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Offshore is ON! O N ! .
May is one of my favorite months for o!shore shing, as the shing seasons coincide with good weather. Being spared from the beginning of hurricane season until next month, right now is the most reliable time to get nice weather days to make the trek to deeper waters.
Mahi season has begun to be more consistent, making the trips o!shore more exciting and worthwhile. When making the long drive to the humps for black n tuna, or the sword sh ledges, it’s always a plus to know that you have opportunities to catch mahi on the way there and back. Staying alert for weedlines, diving birds and oating debris makes the trip seem like less of a chore, and keeps that sherman’s optimism alive for more of the venture, knowing you’re still on the hunt nearly the whole way back to the dock.
With the prevalence of mahi, tuna, queen snapper and sword sh in our deepwater shery, May 1st marks the opening of grouper season here in e Florida Keys, providing additional catching opportunities for both nearshore and o!shore adventures. We also welcome the opening of tile sh this month.
For those with an electric reel setup in their arsenal, this is a great month to get out there and scout for new deep-dropping locations. With snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper found peppered throughout the area, test dropping on new found spots can be a fun addition to mahi shing. As you run aimlessly o!shore looking for
signs of dolphin sh, you may notice you run over a ledge or depth variation. Anything that looks shy a%er about 500’ could be your next honeyhole.
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
If this is a new area especially, use a variety of baits on your 5-hook deepdrop rig to ensure your best chances of surveying the location. Squid is always a good choice o!shore, with many species unable to resist its potent aroma, but chunks of sh should be included to entice a grouper bite. With bait sizes matching hook sizes, its a good idea to make your own rigs with di!erent sized hooks if you’re unsure of the species that might be available at a new place. A x larger hooks near the bottom of the rig for grouper baits, and smaller hooks near the top with squid for tile sh.
If o!shore isn’t your thing, there are plenty of grouper on the reef and wrecks nearshore this time of year as well. However, a%er releasing these sandwich providers since their closing January 1st, every local sherman in town will be hitting the wrecks hard for the recaptures now that season is open. Before they face all this pressure from being targeted nearshore, particularly on publicly known wrecks, it’s a good time to put some skin in the nearshore grouper game.
A%er a short closure for the month of April, amberjack has also opened again this month.
ese sh are easy to nd, and add some nice backbreaking action to the grouper hunt.
Whatever your avor of shing is, e Florida Keys has you covered this month. With the anticipated opening of grouper season at the beginning of May, and schools closing for summer break nearing the end, it’s a good idea to get booked for a charter before you arrive on your Keys vacation.
Give us a call at Sweet E’nuf Charters to get tight.
Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, e Florida Keys. (504) 920-6342. www.captainquinlyn.com; IG: @captainquinlyn
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I’d heard a tale about lost Inca gold and was on the hunt for clues. Among other things, the Inca were known for their extensive road system that ran at least 25,000 miles along South America’s eastern side. But the clue I was looking for was down a long-abandoned road overtaken by jungle.
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By Riley Love
PURSUING MONSTERS IN A SEPARATE REALITY...
nly in the dreams of shermen does this occur. A wondrous game sh pursued across ve countries not only awaits but the biggest, baddest, best of them lay for you in a single place.
e Salminus Brasiliensis is certainly not related to salmon, but is of the order Characiformes which includes many species— notably vampire-fanged payara and modern cinema star piranha in South America and tiger sh in Africa. Redundantly named the golden dorado (dorado means “golden” in Spanish), it’s immensely powerful, acrobatic—and magni cently beautiful.
e Rio Uruguay (indigenous Guarani interpretation “bird river”), with the northern border of Argentina and southern of Uruguay, sports a massive hydroelectric dam, the “El Salto Grande.” Stunned eels and bait sh ow through the locks in highly oxygenated water to the waiting predators. Permits are required by the dual operators on the Argentinian and Uruguay sides of the river to sh within 1,000 meters from the dam. Fishing is rigidly structured into slots of three hours quartered per weekdays per group of two or three anglers in two boats in this “Zona.” e Argentinians lost their permits recently and our two cra% had the entire area to ourselves. Downstream, twenty other boats oated outside the zone a kilometer away, prohibited from approaching nearer. My inner voice asked, “How o%en does this happen to me?”
ere are a lot of places to sh for golden dorado in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. One would note that the world record is a bit cloudy; there is a 70 lb. specimen claimed in 1970 but without a veri cation or a photo. To re ect on the quality of this shery, the current IGFA record is just over 55 lbs. and taken at La Zona. Our group landed numerous sh into the mid-40 lb. range, within 80% of the documented record. In contrast, the renowned, luxurious golden dorado destination, Pira Lodge, gets about one sh over 30 lbs. annually. shermen do well here. Locals target carp-like boga both for live bait and food. Using large topwater poppers, Rapala style diving minnows and handmade jigs, we hit rocky structure and fastmoving torrents. e dorado were exceedingly sensitive to water levels and ow being released from the dam. When it happened and their buttons were pushed, it was double digit trophies in each time slot. Multiple hookups were common.
Fishing teaches us lessons about life. Whether love, war or business, if you want success you need multiple opportunities. Even with shoulder- wrenching, reel-screaming strikes and Hank Aaron grade roundhouse hooksets, over half of what seemed like solid hookups would suddenly vanish from the transaction. It’s very much like trying to land large toothy- jawed payara. e modus operandi of these golden hulks revealed that even extra strong hooks were straightened, sometimes pulled from the lures; 65 lb. braid and wire leaders were broken. But some just “Houdinied” away, still waiting for you to come, instead of only dreaming.
Justi Campa of Fly Fishing Patagonia assisted with our planning. Reach them by emailing jcampa@ y shingpatagonia.com or visit www. y shingpatagonia.com.
Riley Love is a physician and author with homes in Kentucky and Key Largo, Fla. He has penned dozens of articles on international sport shing and a host of screenplays. He is a member of the International Game Fish Association, e Bill sh Foundation and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Contact him at 270-816-4423, rjhclove@gmail.com or visit his website: rileylove.com.
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ONE MORE CHANCE AT A TROPHY TROUT
By Capt. Michael
If you’re a dedicated trout angler like me, you’re probably eyeing the opportunity to land a personal best speckled trout before the spring spawn.
While most Texas anglers focus on big trout from mid-December to early April, May o!ers a prime window for trophy sh, especially with the full moon on May 12 this year. e warmer weather also makes shing more enjoyable, creating a perfect environment for those seeking action-packed outings.
May sees many anglers shi$ing focus and putting away their waders. However, big speckled trout are still holding onto their eggs, making this an excellent opportunity to catch one before they spawn. e pleasant temperatures in May allow us to use more aggressive lures and speed up our presentations, a welcome change from the slow, careful approach required in
winter. For those who enjoy a faster pace, May is the time to go.
One of my favorite techniques for targeting trophy trout in May is using topwater lures. e explosive strikes on the surface are thrilling, and the warmer waters make sh more eager to strike. But topwater isn’t the only option—slow-sinking and suspending lures also perform well. As a paddletail enthusiast, I recommend experimenting with 3”, 4”, and 5” sizes and adapting to the sh preference. At this time of year, trout are aggressive, so adding rattling sounds to your lures can make a di!erence.
In terms of location, I prefer shing grass %ats in water that is knee- to waist-deep. Flats with small creek drains or depressions are incredibly productive, as these features tend to concentrate sh. Shallow grass areas are ideal, and potholes can increase your chances of nding a big trout. ese areas o!er an excellent opportunity to catch a he$y sh before the season transitions.
However, shing in May can be challenging due to the abundance of small bait sh in the water, like tiny glass minnows. Trout are o$en gorging on these minuscule meals, making it di&cult to grab their attention with larger lures. e key is downsizing your lures to match the size of the bait sh. I’ve found that using the smallest lure you can cast e!ectively is the best approach when you see an abundance of small bait sh. Both hard and so$ lures are e!ective, and colors like white and silver tend to mimic the forage closely.
When shing around bait balls, I recommend positioning your lure on the edge or beneath the school. is strategy attracts sh to a single target, rather than competing with a large mass of bait sh. Slow-sinking lures are ideal, as they give the appearance of wounded prey, which trout nd irresistible.
Tandem rigs are another excellent option for spring shing. By rigging two smaller lures, you can cast farther while still maintaining the proper lure size. A combination of small silver spoons and white bucktails works well when shing around glass minnows. A small %oater diver with a spoon trailer also adds an extra level of action.
In the spring, downsizing your lure presentation can make a signi cant di!erence in your success, potentially leading to the big trout you’ve been waiting for.
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
Okruhlik
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.
Tripletail Fis hing In The Keys
Late spring through summer marks the prime season for tripletail !shing in the Florida Keys. Known for their unique appearance and strong !ght, these !sh are a favorite for anglers looking to challenge their skills. Tripletail are opportunistic feeders, o en lurking around oating structures like buoys, weed lines, or even debris in the water, so learning how to spot them and presenting the right bait are key to a successful catch.
By A. deGruchy
When targeting tripletail, it’s important to have the right gear for the job. A 7’ to 7’6” medium rod with a fast action will provide the strength and responsiveness needed to manage their powerful runs. Pair this with a 3000–4000 size reel. We rely on the PENN Battalion paired with the 3500 PENN Authority as our personal set up. For leaders, a 20 lb. uorocarbon leader is good, along with a 3/0 circle hook. We trust the Mustad UltraPoint hooks for their sharpness and strength. For bait, shrimp or small white bait are both top choices.
Finding tripletail requires enough daylight and minimal clouds for visibility. $ey prefer oating structures such as buoys or patches of oating seaweed, so keep an eye out for these areas while cruising the waters. A key factor in casting is to land as light as possible near the !sh, allowing the bait
naturally with the current. Tripletail are o en slow movers, so be swi and avoid sudden movements that might scare them o%. A light and steady retrieve will give your bait the best chance of getting tight.
Tripletail !shing in the Florida Keys can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you hook into one of these feisty !ghters. $ey also make excellent table fare if you wanted to catch and cook, getting the full sea-totable experience.
Book your adventure now at www.beansport!shing.com as our trips !ll up fast!
Follow deGruchy’s adventures at @bean_sport shing on Instagram and YouTube.
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LASS AND BASS! ALIE ABRELL LANDS A MONSTER IN MARION COUNTY
Florida’s bass !shing scene just got a serious jolt of excitement, thanks to an unforgettable day on the water for angler Alie Abrell. Back in February, in the heart of Marion County, Alie landed what many dream of but few achieve—a jaw-dropping 10-pound largemouth bass that has quickly become the talk of the !shing community.
Fishing with the renowned Trophy Bass Expeditions and under the seasoned eye of Captain Sean Rush, Alie hooked into the massive bass during what turned out to be a picture-perfect outing. As the !ght unfolded, it became clear this was no ordinary catch. When the !sh !nally surfaced, it was con!rmed: Alie had o&cially entered the elite double-digit club—a milestone that every serious bass angler aspires to reach.
$e catch is more than just a personal triumph for Alie—it’s a sign that Florida’s peak bass season is o% to an electrifying start. Known for its trophy-sized bass and scenic waters, Marion County is already delivering on its reputation, and this monster catch sets a high bar for the rest of the season.
“Moments like this are what we live for,” said Captain Rush. “To see an angler connect with a !sh of that caliber—it’s unforgettable.”
As word of the catch spreads, anglers across the Sunshine State are gearing up for what promises to be a record-setting year. With warming waters and peak season just ramping up, it’s a prime time to get out there and chase giants.
Huge kudos to Alie for reeling in the bass of a lifetime—and a big shoutout to Captain Rush for once again guiding an angler to glory. If this epic moment is any indication of what’s to come, Florida’s bass !shing faithful have every reason to be !red up.
So, gear up and cast out—because the big ones are biting!
For more info visit https://license.gooutdoors orida.com/Angler/Home
PHOTO COURTESY
Florida Keys
TARPON SEASON
By: Capt. Greg Poland
The spring migration is in full swing and the silver kings have made their grand entrance into the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. This is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year and I try to spend every possible moment on the water chasing tarpon.
I still remember the first tarpon I ever hooked. It launched itself from the water like a gymnast, flipping and twisting mid-air, spraying water everywhere. From that moment, I was hooked and I’ve been chasing that thrill ever since grade school.
If you’ve ever dreamed of battling one of these incredible fish, now is the time to make it happen. Whether you head out with a seasoned guide or on your own boat, you are in for an unforgettable experience. Tarpon will be around through July, but be warned, one encounter might spark a lifelong obsession!
I still have some prime dates open in my calendar, as do many of my fellow guides. If you want to join us, we’d love to show you how we get it done.
For those going out on their own, here’s some tried-and-true advice:
• Gear Up Right: Use a sturdy 20lb spinning rod or a light conventional rod of the same size. I get mine from Islamorada Fishing Outfitters in Tavernier, they’ll set you up with everything you need.
• The Perfect Setup: Rig with 60lb fluorocarbon leader about the length of your rod. My go-to is a 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook, paired with a live mullet under a bobber, tarpon candy!
• Find the Fish: Look for rolling tarpon and anchor up-current of them. If you spot other boats fishing, be courteous, give them plenty of room. There’s no need to crowd another angler.
• Be Ready to Chase: Most guides use a breakaway anchor system, leaving the anchor on a float when hooked up to give chase. Since tarpon can take an hour or more to bring boatside, if you see an unattended anchor, it’s best to move down the bridge a bit.
I hope to see you out on the water this season. Let’s keep it fun, respectful, and most importantly, let’s keep those poons out of the concrete!
Tight lines, Capt. Greg
FISHING MEMORIES
By: Capt. Angelia Swanson
May is when anyone who has taken a summer job in Alaska leaves for the great Northwest. It’s an exciting time because unless you work at the same place every year, you really don’t know what you’re getting into. As my fellow captains head north, I have a tinge of jealousy because I have had the most wonderful experiences in Alaska.
The first summer I took a job on a private yacht and I had never worked on a yacht before, so it was definitely different. We towed a fishing boat behind the yacht that I learned all about rockfish and caught my first halibut of the summer. I had never been to the Northwest and was excited, but I had no idea of the incredible adventure I had begun.
Everything in Alaska is BIG! Snowcapped mountains like I had never seen before with waterfalls cascading down them like silver ribbons. The wildlife was everything you could wish for and more. I literally felt like I had been dropped into a National Geographic episode that never stopped. Humpback whales were everywhere, orcas circled the boat, dahl porpoises that are lightning fast and in pods of hundreds, walruses, sea lions, seals, otters, and bears along the shoreline. I was truly blessed to be able to see Alaska in the most beautiful way, from the water. Somehow, I got really lucky and had weeks off from the yacht, and headed north to the Kenai Peninsula to do some halibut charters.
I had already caught my first halibut and knew it was thrilling, but again, I had no idea what I was getting into! The first real charter trip, we had six people fishing, and the halibut were hitting the deck faster than my partner and I could get them unhooked. Talk about action! Of course, everyone wants to catch that monster halibut, and we finally landed one that was pretty big. Don’t get me wrong, there are some giant halibut up there, but a fish as big as me? I’ll take that any day. And on days that we didn’t have a charter, we would hike deep through the woods, with all of our gear, to reach a gravel bar on the Kenai River where the sockeye salmon were running upstream in giant numbers.
I have never been much of a freshwa ter angler and had no idea how to “floss” with a fly rod, but I caught on fast and was quickly addicted to this new and exciting way of fishing.
I didn’t want to leave the fish camp, but it was time that I had to return to the yacht for the remainder of that summer. I went back to Seward the very next summer and had an entirely new adventure where the waters were the most beautiful hue of baby blue from the melting glacier ice.
I may not be going to Alaska this summer, but I will be living vicariously through my friends that are there and have my own memories that will last a life time. As usual, I will be in the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys fishing, snor keling, and living my best life as usual. However, if you ever want the experience of a lifetime in the far Northwest and memories forever, go to Alaska and get your fishing game on and experience the magic that is Alaska in the summertime!
DEEP DROPPING
By: Capt. Bruce Andersen
The month of May is finally here, and with it comes some exciting changes for us in the Florida Keys. As spring turns into summer, a couple of things happen: the mahi bite offshore starts heating up, and my personal favorite, several species open back up for harvest.
One of the biggest changes is the opening of our shallow water grouper season. Black, gag, and red grouper, which we’ve been releasing all winter and spring, are finally fair game. But what really gets me fired up is the deep drop fishery reopening.
Starting May 1st, our deep-water groupers and tilefish are back on the menu. These include species like snowy grouper, yellow edge grouper, blueline tilefish, and others. Depending on the species and how the regulations shake out this year, the season should stay open for the next few months.
Deep dropping has always been one of my favorite types of fishing. There’s nothing like hauling in a mixed bag of snowies, yellow edge, blueline tilefish, por-
gies, and deep-water snapper. These fish are not only fun to catch, but they’re also some of the best-eating seafood you’ll ever taste. The variety adds to the excitement, you never really know what’s going to come up from the deep.
When that rod bows over and your electric reel starts groaning under the pressure, it could be anything. Maybe it’s a couple of decent tilefish, or maybe it’s a monster snowy grouper. Could be a bright red queen snapper or a 40-pound yellow edge. The mystery is what makes deep dropping so addictive!
Of course, like any style of fishing, it comes with its own set of challenges. Fishing in 400 to 1,000 feet of water isn’t always easy, especially when the current is ripping. It’s a lot harder to hold bottom, and much easier to snag and lose a rig. And when you’re fishing with heavy leads and multi-hook setups, that can be expensive.
That’s why I try to pick calm, light-current days for deep dropping. Less wind and slower current make it easier to stay on the spot, feel the bottom, and avoid snags. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting your rig stuck and having to break it off, but hey, that’s just part of the game.
If you’ve never been deep dropping before, now’s the perfect time to give it a shot. Between the open seasons, calm weather, and hungry fish, May and the summer months offer some of the best opportunities of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned angler looking to try something new, or just want to load the cooler with some of the tastiest fish in the ocean, deep dropping is a trip you won’t forget.
If you’re down in the Keys and want to get out and see how we get it done, I’d love to take you! Let’s chase some deep-water giants and see what we can pull up from the depths.
— www.captaineasycharters.com | You can reach Captain Bruce Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net
Capt. Joel’s
FISHIN’ HOLES
Florida Pompano in the Gulf of America
By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg
Ioften review my old logbooks or go back to old Facebook pictures and sometimes look up old Coastal Angler Magazine articles to try to predict what kind of fish we were catching or bait we were using on an upcoming date. Just trying to predict certain species at certain spots at certain times of the year. Looking back on these things does help to predict many times, but definitely without certainty. One fishing saying in the Keys is “that was then, this is now” it’s an ever-changing environment and especially ever changing in the Gulf of America.
Recently, I had a charter that wanted to target big mangrove snapper, so, I reviewed some of the pictures and articles that I had posted in the past in days leading up to this charter. I found that for a couple years in a row on that particular date that I had been catching big mangrove snapper on a wreck I know of in 12 feet of water only 5 miles from the 7-mile Bridge in the Gulf of America using large live shrimp on a 1/16-ounce yellow jig. I didn’t have time to pre-fish it, but I told the clients that I was confident we would catch big mangrove snapper at this wreck. Unfortunately, the big snapper did not show up, but fortunately a surprise species I didn’t expect did show up.
We started catching one nice Florida pompano after another. Even though I had fished this wreck many times and many different ways in the past, I’d never caught a Florida pompano there.
That day, we got 12 nice Florida pompano and ended up catching our big mangrove snapper elsewhere. I’ve only caught a few nice Florida pompano in the Keys over the years. I used to catch a lot of Florida pompano in the Gulf of America north in Ruskin, Florida off the Simmons Park Flats, and prior to that I caught some very nice Pompano surf fishing around the beaches of North Florida as a young man. I was very excited that there were nice Florida pompano around this wreck in the Keys.
The following day, I talked about the Pompano that we caught with my charter group and they showed interest in trying for some more Florida pompano, so I went to the same wreck and decided to refine my technique by tipping a shrimp on a pink feathered jig, because in the past pink feather jigs was the go to bait for
Florida pompano on the Simmons Park flats in Ruskin, Florida.
I also remembered using small pink banana jigs in the surf in North Florida for Florida pompano. On this next charter, we got twice as many Pompano as we did the day before. I took clients to this wreck to catch pompano for the next three weeks until they migrated out and went to wherever they go. I forgot what a great fish the Florida pompano actually is and you can keep up to six per person per day. Florida pompano fight really hard and taste really good. After that wreck stop producing Florida pompano I went to similar wrecks in the area and emulated what I did at the original wreck and sure enough those wrecks were holding their fair share of Pompano as well.
These Florida pompano were a big surprise this year, as they have moved on from all of the wrecks in the Gulf of America and who knows if they’ll be holding the same pattern at the same wrecks in 2026. I’m sure next year, I’ll be looking at pictures and posts and log books to see what some good targets on my upcoming hit list and I’ll say to myself, oh yeah, I remember that three or four week Florida pompano phenomenon. Florida pompano are some of the highest priced fish per pound in fish markets. They are very hard to find in fish markets, and it’s rare to find them on a restaurant menu. When you taste one for the first time you’ll want more. Since pompano don’t have scales, I prefer to keep the skin on and score the skin and cook the fillets on the grill skin down. Pompano have their own unique taste, and when people ask me what I compare it to, I don’t have an answer. I guess the closest fish I could compare it to is an african pompano or a yellow jack not to be mistaken for a jack crevalle which is a jack that is yellow.
Here are a few tips on catching Florida Pompano in the Gulf of America in the Florida Keys.
• Use 12-pound mono floor carbon leader
• Tip a 1/16-ounce pink feathered jig with a small live shrimp. The way you tip the shrimp is by sticking the hook underneath the chin of the shrimp, bringing the hook through the top of his head and making the hook part of the shrimp’s horn and make sure and miss his brain because you want him, lively!
• Retrieve the tipped shrimp with a jig, jig fall, and a fall jig type pattern. Let it fall a few feet at a time every time you let it fall the pompano normally hit it on the fall rather than the jig.
• Use small live shrimp because the Pompano’s mouth is small if your shrimp are too big other fish will eat it before the pompano does or can.
• Pompano typically run in schools and several pompano are likely to go after your tipped shrimp at once if you feel a hit and you miss the fish keep on jigging, even though you feel like they took your shrimp. Many times, they’ll come back and hit your shrimpless jig.
• Make sure you target pompano on a moving tide. Doesn’t matter whether it’s coming in or out just that it’s moving they would not hit on a slack or slackish tide.
— For a charter with Captain Joel Brandenburg of Ana Banana Fishing Company Marathon Florida Keys call 305– 395–4212 office# or 813–267–4401 Cell #. Or visit us in person at ponchos fuel dock a half block away from Cast Away restaurant at 1280 Oceanview Ave. Marathon Florida Keys.
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IN THE KITCHENwithJessica
By: Jessica Hendrie
Imain thing I always look forward to is getting home to cook and prepare the fish I catch for my family and friends.
One of the best things to cook and maybe even the simplest, are fish tacos! These work so well with nearly every type of fish. The way I prepare them varies but I do have one good solid recipe that never fails. That is as follows. First, grab all your supplies. This will include Your fish, tortillas, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, onion, feta cheese, lime, seasonings of choice, mayo, fresh dill, honey, black beans, and rice. First, cook your rice and start by making your sauce. In a bowl, combine your mayo, seasonings, dill, and honey the mix. Place in refrigerator.
aside. Chop your cilantro onions. Heat your black bean, add garlic, seasonings, lime, olive oil and some water and mash to make refried beans. Heat your oil and heat your tortillas for a few minutes then prepare. Add your fish, cilantro, onions and top with cheese and sauce. Plate with your refried beans and rice and there you have it! The best and easiest fish tacos that anyone can make! How cool is it that we are able to catch our own food and prepare it for our loved ones to eat? My favorite fish to do this with, is of course, mahi mahi. That’s the most basic as well but I promise it’s just as yummy with any fillet. I’ve even made tacos out of snakehead, so it’s all about how you cook it, not the fish. So, enjoy this recipe and enjoy fishing and cooking. Happy fishing!
By: Caitlyn Gatrell
Springtime tarpon fishing is one of the most anticipated times of the year for an angler. It’s when tarpon make their annual migration along the southern coastal states of the U.S. They travel in large schools, are close to shore, and are often fired up and ready to eat. In the Ten Thousand Islands especially, that spring heat heavily draws them in, creating lots of opportunities for hookups.
Whenever the warmer weather becomes frequent and we start seeing them roll in our area, we get prepared! We like to plan our trips around the tide, preferably ones that overlap with the sunrise or set. This is the ultimate high activity level as we always see them very active and lunging on bait. With that being said, we make sure to stock up on live bait such as mullet, whitebait, shrimp, and crabs. We like to free line our live bait, with or without a sinker, and wait for that hard thump.
SPRINGTIME TARPON
see a bunch rolling (or even jumping!) and other times we don’t see much activity. It also can be instant back to back hook-ups, or it could be a bite every 30 minutes or so, or none at all. It’s best to plan your trip around the other factors so you can get the most out of your experience. Another thing to consider when it comes to springtime tarpon fishing is the moon phase. Fishing a few days before or after a new or full moon can bring the action. Oftentimes, these moon phases also bring big tide fluctuations. That means there can be extra low or extra high tides with stronger currents present, making the feeding frenzies a bit crazier. If I had to give you my idea of the best springtime tarpon fishing, I would say plan your trip around an evening outgoing tide with a newer or fuller moon.
When they are abundant in the Everglades Backcountry, you can find them just about anywhere, but they tend to hang around points, channels, deep cuts, and around mangrove lines. Sometimes we pull up to our spots and we can
The action that tarpon brings make the whole trip worth it. Their crazy jumps, incredible strength, and their ability to not give up makes this one of the best inshore gamefish to target. I can say tarpon are for sure my favorite saltwater species, and I’m sure plenty of you can agree!
I wish tight lines to all those who are gearing up for their springtime tarpon fishing.
Tarpon are one of the most sought-after gamefish in the world. Drag screaming runs combined with aerial acrobatics make them a challenging fight for even the most skilled anglers. Whether its stalking them on shallow grass flats, chasing schools down the white sugar sand beaches, or targeting fish in current swept passes, tarpon fishing is one of the most addictive types of fishing Florida has to offer. In this article I will go over a few tips and tricks to help you improve your abilities when attempting to best the silver king.
TARPON FISHING
By: Capt. Billy Norris
Tarpon can be found in nearly every coastal aquatic environment in Florida. They inhabit reefs and wrecks, beaches, grass flats, estuaries and can even be found in freshwater lakes and ponds. Due to their wide-ranging habitats, your fishing style will change depending on where you’re fishing. Firstly, your gear and tackle have to be topnotch. Tarpon are one fish that will absolutely put your equipment to the test. If you have junk reels, frays in your line, cheap leader, or discount hooks, you will get whipped by these bruiser fish. Go over your setups from top to bottom, and make sure that everything that you are using is up to par. I prefer to use reels in the 60-80 range. Personally, I use Quantum Cabo 60s or Penn Slammer 7500 reels. The beefier reels are able to put the screws to the fish, and the larger spools allow you to carry a lot more line. A medium-heavy rod is also a big help when fighting tarpon. I use 7-foot medium action Star Rods. Now a days, it would be a challenge to find a professional captain who does not use braided line when tarpon fishing. I spool my reels up with 50-pound braid, but you can also up it to 80 if you’re targeting bigger fish. Tarpon can be extremely picky when it comes to both baits and rigs. Fluorocarbon is an absolute must when it comes to your leaders. Depending on the water quality, you may have to switch pound test if the fish are leader shy. 7 foot of 80-pound YoZuri pink fluorocarbon is where I typically start, but will bump down to 50 pound if the water is very clear. Everyone has their own preference of hooks, but I prefer either 8/0 Owner SSW Circles, or 6/0 Mustad UltraPoint Demon Circle hooks. Believe it or not, tarpon will pretty much eat anything that lives in the ocean. I have caught them on cut bait, threadfins, crabs, pilchards, pinfish, discarded fish carcasses, literally almost everything. However, this does not mean that you can just use anything. Although they will consume a variety of baits, they are extremely picky and are notorious for getting dialed in on one specific type of prey. For example, when I’m fishing for tarpon in
Marathon, I target two passes, Bahia Honda and the 7-Mile Bridge. Both passes are right next to each other, but at Bahia Honda the fish will only eat crabs and at 7-Mile they want mullet. It doesn’t seem to make any sense why two different schools so close to one another won’t eat the same things, but it is reality. Even the size of crabs that the fish will eat changes daily. Some days they will want small crabs, and other days larger ones. Crabs can be caught, but if you are purchasing them the cost can add up quickly. On average they retail for about $4-5 apiece, and on a day long tarpon trip I like to have at least 40 crabs of varying sizes. A good rule of thumb is you want crabs that are approximately the same width (across the carapace) as three of your fingers. Whether I’m using crabs, mullet, threadfins, etc, I will almost always freeline the bait, with the exception of sometimes using a cork to suspend the bait if needed. Being successful at hooking up tarpon comes from time put in on the water daily to figure out what they are eating at that particular time. Now your gear and equipment are ready, you’re livewell is loaded with bait, and it’s time to get hooked up! The most crucial part of landing tarpon is understanding how to fight them. They are notorious for throwing the hook when they make their world-famous jumps. You will consistently hear guides refer to “flying” x amount of tarpon. For example, when talking about the day of fishing you will hear me say something like “flew 5 landed 2”. This means that we hooked up with five fish but only got two boatside.
Only landing a small percentage of hooked fish is not uncommon, but the more practice you get the more you will land. Finally, you have to bow. Everyone who has even a slight bit of familiarity with tarpon has heard the old expression “bow to the king”. That means when the fish jumps, drop your rod tip. I actually tell my customers to stab the tip of the rod quickly into the water when they first see the fish rise to jump. This action puts slack in the line and will reduce breakoffs or the hook being pulled.
Tarpon fishing is without a doubt one of the most challenging and addictive type of fishing in the world. Hopefully this article helped to answer some of your questions surrounding the silver king, and will help you to get out on the water and start landing some tarpon!
— Captain Billy Norris is owner and operator of Pale Horse Fishing Charters in Bonita Springs, Florida. He guides the Southwest Florida area, and also operates tarpon charters out of Marathon in the Florida Keys during the month of May. You can contact him at (239)285-7710, or visit his website at www.PaleHorseFishingCharters.com.
FloridaKeys
Don & Mike with a nice Golden Tile landed in about
Biminee displaying a “Dock Hog” caught near Cudjoe Key
2 ½ year old Harper with her 1st Yellow Tail Snapper
Michelle landed this strong & stubborn Cobia
May 9th & 10th, 2025
Online Registration: MothersDayDolphinTournament.com
Captain’s Meeting
Liechty Marine
Friday May 9th - 6pm to 7pm
Lines In: Saturday, May 10 - 7:30am
Lines Out: Saturday, May 10 - 3:30pm
Weigh-In
Curly’s Co ee
Saturday, May 10th - 3:30pm to 6pm
Awards Banquet
Marathon Yacht Club
Saturday, May 10th - 7pm
Sunday Honor
RARE LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE LAYS EGGS DURING DAYLIGHT ON FLORIDA BEACH
Brevard County, Florida, proudly holds the title of the loggerhead sea turtle capital of our hemisphere. Here, loggerhead nesting occurs so frequently that nests o!en go unmarked on some beaches. From April through the summer months, during nearly any full moon high tide at night, you might witness this natural phenomenon. However, it’s important to keep ashlights o and avoid ash photography to protect these vulnerable creatures.
Daytime nesting is rare for all turtles, making the sight of an endangered leatherback (the world’s largest sea turtle species) even more exceptional.
$is unique event was captured during the evening twilight hours at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, in Satellite Beach, FL. $e Sea Turtle Preservation Society and UCF were on the scene.
Watch the video in this month's Angler Video Mag at vidmag.com and on coastalanglermag.com.
By Ryan Clapper
THE FELLSMERE RESERVOIR: From Farmland To World Class Fishery!
Headwaters Lake (Fellsmere Reservoir) is a 10,000-acre manmade lake located in Indian River County, adjacent to Stick Marsh/Farm 13. In the early 20th century, this area was drained for agriculture. In 2015, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) purchased the land and began ooding it to aid in ood control and nutrient removal for the Upper St. Johns River Basin. Before ooding, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and SJRWMD collaborated on extensive habitat and %sheries restoration projects to enhance %sh and wildlife habitats and create a premier %shing destination. Between 2011 and 2014, FWC invested $1.35 million in habitat enhancements at Headwaters, including shaping the lakebed with varied elevations such as holes, trenches, drop-o s, humps, and islands.
Following the ooding in 2016, FWC stocked the lake with 1 million Florida bass %ngerlings, 145,000 black crappie, 374,000 redear sun%sh, and 345,000 bluegill to rapidly establish a thriving sport%sh population.
On August 10, 2020, the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened for the %rst time and the access facility was built in cooperation between the SJRWMD and FWC’s Boating Improvement Fund, which is supported by Sport%sh Restoration Funding. Since the opening of the boat ramp, the FWC has monitored angling e ort, catch, and angler success.
From 2020-2024, Fellsmere has averaged about 160,000+ angling hours annually and a bass catch rate of 1.40 bass per hour (one of the highest in the state). Furthermore, people from all over the country have traveled to %sh Fellsmere for its worldclass %shing opportunities. Fellsmere started generating TrophyCatch submissions of
bass 8 pounds and larger in 2017/2018 and since then has seen over 400 TrophyCatch submissions including two Hall of Fame catches weighing 13+ pounds.
For more information, visit myfwc.com.
Before (top) and after photos of the bottom contour project conducted by FWC at Fellsmere Reservoir/Headwaters Lake.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FWC.
IT'S TIME TO STOCK UP
By Ben Martin, Editor in Chief
Ikeep asking the question but can’t seem to get a clear answer on why Florida is not dedicating more resources to stocking red!sh and snook into our waters. e technology and infrastructure is there, but no one’s doing anything to bring about a robust restocking program to our state. Why the hell not? I don’t get it. We’re the number one !shing market in the U.S. and tourism fuels a state’s economy. However, according to the !ne folks who issue our !shing limits and restrictions, both species are “so depleted that we need to have severe catch limits and massive closures.”
Come on Florida government, put two plus two together. I think I speak for the majority of the Florida angling community when I say we’re just about disgusted with the ever-evolving limit and closure restrictions that have been coming our way for the past twenty years. It’s like there’s a group of people who just sit around and come up with more ways to infuriate the angling community in the name of conservation and some kind of “sustainability” mantra.
Just raise more !sh, idiots! Raise ’em like crazy. Get jiggy with it. Use my tax dollars the way I want you to use them. Stop spending my tax dollars on massive sta ng of non-anglers in positions of authority when it comes to my rules for !shing. Put enough red!sh and snook in our waters so that any kid can catch one. Yeah, I’m not the smartest person in the world, but I know when something is _______ (you know the rest).
Change your thinking or !nd a new job is what I’m talking about. Your trend over the last twenty years has been nothing short of adversarial, and I’m sick of paying your salaries just to anger our angling community. What !shing contributes to the Florida economy is nothing short of astronomical, but the allocation of resources to support it has been ass backwards for quite a while.
Here’s a good example of the mentality that I think dominates our marine o ces. I was wade !shing recently and as a car drove by on the nearby causeway a person stuck their head out of the window and screamed, “MURDERER!”
Yeah, that who’s been calling the shots for the angling community in Florida for the past twenty years and I, for one, am done with that prevailing mentality in the use of my tax dollars. Agree? Disagree? Fill out the form at protectourwaters.com.
Ben Martin Editor in Chief
Coastal Angler Magazine e Angler Magazine
THE IGFA’S INTRO TO FISHING COURSE: Educating and Inspiring the Next Generation of Ethical Anglers
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has long been a global leader in promoting ethical angling practices, game %sh conservation, and angler education. One of its most accessible resources is the Intro to Fishing course, a structured educational program developed by the IGFA to provide a comprehensive introduction to recreational %shing in an online setting. $is engaging and interactive course is accessible to anyone with an internet connection and equips participants with basic skills, fostering a deep appreciation for the sport.
Targeted at youth, families, and beginner anglers, the course covers various aspects of %shing, including:
• The Fish: Understanding what a %sh is and how to identify various game %sh
• The Habitat: Learn where %sh live and di erent aquatic environments
• The Basics: Learning various %shing techniques from basic tackle to casting methods
• The Ethical Angler: Emphasizing responsible %shing practices, catch-and-release techniques, and habitat protection
43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well.
• The IGFA: Introducing students to the IGFA $e IGFA’s Intro to Fishing course launched in 2019 as a means to o er a comprehensive curriculum covering angling basics and safety, aquatic and marine biology, %sh identi%cation, environmental stewardship and more to audiences around the world. Packed with educational presentations, how-to videos, and interactive quizzes, the course allows anglers to follow along at their own pace. To date, nearly 1,200 students have completed the course, ranging from IGFA smallfry anglers aged up to 10 years old to experienced adult anglers. Most students are from North America, speci%cally from 43 states across the USA, but students from 35 di erent countries on six continents have completed it as well. While most students who have completed the course have caught a %sh before, nearly 15% of students have
43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well.
Cary A. Crutchfield
Registered Real Estate Broker GRI and CRS Designations
recorded that they have never caught a %sh before taking the course, but it has helped inspire these students to get outside and go %shing.
“Being new to %shing, it sparked my interest to start to %sh the most I can,” said Landon M., an IGFA Junior angler aged 11-16 years old from Hawaii, USA, who %nished the course in 2022.
Many schools from primary to college have utilized IGFA’s Intro to Fishing online resource as part of their course curriculum as well. Evan F., a college student from Kentucky, U.S. back in 2020 when he completed the course, recently had this to say in a post-student survey asking how the Intro to Fishing course has impacted their angling career since taking the course, “I took this class in correspondence with a freshwater %shing class in college. It has helped me have a better understanding and what to do when %shing and given me practices I still use to this day.”
For more information about the course and how to participate, visit igfa.org/learning-modules/.
2025 CCA Star Florida Launches Memorial Day Weekend
The 2025 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha continues to be Florida’s the largest family-friendly saltwater %shing competition. Running Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day it boasts prizes & scholarships over $500,000 for anglers of all ages and skill levels.
$is year they’ve added the new Drum Spots “Lots-A-Spots” Division presented by Gulf States Automation. Red%sh with the most spots will win a share of $25,000 in prizes.
STAR’s signature Tagged Red%sh Division presented by TH Marine o ers %ve winners the choice of a Carolina Ski , Sea Born, Spyder Boat or Micro Dra! Ski , all powered by Yamaha. Two youth winners would win Carolina Ski 16-foot tiller boats powered by Yamaha, trailer, Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics.
Each Florida coastal counties will have on average 4 green tagged red%sh released in their waters for a total of 167 prize winning tagged red%sh. Citrus and Charlotte Counties are Destination Counties with 8 tagged red%sh in their coastal waters.
$e Tigress Tagged Dolphin Division o ers a $10,000 cash prize for the %rst tagged dolphin landed.
$e Custom Gheenoe Inshore Division presented by Minn Kota and the Engel Coolers O shore Division presented by AFTCO allows 3 catch entries per day of competition and pays out 12 places with $60,000 in prizes in each.
You don’t have to catch a %sh to win a boat! Register before May 24th for one ra&e entry in the Triple Header Boat Ra&e. A Dek Kat 27 Trilogy, Spyder FX19 Vapor and a Carolina Ski 16JLS all powered by Yamaha will be given away on September 4, 2025.
$e Native Watercra! Kayak Division, Realtree Fishing Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division o er amazing prizes too! ALL salt water species can be entered and most winners are determined by random drawing. Pick up the STAR Identi%er a!er May 17 at any West Marine store or distribution location.
Registration is $80 which includes CCA Florida membership. Kids ages 6-17 can register for free with current ($10) CCA Florida youth membership.
For more information on STAR, or to register, visit cca star.com
CTim Barefoot
an you say hallelujah? HALLELUJAH!!! $e powers that be say we can %nally catch and retain grouper as the season opens back up May 1. Decades ago, I never thought I would have said “grouper” and “season” in the same sentence, much less enduring this nine- or 10-months out of the year closure we’re experiencing now.
We recently took a recon trip to the edge to catch African pompano, but caught everything but African. $e barracudas and sharks are in numbers never seen before (by myself and a LOT of my friends), along with the American red snapper (ARS) and gag grouper. For anyone doubting the American red snapper and/or gag grouper numbers, please speak up now...or please come %shing with me!
We decided to leave the shark- and barracuda-infested deep water to catch some legal dinner %sh like grunts and seabass. We came inside a good ways and stopped on a pretty piece of bottom and it was nothing but gag, scamps and ARS bites. BAM! BAM! BAM!
Rolled back in another 10 miles knowing we were going to catch some seabass and grunts…and got nothing but gag and ARS bites. A!er that, we decided to go another eight miles inside speci%cally for sea bass, %nding traditional sea bass numbers. Fishing around in that general area, we ran out of all frozen cigar minnows and cut Spanish mackerel chunks before we could catch a good limit of sea bass.
I said all that to say this: %sh the pretty bottom marks of bait and structure using the correct tactics and you will have a heavy box of good %sh at the end of the day.
All the best %shing...
For more info, check out Tim Barefoot’s YouTube channel and website, barefootcatsandtackle.com.
GROUPER SEASON BACK OPEN...FOR NOW
A!er breaking shermen’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, May is nally here, opening grouper season for anglers on the Atlantic Coast. I, for one, am thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again.
e red grouper is one of the most popular bottom sh found along the southeastern coast of the United States, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s rm, white esh and rich avor make it a favorite for the majority of o%shore anglers. Easily recognizable by its reddish-brown coloration, the red grouper features scattered white blotches and a stocky body that suits its role as an ambush predator in rocky reef environments. Pulling one up from the depts that they exist in is the price you’ll pay to put this meat on your table because they’re also able to aggressively resist your will and challenge your strength. I like targeting them using live or cut bait. Once hooked, they tend to dive back into structure, which makes landing them a rewardingly brutal experience.
THATCH MAGUIRE, EDITOR AT LARGE
those who regularly bottom sh the overabundance seems to be more of a problem than the reduced stock assessments that NOAA has promoted.
e National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has attempted to monitor stock assessments of red grouper, although many cite awed data in their forecasts. e catch limits and season closures that they’ve implemented have substantially reduced the angling communities’ opportunities to catch this highly sought a!er sh. For
FISHING IS BETTER IN A C-HAWK
I could be wrong, but it seems as if NOAA has become antirecreation-fishing oriented. eir policies and choice of data has created a distrust among many (most all) anglers these days. While ASA and numerous other angler organization have attempted to impact NOAA’s trend toward “Don’t Catch,” much remains to be done to correct the adversarial relationship between the American angler and this once highly respected organization. My small home town once had an animal control o cer that hated and abused stray dogs. Once the community brought this to the attention of local government o ce the problem got solved relatively quickly. ey red him. No more problem. Has it come time to re the management team of NOAA?
Disclaimer: e views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily re ect the views or positions of Coastal Angler Magazine or any entities they represent.
TACTICS FOR CHASING CHANNEL CATS
By Paul MacInnis
Catching channel cat sh can be a lot of fun and super rewarding—these guys ght hard! And the nice thing about cat shing is you don’t need fancy baits or tackle. If you want to target bullheads and smaller pan-sized cat sh you can use baits you gather right out of the river like grass shrimp and mussels. You can also use earth worms or small chunks of hotdog. Fish these baits on a 1/0 Aberdeen hook and add just enough split shot to your line to hold bottom.
But I prefer to target bigger channel cat sh, the bigger the better, using peeled shrimp for bait. You don’t need fresh shrimp, a bag of frozen shrimp from your local bait shop works ne. I also like to use cut bait as it holds up well to the bait stealers. Cut mullet or chunks from just about any sh work.
I use a standard sh nder rig. Run the line through a one-quarter to one ounce egg sinker, choosing just enough weight to hold bottom. Tie the line to a swivel and add about one to two feet of twenty pound test mono lament to the other end of the swivel. To the end of this leader I tie a 4/0 Team Cat sh TC84Z circle hook.
Baitcasting gear used for bass shing and 2000 to 3000 sized spinning tackle works ne for channel cats. You can get by with inexpensive mono lament, but I prefer a good quality 10-pound test braid like Platypus Platinum Plus. Braid won’t bow out as much as mono lament due to wind or current so it gives you a straighter connection between rod tip and bait. is kind of tackle can get sporty if a 10-pound-plus cat sh takes your bait, but sporty is exactly what I am looking for!
Popular wisdom says you should sh your baits in the deeper bends and holes. I shed that way for years and caught plenty of one to ve pound cat sh, but bigger sh eluded me. Many rivers (even lakes) are loaded with little coves and basins. I’ve learned if there is three feet or more of water in these basins there’s a decent chance there will be some nice cat sh there. I’ll park my kayak at the edge of the opening and cast a bait towards the center of the mouth of the cove, trying to place my bait in the slack water but close, within 10 feet or so, of the current. If I am feeling ambitious I’ll toss a second bait towards the back of the cove. Most of the time the biggest cat sh go for the bait close to the cove mouth...but that isn’t always the case. I like to let the circle hook do all the work so I’ll leave the rods in the rod holders until a sh puts a good bend in the rod and maybe even takes drag. Keep your ears open for loud splashes as channel cats will o!en thrash at the surface right a!er feeling the hook. Also watch your line. Cat sh don’t always take the bait going away from you. If your line goes slack or your bait changes position reel up tight and see if there is a sh on the line. Finally, if you start catching a lot of bow n you might want to move elsewhere (unless you like catching bow n) because I nd cat sh and bow n seldom share the same locations.
Channel cat sh can be aggressive predators and many a bass angler has been surprised when a big cat grabs their bass lure. Most of the time I wouldn’t advise tossing lures as an e cient way of targeting cat sh, but some years there is an exception that happens in spring into early summer. Winter and spring are typically dry season and water levels drop. Fish congregate in what deeper holes are le! and become aggressive due to high competition for food. is is one time when you can readily catch cat sh on lures and even ies. I like small plastic worms and other so! plastic baits bumped slowly along the bottom. Keep in mind cat sh are primarily scent feeders so dousing your lure with a decent sh scent helps.
During low water you’ll occasionally run across a real treat, a sandy bottom pool where you can spot cat sh and sight cast to them. I highly recommend a quality pair of polarized sunglasses with an amber tint and mirror coating to help you tell cat sh from gar and tilapia.
I suggest you give shing for channel cats a try, especially on those days when “game sh” don’t cooperate. Be patient, stay persistent, and enjoy the process!
FROM A PRO COVERING WATER WITH A BLADED JIG
When you rst drop your boat in the water, o!entimes it can be extremely overwhelming on where to sh and what to throw. One bait I have found in particular seems to catch bass at every lake I go to. is bait is a bladed jig, better known as a chatterbait. e bladed jig is a extremely versatile bait, meaning you can throw it around so many di%erent types of cover and sh it at many varying depths. It allows you to cover a vast amount of water and locate bass that would usually take days to nd with other baits.
As you approach a new lake or even one you have been to a thousand times, it’s always a good idea to throw a con dence bait that you know will get bites. e chatter-bait is mine. I’ve found that no matter the cover, grass, trees, docks, riprap, etc., it gets bit. With the blade on the front vibrating so erratically, it allows this bait to come through cover extremely well and creates a reaction strike no other bait can.
their home. Depending on the time of year and what kind of bait the bass are feeding on where you are shing, there is a color made to match the hatch. If shad is the prevalent forage, I like to stick to a white or a bait sh color like a pearl and silver with a silver colored blade. If it’s bluegill, you can get by with a green pumpkin or anything with some yellow and orange mixed in with a darker blade color. Sometimes water color can play a factor in color choice as well. If the water is very dirty, you will have to use a color that will stick out so that they can see it pass by. Something like a white and chartreuse with a white blade (for bait sh imitation) or even a bright orange with a black blade (for craw sh imitation) can do the trick.
TYLER WOOLCOTT
Buying a bladed jig and tying it directly on your rod usually isn’t too e%ective without putting a trailer on the back of it. I like to try and match the color of the trailer to the color of the skirt on your chatterbait of choice to get the most natural look for the sh. e type of trailer can be a bit more complicated. I use either a swimbait style trailer with a boot tail or a apping style trailer like a craw pattern. e boot tail stands out when sh are very aggressive and aren’t scared of the more aggressive action the boot tail causes behind the bait. e appy trailer is better for highly-pressured sh that want a little more of a subtle approach who might not like the amount of action a swimbait trailer has.
A chatterbait is a very dominant bait all across the country and I rely on this bait at all times of the year to help me put sh in the boat. Next time you hit the lake, give the chatter-baitt a try and cover some water!
Let’s talk about matching the chatterbait to the bait forage. By matching the color of the bladed jig to the forage in the lake, a bass can’t resist it as a nice snack when you reel it through
Sizes and weights of your bladed jig are extremely important. With sizes ranging from 1/4 oz. all the way to 1.25 oz., the depth you are shing will decide what you tie on. I typically start with a 3/8 oz. or a 1/2 oz. which will allow you to cover water depths from 1 to 10 feet depending on your retrieve. If I nd some deeper cover that i want to get down to and sh, I will go a little heavier to a 3/4 oz.
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BLADED JIG GEAR: When throwing a bladed jig its important to have the correct gear. I use a 13 Fishing Myth Rod 7’5 MH-mod paired with a 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 reel. I spool this up with 17 lb. Su x Advance Fluorocarbon line making this the perfect combo for the job.
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.
— Gene H.
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TEXAS ANGLER LANDS RECORD 884-POUND BLUEFIN TUNA
APort Arthur, TX angler and his friends recently achieved an extraordinary feat— reeling in an enormous 884-pound blue n tuna.
On April 10, David Esslinger and his friends were shing in the Gulf when the massive sh struck his line with incredible force. He had no idea he was about to embark on the most intense battle of his shing career. ankfully, Esslinger had an eager crew by his side, ready to assist in landing this remarkable sh.
“Let me break down the day and the events for you. First o%, for those who have never landed a sh the size of a car, this is no small feat. No one accomplishes this alone,” Esslinger posted on Facebook.
e group set out early Friday morning. By 9 a.m., a!er a couple of hours of shing, they started noticing signs of a school of tuna breaking the surface of the calm waters. Suddenly, the right rigger snapped down with a forceful bite, signaling the start of Esslinger’s showdown against his monstrous tuna.
Esslinger recalls, “Big tuna started breaking the surface and our team’s spirits began to li! at’s when it happened—the right rigger came down hard. e sh ran about ten seconds and spit the 12/0 mustad hook and the bait. As my heart sank,
I came up on the drag and gave her 10 cranks. As soon as I engaged the clicker again the giant sh piled on again. at’s when the rst 3/4 spool run at 35 pounds of drag started.”
Realizing what was at stake, his team quickly got into position for the ensuing battle, clearing lines and the deck.
“I had to crank it up to 45 pounds of drag on the Tiagra to slow her down. She responded with a rush to the surface. Carson was at the helm with Brad, TC, Je%, and Colby, coordinating everything e ciently from cockpit to helm. We managed to get the sh up to the surface in just over an hour,” stated Esslinger.
A!er an exhausting ve-hour battle of strength and endurance, Esslinger and his crew nally brought the massive blue n alongside the boat. With shaking body and inoperable hands, Esslinger made his way to the side of the boat and screamed with utter shock, “What a giant blue n! We did it!”
is impressive catch is seen as a trophy sh among anglers, celebrated for its enormous size and high-quality meat. And it was indeed enormous. Weighing in at 884 pounds, this blue n tuna has set a new state record for the largest tuna caught in Texas, surpassing the previous record of 876 pounds established by Troy Lancaster in 2021.
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