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HOLIDAY FOR ANGLERS GIFTS
Reel in the Perfect Holiday Gifts for Anglers and Outdoor Enthusiasts!
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by showing the anglers and outdoor enthusiasts in your life that you truly understand their passion? Finding the right gift can feel as tricky as reeling in a trophy fsh, but fear not! We’ve got some fantastic ideas that will have them casting their lines with glee.
As the holiday season rolls around, remember that the best gifts come from the heart. Whether it’s a high-tech fshing gadget, some fshing apparel or even a new boat or motor, these thoughtful presents are sure to delight the anglers and outdoor enthusiasts in your life. So, cast your line into the sea of gift ideas...you’re bound to reel in something special!
LAST CHANCE FOR GROUPER ROMANCE
Depending on where you live, December could be the last month for all grouper harvest. I think red and black grouper will still be available in Florida’s East Coast, while red and scamp grouper will be available in Georgia and the Carolinas. !is is when the bite is the best. I’ve always said that the week of Christmas is the apex of grouper shing and I’ll stand by that statement. !e month of November was on re here in the Carolinas. Even though we can’t keep gag, grouper and American red snapper have been plentiful. !e good news is the light line has been working well.
!e key to nding good bait is a tackle shop that keeps beautiful, frozen cigar minnows and sardines. !ese baits are the ticket to good bottom bites and the light line going o . Needless to say, live cigars and live sardines are extremely e ective on the light line and under the kite, but frozen ones work well also. Live menhaden and pin sh are always a smart play to have in the live well before heading o shore. If you nd live cigar minnows and live sardines, all the better, but if you don’t, at least you have those two for live baits on the bottom and for the light line.
A live sardine or a live cigar on the correct jig has a life expectancy of just a few seconds. !is is where it pays o to nd a shop that carries beautiful (frozen) bait. When you open up a box of frozen cigar minnows and see beautiful, clear eyes and yellow on the tails you’ve got a box of bites in your hands. If you have a frozen box of cloudy-eyed, mushy cigar minnows, then you might not nd what you’re looking for on the bottom or on the light line. If you nd large schools of cigars or sardines, it o en pays to spend a little bit of time to catch them. !is always results in bites, whereas the frozen minnows work most of the time.
!e Sabiki can be the most valuable player of all. Just like you use a dehooker to remove your grouper and snapper from the hook, use a dehooker to remove your cigar, minnows and sardines from the Sabiki hook. !is keeps those small needles and sharp hooks out of your hands and it’s better for the minnows and the live well not to handle them with your hands.
Don’t be surprised if you catch these sh in extremely shallow water this month. !e 66- to 68-degree temperature break can be magical this month for the light line. No telling what you’ll catch. Everything can be there, from kings to wahoo and everything in between.
I said all that to say this: Get out there with some pretty bait and go harvesting some good dinners!
See more from Tim Barefoot at www.barefootcatsandtackle.com and on YouTube @timbarefoot5698.
Tim Barefoot
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If you’ve ever dreamed of hauling in a barn door halibut or tangling with ferocious Paci!c cod in one of the most scenic places on earth, then May is your month to come !shing in Ketchikan, Alaska! e bottom !shing for halibut and cod in May is nothing short of incredible. Paci!c cod by the thousands swarm underwater sand ats and lurking halibut feed on massive bait balls of herring. It is truly is a wild undertaking below based on the amount of life ourishing. It’s primetime for steady actions, freezer!lling fun and unforgettable memories on the water.
One of the best parts about !shing in Ketchikan is just how easy it is to get to this !shing Mecca. Ketchikan services daily ights from all major cities. Just a quick layover in Seattle and your landing in Ketchikan’s international airport the very same day.
Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters makes your trip e ortless from start to !nish. eir multi-day allinclusive packages cover everything: lodging, airport transfer, meals, !shing and !sh processing. In turn, all you have to think about is setting the hook and enjoying the day.
Whether it’s your !rst time !shing Alaska or you’re a seasoned angler chasing your personal best halibut, May in Ketchikan delivers. Nothing beats bottom !shing in Alaska’s !rst city when the bite is on! Book now and join us this spring. is trip makes an amazing holiday gi they will cherish forever.
Visit ketchikan shingtrips.com to learn more.
Cape Canaveral Tides
PORT CANAVERAL OFFSHORE
Fishing has been awesome, as it usually is this time of year. If you haven’t made it out there lately, you need to get on the water! Bunker pods have finally showed up and should continue to stay around a little while longer. Work the pods close to shore for giant red drum and other species feeding on them. We still have not seen any black drum, but usually in January they trickle in. Use a 50 lb. mono leader with a one to two oz. weight and a 7/0 circle hook. You can knocker rig it or fish finder rig it. Take the bunker offshore for some great kingfish action in all the normal areas.
Mahi fishing has also been picking up. Mahi fishing is not as good this time of the year as the spring run, but it’s still worth trying, as it could pay off. Use all the typical dolphin rigs. Ballyhoo and strip baits work just fine. Smaller chuggers are great.
We’re catching a few cobia every trip, so keep a jig handy.
Hope you have an awesome holiday and enjoy your family!
CAPT. CHRIS CAMERON Fired Up Fishing Charters firedupcharters.com
sharkfishingcocoabeach.com (407) 222-3573
Confessions of a Fishaholic, by Thatch Maguire, is a hilarious and irreverent look at one man’s quest to catch fish in spite of life’s annoying interferences. You’ll travel with this awkward adventurer as he risks home and health to pursue his passion for fishing...regardless of the consequences. Anglers of all expertise levels will immediately identify with why his addiction is incurable. This book defines the blurred line between passion and obsession.
What a beautiful mahi!
Experience the Everglades 395CC
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PORT CANAVERAL NEARSHORE & BANANA RIVER LAGOON
It’s a fantastic month to fish the Port Canaveral area. I’m looking forward to guiding my fishing charter customers on days when the weather will allow us to get outside of the Port because there are usually plenty of fish.
Snook season closes on the 15th, but we can usually catch them all month. Other species we usually get shots at include sheepshead, pompano, whiting, bluefish, tripletail, and huge redfish. There are a few other species as well, and this makes for a great mixed bag of fish on most days.
Live shrimp are the number one bait to use for most of these fish species. I also have my anglers casting a myriad of artificial lures at times when the fish are feeding aggressively.
Pompano jigs, goofy jigs, spoons, and Rapala lipped diving plugs are top producers for most of the species we target—even the reds and snook on some days. The Rapala X-Rap 08 and 10 size plugs in a black or green back are enthusiastically eaten by the bluefish, Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish.
Remember that on the day of the cold front, you will get a window that is usually great fishing just prior to the front passing through. Expect the next day of fishing to be slow. On the second or third day after the front it usually becomes a “slay-fest” as the temperatures warm. The fish that haven’t eaten for a day or two normally go on a feeding frenzy. Time this correctly and you can have one of the best fishing days of your life.
Give a fishing charter a try if you want to get out and
experience some of this fantastic action. I would love to teach you some of my special techniques that will improve your catch ratio.
Let’s go catch your next memory!
Capt. Glyn Austin
Capt. Lukas Brickweg
Capt. Chris Cameron
Charlie McCullough
Capt. Jim Ross
East Coast Tide Charts
January 2020
BRAG BOARD
Awesome memory and monster fish for Britney Brown! This 46-inch bull red hit her free lined bait as soon as it hit the water. safely caught and released.
Using a live shrimp, four-year-old Bryson landed his personal best redfish before school in Melbourne Beach. He also out fished his dad, Thomas Clarich, that morning, too!
Eric Henderson got this 14-inch sheepshead while doing some night fishing in Melbourne Beach.
Feeding that love of fishing his son has, Justin Feb took his son Connor, 10, and the paddleboard out on the IRL for his first day targeting reds. He put him on 7, with the biggest one being 32 inches.
For your chance to get featured on the Brag Board, upload your high-quality photos (at least 1MB) with all of the catch details at: www.coastalanglermag.com
Liam Rerucha’s first 40+ inch snook ever (42 in fact), hooked on artificial in Sebastian Inlet.
SEBASTIAN INLET TO EAU GALLIE CAUSEWAY
Everything has been late this fall—except for the cold weather—so maybe we will have another warm December with some good Sebastian Inlet and nearshore action. Warm Decembers can bring excellent catches of snook, redfish and big black drum in the inlet. Live shrimp, pigfish and pinfish will be preferred baits in the inlet for the snook and reds, and the black drum will eat shrimp. Along with those guys, we can have some tarpon, shark and king mackerel action along the beaches from Melbourne Beach to Sebastian Inlet if the weather stays warm enough.
The mullet run was one of the worst I have seen in my lifetime living and fishing Brevard and Indian River County since the mid 1960s. The huge amounts of rain and windy, rough conditions may have had a lot to do with the mullet run this year, and we may not see a good flounder run this year either as they follow the mullet...as do most of the gamefish. While lack of habitat and bait may slow the flounder bite this year, time will tell. If we get consistent cold fronts you can normally find flounder in the inlet and along the mangrove shorelines in the lagoon as well. Fish live finger mullet along the channel edges and shorelines around the tide changes.
If the fronts are strong, anglers in Sebastian Inlet and along the beaches will be targeting pompano, bluefish, mackerel and flounder in
and around the inlet. You can also look for seatrout, pompano, bluefish, flounder and jacks in the Lagoon from Melbourne down to Sebastian. Fish the spoil islands as well as docks and shorelines with deeper edges that will hold the bait—and the gamefish. I like using 1/4-ounce jig heads with soft plastic jerk baits or shrimp imitations. Keep the baits deep in the water column and work them slow along the edges for the flounder and trout. Pompano and bluefish will like a little faster action when they ambush their prey.
If the winds are up and you still want to get out, hit the creeks from Melbourne to
Sebastian. Crane Creek as well as Turkey Creek and the Sebastian River will hold trout, redfish, flounder, snook and even some tarpon throughout the winter months. Live bait is best, but don’t hesitate to work the docks and shorelines with soft plastic baits where you can stay out of the wind and have a great time catching some good fish.
CAPT. GLYN AUSTIN
Going Coastal Charters www.goingcoastalcharters.com (321) 863-8085
ST. JOHNS RIVER
Black crappie, sunshine bass, largemouth bass, and American shad will be on the holiday list for anglers in Central Florida this month. Both largemouth and sunshine bass will be found early mornings at the mouths of lakes where the river enters and exits. Throw a shad imitation like a Rat-L-Trap with chrome sides or a Spook Jr. in bone color. Early bedding largemouths can be found in one to four feet of water, depending on water levels. Look for areas of sandy bottom near eel grass. Birds diving on passing bait schools means there are fish predators feeding. Topwater bites can be ferocious. Waiting for the line to come tight before setting the hook is the trick to topwater hookups.
The Central Florida Shad and Crappie Derby is in full swing. The shad should show up around Christmas. Until then, you can find crappies all throughout the St. Johns. Drifting a minnow under a cork is the most popular way to catch these tasty black crappies. Anglers often use a jig under the same cork with their favorite colored plastic curly tail. Professional anglers always tip their jigs with a minnow—longline trolling, spider rigging, dipping lily pads, shooting docks—they always tip with live minnows.
To enter the Shad and Crappie Derby visit: coastalanglermag.com/orlando/shad-crappie-derby. It only takes one fish to win…
CHARLIE McCULLOUGH
Coastal Angler Magazine charlie@coastalanglermagazine.com
Mixed bag in the inlet for Noah Gorman!
Brian Harford with a pair of nice St. Johns River crappie.
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LUNA NUEVA BY COSTA DEL MAR
If you’re searching for an ideal holiday gi! for a woman who enjoys spending time on the water, consider Costa Del Mar’s Luna Nueva polarized sunglasses. ese women’s shades use color-enhancing 580 lens technology to reduce haze and boost contrast and clarity. Choose between glass (580G) lenses for outstanding sharpness and scratch resistance, or lightweight polycarbonate (580P) for impact protection—either option o ers a high-de nition viewing experience.
Designed with simplicity in mind, Luna Nueva makes a great companion for anglers, featuring an elegant butter y-shaped frame cra!ed from ultra-thin material. is results in one of the slimmest pro les in Costa’s collection, delivering a sophisticated and distinctive appearance. Adjustable nose pads allow custom t ensuring maximum comfort and retention. costadelmar.com/en-us/sunglasses/6S9127-198537009143
MICRO RODS MAKE
A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT
s the holidays roll around, anglers everywhere are dreaming of that perfect new piece of gear to add to their arsenal. If you are looking for a compact, fun, and travel-friendly rod this holiday season, check out micro rods from Bean Pole. e Bean Pole takes the micro rod concept to the next level. It’s compact, durable, and designed for real anglers who appreciate simplicity with performance. It’s easy to store, fun to use, and rugged enough to handle both saltwater and freshwater adventures. Perfect for impromptu casts or for those who like to keep a rod handy wherever life (or travel) takes them. ey also have a vibrant fun color!
is Holiday season, skip the ordinary gi!s and give something unforgettable, a Bean Pole. Compact, exciting, and travel-ready, it’s more than just a micro rod, it’s an invitation to adventure!
Order at www.beansport shing.com while supplies last.
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR BASS ANGLERS WHO HAVE EVERYTHING
CAPT. TYLER WOOLCOTT
Shopping for a bass sherman isn’t easy.
Most of us already have enough rods and tackle boxes to ll a garage, and we’re picky about every lure we throw. But that’s what makes stocking stu ers the ideal gi!s: they are small, useful gi!s that actually get used on the water.
An absolute can’t miss item is shing line. A spool of Su x line is my recommendation, whether it’s 832 braid or Advance uorocarbon. is is one of those gi!s that every bass sherman truly appreciates. It’s the kind of thing we always need but hate spending money, making it a perfect stocking surprise.
If you want to add some color and action, grab a few packs of CrushCity so! plastics. eir Bronco Bugs, Cleanup Craws, and Freeloader minnows at out catch sh, and you can’t go wrong with their proven colors. Toss a couple of those in a stocking and you will win Christmas morning.
For the gear junkies, think about tools and tackle organization. A pair of Rapala pliers, some hook removers, or one of their waterproof tackle boxes are small but mighty gi!s that make a big di erence on the water. Every angler loves having their gear dialed in, and Rapala makes stu that actually holds up. Don’t forget about gi!ing some comfort on those long, sunny days. Chums makes a ton of great accessories like sunglass retainers, oating keychains, and waterproof phone pouches. es are perfect little add-ons that make life on the boat a little easier and can save a few pair of sunglasses from sinking.
At the end of the day, the best gi!s for a bass sherman aren’t necessarily the biggest or ashiest. Instead, they’re the thoughtful, practical items that make time on the water smoother, easier, and just a little more fun. By throwing a few of these suggestions in a stocking – and maybe adding a gas station co ee card for good measure- you’re sure to have any bass angler smiling wider than a ve-pounder at weigh-in.
Happy Holidays, Y’all!
Capt. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler, as well as owner/operator of Florida Big Fish Adventures, providing bass and saltwater guided shing trips. Reach him at (386) 235-7388 and check out his website: www. oridabig shadventures.com.
IGFA 2025 WORLD RECORDS RECAP
As 2025 winds down, let’s take a minute to honor a few amazing anglers who set IGFA records this year. e International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has recognized several new 2025 world records, including a black n snapper caught by Michael McFadden o the coast of Florida, a cobia by Koby Duncan in Australia, and an Arctic char and common carp length records set by Jay Siemens and Rowan Lytle, respectively in Canada and Connecticut.
Many new U.S. records for freshwater species are also included, such as the landlocked striped bass by Pamela Moss in Georgia and the Alabama bass, also by Moss in Georgia. Some 2025 IGFA US Saltwater Records include a 27 lb. red grouper by Zachary Daniel Murray o Florida, a 31 lb. 3 oz. greater amberjack by Julia Berstein out of Key West, and a 55.9 in. great barracuda by Nick LaBadie on y tackle o Key West. ese were all certi ed and submitted to the IGFA, with the grouper and amberjack being o cial weights and the barracuda being an all-tackle length record. e IGFA is publishing its 2025 World Record Book and has also added two new species—barred sand bass and spotted sand bass—to its catch-and-release All-Tackle Length World Record Category.
Will you be among these elite anglers in 2026?
For a complete database of 2025 record holders, visit igfa.org.
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AN EPIC TRIP TO FISH AND ATTEND THE CRUCIAN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL IN THE USVI
Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, the US Virgin Islands embody a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and laid-back serenity. ese islands are more than just a picturesque getaway; they are a living testament to nature’s rhythm and resilience, e ortlessly in tune with the world around them.
With no passport required for U.S. citizens, from the moment you arrive, the islands’ natural rhythm is palpable. e gentle sway of palm trees, the soothing sound of surf crashing against sandy shores, and the vibrant melodies of local music all echo the heartbeat of this tropical paradise. e islands’ lush landscapes, with their verdant hills and crystal-clear waters, mirror the steady pulse of life that sustains the local ecosystems and communities alike.
e US Virgin Islands’ environment is a symphony of biodiversity with world class shing and diving. ese natural elements are not static; they dance in harmony, in uenced by the tides, wind, and seasonal changes— further emphasizing the islands’ intrinsic rhythm. is delicate balance underscores the importance of conservation e orts, ensuring that future generations continue to experience the islands’ natural cadence.
Culturally, the US Virgin Islands are equally in tune. e music, dance and festivals re ect a vibrant heritage rooted in African, European and Caribbean traditions. e spirited calypso beats and reggae rhythms are expressions of life's ongoing dance—celebrating resilience, community and joy. ese cultural expressions are an extension of the islands’ natural rhythm, showcasing how human life here moves seamlessly with nature’s ow.
In a world o!en dictated by chaos and rapid change, the US Virgin Islands serve as a reminder of the beauty of being in sync with nature’s tempo. eir natural, cultural and ecological rhythms o er a blueprint for sustainable living and harmony. As travelers and residents alike continue to embrace this rhythm, they uphold a legacy of balance—one that celebrates life’s natural ow and the enduring spirit of these remarkable islands. In the US Virgin Islands, being in rhythm isn’t just an ideal; it’s a way of life.
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