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VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 347
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM
F R A N C H I S E
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
FEBRUARY 2024
W O R L D W I D E
S P E N D YO U R T I M E W H E R E I T S TA N D S S T I L L R U N T H E WAT E R ™
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else, here are a few tips to help you hook and land more tripletail. • Cruise Carefully: Floating at the surface and doing its best to imitate a garbage bag, a tripletail is easy to spot once you develop an eye for it. Run a trap line on plane with a dedicated spotter and you can cover water quickly to locate “trips.” However, you’ll put fish down if you wake them too hard. Stay at least 30 feet off a trap line or channel markers while prospecting. When you spot a fish, give it a few minutes to settle and come back to the surface while you bring the boat around to approach with the trolling motor. A tripletail at ease on the surface is an easy fish to target. • Consider Your Eyewear: Obviously, polarized glasses are a must when sight fishing anything. The color of your lenses matters, too. It’s worth investing in a couple of good pairs so you can switch out according to conditions. Gray or blue works best in clear water. In dingy water, go with copper or rose lenses. • Stay Rigged and Ready: If you’re targeting trout, redfish or whatever, keep a tripletail rig on hand and keep an eye out for them when you’re running to a new spot. A good basic rig is a popping cork with a short 20-pound fluorocarbon leader of a foot or less and a 2/0 circle hook. Live shrimp is best, but if you’re fishing artificials, a DOA shrimp or a Gulp! shrimp or crab will also work. • On Approach: Come at your quarry from down-current and cast well past it so that your bait drifts back in front of its nose. If that cork starts to dance, give it a few seconds before coming tight. Tripletail have small, hard mouths and you want to be sure the fish has taken the bait. • Fish Small Baits: The reason a tripletail is hanging out on that marker is to eat the small crabs and shrimp that live there. They’re used to small food and have small mouths, which is why they’ll sometimes reject big shrimp. Pitch small or medium shrimp to them or small baitfish and lures no longer than about 2.5 inches. • Stick With Them: If a tripletail spooks or goes down, it usually isn’t going far. Try drifting an unweighted bait on a longer 4- or 5-foot leader that will get down deeper on a long drift past your structure. If that doesn’t work, t will soon be the time of year when everyone’s favorite oddball, the go hit your next mark and come back later. There’s a good chance the fish will tripletail, starts moving in closer to shore to hang out on structure or free- be sunbathing happily on the surface when you return. floating debris. Whether you actively sight fish them by running a line of traps and markers or if you just happen to see one while pursuing something For more tips and tricks, visit coastalanglermag.com.
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your veins. Then, bam! The tarpon puts on a show, soaring into the air with moves like no other. It’s a show that leaves even the most seasoned anglers wide-eyed. Those silver kings? They’re not just strong; they’re the rockstars of Islamorada. Now, let’s talk strategy. These tarpon are known for their spontaneity, so patience is your best friend. When it comes to bait, think live mullet or crabs–the kind of irresistible treats that tarpon just can’t resist. Toss your bait in front of where you think they could be, let it drift back in the current, and patiently watch the magic unfold. When your line starts to load, get ready for a ride. Keep that tension steady, brace yourself for some serious speed, and be prepared for tarpon acrobatics. It’s like a rollercoaster on water, and trust me, you’ll want to savor every twist and turn. When they jump, it’s important to bow your rod toward them to give them the slack so the hook doesn’t pull out. As you get closer to that leader touch or face grab, remember, gentle is the name of the game. Tarpon have delicate mouths, and going all WWE on them might end in heartbreak. If you’re going out with a guide, I recommend booking more than one day to give yourself better odds of landing a tarpon. So come late February through March, and the stage will be set for a front-row seat to Islamorada’s Silver King show. To book a charter, visit www.beansportfishing.com
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FEBRUARY 2024
FLORIDA 3
By Emily Hanzlik
Catch South Florida’s
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4 FLORIDA
FEBRUARY 2024
These fish have a similar texture to freshwater trout, as they have micro scales and a slime coating that makes them smooth to the touch. A fun fact, since their anal fin and tail fin are conjoined, it allows them to undulate and actually swim backward. If you get one boat-side, watch as they back away from the net. Clown knives are native to southeast Asia. Their popularity as aquarium fish has led to their spread because they quickly outgrow most home aquariums and are released. These fish like warm water, and they are bimodal air-breathers, which means they surface to gulp air if the water is too stagnant. This makes them well-suited to the swamps, lakes, canals and backwater rivers of South Florida. Juveniles school together and hide in roots of plants. When they grow larger, they become solitary but still hunt from the cover of aquatic vegetation. Clown knifefish spawn in the spring. Research suggests they prefer three straight days of rain before laying and fertilizing eggs. When the time is right, the female lays eggs on a root or some other secure surface. The male then tends the eggs. Even after the eggs hatch, the male will guard the fry until they are large enough to be on their own. These fish are nocturnal. The best time to catch them is at night, or at dusk or dawn. When the sun is up, they seek refuge under structure or in thick mats of vegetation. Clown knifefish are aggressive ambush predators. If you walk canal banks at night, you can see their eyes glowing in the beam of a flashlight. I’ve found the fishing is always best after a rain, as it gets them frenzied. I use live bait like shiners or shad and freeline them near flowing pipes or in fast-moving canals. If knifefish are there, you’ll see them rolling on the surface. I use a small live bait hook on a 20-pound leader, since they do have sharp teeth. For artificials, a 2- to 3-inch white swimbait or a jig will work. An exciting option is to fish a white topwater frogs at night. Remember, when they get to the bank the fight isn’t over. They always come up to say hi, and then quickly back away into the darkness. The current IGFA all-tackle world record is 14-pound, 8-ounce fish caught from Florida’s Lake Ida in 2018 by Michael Donvito.
Whe Cen and rem add sing
Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
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ind wind and more wind, go away already! Many of my offshore trips turned into port trips and beach trips if we were lucky with a west wind. Offshore on the days we can get out have been great, but this is also the time of year that the kings are picky. If they don’t have a live bunker or threadfin flashed in front of their face they won’t eat. You will literally watch everyone around you hooked up and they will not touch a dead spinner bait. You really have to put the effort in right now to catch the live baits. Last year this time was the best ling run we had as many fish were caught this month. Many Expect the ling run to be hot in February. of the giant cobia were caught in February—it was even better than March! Take advantage of those sunny days and go look around; 55-foot depths seem to be the most productive this time of year. Patrick has always been a productive location. And the rays are showing up! Have a great month and good luck. CAPT. CHRIS CAMERON
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FEBRUARY 202412/13/2019 BREVARD 10:24:28 AM 3
arts
nesses
FEBRUARY 2024 DAY
0
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me
TIME
HEIGHT
1TH
Height
17 AM -0.2 :50 AM 2.2 42 PM 0.0 06 PM 2.0 55 AM 0.0 25 AM 2.1 21 PM 0.0 46 PM 2.0 35 AM 0.1 :02 PM 2.0 01 PM 0.0 :30 AM 1.9 17 AM 0.2 :41 PM 1.9 45 PM 0.1 8 AM 1.8 06 AM 0.3 24 PM 1.8 34 PM 0.1 11 AM 1.8 02 AM 0.4 15 PM 1.7 29 PM 0.1 12 AM 1.8 02 AM 0.4 13 PM 1.7 27 PM 0.0 15 AM 1.9 :02 AM 0.4 16 PM 1.8 :24 PM -0.1 16 AM 2.0 :59 AM 0.3 18 PM 1.9 19 PM -0.3
12:29 AM 1.89 H 6:10 AM 0.27 L 12:33 PM 1.84 H 6:35 PM 0.03 L 2F 1:17 AM 1.83 H 6:59 AM 0.36 L 1:16 PM 1.77 H 7:25 PM 0.03 L 3SA 2:12 AM 1.8 H 7:57 AM 0.43 L 2:08 PM 1.72 H 8:24 PM 0 L 4SU 3:16 AM 1.81 H 9:01 AM 0.44 L 3:10 PM 1.71 H 9:27 PM -0.07 L 5M 4:23 AM 1.88 H 10:06 AM 0.39 L 4:19 PM 1.78 H 10:30 PM -0.21 L 6TU 5:27 AM 2.02 H 11:06 AM 0.26 L 5:26 PM 1.92 H 11:28 PM -0.37 L 7W 6:25 AM 2.19 H 12:02 PM 0.08 L 6:27 PM 2.11 H 8TH 12:23 AM -0.54 L 7:17 AM 2.38 H 12:54 PM -0.12 L 7:24 PM 2.3 H 9F 1:15 AM -0.67 L 8:05 AM 2.53 H 1:45 PM -0.33 L 8:17 PM 2.48 H 10SA 2:06 AM -0.73 L 8:51 AM 2.63 H 2:34 PM -0.51 L 9:08 PM 2.6 H
Miami Beach, Government Cut 11SU
2:56 AM -0.72 L 9:37 AM 2.67 H 3:23 PM -0.63 L 9:59 PM 2.65 H 12M 3:46 AM -0.64 L 10:22 AM 2.64 H 4:12 PM -0.69 L 10:51 PM 2.62 H 13TU 4:37 AM -0.48 L 11:08 AM 2.54 H 5:03 PM -0.66 L 11:43 PM 2.52 H 14W 5:30 AM -0.29 L 11:56 AM 2.39 H 5:56 PM -0.56 L 15TH 12:38 AM 2.37 H 6:26 AM -0.07 L 12:47 PM 2.21 H 6:53 PM -0.42 L 16F 1:36 AM 2.2 H 7:26 AM 0.12 L 1:43 PM 2.04 H 7:55 PM -0.28 L 17SA 2:41 AM 2.05 H 8:31 AM 0.26 L 2:46 PM 1.9 H 9:01 PM -0.17 L 18SU 3:50 AM 1.96 H 9:38 AM 0.33 L 3:55 PM 1.83 H 10:05 PM -0.12 L 19M 4:58 AM 1.95 H 10:41 AM 0.33 L 5:02 PM 1.84 H 11:05 PM -0.12 L 20TU 5:57 AM 1.99 H 11:37 AM 0.28 L 6:00 PM 1.9 H 11:58 PM -0.14 L
21W
6:46 AM 2.06 H 12:27 PM 0.19 L 6:50 PM 1.98 H 22TH 12:44 AM -0.18 L 7:27 AM 2.13 H 1:10 PM 0.1 L 7:33 PM 2.06 H 23F 1:26 AM -0.2 L 8:04 AM 2.19 H 1:49 PM 0 L 8:13 PM 2.13 H 24SA 2:04 AM -0.21 L 8:38 AM 2.23 H 2:25 PM -0.07 L 8:50 PM 2.17 H 25SU 2:40 AM -0.18 L 9:10 AM 2.23 H 2:59 PM -0.13 L 9:26 PM 2.2 H 26M 3:14 AM -0.13 L 9:42 AM 2.21 H 3:31 PM -0.15 L 10:02 PM 2.19 H 27TU 3:47 AM -0.05 L 10:14 AM 2.15 H 4:03 PM -0.15 L 10:38 PM 2.16 H 28W 4:19 AM 0.04 L 10:46 AM 2.08 H 4:34 PM -0.12 L 11:15 PM 2.11 H 29TH 4:53 AM 0.15 L 11:18 AM 1.99 H 5:09 PM -0.09 L
ute s n utes 17 min ute s 4 min ute s
13 min ute s , 9 min ute s
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PONCE INLET
PATRICK AF BASE
SEBASTIAN INLET
TIME OFFSET High +5 min / Low +33 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *1.18 ft / Low *1 ft
TIME OFFSET High -64 min / Low -38 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *1.5 ft / Low *1.43 ft
TIME OFFSET High -48 min / Low -24 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *.93 ft / Low *1.0 ft
CAPE CANAVERAL
CANOVA BEACH
SEBASTIAN (IRL)
TIME OFFSET High -66 min / Low -44 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *1.5 ft / Low *1.42 ft
TIME OFFSET High -53 min / Low -26 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *1.49 ft / Low *1.5 ft
TIME OFFSET High 92 min / Low 156 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *.15 ft / Low *.5 ft
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PORT CANAVERAL NEARSHORE & BANANA RIVER LAGOON FORECAST
FEBRUARY 2024
P
ORT CANAVERAL NEARSHORE: The fishing in and around the Port area will be very dependent on the water temperatures this month. If we have a typical winter, anglers can expect weakfish, pompano, whiting and sheepshead to provide them with some action. These species will provide a good variety of quality eating fillets in exchange for soaking a piece of shrimp on the bottom of the various port basins. The pompano and whiting are likely to strike small jigs tipped with shrimp in the surf zones or along the deeper drop offs between the entrance of the port and the middle basin area. The sheepshead are fond of structure and will be around dock pilings and rocks throughout the port. Small pieces of shrimp or small crabs and sand fleas are their favorite things to munch on. Put these on a short-shank heavy wire hook so you have a chance at pulling these tough fighting fish away from the structures that they call home. If this winter is warmer than usual anglers could find tripletail near floating debris or buoys in the area known as the Bight. Live shrimp free lined to these fish will usually result in a hookup. Black drum may be possible as well. Anglers should look for schools of large, breeder-sized fish roaming the surf zones on calm days. BANANA RIVER LAGOON: Deeper sections of this body of water are going to be the best areas to target speckled trout and black drum if we get our usual cold temperatures this Small redfish are making a comeback month. Residential canals, in the Banana River Lagoon. dredge holes and areas near causeway bridges that span this lagoon are fantastic places to search for these fish as well. Redfish will also seek refuge from cold temps in the deeper areas, but usually move right back out onto the flats once the sun starts to warm them after each frontal passage. Cut baits, live shrimp and small cast-able lures generally work on these cold water reds. If the weather is warmer this year than what we normally get in February, anglers may find the trout and redfish on the flats looking for small crustaceans and minnows to eat.
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SEBASTIAN INLET TO EAU GALLIE CAUSEWAY FORECAST
L
ooking forward to lighter winds, less rain and consistent weather in February. Weather patterns have been different with the El Niño we have been having. With the water temps in the mid/high 40 degree mark, the fish will be very sluggish and hard to get to eat anything. Live bait will definitely be the key to catching good numbers of fish. While the fishing wasn’t red hot after the fronts, as the water warms into the 60-degree range the fishing will get good. Trout, snook, flounder, bluefish, jacks and redfish will feed in the lagoon on soft plastic baits. If its pompano you are after, there should be plenty of them around if the water isn’t too cold. Doc’s Goofy jigs will work well in the inlet and along the beaches and flats of the lagoon from Sebastian to Melbourne for pompano, and bycatch will be jacks, bluefish, trout and Spanish mackerel as well as a few big gafftopsail cats. You can also fish for pompano around the bait pods while targeting trout and snook. If you are fishing Sebastian Inlet and the pompano action is slow, you can try jigging the shallow parts of the inlet for flounder using a ½ ounce jighead with a Storm 360 or D.O.A. paddle tail with pro-cure. Flounder action should be pretty good with the cooler weather patterns and cold water as long as the water isn’t flowing out of the Sebastian River and the water is very dirty. Anglers in Sebastian Inlet can target snook and redfish where the bite should remain strong as long as the temperatures stay consistent. After the fronts roll through and the winds are howling, the bite can be very good in the evenings at the tide switch using a bucktail jig. It’s a great time to fish from the jetties because its difficult to fish from a boat in the rough inlet with low visibility. Live bait will be the key in the daytime and, at night, artificials work great. Rapala’s X-Rap 14 and Long Cast 14 are great plugs to fish from the jetties as well as from the rocks along the west side of the bridge. The tarpon will continue to feed on outgoing tides through February during the strong cold fronts and the above lures will work to catch them, as well as Hogy eels and paddle tails and D.O.A. Baitbusters. The big jacks and some trout will move up in the Sebastian River, as well as Turkey Creek in Palm Bay and Crane Creek in Melbourne, as long as the rains slow down. The snook will be around the docks, and tarpon are far back in the creeks. Live bait is best, but the fish will eat soft plastics and some topwater on warmer days. Bundle up and stay warm as there should be plenty of action throughout the month of February for anglers looking to get out of the house on the nice days. CAPT. GLYN AUSTIN
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SPACE COAST SURF FISHING FORECAST
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ountiful catches and beautiful beach days continue to comprise the winter surf fishing season for 2024. There have been detrimental weather windows here and there, but overall at least we’re not scraping ice from our windshields, right? The pompano fishing in Brevard County is absolutely going off and should continue into March. While there’s definitely different pockets of life based on conditions, it continues to be a stellar season for surf fishing pompano. Last month, the days of clean water held fish in multiple areas from Cocoa Beach south to Sebastian Inlet. Fishing multiple runouts, rip currents and troughs held the keys to success. The top baits for catching pompano were live sand fleas, fresh shrimp and Fishbites in an assortment of colors and flavors. Look for this trend to continue into February as long as the water temperatures don’t get into the low 60’s. Start your engines if you’re looking for that trophy catch of the enormous black drum that comb local beaches. Winter surf fishing for giant black drum means you could hook into anywhere from a 40-70 lb. black drum. Hence be prepared for the tackle to combat these “big uglies.” Large schools of black drum will be working their way up and down the beaches feeding on crustaceans. Use a beefed up pompano rig, jig or fish finder rig and place
them in front of the schools approaching. Long casts are often needed, so be sure to have plenty of line capacity on your surf fishing reels when targeting the large ones. Not to mention, once you hook into a big drum the drag is going to go screaming! You’ll want anywhere from 20-50 lb. main line for your best opportunity to land one. One of the main species that’s been active in the surf are large bull whiting. The big whiting didn’t make much of an impact in the surf fishing last year, so the initial signs are extremely encouraging. Large whiting used to be a staple in the Space Coast fishery that even the most novice surf fishing anglers could rely on. Known for their flaky white meat and naturally curious behavior, it was typically assumed you could head home with a bucket full of whiting for dinner. In contrast to the headliner pompano fishing that’s been taking place, I’m personally encouraged on the whiting front as well. Shark fishing remains active along Brevard County beaches. Blacktip, sandbar and bonnethead sharks are the main species we’re catching in the surf. Fresh cut bait continues to deliver best results cast into the second trough. Be prepared to quickly release sharks in the manner performed in the mandatory shark fishing Florida course online. Have fun and enjoy the great surf fishing on tap!
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Fish Methodically When the Bite Slows PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
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recently had a stretch of tough fishing days that called for a thorough covering of a cove to find what I was looking for. Over the next few paragraphs, I’ll cover what changes I made that saved the day, and I think you will see the logic in my decision and possibly implement this method when you find yourself in a slow-bite situation. Keep in mind, I typically don’t have the patience to utilize this approach, as it is very methodical, leaving no stone unturned, so to speak, but it can and did pay off. During a normal wade, I only target the sweet zones, but when they are not there or not feeding, I map out a deliberate path where I cover every inch of the area, twice. Depending on whether I start from the shore or from offshore via a boat or kayak, I will choose a direction to wade. For this example, let’s say I walked in and started from the bank. I will slowly walk out to the maximum depth I want to fish casting to my right, left and straight ahead. I vary my retrieve speed, depth and action throughout until I find what the fish are looking for. Once I reach the farthest point I want to cover, I make a 90-degree turn and walk about the distance of a long cast as I continue casting right, left, and straight ahead. Once I reach that point, I turn another 90 degrees and head back toward the shore repeating the same casting process. One direction will be covering the same water I just fished but from a different angle. At times, this can make a difference and entice the bite, depending on how they are staged on the structure or the direction they are swimming through the area. Once my cast has reached the shore, I may decide to change lure size or type. Once again, I turn 90 degrees and repeat the process. During a tough bite, you need to pull out all the stops. This is not the time to be stuck in a rut of what typically works or what your favorite fishing style may be. It’s important to change your retrieve style and speed. Don’t let a slow bite convince you that inactive fish will only eat a slowly presented lure. Many times, a faster erratic retrieve is what gets them to strike. Cover the gamut and see what works. I rarely use this method, as it is tedious. However, if I have high confidence in the area and the fish are inactive or possibly deeper or shallower than I anticipated, working methodically has paid off, and I learn something new each time it does. Take a kid, and even a tough day of catching will still be a good day of fishing.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FISH TOPWATER TO LOCATE SPAWNERS
Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water are preferred spawning grounds, and a topwater is one of my favorite ways to cover water and locate productive areas. Whether it be a frog, walking bait, prop bait or buzzbait doesn’t matter. Pick your confidence lure and chuck it around to see if you can get some bites. Typically, a bass on a bed will show itself TYLER WOOLCOTT to some form of topwater, even if it doesn’t actually eat it. They might eat it, or they might just wake behind it or swirl on it. Curiosity and his time of year, in some parts of the country and especially in the South, bass are about to start transitioning to protectiveness of the area typically gets the best of them this time of year, and a topwater is an awesome way to move up on beds and spawn. cover a lot of water to find productive Whether you’re fishing from shore in areas. a pond or by boat in a big lake, this Once you’ve located some fish, time of year is prime time for making slow down with something like a memories because the biggest fish wacky worm to pick up some of the in the lake become more visible and other fish in the area. Typically, bass more vulnerable to anglers. prefer to spawn next to some sort As the bass spawn rolls northward of cover or structure, so keep this with warming temperatures over the in mind. They will use grass, trees, next few months, keep the following docks, rocks, sand, or pretty much tips in mind. For the most part, I do anything hard to make a bed for their the same things, whether I’m fishing eggs. Find a shallow area with plenty for big Southern largemouths or of objects you can cast to, and there’s smallmouths up north. In a nutshell, a good chance bass will be around it I’ll fish through areas fairly quickly in some stage of the spawn. until I find some aggressive fish and The biggest bass I’ve ever caught then slow down and pick them apart was during the spawn in 2013. It with something slower. This is when weighed 13 pounds, 1 ounce and is I can also look for beds with my eyes pictured here. Get out there and find to sight fish. some big egg-laden females over the The spawn is triggered by a few key factors. Major moon phases, whether it be a full moon or a new next few months, and there’s decent chance you’ll get to take a photo moon, along with a general warming weather trend are the triggers for with your new personal best. bass to move up and start their spawn. Staying on top of these factors will Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. tell you when fish are likely to be moving shallow at your lake. Then you Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. can go find them and put them in the boat.
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C-Hawk 25 Center Console The C-Hawk 25 Center Console is an infinitely customizable boat with a huge following among hardcore anglers. They are the boat of choice for many charter captains who prefer functionality over flash and want a no-nonsense vessel that’s designed to perform and built to take a beating.
SPECIFICATIONS
One of the great advantages of the C-Hawk 25 is it’s totally customizable, so it can be purpose built to be a better boat for whatever it is you need to do.
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“We have 10-plus guides using them on the west coast of Florida,” said C-Hawk Boats Owner Brad Grubbs. “In Georgia and South Carolina, they’re using it as a small passenger ferry. In Chesapeake Bay, it’s a crab boat.”
to commercial-application standards. They are designed to withstand hard use for years of trouble-free boating, and you can customize your C-Hawk from the factory in any way that suits your purpose.
At its core, the C-Hawk 25cc is a hard-core workhorse with a 300 horsepower maximum that will take you anywhere you need to go. Its 9’6” beam allows it to float in very skinny water with just a 12” draft, and it is also extremely stable, which should appeal for bottomfishing, diving and any other pursuit where a stable platform is preferred.
“We can mix and match consoles, fish boxes, full transoms, cut transoms, bare hulls… you name it,” Grubbs said. “There are some recreational guys adding towers and sight fishing for cobia, and such. Everything we do is built around keep it simple, keep it efficient, keep it easy to maintain, keep it cost effective to own and operate. They are all unique… no cookie cutter trailer queens here. The 25 is a great example of what C-Hawk is.”
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NATIONAL 11
BLITZING BASS INVADE
EARLY SEASON ESTUARIES By Nick Carter
S
triped bass are king along the crags and marshes of the Massachusetts North Shore, and each year around the first week of May something very interesting takes place. They call it the early season in this stretch of coastline north of Boston, and it can bring on some of the fastest action of the year. All the baitfish—the herring, the sand eels, the silversides and bunker— push into the estuaries in search of warmer water temperatures. Big schools of striped bass move in with them. It leads to classic bass blitzes, when pods of stripers push bait up to boil on the surface as birds hammer them from above.
You can bet Matt Zimmerman, owner of Back Eddy Charters out of Beverly, Mass., will be there in the middle of the melee standing in the water waving a stick in the air. “I fly fish pretty much everywhere for everything, but it’s better early season,” he said. “You can use a slower presentation, mimic smaller baits, and cover the water column a lot better with a fly.” Historically, the pattern produced 40-fish days of smaller 14- to 26-inch stripers, known as “schoolies.” However, recent years have seen an uptick in larger 26- to 30-inch fish in the early season. “That’s great for fishing, but it’s not a great sign for the fishery,” Zimmerman said. If you haven’t heard, fisheries managers are scrambling to prop up Atlantic striper populations. Since 2019, striper reproduction on the Eastern Seaboard has been dismal due to weather conditions. Emergency action reduced the recreational limit to one fish in a slot limit from 28 to 31 inches, and more restrictive measures may be on the horizon. “The regs? I’m all catch and release, so it hasn’t impacted me too much,” Zimmerman said. “They’re trying to get the stocks up, but most of what we’re seeing is slot fish and up.” That’s not necessarily the case in the early season, which Zimmerman said is a time when you can just park the truck and wade in. “Most of the time I fish from a boat,” he said. “But early season, when there’s lots of fish in the river, it’s easier and you can catch more fish wading from shore.” Zimmerman fishes 5- to 8-weight rods and leaders of straight 20- or 30-pound monofilament. Intermediate sinking lines allow for good depth control, and a handful of Clousers and Deceivers are all you need. Zimmerman suggested 4- to 6-inch patterns and colors of green/white, yellow/white and gray/white. The fishing is best on the last three hours of an outgoing tide or the first couple hours of an incoming tide, when the bait moves around and incites feeding activity. This river bite is Zimmerman’s go-to pattern for about a month, after which he’ll move out to the beaches and rocky islands, where huge stripers herd bait and slam 6- to 8-inch Hollow Fleyes. Find Matt Zimmerman on Instagram @backeddycharters.
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RESCUE
AT SEA
OFF VENICE By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
E
arly in my career, I fished out of Venice, Louisiana. On off days, we fished inshore and roadside, which produced incredible catches like bull reds, 100-pound alligator gar and 70-pound blue cats. It was nothing to complain about, but my heart is always offshore. The offshore fishing off Venice is topnotch for yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin and swordfish, but the gas bill was too much for me to get out there as anything but crew. One evening, I was invited on an offshore trip and was told I got to plan the route. I ecstatically hit my Hilton’s offshore report to check the salinity chart and decided to hit an overlooked rig called Moxie. We headed out the next morning, caught bait and arrived at the rig. This rig sits in shallower waters and is a bit off the path for rig hopping, so it is often passed by. I was surprised to see another boat when we arrived. The bottom machine lit up with giant marks, and we tossed out our baits. I was running the deck and focused on the back of the boat, but I kept hearing the captain comment on the other boat. It seemed like they were diving, but they didn’t have a dive flag up. I heard him say the boat looked to be sitting
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low in the water. All of a sudden, Capt. Travis Mayeux started screaming, “LINES IN, LINES IN!” I was reeling everything up as quickly as I could when he pushed the boat to full throttle. I wasn’t sure what was going on until I had the lines secured and I turned around. The motors of the other boat had gone under, and the bow reached for the sky before slipping away. The boat sank in seconds. By the time we got to the scene, most of the flotsam had been carried away by the currents. We rescued the spearfishermen, one Pelican case and a fish bag. We ended our trip and took the spearfishers back to the dock. Their wallets and keys sank offshore, so they called Plaquemines Parish Sheriff ’s Office to get into their truck. The deputy ran their names, and one of them had an outstanding warrant. He was taken to jail for the weekend. It was a rough day for those guys, but it could have been much worse. Fishing offshore oil rigs provides a false sense of security. You are still very much offshore even though you are near a structure. The crew on those rigs are not lifeguards and are not paying attention to you. Considering how quickly the debris dispersed and how unfished that rig was, those fellas were very lucky we were there that day. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’nuf Charters, out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342, captainquinlyn.com or @captainquinlyn.
NORSE BY NORSEWEST?
Embrace your Scandinavian side with a 7" blade
I
f you looked out your window a thousand years ago and saw a fleet of Viking longships coming your way, you knew you were in trouble. For roughly two centuries, the Vikings voyaged, raided and pillaged wherever they pleased. As expert sailors and navigators, they reached as far from Scandinavia as Iran, Constantinople, North Africa and the New World in their quest to expand their kingdom.
Sta
Impossibuer le Price ®
$99
A mini sword. Too organized and too aggressive, no one stood in a Viking’s way. That’s exactly the message that our Viking Blade sends. Crafted from Damascus steel with brass inlay, this 12" full-tang knife is essentially a mini sword. Paired with its hand-tooled leather sheath, this knife belongs in the collection of any avid aficionado.
JOIN MORE THAN , SHARP PEOPLE WHO COLLECT STAUER KNIVES The steel of legend. For centuries, a Damascus steel blade was instantly recognizable and commanded respect. Renowned for its sharp edge, beauty and resistance to shattering, Damascus steel was the stuff of legend. While the original process has been lost to the ages, modern bladesmiths have been able to re-create Damascus steel to create the best blades imaginable. Sure to impress, naturally. Combining natural strength and natural wonder at a price that’s hard to beat, the Viking Blade is a study in Damascus steel that’s sure to impress. And should you ever find yourself facing a Viking horde, a flash of this knife will show that you’re not to be messed with. Don’t delay: Order within the next week and we’ll offer this blade to you for just $99, a savings of $200! That’s the best bang for your buck we can possibly offer: our Stauer® Impossible Price. Get your hands on one of the fastest-selling knives in our company’s history today. Knife Specifications: • 12" overall length. 7" Damascus full-tang blade • Includes genuine leather sheath Viking Blade $299 $99* + S&P Save $200 California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product. *Special price only for customers using the offer code.
“This knife is everything promised. Beautiful beyond comparison. And completely functional. Love it.” — Gene, Auburn, WA
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: VGK172-01 Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. VGK172-01, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com
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®
IT’S PRIME TIME
ON AMERICA’S HOTTEST BIG BASS LAKE By Nick Carter
I
f a truly giant largemouth bass is on your bucket list, make plans to visit O.H. Ivie Lake in Texas over the next few months. Last year, this 19,000acre impoundment of the Colorado River burst onto the scene as the hottest big bass lake in the nation. A string of 17 monster largemouths from January through April kept O.H. Ivie in the headlines, and 10 of them were caught in February. And when we say monster, we’re not talking about 8- to 10-pounders, we’re talking about 13-plus-pound behemoths. According to data from Toyota ShareLunker, Texas’ trophy bass recognition and breeding program, February is the time to catch a giant at this central Texas reservoir. Bass are at their heaviest and most aggressive ahead of the spawn, when they are fat, feeding and full of eggs. Last February’s incredible streak was highlighted by an enormous 17.03-pounder that is the lake record and the eighth largest bass ever caught in Texas. Jason Conn caught it on Feb. 13, 2023, and he said the fish was even heavier before it started regurgitating shad in his livewell. Moving into March and April last year, the trophy bass statistics were still pretty amazing—with 34 fish heavier than 8 pounds—but the giant fish tapered off. Five 13-plus-pounders were caught during those two months, and then no one registered another one until November, when Shawn Strength caught a 16.65-pound monster. The totals for 2023 were 75 fish heavier than 8 pounds and 18 heavier than 13 pounds. The true total is potentially much more impressive, because these statistics include only the fish anglers bothered to register with ShareLunker. So, why has the productivity of O.H. Ivie largemouth bass fishing exploded
over the last three or four years? According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, intensive stocking of bass with Florida-strain genetics is the secret ingredient. Florida strain genetics produce larger, faster-growing fish than the native-northern strain genetics in the system. Part of the mission of the ShareLunker program is to breed trophy fish, and they do this by using 13-plus-pounders caught by anglers in their breeding program. It is estimated 75 to 85 percent of the bass in O.H. Ivie possess those Florida genetics. On top of that, weather played a role in the lake’s rise. Following a prolonged drought, heavy rain in the fall of 2018 raised water levels by more than 30 feet. “It gave these bass pretty much unlimited food and space to grow,” said a ShareLunker representative, “and they just grew like crazy.” Stay tuned. It’ll be interesting to see what America’s hottest big bass lake produces over the next four months, especially with all the added angler attention that comes with a bright hot spotlight.
The Return of a
See more on last year’s incredible fishing at O.H. Ivie at coastalanglermag.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 16 NATIONAL
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This Necklace is NOT for Sale … It’s yours for FREE* NE
Imposs ib Buy NO le Price W, pay
VER*
No kidding. Only Stauer can give you 200 carats of genuine amethyst for NOTHING.
Y
ou may think you understood the concept of “priceless” jewelry. For years, “priceless” meant “astronomically expensive.” That is, until now ... Stauer smashes the luxury status quo with the release of our FREE* 200-Carat Lusso Amethyst Necklace. That’s right, we said FREE ... as in “priceless.” No charge.* ZERO dollars.* Call now and we’ll send you this impressive helping of genuine amethyst (independently appraised at $295) for FREE. We cut the price 100%. You only pay $24.95, our regular charge for shipping and processing. We’ll even pay you back with a $30 discount certificate –– that’s our Better Than Free Shipping!
A collection of purple perfection. Your Lusso Amethyst Necklace is a 200-carat symphony of smooth purple genuine gemstones. Each gemstone’s shape and translucence ignites the velvety, violet hues. The polished amethysts are hand-strung on double-knotted jeweler’s thread, and the stunning 18" necklace (with 2" extender) secures with a goldfinished lobster clasp. Too good to pass up. Too good to last long. Amethyst is one of the world’s most coveted gemstones and our supply is extremely limited. We can only offer such an outrageous deal for a short time every few years. Over 30,000 thrilled customers were lucky enough to get this promotion last time.
200 carats of pure luxury independently appraised at $295† ... yours FREE!* “This necklace is beautiful. I could not believe my eyes ... GREAT!”
We only have about 2,500 left in stock. Act now!
— Bonnie from Longs, SC
Necklace Specifications: • 200 ctw of genuine amethyst • Gold-finished spacers • 18" + 2" length necklace
FREE amethyst necklace limited to just the first 2,500 responders to this ad!
Lusso Amethyst Necklace: Lusso Amethyst Necklace (200 ctw) $249** FREE* *Pay only shipping & processing of $24.95. Special price only for customers using the offer code.
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: LAN510-05
* This offer is valid in the United States (and Puerto Rico) except in TX, FL, CO, OK, RI, NH, WV, OR, SC, VA, CA and ID. These state residents will be charged one cent ($.01) + shipping & processing for the item. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer subject to state and local regulations. Not valid with any other offers and only while supplies last. This offer is limited to one item per shipping address. ** Free is only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code. † For more information concerning the appraisal, visit www.stauer.com/appraisedvalues.asp.
Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. LAN510-05, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com
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