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WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?
GIANT TREVALLY
MAR 21-24 • PBBOATSHOW.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF TOMMY MIANO
VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 348
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
KEEN SENSES
ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
I
t is always important to pay attention to our surroundings as we go through life, and fishing is no exception. How many of you have been fishing without any action and find yourself daydreaming and going through the motions until you feel the tug on your line? Suddenly you are frantically trying to remember the cadence of your retrieve to duplicate the action, but you are dreaming of fish instead of trying to catch them. Well, in this article and the accompanying video for The Angler Video Magazine, I will go over a specific situation when paying attention paid off, and you can see it and hear me talk through it on the video. I will also share some wisdom from two incredible Texas guides whom I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with on the topic of targeting big trout. While wading in knee-deep water that
4 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
was about 61 degrees, I could see a few mullet jumping in their casual mullet way. It was enough to keep me interested in the area. The bottom had undulating depth with grass and scattered potholes, or sand pockets for those not familiar with the term. I was throwing a slowsinking soft-plastic jerkbait, letting it slowly sink between twitches where the sand and grass met. With a cast in mid-air, I saw a mullet do an abnormal flip. It was distinct from the norm of the day and not as if it were being chased, but different, nonetheless. I burned my lure back in and made a cast just beyond where the mullet flipped. When my lure paused near the area, a nice redfish slammed my soft plastic. Had I not been paying attention and blew it off as just another mullet jumping, I would not have caught that fish and a few more in the general area. Since we cannot always have a bird’s eye view,
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we need to utilize the birds’ eyes. Here are a few tips I picked up on during a conversation with guides. Birds do not always need to be feeding to point us to fish. There are subtle hints, such as a head turn of a gliding pelican. They don’t turn their head for no reason; they saw something. Maybe they saw a huge trout and kept soaring because it was too big for them to eat. Also, watch the lines birds are relating too. They may not dive, bait may not flee from the shadow, but they are flying that line for a reason, and maybe you should work your way toward the area. Pay attention on the water and in conversation with old salts. You might need to read between the lines, but the answers are there. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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JACK CREVALLE: BATTLE THE BULLIES OF THE REEF
S
ometimes called the “poor man’s giant trevally,” jack crevalle will strike a surface lure or bait aggressively, and once hooked, engage the angler in a slugfest they won’t soon forget. Jacks are world-class fighters. These fish are perfect for small-boat anglers because they frequent inshore and nearshore waters. They can be caught in bays, inlets, canals and off reefs, where they target schooling baitfish. These fish are perfect for light spinning gear or a fly rod, as they will readily take any fast-retrieved bait imitation. They frequently show up in bays and estuaries following migratory baitfish like mullet. Strong current that concentrates bait is usually best, and you’ll find them at the mouths of the inlets on a strong outgoing tide. Any nearshore reef close to an inlet that has “nervous water” – a sure sign of bait schools—is prime territory for jacks. A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod equipped with a 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 40-pound braid is a prime tool for fighting these fish. I like a fluorocarbon leader in the 50-pound range for abrasion resistance. These fish are not leader shy. Jacks school up in large groups of juvenile fish under 10 pounds. The larger 20-plus-pound fish usually hunt in pairs. While a
By Mark Ambert
5000-class rod and reel setup will handle the smaller fish, a larger setup will be better for anything over 20 pounds. Pro-Tip: If you tangle with one of the larger fish, get a second bait or lure in the water for a double hook-up! Live bait and chum will usually find the biggest fish. Any local seasonal bait such as herring, pilchards, sardines or mullet will do the trick. For maximum fun factor, a topwater lure or fly stripped fast can’t be beat. I usually locate a school of feeding fish first then break out the fly or topwater spinning gear for sport. A 9- or 10-weight fly rod setup with an intermediate line is optimal. When fly fishing, a popper, Deceiver, Clouser or any streamer pattern will work. I use flies that cast easily and in colorful patterns to attract the fish. With spinning gear, any noisy or splashy plug such as a 3- to 4-inch Storm Chug Bug is ideal. I also use a 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook in white with a walk-the-dog retrieve. Watching this lure get knocked out of the water and eaten is worth the
price of admission. For sub-surface action, the Rapala X-Rap size 10 in Ghost finish can’t be beat. The initial run of a big jack is spectacular, with ever shortened runs to follow. Using lighter gear, you might have to chase bigger fish down, so be prepared to move. Once a fish is spent, I usually use a net or tail grab the fish boatside for a quick picture and safe release, as these fish have limited food quality. Now head out your local inlet and target these plentiful and eager sluggers. They will not disappoint. Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefishing_™; Email: marksgonefishing25@gmail.com.
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MARCH 2024
NATIONAL 7
DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN? By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
I
went fishing while on Florida vacation about a decade ago. After returning home to Canada for two months, I drove back to pursue a career in the industry. I had zero experience, no connections, and less than half a clue on where to begin. For those with a similar dream, here’s what I learned. First, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a weekend warrior. If you want to be a captain, be a deckhand first. You don’t know what you don’t know, and working for someone fishing the waters you plan to guide provides all kinds of information. Every fishery has its own etiquette and unspoken guidelines. Community is crucial, and paying your dues and earning respect goes a long way. Captains communicate about fishing on the water, and often, we are each other’s first responders. This same-team mentality is nearly currency. Beginning as a deckhand is difficult. Nobody wants to train you, yet you must be trainable. On your own time, practice skills like knot tying, bait rigging and net throwing. Veteran fishermen are usually happy to flex knowledge to those who ask for help humbly. No matter what you learn, be ready to have a captain you work for tell you it’s wrong. Adapt, and learn things their way. The expectations of deckhands are high, and everything on board will be their fault. You are expected to arrive early, stay late, come in on days off, anticipate your captain and clients wants, and do it on minimum salary. The biggest issue with new deckhands is they sometimes don’t show up. Finding a replacement at 6 a.m. is nearly impossible, and it affects the productivity of a charter. Being a fisherman takes a special kind of person. If can fish six days a week and still want to go out for fun on your day off, this job
may be for you. If you’re on the boat watching the clock, you won’t last long. Showing up to the dock consistently is a great way to make connections and get work. If you can’t find work, show up an hour before local charters head out. Walk the dock and ask if anyone had a no-show deckhand. If you do this consistently and pass out your number, eventually someone will call you. They will see you have the dedication to show up. Deckhands are also required to be on a drug consortium. Sign up and keep your paper with you. Lastly, if you hold a captain’s license and are working as a deckhand, make sure your “captain” has one too. You do not want to be held liable for someone else’s mistakes. Protect your future in the industry. If this is something you want to do, I highly recommend going for it. In 10 years, I have never regretted it or lost the smile it puts on my face. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys. Captainquinlyn.com; @captainquinlyn; (504) 920-6342.
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Snook fishing during this transition is very much dependent on the weather. A warming spell pushes snook out faster toward the passes and bays, while a cooling trend will slow them down. A cold snap will absolutely shut the bite down. If it breaks cold and clear the morning of your planned fishing trip, you’re better off targeting trout and reds. While snook are moving out, big schools of scaled sardines and threadfin herring start to show up close to shore. These baitfish, also known as whitebait or pilchard and greenbacks, respectively, become the favorite food source for snook as well as many other gamefish. When water temps reach the mid-70s, a snook’s metabolism ramps up and they’ll eat anything from crabs and shrimp to mullet, but a lively sardine or herring freelined on a 2/0 circle hook is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get. Generally, these baitfish are also pretty easy to find this time of year. Where you find the bait is where you’ll find snook. Look at a map and draw a line between a known wintering hole and the passes where snook spawn in summer. In spring, they will be somewhere along this line, staged up and feeding on structure. Snook are ambush predators and prefer to hang in the slack water while the tide sweeps food in front of them. By CAM Staff On the beginning of an incoming or outgoing tide, look to the docks, bridges, points, channel swings, mangroves, oyster bars and anything else that provides a little current shade adjacent to faster water. River mouths are a good place to start your search. If there are greenies or whitebait present, there’s a very good chance a school of snook will be there feeding on them. Want to know for sure? Use a chum bat to sling a double handful of disoriented greenies where you think snook might be. If they’re there, you’ll know it in a hurry. Fresh live bait is the easiest way to catch fish, but the spring feed-up also provides lots of opportunity for anglers throwing artificials. If you’re someone who prefers to skip the hassle of catching and keeping bait, you can absolutely get the job done with a baitfish or shrimp imitation. Topwaters, soft-plastic paddletails, soft-plastic shrimp, twitchbaits, plugs and bucktails nook are hungry when they break out of the winter doldrums and go will all get bit. A couple benefits to artificials is you can use them to cover lots on the move this time of year. As spring temperatures begin to stabilize, of water quickly to find fish and they can be skipped up under mangroves they push progressively farther out of their backwater holes, and their and docks. migration intersects with the arrival of spring baitfish schools. It’s a recipe For more tips and tactics, go to coastalanglermag.com. for an aggressive feed-up ahead of the summer spawn.
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Every year, just after the New Year, American shad move from the northern states south. This year, my dad and I went to central Florida to see if we could find some shad making their way up a river. Unfortunately, after hours of constant jigging with light tackle and tiny jigs and a couple miles of paddling a tandem kayak, the shad were a bust. We decided to take a lunch break with lines out for a catfish or bowfin. We soaked baits for about an hour without even a nibble. At this point, I was more than a little disappointed after driving three hours without even a bite to show for it. Don’t get me wrong, the scenery was beautiful, but I was determined to catch something! I started jigging again as my dad slowly paddled us back to the truck. About a quarter of the way back, I got a bite, a cute little 10-inch largemouth. Despite the size, I was satisfied; I had beaten the skunk. I continued jigging until we were about halfway back, where this narrow part of the river opened wider. I made a “last cast” and had decided to call it quits. As I cranked my jig straight in, I was surprised when it got thumped! I laughed and told my dad we had been doing it wrong all day. To test the theory, I tossed my jig out and again just cranked it in. About two feet from the kayak, a huge swirl appeared where my jig was, and 4-pound line started By Emily Hanzlik ripping off my ultralight. My dad paddled to keep the fish a manageable distance from the kayak while also maneuvering defensively to place the kayak between the fish and the vegetation. After an extremely stressful nearly 20-minute fight, we netted a beautiful, 7-pound-plus Florida sunshine bass. I frantically checked the FWC website for the state record, which weighed 16 pounds, 3 ounces. However, I knew I had one more hope for a record. I checked IGFA and was more than pleased to find the women’s 4-pound-test record was a 5-pound fish. If approved, this will be my first record that was not targeted. When you’re hunting records, it’s key to be prepared. No matter where we go, I keep my certified Rapala scale and my tape measure in a glasses container in whatever bag we have that day. The other key is to make sure you always have accurate line on your reel. I use tournament Ande line so I don’t have to worry about my line over-testing. Other than that, it’s just the f you’ve read my column, you know that catching IGFA record fish is what luck of getting that big one. I love to do. I’ve caught more than 60 of them, and people frequently ask Emily Rose Hanzlik has caught more than 60 IGFA world records which is my favorite. It’s tough to pick, but the following recent record in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors. is at the top.
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ORT CANAVERAL: Anglers eagerly await the arrival of their favorite springtime fish—the cobia. These fish make great visual targets as they swim along the surface of the ocean basking in the springtime sunshine. They often look like sharks but, to a trained eye, a cobia is one of the tastiest looking brown spots ever seen in our coastal waters. Large, brightly-colored “cobia” jigs are a great choice to cast at these cruising fish. Anglers also like to cast a Storm 5- to 6-inch swim bait, Rapala X-Rap (size 14) plugs, or Saltwater Assassin 5-inch Artemis shad when the cobia are on or near the surface. These tasty fish can get Cobia are on everyone’s mind fussy once they have seen too in March. If ocean temps are in the many lures thrown their way, 68 to 72-degree range, you may so I would advise keeping some have a chance at one yourself. form of live bait onboard. A live menhaden, croaker or jumbo shrimp can be a real difference maker on some days. Tripletail are often seen floating near weeds and debris while searching for cobia, so have a small jig or medium shrimp handy if you encounter one of these fish. Snook are another springtime species that I like to target with my fishing charter customers. I find these fish near jetties, near shore wrecks, and deeper troughs along the surf break. Whiting, pompano and black drum should be hitting cut shrimp, clam and fresh sand fleas in the surf zones on some days too. Look for them between Cocoa Beach and the tip of the false cape. BANANA RIVER LAGOON: Black drum ranging from 2- to 15-pounds should be found in small schools ranging from 20 to 40 fish on the flats of this lagoon. Look for pushes or tailing activity on calm days. I like to cast a live shrimp or piece of cut clam to them when they are in this “happy” mood. Redfish, trout, and the occasional snook may be possible if baitfish are prevalent around docks and mangrove-covered shorelines. Top water plugs will begin to work better on the trout and redfish as the water temperatures warm—especially in areas where seagrass is growing. I’ll usually find increased numbers of mullet near the grass as the water warms into the upper 60s to mid 70-degree range by the end of the month. Sheepshead and mangrove snapper are possible for anglers fishing near bridge pilings and docks in residential canals. Small pieces of shrimp or small crabs usually get these tasty fish away from the pilings and into the boat. Until next month...Let’s go catch a memory!
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Double hookups can happen if the black drum are happy and tailing on the flats. 2 BREVARD
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M
arch Madness is here so bring on the cobia! and smell. There are many different types of baits and lures Well, that’s what should be going on, but I highly people use. Even the steel works well at times when cobia doubt it. I’m sure they blew by in February are debating what to eat at the boat. (Like I said, they don’t during the 30 knot winds, even though this is the historic seem to be the smartest fish...) I also like live bait. Bunker time frame here in Canaveral that the migration of cobia and pinfish work great too. It’s fun to watch a cobia go nuts swims by us. While we catch them all year long, March is trying to eat a livey. Sometimes there are days that you will see 30 fish and usually the best time as the water is warming back maybe only two up to the 70-degree mark. Free-swimming cobia are Jr. angler actually eat or get the most fun to target in my opinion. A few things hailed as “Fired Up” on a jig. must come together though. One being sunny skies “King for I haven’t had many as you must be able to see into the water a little bit, the Day!” cobes turn down a and two, try to get as high as possible. live fish. Some say A hungry cobia is not a picky fish nor are they they will never turn the smartest. My bait of choice is a buck tail with a down a live choice whole squid hooked on it; this gives a natural look shrimp or their magic swim bait etc. Fishing is just what it says, fishing. Some days they’re on fire and on other days they swim away from whatever you throw at ’em. The mighty kings should be going strong as well in March. Look for that live bait and get the net on it. Hard for a king to turn that bunker down! Don’t forget to register in the Sunrise Tournament for the month long Cobia Madness. Hopefully we get some nice weather and capitalize on it. Stay safe, have fun and good luck! CAPT. CHRIS CAMERON
the flats.
The Breslin’s went to work catching limits of amberjack aboard the Fire Fight with Capt. Joe.
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January 2020 Miami, Government Cut
Time
1W
2Th
3F
4Sa
5Su
6M
7Tu
8W
9Th
Height
12:23 AM 2.0 6:19 AM 0.3 12:46 PM 2.1 6:54 PM 0.3 1:12 AM 1.9 7:11 AM 0.4 1:30 PM 2.0 7:45 PM 0.3 2:06 AM 1.9 8:05 AM 0.5 2:18 PM 1.9 8:37 PM 0.3 3:02 AM 1.9 9:01 AM 0.5 3:10 PM 1.9 9:27 PM 0.2 4:00 AM 2.0 9:56 AM 0.5 4:04 PM 1.9 10:16 PM 0.1 4:57 AM 2.1 10:46 AM 0.4 4:59 PM 2.0 11:03 PM -0.1 5:50 AM 2.2 11:34 AM 0.3 5:51 PM 2.0 11:49 PM -0.2 6:40 AM 2.3 12:21 PM 0.2 6:42 PM 2.1 12:35 AM -0.4 7:28 AM 2.4 1:06 PM 0.1 7:31 PM 2.2
10F
Time
Height
1:21 AM -0.5 8:15 AM 2.5 1:51 PM 0.0 8:19 PM 2.3 11Sa 2:07 AM -0.6 9:01 AM 2.6 2:38 PM -0.1 9:08 PM 2.4 12Su 2:55 AM -0.6 9:47 AM 2.6 3:26 PM -0.2 9:58 PM 2.4 13M 3:44 AM -0.6 10:34 AM 2.6 4:16 PM -0.3 10:50 PM 2.4 14Tu 4:36 AM -0.5 11:22 AM 2.6 5:08 PM -0.3 11:44 PM 2.4 15W 5:31 AM -0.3 12:11 PM 2.5 6:04 PM -0.3 16Th 12:42 AM 2.3 6:30 AM -0.2 1:04 PM 2.4 7:04 PM -0.3 17F 1:43 AM 2.3 7:33 AM 0.0 2:00 PM 2.2 8:05 PM -0.3 18Sa 2:48 AM 2.2 8:37 AM 0.1 3:00 PM 2.2 9:07 PM -0.3
(Approximate Times)
Time
Height
19Su 3:54 AM 2.2 9:41 AM 0.1 4:03 PM 2.1 10:08 PM -0.4 20M 4:58 AM 2.3 10:42 AM 0.1 5:05 PM 2.1 11:05 PM -0.4 21Tu 5:57 AM 2.3 11:38 AM 0.1 6:03 PM 2.1 11:58 PM -0.4 22W 6:50 AM 2.3 12:29 PM 0.0 6:55 PM 2.2 23Th 12:48 AM -0.5 7:38 AM 2.4 1:17 PM 0.0 7:42 PM 2.2 24F 1:34 AM -0.5 8:21 AM 2.4 2:02 PM -0.1 8:26 PM 2.2 25Sa 2:17 AM -0.4 9:01 AM 2.4 2:44 PM -0.1 9:07 PM 2.2 26Su 2:59 AM -0.4 9:38 AM 2.3 3:25 PM -0.1 9:47 PM 2.2 27M 3:38 AM -0.3 10:14 AM 2.3 4:04 PM -0.1 10:26 PM 2.1
Time
Height
28Tu 4:17 AM -0.2 10:50 AM 2.2 4:42 PM 0.0 11:06 PM 2.0 29W 4:55 AM 0.0 11:25 AM 2.1 5:21 PM 0.0 11:46 PM 2.0 30Th 5:35 AM 0.1 12:02 PM 2.0 6:01 PM 0.0 31F 12:30 AM 1.9 6:17 AM 0.2 12:41 PM 1.9 6:45 PM 0.1 1Sa 1:18 AM 1.8 7:06 AM 0.3 1:24 PM 1.8 7:34 PM 0.1 2Su 2:11 AM 1.8 8:02 AM 0.4 2:15 PM 1.7 8:29 PM 0.1 3M 3:12 AM 1.8 9:02 AM 0.4 3:13 PM 1.7 9:27 PM 0.0 4Tu 4:15 AM 1.9 10:02 AM 0.4 4:16 PM 1.8 10:24 PM -0.1 5W 5:16 AM 2.0 10:59 AM 0.3 5:18 PM 1.9 11:19 PM -0.3
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SEBASTIAN INLET TO EAU GALLIE CAUSEWAY FORECAST
W
MARCH 2024 DAY
ith the windy, rainy and cold weather we’ve had this winter, let’s hope the winds lay down in March so the cobia anglers can get off the beach and look for the migrating rays which should be holding cobia on them. When targeting cobia, use Rapala X-Rap 14, Hogy Pro Tail eels and live threadfins. However, if we get some more cold fronts through the month, the nearshore water will be too cold, rough and dirty for small boat anglers to get out and search for them, so we will have to pick our days. With the rough seas and rain we had in January and February, we haven’t been able to spend a lot of time off the beach, but the action has been good when we’ve been able to get out. Topwater action on blacktip and spinner sharks has been good, as well as kingfish, and there are some jumbo bluefish and Spanish mackerel around. But as the warmer weather comes it will push the threadfin herring and other schools of bait inside along the beaches, and the tarpon and big jack crevalle will be Tony with a Spanish mac right with them as well as the sharks and caught off the beach kingfish. Fish big topwater plugs for the jacks near Sebastian Inlet. and sharks and scale down the plugs for the bluefish. For tarpon and big jacks, fish the Rapala X-Rap 14, Hogy Eels or the D.O.A. Bait Buster for good success. Live threadfin will work for all of the species. The spinner sharks and blacktips will eat the live bait, but are a lot of fun on the X-Rap Magnum Xplode poppers. Just remember to change out the treble hooks to a single hook on the rear of the popper so you don’t have to perform surgery to get your lure back. If the winds stay down and the weather warms up, the snook and redfish bite in the inlet will be very good. Live bait is the key in the daytime, with shrimp and threadfins being the bait of choice, however pinfish, pigfish and croakers will also work. At night, most artificials will work well. Most anglers throw the bucktail jigs, and the Rapala X-Rap 14 are great plugs to fish from the jetties as well as from the rocks along the west side of the bridge. Inshore fishing has been good this winter with trout and pompano, as well as a few juvenile permit and bonefish, but the snook and redfish bite should pick up as our spring mullet run heats up. When the schools of mullet fill inside the lagoon and the creeks from Sebastian to Palm Bay and Melbourne, snook, redfish, jacks and trout will be hot on their heels. I like to fish a Rapala Skitterwalk V early in the morning around the bait pods and go deeper with the D.O.A. Paddle Tails and jerk baits as the sun comes up. Live bait will also work well fishing the bait pods as the predatory fish are normally below the bait pods. CAPT. GLYN AUSTIN
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TIME
HEIGHT
1F
5:31 AM 0.26 L 11:54 AM 1.91 H 5:50 PM -0.04 L 2SA 12:40 AM 1.96 H 6:17 AM 0.37 L 12:36 PM 1.83 H 6:41 PM 0.01 L 3SU 1:35 AM 1.89 H 7:14 AM 0.46 L 1:29 PM 1.78 H 7:43 PM 0.03 L 4M 2:41 AM 1.87 H 8:23 AM 0.49 L 2:37 PM 1.78 H 8:54 PM -0.01 L 5TU 3:52 AM 1.93 H 9:35 AM 0.43 L 3:54 PM 1.86 H 10:04 PM -0.12 L 6W 5:00 AM 2.07 H 10:41 AM 0.27 L 5:07 PM 2.03 H 11:07 PM -0.27 L 7TH 5:59 AM 2.26 H 11:40 AM 0.04 L 6:11 PM 2.26 H 8F 12:04 AM -0.42 L 6:51 AM 2.45 H 12:33 PM -0.22 L 7:08 PM 2.5 H 9SA 12:58 AM -0.53 L 7:40 AM 2.62 H 1:23 PM -0.46 L 8:01 PM 2.7 H 10SU 1:48 AM -0.59 L 9:26 AM 2.72 H 3:12 PM -0.65 L 9:52 PM 2.83 H
Miami Beach, Government Cut 11M
3:38 AM -0.58 L 10:11 AM 2.75 H 4:00 PM -0.75 L 10:41 PM 2.87 H 12TU 4:27 AM -0.49 L 10:56 AM 2.71 H 4:48 PM -0.75 L 11:31 PM 2.81 H 13W 5:16 AM -0.34 L 11:42 AM 2.6 H 5:38 PM -0.65 L 14TH 12:21 AM 2.67 H 6:07 AM -0.14 L 12:30 PM 2.44 H 6:30 PM -0.48 L 15F 1:13 AM 2.47 H 7:01 AM 0.07 L 1:21 PM 2.25 H 7:26 PM -0.27 L 16SA 2:10 AM 2.26 H 8:00 AM 0.27 L 2:17 PM 2.07 H 8:28 PM -0.07 L 17SU 3:12 AM 2.07 H 9:06 AM 0.42 L 3:20 PM 1.93 H 9:36 PM 0.07 L 18M 4:21 AM 1.96 H 10:14 AM 0.49 L 4:30 PM 1.86 H 10:42 PM 0.14 L 19TU 5:29 AM 1.95 H 11:19 AM 0.47 L 5:39 PM 1.88 H 11:43 PM 0.15 L 20W 6:28 AM 2 H 12:15 PM 0.39 L 6:38 PM 1.96 H 21TH 12:35 AM 0.12 L 7:15 AM 2.08 H 1:02 PM 0.28 L 7:27 PM 2.06 H
22F
1:20 AM 0.07 L 7:55 AM 2.16 H 1:43 PM 0.15 L 8:09 PM 2.17 H 23SA 2:01 AM 0.04 L 8:30 AM 2.23 H 2:20 PM 0.04 L 8:48 PM 2.27 H 24SU 2:38 AM 0.02 L 9:04 AM 2.28 H 2:54 PM -0.05 L 9:24 PM 2.35 H 25M 3:13 AM 0.02 L 9:37 AM 2.3 H 3:26 PM -0.11 L 10:00 PM 2.4 H 26TU 3:46 AM 0.05 L 10:09 AM 2.29 H 3:57 PM -0.13 L 10:36 PM 2.41 H 27W 4:18 AM 0.1 L 10:42 AM 2.24 H 4:28 PM -0.13 L 11:12 PM 2.38 H 28TH 4:51 AM 0.18 L 11:15 AM 2.18 H 5:01 PM -0.1 L 11:50 PM 2.32 H 29F 5:25 AM 0.27 L 11:50 AM 2.11 H 5:38 PM -0.06 L 30SA 12:31 AM 2.24 H 6:04 AM 0.36 L 12:28 PM 2.04 H 6:21 PM 0 L 31SU 1:17 AM 2.15 H 6:51 AM 0.46 L 1:13 PM 1.98 H 7:14 PM 0.06 L
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TIME OFFSET High -53 min / Low -26 min HEIGHT OFFSET High *1.49 ft / Low *1.5 ft
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altwater fly fishing, in my opinion, is one of the most exciting experiences for an angler. Hello, and welcome to this month’s issue of Pro Tips. My name is Capt. Jonathan Moss, Host of The Captain’s Log TV and full time fishing guide of Go Castaway Fishing Charters. I am thrilled to have you on board for this issue! Presenting a fly made of feathers and fur to a fish and watching its natural instinct kick in as it eats is the pinnacle of fly fishing. That is the thrill, experience and adrenaline rush that all fly anglers seek. And what does it all have in common? Casting fly line. Fly line can be frustrating. It seems to find anything and everything to snag on. Trolling motors, cleats, casting platform brackets, shoes...whatever it is, fly line will wrap its self around it. These are all things anglers can work on and pay attention to, but one easy and commonly overlooked aspect of fly line is its cleanliness. Clean fly will always cast smoother and farther as there is less dirt and grime attached which causes friction while casting. Cleaning fly line is very simple, and in this article I want to offer a very easy and cheap solution to cleaning fly line. To get the started, you will need the following: A bucket/container with warm water, mild dish soap, paper towels or a clean microfiber rag, and fly line dressing and cleaning pad (extra step that is worth the expense). Step 1: Strip the fly line from the reel and soak for 15 minutes in a bucket with warm water and dish soap. Step 2: Rinse the line in the sink and let soak for 15 minutes in a bucket with just warm water. You can reuse the first bucket, just be sure to rinse the soap out well. Step 3: Dry and wipe the line by pulling the line through a paper towel or microfiber towel. Be sure to apply tension while pulling the line to dry and wipe as much extra grime residue off the line. Step 4: Reel the now-clean line back onto the spool. It is during this step that, if desired, a fly line dressing and cleaning pad may be used. Dressing and cleaning pads do make a difference, but are not required. It is crucial to properly clean and maintain your fly line (and all your fishing gear) to optimize every second on the water! I hope these simple steps help you tremendously. Pictured is me, holding what would have been the world record remora caught on fly. In lieu of obtaining the official record, we decided to release this special fish. Tight lines, CAPT. JONATHAN MOSS
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MARCH 202412/13/2019 BREVARD 10:24:28 AM 7
SPACE COAST SURF FISHING FORECAST
T
ime to rejoice, for the month of March means stunning beach days and bountiful catches. Surf fishing the Space Coast in March consistently produces great catches of pompano, whiting, bluefish and sharks. Water temperatures and clarity will dictate how each of the species responds. Regardless of the specifics, springtime surf fishing along the Central East Coast of Florida is an absolute ball! Pompano on parade should continue throughout March and into April. Many of the schools of pompano migrated to southern waters during the February chill down. This means they will be charging back up this way and to the north as the ocean water begins to warm up. Pompano love the temperature range from 66 to 74 degrees. Keep in mind you can catch pompano outside of these temperature ranges, but the large schools prefer this range. One of my favorite ways to catch pompano in the surf during the spring run is by fishing multiple beaches daily. Yes, it’s laborious and time intensive, but the results payout in spades. By doing so, too,
you’ll be able to find the exact conditions the pompano prefers for water clarity, temperature and food sources. My favorite color floats and beads to tie on pompano rigs in the spring are
whiting concentrate in the first or second trough and outside the sand bar. Make sure to use your entire spread of rods to cover the territory to increase the probability of finding the biomass. The spring run of whiting can be overwhelming at times when you can catch two at a time continuously on every cast. Last but not least, who’s ready for incredible shark fishing from the shore?! March marks the spring run of blacktip sharks off local area beaches. Thousands upon thousands of blacktip sharks can be seen jumping and spinning into the horizon. For shark angling enthusiasts, this is prime time to hook the big one! Use fresh chunked bait on a 12/0 non stainless steel circle hook with 80 pound braided mainline. Hang on tight, because you’re in for one heck of a ride when you hook up to a mature blacktip shark.
chartreuse, white, pink and yellow. As usual, make sure to tip your pompano rigs with Fishbites, sand fleas, shrimp or clams. Now, we all know pompano rule the roost when it comes to surf fishing topics. But let us divulge into one of my personal favorite surf fishing species, the whiting. Whiting are considered one of the most reliable surf fishing species along CAPT. LUKAS BRICKWEG the Space Coast. In addition, whiting hold Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters an amazing, mouth-watering reputation for cocoabeachsurffishingcharters.com their delicate, flaky white meat. Typically, (321) 205-4672
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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha, boasts amazing prizes, is the largest familyfriendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida and it begins May 25. A unique combination of conservation, data collection and education, plus prizes and scholarships valued at over $500,000, makes CCA Florida STAR the state’s not-to-miss-summer-long fishing competition. No other fishing tournament in Florida has the ability to engage participants
of all ages and experience levels, and even nonanglers can win, just by collecting trash and debris. Heading into the tenth year, CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha has made it easier than ever to participate. The summer long fishing competition encourages thousands of anglers of all ages to fish with a purpose – conservation and winning. STAR is simplifying the competition to make it easier for participants to enter their catches
and win big. It’s not just about anglers winning but helping the fishery win too. Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app. This format promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who, at the time of their catch are members of CCA and registered in STAR to upload photos of their catch for an entry in the competition. STAR has set the bar for other fishing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation friendly alternatives, such as a trash division and conservation division with rewards of some really big prizes. The CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler and targets inshore and offshore species. For the 2024 competition, CCA Florida STAR will once again offer over $500,000 in prizes and scholarships but has pared down the number of divisions to make participation simpler. STAR will offer a Tagged Redfish Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Offshore Division, Native Watercraft Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division. With so many ways to win amazing prizes and help protect our marine resources, now is the time to get registered and make fishing in Florida more rewarding this summer. For more information on STAR, become a member and register, call 844-387-7827 or visit their Facebook page and ccaflstar.com.
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Y
LIFE IS A BEACH
By Richard L. Matteson
COOL WATER SNOOK&THE MARCH FISHING FORECAST
I
t’s not like summer, but there are still snook on the beach here on the Treasure Coast. I caught a 21-incher a few days ago in the surf and released it. My main artificial rig is a 4-inch DOA pearl white paddletail on a chartreuse 3/8-ounce DOA jighead. Snook are looking for warmer water, so they’ll be around inlets and bridges where the water is deeper. Sometimes they run the beach because the ocean is better for them than the shallow water in the lagoon. Some large snook are being caught in deeper water of the St. Lucie, both North and South Forks, Crossroads and around deep piers and bridges as well as around deep water in both the St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce inlets. Large jigs and live or cut bait fished early morning, at dusk or at night work best. Live 6-inch croaker seem to be the preferred live bait. This month, you can harvest one snook in the 28- to 32-inch slot here in the IRL Zone. March is windy and will be the last good month for many of the winter fish like pompano, mackerel and bluefish. Some fish, especially bluefish, will remain, but the numbers are relatively small. Pompano can be caught on the beach with orange fish bites and sand fleas. In the lagoon, try jigging from bridges with pompano jigs on moving tides.
Chartreuse or hot pink are good colors. Permit have been caught on the beach on small crabs, fish bites or large sand fleas. Both permit and pompano are 50 to 70 yards offshore. The mackerel bite is good on the beach early in the morning when bait is present. This bite is in the trough around the close breakers. Small spoons like silver 1-ounce Krocodiles or gold Johnson spoons with treble hooks work best, but they will hit any lure retrieved quickly near the surface. There are mackerel still in the Peck’s Lake area where you’ll need a boat. The bluefish bite has been sporadic with fish chasing bait in early morning or when bait is present. Trout are scattered in the lagoon and can be caught on jigs and topwaters like Skitterwalks and Zara Spooks on warm afternoons. The best trout areas are north from the power plant to the Vero Beach flats. The flounder bite is still good on small the 5- to 10-pound range have been taken on jigs jigs and live bait on the flats and around the bridges. and shallow-running crankbaits. Some redfish have been caught on jigs tipped Remember, see the birds, find the bait, catch with live shrimp from the power plant north. the fish! Target mangroves on high tide in the afternoon or Richard L. Matteson Jr. is a long-time Coastal mangroves with deep water. As usual, there are scattered schools of ladyfish Angler contributor and staff writer for Stuart Rod & Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440. and jacks cruising the beaches. Some nice jacks in
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TIPS FROM A PRO
ISOLATED TARGETS FOR BIG BASS
TYLER WOOLCOTT
A
round the country, spring is either here or it is rapidly approaching. There is an amazing tip I want to share to improve your chances for catching big bass this time of year. In spring, bass flood into shallower areas of any lake. Whether that be a bank, pocket or a flat shallow area, they move shallow to start their transition and get ready to do their thing. They use any type of readily available cover to stage up and then eventually spawn. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the search for where your next bite may come from. What I look for is isolated cover and structure. Types of cover that I look for differentiate from state to state and lake to lake, but the general concept is always the same. The more isolated the better! For instance, here in Florida, anything from a couple lily pads or a very small patch of vertical grass sticking up away from most of the other cover is the ideal spot for a big one to be sitting. In other areas of the country, it could be a single rock, a piece of wood or any kind of debris or cover that looks out of place. Shallow brushpiles near a spawning area that you find with your electronics are also an awesome thing to look for. Some of my biggest spring bass have come from something so obvious that most anglers
go right past it. Fish also often replenish on these places very quickly, so don’t overlook visiting the same piece of structure multiple times in a single day. One of my favorite things to do is cast to isolated lily pads. There could be two tiny little pads out in the middle of a flat on their own, and I might catch multiple fish off the same two pads by revisiting them throughout the day. I often pick apart these objects by dragging something slowly by or through the structure. Typically, a wacky-rigged weightless Senko or a very lightly weighted Texas-rigged stick bait are my go-to lures. When in Southern states that have some stain to the water, I stick with darker colors like blacks and blues or junebug. When the water is clear, I’ll go with more natural colors like a green pumpkin. You can keep your gear pretty simple, but remember you’re fishing around structure fish can wrap you around and break you off. Use heavier line. Try stepping up your leader size to 12- to 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon on a spinning rod, and use 15- to 20-pound when throwing a Texas rig on a baitcaster. The 13 have fun and be safe on the water. Fishing Defy series of rods are awesome and Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament affordable. I use the 7’6” MH for baitcasting angler and guide. Check out his website at rods and the 7’1” MH for spinning. www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. Good luck out there this spring and always
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MARCH 2024
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A PAIR OF WILEY X SUNGLASSES THROUGH MARCH!
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n December, Coastal Angler and Suzuki teamed up to award one lucky reader with an extra special Christmas gift as part of the magazine’s regular contest drawings. Jeanette Harkin, of Edgewater, Fla., is now the happy owner of small, but feature-rich Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, which she plans to use on the inshore fisheries around Smyrna Beach. “I was super excited when I found out that I won, because we’ve been wanting to get a nice trolling motor for a long time,” Jeanette said. “It was an extra special Christmas present from you guys! Thank you again!!!” The Suzuki DF 2.5 weighs just 30 pounds, and the smooth, quiet and dependable engine is a perfect fit for the 16-foot Gheenoe Jeanette plans to put it on. She goes out frequently after whitefish, redfish and blue crabs on the Intracoastal near her home, and this little rig will be perfect for zipping around on the flats and backwaters. Coastal Angler’s current Giveaway drawing is for two pairs of awesome Wiley X sunglasses. These high-performance and stylish glasses will be just in time for all your springtime outdoor adventures. Go to Coastalanglermag. com, click the “Contest” tab, enter the drawing, and you could be sporting some free new shades on the water this spring. To enter, go to coastalanglermag.com/contest.
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WHERE THE SUWANNEE & STEINHATCHEE RIVERS MEET THE GULF OF MEXICO
PHOTO BY DAVID HAY JONES
GREAT FISHING!
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REDFISH TIP:
THE GARRETT REDFISH DRAG
H
ere’s a quick redfish tip from Capt. Garrett Ross, of Miss Judy Charters out of Savannah, Ga. “While using a traditional adjustable style cork, adjust depth to allow the live shrimp to sit directly on the bottom. This means that your cork will be laying completely over on its side. Now, when the cold-water redfish decides to take the bait in its mouth, you will not know until the cork stands up right and starts to make way. It is suggested to reel lightly tight and allow the circle hook to do its job of lip hooking your redfish!” Capt. Garrett’s reasoning for the Ethan Long, 13, with a nice redfish caught effectiveness of his while fishing with Capt. Garrett Ross. technique is that a redfish has plenty of time to eat the shrimp and begin to swim away before the angler holding the rod even knows the fish is there. It might sound counterintuitive, but circle hooks have a way of coming unbuttoned when there’s an over-eager angler holding the rod. For more from Capt. Judy Helmey, visit missjudycharters.com. 12 NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
E
very saltwater angler knows the frustration of losing their hardearned catch to sharks. With a hard thump, that big, feisty cobia or snapper stops fighting and all that’s left to haul over the rail is a head. Those delicious fillets were donated to the taxman, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Well, it seems the U.S. Congress is at least willing to take a look at the issue of shark depredation, which is a shark hammering a fish on the line before it can be landed. The SHARKED Act is a piece of legislation working its way through Congress right now with bipartisan support. The bill is just a first step toward mitigating shark interactions with anglers, both recreational and commercial, but it’s one of those rare occasions when legislators might just come together. According to the American Sportfishing Association, shark encounters are increasing on all U.S. coasts. The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 2007—the sweeping legislation that gave us the decades-long red snapper fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico—has been successful, maybe too successful, in rebuilding populations of many shark species that were previously reduced by fishing. In addition to being frustrating to anglers, there is concern that sharks are negatively impacting fisheries, and there is already talk among fisheries managers of stricter regulations on anglers intended to offset or avoid shark interactions. With support from several sportfishing and conservation organizations, the SHARKED Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at presstime it was headed to the Senate and potentially to President Biden to be signed into law. It would direct NOAA Fisheries to develop a task force to study the issue of shark depredation. The task force would be tasked with improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community to identify research priorities and funding opportunities and make a plan to reduce shark/angler interactions. We can only hope this future plan puts limitations on the taxman and not on anglers.
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GRAND LAKE TO HOST
2024 BASSMASTER CLASSIC T
he field is set, and the grandest spectacle in bass fishing will be renewed for the 54th time from March 22-24. This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, with weigh-ins and festivities in Tulsa, Okla. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name. The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history
of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016. Now the picturesque reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it again plays host the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake. During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory during a frigid event when icy precipitation tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. In 2016, local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-frombehind win. “The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country. “GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.” On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100. The field will include 56 anglers competing for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million. “Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”
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