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The Workingman’s Drum By CAM Staff
Young angler Hayes Grinnell did battle with this big black drum while fishing the Texas coast with Slinging Mullet Guide Service and Get Em Guide Service.
I
n some circles, black drum don’t get the respect they deserve. Maybe it’s their appearance? With weird chin barbells and a humped head, they hug the bottom, looking like the hunchbacked cousins of the sleeker redfish inshore anglers adore. Or maybe it’s their reluctance to take a lure? Black drum feed primarily by scent, and while you might catch one slinging a spoon, targeting them requires bait, which is more effort than plug and paddletail aficionados are willing to put forth. However, for anglers who aren’t too prissy to get their hands dirty, black drum have a whole lot to offer. They are the workingman’s drum, found nearshore and inshore throughout the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic seaboard to New England. Black drum pull hard, with powerful bulldogging runs regardless of size. And they grow quite large, reaching weights well over 100 pounds. On top of that, they provide consistent action in a wide range of areas where they can be caught. Shore-bound anglers can target them from docks, bridges, jetties and piers, where drum hunt crustaceans around structure. Surf anglers often connect with them on quartered blue crabs cast outside the breakers. From a boat, passes and inlets are prime feeding grounds as is nearshore structure. Shallow-water anglers find younger specimens way up in the estuaries tailing like redfish for fiddler crabs in tidal creeks.
Their movements are seasonal, but as long as you’ve got bait, you can pursue black drum pretty much anywhere you choose. Like most fish, they bite best on a moving tide, when your bait’s scent disperses over a wide area. They’ll eat halved blue crabs, whole fiddler crabs or mud crabs with backs cracked to let a little scent out, and also live or dead shrimp or fresh cut bait. On the northern end of their range, anglers add clams, mussels and blood worms to the array of baits a drum will eat. As long as your bait is on the bottom and smelling like food, it’s likely to draw the attention of a drum. Rigging and gear are pretty simple. A classic Carolina rig with just enough weight to keep the bait on bottom will get the job done in most situations. Up in the creeks, where you’ll be doing more casting and maybe even sight fishing, baits can be fished on a jighead or even a simple hook with a split shot. Tackle in the 20-pound class is a good starting point, and it’s wise to beef up to pull big drum off structure. They do get big. The IGFA world record, caught in 1975 off Delaware, weighed 113 pounds, 1 ounce. Fish in the 40- to 50-pound range are regular catches across the drum’s range. Those big fish aren’t good to eat, though. The meat is often full of worms by the time fish reach weights heavier than about 15 pounds. Smaller drum are excellent table fare. For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.
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IT’S GROUPER TIME AGAIN! By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
M
ay is finally here, opening grouper season for fishermen on the Atlantic Coast. For the past several months of the season closure, charter captains in the Florida Keys have been boasting incredible throw-back grouper catches. The reopening of this species enriches each fishing trip with an extra opportunity for a great fighting fish, which is also excellent tablefare. Grouper fishing can easily be peppered into a day of fishing by dropping a bottom rig down while yellowtail fishing, trolling lures or stopping offshore to deep-drop for snowy grouper while on the mahi hunt. While the fishery in the Keys may not be famous for its bottom fishing, there is no reason it shouldn’t be. Red, black and gag grouper are plentiful and close to land. Snowy grouper aren’t too far either, and can be reasonably reliable to target. Snowy grouper are found within 1,000 feet, and can be targeted with electric or hand-crank set ups. Electric reels are advisable when mahi season is in full swing, as to make quick work of the one-per-boat limit of snowy grouper. The trek offshore for a single fish might seem like a waste of time, but there is a little more to it. Snowy grouper can get quite large and yield impressively sized, excellent tasting fillets. There
are also the welcomed bycatches of rosies, barrelfish and tilefish while deep dropping in these areas. Furthermore, there should be ample opportunities for mahi fishing on the way to and from the spot. Another reason the electric reel is preferable is an 8-pound weight should be used to keep your bait on the bottom in the heavy current. Keep your weight as close to the bottom as you can and utilize a chicken rig, with multiple hooks along the leader, baited with just about anything. Continuously recheck the bottom to make sure it hasn’t gotten away from you, and bring a spare weight or two, as it isn’t overly difficult to lose one while fishing this way. Targeting red, black and gag grouper on the reef can be a little different than typical grouper fishing on the west coast of Florida. Heavy weights can easily get snagged on the rocky bottom in the heavy current, potentially making inexperience quite expensive in terms of lost tackle. There are also plenty of smaller reef fish waiting to pick apart your bait. Over-baiting can be a good tactic, but the most reliable way to bypass these conditions, is to simply freeline a live bait on a jighead. After breaking client’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, we are thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again. Right now is an excellent time to visit the Florida Keys and enjoy our full fishery. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla.
LURES
CASTING FAR: THE DYNAMICS OF LONG DISTANCE LURES
PATRICK SEBILE
I
’ve enjoyed fishing from the shore since I was a teen angler, and one thing that became obvious to me very quickly was there are numerous situations when casts are a tad bit short to reach targeted fish in specific situations. This is a constant truism when fishing from the bank, the beach, a pier or jetty, but it also applies to boat anglers. Quick, long casts are often required for fastmoving fish like tuna. Long casts are also useful when it’s necessary to keep the boat away from reefs, boulders and breakers for safety or to avoid spooking fish. Long ago, I began making sure to always have lures in my possession that
were especially efficient for reaching out long distances. These lures sometimes trade realistic swimming action for distance, yet there are also a few that find a balance between great range and great action. When you read the packaging of a saltwater lure, and especially a surffishing lure, it often mentions how good the lure is for longdistance casts— or how good it is supposed to be. The problem is, there is no scale. There is no quantifiable reference for comparing lures that honestly presents the real numbers of yards any given lure will deliver. Marketing promises do not
always translate into real performance. To make things more complex, there is theoretical and real distance. A lure that casts great on a parking lot with no breeze can turn into a disaster when casting into an onshore breeze at night, which are conditions many serious fishermen face in the surf. There’s no magic, and what makes some lures reach farther distances than others is a mix between their concept, their balance and, to a certain extent, the gear used to throw them when the goal is to reach a little bit farther than other anglers. This conversation is all about the physics that translates to longer casting distance for better fishing results. The key points that will help you pick the proper lures to do the job are shape, buoyancy, the position of weight on the lure, the total weight and sometimes extra appendages, such as side wings that really help a lure fly as far as possible. These elements are just a primer to a discussion on lures designed for distance. Next month, I plan to go in-depth on ways you can select lures that will truly help you cast super-long distances to reach fish other lures cannot. Arming yourself with a longcasting arsenal gives you an edge in catching fish, simply because you’ll be able put a lure in front of them.
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Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.
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Shiner Fishing for Giant Florida
LARGEMOUTHS
B
ass tournament anglers get excited about 20-pound five-fish limits, and a 30-pound tournament sack is a lifetime achievement for most. It takes a little bit more to impress hawg hunter Sean Rush. Rush makes a living guiding clients to trophy largemouth bass, mostly on Rodman Reservoir in north Florida. The best five fish haul his boat has seen weighed 61 pounds, 9 ounces. Think about that. That’s a more than 12-pound average. Rush said it was the best fishing day he’s ever witnessed, with two fish well over 13 pounds and the smallest of the five weighing a measly 11 pounds, 1 ounce. Most bass anglers across the country spend a lifetime seeking out a single 10-pound-plus largemouth. Rush’s anglers did five lifetime’s worth of trophy catching in a single day on April 26 of 2021. “And we probably lost between three and six fish that were that big or bigger,” Rush added after rattling off the astounding statistics. “Those guys were from New Jersey. They had never done any Florida shiner fishing before. I told them it was all downhill from there.” The downhill slide, however, is not too steep. Even a decent day using Rush’s techniques on Rodman produces results that would impress just about anyone. When it comes to catching big largemouths, he’s got several advantages over your average angler. Location is a big factor. Rodman is a 9,500acre giant bass factory. It is a 15-mile long stump field with a deep river channel running down the middle of it and the matted vegetation Florida
By Nick Carter
fisheries are known for. In more than three decades guiding, Rush said his clients have boated close to 1,000 bass better than 10 pounds. He landed 73 10-plus-pounders last year alone and has overseen the landing of eight fish on FWC’s TrophyCatch Hall of Fame list, which is for fish heavier than 13 pounds. He does 95 percent of his trips on Rodman. “If fishing is good, we commonly catch 30 to 60 fish a day,” he said. “The average size at Rodman is pretty solid. Usually we’ll have fish in the 8- to 10-pound class on the top end of that range.” Tactics are everything when it comes to catching fish like that. Live bait provides a huge advantage over the lures tournament anglers must fish. Rush fishes exclusively with live, wildcaught shiners, which he keeps lively in a huge bait tank on his custom-built, 22-foot Prodigy Razor. The tournament guys can keep their fiberglass glitter rockets. Rush’s sturdy aluminum boat is rigged out for the style of fishing he does, and it’s powered by a 150 hp Mercury with a power-assisted hand tiller. The tackle is also sturdy. Rush pairs heavy duty Daiwa 300 Lexa baitcasting reels with super heavy 7 ½- and 8-foot rods he said are essentially musky rods. He fishes straight 20-pound Berkley Big Game in green, which is thin enough for low visibility and strong enough to get the job done. He hooks his shiners through the tail above the anal fin with 3/0, 4/0 or 5/0 Eagle Claw 84s, which
are standard J hooks with a slight offset. In a typical spread, his anglers will work shiners under bobbers set 3 to 5 feet deep, and he’ll throw out one or two shiners on freelines to swim up under the vegetation. For big fish, he prefers shiners 7 to 9 inches long. Rush’s big-fish reputation has gotten around, so he stays booked 300-plus days a year. His favorite time of year is fall, before the December through February spawn. “It’s prespawn, the fishing pressure is lower and the fish are feeding up that time of year,” he said. “The fish are also big then. They look like gorillas.” Late spring and summer are also good, once fish settle back into normal patterns after the spawn. Most of the year he targets them around floating mats of vegetation and deep river bends. The exception is during the spawn, when bass push up on the flats. Rush does not bed fish, though. He’ll set up on mats near known spawning flats and try to catch big females staging. One more thing: don’t call Rush if you want to eat bass or have a trophy mounted. Rodman is managed under regular Florida regulations— which allow five fish, with one fish longer than 16 inches—but Rush’s trips are catch-and-release. “I’m up front and honest about it on the phone,” he said. “If they even talk like they want to keep one, I just won’t take them.” Contact Capt. Sean Rush and Trophy Bass Expeditions of Central Florida through the website at www.floridatrophybass.com.
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Monster Blue Cat Smashes Mississippi Record By CAM Staff
T
he Mississippi River near Natchez, Miss. has a history of producing giant blue cats. The most recent monster catfish, caught on April 7, weighed 131 pounds and absolutely crushed the existing state rod-and-reel state record. Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, Mississippi, had just set up in a 90-foot-deep hole downstream of Natchez. About five minutes after making his first cast, the big fish took the cut skipjack he was using as bait, according to a report in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. “He hit the rod and started pulling drag,”
Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. “We had to untie the boat and float down the river. “I couldn’t move him. I’d pull on him and take in a foot of line and he’d pull and take 10 feet. I just sat there like I was hung up.” After a 40-minute fight on 30-pound line, the angler’s exhaustion made hauling the fish into the boat a chore. Cronley has caught 50-pound fish from the area before, and he didn’t
realize exactly how big this fish was until he put eyes on it. Then, it was time to start looking for a certified scale with the capacity to weigh such an enormous fish. Cronley’s fish waited on ice for three days before he was able to get a certified weight. Fish lose weight when they are out of the water. The Clarion Ledger reported that the fish had an initial weight of 138 pounds on uncertified scales. Even out of the water for three days, Cronley’s blue cat shattered the previous rod-and-reel state record of 95 pounds, caught from the Mississippi near Natchez in 2009. In 1997, a 101-pound Mississippi trophy record blue catfish was caught in the same stretch of river. The IGFA all-tackle world record for blue catfish is 143 pounds. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia in 2011. Cronley’s catch, if certified by IGFA, would possibly be a new 30-pound line class record. The 30-pound line class record stands at 111 pounds. It was caught in 1996 from Wheeler Reservoir in Alabama. For more Mississippi fishing records, visit mdwfp.com.
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Permit Monitoring Funded for Western Dry Rocks
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE POWELL
ast year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), initiated an annual total fishing closure from April through July at a popular fishing location off Key West known as Western Dry Rocks. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) recently announced a $600,000 investment to monitor the effectiveness of the closure in protecting spawning permit. Western Dry Rocks is an area of reef and rock about 10 miles southwest of Key West that hosts large spawning aggregations of permit and various snapper and grouper species each year. Its proximity to Key West and the dependable nature of the fishery make it a popular spot for bountiful half-day trips. The intent of the closure, which bans fishing in a 1 square-mile area from April through July for seven years, is to protect populations of several species
by allowing them to spawn unmolested by anglers. Permit, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper and gray snapper are all known to aggregate at Western Dry Rocks from April through July. These spawning aggregations, along with the swirling currents that sweep past Western Dry Rocks are thought to play a role in the distribution of fish eggs and larvae throughout the Florida Keys and up the Atlantic coast of southern Florida. BTT’s investment will fund a monitoring program for three years. “We can’t overstate the importance of this analysis for fisheries management and how appreciative we are to our partners at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Working together on this important research initiative helps to ensure Florida’s status as the Fishing Capital of the World.” FWC is requiring updates on regulation effectiveness at three, five and seven years, with a sunset clause at seven years if the closure is not meeting expectations. BTT scientists expect the spawning-season closure will have positive impacts on the behavior of permit at Western Dry Rocks, resulting in more relaxed schooling behaviors and enabling spawning fish to remain at the site longer. BTT will work with collaborators from previous permit research projects to test these predictions by comparing data collected at Western Dry Rocks (WDR) with data from other known permit spawning locations where fishing is allowed. “The monitoring will build on datasets that measured depredation, spawning permit aggregation characteristics, and permit spawning migrations at key spawning sites prior to the closure,” said Dr. Ross Boucek, BTT Florida Keys Initiative Manager. “By studying permit at WDR and comparing the WDR data to information gathered at other permit spawning sites that aren’t protected, we’ll be able to assess the effectiveness of a spawning season closure at WDR as a management tool.” The monitoring program will utilize acoustic telemetry, sonar technology and laser-mount underwater cameras to monitor permit spawning behaviors, estimate permit abundance and estimate permit size. The program will also employ methods previously used at WDR to determine rates of depredation at spawning locations that are still fished. For more information, visit myFWC.com.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF FWC TROPHYCATCH
PINK-TAGGED BASS OFFER BIG MONEY
T
here’s a whole lot of gift-card money out there for the lucky anglers who catch one of 10 pink-tagged largemouth bass that were distributed around Florida waters this spring. To celebrate the tenth season of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program, biologists stocked 10 trophysized largemouth bass with bright pink tags into 10 different freshwater fisheries. Each angler who catches and documents a pink-tagged bass will score a $5,000 gift card to Bass Pro Shops, $1,000 to shop at AFTCO, and secure a chance to win an additional $10,000. “Our freshwater biologists tagged 10 huge bass across the state – just about everyone is within a day-trip’s distance to fish for one of these tagged bass from a boat, kayak or even the bank. Now comes the fun part for anglers!” said TrophyCatch Director KP Clements. “Get out there and catch one! Tag, you’re it!” FWC’s TrophyCatch program is a valuable tool for freshwater fisheries research and management. It provides reward incentives to encourage anglers to catch, release and report trophy-sized (weighing 8 pounds or more) largemouth bass in Florida. The program develops public-private partnerships to protect trophy bass, promote fishing and support fisheries conservation programs. TrophyCatch anglers with approved bass receive rewards from program partners while FWC biologists learn more about producing and sustaining the best trophy bass fishery in the world. Here’s a list of the waters where pink-tagged bass are swimming: • Newnans Lake, Alachua County • Lake George, Putnam/Volusia counties • Lake Talquin, Gadsden/Leon counties • Lake Walk-in-Water, Polk County • Tenoroc Fish Management Area, Polk County • Lake Trafford, Collier County • Lake Istokpoga, Highlands County • Lake Griffin, Lake/Orange counties • Lake Rousseau, Levy/Citrus counties • Johns Lake, Orange County For more information, visit www.trophycatchflorida.com.
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R
ecently, federal fisheries managers approved cuts to cobia harvest in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. At the May 4 meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC staff will recommend regulations for state waters that are consistent with the new federal regulations. The proposed rule would: • Increase the minimum size limit from 33 to 36 inches fork length in all state waters. • Reduce the commercial bag limit from two to one fish per harvester, per day for Atlantic state waters. • Reduce the recreational and commercial vessel limit from six to two fish per vessel, per day for Atlantic State waters. These regulations changes were spurred by a recent stock assessment that shows cobia are undergoing overfishing. According to the proposal, a substantial portion of Florida’s cobia harvest comes from state waters. Staff is recommending the commission adopt these new regulations without further hearing. For more information, go to MyFWC.com.
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Summer-Long Statewide Fishing Competition Launches May 28 F or the first time in the history of Florida STAR, CCA Florida, will launch the annual STAR competition presented by Yamaha with a Title sponsor. CCA Florida STAR is proud to announce West Marine as the Title sponsor of the 2022 competition. West Marine began its support of the STAR competition in 2016 and each year has stepped up to a greater level of sponsorship. For 2022, West Marine has chosen to title the competition in order to increase awareness of the company’s commitment to the conservation of our fisheries resources for future viability which is so important to the future of its business. The West Marine CCA Florida STAR competition kicks off on May 28, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The 101-day, summerlong event invites anglers and non-anglers to participate and win their share of prizes valued at almost $500,000, including boats, motors, scholarships and more. Launched in 2015, STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, catch-photo-release format. STAR’s dedicated smartphone app promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants to upload competition photos, eliminating the requirement to harvest or capture and transport fish. CCA Florida also uses data collected from the app to educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources. This
10 FLORIDA
MAY 2022
important data is also available to other conservation organizations and universities for use in their studies on conservation, habitat and stock assessments. “In the past seven years, it’s been amazing to see STAR participants support conservation by embracing the catch-photo format and picking up garbage during the annual competition” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Even more exciting is the participation of over 7,000 registrants annually and awarding more than $2.1 million in prizes, with $700,000 specifically awarded in youth scholarships.” The 2022 STAR competition is comprised of 17 divisions targeting 12 inshore and offshore species plus the cleanup of trash. STAR’s signature Tagged Redfish Division offers winners the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200 TRS or Spyder Boats FX19 Vapor, all powered by Yamaha Outboards. For the first two youth anglers who win this division, prizes include two tiller boats powered with Yamaha Outboards, trailers, Minn Kota trolling motors and Humminbird electronics. The best opportunity to catch this year’s tagged redfish will be in Brevard, Citrus and Charlotte counties, STAR’s 2022 Destination Counties which each have eight tagged redfish in their coastal waters. There will be on average four STAR tagged redfish in every other coastal county of Florida for a total of nearly 170 released
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tagged fish. There is one tagged fish that is worth $50,000 cash. This special tag is sponsored by Alta Equipment Company. For offshore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division offers one winner a $10,000 cash prize. The first STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches one of the tagged dolphin will win. These dolphin will be tagged and released in the coastal waters of Florida for STAR by the Dolphin Research program implemented by the Beyond Our Shores foundation. STAR is a family-friendly competition, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing for an opportunity to win one of 12 scholarships totaling $100,000. Other divisions include ladies, kayak, conservation, guides and many more. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest fish. Any size fish can win. Registration is open throughout the competition, but anglers who register before May 28 will be entered in the Engel Early Bird Drawings for weekly prizes. To register for STAR 2022 or receive additional information on divisions, prizes and more, visit ccaflstar.com or Facebook.
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destin, FL May 2022 Tide Chart Provided by
Destin (Choctawhatchee Bay, East Pass), FL Nix Point, Perdido Bay, FL - Sep 2021 www.USHarbors.com May 2022
ft
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HalfHitch.com • 888-668-9810
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Thomas Dr. • Panama City Beach 621 Hwy 98 • Destin 8711 Hwy 98 • Navarre 8:19 0.0 6:32 6:57 7:08 1:52 -0.1 5:55 2206 7:29 Thomas Dr. • Panama City Beach 202 Hwy 98 9:30 0.0 6:33 6:56 621 Hwy 98 • Destin 10:28 0.0 6:33 6:54 2:31 -0.1 5:55 7:29 7:07 HalfHitch.com 8711 Hwy 98 • Navarre • 888-668-9810 11:12 0.0 6:34 6:53 Hwy2206 98 Thomas Dr. • Panama City Beach 2:59 5:54 11:42 7:30 0.1 6:34 202 12:170.0 1.0 6:52 7:06 621 Hwy 98 • Destin HalfHitch.com • 888-668-9810 1:16 0.9 11:55 0.2 6:35 6:51 8711 Hwy • Navarre 2206 Thomas Dr. •98 Panama City Beach 3:16 0.0 5:53 7:31 7:05 202 Hwy 2:15 0.8 11:41 0.2 6:35 6:49 621 Hwy 98 •98 Destin 3:213:26 0.1 0.73:45 9:300.3 0.35:52 10:56 7:31 0.3 6:36 6:48 HalfHitch.com • •888-668-9810 8711 Hwy 98 Navarre 0.3 6:29 5:21 0.6 11:35 0.2 9:18 0.3 6:37 6:47 202 Hwy 98
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r ou y or F r ou y !rr For lifestyyou e l ! e or ou l F y y t s or e f li F style!! lliiffeestyle
www.USHarbors.com
High
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www.USHarbors.com
2206 Thomas Dr. • Panama City Beach 621 Hwy 98 • Destin 8711 Hwy 98 • Navarre 202 Hwy 98
HalfHitch.com • 888-668-9810
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may 2022
the emerald coast 1
Stay Salty Fishing Forecast with
Capt. alex kendrick Reel Salty Charters Destin www.reelsaltydestin.com
W
ith April come and gone we are one month closer to steady warm days and southern breezes. With this weather combo brings in our migratory fish such as King Mackerel. Probably one of my favorite fish to catch on light tackle. I personally love my Shimano TLD 30's loaded with 30# high vis matched with an All-Star 40-60# rod with a roller tip guide. Using 43# wire and hay wire twist to make a stinger rig with treble hooks. Now as for hook size it's really a personal preference. If you plan on using bigger baits obviously go with a bigger hook set and smaller hooks for smaller baits. If I'm trolling for kings, I
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may 2022
like to keep the boat at 1-2 kts working around schools of bait. Now if you enjoy fishing for multiple species at the same time, I'd keep a fly line out while bottom fishing. A free-swimming bait on top won't only attract kings, but other fish as well. Tuna, barracuda, mahi, and even sometimes your bottom fish such as snapper. Fishing like this is a sure way to keep things interesting. You honestly never know what's out there swimming around the surface so keep that bait out and keep it fresh. Don't forget to check us out on Instagram @captain_alex_kendrick or @ reelsaltydestin. As always Stay Salty.
FAMILY FUN! Find out why Destin’s historical and natural ingredients have made it into the world class resort it is today! Experience the exciting and educational exhibits detailing early life in Destin... • Outdoor Heritage Park Complex Primrose (Destin’s oldest seine boat),Post Office (Destin’s original post office) with all new exhibits, memorial pathway and heritage markers • Reef, beach, & bay ecology exhibits • Over 100 mounts of locally caught fish • Rodeo Gallery which features all things Destin Fishing Rodeo • Community Life exhibit features the history of our school, community center, Blessing of the Fleet and churches. The exhibit includes backlit stained glass from the Greek Orthodox Church • Hands on stations for kids and teens • Scavenger hunts for the young and young at heart. • Audio tours • Small and large group storytelling tours.
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H
ere in the panhandle, May = amberjack for those that beg for a beating! Whether you call them ‘Reef Donkeys’ or ‘Knuckle Busters’ one thing is for certain, there is no mistaking the impressive and unrelenting power of a hungry AJ. Let’s build a football team real quick. The Mangrove Snapper is gonna be our quarterback - smart, a little sneaky and keeps the team on the right page. Our wide outs are gonna be Wahoo - built for speed and hungry for action! Our linemen will be made up of grouper and if it’s my team I’m paying extra for goliaths. Our halfback is gonna be the show boating sailfish and our full back is gonna be brute strength with a touch of speed - the Amberjack.
There are two main methods of targeting Amberjacks. The old school way of live baiting and the new(er) method of jigging. Like with any fish, you must match your tackle with the grade of fish you are targeting. With live bait and larger fin bait with long leaders. By long leaders I’m talking 10-15’. Mate your leader to a hook that’s big enough and strong enough to catch the fish but it also must not overpower you bait size. Just look at it and you will know. There are LOTS of jigs out there. I prefer a butterfly jig with a strong assist hook. I like changing the cadence of my jigging motion in the water column. Fast, fast, fast, fast then slow and wide for a bit then fast again. Sometimes I will bounce the jig using a snapping wrist motion
without any retrieval at a certain depth. Keep this in the back of your mind while AJ fishing…these fish are athletes, and they know how to do one thing and that is EAT. They are competitive with one another as well. Picture one tennis ball and 4 golden retrieves in the same room. AJs like fast, lively baits and rapid retrieval on the jig. Good luck and happy May fishing in the Florida panhandle!
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
may 2022
the emerald coast 3
SPRINGTIME SPRINGTIME + FISHING SPRINGTIME + FISHING FISHING === GOOD GOOD TIME TIME GRILLING GRILLING GOOD TIME GRILLING
C
a
to fis ates bein
GRILLED GRILLEDCOBIA COBIASALAD SALAD GRILLED COBIA SALAD WITH WITHCORN CORNAND ANDWATERMELON WATERMELON WITH CORN AND WATERMELON Recipe from: www.foodandwine.com
s a G l a r s u t a a G l N a r u t Na o Good iiss S So Good
Recipe from: www.foodandwine.com Recipe from: www.foodandwine.com INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS INSTRUCTIONS
INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS 2 TBS extra-virgin 1. 1.Light a grill and After 2 TBS extra-virgin Light a grill andset setit itup upfor fordirect directand and Afteraalong longday dayof offishing, fishing, natural natural gas gas olive oil, plus more indirect grilling. Oil the grate. Brush the 2 TBS extra-virgin 1. Light a grill and set it up for direct and olive oil, plus more indirect grilling. Oil the grate. Brush the After a long day of fishing, natural gas makes it easy to come home and cook for brushing fish with olive oil and season with salt and makes it easy to come home and cook olive plus more indirect grilling. Oiland the season grate. Brush the and for oil, brushing fish with olive oil with salt makes it easy toSimply come home andignition cook pepper. the the catch. push for brushing fish withGrill olive oil and season with salt high and pepper. Grill thefish fishover overmoderately moderately high theday’s day’s catch. Simply push the the ignition 1 3/4 LBS skinless 1 3/4 LBS skinless direct heat, turning once, until cooked pepper. Grill the fish over moderately high the day’s catch. Simply the ignition direct heat, turning once, until cooked button and you’re ready to grilling. cobia fillet (1”(1” thick) 1 3/4 LBS skinless button and you’re readypush to get get grilling. cobia fillet thick) through and lightly charred, 1010 minutes. direct heat, turning once, until cooked through and lightly charred, minutes. button and you’re ready to get grilling. cobia fillet (1” thick) No need to worry about messy charcoal Salt & Pepper Transfer toto aa plate Refrigerate No need to worry about messy charcoal through and lightly charred, 10 minutes. Salt & Pepper Transfer plateand andlet letcool. cool. Refrigerate for 3030 minutes. Keep the on. No need to worry about messy or enough propane, with efficient & Pepper Transfer to a plate and letgrill cool. Refrigerate for minutes. Keep the grill on. 1Salt small poblano chile orhaving having enough propane, withcharcoal efficient 1 small poblano chile for 30 minutes. Keep the grill over on. or having enough propane, with efficient 2. Meanwhile, grill the poblano natural gas, your grill is always ready. 12 small poblano chile 2. Meanwhile, grill the poblano over natural gas, your grill is always ready. ears of corn, 2 ears of corn, high direct heat 2. moderately Meanwhile, grill the poblano over moderately high direct heatand andthe thecorn corn natural gas, your grill is always ready. in the husk, soaked 2 ears ofhusk, corn, in the soaked over indirect heat, turning, until both •• Convenient, moderately high direct heat and the corn over indirect heat, turning, until both Convenient,safe, safe, fast, fast, easy easy to to use use in water forfor 1soaked hour water 1 hour in in the husk, vegetables are tender and the vegetables are tender and thechile chileisis over indirect heat, turning, until both • Convenient, safe, fast, easy to use intablespoons water for 1 hour • Less expensive to operate than 2 • Less expensive to operate than charred, 88 minutes for 2 tablespoons charred, minutes forthe thepoblano poblano and1212toto vegetables are tender and the chileand is fresh lime juice electric charcoal 15 minutes forfor the Transfer totoaand • propane, Less expensive to&& operate than fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons propane, electric charcoal 15 minutes thecorn. corn. Transfer acutting cutting charred, 8 minutes for the poblano 12 to board and let cool slightly. Peel, stem and fresh lime juice propane, electric & charcoal board and let cool slightly. Peel, stem and 15 minutes for the corn. Transfer to a cutting 2 cups seedless 2 cups seedless •• Never Neverrun runout outof ofgas gas or or charcoal charcoal seed the poblano, finely. Shuck seed the poblano, thenchop chop finely. Shuck board and let cool then slightly. Peel, stem and watermelon—rind watermelon—rind 2 cups seedless • Never run out of gas or charcoal the corn; cut the from the Let the corn; cut thekernels kernels from thecob. cob. Let seed the poblano, then chop finely. Shuck removed, cut into removed, cut into watermelon—rind cool. cool. the corn; cut the kernels from the cob. Let 3/4-inch pieces 3/4-inch pieces removed, cut into 3. 3.cool. InIn a serving bowl, whisk 3/4-inch pieces a serving bowl, whiskthe the2 2tablespoons tablespoonsofof 1/4 cup cilantro 1/4 cup cilantro oiloil with the the with thelime limejuice. juice. thefish fishwith with 3. olive Inolive a serving bowl, whisk theFlake 2Flake tablespoons of sprigs 1/4sprigs cup cilantro a fork and add toto the poblano, a fork and add thebowl bowlwith withthe the poblano, olive oil with the lime juice. Flake the fish with sprigs To Tolearn learnmore moreand andto to schedule schedule aa free free Plantain chips, Plantain chips, corn, watermelon and cilantro. toss corn, watermelon and cilantro. Gently toss a fork and add to the bowl withGently the poblano, forfor garnish garnish To learn more and to schedule a free in-home consultation, call 850-729-4700 in-home consultation, call 850-729-4700 the salad and season with salt and pepper. Plantain chips, the salad and season with salt and pepper. corn, watermelon and cilantro. Gently toss Let stand forfor 10 with Let stand 10minutes, minutes, then garnish with for garnish in-home consultation, call 850-729-4700 or orvisit visitOkaloosaGas.com/grilling. OkaloosaGas.com/grilling. the salad and season withthen saltgarnish and pepper. 4 4THE EMERALd COAST 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THE EMERALd COAST may may 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM plantain and plantain chips andserve. serve. Let standchips for 10 minutes, then garnish with • •THEANGLERMAG.COM or visit OkaloosaGas.com/grilling. 4 THE EMERALd COAST mayplantain 2022 chips COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM and serve.
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Championship Charters Located in the Heart of Destin
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Capt. Matt & Capt. Christian on their 42’ Buddy Davis sportfishing boat for an adventure you will never forget. The Little Baby Sea Pig is a fully loaded yacht with any accommodation you could want.
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Both Capt. Matt & Capt. Christian have a special love when it comes to fishing for pelagic fish. Capt. Matt loves these colorful fish so much that he creates art of them. These creations led to the development of an apparel line that is being launched very soon. With 10 types of charters available, Championship Offshore has an adventure for everyone. From 4 hours up to 48 hours, the opportunities and fish species are endless. For specifics on all trip offerings, visit ChampionshipOffshore.com
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CawtithCh Capt. si nelson IG: GulfCoastCapt • FB:Captain Si Nelson
I
n years past we’ve had some epic cobia fishing here in the Panhandle. It seemed consistently good until it just wasn’t. I was asked by a close friend recently what I thought about it. I told him I could share with him 19 of the most popular pontifications on the subject, and I could then throw in mine and make it a 20th. However, I told him I don’t think my answer was any better than the other 19, and I wasn’t sure that any one of them was much more cogent than the other. For the sake of this story, all I’m really willing to say is that while I know they’re not here, I’m pretty sure they’re somewhere else. However, I hope we never know for certain. For me, part of the draw to nature is the not knowing. Nature calls us from the safety and seeming certainty of our brick and mortar lives and brings us to the edge of civilization to suss out secrets and wrestle with mystery. It’s in this journey we find ourselves and what stuff we’re made of. Nature and its players are indifferent. A cobia doesn’t care what she did last spring, or
what those before her did. She doesn’t care you’ve waited all winter for her arrival or that you’d like to live out the good old days one last time. She’s got nowhere to be and all day to get there. She can swim where she likes, whether it be on the bottom or all along the surface. The fact is, as frustrating as this can be it makes us realize what a precious gift these experiences are and were. If it were a given, I suppose we’d grow tired of it. It’d lose its luster and become just as much a part of civilization as traffic and taxes. Once again, we’d find ourselves abandoning the predictable and mundane to live on the edge, just to see what’s out there. Nature is so full of these delightful mysteries. Why don’t Pt. Washington turkeys gobble? Where does all the bait go when it’s cold? What’s the biggest trout in this bay? How big can a Florida deer really get? Just how many bull reds are under that bridge anyway? Where has this fish been and where was he going? These wonders are what fuel our pursuit and have continually since the first human strolled upright through the morning mist. As I said before, I hope some of these mysteries are never solved and for every nut we do crack, I hope we find two more behind it. It’s what drives progress and makes life better. Every time an explorer embarks beyond the edge of his known world, he hopes to come back with something more to share, whether it’s fried fish dinner, or thoughts about where we’re going as a species. Thankfully, wads of cobia or not, no one returns from the sea empty handed.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
MAY 2022
THE EMERALD COAST 5
pensacola, FL May 2022 Tide Chart Provided by Pensacola, FL 2022 Nix- May Point, Perdido Bay, FL - Sep 2021 www.USHarbors.com
Nix Point, Perdido Bay, FL - Sep 2021 High
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8
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6:492ND ANNUAL PETE MOORE MEMORIAL
FISHING RODEO 6:48 6:47 6:46 6:44 6:43
MAY0.1 21 · PENSACOLA YACHT CLUB 6:39 6:42
4:19 5:43
PeteMooreFishingRodeo.com 0.1 6:39 6:41
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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(850) 499-5685 capt.elizabeth@ 4:10 1.0 coastalanglermagazine.com
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contact elizabeth 0.9
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1:16
COASTAL ANGLER
1:334:05 -0.2 0.7
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Moon
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4:00 1.40.7 3:05 3:56 6:26 7:11-0.2 5:53
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6:03 10:43 7:28 0.0 6:02 11:24 7:28 0.0
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Moo
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6:29
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to lo ou ru w m th 18 m m no
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www.cottoncountrymarine.com Our selection of boats are available to view on our website!
Call us today! (850) 601-5988 5091 Booker Lane Jay, FL
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We are open Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
importance of Fresh Nonethanol Gas in your Outboard Motor
E
veryone talks about the difference in ethanol versus nonethanol gas in the marine industry. The marine industry recommends the use of nonethanol gas in your outboard motor. Ethanol gas in known to attract water. The main reason for using nonethanol is that ethanol loses its octane rapidly. We have customers drain their old gas from the outboard motor, put it in a car, and it runs fine. So they think it is fine to run in their outboard motor. What they don’t think of is your car cruises with an overdrive transmission at around 1800-2000 rpms. The outboard motor cruises around 4000-5000 rpms. The higher the rpms…the higher the octane needs to be. Scientists have reported that the ethanol gas loses 18% of its octane every month. Each manufacturer of outboard motors have minimum octane ratings that is safe to run in their motor. Most four stroke motors are in repair shops for fuel related problems. It is better to keep fresh nonethanol gas in your boat. Enjoy your boating.
Cotton Country Marine (850) 601-5988
emerald coast's to do Reel Salty Destin Capt. Alex Kendrick 850-974-0790 reelsaltydestin.com Capt. Trey Senterfitt
850-419-3373
www.risingsonexpeditions.com Serving the Greater Santa Rosa Beach Area
Capt. Si Nelson
850-803-2628 ngcdestin.com
Capt. Nick Tate • 706-767-4427 www.strictlybusinessfishing.com @StrictlyBusinessFishingCharters @StrictlyBusinessFishing_
@capt_jonez
Destin's Premier Fishing Charters Panhandle Fishing Charters 850-226-3127 panhandlefishingcharters.com
Destin Fishing Charters LLC 850-685-1396 destinfishingcharters.net Booking only the best boats and captains since 2006!
Mike Smith 850-529-5405
smittyssurffishing.com
850-797-4193
Capt. Jayson Self www.destinfishingcharterskok.com
Capt. Chuck MaddeN
High Tide Charters Capt. Justin Jones
850-296-7252
www.rollingtidesportfishing.com
501-940-0888 abovethesaltcharters.com
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E-6 Inshore Adventures
Twisted Palms Salty Adventures Charters:
Capt. Bill Lipscomb 850 585 6806 www.e6ifa.net
Capt. Larry Shults 606-416-2716
www.twistedpalmssaltyadventures.com Perdido Key•Pensacola•Orange Beach
Got The Hook Up Charters Captain Brandon Hilliard USCG Certified
(850) 240-6186
1/2 - 3/4 - Full Day Trips
Capt. Brandon Hilliard GotTheHookUp_Charters
Capt. John's Fishing Charters www.captainjohnfishingcharters.com 314-393-9365
Would you like to showcase your business on Emerald Coast's To Do? It's as easy as emailing your business card! Call today for more information. (850) 499-5685 | Capt.Elizabeth@CoastalAnglerMagazine.com
Emerald Coasting
Fishing Forecast with Capt. matt miller Miller Fishing Company 850-501-5016 • www.millerfishingcharters.com
W
ell, it’s finally starting to look like summer! The water is warming up, the fish are moving, and we’re catching plenty of them. Inshore the sheephead bite has still been great; we’ve been catching them on light tackle with fiddler crabs and live shrimp on our jetties & piers. Since the water is warming up it seems like the redfish and trout have been a lot more abundant. We have been catching them on various hard baits such as mirror lures, Yozuri lipped diving plugs, and jig heads with paddle tail style soft plastics. We have also been catching them with free-lined live bait such as LYs and shrimp. Offshore has been on fire when the weather allows us to go. Earlier this month we had my brothers Batchelor party aboard our friend Bill Swicks 42LR Freeman powered by quad 400hp Mercury’s, which we had a full day of fishing on. We ran 80nm offshore to do some daytime swordfishing. About 5 minutes into our first drift, we hooked a nice one on a Hooker Electric Tiagra 80w - which is a beast!!!! 1.5 hr into it Drew Redman harpooned the fish perfectly in the head and took off burning up the rope that was attached to the harpoon! It all happened so quickly, luckily his harpoon shot was truly a perfect headshot right behind the
fish’s eye. We had a good bit of leverage to get the fish’s head turned coming back to the boat. Chris Mowad and Drew sunk two gaffs in the fish boat side, and it was game over!!!! 175lb Broad Bill Swordfish! Such an awesome fish! On our way in we got a limit of beautiful triggerfish, which have still been very abundant offshore and nearshore. Can’t wait to get out there and do it again. Thanks to Chris, Drew & Bill for making my little brother’s Batchelor party the best he could have asked for! As always till next time, tight lines and thanks for reading!
Fishing
On Credit
Fishing Forecast with Capt. mason o'Daniel
Pensacola Fishing Co. 850.733.7436 • www.pensacolafishingco.com Social @pensacolafishingco
Greetings Gulf Coast Anglers!
10 THE EMERALD COAST
may 2022
C
aptain Mason O’Daniel, checking in once again, fresh off a late season Turkey Hunt! While we had just a little down time, I got away for some pre snapper season fun!! Back on the water, the bite has been on fire!! We have been filling the box with our share of Vermilion, Lane and Mangrove Snapper, as well as some Gray Triggers and quite a few Red Porgy!! Personally, nothing beats some fresh Ceviche made with a mixture of Mingos and Triggers. I like to mix an equal amount of lemon and lime juice, add some red bell and jalapeño peppers and BAM! That’s lunch for my next 12-hour day on the boat!! Looking forward to May, AJ’s are back in season for the month. Lately, it’s been almost impossible to keep away from the boat, same can be said for Red Snapper, just a bit too early!! We sure have hooked some monsters though. May should also provide the long anticipated 2022 Red Snapper Season schedule……still waiting…..still waiting….That’s all for now peeps, keep those lines tight and enjoy these beautiful Spring Days!!
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
lemon That’s
Lately, e said nsters napper peeps,
Surf Fishing with Smitty
Fishing Forecast with mike smith • www.smittyssurffishing.com FB: @SmittysSurfFishing • IN: @smittys_surf_fishing Smitty's Surf Fishing
A
s water temperatures heat up, so does the fishing this month. The pompano and spanish mackerel bite along the shore was on fire last month. That bite will continue as we move into the first part of May. However, the big star of May is going to be the return of sharks. That’s right, May is when we start to see the blacktip, spinners, and blacknose sharks return along the panhandle. While we have been catching bulls and sandbars just shy of the second sandbar, May is when sharks move within casting distance. This month, I will always have a rod rigged and ready to throw cut bait when I hit the beach. Whether a chunk of mullet or a butterflied blue runner, fresh bait will be the key to catching a decent shark from shore. I prefer a twelvefoot heavy, fast action rod like the Florida Surf Tackle’s Big ‘Un; this rod is
rated 6-8 oz plus your bait. I pair that with an 8000 to 10000 size spinning reel, spooled with a few hundred yards of 80-pound braid. You will want a large reel for the higher drag rating and line capacity. A long fight can be detrimental for the shark and usually results from underrated gear. As an ethical angler, you want to be able to get the shark to shore quickly so as not to tire out the shark. This way, it can be released just as quickly and increase the odds of survivability, which is the most important thing if not planning to harvest the shark. As for rigs, you can make your own or purchase from the many rig makers that specialize in big game rigs. I like to use the castable three-foot Small Shark Rig by Rogue Reelz. These leaders are 480 pounds 7x7 stainless steel nylon coated wire with a sliding barrel swivel and a size 7/0 hook and will handle anything that may take your bait. The most important thing you can do before shark fishing is to read up on the regulations. There is a required Shore Based Shark Fishing Course that must be completed here in Florida if you target sharks. You can find it on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s website (https:// myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/sharks/). It covers harvestable and prohibited species, specific gear needed, and ethical practices when targeting sharks. My last tip when targeting sharks is to do it at night when the beaches are not crowded. While you will hook a shark during regular daytime surf fishing, it is not ethical to specifically target sharks on a crowded beach. Catching sharks from the shore can be a lot of fun if done right. Make sure you have the proper gear, read up on regulations and identification, and fish when the beaches are less crowded. Until next month folks may your lines be tight and coolers be full.
Saltwater Thoughts Fishing Forecast with brian demo Avid Surf Angler Host of “Finding Demo Surf Fishing” Podcast
M
ay is going to be a fun month of fishing! Then again, aren't they all? April brought the water back to those perfect temperatures, and the water sure has come to life! I could say Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, Red Drum, and many more, but you already knew that. Hopefully, you've been crushing it and limiting out with smiles and getting that freezer restocked from the winter feasts. One thing that has been missing is the Kingfish (aka Whiting). I miss those sweet morsels. It truly is one of the most versatile fish to eat, as I have yet to find a way to screw it up. I've mentioned this before, and I think it's essential to repeat it: read the farmers' almanac! It has been eerily accurate for 2022, and I have constantly checked it before going out. The saddest part is when you start looking at the days you have off, and it says "poor" for the fishing category. I've had some slam days that show poor, but not enough to make me want to jump up and fish on them. With that all being said, here is an excerpt from almanac.com about the best times to fish: 12 THE EMERALD COAST
may 2022
— One hour before and one hour after high tides, one hour before and one hour after low tides. Inland, the times for high tides correspond with when the Moon is due south, and low tides are halfway between high tides. — During the "morning rise" (after sunrise for a spell) and the "evening rise" (just before sundown and the
hour or so after). — During the rise and set of the Moon. — When the barometer is steady or on the rise. (But even during stormy periods, the fish aren't going to give up feeding. The wise fisherman will find just the right bait.) — When there is a hatch of flies—caddis flies or mayflies, commonly. (The fisherman will have to match his fly with the hatching flies or go fishless.) — The breeze is from a westerly quarter rather than from the north or east. — When the water is still or slightly rippled, rather than during a wind. I want to bring your attention to the hatch of flies portion. Recently, Chip "The Sinker Guy" Brundage posted about "matching the hatch" with his newest beads on the hook. The thought process behind it makes the fish see what's on the beach (coquina clam/sand flea) and attack it. This is another tip to add to your tackle box to help you catch fish. Fishing this month is going to be excellent! I have zero doubts about it. In each article I've written, I say it: make sure you have plenty of bait options! There have been several recent postings about it here and on social media. Phil "Salt Squatch" Hollandsworth has been posting some very informative videos lately on his social media to help explain it so you can catch more fish! I hope this was helpful for you and that you enjoyed your time out on the water. Remember, the swimmers will be out in force, so stay patient and have plans for your fishing spots. Until then, go forth and do good things!
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May 2022 Tide Chart Provided by
Destin (Choctawhatchee Bay, East Pass), FL Perdido Bay, FL - Sep 2021 May 2022 Nix Point,www.USHarbors.com
Nix Point, Perdido Bay, FL - Sep 2021
Date
High
Date
AM
ft
1
Wed
8:56
1.0
2
Thu
10:06
1.0
3
Fri
11:08
1.0
4
Date
Low PM
AM
ft
AM2 3
ft
Wed
8:56
1.0
Fri
11:08
1.0
6 Fri 11:56
0.0 9
Wed
0.0 11
Fri Sat
12
Sun
13
Mon
14
Tue Wed
8
10
0.0
Thu
7
Sat
8
Sun
15 16
Thu
9
Mon
17
Fri
10
Tue
18
Sat
19
Sun
20
Mon
ft
12:03
ft
ft
8:58
-0.1
Set 12:54 1:47
7:13 2:47
1.0
6:26 7:12 12:13 4:19 0.8 0.6 6:11
0.7
4:05
AM
PM 1.1
ft
Rise
Set
0.0
6:25
7:13
6:26
7:12
11:24
0.0
6:26
7:11
0.0
6:27
7:09
6:27
7:08
0.0
6:28
7:07
0.1
6:28
7:06
0.2
6:29
7:05
0.0 Rise 10:43 Set Moon
6:01 11:56 7:25
Moon 9:46 -0.1 6:00 7:25 12:23
10:4512:42-0.1
0.9
12:49
11:5312:30-0.1
0.6
5:59 7:26 5:58 11:50A 7:27
0.2
11:10
0.3
0.2
6:30
7:02
0.1
6:31
7:01
0.1
6:31
7:00
0.0
6:32
6:58
0.0
6:32
6:57
5:55 10:28 7:29
0.0
6:33
6:56
0.0
6:33
6:54
11:12
5:54 7:30
0.0
6:34
6:53
11:42
5:53 11:55 7:31
0.1
6:34
6:52
0.2
6:35
6:51
0.2
6:35
6:49
0.3
6:36
6:48
9:18
5:52 7:32
0.3
6:37
6:47
12:58
0.2
6:37
6:46
2:03
0.2
6:38
6:44
3:07
0.1
6:38
6:43
0.1
6:39
6:42
0.1
6:39
6:41
0.1
6:40
6:39
0.1
6:41
6:38
0.1
6:41
6:37
0.3
1:45
0.7
5:57 3:29 7:27
4:57 0.8 1.0 12:59 1:48 6:27 7:09-0.1 5:53
PM 9:53
1.0
6:26 12:59 0.8 0.9 7:11 4:18 4:00
www.USHarbors.co
Low
ft Low
PM
ftThu PM10:06 ft 1.0 AM
PM ft Rise 2 Mon 10:595 0.8Sun 6 Mon 9:53 0.0 7 3 Tue 11:32 0.8Tue 6:25
11:24 5 Thu 1.1
AM
Sun 10:334 0.8Sat
10:43 4 Wed 12:03
Sat
ft
1
1
High
High
www.USHarbors.com
5:56 5:13 7:28 6:52
1.0
2:36 7:05 0.7 1.1 1:52 6:27 7:08-0.1
5:55 8:19 7:29
5
Sun
12:54
1.0
6
Mon
1:47
1.0
12:23
0.0
7
Tue
2:47
0.9
12:42
0.1
8
Wed
4:05
0.7
12:49
0.2
9
Thu
4:19
0.6
6:11
0.6
12:30
0.3
10
Fri
4:00
0.7
11
Sat
4:18
0.9
3:29
12
Sun
4:57
1.0
13
Mon
5:53
1.0
5:13 0.1 0.8 6:31 15 Sun 9:33 28 Tue 5:43 29 6:50 6:52 0.0 16 Mon 10:08 0.9Wed 6:32
14
Tue
7:05
1.1
8:19 0.0 0.9 17 Tue 10:56
6:32
15
Wed
8:29
1.1
18 Wed 11:53 9:30 0.0 1.0
16
Thu
9:55
1.1
19 Thu 10:28
6:33
0.0
12:54 6:331.0
17
Fri
11:11
1.1
11:12
0.0
1:56
6:34
0.9 12:51 -0.2
5:47 7:37
18
Sat
12:17
1.0
11:42
0.1
2:55
6:34
0.8
1:48
-0.2
5:47 7:38
19
Sun
1:16
0.9
11:55
0.2
3:49
0.7
2:30
-0.1
5:46 7:38
20
Mon
2:15
0.8
11:41
0.2
4:37
0.5
2:52
0.0
5:46 7:39
21
Tue
4:27
0.5
3:26
0.7
9:30
0.3
5:39
0.4
2:48
0.1
22
Wed
3:26
0.6
5:21
0.6
11:35
0.2
23
Thu
3:15
0.8
24
Fri
3:23
25
Sat
3:41
0.9
26
Sun
4:10
1.0
30 Mon 10:01 4:19 0.1 0.8
27
Mon
4:50
1.0
5:43
28
Tue
5:43
1.0
29
Wed
6:50
30
Thu
8:05
0.2 24 23
3:23 0.7 1.1 2:31 9:55 6:28 7:07-0.1 4:10
0.6
5:12
0.5
11:11
6:28
1.1
2:59
0.0
12:17 7:06
1.0
7:05 2:15
0.8
3:161:16 0.0
6:29
Fri
6:30 3:23
0.8
Sat
3:41
0.9
4:10
1.0
4:50
1.0
Thu
13
Fri
9:22
14
Sat
9:1526 0.7Sun
0.1 25 27
30
0.5
20
Fri
21
Sat
22
Sun
23
Mon
24
Tue 11:29 0.4
10:56 0.3 25 Wed 9:30 0.5 9:18 0.3 0.6 26 Thu 8:55 12:58 27 Fri
3:15
0.9
6:31
Mon
Thu
9:30
1.1
11 Wed 11:56 0.4Tue 7:324:27 0.4 0.5 3:213:26 0.1 21 11:50A 0.2 11:10 0.3 22 Wed 3:26 0.6 5:21 12 Thu 10:04 0.4 11:20 0.3 3:03 0.1
1:45
0.9 @EmeraldCoastCAM
8:29
1.0 1.0
8:05
1.0
6:35 6:35 6:36 6:37
7:02
1:32
0.2
7:01 7:00 6:58
0.9
3:45 9:300.3
0.7 0.6
6:29 11:35
11:41
5:52 10:56 7:31
0.3 0.2
5:11
0.2
6:03
0.0
5:51 7:33
6:55
0.0
5:50 4:19 7:33
7:53
-0.1
9:00
-0.2
5:43
5:50 7:04 7:34 5:49 8:09 7:35 9:00
6:57
10:18 -0.2
5:49 7:35
6:56
11:38 -0.2
5:48 7:36 5:48 7:37
6:54 6:53 6:52 6:51 6:49
6:480.1
1:58
6:47
4:50
0.3
5:45 7:40
5:54
0.1
5:45 7:40
6:31
0.0
5:44 7:41
7:06
0.0
5:44 7:41
0.2 0.7 8:52
6:37
6:46
28 Sat 9:06 2:03 0.2 0.8
6:38
6:44
7:42
-0.1
5:44 7:42
29 Sun 9:30 3:07 0.1 0.8
6:38
6:43
8:23
-0.1
5:43 7:43
6:39
6:42
9:10
-0.1
5:43 7:43
6:39
6:41
10:04 -0.1
5:43 7:44
31
Tue 10:38 0.8
0.1
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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0.1
6:40
may 2022
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0.1
6:41
6:38
1.0
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0.1
6:41
6:37
6:39
the emerald coast 13
Moo
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Bowfishing rod and reel fishing • trips to craB island
plan your next fishing adventure in Beautiful
destin, florida! Call or text 850-528-9212 www.reelnockoutfitters.org www.facebook.com/reelnockoutfitters
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May Tournaments Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament ECBGFC Billfish Extravaganza Mongo Offshore Challenge Orange Beach Billfish Classic ECFC Young Guns Juniors Tournament
May 13-14 May 12-15 May 1- Sept. 1 May 17-22 May 14
www.emeraldcoastopen.com www.ecbgfc.com/billfish-extravaganza www.mongooffshore.com www.orangebeachbillfishclassic.com www.ecfclub.org/event-details/ ecfclub-annual-juniors-tournament-young-guns
Pensacola Ladies Billfish Tournament May 6-7 www.pbgfc.com/copy-of-pensacola international-bil Invitational Gulf of Mexico Gulf Coast Masters
May 5-7 May 23-29
www.milliondollarmarlin.com www.gulfcoastmasters.com
June Tournaments Pensacola Junior Angler Billfish Tournament Pensacola International Billfish Tournament Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Bud Light Pensacola Fishing Rodeo
June 17 June 29-July 3 June 22-26 June 17-20
ECFC Bottom Fishing Tournament Rock Jumper
June 18-19
Pygmy 3: Offshore Kayaking Tournament
June 18
www.pbgfc.com/copy-of-ladies-tournament www.pbgfc.com/pensacola-international-billfish www.fishecbc.com www.pensacolasports.org/ pensacolafishingrodeo/
www.ecfclub.org/event-details/ ecfclub-annual-bottom-fishing-tournament rock-jumper www.goatkft.com
Insurance for peace of mind.
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t s a o C d l a r e Em B O A G A R R D B Veteran Shane Lee catches Tiger Shark c's: Photo Provided by Kyle Ma Shark Fishing Charters & Excursions Photo Provided by M
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Abigail Demo places 1st in a surf fishing tournament for kids in New Smyrna
Caught by Hunter Lewis out of Destin with Playing Catch Charters
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If you have a catch to brag about, send your picture and caption to: capt.elizabeth@coastalanglermagazine.com
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FWC CONSIDERS STATEWIDE REDFISH MANAGEMENT CHANGES
A
t the May 4 meeting of the Florida Wildlife Resources Commission, staff plans to propose several changes that will alter the way redfish are managed statewide. This initial presentation is a first step that seeks to obtain approval to publish the proposed rule changes and begin public workshops for stakeholder engagement. Here are the proposed rule changes: • Modify the redfish management regions • Prohibit captain and crew from retaining a bag limit during for-hire trips • Reduce the off-the-water transport limit from 6 to 4 fish per person • Increase the bag limit for the Big Bend region from 1 to 2 fish per person • Reduce the 8-fish vessel limit in each of the proposed management regions: » Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast: 4 fish » Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast: 2 fish • Only allow catch-and-release fishing for redfish in the Indian River Lagoon region Along with altering bag limits, these rule changes would allow FWC to utilize smaller regional units and annual reviews to evaluate redfish fisheries using six metrics: habitat, harmful
Figure 1. Proposed redfish management regions.
algal blooms, escapement, relative abundance, fishing effort and stakeholder feedback. A summary of the proposed changes reads: “Anglers primarily target redfish inshore, so an angler’s redfish fishing experience is closely linked to local environmental conditions as well as local fishing effort. Given this link and stakeholder feedback in support of a new management approach, the FWC is using a new approach that incorporates a holistic review of ecological and human factors. Applying the new approach, staff
evaluated the nine proposed management regions (at left) and prepared the first Annual Reviews.” Jumping out ahead of the proposal, CCA Florida has issued a call to its members to oppose the increase in bag limits from one fish to two in the new, smaller Big Bend region, which would stretch from Wakulla County to Pasco County. The current region covers this area, but also includes Escambia County. CCA Florida commended FWC for its other management redfish management efforts. These rule changes will be introduced at the May 4 FWC meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, see the “Commission Meetings” link at MyFWC.com.
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The 2022 Central Florida Shootout features a weekend of fun, from the Captain’s Party to the Awards Ceremony & Angler Ticket Drawing. OVER $20,000 in cash prizes will be paid out for the Tournament! Award categories include 10 different species, a general entry category, as well as entry categories for Lady Anglers and Juniors. You can also purchase tickets ($50) for a chance to win a brand new 2022 Avid Magnum w/Yamaha VF250 V MAX SHO, aluminum trailer, and T-Top VALUED AT $70,000. Winner will be drawn at the Awards Ceremony. You do not have to fish in the tournament to participate in the drawing.
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LIONFISH REMOVAL EVENTS MAY 8-15 M ay is Lionfish month in Florida. In a continuing effort to raise awareness and combat this invasive pest that populates Florida reefs, there’s a host of activities centered around Destin this month. The 2022 Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival will be held May 14-15 at HarborWalk Willage in Destin. The two-day festival includes lionfish tastings, fillet demonstrations, conservation and art booths, an interactive Kids’ Zone and more. For more information on the festival, go to FWCReefRangers.com. The Emerald Coast Open, the largest lionfish tournament in the world, will be held in conjunction with the Lionfish Festival. With big cash prizes as well as tens of thousands of dollars in gear prizes, divers will compete for most, largest and smallest lionfish. There will also be raffles for gear. Pre-tournament runs through May 12. The tournament will be held May 13-14. Final weigh ins will be held at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin at 11 a.m. on May 15. Registration is $100 at emeraldcoastopen.com. May 8-14 also brings on Emerald Coast Open Restaurant Week, when the chefs of Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s featured 18 FLORIDA
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restaurants will highlight lionfish in unique and delicious dishes. Here’s the daily line-up of featured restaurants: DEWEY DESTIN’S - MAY 8 CRAB TRAP DESTIN - MAY 9 HARBOR DOCKS - MAY 10 LA PAZ - MAY 11 BROTULAS - MAY 12 AJ’S SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR - MAY 14
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he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser vation Commission will seek final approval for regulations changes to facilitate management for trophy largemouth bass at Fellsmere Water Management Area, also known as Headwaters Lake, in Indian River County. Fellsmere, which was designed to become a trophy bass fishery when it was impounded more than a decade ago, is already renowned as a trophy bass fishery. It is believed custom regulations will help the fishery grow bass 15 pounds and larger. Special regulations for Fellsmere would include catch and release of all largemouth bass and circle hook requirements when fishing live bait greater than 3 inches in length. These measures were previously approved at the December 2021 meeting of the commission. FWC staff will request final approval at the May 4 meeting of the commission in Gainesville.
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REPORT YOUR COBIA CATCH
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. CEFUS MCRAE
f you catch a Florida cobia, scientists want to know. FWC is researching reproduction and movement of cobia in Florida waters, and anglers are being asked to help by reporting their cobia catches through September. Cobia along Florida’s coasts have been fitted with conventional dart tags and surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters. Data collected by acoustic receivers along the coasts allows researchers to track cobia movements and learn more about the spawning migrations of the Gulf and Atlantic stocks. Scientists are also working with the public to sample the reproductive organs of harvested cobia. This data will allow scientists to determine if and where cobia are spawning along Florida’s coasts. If you catch a cobia from now until September, call (561) 882-5975 to arrange for a biologist to meet you and get a $50 reward. Fish must be kept whole or filleted with the carcass and organs intact on ice. If you catch a tagged cobia: • For the purpose of this study, harvest of tagged cobia is discouraged. • Photograph the tag. • Record the tag number, fork length, date and general location of catch. • Release the fish in good condition with tags still intact.Call (561) 8825975 to report the cobia and get a reward and shirt. Releasing tagged cobia will allow researchers to continue gathering valuable data. If you harvest a tagged cobia: • Report all information listed above for tagged cobia. • Return both the internal acoustic transmitter and plastic dart tags to: Attn: Jim Whittington Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Hwy. Tequesta, FL 33469 The internal acoustic transmitter can be found implanted just inside the body cavity on the underside of the fish. This will provide valuable information to researchers. E-mail questions to Joy.Young@MyFWC.com or Jim.Whittington@MyFWC.com.
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n Illinois angler broke the Missouri state record for paddlefish in March. He snagged a 140-pound, 10-ounce paddlefish at Lake of the Ozarks. It beat out the previous record— set in 2015 at Table Rock Lake—by just one ounce. Record-breaking angler Jim Dain, of Pittsfield, Ill., was on a family fishing trip and almost decided not to take the boat out because of shifting weather conditions the day he caught his monster fish. “The forecast was calling for storms, and then it changed to no rain, so we went out, but it just kept getting colder,” Dain said. “We weren’t having much luck, but decided to fish for another hour. So we took another turn, and that’s when the drag on the reel started. It felt like a tree was on the line!” Paddlefish are an interesting target for anglers because they are filter feeders and will not take lures or baited hooks. The most popular method for catching them is to troll large, un-baited treble hooks to cover water and hopefully snag one. “We got 16 one-gallon bags of meat out of this catch,” laughed Dain. “We’ve fried it, grilled it and made paddlefish tacos the other night. We’ll be having paddlefish for a while!” Missouri’s paddlefish seasons run March 15-April 30 on its major paddlefish snagging waters: Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake and their tributaries. There is a minimum length limit of 32 inches. The paddlefish season for the Mississippi River is March 15 through May 15 with a fall season of Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. For more information, see the Missouri DNR website at dnr.mo.gov.
PHOTO BY PATRICK DOLL
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CoastalAnglerMag.com/contest 14 NATIONAL
MAY 2022
FLEXIBLE LIMIT
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PROPOSED FOR MAKOS
OAA Fisheries has proposed establishment of a flexible retention limit for shortfin mako sharks with a default limit of zero in commercial and recreational highly migratory fisheries. This measure follows a 2021 approval to ban mako shark harvest in the North Atlantic in 2022 and 2023 in a decision handed down by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT’s juridiction is over highly migratory species, like sharks, which cross international boundaries. NOAA’s flexible retention limit would fulfill ICCAT’s recommendation, while allowing flexibility if conditions change. During the fishing year, NOAA Fisheries could increase the shortfin mako shark retention limit from the default, or subsequently decrease the retention limit, for the commercial fishery, the recreational fishery, or both, based on regulatory criteria and retention allowed by ICCAT. Strict conservation measures have been on the table for mako sharks since 2017, when a stock assessment indicated the species was being overfished. Annual take from both sides of the Atlantic ranged between 3,600 and 4,675 tons, mostly caught with commercial gear. ICCAT warned that catches must be kept below 1,000 tons to rebuild the population. Off the U.S. east coast, Atlantic shortfin mako sharks are found from New England to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, and in the Caribbean Sea. For more details or to comment on the proposal, see www.fisheries.noaa.gov.
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t’s tarpon time, and as big fish flood the channels, bays, flats, beaches and passes up the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, every angler with a monster silver king on the bucket list hopes to get a piece of the biggest show on water. Most of the time, all they’ll get is the aerial show. Whether it’s a thrown hook from a head-shaking leap, a sharp gill plate that cuts the line, or a big hammerhead that makes the line go slack, hooking a big tarpon is a lot easier than putting hands on one. Studies have shown less than 40 percent of hooked tarpon make it boatside to have their photo taken. Here are a few tips to help you turn a hook-up into a great release photo.
TARPON FIGHTING TIPS By CAM Staff
1) Bow to the King:
If you have any interest in tarpon at all, you’ve heard this one already, but let’s just get it out of the way for those who don’t know. When a tarpon jumps, stop reeling, drop your rod tip and point it at the fish. When the fish is doing all its head shaking and tailwalking, a slack line doesn’t provide as much leverage to throw the hook. When the fish lands, lift the rod tip back to about 45 degrees and reel quickly to take up the slack.
2) Predict the Jump: Watch the fish’s behavior and you can often predict when it will go airborne. A hard run usually culminates with a big jump. Also, when you see the line angling up, it means the fish is headed to the surface. Pay attention and you won’t be caught off guard.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. JEFF MAGGIO
3) Go Hard on Them: Tarpon are big and powerful. If you don’t break their spirit quickly, they just might break yours. Use heavy tackle and do everything you can to get them in quickly. Use an anchor buoy to quickly unhook and chase fish down. This allows you to gain line and maintain the upper hand. By adjusting the drag, you can let the fish tire itself out more quickly. Start with the drag lower in the early stages of the fight, when the fish is still making long powerful runs that can break the line. As it begins to tire from running and jumping, start ramping up the drag pressure and continue pumping and reeling. If you’re good enough, palming the reel allows you to manually control drag pressure without committing to a higher setting. This can save you if a fish has a sudden second wind. Keep the heat on a big fish from start to finish. If it runs to the right, swing your rod to the left and vice versa. By keeping constant pressure against the direction the fish is trying to go, it is sometimes possible to convince them to give up.
4) Don’t Feed the Sharks: Sharks always seem to show up when there’s tarpon fishing going on, and it’s a pity so many big tarpon end up getting sharked on the end of a line. When sharks show up, ethical anglers pull lines up and move. Reeling in half a fish is worse than reeling in no fish at all. If a big shark shows up during the fight, clamp down on the drag and try to break the line. For more, go to coastalanglermag.com.
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THE SCREEN TELLS ALL
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Tim Barefoot
s you should know by now if you read my articles or subscribe to my YouTube channel, I like to fish for everything with fins. From offshore in 300plus feet of water to creeks, there is one thing that makes us more effective now than we were years ago: electronics! When I was very young, we went to the very first mark off the beach and loaded up on sea bass, gray trout (weakfish), flounder and whatever else would bite a crude chicken rig with cut mullet. Those days are gone. Now, we have evolved to using the most advanced electronics available to locate and stay on fish. We’ve got side imaging and live imaging technology, which is not (almost) cheating, to… screw it… It’s cheating, and I’m doing it. I love a gag grouper like Peter loved the Lord, and I also like to fish for bass as well as drum, trout and snook. Electronics like side scan make me dangerous. They are the difference between being close to a good place on a ledge or wreck versus being ON THE SPOT. It’s now possible to see whether you’re close to a stack of baitfish or on it. The stack of bait is the key to catching instead of just soaking baits. Look for the giant stack of bait, because that is what holds
predators, bottom fish below and pelagics above. For example: The video link at the end of this article as well as the blue photo on this page are a prime example of electronics telling us what’s below us and how deep. The marks near the bottom are African pompano and other bottom fish. The marks in the 100-foot range are blackfin tuna. The other photo is of crappie in a creek. I was watching them in real time using Garmin LiveScope. Regardless if you’re fishing in 300 or 15 feet of water, having the correct electronics will make a huge difference. We rely on our fishing instincts to catch fish. I’m a believer in the “cleanest” terminal tackle being the most effective tackle. The most important thing of all, though, is to position your boat on top of fish. For this, proper electronics have become essential. Check out barefootcatsandtackle.com, and watch this video https://youtu.be/qGzW6QFZHKE on using electronics offshore.
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MAY 2022
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Making Memories M
ay is a great month to take or introduce a child to the sport of fishing. The summer crowds haven’t arrived, the weather is tolerable, and there should be a nice breeze to keep it comfortable. If your child is already catching more than you, this is a great time to teach them some new techniques or how to use a new lure. Jetties, piers or docks are great locations to target this month, and sheepshead can be an entertaining target for the beginner. They can be corporative, and a nice trophy for a child. At times, they can be easy to catch and will provide a solid fight for the saltiest of anglers. Sheepshead love structure. Focus your attention on the most barnacle-encrusted structure you can find. At times you can hear them munching on those barnacles! If it is legal in the area you are fishing, scraping barnacles off the structure is a great way to chum for sheepshead and really gets them fired up. Small live or fresh dead shrimp are great, readily available bait. Small jacks, croaker, pinfish and whitting are also good options to give young anglers a strong tug and a good time. Once again, live and dead shrimp are a good choice to lure in these aggressive feeders. Beach fronts, jetties and structure are good areas to target them. If your child is up for a challenge and wants to learn something new, like my 11-year-old, May
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
is a good month to explore. With optimal water temperatures that keep fish aggressive, May is ideal. My son and I were in our favorite local tackle shop one day, and he picked up a custom painted lure and showed it to me. The owner, Mike, had painted these and they are renowned for catching big trout. My son had never fished one, but wanted to learn and catch a big one! For a few weeks, every time my son walked into the lure room and saw the Corky hanging on the rack, he would say, “Dad let’s go fishing.” He wanted to use the lure from Mr. Mike and catch a big trout. When we finally had a chance to hit the water, conditions were not ideal. We went to learn how to work the lure, if nothing else. My son did accomplish catching his first fish on a Corky. Even though it was not the big trout he planned on, it gave us a good laugh and memories that will last forever. This photo shows his first fish on that style of lure… the first of many I am certain. Go grow up little pinfish. Hopefully the next time we meet you are in the belly of a big trout! Take a kid fishing, leave the electronics at home, and everyone will have fun learning something from each other!
The Return of a
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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Offshore,
conversations. Satellite phones are an option but are cost prohibitive for most of us. Luckily, the satellite network has created a new choice with two-way texting devices like the Garmin inReach Mini, which I find offers a great mix of features, affordability, size and peace of mind. All these devices require a subscription plan, but most are affordable and allow you to pause them during off seasons. There are several manufacturers and options on the market, and they have many different features. Some have built-in keypads for easy composition of messages, but that makes the size larger. Most will pair with your cell phone, making it simple to create and send messages. They all also have SOS buttons that send a distress message along with your location to a communication center. Like EPIRBs and PLBs, they will continually transmit your location to By Will Schmidt search and rescue, helping them to find you quickly. Unlike the others, you are notified when your SOS is received. You can also communicate the nature of your emergency and answer vital questions from rescuers via text. The small size and waterproof rating means you can clip these devices to a life vest and continue sending and receiving information should you need to abandon ship. Furthermore, you can send non-emergency messages to check in with others. The inReach Mini allows you to create three preset messages that can be quickly sent and have unlimited sends on each of their data plans. This is a great feature for sending useful updates and non-emergency messages such as: “Just checking in, everything is fine.” Or “Everything is ok, but we are running late.” Other features many of these devices offer are waypoint navigation, tracking and weather reports. If navigation features are of primary importance to you, a larger device with a bigger screen might suit you better. Since mine is a backup navigation device, the connection to my phone is sufficient. I can even pair my inReach with my chart plotters to quickly send and read messages while underway. Whether you travel offshore, into the backwoods or to a remote island ith technology helping us get farther away from shore, it is lodge, if you want the ability to summon help or just check in at home when imperative that we have a reliable way to communicate with others. off the grid, these satellite devices offer great usability in an affordable easyIt’s not unheard of for people to take a bay boat 40 miles offshore to-use option. where VHF might not be heard. While Emergency Position Indicating Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing Radio Beacons (EPIRB) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) are a great about fishing from more than two decades. way to request assistance in an emergency, they lack the ability for two-way
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MAY 2022
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IT MIGHT JUST BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK! Berkley played a pretty good gag for April fools that likely sent a group of very specialized anglers to the store looking for a product that doesn’t exist. The company, which produces scented and flavored artificial baits, announced the release of the Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove. “Infused with PowerBait, this glove is designed to give noodlers a way to successfully wrangle catfish and give the fish a flavor so good, they’ll never let go,” read the press release. Berkley went on to tell sportsmen the following: Originally designed to withstand the fight of giant catfish, the team at Berkley Labs quickly discovered that the PowerBait Noodling Glove can be effective on more than just catfish. Extensive field testing proved that the PowerBait Noodling Glove increased angler catch rates for bass, trout and other species. The team even tested the glove with local hunters and found it’s just as effective in luring white-tailed deer as it is in luring catfish. There is nothing that can’t be caught using the PowerBait Noodling Glove. The Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove may also get its time to shine on the bass tournament trails this year thanks to Berkley Pro Angler John Cox. Cox says, “The way I fish is very similar to noodlers; they go down the bank and look for holes. Well, I go down the bank looking for a 5 or 6 pounder either on a bed or chasing bluegill. So, when I heard about noodlers using the Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove, I thought ‘Hey, this might work really well for me.’ Noodling is definitely not for just catfishing anymore. That was a pretty good one, Berkley.
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