Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2026 Boston Edition

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BOSTON EDITION

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Frien riends ds of Manat Manatee ee Lagoon Bost Boston on P Pa age 5

George K. Regan, Jr. Publisher Boston Edition

Julie Kahn Executive Vice President/ Strategy, Sports & Media

PHOTO COURTESY OF JADE QUINN

VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 370

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JANUARY 2026

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Nearshore Grocery Shopping TIM BAREFOOT

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anuary marks a shi! in fishing targets, with a focus on species ideal for winter meals. This month traditionally finds anglers pursuing seabass and other nearshore fish, following a tradition passed down from my dad, who favored seabass and flounder for their taste and suitability for freezing. Seabass are not only delicious but also keep well in the freezer, providing a reliable food source throughout the colder months. Flounder, prized for its flavor, remains a favorite for many.

While seeking black seabass close to shore, anglers o!en encounter gag grouper, grey trout, and flounder. However, many of these species have strict creel limits, with retention o!en prohibited in regions like North Carolina.

To avoid catching undersized or barely legal seabass, using larger bait on a jig is recommended. Live pinfish—ideally the size of a tennis ball or baseball—make exceptional bait. If you have access to a marina’s fish cleaning table, pay attention to discarded scraps, as these can help attract

2 NATIONAL

JANUARY 2026

pinfish. Setting a pinfish trap or using finely cut scraps to chum and cast net for pinfish are effective methods for securing live bait. This technique is not only excellent for larger seabass but also irresistible to gag grouper. The same structures that attract seabass also hold baitfish such as cigar minnows, sardines, and small snapper.

When anchored or spot-locked over structure, keeping a Sabiki rig ready can be invaluable. Keep one person in the boat constantly on the Sabiki providing live baits for the rest of the boat. This will certainly pay dividends.

Be mindful of state and federal regulations of what you can and cannot keep, but this tactic catches everything on the reef without exception. The thing I like about pinfish is everything down there will give a live sardine and a live cigar minnow a fatal attack, but only the critters with a large enough mouth and a bold nature will go a!er pinfish or small snapper.

The goal is not to catch a hundred fish, but to land a dozen high-quality bites—those worth taking home for dinner. Anywhere south and north of North Carolina, flounder is still on the menu for dinner, and a jig paired with a live cigar minnow is the ultimate flounder catching instrument.

Don’t say I didn’t tell you so, but if you take light tackle to some of these nearshore seabass holes, you will lose fish to powerful gags. For nearshore flounder and grouper, opt for heavier tackle—a grouper stick equipped with a four-ounce jig and live cigar minnows or sardines.

The other byproduct of this style fishing will be large drum, which tend to congregate on nearshore structure. Don’t be surprised to catch seabass, flounder, gags, and drum in the same spot. Also don’t hesitate to take chunks of crab or sand fleas for sheepshead. January is a winter wonderland, so make the most out of your nearshore grocery shopping by being prepared for all the possibilities.

Learn more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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he flat was silent.

No birds. No bait popping. Only the crunch of frost under my boots and the faint ripple of tide against the shoreline.

Every sensible voice in my PHO TO COURT ESY OF KN head said the fish wouldn’t OCKIN TA IL LURES® feed. Then the line jumped—just once— and everything changed.

For those who chase speckled trout of larger proportions, one truth becomes painfully clear: big winter trout do not give themselves up easily. Cold water slows their metabolism, feeding windows shrink, and mistakes multiply. Most anglers default to the winter mantra—slow everything down. It’s solid advice… but it isn’t the whole story.

Winter trophy trout live in a world of conserving energy. They don’t want to chase far, but they will react violently to the right movement at the right moment. That’s where two tools come together: erratic presentation and precise timing.

Let’s start with timing.

Like many anglers, I once dismissed solunar tables as folklore. As a kid, I’d scan the fish symbols on the calendar before every trip. More fish meant higher hopes. Fewer fish meant lower expectations. Over time, I saw no real correlation and abandoned the idea. But as I matured into a better saltwater angler—and began truly hunting trophy trout—I returned to solunar tables, this time paired with tides and conditions. The difference was undeniable.

These tables aren’t magic. They won’t put fish where they don’t exist. But if you are on fish, they o!en reveal when those fish are most willing to feed.

Many anglers assume the “major” bite is always better than the “minor.” Not true. The difference is duration, not intensity. The major typically lasts about two hours, the minor closer to ninety minutes. Either can be explosive.

One rule I never break: don’t relocate during a feeding window. On a recent trip, I was grinding through a slow morning and nearly moved on. I checked the time—ten minutes before the bite. I stayed. What followed was an aggressive feed that turned a dead stretch into a trophy-class opportunity. Big trout don’t feed o!en. When they do, you’d better be ready.

That brings us to presentation.

In winter, I rely on suspending and slow-sinking lures with erratic, nervous action. When I say “slow,” I mean forward movement—not motion. With a so!, whippy rod, I shake the lure in place with almost no forward travel, then let it pause. Shake. Pause. Repeat. This technique works best with braided line, which transmits every movement without stretch.

Winter trout may be cold—but when timing and motion align, they don’t just bite… they attack. The strike comes without warning. No tap. No thump.

Just sudden, heavy weight and the slow, head-shaking surge of a true gator. In that moment, frozen fingers, long quiet hours, and doubt all vanish. There is only tension in the line and the knowledge that patience, timing, and the right dance delivered the fish you came for.

And that’s why we brave the winter.

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

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Quincy, Mass., Truly Knows How to Honor Christmas

By The Coastal Angler Staff cock-Adams Common, an always-well attended event. A Menorah was on display, also, for community members who celebrate Hanukkah.

Mayor Thomas Koch noted that the event, marked by twinkling lights, musical performances, and plenty of smiles, has been a Quincy tradition for more than 70 years and is going as strong as ever.

The seaside city of Quincy, Massachusetts has a rich history.

The home of the Founding Father and our second president, John Adams. Birthplace of the country’s large-scale granite quarrying industry. Hometown of numerous American military leaders of note. Site of shipyards that built the warships that helped the Allies defeat Germany and Japan. The list goes on and on.

Add to those accomplishments

one of the biggest, and oldest, Christmas celebrations in the region. On the last weekend in November, Quincy marked the beginning of the holiday season in its usual full-throttle manner—replete with a tree lighting, light displays, Santa’s arrival by helicopter, festive music, and the city’s 72nd annual Christmas Parade.

The revelry began on the night of Friday, Nov. 28, with the annual tree lighting on the Han-

“You see all the kids and their families coming together,” he told WHDH. “You see the kids over the years have grown, they come back with their kids and their grandkids, so it’s a great tradition… City of over a hundred thousand but tonight, it’s nights like this you feel like a small town.”

On Saturday, Santa made his airborne arrival, arriving at Pageant Field by helicopter with several of his elves just after noon. (No doubt St. Nick could use the chopper for his big night on Dec. 24…)

The next day, Sunday, brought the parade with its floats, bands, the Grinch and other holiday characters, and a return engagement by Santa, who traded his aerial mode of transportation for a Quincy fire truck.

Thousands of local residents and families lined the parade route, which began at Hancock Street and Walter J. Hannon Parkway, continued m up Hancock Street, and ended at North Quincy High School.

Mayor Koch called the busy weekend the perfect way to kick off the holidays. And to borrow a line from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the people of Quincy truly know how to keep Christmas well and honor it in their hearts.

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| JANUARY 2026 | BOSTON 1

EDITORIAL

Reading Melville’s Obsessive Masterpiece

Annual Marathon of Moby Dick Readings a New Bedford Winter Tradition

By The Coastal Angler Staff

Gibson, appointed by Governor Healey to promote the reading and writing of poetry, is an award-winning poet, author, and performer whose work bridges literature, music, and social commentary.

It’s the greatest “you should have seen the one that got away” story of all time, not to mention the darkest.

kill the white whale — really a story about the futility of man’s obsessive quest for the unattainable — begins on Saturday, Jan. 3 And once again, with Regie Gibson, in the midst of the the inaugural New England winter, the New Bed- poet laureate of the ford Whaling Mu- C o m m o n w e a l t h seum will honor of Massachusetts, Herman Melville’s delivering the first literary masterpiece chapter and iconic with the 30th an- opening line, “Call nual “Moby Dick” me Ishmael!” The reading marathon. opening chapter will be read at the stern The 25-hour read- of the replica of the a-thon of the icon- whale ship Lagoic novel about a sea da in the museum’s captain’s struggle to Bourne Building.

“In a time when we are entreated to turn from each other and retreat into our respective echo-chambers, it is more vital than ever to create moments in which we come together and hear ourselves in a common voice,” - Regie Gibson

2 BOSTON | JANUARY 2026 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

After Gibson’s opening, the early passages of the masterpiece will be read in front of the Bourne Building’s panoramic painting “A Whaling Voyage Around the World,” and will continue with a variety of guest readers at the Seamen’s Bethel, the Harbor View Gallery, and overnight in the Cook Memorial Theater. The marathon

(Cont

EDITORIAL (Continued from Page 2)

reading concludes lives in community, in the Harbor View and that the power Gallery on Sunday, of Melville’s prose Jan. 4 with the ep- still resonates with ilogue delivered by new voices and fresh museum President interpretations.” and CEO Amanda The literary weekend McMullen. begins on Friday, “Each year, the Mo- Jan. 2 with the Melby-Dick Marathon ville Scholars’ Dintransforms our mu- ner and a keynote seum into a stage address by Joe Rofor one of the great- man, a conservation Ecoloest literary adven- biologist and ma- Modern tures ever written,” rine ecologist, titled gy.” (The dinner McMullen said. “In “Whales, Worlds, and Roman’s talk its 30th year, the and the Wild Imag- are the only events Lessons that require tickets; Marathon reminds ination: us that literature from Melville to go to http://www. whalingmuseum. org/program/moby-dick-marathon-2026 for more information.)

during a morning “Stump the Scholars” session.

The Moby Dick Marathon is “an act of literary community and engaged citizenship,” in Gibson’s view. “I am here because I need more of these moBefore the reading ments,” he said. marathon begins on Saturday the White whale aficio3rd, attendees can nados and literature submit Moby Dick fans would surely trivia questions agree.

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| JANUARY 2026 | BOSTON 3

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EDITORIAL

Friends of Manatee: Soirée for Seagrass

By The Coastal Angler Staff

On Friday, Nov. 14, Friends The fundraiser supports passed earlier this year. For Filmmaker Tom Fitz, of Manatee Lagoon hosted the nonprofit’s mission to more than 50 years, Dr. founder of Schoolyard protect manatees and their Powell worked to protect Films, was honored as the its fourth annual Soirée for habitat, with proceeds manatees and other endan- 2025 Conservationist of Seagrass at Manatee Lahelping expand educa- gered species such as North the Year. An Emmy- and goon in Riviera Beach. The tional programming, fund Atlantic right whales and BAFTA-winning cinemawaterfront event brought classroom microscopes, sea turtles around the tographer whose work together several hundred and build new seagrass world through science and spans BBC, PBS, and Nasupporters for an elegant nurseries. The evening was education. With an inte- tional Geographic, Fitz emceed by well-known lo- grated approach to unlock evening featuring Seagrass now focuses on produccal emcee Jay Cashmere solutions for conservation ing free, curriculum-ready Spritzers, dinner-by-theand included a special issues, his efforts have rebite, music, and lively bid- tribute to James “Buddy” sulted in coastal protected films that bring environding during both the live Powell, a pioneer in Flor- areas in Florida, West Afri- mental education to K–12 classrooms worldwide. ida manatee research, who ca, Belize and Cuba. and silent auctions.

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| JANUARY 2026 | BOSTON 5

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6 BOSTON | JANUARY 2026 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Now Hiring Plum Island Surfcasters Club Meeting: Plum Island Surfcasters is back to regular meetings for 2026.

Speaker for the January 20, 2026 meeting is TBA. Check our website (www.plumislandsurfcasters.org) for more details on upcoming events.

Salisbury, MA Senior Center (behind the fire station), 43 Lafayette Rd (Route 1), Salisbury, MA 01952.

Meetings at 6:45 pm | Fishing seminar at 8:00 pm Free for all club members. $5 admission for Non-members

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uckily, I have never personally been seasick, but I can con!rm that when it gets someone, they look like they legitimately want death.

Watching people board the boat in the morning full of personality, and quickly turning into a quiet, helpless version of themselves breaks my heart every time.

It’s funny, I’ve taken people !ve miles out in flat calm seas and watched them turn green within an hour, while others can ride out a choppy twelvehour sword!sh trip without a single grimace.

Seasickness, or motion sickness, isn’t about toughness. It’s about biology, and knowing how to outsmart it can mean the difference between the trip of a lifetime and one you’d rather forget.

At its core, seasickness is your brain throwing a !t over mixed signals. Your inner ear, which controls balance, feels the constant motion of the boat. Your eyes, however, might be locked on the deck or a smartphone, telling your brain that you’re not moving. This mismatch can confuse the body enough to trigger nausea, cold sweats, dizziness, and that unmistakable “I need the rail” moment.

The good news is that you can do a lot to keep it from happening, or at least keep it from ruining your day.

Start the night before. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is showing up tired, dehydrated, and with nothing in their stomach.

Lack of sleep makes your body more sensitive to motion. Drink plenty of water the day before and have a balanced dinner, nothing too greasy or heavy. And go easy on alcohol, nothing gets people

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon faster than being hungover.

Eat before you board.

An empty stomach is not your friend at sea. Eat a light breakfast with complex carbs and protein; think a bagel with peanut butter or scrambled eggs with toast.

Skip the spicy breakfast burrito...you’ll thank me later.

Pick your spot wisely. The closer you are to the boat’s center, the less movement you’ll feel. On smaller boats, this often means staying near the console or midship. If you’re anchored or drifting, facing into the wind can help you get fresh air, and fresh air is one of your best allies. Whatever you do, don’t lay down and close your eyes, no matter how much you’d prefer to be in the fetal position, this is your enemy.

Keep your eyes on the horizon. Your inner ear is telling your brain you’re moving, and your eyes need to con!rm it. Locking your gaze on the horizon gives your brain consistent information and can stop the mixed-signal meltdown before it starts.

Avoid the downward spiral. Once seasickness takes hold, it can be hard to shake. If you feel that !rst wave of queasiness, act fast. Get to fresh air, keep your head up, and focus on a !xed point.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, The Florida Keys.

(504) 920-6342. www.captainquinlyn.com; IG: @captainquinlyn

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Respect your limits. If you know you’re prone to seasickness, tell your captain ahead of time.

We’d much rather work with you to make your trip comfortable than see you suffer in silence.

Lastly, if you do need to heave, please try to do it downwind of the captain. I dont care if its all over the boat, but truly, I have been puked on more times than I’d like to admit. To the client who got me right in the mouth from 10 feet away on a windy trip, 10/10 for accuracy, but I’d rather not be handing out those awards.

Seasickness is nothing to be embarrassed about as even seasoned captains have had their moments.

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Adjusting to Post-Front Bass

water temperatures. Since Florida lakes, where I’m located, are shallow and cool down quickly PRO ANGLER JOEY BLOOM in the wind, I spend extra time searching for protected areas—canals, marinas, or creek arms—that retain warmth longer. Even a slight increase of a couple degrees can spark !sh activity. I’ve often seen a quiet stretch come hen a powerful cold front sweeps a shaky head or Texas rig along alive after the sun heats it up by midday. across your location, bass !shing grass lines, letting Bait Cave’s lifelike action do If you’re !shing grass-rich lakes, concentrate conditions can shift dramatically the work. That realistic movement and high- on dense vegetation near deeper water—look overnight. A reliable shallow bite can vanish by for hydrilla edges, reeds, or mats. These zones the following morning as water temperatures trap heat and provide bass a sense of safety. I plummet, skies clear, and previously gentle love flipping a Bait Cave Customs creature bait south winds turn into chilly gusts from the into that thick stuff with a heavy rod and braid, north, stripping warmth from the lakes. staying alert for subtle bites that follow a cold Consistency as a bass angler hinges on knowing front. how to adjust your approach after these fronts As the day warms and the barometric move through. pressure stabilizes, don’t rule out reaction baits.

My !rst reminder after a cold front is A suspending jerkbait or lipless crankbait can simple: the !sh haven’t gone anywhere—they’ve entice suspended !sh that aren’t chasing much just changed their mood and location. Most else. largemouth bass dislike cold, high-pressure Cold fronts can be humbling, but they also weather, so they slide off the banks, tuck tighter teach adaptability. Every front is a learning into cover, or suspend near feeding areas. opportunity. Be patient, trust your instincts, Recognizing these subtle changes can turn a and use your con!dence baits—my favorites challenging day into a productive one. are Bait Cave Customs soft plastics and the Returning to productive spots after a front, gear I pick up from Copper State Tackle’s new I slow down and target slightly deeper water.

Inverness, Fla. location. If you’re near there, If I had success with moving baits in two feet check out their shop—they have everything you of water before, I’ll now !sh four or !ve feet need to stay prepared for any conditions. deep with more subtle lures. This is when I rely on my con!dence baits—especially the Joey Bloom is a 2024-2025 National Professional soft plastics from Bait Cave Customs. Their quality construction make a big difference Fishing League Tournament Pro. Follow his stick baits and !nesse worms are essential for during tougher bites. fishing and fun on Instagram, Facebook, my cold-front strategy. I’ll drag one slowly on Another important tactic is seeking stable and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.

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JANUARY 2026

NATIONAL 7

FISHING FOR A GREAT GETAWAY? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN USVI!

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hat you really need to cure those winter blues is a little sun and sand, beaches and rainforests, music and culture, food and fun. And no place delivers the rhythms of the Caribbean quite like St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ST. THOMAS: St. Thomas’ location near an undersea canyon makes it one of the best places in the world to catch massive !sh—we’re talking up to 350 pounds or more!

Inshore, offshore and deep-sea !shing charters like Offshore Adventures and Double Header Sportfishing offer half or full-day excursions into waters teeming with blue marlin, yellow!n tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and more. Or if you’d rather combine a little work and play, Virgin Islands Sportfishing can customize a trip that includes plenty of !shing, plus a place to stop for cocktails to celebrate your big catch.

For an adventure to remember, book a trip to Coral World Ocean Park, where you can scuba dive or swim with dolphins, sea lions and turtles. (Guides are provided and no certi!cations are required). The park’s 5 acres also include aquariums, outdoor pools, nature trails and other marine experiences.

The littles on your list will never forget a trip to the hands-on Pirates Treasure Museum, where kids (and kids at heart) can steer a virtual pirate ship through a storm, learn all about submarines

and even search for pirate booty — before scoring their own pirate-themed merch in the museum gift shop, of course.

ST. CROIX: The outdoors and history blend beautifully on St. Croix.

Thrill-seekers can fuel their adrenaline rush with a ride on the Carambola Zip Line, which delivers a heart-pounding 200-foot vertical drop before racing 2,500 feet across a lush tropical valley.

You can also explore some of the island’s more remote reaches on a two-hour Gecko’s Island Adventures guided ATV tour through trails and forests you simply can’t access by car. These treks require a sense of adventure combined with a little grit, but the stunning views that await are oh, so, worth it.

Those wanting a more relaxing vacation will love exploring St. Croix’s historical towns, where you can wander among buildings that haven’t changed much in hundreds of years. All of the exploring will work up quite an appetite, so be sure to book a tasty food tour while you’re here! Companies like Virgin Islands Food Tours or Taste of Twin City Food Tour will help you eat and drink your way around town, while a Christiansted Sip & Savor Mixology Class teaches guests how to make three signature cocktails mixed with local Cruzan Rum and tropical ingredients.

ST. JOHNS: Don’t be fooled by the smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands. St. John

absolutely delivers when it comes to uncrowded beaches, relaxation and unspoiled natural beauty. More forested and less developed than its sister islands, it offers the perfect escape for those looking for a true “check out from civilization” getaway.

That seclusion and natural beauty make it one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations for romantic getaways. Book a luxury stay at The Westin St. John Resort Villas or Lovango Resort & Beach Club. Reserve a table at !ne restaurants like ZoZo’s at Caneel Bay or casual joints like Skinny Legs Bar & Grill. Book a Cruz Bay Watersports sunset sail or a Night Kayak glow tour.

Another unique way to explore St. John’s pristine beaches is on horseback. Book a ride with Carolina Corral to take a guided trail ride along coral-strewn shorelines before making your way up a sloping hillside that leads to sweeping views of Coral Bay.

NEED MORE INSPIRATION? Check out www.VisitUSVI.com.

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