Coastal Angler Magazine | May 2022 | Boston Edition

FREE

BOSTON EDITION

CANAL SURFCASTER EAST END EDDIE DOHERTY

George K. Regan, Jr. Publisher Boston Edition

Julie Kahn Executive Vice President/ Strategy, Sports & Media

ELECTRONICS • LOCAL FISHING REPORTS & CATCH PHOTOS VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 111

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/BOSTON

MAY 2022

Protect your baby (and their toys) with coverage for fishing gear and personal property too.

1- 8 0 0 -PROG RE S S IVE / PROG RE S S IVE .COM

Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. & affiliates. Additional charge may apply. Prices vary based on how you buy.

Shhhhh. No wake zone.

©2022 Sea Tow Services International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Proven inshore.

Proven offshore.

Ready for those who fish and for those who catch.

We’re standing by to keep you fishing.

Are you a member?

B

Fu bo

T

als If y wi loo Th ex bla res Th de fea na Th in wi aro for sp Bu las co she Hu Yo Fe on cra cu 30 ite Li las Bl be

Hu

O

1-

Yo

Yo

S

*D list

Ca Pr

•

JOIN NOW AND SAVE 10% seatow.com/angler

©2022 Sea Tow Services International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!

T

he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature.

If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.

The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.

The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this

Huntsman Blade $249*

genuine leather sheath!

EXCLUSIVE

FREE

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Huntsman Blade

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives



“This knife is beautiful!”

— J., La Crescent, MN



“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: HUK768-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

®

Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK768-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

shown *Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the actual size. listed original Stauer.com price.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• 12" overall length; 6 ¹⁄2" stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

The Workingman’s Drum

By CAM Staff

Young angler Hayes Grinnell did battle with this big black drum while fishing the Texas coast with Slinging Mullet Guide Service and Get Em Guide Service.

I

n some circles, black drum don’t get the respect they deserve. Maybe it’s their appearance? With weird chin barbells and a humped head, they hug the bottom, looking like the hunchbacked cousins of the sleeker redfish inshore anglers adore.

Or maybe it’s their reluctance to take a lure?

Black drum feed primarily by scent, and while you might catch one slinging a spoon, targeting them requires bait, which is more effort than plug and paddletail aficionados are willing to put forth.

However, for anglers who aren’t too prissy to get their hands dirty, black drum have a whole lot to offer. They are the workingman’s drum, found nearshore and inshore throughout the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic seaboard to New England.

Black drum pull hard, with powerful bulldogging runs regardless of size. And they grow quite large, reaching weights well over 100 pounds. On top of that, they provide consistent action in a wide range of areas where they can be caught. Shore-bound anglers can target them from docks, bridges, jetties and piers, where drum hunt crustaceans around structure. Surf anglers often connect with them on quartered blue crabs cast outside the breakers. From a boat, passes and inlets are prime feeding grounds as is nearshore structure.

Shallow-water anglers find younger specimens way up in the estuaries tailing like redfish for fiddler crabs in tidal creeks.

Their movements are seasonal, but as long as you’ve got bait, you can pursue black drum pretty much anywhere you choose. Like most fish, they bite best on a moving tide, when your bait’s scent disperses over a wide area. They’ll eat halved blue crabs, whole fiddler crabs or mud crabs with backs cracked to let a little scent out, and also live or dead shrimp or fresh cut bait. On the northern end of their range, anglers add clams, mussels and blood worms to the array of baits a drum will eat. As long as your bait is on the bottom and smelling like food, it’s likely to draw the attention of a drum.

Rigging and gear are pretty simple. A classic Carolina rig with just enough weight to keep the bait on bottom will get the job done in most situations.

Up in the creeks, where you’ll be doing more casting and maybe even sight fishing, baits can be fished on a jighead or even a simple hook with a split shot.

Tackle in the 20-pound class is a good starting point, and it’s wise to beef up to pull big drum off structure. They do get big. The IGFA world record, caught in 1975 off Delaware, weighed 113 pounds, 1 ounce. Fish in the 40- to 50-pound range are regular catches across the drum’s range.

Those big fish aren’t good to eat, though. The meat is often full of worms by the time fish reach weights heavier than about 15 pounds. Smaller drum are excellent table fare.

For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.

YOUR PERSONAL LIFEGUARD...

Use promocode CA2022 at Fellmarine.com to receive a special offer!

ALWAYS ON - NEVER INTRUSIVE

FREEDOM WITH SAFETY

The MOB+™ is a life-saving device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill switch, and stops the engine should you fall overboard.

Connect up to 4 people at the same time. www.fellmarine.com

Complies with new USCG regulation regarding mandatory emergency lanyard use 4 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Now available at: & (Online only) Or find your local retailer at www.fellmarine.com/retailers

m

2022 o er!

SPECIAL OFFER

30 DAY MONEY ROSE GOLD & BACK GUARANTEE BLUE FINISH

D RESS ED TO KILL & FULLY LOAD E D !

T H E WATC H YOU ’ V E BE E N AFTE R ALL T H ES E Y E AR S NOW ON S PECIAL O FFE R !

The quest to find the ultimate men’s watch has always been a difficult one in the world of fashion. A timepiece with the perfect look and functionality has long been the goal of both watch designers and enthusiasts alike.

After many years, mastering and honing the construction, design, and look. We bring you a durable rubber strap that will withstand everything the elements throw at it.

Three precision sub-dials featuring a split second, minute and second, as well as being water-resistant to 3ATM’s. This watch is the epitome of style and sporty design.

Your journey is at an end you can rest in the knowledge that this superb looking timepiece will

stand out on the wrist.

High-quality materials and design will endure the ravages of time both in terms of remaining fashionable and stylish yet durable enough to be worn every day whether at work, rest, or play.

When we first introduced this outstanding looking timepiece we sold out within days especially considering the very special low-cost offer of only $99 plus S&H. To avoid disappointment hurry and order today.

Using the toll-free number below and quoting the promo code or by visiting our online store and entering the code before checkout.

The Daniel Steiger

RENEGADE BLUE NON OFFER PRICE $599 (WITHOUT PROMO CODE)

$99

83% OFF NOW ONLY (WITH PROMO CA2YRN)

PLUS S&H

ORDER NOW TOLL FREE 24/7 ON

1-800 733 8463 PROMO CODE: C A 2 Y R N

ORDER ONLINE AT timepiecesusa.com/ca2yrn AND ENTER CODE: C A 2 Y R N

• Rose Gold & Blue Finish • Comfortable Silicone Band • High Precision Quartz Movement • Split-Second Chronograph • Blue Plating Timepieces Int Inc, 10701 NW 140th Street, Suite 1, Hialeah Gardens, Fl. 33018

IT

IT’S GROUPER TIME AGAIN!

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

M

ay is finally here, opening grouper season for fishermen on the Atlantic Coast.

For the past several months of the season closure, charter captains in the Florida Keys have been boasting incredible throw-back grouper catches.

The reopening of this species enriches each fishing trip with an extra opportunity for a great fighting fish, which is also excellent tablefare.

Grouper fishing can easily be peppered into a day of fishing by dropping a bottom rig down while yellowtail fishing, trolling lures or stopping offshore to deep-drop for snowy grouper while on the mahi hunt.

While the fishery in the Keys may not be famous for its bottom fishing, there is no reason it shouldn’t be. Red, black and gag grouper are plentiful and close to land.

Snowy grouper aren’t too far either, and can be reasonably reliable to target.

Snowy grouper are found within 1,000 feet, and can be targeted with electric or hand-crank set ups. Electric reels are advisable when mahi season is in full swing, as to make quick work of the one-per-boat limit of snowy grouper.

The trek offshore for a single fish might seem like a waste of time, but there is a little more to it. Snowy grouper can get quite large and yield impressively sized, excellent tasting fillets. There

are also the welcomed bycatches of rosies, barrelfish and tilefish while deep dropping in these areas.

Furthermore, there should be ample opportunities for mahi fishing on the way to and from the spot.

Another reason the electric reel is preferable is an 8-pound weight should be used to keep your bait on the bottom in the heavy current. Keep your weight as close to the bottom as you can and utilize a chicken rig, with multiple hooks along the leader, baited with just about anything. Continuously recheck the bottom to make sure it hasn’t gotten away from you, and bring a spare weight or two, as it isn’t overly difficult to lose one while fishing this way.

Targeting red, black and gag grouper on the reef can be a little different than typical grouper fishing on the west coast of Florida. Heavy weights can easily get snagged on the rocky bottom in the heavy current, potentially making inexperience quite expensive in terms of lost tackle. There are also plenty of smaller reef fish waiting to pick apart your bait. Over-baiting can be a good tactic, but the most reliable way to bypass these conditions, is to simply freeline a live bait on a jighead.

After breaking client’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, we are thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again.

Right now is an excellent time to visit the Florida Keys and enjoy our full fishery.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla.

LURES

CASTING FAR: THE DYNAMICS OF LONG DISTANCE LURES

PATRICK SEBILE

I

’ve enjoyed fishing from the shore since I was a teen angler, and one thing that became obvious to me very quickly was there are numerous situations when casts are a tad bit short to reach targeted fish in specific situations.

This is a constant truism when fishing from the bank, the beach, a pier or jetty, but it also applies to boat anglers. Quick, long casts are often required for fastmoving fish like tuna. Long casts are also useful when it’s necessary to keep the boat away from reefs, boulders and breakers for safety or to avoid spooking fish.

Long ago, I began making sure to always have lures in my possession that

were especially efficient for reaching out long distances. These lures sometimes trade realistic swimming action for distance, yet there are also a few that find a balance between great range and great action.

When you read the packaging of a saltwater lure, and especially a surffishing lure, it often mentions how good the lure is for longdistance casts— or how good it is supposed to be. The problem is, there is no scale. There is no quantifiable reference for comparing lures that honestly presents the real numbers of yards any given lure will deliver. Marketing promises do not

always translate into real performance.

To make things more complex, there is theoretical and real distance. A lure that casts great on a parking lot with no breeze can turn into a disaster when casting into an onshore breeze at night, which are conditions many serious fishermen face in the surf.

There’s no magic, and what makes some lures reach farther distances than others is a mix between their concept, their balance and, to a certain extent, the gear used to throw them when the goal is to reach a little bit farther than other anglers.

This conversation is all about the physics that translates to longer casting distance for better fishing results. The key points that will help you pick the proper lures to do the job are shape, buoyancy, the position of weight on the lure, the total weight and sometimes extra appendages, such as side wings that really help a lure fly as far as possible.

These elements are just a primer to a discussion on lures designed for distance.

Next month, I plan to go in-depth on ways you can select lures that will truly help you cast super-long distances to reach fish other lures cannot. Arming yourself with a longcasting arsenal gives you an edge in catching fish, simply because you’ll be able put a lure in front of them.

J

R

NE

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.

T

B in

E fo it

2 p r in a

2 b w S

2 c h fi in

2 W M d

G

8 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

G ri o co

ere is t casts n turn nshore many

some rs is a e and, throw tle bit

T ED 202 S U AS or

2

J ELE ins f R Co W

NE

5 Countries, 5 Pure Silver Coins!

hysics ce for at will he job ght on s extra y help

to a tance. ways p you other longtching ure in

rld igner k out

Your Silver Passport to Travel the World

T

The 5 Most Popular Pure Silver Coins on Earth in One Set

ravel the globe, without leaving home—with this set of the world’s five most popular pure silver coins. Newly struck for 2022 in one troy ounce of fine silver, each coin will arrive in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition. Your excursion includes stops in the United States, China, South Africa, Australia and Canada.

We’ve Done the Work for You with this Extraordinary 5-Pc. World Silver Coin Set

Each of these coins is recognized for its breathtaking beauty, and for its stability, even in unstable times, since each coin is backed by its government for weight, purity and legal tender value.

2022 American Silver Eagle: The Silver Eagle is the single most popular coin in the world. 2022 represents the first full year of release of the Silver Eagle’s new Eagles Landing reverse design, introduced midway through last year to honor the coin’s 35th anniversary. Struck in 99.9% fine silver at the U.S. Mint.

2022 South African Krugerrand: The Krugerrand continues to be the best-known, most respected numismatic coin brand in the world. 2022 is the 5th anniversary of the first silver Krugerrand.

Struck in 99.9% fine silver at the South African Mint.

2022 China Silver Panda: Since its first issue, the China Panda coin series has been one of the most widely collected series ever, highlighted by one-year-only designs. This 2022 Panda features its first-ever privy mark honoring the coin’s 40th anniversary. Struck in 99.9% fine silver at the China Mint.

2022 Australia Wedge Tailed Eagle: Introduced in 2014, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is the first-ever collaboration between U.S. Mint designer John Mercanti and a foreign mint. With a new design for 2022, it’s struck in 99.9% fine silver at the Perth Mint.

GovMint.com • 1300 Corporate Center Curve, Dept. WRD219-02, Eagan, MN 55121

2022 Canada Maple Leaf: Since 1988, the Silver Maple Leaf’s elegant design has made it a highly sought-after bullion coin. The 2022 coin features anti-counterfeit security technology—radial lines and a microengraved maple leaf with the number “22”. Struck in 99.99% fine silver at the Royal Canadian Mint.

Exquisite Designs Struck in Precious Silver

These coins, with stunningly detailed designs and gorgeous finishes that speak to their country of origin, are sure to hold a revered place in your collection. Plus, they provide you with a unique way to stock up on precious fine silver. Here’s a legacy you and your family will enjoy, and cherish. Secure yours now!

SAVE with this World Coin Set

You’ll save both time and money on this world coin set with FREE shipping and a BONUS presentation case.

2022 World Silver 5-Coin Set $199 + FREE SHIPPING FREE SHIPPING: Limited time only. Product total over $149 before taxes (if any). Standard domestic shipping only. Not valid on previous purchases.

For fastest service call today toll-free

1-888-201-7070 Offer Code WRD219-02

Please mention this code when you call.

SPECIAL CALL-IN ONLY OFFER Not sold yet? To learn more, place your phone camera here >>> or visit govmint.com/WRD

GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint. com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2022 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

®

A+

Shiner Fishing for Giant Florida

LARGEMOUTHS

B

ass tournament anglers get excited about 20-pound five-fish limits, and a 30-pound tournament sack is a lifetime achievement for most. It takes a little bit more to impress hawg hunter Sean Rush.

Rush makes a living guiding clients to trophy largemouth bass, mostly on Rodman Reservoir in north Florida. The best five fish haul his boat has seen weighed 61 pounds, 9 ounces. Think about that. That’s a more than 12-pound average.

Rush said it was the best fishing day he’s ever witnessed, with two fish well over 13 pounds and the smallest of the five weighing a measly 11 pounds, 1 ounce. Most bass anglers across the country spend a lifetime seeking out a single 10-pound-plus largemouth. Rush’s anglers did five lifetime’s worth of trophy catching in a single day on April 26 of 2021.

“And we probably lost between three and six fish that were that big or bigger,” Rush added after rattling off the astounding statistics. “Those guys were from New Jersey. They had never done any Florida shiner fishing before. I told them it was all downhill from there.”

The downhill slide, however, is not too steep.

Even a decent day using Rush’s techniques on Rodman produces results that would impress just about anyone. When it comes to catching big largemouths, he’s got several advantages over your average angler.

Location is a big factor. Rodman is a 9,500acre giant bass factory. It is a 15-mile long stump field with a deep river channel running down the middle of it and the matted vegetation Florida

By Nick Carter

fisheries are known for. In more than three decades guiding, Rush said his clients have boated close to 1,000 bass better than 10 pounds. He landed 73 10-plus-pounders last year alone and has overseen the landing of eight fish on FWC’s TrophyCatch Hall of Fame list, which is for fish heavier than 13 pounds. He does 95 percent of his trips on Rodman.

“If fishing is good, we commonly catch 30 to 60 fish a day,” he said. “The average size at Rodman is pretty solid. Usually we’ll have fish in the 8- to 10-pound class on the top end of that range.”

Tactics are everything when it comes to catching fish like that. Live bait provides a huge advantage over the lures tournament anglers must fish. Rush fishes exclusively with live, wildcaught shiners, which he keeps lively in a huge bait tank on his custom-built, 22-foot Prodigy Razor. The tournament guys can keep their fiberglass glitter rockets. Rush’s sturdy aluminum boat is rigged out for the style of fishing he does, and it’s powered by a 150 hp Mercury with a power-assisted hand tiller.

The tackle is also sturdy. Rush pairs heavy duty Daiwa 300 Lexa baitcasting reels with super heavy 7 ½- and 8-foot rods he said are essentially musky rods. He fishes straight 20-pound Berkley Big Game in green, which is thin enough for low visibility and strong enough to get the job done.

He hooks his shiners through the tail above the anal fin with 3/0, 4/0 or 5/0 Eagle Claw 84s, which

are standard J hooks with a slight offset.

In a typical spread, his anglers will work shiners under bobbers set 3 to 5 feet deep, and he’ll throw out one or two shiners on freelines to swim up under the vegetation. For big fish, he prefers shiners 7 to 9 inches long.

Rush’s big-fish reputation has gotten around, so he stays booked 300-plus days a year. His favorite time of year is fall, before the December through February spawn.

“It’s prespawn, the fishing pressure is lower and the fish are feeding up that time of year,” he said. “The fish are also big then. They look like gorillas.”

Late spring and summer are also good, once fish settle back into normal patterns after the spawn. Most of the year he targets them around floating mats of vegetation and deep river bends.

The exception is during the spawn, when bass push up on the flats. Rush does not bed fish, though.

He’ll set up on mats near known spawning flats and try to catch big females staging.

One more thing: don’t call Rush if you want to eat bass or have a trophy mounted. Rodman is managed under regular Florida regulations— which allow five fish, with one fish longer than 16 inches—but Rush’s trips are catch-and-release.

“I’m up front and honest about it on the phone,” he said. “If they even talk like they want to keep one, I just won’t take them.”

Contact Capt. Sean Rush and Trophy Bass Expeditions of Central Florida through the website at www.floridatrophybass.com.

S

work p, and eelines fish, he

round, r. His ember

lower ar,” he ok like

, once er the round bends. s push hough. g flats

u want odman ions— han 16 ase. on the y want

ass he .

GEICO.COM/BOAT • 1-800-865-4846 • LOCAL OFFICE GREAT LOW RATES | MULTI-VEHICLE DISCOUNT | SPECIALIZED AGENTS Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2022 GEICO. 21_782312631

Monster Blue Cat Smashes Mississippi Record

By CAM Staff

T

he Mississippi River near Natchez, Miss. has a history of producing giant blue cats. The most recent monster catfish, caught on April 7, weighed 131 pounds and absolutely crushed the existing state rod-and-reel state record.

Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, Mississippi, had just set up in a 90-foot-deep hole downstream of Natchez. About five minutes after making his first cast, the big fish took the cut skipjack he was using as bait, according to a report in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.

“He hit the rod and started pulling drag,”

Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. “We had to untie the boat and float down the river.

“I couldn’t move him. I’d pull on him and take in a foot of line and he’d pull and take 10 feet. I just sat there like I was hung up.”

After a 40-minute fight on 30-pound line, the angler’s exhaustion made hauling the fish into the boat a chore. Cronley has caught 50-pound fish from the area before, and he didn’t

realize exactly how big this fish was until he put eyes on it. Then, it was time to start looking for a certified scale with the capacity to weigh such an enormous fish.

Cronley’s fish waited on ice for three days before he was able to get a certified weight. Fish lose weight when they are out of the water. The Clarion Ledger reported that the fish had an initial weight of 138 pounds on uncertified scales. Even out of the water for three days, Cronley’s blue cat shattered the previous rod-and-reel state record of 95 pounds, caught from the Mississippi near Natchez in 2009. In 1997, a 101-pound Mississippi trophy record blue catfish was caught in the same stretch of river.

The IGFA all-tackle world record for blue catfish is 143 pounds. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia in 2011.

Cronley’s catch, if certified by IGFA, would possibly be a new 30-pound line class record. The 30-pound line class record stands at 111 pounds. It was caught in 1996 from Wheeler Reservoir in Alabama.

For more Mississippi fishing records, visit mdwfp.com.

YOUR RODS. YOUR WAY. Elevate your fishing game with custom built rods.

MUDHOLE.COM 12 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

PR DI

ê

Il St ag

—

George K. Regan, Jr. Publisher Boston Edition

Julie Kahn President, Regan Marketing & Media

Head to the Outer Cape

By Jared Wood

spare tire. When driving on the sand you reduce your tire pressure to 1215 psi allowing you to float over the sand and not dig in. Driving low and slow on the beach allows you control of your vehicle and keeps you from rutting up the ORV corridor.

There is something about fishing the historic surf of the Cape Cod National Seashore that draws you in.

The stories, the landscape, the wildness and the striped bass cruising along the sandbars, cuts, and troughs searching for their next meal. The Race is where I really learned to become better adept at catching stripers. I learned how they moved, hunted, and staged up and down the shifting sands. As a surfcaster making your way to P-town (Provincetown) and Truro is a must on your bucket list of places to fish.

The fishing on Race Point can be electrifying at times. The last two weeks of May have been some of my favorite times to fish there. With the migration in full swing there can be droves of new fish hitting the surf everyday. The bite does change day in and day out but the days when a blitz happens it is a sight to see. The birds working, fish breaking, and fishermen dropping their coffee cups running down the sand with rod in hand. When the blitzes happen everyone on the beach joins in. It is a family atmosphere out there, everyone willing to help one another out.

Fishing the Race Memorial Day weekend 12 years ago. We had just driven onto the beach and the sun was just coming up. There were

boats within casting distance and birds all over the water. I grabbed my rod and ran down to the water and fired my school bus Bomber into the surf. My plug hit the water and the surface erupted with bass breaking everywhere. A few turns of the handle and I am tight to a good fish. Next thing I know I am feeling my legs getting bumped while I am fighting my bass. I look down and I am surrounded by 20 and 30 pound stripers on the feed. They are banging me in the shins because the sand eels were taking up refuge around my legs. This went on for 6 hours that day. Those fish pushed two miles down the beach and then two miles back up the beach. There were kids having an absolute ball having never seen anything like that before in their lives. This was one of the wildest blitzes I had been a part of to this day.

There is access by foot for fishing the Outer Cape, but the best way to play the sands is by ORV. With a four wheel drive vehicle and the proper equipment you can obtain a permit at the Off Road Permit Station at Race Point Beach. Equipment needed for your dune buggy includes a shovel, tow strap 14 feet long, jack, jack support board (I use 12”x12”x3/4” piece of plywood), tire pressure gauge, and full size

Driving the beach allows you the ability to cover more ground at times.

You are still going to have to do some walking to get where you want when the piping plovers have sections of the corridor closed when the chicks hatch. From your buggy you can cover ground looking for promising areas to fish. Looking for sandbars, troughs, rip lines, and cuts that expose themselves at different stages of the tide. Make a mental note or write it down in your logbook about the location of these areas so you can locate them when you come back later to fish it. To aid you in finding the location use landmarks, debris(logs, lobster pots, a cut in the dunes), or your vehicle odometer by resetting your trip odometer at the start of the trail letting you know how far you have gone.

ing sure you have a successful trip.

My Race plug bag in May is really simple. Having a Bomber Magnum Long A in School Bus is not a bad choice to have. A few pencils in white, yellow, and parrot are my main stays out on the sand. Race Point is not called sand eel city for no reason. The abundance of sand eels is a fraction of what it was in years past but having a mix of soft plastics rigged on lead heads and weightless is a staple for fishing the shifting sands. Rounding out your plug bag with some metals, bucktails, needlefish, and a danny plug or two will give you the tools to aid you in your pursuit. Out on the race a rod that can throw ¾-4 oz. in the 10 to 11 foot range will suit your needs pairing with a 5000 or 6000 size reel.

Even if you don’t catch any fish, the abundance of marine life that can be seen from shore is spectacular. The whales that cruise along can be seen almost daily. The ever growing seal population has made seeing multiple in a day a common occurrence.

With the increase in the seal population there has been an increase in white shark activity. The chance of seeing a white shark hunting a seal is a possibility. The vast number of shore birds present allows for the opportunity for the budding photographer in you. When the fishing is slow, take in the wild landscape Having all your gear in your buggy put before you. allows you to have back up plugs, Jared Wood is a surfcaster line, leader, rods, motor oil, engine who fishes from Maine to coolant, basic tools (wrenches/sockConnecticut. Targeti Striped et set), and a cooler for food and waBass, Bluefish, Albies, and ter. When you are that far out on the Bonito in the surf. He can be Cape there is not a tackle shop close found on Instagram as by so making sure you have everysurfcaster_jared. For any thing you need and then some is a questions he can be reached at must. Being prepared for tackle or vehicle breakdowns is a part of makjaredwood25@gmail.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

|

MAY 2022

|

BOSTON 1

EDITORIAL A Celtic Fishing Legacy – Century Old Gear

(Cont

By Eddie Doherty

John T. Brady Inspired by the stories he was told as a young boy, his love of fishing & Ireland, East End Eddie Doherty relays the story of his heritage.

If you walk down the Cape Cod Canal service road this month, don’t be surprised to see some happy Leprechauns celebrating St. Patrick’s Day while rock hoping along the sloped banks of the big ditch. Just like most anglers, the legendary Celtic charmers are scouting for new hot spots and sharpening their hooks for the arrival of striped bass in the spring.

My great grandfather loved to fish. I never knew him, but his daughter suggested that his DNA was the likely source of my addiction to surfcasting.

John T. Brady, born in Ireland not long after the potato famine, came to America as

a young man along with his mother in search of a more promising future. Their pockets were almost empty as they boarded a ship bound for Canada and said goodbye to their native soil on a dreary Galway morning. His imagination must have been sparked as he stood on the heavy wooden deck while peering through the misty fog to view the vast ocean that he was about to cross. The golden land of opportunity was calling from the other side of the pond as the cold Hibernian wind filled the enormous sails which set their journey in motion.

fishing creel hanging from his shoulder. The creel still contained the reeds that he used to line its bottom when it was given to me many years later by his daughters, my Great Aunts Elizabeth and Helen.

They also gave me his ancient wooden bobber, weather worn and shaped differently than any modern float. I remain grateful for those gifts, but my most prized inheritance is my great-grandfather’s magnificent Shakespeare fishing reel.

The nickel silver model GE Wondereel DeLuxe still has the old fishing line that he put on many years ago and the level wind continues to perform to perfection! The smooth drag feels brand new and I can still hear the distinctive click that my great grandfather heard alerting him to action below.

The most impressive feature on this reel, however, is the date 1922 stamped into the side plate! The reel turned 100 years old this year and can still catch fish! Shakespeare has always manufactured reliable

John would grow up in Massachusetts, marry Bridget Reilly and raise a family in Taunton.

He worked as a molder and enjoyed fishing the local rivers and streams for trout which he would keep in the

22 BOSTON MAY 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM BOSTON | MAY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

fishing equipment, but going strong for a century adds new meaning to the definition of dependability!

I worked in the Massachusetts court system where one of my responsibilities was the authorization of search warrants, usually for a criminal defendant’s home, as well as arrest warrants that were primarily served in felony apprehensions. Crime never stops so police detectives would routinely come to my house for warrants after the courthouse closed. Massachusetts State Police Detective Sergeant Chris Dolan, a Cape Cod resident who was assigned to Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn’s office, was one of those officers. Chris is a great guy, an honorable man and an outstanding detective.

One night Chris called to ask if he could come over to present me with a search warrant affidavit. I immediately agreed, but told him that he would have to maneuver be-

tween the fl move earlie fable throu notic

N Reel & Bobber

EDITORIAL (Continued from Page 2)

The cherished family fishing creel was already hanging in a special location right next to the fireplace. I approved the search warrant as Chris smiled and commented that he wasn’t surprised at my decorating priorities.

going s new on of

usetts of my uthorants, efenarrest marily ehenps so rouse for house State geant Cod ed to Attor, was hris is man ctive. d to ver to wariately at he r be-

Creel tween unpacked boxes all over the floor as my family had just moved into our new home earlier that very day. The affable trooper made his way through this obstacle course noticing that the walls in ev-

ery room were still bare with paintings on the floor leaning up against furniture. The only exception was in the family room where he spied one item that had been placed in a solitary position on the wall.

Coastal Angler Magazine, Boston

Club Meeting: Our club meeting on May 17, 2022 will feature Capt. Chris Valaskatgis presenting: A Day in the Life of a Charter Boat Captain.

JOB TYPE: PART-TIME REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: FISHING & SALES Coastal Angler Magazine, Boston, a company of Regan Communications Group, has an immediate opening for a Sales Representative for our Boston location.

New Location!

RESPONSIBILITIES: Selling all advertising (both print and web) Directing content development (for print, website and social media) Procuring and editing copy from 5-8 writers monthly Managing the layout and collaborating on graphic design Creating concept and copy for print ads Delivering and managing the distribution of 10,000 copies monthly Maintaining all vendor/client relationships

REQUIREMENTS: • • •

A keen knowledge of the fishing industry.

At least two years of sales experience.

Candidate must be able to work effectively in a demanding and fast-paced environment.

Doherty fished the east end of the Cape Cod Canal so often that other anglers called him East End Eddie so a pen and nickname were born. He is a retired Massachusetts District Court Clerk-Magistrate and author of SEVEN MILES AFTER SUNDOWN.

Plum Island Surfcasters

Sales Representative

• • • • • • •

It was always nice to see Chris during busy court sessions and later at my retirement party that was put together by my family, friends and staff. Chris knows of my strong connection to my past through the symbolism of family keepsakes so when he learned that we had moved to our retirement condo he laughed and said, “I’m sure that you found another good spot for the fishing creel!”

I’m proud that I inherited the fishing gene from my great-grandfather and ex-

tremely appreciative for these beautiful family heirlooms, so they have always been displayed prominently in our home. Even though he left this world long before my hands ever held his gear, I think of my great-grandfather sometimes when I’m alone with my thoughts while landing a lure on the backside of a breaking wave, salt spray in my face and a warm gentle breeze at my back as I gaze out over the vast Atlantic he had sailed across so many years ago.

Meet at Salisbury Hilton Senior Center (behind the fire station) 43 Lafayette Road (Route 1), Salisbury, MA 01952

For more details contact: Ashley Boiardi aboiardi@regancomm.com 617-488-2842

6:45 pm | fishing seminar at 8:00 pm $5.00 Admission for Public | Free for All Club Members www.plumislandsurfcasters.org

Now Hiring COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

| MAY MAY2022 2022 |

BOSTON 33 BOSTON

B O S T O N I M A R T H A’ S V I N E YA R D I N A N T U C K E T

LOOKING FOR THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE BOSTON THIS SUMMER? ON THE WATER OF COURSE! BLOCK ISLAND I PROVINCETOWN B O S T O N I M A R T H A’ S V I N E YA R D I N A N T U C K E T NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND BLOCK ISLAND I PROVINCETOWN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

The PR PRINCESS is a luxurious 44 foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey with more than 328 The PR PRINCESS is a luxurious 44 foot square feet of sail, she sleeps 6 and is perfect Jeanneau Sun Odyssey with more than 328 for up to 8 guests. A thoroughbred from stem to square feet of sail, she sleeps 6 and is perfect stern, she is fast while still providing generous for up to 8 guests. A thoroughbred from stem to space above and below deck. Once aboard, stern, she is fast while still providing generous you will find warm teak and plush leather space above and below deck. Once aboard, appointments. The sleek hull lines and sharpyou will find warm teak and plush leather built forefoot exude a hora of speed, while the appointments. The sleek hull lines and sharpdisplacement and well-designed open tranbuilt forefoot exude a hora of speed, while the som extension are proof that aboard the PR displacement and well-designed open tranPRINCESS, sailing and comfort go hand in hand. som extension are proof that aboard the PR PRINCESS, sailing and comfort go hand in hand.

CHARTER OPTIONS: CHARTER OPTIONS: Weekend: $1,600 Half Day: $500 Week: $4,000 Full Weekend: $1,600 HalfDay: Day:$900 $500 All fees exclude the cost $4,000 of a captain.

Week: Full Day: $900

Custom also available request.

All packages fees exclude the cost of aupon captain.

Custom packages also available upon request.

For more specific information please contact,

617-488-2848 617-488-2848

For more specific information please contact,

After down one w We lo seaso come at TM ginni fishin Town eye, n mout the ar Hamp

AN OCEAN AN OCEAN

TO EXPLORE TO EXPLORE Boston’s Premier Sailboat Charter Aboard the Luxury Sailing Yacht PRCharter Princess Boston’s Premier Sailboat Aboard the Luxury Sailing Yacht PR Princess

For More Information Call: 617-488-2848

For More Information Call: 617-488-2848

STILL ACCEPTING SUMMER CHARTERS.

Equipped for long-range cruising, accommodations for a luxurious local adventure.

LENGTH OVERALL 13.41 M / 44’

Fresh Fresh air, air, calm waters & adventure adventuresawait await

DRAUGHT 1.95 M / 6’5”

FEATURES & ACCOMMODATIONS • • • • • • • • • • • •

4 BOSTON

MAY 2022

Large three-part cockpit with ample space for lounging, dining and sail handling Fully equipped galley Raised saloon 3 cabins/staterooms 1 head Air conditioning and heat Yanmar diesel engine Bow thruster Wireless Anchor Windlass w/Remote 30Amp & 12V systems In-Mast Roller Furling Main & Roller Furling Jib Entertainment system

BEAM 3.88 M / 12’9”

ACCOMMODATES 8

3 CABINS/STATEROOMS

1 HEAD

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

|

MAY 2022

|

BOSTON 4

ON 4

EDITORIAL Tim Moore Outdoors

By Tim Moore

After a winter full of ups and downs, I’m probably not the only one who is happy to see spring.

We love to ice fish, but once the season ends, open water can’t come soon enough. For us here at TMO, May signifies the beginning of steady and consistent fishing from the boat and Old Town Predator Kayaks for walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. May also signifies the arrival of stripes bass in New Hampshire.

Once the walleye finish spawning in April and the spring high water recedes, the fish filter back into the river and begin feeding.

May is a great time to pitch jig heads with curly tail grubs into shallow water. Two key factors are time of day and water clarity.

We target walleye with jigs early in the morning and late in the afternoon when the fish stage along weed lines to feed. Water clarity allows us to see weed lines without spooking fish by drifting the boat or kayaks over them. Once the sun rises high in the sky and the walleye move into deeper water, we will resort to trolling.

Pike will also resume a more predictable feeding pattern, utilizing weed beds during the morning and afternoon hours to ambush prey. As weed beds increase in size, more pike will

use them. Wake baits, such as the new 9” Viper Series from Daddy Mac Lures, fished erratically across the top of the weeds will appeal to hungry pike. To trigger aggression strikes we usually switch to big spinners. A Juice Mini 8 Bucktail from Bigtooth Tackle will anger even the most docile pike, but it may take a couple passes of the lure.

Sometime between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day the striped bass make their arrival in many of New Hampshire’s rivers. When they first arrive, the bass are usually focused almost solely on the alewives. Fishing below the dams where the alewives await their

chance to climb fish ladders is often combat fishing, and not our cup of tea. We usually target the slower waters and choke points well below the dams in our kayaks.

Tim Moore is a full-time professional fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns and operates Tim Moore Outdoors, LLC. He is a member of the New England Outdoors Writers Association, and the producer of TMO Fishing on YouTube and the Hooked with TMO Fishing Podcast. For more information visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

| MAY MAY2022 2022 |

BOSTON 55 BOSTON

CATCH OF THE MONTH Catch of the Month Sponsored by: Salt Warrior • thesaltwarrior.com This Month's Prize: $50 Gift Certificate for a Personalized Tackle Box Enter to be next month's winner: Option 1: Submit a photo of your catch at thesaltwarrior.com/giveaway Option 2: Submit a photo of your catch on the Catch of the Month page (Bragboard).

Contact: aboiardi@regancomm.com

A big THANK YOU to all who submitted your catch photos!

We are happy to announce this month’s winner!

Congratulations to Lenny Chlafer, great catch!

Enjoy your complimentary $50 Tackle Kit.

66 BOSTON MAY 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM BOSTON | MAY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

7 BO

CATCH OF THE MONTH

Enter for your chance to win this $50 Blitz Box

7 BOSTON | MAY 2022

|

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2022

BOSTON 7

DECADES OF BUILDING NATIONAL BRANDS

We Deliver Results. www.regancomm.com • 617-488-2800 BOSTON | NEW YORK | WASHINGTON DC | NEW LONDON | PROVIDENCE | CAPE COD | FLORIDA | CHARLESTON

8 BOSTON

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

|

MAY 2022

|

BOSTON 8

Explore the Depths in Style For Only $99 PRAISE FOR STAUER DIVE WATCHES

êêêêê

I love it. I have several Stauer watches and once again you don’t disappoint.”

— F. from Jersey City, NJ

Dive in Without Taking a Plunge

T

The Explorer is one well-constructed 20 ATM dive watch for a price that won’t take you under.

he market’s swimming with overpriced dive watches.

We’re here to tell you those guys are all wet. At Stauer our philosophy is everyone deserves the best without having to dig deep into their pockets. We’ve been in the watch industry for decades and know more than a thing or two about getting the ultimate bang for our buck— which means we can pass the fruits of our know-how onto our clients.

Case in point: The Explorer Dive Watch. This tough-as-nails sophisticate would cost you in the thousands if you got it from a high-end retailer that’s really in the business of selling a big name more than a quality watch. We keep the big names out of the equation so we can price this top-notch timepiece for just $99 –– a price that let’s you dive in and have enough left over for an excursion or two...or three.

You’re getting a lot for your money with this watch. The Explorer is the perfect companion in any locale–– whether you’re exploring coral reefs or investigating the rum options at a beachside bar. With a case, band and crown of stainless steel, this watch is built to last, and its water resistance rating of 20 ATM means it can handle most of your aquatic adventures to a depth of 678 feet. The striking metallic blue face reflects the “...dive watches feel authentic—they project an air of necessity which other categories of timepieces simply fail to match” —Hodinhee.com

deep waters it was designed to explore and it’s sporty screw-down crown can take the pressure in stride.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not completely convinced you got excellence for less, simply return the Explorer Dive Watch within 30 days for a refund of the item price. At Stauer, we never leave our customers high and dry.

Limited Edition. Sure you could give your hard-earned money to those other guys, but why would you? We’ve got the thinking man’s timepiece right here. This watch takes six months to engineer and it’s already making waves, so we can’t guarantee it will be around for long. Call today, and experience how good it feels to get true luxury for less.

Limited to the First 1400 Respondents to This Ad Only Stauer Explorer Dive Watch $399† Your Cost With Offer Code

$99 + S&P Save $300

1-800-333-2045 Offer Code: EXW142-01

You must use this offer code to get our special price.

† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer. com without your offer code.

14101 Southcross Drive W., ® Ste 155, Dept. EXW142-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 Rating of A+

Stauer

www.stauer.com

• Precision movement • Stainless steel crown, case, caseback and bracelet • Date window at 3 o’clock • Water resistant to 20 ATM • Bracelet fits wrists up to 8 1/2"

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

Enter To Win!

A

n Illinois angler broke the Missouri state record for paddlefish in March. He snagged a 140-pound, 10-ounce paddlefish at Lake of the Ozarks. It beat out the previous record— set in 2015 at Table Rock Lake—by just one ounce.

Record-breaking angler Jim Dain, of Pittsfield, Ill., was on a family fishing trip and almost decided not to take the boat out because of shifting weather conditions the day he caught his monster fish.

“The forecast was calling for storms, and then it changed to no rain, so we went out, but it just kept getting colder,” Dain said. “We weren’t having much luck, but decided to fish for another hour. So we took another turn, and that’s when the drag on the reel started. It felt like a tree was on the line!”

Paddlefish are an interesting target for anglers because they are filter feeders and will not take lures or baited hooks. The most popular method for catching them is to troll large, un-baited treble hooks to cover water and hopefully snag one.

“We got 16 one-gallon bags of meat out of this catch,” laughed Dain.

“We’ve fried it, grilled it and made paddlefish tacos the other night. We’ll be having paddlefish for a while!”

Missouri’s paddlefish seasons run March 15-April 30 on its major paddlefish snagging waters: Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake and their tributaries. There is a minimum length limit of 32 inches.

The paddlefish season for the Mississippi River is March 15 through May 15 with a fall season of Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.

For more information, see the Missouri DNR website at dnr.mo.gov.

PHOTO BY PATRICK DOLL

DF2.5 PORTABLE OUTBOARD

MISSOURI PADDLEFISH RECORD FALLS

FEATURES • DIGITAL CDI • ANTI CORROSION SYSTEM

T

he Suzuki DF2.5 portable outboard is the smallest Suzuki 4-stroke to date. Weighing just 30 pounds, the DF2.5 is the lightest Suzuki 4-stroke motor ever built. Suzuki is also proud to note that the DF2.5 meets the rigorous EPA 2010 and CARB 3-Star Ultra Low emissions standards. A 2.5 HP single cylinder OHV 4-stroke engine, with 4.15 cu. in. displacement, generates plenty of power for small tenders and inflatables. It features easy-to-pull recoil starting with Suzuki Pointless Electronic Ignition. No battery is required for this remarkably simple and reliable system.

Drawing held 8/1/22. Winners announced on Facebook.

CoastalAnglerMag.com/contest 14 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

FLEXIBLE LIMIT

N

PROPOSED FOR MAKOS

OAA Fisheries has proposed establishment of a flexible retention limit for shortfin mako sharks with a default limit of zero in commercial and recreational highly migratory fisheries.

This measure follows a 2021 approval to ban mako shark harvest in the North Atlantic in 2022 and 2023 in a decision handed down by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

ICCAT’s juridiction is over highly migratory species, like sharks, which cross international boundaries.

NOAA’s flexible retention limit would fulfill ICCAT’s recommendation, while allowing flexibility if conditions change. During the fishing year, NOAA Fisheries could increase the shortfin mako shark retention limit from the default, or subsequently decrease the retention limit, for the commercial fishery, the recreational fishery, or both, based on regulatory criteria and retention allowed by ICCAT. Strict conservation measures have been on the table for mako sharks since 2017, when a stock assessment indicated the species was being overfished.

Annual take from both sides of the Atlantic ranged between 3,600 and 4,675 tons, mostly caught with commercial gear. ICCAT warned that catches must be kept below 1,000 tons to rebuild the population.

Off the U.S. east coast, Atlantic shortfin mako sharks are found from New England to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, and in the Caribbean Sea. For more details or to comment on the proposal, see www.fisheries.noaa.gov.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

SH

cord—

family hifting

ain, so having r turn, on the

When things go south on the water, make sure you have towing from TowBoatUS. It’s the biggest and best towing service around, with 600+ boats on the water, the red boats are ready to help at a moments notice.

e filter ethod er and

GET UNLIMITED TOWING TODAY! BoatUS.com/Towing 800-395-2628

Dain.

We’ll be

major uman nches.

May 15

Details of services provided can be found online at BoatUS.com/Agree. TowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service.

In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately.

v.

SPECIALIZING IN RESTORATION OF AGED, SUNBURNT, OR FADED LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS.

WE SERVICE MORE THAN JUST GAUGES!

If your device has an LCD that has faded over time, or want to inquire about possible repair options for your unit, give us a call or visit our website!

CHART PLOTTERS, VHF’S, RADARS, SOUNDERS, AUTOPILOTS, JET SKI CLUSTERS, AND MUCH MORE.

904-701-9726 • GAUGESAVER.COM 5049 HIGHWAY 17 SOUTH, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL 32043

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2022

NATIONAL 15

I

t’s tarpon time, and as big fish flood the channels, bays, flats, beaches and passes up the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, every angler with a monster silver king on the bucket list hopes to get a piece of the biggest show on water. Most of the time, all they’ll get is the aerial show.

Whether it’s a thrown hook from a head-shaking leap, a sharp gill plate that cuts the line, or a big hammerhead that makes the line go slack, hooking a big tarpon is a lot easier than putting hands on one. Studies have shown less than 40 percent of hooked tarpon make it boatside to have their photo taken.

Here are a few tips to help you turn a hook-up into a great release photo.

TARPON FIGHTING TIPS

By CAM Staff

1) Bow to the King:

If you have any interest in tarpon at all, you’ve heard this one already, but let’s just get it out of the way for those who don’t know. When a tarpon jumps, stop reeling, drop your rod tip and point it at the fish. When the fish is doing all its head shaking and tailwalking, a slack line doesn’t provide as much leverage to throw the hook. When the fish lands, lift the rod tip back to about 45 degrees and reel quickly to take up the slack.

2) Predict the Jump: Watch the fish’s behavior and you can often predict when it will go airborne. A hard run usually culminates with a big jump.

Also, when you see the line angling up, it means the fish is headed to the surface. Pay attention and you won’t be caught off guard.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. JEFF MAGGIO

3) Go Hard on Them: Tarpon are big and powerful. If you don’t break their spirit quickly, they just might break yours. Use heavy tackle and do everything you can to get them in quickly. Use an anchor buoy to quickly unhook and chase fish down. This allows you to gain line and maintain the upper hand.

By adjusting the drag, you can let the fish tire itself out more quickly. Start with the drag lower in the early stages of the fight, when the fish is still making long powerful runs that can break the line. As it begins to tire from running and jumping, start ramping up the drag pressure and continue pumping and reeling. If you’re good enough, palming the reel allows you to manually control drag pressure without committing to a higher setting. This can save you if a fish has a sudden second wind.

Keep the heat on a big fish from start to finish. If it runs to the right, swing your rod to the left and vice versa. By keeping constant pressure against the direction the fish is trying to go, it is sometimes possible to convince them to give up.

4) Don’t Feed the Sharks: Sharks always seem to show up when there’s tarpon fishing going on, and it’s a pity so many big tarpon end up getting sharked on the end of a line. When sharks show up, ethical anglers pull lines up and move. Reeling in half a fish is worse than reeling in no fish at all. If a big shark shows up during the fight, clamp down on the drag and try to break the line.

For more, go to coastalanglermag.com.

, flats, every to get they’ll

sharp es the utting ooked

SPRINGTIME FISHING...

LET’S GO!

www.

.com

a great

N G S

25’ C-Hawk CC

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DEALER, VISIT US ONLINE:

www.MitziSkiffs.com • www.CHawkBoats.net

d this o don’t ip and ng and throw out 45

hen it jump. eaded ard.

spirit nd do uoy to in line

more fight, ak the mping you’re ontrol is can

SMOOTH, TORSION TECHNOLOGY www.dexteraxle.com

Dexter’s Versa~Flex™ provides a superior ride utilizing patented torsion technology.

Uniquely designed with independent supspension, Versa~Flex allows your boat trailer to pull smooth and safe, matching all types of road conditions. Confidently backed by a 5- year warranty. Spend your time on the water, not working on your trailer.

Demand Dexter Versa~Flex on your boat trailer.

All Dexter Versa~Flex axles are proudly assembled in the USA

uns to eeping go, it is

fishing harked rs pull ing in down

Photo Courtesy of Vexus Boats

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2022

NATIONAL 17

AndAlusiA MArine & powersports inc.

Headquarters For All your Boating needs Xpress •

1707 River Falls Street, Andalusia, AL 36421

Alweld •

(334) 427-1428

stingrAy • VerAndA • Quest

All kinds of parts and accessories in stock and ready for delivery!

Innertubes • Ski’s • Wakeboards Ropes • Life jackets Solas and Michigan Wheel Props

certified full line YAmAhA deAler!

GreAt service!

• Humminbird • Garmin • Lowrance • Minnkota - authorized sales and service center • Rhodan • Certified Full Line Yamaha Dealer

www.andalusiamarine.com www.facebook.com/andalusiamarine

t

THE SCREEN TELLS ALL

A

Tim Barefoot

s you should know by now if you read my articles or subscribe to my YouTube channel, I like to fish for everything with fins. From offshore in 300plus feet of water to creeks, there is one thing that makes us more effective now than we were years ago: electronics!

When I was very young, we went to the very first mark off the beach and loaded up on sea bass, gray trout (weakfish), flounder and whatever else would bite a crude chicken rig with cut mullet. Those days are gone. Now, we have evolved to using the most advanced electronics available to locate and stay on fish. We’ve got side imaging and live imaging technology, which is not (almost) cheating, to… screw it… It’s cheating, and I’m doing it.

I love a gag grouper like Peter loved the Lord, and I also like to fish for bass as well as drum, trout and snook. Electronics like side scan make me dangerous. They are the difference between being close to a good place on a ledge or wreck versus being ON THE SPOT. It’s now possible to see whether you’re close to a stack of baitfish or on it. The stack of bait is the key to catching instead of just soaking baits. Look for the giant stack of bait, because that is what holds

predators, bottom fish below and pelagics above.

For example: The video link at the end of this article as well as the blue photo on this page are a prime example of electronics telling us what’s below us and how deep. The marks near the bottom are African pompano and other bottom fish. The marks in the 100-foot range are blackfin tuna.

The other photo is of crappie in a creek. I was watching them in real time using Garmin LiveScope. Regardless if you’re fishing in 300 or 15 feet of water, having the correct electronics will make a huge difference.

We rely on our fishing instincts to catch fish. I’m a believer in the “cleanest” terminal tackle being the most effective tackle. The most important thing of all, though, is to position your boat on top of fish. For this, proper electronics have become essential.

Check out barefootcatsandtackle.com, and watch this video https://youtu.be/qGzW6QFZHKE on using electronics offshore.

m

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MAY 2022

NATIONAL 19

Making Memories M

ay is a great month to take or introduce a child to the sport of fishing. The summer crowds haven’t arrived, the weather is tolerable, and there should be a nice breeze to keep it comfortable.

If your child is already catching more than you, this is a great time to teach them some new techniques or how to use a new lure.

Jetties, piers or docks are great locations to target this month, and sheepshead can be an entertaining target for the beginner. They can be corporative, and a nice trophy for a child. At times, they can be easy to catch and will provide a solid fight for the saltiest of anglers. Sheepshead love structure. Focus your attention on the most barnacle-encrusted structure you can find. At times you can hear them munching on those barnacles! If it is legal in the area you are fishing, scraping barnacles off the structure is a great way to chum for sheepshead and really gets them fired up. Small live or fresh dead shrimp are great, readily available bait.

Small jacks, croaker, pinfish and whitting are also good options to give young anglers a strong tug and a good time. Once again, live and dead shrimp are a good choice to lure in these aggressive feeders.

Beach fronts, jetties and structure are good areas to target them.

If your child is up for a challenge and wants to learn something new, like my 11-year-old, May

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

is a good month to explore. With optimal water temperatures that keep fish aggressive, May is ideal.

My son and I were in our favorite local tackle shop one day, and he picked up a custom painted lure and showed it to me. The owner, Mike, had painted these and they are renowned for catching big trout.

My son had never fished one, but wanted to learn and catch a big one!

For a few weeks, every time my son walked into the lure room and saw the Corky hanging on the rack, he would say, “Dad let’s go fishing.” He wanted to use the lure from Mr. Mike and catch a big trout.

When we finally had a chance to hit the water, conditions were not ideal. We went to learn how to work the lure, if nothing else. My son did accomplish catching his first fish on a Corky. Even though it was not the big trout he planned on, it gave us a good laugh and memories that will last forever.

This photo shows his first fish on that style of lure… the first of many I am certain. Go grow up little pinfish. Hopefully the next time we meet you are in the belly of a big trout!

Take a kid fishing, leave the electronics at home, and everyone will have fun learning something from each other!

The Return of a

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

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

Custom Built Quality Outdoor BBQ Products Since 1989

Pig Cookers, Patio Grills, Smokers, Customized BBQ Trailers

For More Info 1-252-236-4464 www.BQGRILLS.com 6043 Hwy 301N, Elm City, NC 20 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

P360-COAS-FP

P360-COAS-FP-JAN-2021-OUTLINED.indd 1

1/12/2021 12:00:28 PM

Offshore,

conversations. Satellite phones are an option but are cost prohibitive for most of us. Luckily, the satellite network has created a new choice with two-way texting devices like the Garmin inReach Mini, which I find offers a great mix of features, affordability, size and peace of mind.

All these devices require a subscription plan, but most are affordable and allow you to pause them during off seasons. There are several manufacturers and options on the market, and they have many different features. Some have built-in keypads for easy composition of messages, but that makes the size larger. Most will pair with your cell phone, making it simple to create and send messages. They all also have SOS buttons that send a distress message along with your location to a communication center.

Like EPIRBs and PLBs, they will continually transmit your location to

By Will Schmidt search and rescue, helping them to find you quickly. Unlike the others, you are notified when your SOS is received. You can also communicate the nature of your emergency and answer vital questions from rescuers via text. The small size and waterproof rating means you can clip these devices to a life vest and continue sending and receiving information should you need to abandon ship.

Furthermore, you can send non-emergency messages to check in with others. The inReach Mini allows you to create three preset messages that can be quickly sent and have unlimited sends on each of their data plans. This is a great feature for sending useful updates and non-emergency messages such as: “Just checking in, everything is fine.” Or “Everything is ok, but we are running late.”

Other features many of these devices offer are waypoint navigation, tracking and weather reports. If navigation features are of primary importance to you, a larger device with a bigger screen might suit you better. Since mine is a backup navigation device, the connection to my phone is sufficient. I can even pair my inReach with my chart plotters to quickly send and read messages while underway.

Whether you travel offshore, into the backwoods or to a remote island ith technology helping us get farther away from shore, it is lodge, if you want the ability to summon help or just check in at home when imperative that we have a reliable way to communicate with others. off the grid, these satellite devices offer great usability in an affordable easyIt’s not unheard of for people to take a bay boat 40 miles offshore to-use option. where VHF might not be heard. While Emergency Position Indicating Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing Radio Beacons (EPIRB) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) are a great about fishing from more than two decades. way to request assistance in an emergency, they lack the ability for two-way

But In

Reach

“ d —

W

L

th d S S s S F

A w in

S k

22 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

“Opal’s spectacular play-of-color can display all the colors of the rainbow.”

—Gemological Institute of America

® Staueler Price

ImpossibLY ON

$59

A.

Add Some Wow to Your Vows

Put a rainbow on her finger with the opal that’s taking the jewelry industry by storm.

L

ong ago, we made a vow: We would not produce a five-opal anniversary ring until two very specific conditions were met. First, the opals had to be of superior quality, with the joyous iridescence to delight all who saw the precious stone’s colors dance in the light.

Second, the price had to be right, so that we could provide the value Stauer clients expect from us. So when The New York Times style section called Ethiopian opal the “undisputed winner” of the Gem Show, we decided to pounce. The result is the astoundingly beautiful Five-Star Opal Anniversary Ring.

Huge Savings Take 85% OFF instantly! when you use your offer code

All five of these exotic beauties possess the radiant rainbow of color we’ve been looking for. Arranged in a sterling silver setting finished in lustrous gold, this ring is a beautiful tribute to your lasting love.

So how about our price promise? We met that too. We want you to know there is absolutely no reason to overpay for luxury gemstones.

The big name jewelers have been deceiving B. 1 ctw Opal the public long enough, charging as much Stud Earrings as $16,000 for an Ethiopian opal ring.

We won’t trump up the price to make you think it’s luxurious. This ring is just as luxurious (if not more) than the big designer name rings, AND it’s yours for

 “The play of color in opals is so gorgeous they sometimes don’t even seem real and yet they are.”

—from the Couture Show under $60. I think it’s safe to say we more than met our price promise.

We exceeded it... by well over 16,000%!

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Slip this rainbow on her finger. If she’s not absolutely delighted, simply send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. See if your jewelry store can match that!

The Five-Star Opal Ring is one of Stauer’s fastest sellers. Supplies are limited. We can’t seem to keep this ring in stock. Don’t miss this rare opportunity. Order the Five-Star Opal Anniversary Ring today and catch this radiant rainbow before it’s gone!

Jewelry Specifications: • Ethiopian Opals in gold-finished .925 sterling silver settings • Ring: whole sizes 5–10. Earrings: post backs Five-Star Opal Anniversary Collection A. Ring (1 ½ ctw) $399 $59* + S&P Save $340!

B. Earrings (1 ctw) $199 $79* + S&P Save $120!

Ring & Earrings Set $598 $99* + S&P Save $499! *Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: OAR305-04

Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. OAR305-04, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com

Stauer® |

AFFORD THE EXTRAORDINARY

®

IT MIGHT JUST BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK! Berkley played a pretty good gag for April fools that likely sent a group of very specialized anglers to the store looking for a product that doesn’t exist.

The company, which produces scented and flavored artificial baits, announced the release of the Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove.

“Infused with PowerBait, this glove is designed to give noodlers a way to successfully wrangle catfish and give the fish a flavor so good, they’ll never let go,” read the press release.

Berkley went on to tell sportsmen the following: Originally designed to withstand the fight of giant catfish, the team at Berkley Labs quickly discovered that the PowerBait Noodling Glove can be effective on more than just catfish. Extensive field testing proved that the PowerBait Noodling Glove increased angler catch rates for bass, trout and other species. The team even tested the glove with local hunters and found it’s just as effective in luring white-tailed deer as it is in luring catfish. There is nothing that can’t be caught using the PowerBait Noodling Glove.

The Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove may also get its time to shine on the bass tournament trails this year thanks to Berkley Pro Angler John Cox. Cox says, “The way I fish is very similar to noodlers; they go down the bank and look for holes. Well, I go down the bank looking for a 5 or 6 pounder either on a bed or chasing bluegill. So, when I heard about noodlers using the Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove, I thought ‘Hey, this might work really well for me.’ Noodling is definitely not for just catfishing anymore.

That was a pretty good one, Berkley.

BRING HOME THE BAIT. Home of America's #1 cast net, the SuperSpreaderTM , and the industry's largest net selection – from beginner to pro.

SHOP NOW AT CASTNETS.COM OR AT FINE BAIT & TACKLE DEALERS 24 NATIONAL

MAY 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

ACOUSTICS, BALLISTICS, HYDRODYNAMICS AND THE

SCIENCE OF SMASH. SALTWATER HARD BAITS Five marvels of engineering that earned their stripes smashing fish in lakes and rivers, supertuned by Berkley® scientists to conquer the salt and its fiercest inhabitants. Action, vibration, casting distance, hook-up ratios – every aspect has been optimized to your advantage.

All built for battle with virtually bombproof bodies and hardware, featuring ultra-sharp, anti-rust Fusion19™ 3X Hooks for ultimate endurance. Over 80 sizes and colors to choose from.

CHOPPO SALTWATER 2 SIZES | 10 COLORS

Capt. Peter Deeks @captpeterdeeks

©2022 Pure Fishing, Inc.

YO U R F I S H . O U R S C I E N C E .™

Berkley-Fishing.com

J-WALKER SALTWATER

HIGHJACKER SALTWATER

CANE WALKER SALTWATER

MAGIC SWIMMER ®

2 SIZES | 10 COLORS

10 COLORS AVAILABLE

2 SIZES | UP TO 10 COLORS

7 SIZES | UP TO 15 COLORS

Berkley_SW_Topwater_CostalAngler_8.125"x10.875"_Final.indd 1

4/7/22 10:19 AM

PARTING WATERS

LIKE NO OTHER INNOVATION DRIVES SUZUKI ON THE WATER Unparalleled throttle response and silky-smooth shifting along with the outboard industry’s first Contrarotating Dual–Prop design, the 350hp outboard is in a class of it’s own. With Suzuki Marine’s reputation for performance and reliability, you can rest assured your boating day is going to make memories that will last for years to come.

YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2022 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.