CHASING GOLDEN DORADO
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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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Upon reaching a stone wall hidden by the jungle, I snapped my knife back into its tooled genuine leather sheath and read the markings the Incas had left long ago. It was time to travel north for the next part of my adventure.
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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
COASTAL ANGLER TREASURE COAST
Historic Conflict
By Jim Moir, Indian Riverkeeper Executive Director
Recently I’ve been doing some reading about the indigenous people of Florida, with the hope I might better understand my relationship to my natural surroundings and why I feel the way I do about my home. I have been incredibly lucky to live on the southern Indian River Lagoon for a little more than half of my life and on Biscayne Bay for the first portion. I have fortunately lived in a very dynamic time and witnessed dramatic change.
It would be inaccurate to claim that early human inhabitants of Florida didn’t alter the landscape for their advantage or that they lived in perfect harmony with nature. They adapted technology and
moved to accommodate climate and migrations. And they assimilated with and dominated people that came before them. But the time scales and extent of their impact were dramatically different from those of the 19th, 20th, and 21st century’s inhabitants.
There is certainly a philosophical difference of perspective on habitat value, natural order, between people of a place, natives, and newcomers; between homesteaders and carpet baggers. I suppose that a resident that had established a lifestyle would have resented a powerful dominate newcomer a thousand years ago, much as an established homeowner resents a developer today. But we have to consider the magnitude and
rate of change. Landscape change took generations. Anthropogenic extinctions, other than introduced disease, took a long time. Warfare, technology and disease have always been responsible for altering civilizations.
One of civilizations’ most dramatic and relatively recent innovations that has altered landscapes and shifted cultures is resource extraction economy, taking territory for profit. The clash of civilizations that occurred at first contact between Europeans and the New World indigenous people has repercussions we are still living through. Racial divisiveness and class warfare are echoes of past imperialism. In this hemisphere the way we manage our ecosystem and value our resources reflect a massive philosophic change in just a few hundred years. Since the
Whether we perceive this to be a healthy and morally defensible trajectory or in need of a serious course correction is a question of the age.
There are a complex set of issues that make the comparison of New World first contact and the existential threat of climate change difficult. Developers are not exactly like conquistadors and European royalty are not exactly like oil company executives, but there are interesting parallels. I think we have to reflect on our principles and question whether the choices that have been made in the past justify doubling down on
PHOTO CREDIT: Irena W/Shutterstock.com.
SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE
Capt. Terry Wildey
Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com captwildey@bellsouth.net
The opening of our grouper season is May 1st so keep in mind with the current shark problem as bad as it’s been, you might have to up your game. In case you didn’t know, there’s now a massive abundance of bull sharks, sandbar sharks, and several other species, that due to commercial harvesting closures in place, these fish have taken over many of the areas we fish. Especially congregating around the larger bottom structure. They basically are gathering in the areas waiting for you to hook a fish. Then taking advantage of anyone that doesn’t reel fast enough, making it extremely hard to get a fish in the boat. We’re losing sometimes 90% of our larger keeper fish to the sharks. So we’re boating mostly the
smaller fish because you can reel them faster.
Big Easy Fishing Charters is offering shark fishing trips this season and encourages other anglers to do the same. Harvesting a 300-pound bull shark is not only an amazing thrill but the meat on our last one fed 7 families. At the same time, you’ll be correcting the imbalance that NOAA and the South Atlantic Fisheries have turned their back on. What we have done on the Big Easy is:
(1) Upped our leader size. For grouper fishing we went from 80# to 100#, and 120# leader and a bigger reel like a 50 Tiagra and heavy, heavy rod. Sometimes letting the weaker anglers reel right out of the rod holder. Theory being “stop ‘em or pop ‘em.”
(2) We’re fishing smaller bottom. Whether it’s 90 feet, 160 feet, or 240 feet, there seems to be fewer sharks congregating on the smaller bottom. I’ve almost given up trying to get a mangrove snapper off bottom at the 90-foot-high bar unless its small one.
Take the time to report any problem you have with the overwhelming abundance of
shark activity to the south Atlantic fisheries council as well as your governor and anyone else that might make a difference. May should also bring some awesome dolphin fishing in the 120 feet to 300 feet range. The best
part is the sharks won’t be a problem since dolphin are following edges color changes and rips and not larger bottom structure.
Look for kingfish in close as the clean water moves in, so do the fish. We’ve already seen some good catches of big and smaller kings a couple miles offshore. Also caught 2 gag grouper 25 inches to 28 inches in 60 feet last week. If the weather calms and the water clears, live bait will be well worth the time to collect. If the water is dirty the smell of the dead bait, menhaden, and pogies will work great.
Always take time to check fishing regulations before your trip because they change frequently. I use the Fish Rules app on my phone. Be sure to set it to federal water if you fish more than three miles offshore.
If you’re looking for me, I’ll be in the deep blue waters offshore of Sebastain inlet doing what I’ve done for 53 years. Be humble and be kind to your fellow anglers, never know when you’ll need a tow lol!
That’s it for now, good luck and tight lines. Fish on, gotta go!
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.
A pair of nice gag grouper.
SEBASTIAN AREA INSHORE
Capt. Gus Brugger
Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787
www.WelcomeToSebastian.com
From the backwaters to the Gulf Stream, May overflows with opportunities for Sebastian area anglers. Let the weather guide you to the best option on any given day.
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON –
Snook will be utilizing the shoreline cover of the lagoon to set up ambushes for passing mullet and other baitfish. Any docks, mangrove overhangs and fallen trees warrant a cast with a Jerk Bait or D.O.A. Shrimp. These same locations and techniques also hold the promise of producing gator trout and slot sized reds. If you can find a school of bait on a shallow flat, preferably with grass coverage, trout, redfish jacks and ladyfish may be close by. Topwater and suspending plugs and weighted and unweighted Jerk Baits will do the trick.
SEBASTIAN RIVER – May is the best month for tarpon and snook in the Sebastian River. Snook of all sizes can be found around docks and shoreline cover throughout the system. The docks between the railroad and U.S. 1 bridges can hold some giant snook both day and night in May. Freelining large live mullet at
dawn and dusk around the bridges and oyster bars of the lower river is a good way to hook a trophy and skipping D.O.A. shrimp and Jerk Baits under the docks is productive when the sun is high. Tarpon from 5 to 50 pounds will generally be found in both forks of the river above the railroad bridge with the larger fish often favoring the north fork. Casting D.O.A. TerrorEyz, MirrOdine plugs and flies to rolling fish is a fun and productive way to target tarpon. Live mullet can also produce exciting surface strikes from tarpon, sharks and big jacks throughout the river.
SEBASTIAN INLET
– Daytime anglers using live croakers, pinfish, greenies and mojarra around the jetties and rip rap areas of the inlet should find snook willing to bite. Fishing plugs and bucktails from the shoreline, south jetty and catwalks at night is also a productive and popular way to catch a Sebastian Inlet snook. May 31st marks the end of the snook season. Keep an eye out for small crabs drifting out with the tide as the bull reds and the occasional permit won’t be far away.
NEARSHORE ATLANTIC
– Glass minnows and the predators that feed on them generally make an appearance in the late spring and early summer. It can be a true blitz with Spanish mackerel and bonito clearing the water chasing glass minnows while tarpon, kingfish, jacks and sharks lurk underneath. Tight lines!
Snook season ends May 31!
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger.
TREASURE COAST COASTAL ANGLER
CONTRIBUTING
Capt. Gus Brugger
Capt. Rocky Carbia
Capt. Jonathan Earhart
Capt. Scott Fawcett
Capt. Scotty Gold
Brian Nelli
Jim Oppenborn
Capt. Bo Samuel
Chris Beachwalker Sharp
Capt. Adam White
Capt. Terry Wildey
MARTIN COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Rocky Carbia
Safari I Deep Sea Fishing
Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno
Reservations: (772) 334-4411 www.safari1deepseafishing.com
Bottomfishing will be a top priority for grocery minded anglers this month, as the catch and keep season for grouper will open on the first day of May, ending a four-month closed season on these tasty bottom brawlers. Near-coastal anglers will break out their heavy tackle and target the many species of grouper that inhabit the wrecks and reefs, east of Stuart. Gag, red, black, and scamp groupers are some of the most prevalent species of the family that will be found just offshore of the St. Lucie Inlet.
The naturally occurring coral reef line in depths of 110 to 160 feet of water, generally known to locals as the “8 Mile Reef”, will be the goto-zone for dialing in successful
Safari 1.
grouper fishing. Deploying live baits from an anchored or drifting boat will produce the best results for “Grouper Digging”. The velocity of the horizontal flow or current and bottom temperatures are the main variables for strategy decision making when positioning one’s boat over top of a grouper honey hole.
Heavy tackle will be a necessity for steering a big grouper to one`s floating platform—4/0 to 6/0 reels spooled with heavy braid of 100- to 200-pound test and terminal tackle to match the main line will yield the most successful end results.
Grouper species can also be found and targeted in shallower
depths, especially on reef structures in 70 to 80 feet of water that comprise the natural reef line known as the “6 Mile Reef”. Natural coral ledges east and north of Jensen Beach in these depths, historically are home to large gag and red grouper, and will be hot spots for grouper grocery getters. While bottom fishing at these depths, anglers will also be pleasantly surprised to get attached to jumbo mutton and mangrove snapper, reef mates that live right alongside the grouper family. May will provide a toasty background of exciting bottom fishing for the offshore anglers of the Treasure Coast.
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Rocky Carbia.
MARTIN COUNTY INSHORE NEARSHORE
Capt. Jonathan Earhart
Chaos Fishing Charters (772) 341 – 2274
www.chaosfishingcharters.com
jon@chaosfishingcharters.com
This month we can expect some spectacular snook fishing as we lead up to the annual summer snook spawn on the Treasure Coast. Keeper size snook are often plentiful and can be caught both on live bait and artificial as of lately. Live bait fishing with white baits, mullet, croaker, and pinfish have been producing better numbers of snook. Topwaters, SubWalks, D.O.A. Bait-Busters, and MirrOlure MirrOdines have been working well when live bait is not available. Early morning and/or sunset will produce the best activity if you’re throwing artificial. Expect
MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Scott Fawcett
Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 offthechainfishing.com fishscottyf@bellsouth.net
Historically speaking, May has always been the kickoff to our best dolphin fishing of the year. Unfortunately, they don’t show up nearly as big or as consistently as they used to, but it’s still a good time of year to target them. The good news is sailfish, blackfin tuna, and the occasional wahoo, have started over the last few years to make a steady showing starting in May turning it into one of my favorite months along the Treasure Coast.
Both live bait and trolling are effective this time of year, but I’d say if you want to target sails, live bait is probably a better option and for bigger dolphin trolling is the way to go. Focus along weed lines and color changes from 75 to 275 feet of water most of the time, but don’t be afraid to slide out to the hill or even as deep as 1000 feet every now and then looking for conditions or pieces of float.
May is also a great time to try sword fishing if you have the gear. Daytime sword fishing, you can opt to hand crank or use an electric. We’ve been day timing for about 20 years now and May has always been a
jack crevalles, seatrout, ladyfish, juvenile tarpon, and the occasional redfish while targeting snook for the day.
Nearshore fishing has been great for permit, jack crevalles, tarpon, kingfish, and cobia. Running the beach and searching for schools of fish to sight cast is my favorite past-time in May. Find the schooling fish and cast to the lead fish in the school with live or artificial for incredible sight fishing opportunities. Nearshore reefs and wrecks are also holding good numbers of snapper, kingfish, cobia, goliath grouper, and sharks. Chicken rigs with cut squid will provide good action for snappers. Make sure to reel them quickly as the goliaths sit and wait for any and every opportunity to steal a snapper on the hook. Don’t be afraid to freeline some live or dead sardines while snapper fishing on anchor for added opportunities for cobia, kingfish, sailfish, barracuda, and even the random nearshore mahi!
Tight lines!
practices that have so effectively damaged our planet’s life support and imperiled our future. Federal and state policies that incentivize profit over protection, conquest over conservation or imperialism over stewardship are probably not going to leave a positive legacy. The seagrass seems to be making a comeback behind my home on the Indian River Lagoon. I can still see dolphin in the moonlight and green turtles do come to graze, manatees haven’t disappeared, tarpon and snook still chase the mullet run.
Nature is remarkably resilient, and we are blessed by its restorative beauty. But the choices we make have consequences. Ending discharges from Lake Okeechobee and allocating funding for restoration projects are very welcome. The politics and appointments of today’s administration also have consequences, beyond slogans, name calling and transactional bargaining. We must choose to take care of our home.
Both live bait and trolling are effective this time of year, but I’d say if you want to target sails, live bait is probably a better option.
productive month.
If you’re interested in venturing a little further out, the Bahamas is a great place to spend a few days right now too.
Yellowfin tuna and mutton snapper are the two main target species with a good chance of dolphin and marlin as well. Grouper season opens back up this month also so if you’re lucky enough to get one to the boat, at least you can keep it now.
Whatever style of fishing you decide to do this May, I hope your next trip is Off the Chain! Please give me a call if you have any questions or if you’d like to book a trip.
To learn more about the benefits of supporting Indian Riverkeeper, email Exec. Director Jim Moir at IndianRiverKeeperFL@gmail.com or call (772) 341-4953.
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett.
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Jonathan Earhart.
Capt. Jonathan with a large nearshore permit caught on a Quantum Benchmark 6000 with a live crab.
FISHING
FORECASTS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Bo Samuel
Pullin Drag Charters
(772) 971-6661
facebook.com/Pullin-Drag-Charters catainbofishing@gmail.com
May is here and that means fair weather has arrived, snapper fishing is on fire, kings and mahi are moving in, and grouper season begins! What more do you need to go fishing on our beautiful Treasure Coast waters? With the winds and cold behind us, local anglers are eagerly anticipating more time on the water with plenty of pullin’ drag opportunities both inshore and offshore. This is the perfect month for making salty memories with actionpacked adventures targeting our unique saltwater bounty.
We are scheduling grouper trips for gag, black, red, and scamp. While plenty of grouper were caught in April, they had to be returned to the
ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE
Capt. Adam White
St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters (609) 820-6257 www.stlucieflatsfishing.com
The inshore fishing up to this point this year has been great. May is arguably one of the best months we have on the Treasure Coast for inshore fishing. Summer is knocking at the door. Make the most of the last month of snook season and go get the rods bent.
blue to wait for May 1st. Now we are geared up for landing some prize fish earning fun bragging rights and delicious grouper fillets. Fishing over structure, like ledges and artificial reefs, will produce some nice hookups. Successful grouper fishing requires good quality bait. I prefer live croakers, pilchards, and threadfins with just enough weight to hold bottom depending on the current. We get a significant amount of grouper and snapper bites while fishing the 90-120 feet reefs and wrecks straight
Look for tarpon cruising down the beach, hanging around the inlet, and staging in their inshore summertime haunts. When targeting the fish on the beach make a subtle approach and drift your baits back to them. The fish in the river I have much better success drifting crabs or mullet. I typically rig with 8-foot 60-to-80-pound leaders when tarpon fishing. The longer leaders can really help with tail whip against your braid on a long fight.
The trout fishing has been better this year. Look for trout to hit top water lures at first light. As the sun rises, move to deeper water in the two to four-foot range. I have good
out the Fort Pierce Inlet.
It’s a good idea to be prepared for any possible goliath grouper action since we occasionally hook them on bottom fishing trips. Even though we are seeing more goliath groupers on the line, they are still a protected species. Goliaths are a very large (up to 500 pounds or more) and slowgrowing fish with a slow reproductive rate, too, which make them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. There is now a limited harvest of goliath groupers with a special permit
issued by a randomly drawn lottery. The slot limit with a limited harvest permit is from 24 inches to 36 inches total length.
This month is also a terrific time to try your hand at trolling for large kingfish and mahi. Mahi are colorful schooling fish so if you hook one, be ready for other quick hook-ups from the school. I always keep a pitch rod ready to cast to any stray mahi I spot on the surface, or possibly a cobia or tripletail. Cobia, also called “brown bombers”, are known for their mighty fight and being a top favorite for taste. These predatory fish are often seen swimming with sharks but once you hook one, they can quickly become shark bait! The minimum size limit for cobia is 36 inches to the fork. Anglers can keep one per person or two per vessel whichever is less.
If you’re thinking grouper for dinner, we can get you some amazing action on the fishiest boat in the Fort! I’m based out of the unique, historic Little Jim Bait & Tackle where the view, music, food and staff never disappoint. Plus, they can cook-yourcatch to perfection. (#savelittlejim) Shout out to DeBrooks Fishing Corner for a top-notch local tackle shop. The grouper are biting...black, red, or gag, let’s go Pullin Drag!
success using Vudu shrimp once the fish move deep and Zara Spooks during first light. While there have been some fish from Bear Point all the way to Hermans Bay, I feel the bite has been better from Queens Cove through all of Vero.
The inshore snapper bite heats up quite a bit through this month. The bridges, docks, and channel markers will all hold good numbers of snapper as the water temps start
to warm into the 80s. Live shrimp on a knocker rig will keep the rods bent all day. Live mojarras or frozen sardines will cut the number of bites in half, but the size of your fish will be much bigger.
Snook season comes to a close on the 31st. Free lining live croakers, pilchards, or greenies around the mangrove points, seawalls, and docks is a sure way to have some encounters with snook.
Parker, Owen, and Cameron show a 30-pound cobia after a great fight!
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Bo Samuel.
Mike with a nice trout caught a live pilchard.
PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Adam White.
ST.
LUCIE
COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Scotty Gold
Miss Fort Pierce Fishing (772) 766-0191 www.fortpiercefishing.com
AsMay is upon us, hopefully the winds that we’ve had since October will cease and give us a little more opportunity to fish
We’re starting to see the unusually cold winter and spring bottom temperatures warm up and the mangrove and mutton snappers start to move around a bit more. Lane snappers and an unusually higher amount of triggerfish continue to bite with the warmer current.
Continue to fish on the rough or bottom in 70 to 100 feet of water for the mangrove snappers, lane snappers and triggerfish. Fresh cut bait, grunt plugs and live small bait fish continue to be the best.
For the mutton snappers, continue to fish the smooth bottom adjacent of the reef structures and be patient as with the cooler bottom temperatures the fish tend to be less aggressive, and it takes longer for them to commit to the bite.
Also in May, the grouper season
We look forward to welcoming you on board!
opens. Fish along the very rough sections of the reef and wrecks and 75 to 250 feet of water. Be patient and fish with live baits or butterfly dead baits with 80- or 100-pound leaders.
The Miss Fort Pierce will continue to sail on her all-day schedule daily, leaving by 7 a.m. We’ll also be fishing the second half of the month on Wednesday and Friday nights from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. for mango snapper. We will add 12-hour trips throughout the summer months.
Please remember the boat is available for fishing or cruising for private charters for your families, businesses and social groups. To make your reservation or to gather more information, feel free to call the office or visit fortpiercefishing.com.
TOWING FROM
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Whether you need a timely tow or help offshore, Sea Tow Captains are standing by 24/7.
Why wait? Join today and get 2 months free! (That’s a $28 value!) Use discount code: TCT.
Join Sea Tow Treasure Coast \ 772-225-3144
seatow.com/local/treasurecoast
PHOTO CREDIT: Miss Fort Pierce Fishing.
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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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