apparel: Barricade Rain Suit Barricade in new Green Acid Camo won the 2022 ICAST New Product Showcase award in Cold Weather Technical Apparel. It is built with high-end features at a competitive price, offering a durable 3-layer construction, 20K waterproofing, 15K breathability, SpeedVent™ hood and more! Double Dry adjustable cuffs prevent water from seeping up the arms.

A plier pocket on the bibs with 500D nylon keeps tools at the ready. Signature AFTCO jacquard elastic adjustable shoulder straps along with a waist side adjustment system will make this suit fit comfortably for any angler.

Lifestyle Apparel for Men: Cocoboardie Boardshorts Coconuts are an important staple in the tropics. Found near some of the world’s best fishing waters, they’re commonly harvested for food and used in cosmetic and medical products. Once harvested, the coconuts are often discarded in landfills. The boardshorts are made with Cocotex® fabric — an amazing performance polyester infused with activated charcoal from repurposed coconuts. This combination repels water, resists odor, and dries ultra-fast.

Lifestyle Apparel for Women: Reaper Windproof Constructed from a durable stretch ripstop softshell fabric that has a DWR finish and keeps the wind chill out, AFTCO’s women’s Reaper windproof features a built-in face mask that is lined with their ultra-warm Hexatron™ fleece material. Laser-cut ventilation in the underarm area and an easy-access side zipper complete the features. For the lady angler in search of a comfortable super warm softshell that provides wind protection, the AFTCO Reaper Windproof is the versatile piece that checks all the boxes.

Learn more at aftco.com

NEW & NOTEWORTHY...

Berkley’s Innovations Wins Best of Category for Freshwater Hard Bait and Soft Bait Berkley continues its success in Best of Bait Categories at ICAST with new Slobberknocker and PowerStinger

After the Berkley PowerBait Gilly, many believed the team at Berkley Labs would slow down. Instead, they doubled-down and created the Berkley Slobberknocker and Berkley PowerBait PowerStinger—a bladed-jig combination to wreak havoc on bass around the country.

Compared to other bladed jigs on the market, the Berkley Slobberknocker features an innovative through-head design that is completely unique to other bladed jigs. After countless hours spent testing on and off the water, Berkley Labs scientists fine-tuned this unique design that not only delivers a consistent vibration but is also perfectly suited to come through heavy cover while staying engaged. Backed by science, the Slobberknocker features a signature hand-tied Berkley silicone skirt infused with PowerBait flavor to help ensure that every fish that bites will hold on longer, helping anglers put more fish in the boat.

Adding to their already stellar lineup of award-winning soft plastics, Berkley’s newest PowerBait soft plastic, the PowerStinger, is sure to quickly become a favorite straight tailed minnow-style bladed jig trailer thanks to its unique design. Featuring new, patent pending “honeycomb” technology, the PowerBait PowerStinger offers additional swimming action when paired with a bladed jig that triggers fish to bite. The PowerStinger has a thick baitfish profile and a dense head that is durable and prevents tearing. A perfect match with the new Berkley Slobberknocker, the PowerBait PowerStinger is available in both 3.5-inch and 4.25-inch, with 12 standard colors and 4 HD colors to match any hatch.

Berkley Slobberknocker Berkley PowerBait PowerStinger

Learn more at berkley-fishing.com

Mud Hole RBS Pro G2 Power Wrapper

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Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Inc holds 26 patents and trademarks for rod building items—and now holds the first, inaugural award for Best New Product in the Custom Tackle and Components category of the 2022 ICAST New Product Showcase.

The Power Wrapper that set the bar, has raised it…again. The Second Generation of Mud Hole’s CRB Pro RBS-PRO Power Wrapper & Dryer, the RBS-PRO G2 provides rod builders the ultimate tool to build their rod. With features like aircraft-grade aluminum construction, indexed chuck face, adjustable motor with digital voltage readout, built-in rod dryer and additional mounting points for tools, no rod workshop is complete without the RBS-PRO G2.

From the foot pedal to the chuck, to the high-speed ball bearing roller stands with patented adjustment and the adjustable belt tensioner for the high torque motor, everything about the RBS G2 is new, unique and of original design.

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Firefly Stern & Bow Lights After years of trial and error trying to find the right design, the team at Firefly Outdoor & Marine has redefined the stern light. Unlike the stern lights of past, Firefly Stern Lights’ bulb and globe are designed to put out a light that matches the glow of a full moon. The non-blinding glow of the stern light puts out a bright, but soft light that lights up the whole boat footprint allowing anglers to see just as well as light from a full moon.

USCG approved with max rating of 2 nautical miles, they are also ABYT and NMMA certified, and are 100% carbon fiber with U700 ultra thin carbon fiber fabric laid with zero degree direction for incredible strength. Rear facing courtesy light to aid the angler in unhooking fish, retyping lures, and getting backlash out of reels.

Courtesy light is made with refracting plastic so angler does not lose night vision.

Adjustable from 5ft. to 9ft 6”, Firefly Stern Lights are available in multiple colors to match or accent your boats appearance. A matching bow light is also available that will enhance any boat’s appearance.

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WATCH VIDEO

2022 ICAST Cup winners (L to R) Harbor Lovin, Coleton Jennings and Matt Hinman of the Jenko Fishing team hold up their three bass totaling 21 pounds, 11 ounces.

Jenko Fishing Wins Annual ICAST Cup on Lake Toho

Photo by Rachel Dubrovin.

Total of $12,000 Raised for Keep America Fishing™ Foundation

T

he Jenko Fishing team, represented by Coleton WATCH Jennings, Matt Hinman and Harbor Lovin, brought a three-bass limit totaling 21 pounds, 11 ounces to the stage to win the 2022 ICAST Cup at Lake Toho Presented by Major League Fishing on Tuesday. The four-hour bass-fishing tournament, hosted

by Kissimmee Sports, was the kickoff event to ICAST 2022 and raised a total of $12,000 to benefit the industry’s angler advocacy program, Keep America Fishing.™ The field totaled 58 boats, including a handful of Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Toyota Series anglers, as well as outdoor media and industry representatives from popular tackle brands and non-profits.

Anchored by a 9-pound, 12-ounce kicker, the Jenko Fishing team won by a wide margin of 6 pounds, 11 ounces over the Skinny Water Marine/Lithium Battery Company team who brought a limit to the scale weighing 15 pounds even.

The Jenko Fishing team said they felt blessed to claim the 2022 ICAST Cup win, something that has been on their bucket list for the past couple years.

“It honestly didn’t come easy today,” Jennings said.

“The first place we stopped didn’t have much, so we left there with 7 or 8 pounds and made a run down the lake.

I picked up a new prototype topwater bait that we’ve been

working on for three years—it’s my pride and joy and my favorite bait that I’ve ever worked on—and you can see the results first-hand.”

The outcome of that decision and the super-secretive bait were three giant largemouth—including the 9-pound, 12-ounce kicker—that gave the trio their 21-11 limit and the opportunity to take home the ICAST Cup hardware.

“This isn’t even real life—this place is like ‘Jurassic Park,’” Jennings said with a laugh, maneuvering the three giant largemouth back into the bag.

“I mean, 21-11 in July, on only three fish – that’s incredible and it’s one of those days that you’ll never forget in your whole life,” Jennings said.

USA Bass partnered with MLF and Keep America Fishing to award the top-finishing women’s pair at the ICAST Cup a spot on the 2023 USA Pan American Bass fishing team. The highest-finishing team of female anglers was Michelle Jalaba and Hannah Wesley who brought three bass to the stage totaling 10 pounds even to earn their spot on Team USA Bass at the 2023 Pan American Bass Fishing Championship, alongside Jacob Wheeler, David Dudley, James Watson, Mark Rose, Fred Roumbanis and other top pros.

VIDEO

For complete results and photos from the tournament, visit ICASTCup.com.

ICAST 2022 SHOW SIGHTINGS...

Proud reps for Bulls Bay Rods show off their 2022 ICAST Best of Category Fly Fishing Rod award winner—the Banshee Fly. Photo by Ryan Clapper.

Stealth Stixx founders (from left) Ryan Kuhns, Bryan Jordan and Randy McAbee Jr, took home the ICAST 2022 People’s Choice Best MicroWave Rod award for their new 7’3” Stealth Stixx “Booty Rod.”

PENN display at ICAST 2022.

Photo by Ryan Clapper.

A Band of Anglers founder and legendary lure designer Patrick Sebile gives a first look at a few of his newest creations during ICAST’s On The Water Demo Day. Photo courtesy of ICAST.

The Gillz Gear team on the 2022 convention floor.

The guys at Mud Hole Custom Tackle look pretty pleased to have picked up a Best New Product award in the Custom Tackle and Components category.

Member of the Coastal Angler Magazine Team in attendance for ICAST 2022, Miami Co-Publisher Scott Goodman got the chance to meet the legend himself, Guy Harvey.

Photo by Ryan Clapper.

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Members of ‘A Band Of Anglers’ (ABOA) are passionate anglers and good people. We aren’t all world record holders or tournament pros.

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SCAN ME

LIVE BAIT & A R T I F I C I A L TA C T I C S F O R

By Ryan Izquierdo

J

upiter, Fla. is a world-renowned fishery. In the summertime, it’s known for hot inshore snook.

Offshore produces an epic sailfish, kingfish, tuna and pelagic bite. There are always fish willing to eat.

One of my favorite bites is for springtime blackfin tuna. From March through May, jumbo blackfins migrate down the east coast of Florida. It is not uncommon to catch them anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds. From their deliciousness on the table to their long powerful runs, blackfin tuna are one of my favorite offshore fish to target. They are sure to send you to the tackle shop to get your reels serviced after a productive day of fishing.

Blackfin tuna are excellent hunters. Often, they work together to ambush schools of baitfish.

They are equipped with massive eyeballs, which are designed for pitch black and low-light conditions. They spend a majority of their time down deep feeding on squid. However, at dawn and dusk, the tunas move higher in the water column to feed near the surface. Be on the lookout for frigates and disturbance on the water’s surface. It’s not uncommon to see them exploding and flying out of the water on a bait ball. I keep an easily accessible casting rod, with a plug or weighted feather jig tied on for this scenario, or in case a school of mahi shows up.

Blackfin tuna will often hold to areas with bottom topography like humps, reefs and wrecks. You can find success drifting over areas like these with live bait. Live sardines, pilchards, threadfins and gogs all work. I prefer live sardines.

For me, they have been the most THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

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productive bait.

Chumming is important to bring blackfins higher in the water column. Chunk up pilchards and throw a few pieces out at the bow, mid and stern every couple of minutes. The best chum is live chum. Smallto medium-sized pilchards are your best bet.

I throat-hook a sardine and send it out on a free line. The bait will swim down on its own, and you should keep some tension on it. I also drop a live bait on a down rod and wait for the bite as I drift along.

Blackfins’ excellent eyesight means they

can be leader shy, so I often run a 40- to 50-pound fluorocarbon leader, but will go as light as 30 pounds. A triple-hook rig for freelining or a single 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook depending on the size of the bait is my hook preference.

You can also catch them kite fishing, trolling feathers/spoons, on ballyhoo rigs, cedar plugs, planer fishing, vertical jigging and slow-pitch. Second to live bait, slowpitch jigging is a fun and effective way to catch tunas when the mid-day sun pushes them down deep. My go to jig is a Jyg Pro 240

Gram strike jig. I like to jig anywhere from 200 to 350 feet. Send it down to the bottom over active areas, work your rod up high and let the jig flutter back down. Change the pace and tempo of your jigging until you find what works. Don’t be surprised when you get hit as you burn the jig back to the surface.

I hope these tuna tips bring you success and dinner to share with friends and family.

Keep on fishing!

Check out Ryan Izquierdo’s adventures on his YouTube channel: Ryan Iz Fishing.

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Understand Fishing Regulations Like Never Before

E

very angler motoring across Florida’s coastal waters is actually gliding over a web of invisible lines, criss-crossing the blues and greens of the sea. These invisible lines divide different regulation zones, and are critically important for anglers to understand. For example, moving only a small distance might mean a shift from state to federal waters, and regulations might change between these neighboring areas. We’re used to flipping through pages of paper regs, practically needing a lawyer by our side to explain the exact location boundaries and regulations for different fish species… but not anymore!

The Fishbrain app now provides all the fishing regulations Florida anglers need to know, right in the palm of your hand. With a quick tap of your screen, you can bring up the regulations for individual species and boundaries separating different units, or zones.

Your Fishbrain map accurately determines which body of water you are on and where on it you are located, so you can know where you are in relation to any boundary. This allows for zero confusion in trying to determine which

unit you are in, and which species you can legally target or keep.

To quickly and easily access these regulations, all you need to do is open the map in the Fishbrain app and tap the “Regulations” icon in the bottom right of your screen. You can then select the specific species - including both freshwater and saltwater fish - you are targeting, or others you may inadvertently catch. Immediately you are informed whether a species is in season or not.

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August is the Best Month for

GIANT SNOOK

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

WATCH

A

ugust offers the best chance for anglers to catch a 40-inch-plus snook in Florida waters. With a majority of snook returning from offshore spawning grounds, the big girls will feed up to recover from the rigors of the spawn. Right now is a good time to catch them.

Snook are widespread, but their range is limited by temperature intolerance. They are found throughout the Caribbean on the Atlantic and Pacific sides, including most of Florida. Due to their limited cold tolerance, Snook avoid temperatures below 60 degrees.

There are 12 species of snook that can be found in just about any body of water within their range. Snook can be caught all year long.

In winter they prefer shallow flats and deep holes in bay areas. As water temperatures rise, they move out to offshore structure to spawn.

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When snook are not spawning, they move inshore and travel upstream.

Since snook are euryhaline, meaning they can live in a wide range of salinity, they travel upstream into brackish and freshwater areas. Snook have a special osmoregulation feature that allows them to control the water content inside their bodies to maintain the same salinity as the outside water.

Snook spawning takes place between April and October with peak around June and July.

During this time, females and males move into higher salinity locations where they broadcast spawn with the females releasing eggs into the water column and the males fertilizing them.

One female snook can release up to 1.5 million eggs each spawn. All of the hatchlings are born as males and transition to females when they reach between 12 and 35 inches in length. They are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning the

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

males change to females as they age.

Some of the best places to locate big girls in large numbers this time of year are at the mouths of inlets, bridges and piers. Heavier tackle is preferred, since you will most likely be fishing heavy structure. Some of the best baits for really big fish include croaker, mojarra, snapper, needlefish and southern sennet.

It is best practice, if you do land a big fish, to release the fish safely back into the water using a sling. Where a bridge/pier net is used to land the fish, the net can also be used to release the fish when a sling is not available.

Lay the fish in the net with its head as far upwards as possible.

The largest IGFA-recorded common snook weighed 53 pounds, 10 ounces. It was caught from Costa Rica.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 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.

Cast Your Line in Clay County.

In a place where the water is always sparkling and the fish are always jumping, fishing isn’t just a hobby – it’s part of our culture. Take the scenic route and explore Clay County’s not-so-secret fishing spots to reel in a new experience.

Visit exploreclay.com to find your new go-to spot.

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STYLECRAFT BOATS’ SPORTFISHER: The Ideal Hybrid Pontoon Boat

T

he new Sportfisher from StyleCraft Boats looks like a tritoon pontoon boat.

That’s because it is a pontoon boat. The Sportfisher also looks like a fishing boat with the T Top, trolling motor and more. That’s because it is a fishing boat.

As a pontoon boat, the Sportfisher is ideal for family fun be it cruising, tubing or swimming. As a fishing boat, the Sportfisher is made for multi-species angling in fresh and inshore saltwater conditions.

Introducing the most innovative pontoon boat designed for the ultimate fishing experience. The 8 1/2 by 21 deck is custom built with a T Top pilot position, Wise pilot chair with ice chest and low-level railing on the front and rear deck are ideal for fishing accessibility and premium accessories.

The Sportfisher offers two fishing positions on the front deck and two more on the rear deck, all four positions featuring comfortable Wise fishing chairs on adjustable pedestals.

The Minn Kota Riptide Terrova trolling motor easily moves the Sportfisher around to optimize fishing, Humminbird Helix GPS fish finders add to navigation and fishing performance and a Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor on the rear holds the boat in position.

StyleCraft Boats’ fiberglass pontoons are

designed with a flat bottom surface drafting only eight inches for shallow water angling, 4-inch C channel aluminum frame and composite deck provide a lifetime of performance. No worries about degrading and ugly round aluminum tubes or a rotting wooden deck.

The pontoons, based on a racing hull design, also provide exceptional performance requiring less horsepower with improved fuel efficiency. The Sportfisher is rated for 150 horsepower.

The Sportfisher is the ideal hybrid pontoon boat and can easily be outfitted for a night on the water or beach. With its wide and long deck this boat can be accessorized for the disabled with a ramp, wheel chair fishing stations and even a swing out swimming sling.

StyleCraft Boats are available factory direct so order your Sportfisher now. Call 1-855-StyleCraft (855-789-5327) or visit www.stylecraftboats.com.

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LURES

LURE APPENDAGES FOR LONGER CASTS

W

PATRICK SEBILE

hen it comes to lures designed for longdistance casting, some are built with appendages that truly help reach distances other lures can’t achieve. These appendages might be located inside or outside of the lure.

One popular appendage on minnow-style baits is a mass-transfer device. A weight located inside the lure moves to the tail when the lure is held vertically in the casting position, and once it hits the water the weight slides back to its original location for better swimming action. Typically, these lures are best when they use a magnetic mass transfer device. Some billed minnows use a heavy fixed weight in the tail and can achieve longer casts than masstransfer lures. Either way, one thing is sure: minnows not built for distance do not cast as well as those designed for this purpose.

The external shape of a lure also plays a large part in the distance it is capable of reaching. Remember: a floating lure does not perform as well as a sinking or super-long-distance model because of its low density. Denser lures cast better as a rule of thumb, but they might not be best for catching fish because of where they swim in the water column or because they lack seductive action.

Appendages can help achieve the best of both worlds by providing for long casts as well as swimming well at the desired

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AUGUST 2022

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

depth. Side wings are an incredible advantage. They add water lift, which helps compensate for a heavier lure and generates great swimming motion. This is how some SK and SLD poppers and pencils can weigh 25 to 100 percent more than similar floating lures and still be able to be used on the surface. The added weight allows for significant increase in casting distance.

In the case of a 160mm (6 3/8”) pencil, the floating model weighs 2 ½ ounces, while the sinking model weighs 3 ¼ ounces. This weight increase translates into 50 percent longer casts. On the typical topwater retrieve, the sinking model does everything a floating one can. Actually, the walk-the-dog action is a bit superior, and it’s also possible to fish the heavier pencil like a swimbait with a slow steady retrieve. Those appendages provide great fishcatching action.

But there’s a catch. Sinking lures sink. When you need a lure that floats at rest, floating lures with pointy noses cast farther. The physics are simple.

Any lure flying through the air generates turbulences in front of the lure, where the line attachment is. This turbulence acts as a suction cup, dragging on the lure and diminishing casting energy. Like on a jet plane, a pointy nose helps limit this effect. Floating lures with pointed noses consistently cast farther than floating lures with similar style and length.

Pay attention to these appendages next time you’re buying lures.

They will reward you when it comes to distance—and fish caught!

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear.

Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

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NOTE: SiriusXM services may include weather, other content and emergency alert information which is not for “safety for life,” but is merely supplemental and advisory in nature, and therefore cannot be relied upon as safety critical in connection with any seacraft or any other usage. SiriusXM is not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies in the services or their use. © 2022 Sirius XM Radio Inc. SiriusXM and all related logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its respective subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Photo credit: Greg Poland Photography.

WATCH

VIDEO

Gamefish Royalty

W

ith their aggressive nature, willingness to hit almost anything, and ability to make drag screaming runs when first hooked, king mackerel are just a bunch of fun.

Because of these qualities, there is a king mackerel tournament somewhere almost every weekend. Plenty of boats head out in pursuit of them from every port, and plenty of tackle dedicated to them is sold in coastal shops.

To get an idea of what a day chasing kings is like, I spoke Capt. Matt Paylor, of Sound-NSea Charters in Morehead City, N.C. For gear, he likes a 7-foot, live-bait trolling rod with a Shimano TLD reel filled to the brim with 20-pound line. Smaller, school-sized kings eagerly hit trolled spoons and frozen cigar minnows, and you can catch a lot of them.

When 10- to 20-pounders are hanging out around a structure, such as artificial reefs, wrecks or ledges, casting to them with swimming plugs and topwaters can lead to fast action. For a challenge, try a 10-weight fly rod rigged with a sinking line and a big streamer fly attached to a wire leader.

A 20-pound king mackerel can make a fly reel sing, Paylor said, however, if you want to get the big ones, you have to use live bait. His go-to is live menhaden, but he also uses live bluefish in the 2- to 3-pound range.

For trolling live bait, tie 15 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon to the end of your main line, and to that attach a double hook live bait rig made with No. 5 single-strand wire and size 4 “quad strong” treble hooks.

Capt. Paylor said kings are very predictable.

CATCHING KINGS IS A BUNCH OF FUN

By Capt. Gordon Churchill

“They are so consistent with their yearly patterns that if you caught them in a spot in previous years, they are probably going to be there again,” he said.

He recommends using a sea surface temperature chart and seeing where the water is hovering in the 70-degree range and starting your day at a reef or wreck in that zone. If you see bait working—and especially if you see kings feeding—give it a serious shot. If you have seen kings feeding in open water, you’ll never forget what it looks like; they skyrocket out of the water like a submarine-launched missile.

Paylor said a rule of thumb is to troll live baits at around 2 miles per hour. When you get a bite, the rod slams down and the reel starts screaming. Make sure your drag is not set too tightly or it’ll be over.

You’ll get a nice long run when the fish is first hooked. The smaller fish of less than 20 pounds will run out of energy pretty soon.

Bigger ones, from 30 to 50 pounds, won’t tire as readily, and the real monsters may do it a few

times before they tire. Keep your drag set light and let the fish do its thing, follow it with the boat if necessary.

A fish (besides sharks) that is the bane of king mackerel anglers is the amberjack. If you troll near any high spot, usually the top of a shipwreck, there may be a school of them there.

Their detractors call them “reef donkeys” with disdain. When you are trolling with a carefully prepared trolling rig and putting in hours looking for trophy kings, one of these bad boys can mess you up. Tournament anglers especially dislike them.

If you are out trolling for kings and a school of amberjacks show up in your trolling spread, don’t get mad. Have fun! These fish are a blast and hit topwater plugs with abandon. Cast soda-bottle-style poppers in the 5- to 6-inchlong range such as the Rapala Magnum Xplode or the Yozuri Bull Pop, retrieve them with a big pull and a pause to make a huge splash, and be prepared for an amazing display. Often a group of them will come up together and slash at it with reckless abandon until one finally gets hooked.

Be prepared with a heavy casting rod. I’ve caught them on 12-weight fly rods with the biggest popper I could make. They can show up at any time over any wreck or reef. You just have to be ready. If you’re not fishing in a tournament, why not go have fun with them instead of cursing at them. They will come in fast, hit hard and then keep you occupied for about 20 minutes while they try to pull you out of the boat.

Reprinted from CoastalReview.org.

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SUZUKI MARINE USA LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE New Site Carries on Global Suzuki Look While Delivering Easier Navigation, New Information for Boaters

S

uzuki Marine USA, LLC has launched a new website designed to provide boaters with easier navigation, an informative and enjoyable online experience, and all the details they could ever need to research Suzuki Marine’s industry-leading line up of four-stroke outboard motors from 2.5 to 350 horsepower.

Now any boaters who visit suzukimarine.com will immediately notice a new look that is both familiar and fresh at the same time. This is intentional, as Suzuki Marine worked closely with advertising agency Markham Yard, LLC to develop a site that carried Suzuki’s global look forward, while simultaneously creating a unique identity befitting Suzuki Marine. The result is a presentation that remains true to Suzuki’s global brand, yet solidifies a strong, forward-looking image for Suzuki Marine USA. Visiting boaters and potential boaters will also notice improved site-wide navigation to go with the new look.

The new layout includes interface “tabs” that allow for more information to be viewed at one time. This is key for boaters wanting to “deep-dive” into the features, details, applications, and specifications across Suzuki’s range of “Ultimate Outboard Motors.” The new navigation platform features a hot-clickable “breadcrumb” path that will always show the user what page they are viewing while, providing an easy means of navigating backwards.

Other new and updated features of the website include improvements to important categories such as the Dealer Locator, FAQs and Suzuki News. A range of new sections have been added to the site, designed to keep boaters

and the industry up-to-date on happenings at today’s Suzuki Marine. These include Hooked Up (coming soon), delivering angling-related information; Events, detailing upcoming boat shows other marine activities; CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, highlighting Suzuki Marine’s ongoing initiatives and grass-roots events to protect and improve the marine environment; and a new Contact Us tab designed to help dealers and customers connect with helpful Suzuki Marine personnel. The website also does a great job of highlighting Suzuki’s recently announced status as Exclusive Outboard Motor Sponsor of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—something that is sure to generate news and excitement over the 2022 season and beyond.

“This new website is making waves for Suzuki Marine on every level,” said George “Gus” Blakely, Suzuki Marine Executive Vice President. “It has a look that fits with Suzuki’s image across the globe, yet it does an excellent job of representing the bold, aggressive company that Suzuki Marine is today. We’re confident that visitors will appreciate the clean look and intuitive way that our information is organized and presented,” added Blakely.

To learn more about Suzuki Marine’s full array of 4-stroke outboard motors, call (813) 687-7200 or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.

Once onshore you can take it a step further showing your fellow anglers your catch of the day wearing “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii.

scotthawaii.com

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

FAMILY RUN IN HAWAII FOR 90 YEARS

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Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Tips for Better

WATCH

VIDEO

SCALLOPING

• Keep them

By CAM Staff Alive: Storing scallops in a livewell is a great idea if you’ve got one.

They can also be kept in a cooler of ice, but be careful to drain the freshwater out of the cooler as the ice melts because it will kill your scallops. You want them to be alive right up until you clean them.

• Clean them Quickly: An alternative to keeping scallops alive is to just clean them right away. There should be at least one person in the boat at all times, and this person can clean the scallops while the rest of the team is searching. Scallops open up when they are put on ice, so chunk • Search in a Pattern: Some divers search them in a cooler and clean them while you’re on the water. You can discard the shells into the in a grid by swimming a straight line out from the boat and then moving sideways 5 or 10 bay. yards before returning to the boat in a straight line. This way you’ll always be looking at fresh bottom.

• Be sure to Hydrate and keep yourself greased up with sunscreen. Also, know the seasons, limits and safety regulations for the area you’re scallop hunting.

For more information, including complete rules and regulations, go to MyFWC.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCK GRASS FISHING CHARTERS.

B

ay scallop season is well underway along the west coast of Florida, and in most zones it will continue well into September.

Here are some tips to help you have fun on the water and maybe limit out on tasty bivalves.

• Find Your Spot: The most common advice on finding a good scalloping area is to look for the boats. It’s good advice. The flotilla bearing diver-down flags is hard to miss when you find it. Be courteous, give everyone plenty of room and drive the boat slowly, keeping an eye out for swimmers.

One trick to finding productive bottom is to pull a keen-eyed diver on a rope at idle speed. This will help cover water quickly, and once old eagle eye spots a few, you can put out the anchor.

• Hunt the Slack Tides: Finding scallops is generally easiest on a slack tide during calm days when currents are minimal. When the water is still, seagrass stands up straight, and it’s easier to spot scallops at the base of the grass.

• Look in the Sand: Pay attention to those sandy potholes on the grass flats. Scallops like grass, but they are easier to see against a sandy bottom. Many times, if you spot one on the sand, there will be several in the grass around it.

• Slow Down: If you find one scallop, slow down and search the area thoroughly.

There’s usually another one nearby.

Stay With Us For A Florida Fishing Vacation Of A Lifetime!

Just as few places compare to Crystal River when it comes to salt or freshwater sport fishing, but there is no other hotel or resort in the area that compares to the comfort and outfitting you receive at Plantation on Crystal River.

• Waterfront Resort • Onsite trailer parking* • Water parking* • Adventure Center Dive Shop: Live bait, tackle, ice, area charts and fishing reports • You catch, we cook at West 82 Grill* *Included with your stay at Plantation on Crystal River with purchase of Fishing Package

Adventures Begin Here From the peace and tranquility of swimming alongside manatees to the rush of adrenaline of hooking an evasive gag grouper in the Gulf, there are many memories waiting for you in Crystal River.

Discover all the excitement, fun and lifelong memories we have to offer for your next adventure.

Snowy Grouper

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

STILL IN SEASON

A

ugust marks the last month of open season for grouper in Atlantic waters. It can be a bummer tossing back those would-be-keeper red and gag grouper throughout the seasonal closure, but there is a species of grouper you really do not want to catch when they are not in season. Snowy grouper are an awesome species to target, but catching one is almost always a death sentence for the fish because of the depths from which they come.

Deep dropping is an excellent option this time of year. The waters are calmer, and there are mahi fishing opportunities on route to the location, but most notably grouper is in season.

Deep dropping in more than 600 feet of water with an electric reel takes its toll on the fish being rapidly pulled to the surface. Snowy grouper, which aren’t built to swim up and down the water column, are particularly susceptible to barotrauma. In areas where snowy grouper may be caught, it is best to save deep dropping at that location for when season is open.

It’s going to take some strong denial to stare into the snowy’s bulged out eyeballs of death and convince yourself that anything you do to help revive it, is going to be effective. In fact, if you listen closely while implementing the venting technique, you will hear the gentle release of the words “please kill me.” It is advisable to reserve targeting species like barrelfish, while grouper season is open, to completely avoid this situation.

Deep dropping can be the most exciting or the most boring type of fishing you can do. Targeting snowy grouper is no exception, however, there is a lot more to play with here, as opposed to dropping for swordfish.

When you get to your spot, identify your drift and then turn your bow into the current. Drive forward to slow your drift, and stay on top of your line.

Utilizing 200-pound leader, make a chicken rig with about five circle hooks, spaced about a foot apart. Squid is always a beloved snack for grouper, but every critter on the bottom will be lining up to quickly nibble it away. You can use chunks of just about anything for snowy bait, and with five hooks, you don’t have to choose. I like to have at least one or two hooks with squid, as I believe it really adds to the scent factor. Include larger chunks of bait that still have skin on them, as they will hang on the hook longer. This is a great place to make use of an old stinky barracuda or bonita.

You want your weight as close to the bottom as possible, which means constantly rechecking the bottom. If a few waves pass and you don’t see that lug on the rod, this indicates the weight touched bottom. Check it again. There is a high probability of losing weights while fishing this close to the bottom, so ensure you have a few extra onboard.

Current is a challenge, and it is tempting to go with a 10-pound weight to compensate. I recommend an 8-pounder, as it makes it easier to notice when your bait has been nibbled away or if you’ve snagged a small rosie that you’ll want to clear from the line.

Blueline tilefish would normally be an option this month, but their season was cut short this year and closed on July 26.

If you don’t have the ridiculous amount of money that’s required to purchase your own electric reel, come use ours… in the Florida Keys. Blue Magic Charters still has availability for snowy grouper trips this month, and its one of our favorite species to target.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters in the Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 and via social media @CaptainQuinlyn.

don't stop reeLing Alex Kendrick reel salty www.reelsaltydestin.com

season and is only going to get better. Trolling lures 10-15 knots is ideal starting around the 90’ mark. Keep an eye out for weed lines and large patches of grass, you never know what’s below them. Whenever I see grass patches I like to stop and sight fish for Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo, and Triple tail.

For Mahi I like to keep a light pitch rod with 20# fluorocarbon and 2/0 Owner circle hook. Live bait works really well on the larger bulls and cut squid works better on the 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 shrimp work really well along with small cuts of squid.

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 important so DON’T STOP reeling.

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.

Bowfishing rod and reel fishing • trips to craB island

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september 2021

pensacola 3

GEORGIA SHOAL BASS RECORD TIED

WATCH

VIDEO

I

t’s a tie! The Georgia state record for shoal bass was broken just last year, and now that record has been tied.

Clark Wheeler, of Arabi, Ga., is the proud angler who will share the shoal bass state record. His catch, caught on April 16 on the Flint River near Warwick, weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 24.5 inches.

Shoal bass, the official state riverine sportfish species, are native to the Chattahoochee and Flint River basins and were introduced in the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers in Georgia. A distinct species, they are most like the redeye basses, but do not have any red coloration in the fins or pale margins on the tail. Unlike smallmouth bass, they usually have a large dark spot at the base of the tail. The average adult measures between 12 and 24 inches. Shoal bass are usually found around current breaks near flowing water. This can be in the middle of a big shoal, in a deep-water bend of the river with large boulders, or on the bank behind a tree in the water.

The world record shoal bass was caught in 1995 from Florida’s Apalachicola River. It weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

For more information on Georgia state records, see georgiawildlife.com.

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FOLLOW THE BAIT FOR NEARSHORE WAHOO

T

Tim Barefoot

his is the time of year when water temperatures allow pelagics like wahoo, dolphin and tuna to show up right on the beach… so to speak. I live in North Carolina, and every year there are stud wahoo caught “right on the beach.” Here “right on the beach” is the 20- to 25-mile area off the beach. For some folks in Florida, “right on the beach” might be that first sea buoy right out of the inlet.

In late summer, we have a monolithic water temperature from the Gulf Stream to the beach in the mid 80s. That allows wahoo to follow huge schools of bait wherever they go. This is what we call the beginning of the end… the end of summer.

The cigar minnows and sardines come nearshore, and the wahoo follow them as far in as they are comfortable with the water depth, which is usually not much less than 75 or 80 feet. They will eat whatever they want, including live menhaden or cigs pulled around by king mackerel fishermen.

We call it the beginning to the end of summer, but it’s also the beginning of a wonderful time of year for me… fall and winter. The cigs and sardines come in. The pelagics follow them for a month or so until the water starts to cool in mid September. Then the magic

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happens. When cooling water runs off the wahoo, the gags show up in numbers. It’s all a very beautiful dance. Let’s enjoy every step along the way.

I keep talking about the nearshore activity of the cigs and sardines, but the offshore schools are also getting bigger now, and this draws the attention of everything from pelagics to bottom fish.

All the grouper and big snappers shadow these schools wherever they go. This is why it’s so important to “find the bait.” Cigs and sardines are not the only thing I’m looking for offshore. I like to find a big stack of beeliners. Wherever you find a big stack of beeliners, you can bet your bottom dollar there are grouper and big snapper directly under them and wahoo and kings around them.

August is also a month to consider spending the night offshore. Yes, there are late afternoon thunderstorms that pop up, but overall weather patterns are consistent, and you can fish for days, back to back. Leave in the early afternoon, get where you are going and get acclimated to the setting sun. Anchor up on a pretty piece of bottom and bait, and turn on the lights. This is a “National Geographic moment.” The minnows and squid come to the light, so you can easily load up the livewell before the daylight bite starts.

I will close with this: We lost a fishing pioneer and legend last month with Mark Sosin’s passing. Our thoughts, prayers and celebrations go out to his family.

See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

d T e o Last n g i s e D Wa

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K2 Coolers has products that fit every adventure’s needs.

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Legendary Angler Mark Sosin Dies

T

he fishing world is mourning the death of Mark Sosin, a legendary fishing writer and television personality who was a long-time columnist for Coastal Angler Magazine. Sosin died on Thursday, June 30 in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 88 years old.

Mark Jessurun Sosin was born on July 7, 1933, in Highland Park, New Jersey. He was introduced to fishing at an early age by his father, whose tactics and dedication to conservation were frequent topics in Sosin’s writing.

Before making his way into the fishing industry, Sosin graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a master’s in business administration from New York University. He then spent four years in the U.S. Navy and after being discharged worked in several different positions. All the while he fished and dreamed of earning a living from his passion for fishing.

Sosin’s long and illustrious career as a writer began in the 1960s, when he began writing magazine articles and books on fishing. Sosin is estimated to have written more than 3,000 magazine articles over his career and more than 20 books on fishing.

After moving to Boca Raton with his wife, Susan, in 1979, Sosin launched his TV show, “Mark Sosin’s

WATCH

VIDEO

Saltwater Journal,” in 1983. The program ran for 27 years.

Much of Sosin’s work was geared toward education and conservation.

His legacy in the fishing industry is that of an educator who helped generations of anglers enter and improve in the sport we all love.

Go to coastalanglermagazine.com to read Mark Sosin’s columns for Coastal Angler Magazine.

Visit Cherokee County

One can never get lost here visitcherokeecountync.com

Texas Angler Hooks

Monster Alligator Snapper WATCH

J

VIDEO

ustin Broomhall caught something unexpected during a Father’s Day catfishing trip to Lake Cherokee in east Texas. The monster alligator snapping turtle that took his bait is the stuff of nightmares and has made the rounds on social media, leaving many people in disbelief at its size.

But folks shouldn’t be so surprised. Anyone who has fished freshwater in the Southern U.S. has likely encountered a few of these prehistoric looking beasts.

They are the largest species of freshwater turtle in the world, and although they are not endangered, they are listed as threatened in most states where they live.

Alligator snapping turtles have lifespans as long as 50 to 100 years, and males typically weigh about 175 pounds, with extremely large specimens weighing in at more than 200 pounds. They spend pretty much their whole lives in the water and can remain submerged for almost an hour before needing to surface for air.

They use their breath-holding skills to hunt, and will sit mostly motionless on the bottom using a worm-like projection on their tongues to lure in fish for the kill. With a bite force of 1,000 pounds, their jaws are powerful enough to break bones. So, it’s a good idea to keep your fingers away from their mouths if you catch one.

They are also pretty aggressive when threatened.

Broomhall bravely removed the hook from the snapper he caught and released it back to the lake.

TIPS FROM A PRO 66

SUMMERTIME BASS ON POPPERS

B

TYLER WOOLCOTT

ass are on the move in deep summer.

Throwing search baits, especially topwater, is one of the best and most fun ways to find groups of feeding fish. A style of lure that was created a long time ago but still works wonders today is an old-school topwater popper. You can throw this just about anywhere around rocks, grass, wood, docks and in open water to get bites.

When the weather gets hot and more people get on the water, getting fish to commit to a surface lure is sometimes almost impossible. What I like to do is put away the bigger topwaters like walking baits or Whopper Ploppers and take out a smaller Pop-Rstyle bait.

There are a few reasons this bait gets more bites in the right situations. The first is it’s smaller and quieter. A smaller profile and less noise is sometimes what these finicky fish want. I have seen many situations when throwing a big noisy topwater won’t get a single bite, but throwing a popper in the same area makes fish eat.

Another reason popper-style baits are very good is the speed at which you can work them. There are many topwaters that require high-speed retrieves. With a popper, the slower you work it the more it drives them crazy. I vary my retrieve and see what the fish are feeling, but usually I’ll pop the bait subtly a few times and vary the action to make it look like a dying baitfish. Then I’ll let the bait sit for a few seconds before creating another movement. This absolutely drives them crazy.

One last reason poppers are deadly is that feathered rear treble hook. When fish are feeding on tiny baitfish or bugs, the feathered treble makes them bite. Sometimes even the small profile of the bait is still too big for them, but they come up and see the feathers and eat those instead.

Fishing the right rod and reel with a Pop-R makes a huge difference in landing fish. You want a rod with a good amount of

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THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

bend because you don’t set the hook. Instead, you just reel into them.

I use a 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’ cranking rod. For the reel, you want something that is able to cast a light lure as far as possible. You also need one that will pick up the bait fast for another cast in case a fish misses or you spot surfacing fish. I use a 13 Fishing Concept with an 8:3 gear ratio. I spool it with 30- to 50-lb. Seaguar Smackdown Braid.

Next time you get on the water, pick up a popper style lure like a 13 Fishing Poppy McPop Face and see how deadly it can be in the summer months.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide.

Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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Experience Watauga River Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River

Watauga Lake Doe River PLAN YOUR TRIP AT TOURCARTERCOUNTY.COM

Tennessee’s Mountain Playground

w a d t e a r e s H ARE THE

By Nick Carter

ANSWER TO THE DOG DAYS

T

rout anglers have two options when it comes to deep summer. They can either hit tailwater fisheries, where dam-controlled flows provide stable year-round water temperatures, or they can seek out high-elevation headwaters, where both fish and angler find comfort in rhododendron-shaded creeks with water conditions perennially perfect for little wild trout.

Big fish and big hatches of tailrace trout fishing are certainly appealing. However, anglers should play fish intended for release quickly and handle them carefully when dogday temperatures peak. Fish are fighting for their lives with every ounce of their strength on the end of a line. The stress can kill them when water conditions are less than ideal.

That, along with blazing hot sun on the back of the neck, is enough reason to strike out in search of a more appealing environment when it gets hot.

My 11-year-old son and I recently spent a couple days on the headwaters of North Carolina’s Nantahala River at a place called Standing Indian. Standing Indian Mountain tops out at close to 5,500 feet, and its slopes feed the river with plenty of cold water from numerous headwater branches. This area, upstream of the U.S. Forest Service’s Standing Indian Campground, is off of U.S. 64 west of Franklin, N.C. The Nantahala at Standing Indian bears little resemblance to the big whitewater river it becomes downstream near Bryson City. In its headwaters, there are about six miles of public water that might be 20 feet across in the wide spots. It’s a great little stream for folks who

enjoy slinging dry flies on a four-weight fly rod for pretty little rainbow and brown trout.

The fishing wasn’t exactly stellar the two days my son and I fished in mid-June.

There were thunderstorms each night, so the river was a little high and stained. My son is also new to a lightweight fly rod, and overhanging rhododendron and river birch are hardly easy terrain for a beginner. Still, we managed to catch numerous gorgeous rainbows slinging a dry-dropper rig with a small Pheasant Tail fished beneath a yellow

Stimulator. There were little yellow Sally stoneflies in the air, so our selection of dry fly matched the hatch.

Good small-stream browns in the 14inch range come from this stretch of water pretty regularly, but all we caught were rainbows with a couple measuring maybe 10 or 11 inches. That’s a pretty good fish in terms of little wild trout streams in the Southeast. We considered our mission accomplished returning to a riverside campsite each evening.

While my son might not be old enough to appreciate it, the cool mountain air and bedding down to the gurgle of the creek were the highlights of the trip. The air temperature was easily 20 degrees cooler than back home, and I don’t know if I’ve ever slept better.

For information, check out Nick Carter’s book “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It’s available on Amazon or by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

Lake Chatuge May Hybrids and Spotted Bass

T

he hybrid bass bite is in full swing. These Lake Chatuge monsters are right in the midst of their spring spawn.

Currently, they are feeding pretty aggressively on bait in the backs of creeks and in shallow areas around the mouths of creeks. The far south end and far upper ends of the lake have been pretty decent. We are seeing most of our fish in the 25 to 50 foot range. Your early morning and late evening bites will be the best. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and shad will be your best technique.

Towards the end of this month, we’ll start to see these hard-fighting fish school up in the mouths of creeks and off points around the lake. When these hybrids school up, it can most certainly make for an unforgettable fishing trip. We typically average 30 to 60 hybrids

By Darren Hughes

in a morning and sometimes in less than 2 hours. These fish will range in sizes from 6-15 pounds and fight like no other. Also, look for an awesome top-water bite to get fired up soon. I usually keep a Red Fin or a spook at the ready.

The spotted bass bite has also been excellent. Fish should be coming up off their beds and are super hungry. They will be schooling up off shallow points and humps throughout the lake.

Recently, we have been boating 25 to 30 fish a trip. A lot of these spots have been averaging 4 to 6 pounds. Focus on shallow areas around creeks and off points and humps. Down-lining live bluebacks has worked the best. Also, watch for a strong top-water bite to start.

When these schooling spots start chasing up bait and busting on the surface, they’ll hit almost anything

14 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

MAY 2022

you can throw at them.

May is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids and spots on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and

Blairsville, Georgia’s premier fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Nottely, and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

Darren Hughes is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and a guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish.com or give him a call at (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

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Y

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,

THE BEST PLACE TO DROP A FISHING LINE

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.

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

Every season is the best season to explore the many treasures in the Upcountry.

A N D E R S O N  C H E RO K E E  G R E E N V I L L E  O C O N E E  P I C K E N S  S PA R TA N BU R G

Perfectly Seasoned

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FLY OF THE MONTH

Garner's Twisted Whistler

By Garner Reid

WATCH

VIDEO

GARNER’S TWISTED WHISTLER

By Garner Reid

W

e are in the middle of summer, and as we all know, that means hot and humid days when we all remember what summer really feels like since dreaming about it during the winter.

Mid-summer on my local water means being on the water either super early or late to beat the heat. In addition to operating on an odd fishingrelated sleeping schedule this time of year, I tie up flies I can get deep in the water column and that offer a slightly different action than the fish have been seeing all summer. The twisted whistler is a versatile fly I like to fish in the peak summer months for river stripers on my local waters.

Like any other dumbbell-weighted streamer, it is an effective fly on many different fish with modification to the hook size and material color. I try to have a brace of these flies in my box in varying colors and weights. Try these out on the bench, and fish them on your water!

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Who knew a simple thing like fishing could have such an impact on our lives? I am over 60 years old and still remember my first fish.

My Dad took me to Charles Mills Reservoir near Mansfield when I was very young. I actually lassoed a catfish and drug it in sideways, (which made it seem very large and heavy). The fish wasn’t hooked very well, but I was, and I have been fishin ever since. Later my Mom would let me go to a farm pond down the road by myself when I was eight years old. There I caught a huge two and half pound bass and ran back home with it. My Mom, (bless her heart), cleaned it and cooked it for me. Who knew such seemingly little events would end up being some of my fondest memories? Thanks Mom and Dad.

Lake Erie tributaries, to big rig fishing for catfish in the Muskingum River to catching sauger in the Ohio River and saugeye at Buckeye Lake. Ohio is a great place to fish and make memories, so, take a kid fishin, who knows, maybe he or she will grow up and be the CoPublisher of fishing magazine someday.

Wishin’ you good fishin’ Steve Philpott Co-Publisher The Angler Magazine – Ohio Edition steve@theanglermagazine.com Office: (740) 899-0591 Photo by Steve Ph ilpott Photo by Adam Philpott

Some of my family’s best trips and funniest experiences were associated with fishing. From having my son Mitch hook my hat and throw it in the lake, to people falling in the water, there was always fun times associated. The fishing was just a good excuse for getting outside, away from electronics and the world. On one trip I took the family to Rose Lake in Hocking Hills State Park. My then three year old son Jared fell in and was completely submerged. He was okay, my wife didn’t think it was funny but the rest of us sure got a good laugh.

One of my favorite trips was when we took the whole family to the AEP Lakes in Southeastern Ohio. We hiked two miles to a lake just full of bass. My wife fell in on that trip. She didn’t find that funny either, but I was chuckling when she wasn’t looking. Half of us got lost on the way back to the car, but it was a great trip!

I sincerely encourage you to take a kid fishing as often as you can, and Ohio is a great place to do that in. There is such a diversity of species and method’s for catching them: from charter fishing at Lake Erie to fly fishing for trout in the Mad River and steelhead in the

Photo by Mitch Philpott

Play & Stay Shores & Islands Ohio is more than just a place, it’s a feeling. Discover something new with each adventure. Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned regular, experiences here stay in your heart for a lifetime.

Find your Lake Erie Love at SHORESandISLANDS.com.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

OHIO 1

A selection of conventional “safety pin“ style spinnerbaits of various sizes, skirt colors and trailer styles. Note the surface-oriented buzzbaits at the upper right.

m e a -

1

PHOTOS COURTESY BUCKEYEANGLER MULTIMEDIA.

Spinnerbait Season is Upon Us

conditions when expertly worked amidst shoreline cover.

Takes a knack, but it’s wellt is truly amazing that over worth the exciting payoffs. the last couple of decades Particularly effective on bigger there had been a noticeable fish. IN-LINE (Panther Martin, de-emphasis in the long-time Roostertail, Mepps)- essential prominence in the popularity ball-bearing swivel attachment of one of the very most popular provides useful extra weight for fishing tools in the history throwing the smaller lures most of the sport, - the venerable preferred for the panfish it is spinnerbait. more likely intended for, except When fish are at all active, for its extreme larger versions, particularly on windier days which are great for northerns with a noticeable “chop” on and muskie. The premium A selection of different panfish oriented spinner rigs, most appropriate the water’s surface, no other swivels also excel in preventing for crappie, bluegill, perch, rock bass, trout and white bass. horizontal lure has ever outline twist and enabling stable Note the bottom three “Panther Martin” in-line types. produced the venerable blade action at slower speeds. spinnerbait -in Ohio or JIG-SPIN (Road Runner, anywhere else. The spinnerbait is easily the Beetle Spin): Best in 1/16 to 1/4 oz. sizes easiest artificial bait to use and the fundamental matched to light action spinning gear. Versatile WATCH VIDEO favorite for novice anglers to take that next step lure can be either conventionally retrieved or forward in their angling progress. You just tie jigged vertically through the water column. A them on and chunk them out. They work just as popular and effective largemouth bait in angling reel sleeper for walleye... well on spincast (open face) and spinning gear history. Relatively inexpensive, easy to use, Get out now and spend just a few dollars as they do on your level wind bait caster. Simply and wonderfully versatile in all water depths. to initially cover the spectrum of spinnerbait match your particular spinner to the depths, Also less likely to snag than other horizontal angling. You younger anglers in particular conditions, and specific rig you are using at any presentations. I like to affix a plastic trailer on will much enjoy your initial foray into lure given time. Experiment with degree of speed back to bulk-up casting weight, add action, fishing, and that special enjoyment and sense and colors that seem to be most productive at and be particularly effective when the retrieve of accomplishment taking that big step forward. is “killed” and the bait falls into various cover. any given time.

Jack Kiser is the long-time Outdoors Columnist Here are the four basic categories of Some opt for the further inclusion of a trailer for the Record-Courier and “ Midwest Outdoors spinnerbaits and their most appropriate hook to ensure more secure hook ups. “ magazine , as well as Buckeye Angler TV and BUZZBAIT (Lunker Lure, Obie’s): Nonapplications: radio host on PBS, Ohio News Network, and Fox SAFETY SPIN / CONVENTIONAL swivel equipped surface version that entices Sports. You may reach him at the Buckeye Angler Facebook site or the new buckeyeangler.com.

(Assassinator, Obie’s): Arguably the most savage strikes, particularly in lowlight

By Jack Kiser

I

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AUGUST 2022

81

Fly Fishing on the Clear Fork of the Mohican River

By Dave Radomski

T

rout fishing on the Upper and Lower sections of the Clear Fork of the Mohican River has been possible for the past 30 years thanks to a stocking program managed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The “Upper” begins below the spillway of Clear Fork Reservoir near Lexington, OH and flows through Bellville and Butler, ending as it dumps into Pleasant Hill Lake near Perrysville, OH. The “Lower” has its origin below the Pleasant Hill dam and runs through Mohican State Park until it meets up with the Black Fork to form the Mohican River south of Loudonville, OH. The Upper section is stocked annually with 7-9” brown trout while the Lower section gets 12” rainbow trout each year. The reason for the difference in species and size is due to water temperature differences. Water in the Lower can get warm to the point of that survival of the trout is doubtful.

So, the rainbows are stocked in the fall

at the legal harvest size of 12” for a Putand-Take fishery. Water in the Upper has temperatures that remain cooler than those of the Lower. Barring exceedingly hot summer conditions, many of the 7-9” browns stocked in the fall can survive the summer warm up and remain to grow in the river for multiple years. Thus, the stocking program for the Upper is designed as a Put-Grow-and-Take program. The brown trout that manage to survive multiple seasons can grow to 20” and more. ODNR has always intended the trout stocking program to be one where fish were meant to be harvested once they grow to at least the minimum 12” length. There are, however, many anglers who have come to appreciate the opportunity to maintain an ongoing trout fishery through catch and release on both the Lower and Upper sections of the Clear Fork.

The optimum season on both sections of the river span mid-autumn through early summer. This is when the

trout are most active and healthy, mostly due to lower water temperatures and good oxygen levels.

When fishing for rainbow trout in the Lower CF, the name of the game is typically low and slow. Nymph patterns and streamer patterns drifted close to the bottom will produce takes. But always be ready to switch to a dry fly if you see fish rising to bugs on the surface.

When targeting browns in the Upper CF, understand that they are a more aggressive feeder than the rainbows.

They will chase an offering many feet as opposed to the rainbows who prefer that you put the fly right on them. But keep in mind that they are more easily spooked than the rainbows. Depending on the season, the type of insect and aquatic animal activity present at that time and various other factors, the brown trout can be lured to strike at dry, wet, nymph and streamer flies.

So, get ready for some cooler times in the near future that will usher in another season of trout fishing on the Clear Fork River. We’ll see you out there!

Dave Radomski is the owner of Mohican Fly Fishing Guide Services.

Contact him at info@mohicanflyfishing. com, (419) 544-0946, or by visiting www.mohicanflyfishing.com.

By Tobin Strickland PHOTO CREDIT: FWC/TIM DONOVAN.

C LOR

CONFIDENCE

W

e hear it all the time, “What color is the BEST color for ______ Bay?” How important is color selection in fishing for inshore species, and when does it make the most sense to use each color?

I was recently fishing a shallow grass-flat estuary that remains extremely clear 90 percent of the year… except the trip I took there, which had winds sustained at 25 mph, with gusts to 30! Sound familiar? Where we found our fish the water was extremely turbid (turbidity is the measure of how clear, or how much suspended matter is in the water). We began our assault on the fish with our chosen dark lures, a nice motor-oil colored soft plastic, one that would cast a nice profile in the off-colored water.

Well, as evening drew to a close and the light began to reduce with cloud cover, wouldn’t you know we ran out of “motor-oil.”

We had “pearl” and “clear” left. I took the pearl and my buddy took the clear with sparkle.

Those are two colors one would not normally think of throwing in Yoo-hoo colored water. I wouldn’t say it was a surprise because I’ve seen this before, but we kept right on catching fish and rounded out our limits.

We forget these fish eat nearly invisible, translucent, almost silent forage all the time, and they do it day in and day out, whether the water is clear or if it’s Yoo-hoo. And they’ll

even do it in the black of night. So why use typical color theory with lures–dark day-dark color, light day-light color and so on? Well, catching fish has a lot to do with the action of the lure, and imparting the right action has a lot to do with your confidence. Using the full color spectrum of lures is not wrong as long as one uses it to influence how he or she imparts action, or the lack thereof, to a lure via the angler’s confidence.

So go ahead, if you are new to fishing lures, by all means, find out from a buddy what he’s been getting his bites on. Or use the general color theory above for selecting fishing lure color based on weather and water conditions.

This will allow you to borrow the confidence

of others that have gone before you so you can fish confidently.

Focus more on finding the fish and learning to read the water. Learn where fish will be seasonally, what their natural forage is and where in the bay system it should be. Once you learn to find the fish, use your chosen colors and fish confidently. After a while you’ll begin to form a natural confidence with those colors for your water body’s conditions. At that point, you know both the art of finding the fish and how to work the lure with confidence, and it’s at this junction that you too can begin to experiment.

See more from Tobin Strickland at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2022

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Llebroc Builds Better Boat Seats

L

lebroc Industries began business in 1981 as a medium to high-end seat manufacturing company. During the 80s they evolved into a front-line manufacturer of a diverse group of automotive products for pickups, Suburbans and SUVs. But, in 1997 Llebroc switched primary focus to marine seating. Their first customers were Champion and Skeeter, both manufacturers of bass boats.

Since then, the company rapidly expanded their scope of operations to include seating for boats and ships of every size and description.To accomplish this in such a short span of time, they exercised extensive experience in automotive seating, and now, just 24 years later, Llebroc is creating the most innovative concepts and designs in seating for the marine industry.

Their Series 1 line, for use in an enclosed helm with limited exposure to the weather, currently features eight models with standard features that include: power coasted 1-inch square tube steel; molded foam seat cushions, armrests and headrests; Modern Allante vinyl upholstery; and a 24-month warranty.

The Series 2 line for both indoor and outdoor use currently numbers 14 models with an array of standard features that include all-aluminum construction; UV texture powder coating; UltraLeather material (standard); dual positive lock seat-back adjusters; multi-position arms; Llebroc’s AquaFlex Mitigating System, which provides a level of compact and safety previously unavailable in marine seating; and a three-year warranty.

All Llebroc seats offer free shipping in the continental United States.

Llebroc also produces all-weather seating (11 models), bass boat seating (7 models), seat accessories and all the necessary hardware required for proper installation and utilization. Simply stated, Llebroc creates the highest quality marine seating that can be found on today’s market. It begins with initial concept drawings and proceeds on through each stage of production. In addition, every effort is enhanced by dedication to superior customer service. Each Helm Chair features rugged durability, extraordinary comfort, functional design, an impressive list of standard features and, perhaps best of all, an affordable price.

For information about Llebroc products and services, visit www.llebroc.com or call Toll Free: 800-284-5771 • Fax: 817-831-3623.

CROCODILE BAY The Ultimate Fishing Experience C

rocodile Bay boasts the largest professional sport fishing fleet in Central America with in-house captains and mates able to cater to all skill levels. At the helm stands Diego Camacho, Director of Fishing and expert fisherman. Anglers will enjoy offshore, inshore, as well as the now all-new kayak and shore fishing excursions. Each is uniquely challenging and equally rewarding. The fleet of 24 and 25-foot center consoles Boston Whalers and 33 and 35-foot tower Strike are easily accessed from the 800-foot private pier.

Crocodile Bay offers world-class catch and release bill fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy going after sailfish, striped, blue and black marlin, dorado, tuna and wahoo. And when fishing in Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) you will find roosterfish, cubera snapper, jack trevalle, bluefin trevally, sierra mackerel, tripletail, and grouper to be excellent throughout the year. Are you ready to strap in and reel in a yellowfin tuna that can reach up to 300 lbs? Do you think you have what it takes to beat the Roosterfish resort record at 106 lbs?

So what are you waiting for? Visit Crocodile Bay for an adventure of a lifetime and experience the incredible transformation to Crocodile Bay Marina and Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton. Botánika will provide unparalleled services and amenities, including the clubhouse, a lagoon-shaped pool, several restaurants and bars, a fully equipped state-of-the-art fitness center, and nature trails right on property. With the Pacific Ocean in the front yard, and Corcovado National Park in the backyard, guests can participate in a wide array of land and water based ecoadventures. With the adjacent Crocodile Bay Marina, Botánika guests will continue to enjoy marine adventures, such as worldclass sport fishing, whale and dolphin watching, and snorkeling.

Just as Crocodile Bay Resort, Botánika is destined to become a world-class vacation destination and a new Costa Rican legacy.

FREEDIVER SPEARS WORLD RECORD CUBERA SNAPPER A

By CAM Staff

massive 137-pound Atlantic WATCH cubera snapper speared by a Texas freediver in early June was heavier than the existing IGFA all-tackle world record as well as the Texas state record. It will not, however, qualify for either record because of the method used to catch it.

Who cares?

The diver, Braden Sherron, a student at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, can rest assured that his monster cubera is one of the largest of its species ever caught by any method. It will likely be the new International Underwater Spearfishing Association’s world record. If approved, it will replace a 122.4-pound fish shot in 2006 off the coast of Brazil.

According to a Field & Stream story on the catch, Sherron first encountered the giant snapper while freediving a Gulf of Mexico oil rig about 60 miles out of Port Aransas, Texas.

He did not take his shot at the time because he was not equipped to handle such a large fish.

A week later, on June 3, he returned to the rig with heavier gear, dove to about 55 feet and put a dart into the fish. Luckily, the cubera wrapped the trailing line up in the oil rig, which kept the fish from diving. While the fish fought itself, Sherron returned to the surface to wait 10 minutes before diving down to secure his prize with two more shots.

When Sherron brought his fish back to the scales at Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas, it began making the rounds on social media almost immediately. It truly is an enormous fish, which outweighs the existing IGFA record—a 2007 Louisiana fish that weighed 124 pounds, 12 ounces—by more than 10 pounds. Sherron’s fish also outweighs the Texas state rod-and-reel record of 131 pounds. The only larger cubera snapper research was able to turn up was a 151-pound monster that’s listed as an “other methods” catch by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. That fish, caught by handline out of Port Mansfiled in 1984, weighed 151 pounds.

The thing is, none of these other anglers were holding their breath when they caught their fish. Sherron’s catch is absolutely one for the record books.

“I would equate it to shooting a 200-plusinch whitetail deer on public land,” he told Field & Stream. “It’s one of those things that happens once in a lifetime, and you can’t believe it when it does.”

Check out video of Braden Sherron’s spearfishing on his Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3yKm8EP

VIDEO

CHANGING TACTICS FOR CHANGING CONDITIONS

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

WATCH

W

VIDEO

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

ork with what mother nature gives you. Here on the upper Texas coast, we’ve had about seven years of excessive rainfall which, in general terms, made some of our bays unfishable for most of that time. Due to excessive fresh water, those of us who like to fish where the tributaries enter into the bays had to seek new areas where the salinity levels were suitable for speckled trout.

This year, things are back to normal, and we need to relearn old patterns and work with what mother nature is giving us.

The Texas heat and drought are one for the record books and can make a day on the water unpleasant if you plan to stay much past noon, but there are some methods to help you be productive during the dog days of summer.

Many of the estuaries that were impacted by the floods are some of our deeper bay systems, and that is a good thing this time of year.

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Heading out early will greatly increase your odds and give you more time on the water while it is cool, relatively speaking. I have found these bays have been forgotten by some, and they’ve never been fished by those new to our sport, which makes for less crowds on the water. I target the deeper reefs in the upper stretches of the bay near the rivers. Locating new washouts can also pay off, and those are not on the maps or public knowledge, so doing a little recon before you head out on each trip can make for a more productive day.

As always, the jetties are always an August favorite. The high current and cooler Gulf water attract every fish species that swims in our bays and nearshore waters. It’s not uncommon to catch some offshore fish there as well, it happens every year.

Although I prefer lures over bait, August success rates lean toward live shrimp or finfish.

THE ANGLER VIDEO MAGAZINE

Depending on conditions, these can be freelined, Carolina rigged, or fished under a loud popping cork. A free-lined shrimp tossed near a granite jetty is a good bet on any day. Stepping away from the live version, cut mullet or shad can be winners for a big pull from a red, black drum or shark. A circle hook Carolina rigged on the bottom can entice those large predators to strike. This is a great method if you have kids aboard.

Although the temps are high, you can still have a successful day on the water if you modify your techniques. Remember to apply sunblock before you leave the dock, wear appropriate protective clothing and drink plenty of water. Stay safe and have fun!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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