ve things you should know about boat insurance
Are you ready to embark on your next on-water adventure? Before you set sail, here are ve things to know about boat insurance.
1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents
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2. Accidents can happen to anyone
When accidents happen, boat insurance offers liability coverage for damages or injuries you cause while boating, up to speci ed limits. It can also cover lawsuit costs if you’re sued.
3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments
Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you’re in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.
4. Most lenders require boat insurance
If you nanced your boat, you’ll likely need boat insurance since most lenders require boat insurance to protect their investment. Additionally, some marinas or municipalities require proof of insurance for docking.
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DEAD BAITS CATCH HUGE REDFISH
Capt. Mike Smith
Have you ever tried to use big dead baits to catch huge redfish? If you haven’t, then you should.
Many of the larger predatory fish prefer eating fresh, dead baits over live baits so they can save energy.
The odds of becoming an over slot redfish are at least a million to one. An overslot redfish has figured out not only how to avoid predators and how to conserve energy when finding food. That is why dead baits work so well for catching older, wiser and larger redfish.
The best dead baits for redfish are: a large blue crab cut in half, a butterflied large pinfish with its tail cut off, a chunk of ladyfish, and a chunk of bluefish. The key to catching redfish instead of catfish when dead bait fishing is by using enormous dead baits. You want to use baits at least eight inches long. Catfish always seem to find the bait first and most catfish can’t eat an eight inch dead bait.
Quite often you will catch your monster redfish and notice catfish slime on your line. This tells you that a catfish found your bait first but was unable to swallow it. If you are catching catfish with your dead baits, then you have to go bigger.
Pro Tip: Make sure to use at least a 5/0 circle hook and just enough weight to keep the bait stationary on the bottom. If you let the tide drag the bait across the bottom the redfish will have trouble finding it. But if you use too much weight the fish will often feel it and let go of the bait before getting hooked.
Circle hooks are much less likely to get swallowed and mortally wounding the fish, unlike a J hook. A J hook will often get swallowed if you are not constantly paying attention to your line.
When using dead baits for redfish keep the rod in a rod holder. Rod holders are much better at hooking redfish with circle hooks than we are.
Keith caught this monster redfish with an 8-inch chunk of bluefish along a drop off in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon.
When the redfish picks up the bait and swims off with it, the hook will lodge right in the corner of the fish’s mouth.
The best tackle for catching enormous redfish with dead baits is a medium heavy seven-foot-six-inch rod coupled with at least a 5000 series reel. Spool your reel with 30-pound braided line and make sure to have at least a 30-pound leader attached to the hook.
You can certainly catch a 40-inch redfish with a smaller rod and reel combo but the fish will be half dead by the time you get it landed. In that weakened state the fish will sometimes fall prey to a nearby dolphin or shark. There is no sense killing a big breeder redfish that you cannot harvest anyway.
Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass Off Charters, is an inshore fishing guide who has been fishing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass flats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact@fishyourassoff.com or visit fishyourassoff.com.
FALL TRANSITION BASS FISHING IN THE SOUTHEAST
BY NPFL PROFESSIONAL ANGLER JOEY BLOOM
The first cool mornings of fall always bring a little excitement for me. When I back the boat down the ramp and see mist rising off the water, I know the season is changing and the bass are about to do the same. Down here in the Southeast, the fall transition is one of the most unpredictable—but also one of the most rewarding— times of the year.
The key is bait. As soon as water temps slide from the 90s into the mid-70s, shad begin their migration out of the main lake and into the creeks or shallow shorelines. They’re chasing plankton, and the bass are never far behind. If you can find the bait, you’ll find the fish. I don’t even bother making a cast until I see shad flickering on the surface or lighting up my electronics.
CatchMoreFish
My mornings usually start with topwater or a shad-colored swim jig. A walking bait is one of my favorites to throw across the mouth of a pocket, and it can trigger some of the most violent strikes of the season. I’ll never forget a morning last October when a seven-pounder came out of two feet of water and nearly ripped the rod out of my hand. That’s fall bass fishing— when they decide to eat, they don’t play around.
As the sun gets higher, I shift gears. Shallow wood, laydowns, docks and grass edges become prime ambush points, and that’s when I reach for a squarebill crankbait. I like squarebills because they’ve got just the right wobble and durability to grind through cover. The trick is to make contact—bump that crankbait off a stump, dock, or tick it through grass. Those deflections are what trigger bites. Covering water quickly is important because bass are constantly on the move, shadowing those bait schools.
But not every fish in the lake makes the same move at the same time. Some of the bigger, older bass stay out deeper longer. For those, I keep a Carolina rig handy, and I’ve had great success pairing it with Bait Cave Customs hand-poured soft plastics. That slow drag across a secondary point can tempt those stubborn deep fish that won’t chase a moving bait.
Weather plays a huge role, too. A cold front will slow everything down, and that’s when I switch to finesse—something like a Bait Cave Customs, Cave Club finesse worm on a shaky head, worked methodically. On the flip side, a cloudy, stable day can set off a feeding frenzy, and that’s the time to throw reaction baits and keep covering water. Fall fishing here is a constant adjustment game, and you have to be willing to change with the conditions.
At the end of the day, the fall transition is like putting a puzzle together. The pieces change daily—sometimes hourly—but once you figure out where the bait is, how the bass are relating, and what they’ll react to, the action can be phenomenal. It’s the season where I cover the most water, throw the widest variety of baits, and stay the most flexible.
For me, that’s what makes fall in the Southeast so special. It’s unpredictable, challenging, and full of opportunity. And when everything lines up, it’s some of the best bass fishing of the entire year. With the right mindset—and the right tackle—you can make this season one to remember. Follow all of Joey Bloom’s fishing and fun on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.
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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
OCTOBER TIDES: TRICKS, TRANSITIONS AND A LITTLE RULE-BREAKING
October might just be the perfect month to be on the water. e blazing heat of summer has faded, boat tra c thins, and the marsh comes alive with shrimp, n sh, and the “big three” — trout, red sh, and ounder — all fattening up for the season. For anglers, that means opportunity.
is time of year, I like to keep things simple but intentional. So plastics in the 3.25-inch range are my bread and butter. I lean toward paddle tails because I can cover water quickly and the vibration draws strikes from aggressive fall sh. Durability matters too, because when the action gets fast, the last thing you want is to burn time swapping out torn lures. Rigging depends on cover and depth — sometimes weedless, sometimes a jig head — but either way, adapt to the structure in front of you.
Outgoing tides are my favorite. ey concentrate bait and predators alike into smaller, target-rich areas. Look for drains, bayou mouths, bends, and reef cuts. Even island points can funnel current and stack sh. Once you’ve found the spots, presentation is everything. Reds o en respond to a steady retrieve, trout like a twitch-twitch pause, and ounder react best to a lure darting along the bottom, stirring up a little commotion. Of course, no sh reads the manual — sometimes the “wrong” retrieve produces the right bite. Which brings me to one of the best lessons I’ve learned: sometimes you’ve got to break your own rules. On a recent quarter-moon tide, I worked a shallow grass at with two rods rigged identically except for lure color. One was white with a limetreuse tail, the other pumpkinseed with green glitter. Early on, the reds were all over the pumpkinseed, inhaling it on a fast, steady retrieve just under the surface. But when I noticed trout feeding nearby, I switched things up. Instead of swimming the bait, I bounced it hard o the bottom, fast twitches with short pauses. Suddenly, the trout lit up, and they showed a clear preference for the white limetreuse. at day drove home an important point: don’t get stuck on what’s working. Change the speed, change the color, change the action — sometimes even when the bite is good, it can get better. Covering the same water with di erent retrieves or presentations lets you unlock what di erent species want, even when they’re feeding in the same spot.
So, as October cools the air and the marsh lls with life, keep your tackle simple but your approach exible. Target those pinch points on a falling tide, let the sh tell you what retrieve they want, and don’t be afraid to experiment. e sh are hungry, the weather is kinder, and it’s the perfect time to grab a kid, a paddle tail, and make some memories.
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
COASTAL ANGLER
North Central Florida/Nature Coast
Cary & Lynn Crutchfield
ALACHUA, CITRUS, COLUMBIA, DIXIE, GILCHRIST, LEVY, MARION, SUWANNEE
OCTOBER
Last October, I began my monthly letter, talking about all the hurricanes we had. This year, I will talk about all the hurricanes, that thankfully, we have not had, and hopefully will not have. We could use a little rain though. My grass is crunchy. Lovebugs were terrible this Sept. So glad that they are finally gone!
New advertiser this month, Outdoor Storage in Hernando. See page 5.
This month’s recipe, Flounder with Shrimp and Spinach Souffle’ is a pickup from January 2014. It uses Stouffer’s Frozen Spinach Souffle’. You can use any white boneless fillet and substitute crab for the shrimp if you like. See page 2.
Our guides would love to hear from you. If you have questions about fishing in our area, they have the answers. Also be sure to thank our advertisers and the folks at the location where you picked up the world’s finest FREE fishing magazine.
Dr. Kevin McCarthy, who writes FLORIDA WATERWAYS, turns 85 on Oct. 15th. You will find his email on page 3. Wish him a very Happy Birthday and thank him for writing for us since our launch March 2012.
North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff
Cary Crutchfield
EDITING & PRODUCTION
Lynn Crutchfield
GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN
Kathleen Stemley
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Dr. Kevin McCarthy Noel Kuhn
Capt. Jason Clark
Capt. Katie Jo Davis
Capt. Tommy Derringer
Capt. Andrew Fagan
Capt. Jonathan Hamilton
Capt. Dallas King
Capt. Pat McGriff
Capt. Brent Woodward
CONTACT INFORMATION crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com 352-542-0356
A reader called me out for reminding you to get your vaccines. Instead, I will remind you to check with your medical professional for vaccine advice. Flu season is upon us, and Covid is still here. Stay smart, stay well and stay alive.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast
Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District
FLOUNDER WITH SHRIMP AND SPINACH SOUFFLE (SERVES 4)
Thank you to The Crab Plant for the shrimp. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view
beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, Fri-Sat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook the chopped onion in small pan with 2 tablespoons butter until soft.
COOKING DIRECTIONS
In small bowl, blend the thawed spinach souffle’ with 1 cup Panko and cooked onion and 1 tablespoon milk.
Cut each shrimp into 3 to 4 pieces and add to spinach mixture.
Place 4 tablespoons butter, evenly spaced on flat oven proof pan, lined with foil.
Place flounder fillets on each of the slices of butter. Season generously with salt and pepper.
INGREDIENTS
•4 Flounder fillets
• 8 Large Shrimp pealed
•1 Stouffer’s Spinach Souffle’ thawed
•1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon Milk
• 1 medium Onion finely minced
• 8 tablespoons Butter
• Salt and Pepper
• Lemon Juice
• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan
• ¼ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
Spoon ¼ of spinach mixture onto half of each fillet and fold the other half over the stuffing.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in pan that you used to cook the onion and pour over flounder.
Season top of flounder with salt and pepper and sprinkle with lemon juice.
Mix shredded Parmesan with ¼ cup Panko and sprinkle over flounder.
Depending on thickness of your fillets, bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Check after 10 minutes.
Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida
Fishing Superstitions FLORIDA WATERWAYS
By Kevin McCarthy
FBy Dr. Kevin M.
ishing superstitions are a mix of traditions, beliefs, and practices passed down through generations of anglers. Some are rooted in old nautical customs, while others are more recent additions. One common thread is the belief that certain actions or items can influence the success or luck of a fishing trip.
Here are some common fishing superstitions These are what I call “negative” superstitions because they portend a bad outcome. In another article I’ll discuss “positive” superstitions, those that will have positive outcomes.
Bad Luck:
No bananas:
Bananas are considered bad luck on boats, with various theories behind this, including associations with the slave trade or hurricanes. Or that bananas cause other fruits and vegetables to ripen too quickly. On the other hand, some fishermen believe that bananas will bring good luck on boats, perhaps because of the fruit’s association with hospitality and prosperity.
Whistling or whispering:
Whistling on a boat is thought to attract bad weather or scare fish, while whispering is also avoided as a sign of disrespect to the sea. And if you have on board a redhead eating a banana and whistling, watch out.
Stepping over a rod:
Some believe stepping over a fishing rod is bad luck and could interfere with the bite.
Cows lying down:
Some anglers believe that cows lying down will lead to bad fishing conditions due to barometric pressure. Many believe that low pressure is associated with more active fish and therefore fishermen prefer cows that are standing and grazing.
Redheads:
Redheads, like flat-footed people, are sometimes considered bad luck to have on a boat. Not every culture believes that superstition. For example, County Cork in Ireland has an annual Irish Redhead Convention each August.
"Goodbye":
Saying "goodbye" or “bye” to a departing fisherman is frowned upon because doing so may portend the departing fisherman’s death. Some cultures get around this by saying “Till we meet again” or – in the case of Turkish – “Go smiling.” There are a number of taboos that fishermen have when they are speaking on a boat, for example wishing someone “good luck.”
Such a practice can mean bad luck for the fisherman and for the person wishing “good luck” to someone going off on a fishing trip. Saying “goodbye” and “good luck” is a double whammy.
So, there you have just a few of the many superstitions about fishing. Even if your companion believes such beliefs are full of malarkey, dare them to walk under a ladder or step on a crack or brag about how many fish they’re going to catch the next time. At another time, we’ll look at good luck charms, meant to help fishermen catch a lot of fish.
Kevin McCarthy can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com
McCarthy
A whistler
Redheads
Cows lying down
Bananas
Goodbye
Fishing poles
Cooling
No hurricanes thus far, and some nice steady afternoon showers have dropped the water temperature and turned the bite on!
Inshore, the redfish are thick on every western point and oyster bar. Cut mullet, cut lady fish, or big mudminnows are my weapon of choice this time of year. Get a bunch and when the bite starts, you can catch them till your arms are tired!
Nearshore, the trout bite and grouper bite has been excellent. Deep water for trout this time of year but 10 to15 feet of water and light presentations have produced some true trophies of both species. Grouper season was hot and heavy, and gone before we got to enjoy it. Until next month, Tight Lines!
KATIE JO’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES
Fallis in the air and we have been feeling it already. Expect to have a decent cold front, the second week of October, which will push the fish towards the mouth of the rivers and creeks. The offshore migration of the bigger black drum will also begin, as they perspire to head to deeper water during the winter.
Snook season remains strong with various schools of fish holding steady near the channels and along the rocky points. Mud minnows, xrap rapala lures and cut lady fish offer a meal they often cannot resist. I recommend 30-pound leader for these fish and be sure to change out the leader after each of these fish caught.
Flounder season will close October 15 and remain closed during their spawn of November 30.
Redfish and trout will begin seeking the shallower water as they prepare for the winter months as well. We can expect to catch the fall migration of pompano and permit as they head back south as well. These are often found near the shallow water rock piles and areas
with deep drop offs like ledges.
For the nearshore fishing, hogfish will begin moving into the shallower water as well as the mangrove snapper. The wind typically begins to lay down a bit and become a little more consistent in the middle of the month which allows anglers to get out to them.
The weather is beautiful, and the fish are hungry so get out and catch something!
Captain Katie Jo Davis
KD OUTDOORS FiSHING CHARTERS
772-882-8932 www.fishcrystalriverflorida.com
Lynn and Cary’s front yard, looking up the Suwannee; and looking down the Suwannee.
CAPTAINS COVE
39 West Hwy 40 Inglis, FL
352-447-5610 www.CaptainsCoveOutfitters.com
DW&D BAIT HOUSE
12831 Whiddon Ave Cedar Key, FL 352-543-6109 352-222-9383
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BUBSIE’S BAIT & TACKLE 7 1st Ave Se Steinhatchee, FL 32359 352-275-7666
CEDAR KEY
Hey anglers, the water temps are starting to drop and that's such a great sign for this time of year. Not only is the redfish spawn stronger than ever this year, but now with the cooler temps, we are starting to put a whooping on the big trout again! So, here's been my gameplay the past several weeks. I’ve been using higher tides to redfish, and low tides to run the flats and catch the big trout. I’ve had my best success on trout in that 3-to-4-foot range while using a popping cork with a c&m
custom baits paddle tail. When it comes to redfishing, that incoming tide has been on fire. All you need is some fresh cut mullet and a knocker rig, along with the desire to have a good time! Hit those shell beds till you find a school and enjoy.
Until next month, stay safe out there.
Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing Charters 352-639-3209 www.intheslotfishing.com
HORSESHOE BEACH
Heyguys and gals; I hope everybody had a good September. Like always, October starts my favorite time of the year. Deer, football, ducks and dove and cool weather, and the fishing gets amazing!
Gonna start to see most of the fish head out with the water temp drop, but some seem to hang around. Redfish, trout and drum will turn into our bread and butter like always.
Redfish should start to break away from schools and head back to the creek mouths. It all depends on how drastic the temp changes are. We will have shrimp again, so that will be the best way to catch them,
TroutKEATON BEACH
fishing at Keaton has greatly improved over the last week or so, as the Gulf's water temps are closer to 80 now, than 90 degrees, as held by most of August. Curtis Johnson from Homerville, Ga. and I had our trout to 19 inches in 4 to 5.5 feet of water yesterday. We caught half on live pinfish in some stained water, while catching the rest on Assassin's 5 Inch Shads in the "Stinky Pink" pattern, in water quite a bit clearer. We only saw a couple of schools of bait, but were fishing humps and ridges, a mile or so offshore due to the North East w-i-n-d, which persisted all week in holding the water off the hill, and thus keeping us there as well. We were only bothered by a couple of sharks, while other reports said they were a nuisance of late.
stick bait should start to improve in October, and I'd say use the first of your morning for that. Work your favorite stickbait. Mine is a SheDog by MirrOLure, near creek mouths and expect some bonus redfish to strike orange-bellied baits on overcast days and "shadcolored" white or chrome bellied baits on the "bluebird sky" days. Floating lipped jerkbaits would be my second choice for plugging in October, but we will need to rid ourselves of a great deal of floating grass in order to enjoy the plug fishing in October.
but feel free to throw top-water and paddle tails as well. They should eat anything.
Gonna take a bit for the trout to start to push up, but once again, that can change overnight, with one chilly cold front. Popping corks with 2-to-3-foot leaders will do the trick for ya. Start looking for some potholes and depressions as well. They can be key areas with low water.
Give us a call or email if you want to get on the water. This time of the year is awesome!!
Until next time Keep it Reel Native!
ReelNativeFishing.com
352-284-5514
October is both a moving month and a catching month, once you pattern the preferable depths the trout are moving into. Traditionally that "now new" depth is around 4 feet, as schools of migrating pelagics bunch up, to ready for their big move in November to warmer climes. I recommend rigging up with a jig and float combo to add to your jigging rod, as well as your topwater rod for trout, which are switching their main entry on their menu to live fish rather than the shrimp, which have sustained them throughout the summer. That said, find your color pattern for bouncing a grub etc., early in the morning and expect that "bite " to slow down a bit during the middle of the day. Topwater fishing with a
Caught a 4 plus pound Spanish earlier this week, so they will show up as a bonus in October, as they also feed up for the annual trip south to visit their Yankee cousins in Tampa. ClarkSpoons in sizes 0 and 00 will land a slew of mackerel either trolled or cast. Rig up at least 30-pound test mono or fluorocarbon leader for casting and a trace of Malin #5, 47lb test single strand coffee-colored wire for trolling. Look for bird in 10 to 12 feet of water for mackerel in October.
Can't wait for cooler days on the water, which by the way, reminds me to remind you to call for setting up a trip in October or November
Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 33 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net cell: 850.838.7541
Brent and his wife Whitney, with a 10 ft, 4 in alligator, caught by Whitney
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October
is one of my favorite months, hands down. Nights start getting longer and cooler, and the days start getting a touch cooler and dryer. It’s really just a breath of fresh air from those dog days of the summer. And the fishing, it’s one of the best months the Nature Coast has to offer! Inshore, near shore, or offshore, there’s something for everyone!
Red fishing is really good in October. With redfish still pushing north, we still may have some decent sized migrating schools that are north bound. A lot of these fish can be over sized, so get a quick picture and quickly get them back into the water. Look for these schools to float in with incoming tides around the outside points or keys. Also, look for jumping mullet. My favorite way to catch these fish this time of the year is on a 1/4-ounce gold spoon. If you’re throwing bait, shrimp rigged on a 1/16th ounce DOA jig head or a free lined pin fish, can produce. Fly fishing for redfish this month can be super successful as well. You need to be there when these fish are floating in and throw shrimp pattern flies or gurglers. For trout, look for yellow bottom from trout key bay, outside St. Martin Keys, and all the way down to Chassahowitzka point. These fish are coming in from offshore this time of the year, and they like noise! Fish will respond well to a DOA popping cork, followed with 20 to 24 inches of fluorocarbon to a 1/16-ounce jig head rigged with a Mirror Lure little John in glow or watermelon red flake. The
secret to fishing the cork rig, is to give it time in the pause, 2 to 3 seconds at least. The jig needs to fall to their zone. Fish for snook on the outside points with good water flow. DOA 5.5 CAL in glow nose hooked with a 3/0 J hook will get the job done or a free lined pin fish. As the water cools down these fish will move to the east.
Offshore/Nearshore will be producing a plethora of groceries for your dinner table. Expect to catch plenty of decent sized mangrove snapper, hog fish, grunts and mackerel. Shrimp on a jig head or knocker rig will keep the rods bent. Great fun for the kids! Catch and release grouper fishing is hot this month. I know you can’t keep them, but pound for pound, these are some of our hardest fighting fish on the water. I will be pushing catch-andrelease trips in October for grouper. On fly or spin, these fish are a blast to catch and just because we can’t keep them, does not mean we can’t fish for them. The 8-to-20-foot range will be really good. Casting or trolling plugs will produce some nice fish. Live pin fish or cut threadfins will also make them bite. On your way back in, make sure to check floating debris, piling, and buoys for triple tail. Shrimp under a cork work the best!
As always Stay safe.
Capt. Stump
Jonathan Hamilton 352-403-2073 www.stumpnation.us
October is here! The month of “things happening”. Fish will start staging, to begin their winter patterns. The cooler water temps and slightly nicer days are welcome, after the heat of summer. If we can get through this month with no hurricanes, we will be in the clear!
Snook will be on the move, and start heading east towards rivers and creek mouths. Big live baits and big chunks of cut mullet will ignite the bite you’re looking for. Points and troughs are my favorite places to put a bait. It is snook season, so you can legally harvest them, but please don’t take more than you need. The hard north Florida winters kill many snook each year. Practice safe catch-and -elease measures to ensure the fish swim off healthy.
Redfish will still be schooled up in big numbers. Moving the boat quietly with the sun at your back, will help you spot a school of fish. A lively pinfish placed uptide and drifted down to them, is a great presentation that reds can’t resist. Reds will start lurking the creeks more and more, as the water temps cool. If you find a finicky fish or school, try a free-lined shrimp, if livelier bait doesn’t produce.
Trout will slowly become the star of the show on my boat in October. As they transition into their fall patterns, it can be hard to stay on them consistently. They will move miles in a day. Hard bottom with grass patches in 3 to 5 feet of water is a great place to start. A Lil John under a popping cork is a great way to start the search. In shallower waters, I prefer a DOA jerk bait with a 5/0 hook nose rigged. Slow presentation and a few twitches and Boom! You’re in em!
Tight lines and God bless
SURF & PIER
October is my favorite month of the year! The Summer heat is gone! The water temperature is dropping, and the bite is on fire! With the water temp in the 70s, the tarpon are still here, before heading south. The pompano have returned from their summer vacation up in the Outer Banks. Most importantly, all the species in the surf are chewing. The Mullet Run will start to slow down, but do not go to the surf without your cast net and bucket.
The big, oversized redfish will be biting until the water drops below 65, which may not occur until December. One recent December, my charter and I put a smack-down on big redfish. The water was still in the 60s and mullet were still hanging around. The air temp was in the 30s and I could not feel my fingers when on hooking those six-inchlong mullet. Check out the photo! If you want to catch your personal best redfish, then now through November is your best time, before they head offshore to warmer water. My go-to rig is a fish finder tied with 50-pound mono tip, with a 3/0 circle hook for baiting with mullet. When the mullet are gone, I use a 5/0 tipped with half of a blue crab.
These big reds are not leader shy. I have caught so many with a 10/0 circle hook on 480-pound steel leader tipped with half of a whiting while targeting blacktip sharks. So, tackle up heavy if you want to catch your PB redfish. One fun thing to do is to cast lures in the surf. Spotted seatrout, weakfish, bluefish, flounder, redfish and a lot of other species come into very shallow water especially on a calm morning. I am talking about 24 inches shallow! Right at sunrise, I prefer a solid color lure that makes a silhouette against the low light. Later in the morning, if the sun is bright, I will switch up to a super flashy mirror-like lure. Top- waters and suspending baits work better since you are casting into shallow water.
So, the weather is right, and the bite is hot! Get out and go now! See you on the beach!
Noel Kuhn
43 years of surf fishing experience, surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. Founding member of Florida Surf Casters club. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com
NEFlorida waters… Our fall mullet run is one of the best times of year to get outdoors and do some fishing. Cooler air temperatures and hungry predatory fish, means fun for everyone on the water. The best areas to fish will be easy to find right now, where you see the mullet, you’ll find redfish, trout, flounder, snook, and maybe even a few tarpon. Those fish will be lurking just underneath the mullet schools, looking for an easy snack. There are countless numbers of lures, both hard and soft plastic, that do a great job of imitating a mullet. October is probably my favorite month to go the top-water plug route and use a Berkley J-Walker 100 or 120. They are great “walk the dog” type plugs that even the most shy redfish or trout can’t resist this time year. If you want to go subsurface, try the soft plastics from Saltwater Assassin like the 4 inch Sea Shad. It looks just a like a mullet and can be fished weedless or on a traditional jighead.
Along with the influx of mullet to Northeast Florida comes our fall flounder run. Some of the best catches, both in numbers and in size, come in the fall. The fish-finder rig is the go-to for many anglers looking to catch some flounder. It consists of using about 12 inches or so of leader, attached to a swivel with a barrel weight above the swivel. You want to use enough weight to hold the bottom and a
hook, sized accordingly to the size of mullet or minnow you’re using. Another favorite rig is a jighead in either 1/4 or 3/8 oz. with a finger mullet pinned to it. The jighead rig allows you to fish without getting hung up as easily on structure like oysters and rocks. If lures are your thing, try a Saltwater Assassin Jerkbait or paddle tail rigged just like you would the live stuff. All that being said, just a reminder that flounder are closed for harvest Oct 15th-Nov 30th.
The inlets will come alive this month. Big bull redfish will be schooling up in the deeper areas of the all the inlets as well as on the edges of the St. Johns River. A cut blue crab or mullet on the bottom will get their attention. There will also be some tarpon around the inlets, feeding on the bigger mullet schools, so make sure to have a bigger rod ready to go for these monsters.
If you missed out on the flood tides last month don't worry, you still have plenty of days in October to find some tailers. Redfish and sheepshead will still be tailing away looking for crabs, snails, and just about anything that hangs out in the grass. Any crab or shrimp soft plastic imitation will work well for the reds.
Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734
MARISPEAK NAVIGATIONAL APP
Coastal Angler recently had the opportunity to speak with Evan alas, CEO of alas Apps, to discuss Marispeak (short for Maritime Speak) to see what all the chatter and excitement was about regarding the new Marispeak navigational app. Four years into the making, this new app instantly turns your phone into a maritime communication and information center, allowing clear and secure messaging, maps, water depths, weather information and more. It also enables a push to talk “Walkie Talkie” feature, and audio/video calls for quick communication with anyone using the Marispeak App, once they have been added to your private group, or with any user in the help group.
Some key features of the Marispeak App.
• Nautical Maps Overlay - Displays shipping channels, buoys and channel markers
• Realtime AIS Data - Displays vessels on a map in realtime.
• Plotter - Displays your boat’s current position in real time, allowing recording and retrieval.
• Water Depths
• Speed Indicator
• AI-Arti cial Intelligence Module - Allows you to verbally ask boating, shing and marine life related questions, and receive spoken answers from MariSpeak AI.
• Help Feature - Communicate with other Marispeak users and request assistance
• Real Time Tracker Device - Tracks your boat if it has been stolen.
According to Evan, his previous positions as National Business Development Manager for Uniden Australia, and Account Manager for ICOM Australia, enabled him to understand the need for an economical and easy to use navigational and communication device for the marine industry. Evan received assistance for the UI (User Interface) design from Nikolaus Hema, a Graduate of Distinction from Swinburne University in Australia with a master’s degree in design digital research, specialising in research in arti cial intelligence. Evan set out to revolutionize the boating/navigational industry, by utilizing high tech functionality with low tech use applications. is was no easy task. Developing this app for a global audience required years of painstaking e ort from the team.
Now fully tested and available through the APP Stores, this app is a “must have” for all boaters of any size vessel including kayaks and canoes.
Coastal Angler Magazine salutes Marispeak for their monumental accomplishment which we believe is destined to change the boating industry.
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GO RED IN OCTOBER
October has traditionally been one of my favorite months of the year for a number of species, but especially for grouper. I’ve always said that Christmas week is the apex of grouper fishing…and it is. I’ve also said that there is a mental hierarchy in grouper, with gags being at the top and reds being at the bottom. I could catch a red grouper on a wooden dowel rod with menhaden oil on it and a hook attached…and that is not an exaggeration.
I hate to be repetitive, but a live pinfish on a Squid Decoy Jig is a dead ringer for red grouper (and all grouper for that matter). If you have the ability to keep a pinfish trap in the water, I would strongly suggest securing several dozen pinfish to take bottom fishing. Everything out there eats them, not to mention they are very hardy and will live all day in the livewell. Red grouper, gags and scamps all view pinfish the same as sailor’s choice and other small snappers as egg eaters. If for no other reason, they will eat them just to kill them, so they don’t eat their eggs. Frozen cigar minnows and sardines have caught more grouper (historically) than all the other baits combined. That’s what they eat!
Tim Barefoot
ice, fuel or weather.
We always had hundreds of pounds of (frozen) cigs and sardines, so let’s not get too carried away with the bait selection. Frozen cigs get the job done, but now that I’m fishing the super stealth decoy
10 seconds. Nothing down there can resist it. Period.
As I always say, “Find the bait, find the fish.” Yes, I like to fish structure like ledges, wrecks or live bottom, but the main ingredient is food. If you mark big stacks of cigar minnows, sardines, beeliners, etc., it’s always a good idea to fish below that, and keep the light line out on the surface or near the surface for all the pelagics. We have vast areas of sand bottom with no structure whatsoever. We just fished big stacks of bait and caught them GOOD! Red grouper can be caught in most depths of water. From as shallow as 15 feet on the Atlantic side to 400 feet and beyond. The only problem with fishing this style of jig and minnow combination is that you are definitely gonna catch gags, scamps, blacks— and those “endangered” American red snapper.
jig/bait combination, I do love a live pinfish or other live baits.
Please take a descending device and familiarize yourself with how to use it.
I guess that’s why I’m writing this article featuring red grouper this month; because that’s about all we have to fish for this time of year. So get out there with some pinfish and frozen minnows and harvest the red grouper and scamps.
On a commercial fishing trip (many years ago), if you ran out of any one of these four things, it would send you back to the Hill: bait,
With that all being said, don’t ever pass up the opportunity to jig up live cigs and sardines for the ULTIMATE combo! The life expectancy of a live cig or sardine on a Decoy Jig is under
Take your kids fishing, too, and make plenty of videos and photos that’ll last a lifetime.
Learn more from Tim Barefoot on his YouTube channel and at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
Oh, Snap! Chasing Giants in The Keys
By Astrid deGruchy
When it comes to snapper fishing, the Florida Keys are hard to beat. From shallow mangroves to deep wrecks, these waters hold everything from tasty keepers to tackle-busting giants, and the right gear makes all the difference.
shrimp, pilchards, or cut ballyhoo for consistent action. Downsizing leader in clear water is key. On the reef edge, Yellowtail snapper are Keys gold. Target them from spring through fall using a PENN Slammer IV 4500 with 15 lb mono. Set a steady chum slick and free-line white baits like pilchards on a Mustad 1/0 J-hook. Keep your presentation natural since yellowtails spook easily.
For heavier hitters, Mutton snapper shine during the late spring and early summer full moons. Use a PENN Authority 5500 matched with 30 lb mono leaders and Mustad 3/0 to 4/0 circle hooks (Big Guns are the best). Drift live pinfish or pilchards back naturally, and be ready, when a mutton eats, it’s all power. For something more regal, head deep for queen snapper, the true royalty of the snapper world. These stunning red fish haunt 500-1,000 feet down along the continental shelf. A PENN Fathom II paired with 40 lb braid and a Mustad 6/0 circle hook tipped with squid or bonita chunks gets it done. Most anglers opt for electric reels, but handcranking one up is a badge of honor.
Mangrove snappers are the everyday staple, found year-round around bridges, mangroves, and patch reefs. Light tackle with a PENN Spinfisher VI or Battle III 3500 with 20-25 lb mono gets the job done. Use live
WHY BUY NEW WHEN YOU CAN RENEW?!?
Then there’s the ultimate test: the Cubera snapper. Capt. Kody (@capt_kody) recently put me on a 65-pound Cubera out of Key West. These brutes demand muscle, like PENN International 50VISX, 80-100 lb mono + Mustad 12/0 circle hook type muscle. Summer full moons are prime, and whole lobsters are the bait of choice (yes, not cheap). Once you’re hooked up, it’s a brutal test of endurance, arguably the hardest fight you’ll experience on stand-up gear, especially when you’re handcranking every inch.
Out here, every snapper tells a story… from the quick hits of mangroves to the heartpounding brawls with cubera beasts. We live for those moments, and now you can too. Follow the journey on Bean Sportfishing TV on YouTube. If you are interested in a Cubera Trip, reach out to Capt. Kody Michael on Instagram (@capt_kody) or go to reel-guides.com
SPEND LESS TIME ON TASKS More Time Fishing
It’s no fish tale when you run with a John Deere. You can get everything done faster and easier, so you get more time on the water. Plus, our special offers make them the catch of the day.
THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS: Naturally in Rhythm ~ and
Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, the US Virgin Islands embody a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and laid-back serenity. These islands are more than just a picturesque getaway; they are a living testament to nature’s rhythm and resilience, effortlessly in tune with the world around them.
With no passport required for U.S. citizens, from the moment you arrive, the islands’ natural rhythm is palpable. The gentle sway of palm trees, the soothing sound of surf crashing against sandy shores, and the vibrant melodies of local music all echo the heartbeat of this tropical paradise. The islands’ lush landscapes, with their verdant hills and crystal-clear waters, mirror the steady pulse of life that sustains the local ecosystems and communities alike.
The US Virgin Islands’ environment is a symphony of biodiversity with world class fishing and diving. These natural elements are not static; they dance in harmony, influenced by the tides, wind, and seasonal changes—further emphasizing the islands’ intrinsic rhythm. This delicate balance underscores the importance of conservation efforts, ensuring that future generations continue to experience the islands’ natural cadence.
Culturally, the US Virgin Islands are equally in tune. The music, dance and festivals reflect a vibrant heritage rooted in African, European and Caribbean traditions. The spirited calypso beats
and reggae rhythms are expressions of life's ongoing dance—celebrating resilience, community and joy. These cultural expressions are an extension of the islands’ natural rhythm, showcasing how human life here moves seamlessly with nature’s flow.
In a world often dictated by chaos and rapid change, the US Virgin Islands serve as a reminder of the beauty of being in sync with nature’s tempo. Their natural, cultural and ecological rhythms offer
a blueprint for sustainable living and harmony. As travelers and residents alike continue to embrace this rhythm, they uphold a legacy of balance—one that celebrates life’s natural flow and the enduring spirit of these remarkable islands. In the US Virgin Islands, being in rhythm
way of life.
North Carolina’s Delayed Harvest Trout Season Begins October 1
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will implement Delayed Harvest Trout Waters regulations on 33 trout waters beginning Oct. 1. Under Delayed Harvest Trout Waters regulations, only catch-and-release of trout is permissible from program waters between Oct. 1 and June 5, 2026. No natural bait may be possessed, and anglers can fish only with artificial lures with one single hook. An artificial lure is defined as a fishing lure that neither contains nor has been treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell. NCWRC staff stock Delayed Harvest Trout Waters from fall through spring with high densities of trout to increase anglers’ chances of catching trout. Delayed Harvest Trout Waters, posted with diamond-shaped, black-andwhite signs, are popular fishing destinations for anglers who enjoy catchand-release trout fishing. Anglers should be aware that stocking locations along streams may be different than in the past due to hurricane damage impacting the stocking truck and angler access.
For more information on trout fishing and stocking, visit ncwildlife.gov/trout and to follow the progress of the Setzer renovation, visit ncwildlife.gov/setzer.
